this neecl not be regretted since with it the limitations and material conditions of tbo Divine visitations are gone also. II. THI!l POSI'l'IVE CllARAOTERISTICB OF THE BLESSINGS OF REDEMPTION. 1. The en;'oy- ment of God's full presence. God's throne is to be no longer the mercy-seat at the ark: (1) confined to one small sanctuary; (2) separating the religious from the secular; (3) hidden from the common gaze of men. All Jerusalem will be God's throne. God will dwell in the midst of his people, revealed to all, consecrating the affairs of daily life (~ech. xiv. 20). 2. The glorifying of God in the earth through the instrumentality of M,s people, "All the nations shall be gathered," etc. God's people are honoured by being the means of attracting others to him. Thus they are "a city set on a hill" (Matt. v. 14). The blessings of the gospel in Christ are offered to the world. The glory of the Saviour and the joy of his people will be completed by the acceptance of them by all nations. 3. Brotherly love. The old enmity of Israel and Judah will cease (Isa. xi. 12, 13). Christ is the Prince of peace. His advent prepared the way for. peace on earth. .As his kingdom spreads, peace mnst also extend over the troubled world. Even now the individual Christian must find his joy in exercising the peaceful spirit and practising brotherly love (Heb. xiii. 1). III. THE CONDITIONS FOR RECEIVING THE BLESSINGS OF REDEMPTION, 1. Return to God in repentance. This is implied in the previous verses. Repentance precedes restora- tion. 2, Multiplication of numbers. These blessings were to come after the peoplo were "multiplied and increased." We cannot expect the full Christian blessings till tlie Church has grown largely in numbers. God has special blessings for his Ohvrch. The Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, when the whole Church was gathered together (Acts ii. 1), These privileges of Christianity are of such a nature that they are not le~sened by distribution, but the more they are scattereu abroad, the more valuable do they become to every individual who enjoys them. 3. A fitting time. These blessings were not enjoyed at once. For some we still wait. "The kingdom of heaven is liko a grain of mustard seed." Its growth is gradual; so is also the enjoyment of Hs blessings.
Ver. 22,-Invitation. and response. I. THE INVITATION. 1. The obJect of the in- vitation. God calls on his people to return to him. Not simple reformation of morals, but the restoration of personal relations with God as the Father of bis people is desireu. ~- 'l'he condition of the invited. They are apost.ite children; i.e. (1) they are far from God, though (2) they were once r.ear to him, and (3) they are still his children. As sinners, men have al! lost a first estate of innocence, but have not lost, and can never lose, tl1eir filial relationship to God. Hence (1) the greatness of their guilt and (2) the hope of their restoration. 3. The accompanying promise. God invitos and docs not drive; he here exchanges threats for promises. God will heal, not simply receive his children. God alone can heal their apostacies. Man repents of sin, but God cures it. It is our part to turn from tho evil, God's to destroy that evil. Sin is wnshcd out, not by tho tears of penitence, but by the blood of Christ. The healing is of the apostacics them- selves, not simply of their painful effects. Christ saves from sin. Thls is what God most requires in us, and what we most need for our own blessedness (John i. 29). II. 'l'BE RESPONSE. 1. An expression of willing obedience. "Behold, we como unto thee." This response must be voluntary. God waits for man's return, docs not force it; since what he desires is not the abject submission of vanquished enemies, but the loving reconciliation of children. This response must also be active. "\Ve cowe." The penitent does not simply" accept" the grace of God in a passive faith. He must "arise nnd go" (Luke xv. 18). This irnplios exertion of will, active obedience. 2. An indication of the grounds of that obedience. " For thou art the Lord our Gou." God invites by a promise of blessing to his people; they respond by turning from the thought of their own profit to that of the charactc1· and claim of God. 'l'he great motive to return is found in what God is rather than in what he does, because tho return is to him and not merely to his blessings. Men will return to God when th"y see what there is in him to attract them to his feet. Henco the importance of knowi,ig God (Job xxii. 21). Christ invites UM by revealing the Father (John xiv. 6, 7). ,1) We should think of the revealed character of God as a ground for returning to nim. Israel returns by remembering the ancient Name "Jehovah," with its glorious dlgni ficu.nco and its sacred memories. (2) We should think of God's peculiar relativn;; with 5S 'l'IlE DOOK OF 'l'llE rnorHE'l' JirnEMIAH. [cu. m. 1-2G,
n~. Israel thiuks of "Jehovah ow· God." This relntionship points to God's claim upon us, rising ouL of his recognized authority as "ours," nnd the special covenant bonds of those who have once yielded themselves to him, and also to the peculiar grncc God bestows on his people, which both increases the obligation and facilitates the effort to return.