I have not hastened from being a pastour to follow thee, neither have I desired the wofull day] Heb. after thee. I pressed not upon this propheticall office, more then was meet for a teacher to do, such as I was before, being a priest, Chap. 1. 1, 6. well knowing how much trouble would thereby accrew to me, Chap. 15. 10, 18. & 20. 7, 8. Or, I was not forward, leaving mine ordinary pastorall charge, to put my self upon this extraordinarie employment: nor did I desire to be a messenger of such heavie tidings to my people; much lesse to have such evils inflicted upon them.
thou knowest: that which came out of my lips, was right before thee] That I have delivered nothing to them but thy truth; and that from a sincere heart: and that I have oft solicited thee in their behalf, Chap. 18. 20.