been undisturbed by any foreign power, that "·ith Assyria still continued. Is it possible the people fancied the promises of Deute- that J ercmiah, in thcso words, has in view ronomy were being fulfilled, and that they, rnther the circumstances of Jehoiakim that~ on their part, had pleased God by their those of Josiah? Does ho not appear to formal obedience (comp. 2 Kings xxii. 17). I look back upon Judah's final "putting to will plead with thee. Here, as in some other shame through Asdyrio." ns o. thing of I.he passages (e.g. Isa. lxvi.16; Ezek. xxxviii. 22), past? And to what event co.n thie expres- the word includes the sense of punishing. sion refer but to tho overthrow of Josiah at Ver. 36.-Why gaddest thou about ao Megiddo (so Graf)? much-many ~ender, Why runnest thou so Ver. 37.-From him; i.e. from Egypt, pe~- quichly; bnt the Terb simply means to sonified o.s a man (eo whenever a people is •· go," and it is enough to refer to foreign referred to; a land is represented ae a embassies, such s.s a.re alluded to in this woman). Egypt was, in fact, the only great \"ery chapter (ver. 1S)-to change thy way 1 power capable of o.ssisting Judah at this 'l'hc "wny" or policy of Judah was time (see Introduction); yet even Egypt, " changed," according as the p<Lrty in power the prophet says, shall disappoint her favoured an Egyptian or e.n Assyrian Jewish allies, for Jehovah has rejeoted thy nllinnce. Thou also she.lt be ashamed of; oon.fideuoes (i.e. the objects of thy oonfi- rntber, thou ~halt also be brought to shame dencu). As a matter of fo.ct, "the King of through. As thou art s.she.med of Assyria Egypt came not again any more out of his (correct rendering as before). This .is land" after N echo's crushing defoat at certainly difficult, for in the reign of Josiah Carchemish (2 Kings :x.xiv. 7; comp. eh. it would appear that the politicalJ:()nnection :xxxvii. 5).
HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-3.-Recollections of the happy past. It is pleasing to see how the prophet of judgment opens his first oracle with touching reminiscences of the early happy relations between God and his people. 'l'hus the young man connects his new utter- ances with ancient experience and the old well-tried principles of spiritual religion. 'fhus, too, he leads the way from thoughts of God's goodness and memories of early de-rotion to a right condition of reflectiveness and tenderness of heart, in which the revelation of dark truths of the future will be less likely to harden his hearers in rebellion than if they bad been spoken abruptly and harshly. I. MAKY OF us, LIKE THE JEWS, MAY BE REMINDED OF A HAPPY PAST. .In years of deepening disappointment the sunny days of youth rise up to memory and rebuke the cynical mood which sorrow is too ready to engender. In years of lessening spirituality the holy seasons of early devotion may be recalled to mind to startle us out of our self-complacency. It is well to reflect upon such a past history as that of the Jews. 1. This was marked by pewliar blessings on God's side. (1) It was a timo when God's love and kindness were felt with all the fresh receptiveness of youth; and (2) it was memorable for remarkable Divine protection and blessing. 2. '!.'his was characterized by great fidelity on the side of Israel. In spite of frequent murmurings and rebellions, the age of the Exodus had been the heroic age of Israel's national and religious history. (I) The people then followed God with affectionate devotion ; they "went after him." (2) '!.'hey consecrated themselves in purity aud in service; "Israel was consecrated unto the Lord." (3) They were the earliest true servants of God- God's "firstfruits." Yet the first may become last (Matt. xx. 16). (4) This devotion was witnessed under trying circumstances. It was "in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown." God's love is sometimes most manifest when outward circumstances are most distressing, and men are often more faithful to God in the wilderness than in the land flowing with milk and honey. Wl:iat a strange irony of history is this, that though, while passing through the wilderness, the people looked forward to their happi- uess in the possession of the promised land, after they have had long possession of it tl,ey are led to look back on those early homeless wanderings as containing the ~ost hlessed age_of their existence! But true happiness is ever found, not in external comfort, Lut in spiritual blessedness. Can we recollect early days when the battle of life was hard, and we longed for the ease which came with success, and now see that there, in tliat hard battle, our best days were Jived, our true blessedness was realized ? Such a wemory must be full of pathetic suggestions. oa. u. 1-37.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. 29