actual suffering ; whereas, the promise referred only to final victory : and, under this disappointment, he determined to " make no more mention of God, and to speak no more in his name."
Now, somewhat of a similar spirit is apt to prevail in us, when we labour under discouragement —
1. In our efforts for the good of others —
[Ministers, when, after long-continued exertions, they find that, instead of benefiting others, they have only brought evil on themselves, are apt to complain, that " they have laboured in vain, and spent their strength for nought :" and, under these painful feelings, they either desert their post, or regret at least that they ever engaged in such an unprofitable employment. Moses, the meekest of the human race, greatly erred in this
very wayd As did Joshua also, after his entrance into
Canaan e And in like manner, not only ministers, over
their people, mourn, but parents over their children, masters over their servants, and teachers over the poor whom they en- deavour to instruct : and too often does their want of success, and a sad return of evil for good, make them weary of their labours, and ready to abandon them altogether.]
2. In our exertions for our own souls —
[Persons, when first "enticed" or "persuaded "to embrace the Gospel, fondly imagine that they shall go forward in the divine life with ease : but when they come to find what con- flicts they have to sustain, and what slow progress they make, they are greatly discouraged, and almost ready to blame even God himself, as having disappointed their expectations. They may not go so far as to say, " There is no hope : I have loved idols, and after them will Igof:" but with a mixture of queru- lousness and despondency, many a pious man will harbour the thought, " My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my Godg." And how enervating such an apprehension must be, it is scarcely needful for me to declare.]
But on the other hand our text exhibits,
II. The effect of piety on a discouraged soul —
Jeremiah attempted, for a season, to execute his rash determination : but he could not persist in his purpose : for the word of God was like a burning fire in his bones; so that he could not refrain from de- claring it, as he had done before, if by any means he
d Exod. v. 22, 23. e Josh. vii. 7.
f Jfer. ii. 25. s Isai. xl. 27.