cervi qui non inveniunt pascuum: et profecti sunt abaque Virtute coram persequu-
JOHN CALVIN to state his object. It was for this cause, then, as he says, that her little ones went into captivity before the adversary.
It was, indeed, an indignity, calculated to embitter the minds of the faithful, to see not only their young men but also infants so cruelly treated. For men always think that they have some just cause to contend with God, and especially when the case of infants is brought forward; who, then, is not disposed to say that God's vengeance exceeds its due limits? ``If his purpose be,'' say they, ``to punish men for their wickedness, why does he not restrain his wrath as to the innocent? for how have miserable infants sinned?'' But the Prophet here checks such audacity, and says that
God had just reasons for extending his vengeance even to the little ones. 486 It now follows, ---
Lamentations 1:6
6. And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.
6. Et egressus est a filia Sion omnis decor ejus; fuerunt principes ejus tanquam cervi qui non inveniunt pascuum: et profecti sunt abaque Virtute coram persequutore.
He continues the same subject. He says here that the daughter of Sion was denuded of all her ornaments. Now, we know what was the honor or dignity of that people; for Moses, in order to set forth the greatness of God's grace, exclaims,
nation so illustrious under heaven!''
(Deuteronomy 4:7.)
As, then, the singular gifts of God had been conferred on that people, it was a very sad spectacle to see that city, which once possessed the highest glory, robbed of all its honor and covered with disgrace, as we shall hereafter see. He then says that all her glory was taken away from the daughter of Sion.
Now, there is no need to enumerate all the kinds of honor or glory which belonged to the city Jerusalem. But it may be said first, that God had chosen there a habitation for himself; and then a sacerdotal kingdom was there, --- the people were holy to God
--- they were his heritage, --- there God had deposited his covenant, --- he deemed all the Jews his children, and his will was that they should in return count him as their
Father. As, then, they had been enriched with so many ornaments and so superior, it is no wonder that the Prophet deplored the state of the city when stripped of all its glory.
He then adds, that her princes were like famished harts for harts, as they are by nature swift, when pressed by want run as though they were flying. Since then the swiftness of that animal is so great, the Prophet says that the princes, who were wont to walk with so much gravity and to carry the appearance of great authority, had become swift, like harts oppressed with hunger; for they also labored under the
4865. Become have her oppressors the head, Her enemies have prospered; For Jehovah has afflicted her For the number of her transgressions; Her children are gone into captivity Before the face of the oppressor. The word {{צרis not an'' adversary,'' but an oppressor, one who straitens and oppresses another. --- Ed.