Jeremias — Chapter 35

The house of Rechabites.] We haue here (according to the state of God Church in the old Testament) a cleare example of religious life, by professing and performing good workes of supererogation, not commanded by God, but piouslie instituted by a holie man called Ionadab. Which, not only himselfe, and his proper children, but also their posteritie manie ages after him, voluntarily obserued by a prescript Rule: Not to builde houses, nor dwel in anie (but in tents) not to sow seed, nor to plant, not haue vineyards, nor to drinke wine. A like rule but not the same in al points, was prescribed by God himselfe (Num. 6.) for such as would voluntarily embrace it. And Elias and Elizeus with their disciples obserued an other forme of religious life: as appeareth 4. Reg. 1. 1. &c. Al which were figures of more perfect Religious Orders in the Church of Christ, consisting in three essential vowes, of voluntarie Pouertie, Chastitie, and Obedience: not commanded but commended, and for the better attayning to perfection counselled by our Sauiour, whereof they are called Euangelical Counsels, obserued by the Apostles, leauing al their worldlie substance, and al desire of hauing anie proper possessions: such also as had wiues leauing them, the rest not marying, and al renouncing their owne wils, subiected the same to Christs wil, following him. Whose example others imitating, this holie manner of life hath stil continued in the Church, as is euident by the Ecclesiastical histories euen from the Apostles time.

, and hauc been obedient accordingto.al things, that lonadab ovr father com mane ded vs, 1.But when Nabuchodonofer the King-of Babylon was.come ‘ vpite.our Land,we faid : () Come, and let vs goe into lecufalem from» 1 ' the face of the holt.of the-Chaldees, &-fr6 the face-of the halt of Syria: & we hauetaried in Jerufalem.i2.And the word of our Lord was made taleremic,fayitg :13. Thus faith the Lord of hofts the God of Ifrael: Goe, & fay to. the men of luda, and to the inhabitants of lerufalen: Why wil you not recelue-di! cipline, to obey my words,faith our Lord: 14. (¢) The words of lonadab the fonne of Rechab haue peruailed, which hecommmanded his fonnes notto drinke wine: & they have nor _drunke vntil this day , becaufe they haue abeyed the commandment of their father: but 1 haue fpoken to you, early ryling and fpeakiag, and Ve Sae 1.v.5., BIC from his moft wicked way ,and make your ftudies good : & folow pererogation, LMas.1o,: felowing him. Whofe example others imitating , this holie manner of life hath ftil un the Church Ly iL Do iscontin ued inthe Church, as iseuident by rhe Eccleftaftical hiftories euen from lof Chrift, Lec, -18, OF IEREMIE, 59 3 and you have not obeved me, 1;. And J haue fent to you al my feruants g founder, in aie o the Prophets, rifing early , and fending and faying : Returne ye cuerie workes of fu- VLbee: not {trance Gods , nor worthip them, and you fhal dwel inthe land, jotherwife not sw rhict er ‘commanded: which gaueyou.and your fathers:and you hane not inclined your earc, imuch more al nor heard me. 16. The children therfore of lonadab the fonne of Re- !arepound to chab haue firmely kept rhe precept of their father, which he cOmanded ‘keep Gods cé- them : but this people nati not obeyed me.17, Therfore thus faith the jmandments, Lord of hofts , theGodofIfrael : Behold , I wil bring vpon Iuda, and pon atthe inhabitants of Ierufslem, al the affliction which 14 haue ipoken againit them,becaufe I haue fpokento them, and they haue j not heard:] haue called them,and they haue not anfwered me.18.But to the houfe af the Rechabires leremie aid: Thus faith the Lord of hofts the God of Ifrael : For that you haue obeyed the commandment of lonadab your father , and haue kept al hiscommandinents , and haue done al things , thar hecommanded you: 19. Therefore thus faith tne Lerd of hofts the God of I{rael: There fhal not want a man of the ftocke of Jonadab the fonne of Rechab, {tanding in my fight al daies,