there Is something wrong in the text; the In the top of every streot; rather, at e1Jer11 following verses seem to re-fer to the daughter ldreet eorner (and so eh. iv. 1). of Zion. Dickell reftcls thus: " Cry aloud Ver. 20.-To whom thou hast done this; viz. unto the Lord, 0 virgin daughter of Zion." to Israel, the chosen people. Anrl children; Like B river ; rather, lilce a torrent. Give rather, (et1en) children. The children are thyself no rest. The word rendered " rest" the "fruit" referred to. Comp. the warnings meo.ns properly the stiffness produced by in Lev. xxvi. 2t.i; Deut. xxviii. 56; and cold. especially Jer. xix. 9; also tho historicril Ver. 19.-In the beginning of the watches. incident in 2 Kings vi. 28, 29. Of a span This would seem to be most naturally ex- long ; rather, borne in the 1ir,nd,. The word plained as reforrin g to tho first watch of the is derived from the verb rendered " to swad- night. When most are wrapped in their first dle" in ver. 22 (see note). o.nd sweetest sleep, the dnugl,ter of Zion is to Ver. 22.-Tbou hast called as in a BOlemn " arise an<l cry." Others explain, " at the day. The passage is illll.Strated by eh. i. beginning of each of the night watches;" 15, according f;o which the instruments of i.e. all the night through. Previously to Jehovah's vengeance are "summoned" by the Romo.n times, the Jews had divided the him to a festival when starting for the holy night into three watches (comp. Judg. iii. war. 1/I.y terrors round about. Almost 19). Pour out thine heart like water; i.e. identical with one of the characteristic give free course to thy complaint, shedding phrases of Jeremiah's prophecies, "fear [or tears meanwhile. 'fhe expression is parallel rather,' terror'] on every side" (see on Jer. partly to phrases like "I am poured out vi. 25). Rave swaddled; rather, ha.tie borM like water" (Ps. xxii. 14), partly to "Pour upon the hand.a. out your heart before him" (Ps. lxii. 8).
HOMILETICS. Ver. 1.-God not remembering his footstool. The ark was regarued as God's foot- stool ; and the temple in which the ark was kept was also sometimes calle<I the footstool of God. When the temple was destroyed tand the ark stolen, or broken, or lost, it looked as though God had forgotten his footstool. The symbolism of the ark and the ritual connected with it give a. peculiar significance to this fact. I. Goo NO LONGER REMEMBERS THE PLACE WHERE ms PRESENCE 'WAS MOST Jl'ULLY MANIFESTED. The Holy Land, Jerusalem, the temple, the holy of holies, the ark,-these are the sacred places, of increasing sanctity as the circle narrows, till the very footstool where God touches earth is reached. 1. The presence of God in our midst is no guarantee against the natural consequences of our misdeeds. On the contrary, if he is with us to protect in times of simple distress, he is with us as Judge to condemn when we fall and contract guilt. 2. '!'he presence of God at one time is no guarantee of its permanence. The footstool may be God's no longer if it prove unworthy of him. The Church which was once the temple of the Holy Spirit may become deserted by its heavenly Guest. That we enjoy the communion of God now is no reason for being con- fident that we shall not lose that privilege through unbelief or other sin. 3. We cannot assume that God will never re;"ect us because he has once made use of us. The footstool may be supposed to have been used by God as of some service to him. Nevertheless it was discarded. If the servant of God proved unfaithful, his Master's livery will not save him. He will be discharged and dis!!:raced. II. Goo NO LONGER REMEM.BERS HIS MERCY-SEAT. The footstool of God's peculiarly manifested presence was also his mercy-seat. There the assurance of atonement was confirmed when the high priest entered with sacrificial blood and intercession. Yet even the mercy-seat can be forgotten in the day of God's anger. We trust that in wrath he will remember mercy. But there are clouds of anger too black for us to see the mercy that shines behind them. 1. The mercy which is in the heart of God is not to be regarded as nullifying his wrath. It is so represented by some who take one- aided Yiews of the Divine character. But the All-merciful can be a consuming fire. 2. If God has once been me1·ciful to us we may not conclude that he can never be angry with w. On the contrary, if we sin against light and love we provoke the greater wrat.h. The very fact that the footstool was privileged to 1J13 a mercy-seat will aggra- vate the wrath which must be poured upon it when it is disgraced. UL Go11 NO I.ONGER REMEM1)1',RS l'IIE PLACE Of fBAlER. At the footstool of God 20 THE LAMEN'l'ATIONS OF JEREMIAH. [OB. II, 1-22.
t.he suppliant kneels pleading for deliverance, But his prayer is unheard, God ml\y n·f,u,e to hearken to prayer. Where he is wont to stoop and listen to cry and sigh ~f burdened souls he m11y be 1·egardless, 1. Impenitence will lead to God's disregarding our prayer. 2. When wmth is necessary, the mPre cry for escape must be unheard. 3. "'hen chastisement is for our good, mercy itself will i·efuse to listen to the prayer for rlelfoem11ce. The surgeon must disregard the cries of his patient. lie must harden him- self to save the sufferer.