The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 103

holier, and every way better lifo. For they were hampered, entangled, ensnared, thwarted, and hindered at every turn by the hideous mass of moral wreckage by which they were surrounded. They could hardly move for it. There must, therefore, be a clearance made if God's people were to enter upon, as he was determined that they should, that new, that better life, to which he recommended them, aud after which they yearned. "Now, all these things happened unto them for an ensample," and we may see in them if "·e will, the motive and intent of the like dealings of God with men in our day. Thou troub!C?- child of God, affiicted very much, of whose earthly comforts, enjoyments, and possessions God has been pleased to make so large an end, thou seest the reason why. And thou whose soul he has brought very low, taking from thee all thy trust and con- fi,lence, so that now he has made "thy very spirit poor," canst thou not underst,rnd wherefore he bath so dealt with thee? And our death, which makes an end of all that i:1 this world we have called our own, it too finds its explanation in what was the evident purpose of God's dealing with his ancient people. It was and it is, either for the putting away-if even by a terrible process-of the evil and wrong that are yet in men; or for the destruction of every false confidence, or for the setting the soul free- as his disciplines do, and as at last his messenger, Death, will do-to serve him in new- ness of life to his honour and glory, and to our own eternal joy. But in what has now been advanced we have only spoken of the reason wherefore God makes an end of so much, why he comes in these often terrible ways. We have yet to ask, " Why are we spared~ Why is there this reserve of mercy 1 Why is not a full end made? " An<i looking at the history of God's ancient people, answers to these questions also may readily be found. To have made a full end would have given occasion to the enemies of God to blaspheme. We remember how Moses pleaded this argument when soro wrath bad gone out against Israel, and it seemed as if a full end was to be made. And the promise of God to Abraham would have been set aside, the covenant which he made with their fathers in the days of old. And the language which we find in the Scriptures, the language of intense tenderness and love towards his people, proves that to have made a full end would have broken the heart of God. "How shall I give thee up?" "I have written thee on the palms of my bands." "Can a mother forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, she may forget ; yet will not I forget thee." In view of such love, how could there be a full end? And the Lord Jesus Christ has rendered such condemnation needless. For they who are spared when God judges the world, are spared not for any inherent intrinsic excellency in themselves, but they are they who have believed on the Name of God's dear Son. Hence they have the righteousness of faith, the germ, the guarantee, the generator of all righteousness; and they have the indwelling of the Holy Ghost by whom they shall be strengthened to live in newness of life. All the possibilities lo secure which God makes an end of so much in those who have not come to faith, they already have, and hence God is able, even as he is willing, to except them from the destruction that comes on all beside. .And to mention but one other reason for this reserve of mercy-for God not making a full end; he sees in these spared ones those by whom his "way shall be made known upon earth, and his saving health among all nations." They are to be the instruments of his grace, his channel of untold blessing to all man- kind. Therefore doth God care for and guard them, and amid all destruction no evil is fiuffered to befall them, nor any plague to come nigh their dwelling. •III. And now, lastly, we note that this principle of the Divine procedure which we have been considering IS ONE WHICH WE MOST ALL OF 0B BE PREPARED TO HAVE APPLIED TO OURSELVES. Yes, God will look down upon us all, as Churches, families, individuals, and will mark what in us and who of us will be found worthy to stand in the great <lay when he separates the chaff from the wheat. Ah I this is the great question which concerns us. "Where, then, shall I myself be? Shall it be amongst those whom God must put away, or amongst those whom be shall delightedly spare?" What question cau compare with this? But the material for its answer may be found by asking- l!r /,ere are we now, '!'he destroying powers of the world, the flesh, and the devil uu abroad; they are slaying their thousands and their tens of thousands. But nra they destroying us? Or are we-as God grant it may be-amongst his "reserve of mercy"? Are \l'C li,·ing unto God? Can we look up to our Lord and Saviour nnd appeal to him ·o\-:bu lrnc•wcth all things, to attest the love and tnist tqwa1·ds him that abide in our en, 1v. 1-31.) Tllffi DOOK OF THE PROPHET JEil.ElllIAII. 9'.)