deliver them from the perplexities and sorrows and fears to which human nature is always subject. II, IT IS PROVIDENTIALLY APPOINTED THAT EXPERIENCE SHOULD CONVINCE MEN OP THE VANITY OF ALL HUMAN HELP. When application after applicatic,n fails to bring relief, when hope aHer hope is disappointed, then, and perhaps not until then, men learn bow vain is the help of man, and perceive the wisdom of the advice, "Put no\ your trust in man, or in the son of man, in whom is no help." III. Goo INTENDS BY BUCH DISCIPLINARY EXPERIENCE TO DRAW HIS PEOPLE TO HDI- BELF, When the eyes are dim and weary with lookiog earthward for deliverance, then they may be lifted heavenward. And when the help of man is sincerely acknowledged to be vain, then the help of God is at band.-T. Ver. 18.-The end is come I The progress of the enemy's works, the approach of the enemy's forces, the frequency of the enemy's assaults, all tended to dishearten the citizens of the besieged Jerusalem. The prophet represents the discouraged and dis- mayed citizens as gazing with terror upon the assai.lants and their strategy, and exciaim- ing in despair, "Our end is come!" The dealing and the diticipline of God with the souls of the disobedient and rebellious may well awaken the same conviction and elicii the same cry. I. THE E;ND OF OUR OWN RESOURCES. It is sometimes only when men have tried what is in their power, have done their best to solve their spiritual difficulties and to make their way secure, that, convinced of ,their own insufficiency, they admit themselves to be altogether in the wrong. II. THE END OF OUR RESISTANCE TO OUR FOES. Men strive to carry on the conflict in their own strength, and they strive in vain. "Wearied in the greatness of their way," convinced that they are no match for the spiritual enemy, they may confess that, left to themselves, they cannot cooquer, they cannot withstand. III. THE END OF ALL OUR HOPES OF DELIVERANCE. Those hopes may have buoyed up for days and years; but when they have issued only in disappointment how can the discouraged do other than at last for ever abandon them ? IV. THE END OF OUR REBELLION AGAINST Goo. Ii this be the effect produced by long experience of the wretchedness and the futility of such hostility, there will be reason for gratitude. They who lay down the weapons of rebellion shall receive mercy and experience deliverance.-T.
Vers. 1, 2.-Fallen reputation. I. THE WEIGHT OF THIS REPUTATION. The position of the people was comparable to gold in its glitter and attraction. Gold bas its use and iron has its use, and we may be glad we have both; but if one of these two had to be given up, it would certainly be the gold, Iron means immensely more in modern civilization than gold. But if frequency of mention is to count for anytbin~, gold was much more valued among the Israelites than iron, and being so, it had a large place in the symbolisms of the tabernacle service and in the splendours of Solomon's temple. Hence any one with a high reputation might very well be compared to gold. People run after such a one even as they do after gold. There is a time when the crowd are not contented to speak well of a man; they must praise him extravagantly, using the language of superlatives, and showing that their standard, if standard it can truly be called, is far from an ideal on11. II. 'l'HE CBARAC'l'ER OF TH~ REPUTATION. Had Israel ever been worthy of this com- parison with fine gold? On what was the comparison based? It is to be feared that it rested very much on mere appearance. Remember the saying, "All that glitters is not gold." Jehovah had made Israel to glitter by taking it out from amoog the nations and making it the object of great demonstrations of bis power. But, so to speak, this was only gilding over the impure and incoherent mass of common humanity with a coating of pure gold for o. certain purpose. The men and women who made up Israel were at heart like men and women elsewhere. But by giving them a certain outward splen- dour God furnished a symbol of that true golden natiou which is made up from individual believers in him. III. 'fHE DES'l'RUCTION OF THE REPUTATION, The gold becomes dim. The com- parison wus once to gold out of which vessels for honour arc made, beautifully shaped THE LAMENTATIONS 01<' JEREMIAll. [ou. 1\r, 1-22.
and decorRtcd. But now the comparison is to the common cle.y out of ,vhioh the potter make, his cheRp and frRgile ware. And yet, after all, if gold be a standard of preoious- Dess, these sons of Zion were indeed comparable to it; only the gold is in the unpurified fltate, mixed \'ery intimately with baser elements the.t te.ke away the use and glory of the gold. M,m in his best nature.I state may he.ve his repute.tion lifted too high• in 1,is worst natural ste.te that. reputat.ion may sink too low; but when God takes th~ natural man in hand aad renews, purifies, an<l disciplines him, then it will be seen that the mo,t splendid and pleasing of vi,;ible objects is only a feeble hint of that glory wherewith God ha.s chosen to glorify his own children.-Y.