IV. THE TRUE CLEANSING WHICll IT SUGGESTS AND INVITES UB TO. Isa. i. 18, "Come now, and let us reason together," eto.-C. Ver. 25.-.A dread snare of tlie devil. I. IN WHAT IT CONSISTS. The persuading tl,e sinner that " there is no hope." • II. ITS TERRIBLE CIIARACTER, H leads the sinner to excuse himself in his sin by the false belief that he is delivered to do all his abominations. It encourages him to gc, on in his sin (cf. ver. 25), instead of resolutely breaking away from it. III. How MEN FALL INTO IT. By letting sin become the habit of their lives; the constant repetition of separate sinful acts forges the chain of ha.bit, which it is hard indeed for any to break through. IV. How MEN MAY GET OUT OF IT, 1. By prayerful pondering of the many proof~ which show that this suggestion of Satan, that "there is no hope," is one of his own lies. These proofs are to bo found in the plain statements, and in the many examples of the Word of God, which tell of God's grace to the very chief of sinners. '!'hoy arc to be found also in the recorded biographies and observed lives of many of tho people of God. And also in our own experience of God in the past. 2. lly then and thero committing ?Ur souls into the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ for pardon, for restoration, and for 1afe keeping for the future. 3. By renewing this self-surrender day by day, an,! espe- ~ially when we are conscious that danger is near. So shall we bo able to say, "My soul is escaped as a biru out of the snare of the fowler."-C.
Vera. 36, 37.-Tlte restlessness of sin. "Why gaddest thou about so much to ch1mge thy way?" etc. I. '£ms IS A COMMON COURSE OF CONDUCT IN SINFUL MEN. II. THE REASONS FOR ADOPTING IT ARE OF VARIOUS KINDS. 1. Hope of lnrger gain. 2. Prospects of increased pleasure. 8. Disappointment with the way that has hitherto been tried. 4, Conscience will not be quiet in continuing the present way, etc. III. BuT IT 1s ALL OF NO AVAIL. The same wretched result is reached whichever way is taken (vers. 36, 37). 3i! THE BOOK OJt' 'l'HE PROPI-11<.:'l' JEREMIAH. [cu. n. 1-37,
IV. Gon IN ALL TITTS IS SAYING, "LET THE WIOKED FORSAKE ms WAY, AND THB UNRIGHTEOUS," ETC. (Isa.. lv.),-C, Ver. 2.-God's estimation of his people's love. A remarkable passage : to be taken in its evident meaning, and not to be explained away. What a loving UB8 t9 make of the past faithfulness and attachment of his people I He would remind them of them, that they may repent and return, I. IT IS FULL OF INTEREST TO HIM, To those who feel intense love for others, it is exceedingly grateful to find tbetr love reciprocated. High, pure, disinterested love, like that of God for men, never receives equal return; but what it does elicit it prizes be- yond all its intrinsic value, The parent thinks more of the child's love for him than the child -of the parent's. 1. It spoke of trust. There is no fear or selfishness in love Divine love awakens. The wilderness could not daunt the simple hearts of faithrul Israel They were willing to take God at his word, and to look for the land of promise. So with respect to Christ. 2. It spoke of gratitude. He had saved them from Egypt's bondage, and made them his own freemen. No service was too arduous; ,no trial too severe. Jesus has saved us from sin and its consequences; we owe to him a deeper gratitude. 3. It spoke of an affection that was its own reward, There· was delight in the presenc.e and communion of God. Worship was rapture. The chief interest of life was spiritual and Divine. The life of Israel was separated and sanctified' to God. Love that could manifest itself thus was a sign and guarantee that the love of God had not been in vain. II. 1TB FAILINGS ARE CONDONED BY 1TB GENUINENESS. No mention is ma.de or their murmurings, their disobedience, and unbelief. Where the true spirit or Divine love is exhibited God can forgive defects, etc. To him it is enough for the present that we do our best, and are true and earnest. So at the first signs of repentance he is will- ing to forget all our offences. What is good and r~ in men, is of infinitely more value to him than we can imagine, and for the sake of that he is willing to cover the guilty past. This is all the more precious a trait in the Divine character that it does not spring from ignorance of us. He knows us altogether, our secret thoughts, our down-sitting and our uprising, The readiness of God so to forgive and to overvalue past love and trust on the part of his people, ought to fill us with compunction and shame. We ought to ask, " Was this our love?" " Lord, when saw we thee an hungred," etc.? Ill. THOUGH TRANSIENT, IT ELICITS AN ETERNAL ATTACHMENT AND LEAVES AN UN- DYING JrnMORY, " I remember." It ought to be a strong motive to the Christian to think that bis little works of faith and labonis of love arc so highly prized, and so long remembered. "For thy works' sake." Who would not rather charge the memory of God with such gracious memories, that "heap up wrath against the day of wrath" ?-M. Vere. 2, 3.-First love to God. We have here a picture of the idyllic days of the soul's first love for God, The emphasis is on the sentiment-its depth, reality,'and attractiveness. It is spoken or as something in which God delights ; as in the odour of a rose, the beauty of a landscape, or the pleasant melody of a song. I. IT 1B ATTRACTIVE, For its spontaneity; its spirit of self-sacrifice; and its abso- luteness. II. IT IB IMMEDIATE m ITB INFLUENCJl UPON CHARACTER AND LIFE, Generous Bacrifice. Dominance of spiritual aims and interests, Personal holiness. ill IT IB FULL OF PROMIBE, Not only what it is, but what it may become. In one sense the bud is more valuable than the leaf, or flower, or fruit, It has the interest of growth and the future about it. Israel's best gifts, then, were to God but "first- fruits." God only knows what capacity of spiritual progress and enlargement is ours; and he alone can tell the influence and importance of his people's faithfulness.-M. Ver. 3.-Guilty instl'uments of Divine judgment. A great problem in morals, Pharaoh's "heart is hardened," and yet his guilt remains. Nations are raised up to punish Israel for unfaithfulness, yet they" offend." in doing this very thing. I. WHEREllil' THE GUILT OF INSTBUM'.ENTS OF DIVINE VENGEANCE HAY CONSIST, At least two explanations of this are to be found: 1. In the distinction between the formal cmd the material character of action,, 'l'hc essential evil or good of an action is in the en. n. 1-87.] THE BOOK OF 'fHE PROPll~T JEllEMIAH. 39