The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 108

Wealth. "Though thou clotbest thyself with crimson" (vcr. 30). The garb of tbo rich, telling_ haw Jerusalem had won some of her professed friends. 2. Splendour. "Deckcst thee with ornaments of gold." Jerusalem could make a grand show, put on much pomp by which the eyes of men were dazzled and deceived. And outward sbow will deceive many men. But those thus attracted kno,v how, when the splendour pales and the outward show can no more be kept up, to fall away and show what "broken reeds" they are. 3. External beauty. The" painting" spoken of was an Oriental device to increase the beauty of the countenance. But weak indeed is the hold which mere outward beauty can have on any who have been attracted by it. It fades, and they along with it. 11. TIIEIB APPARENT TRUSTWORTHINESS. Had there never been anything at all like hclpfulnrss in them, no reliance could have been placed upon them. But the lurl'~ which ,!row them had power enough to make them profess much and then to practise somewhat. Hence they seemed to be real friends. III. THEIR TnUE CHARACTER. When they can no longer gain aught by her who believed in them, lhey turn round upon her and "seek her life" (ver. 30). It was so with Jerusalem, it will be so with such as are like her. And yet men go on seeking after these outward things which can win for them only friends of this wretched sort, whilst those inward qualities which have no charm for such, but have all charm for the ll"orthy and the good, are little valued and therefore little cultivated. IV. TIIE DREAD INCREASE OF SORROW THEY ARE THE CAUSE OF. A more appal- ling picture of utter agony and distress of soul cannot be imagined than that given in ver. 31. It is said that ,vben Cresar saw Ilrutus amid bis assassins, he covered his face with his mantle and let his murderers do their worst. No stab could be so deadly as the discovery that his trusted friend had become his murderer. "Et tu, Brute!" And part of the deep sorrow of our Lord was that Judas," his own familiar friend," should bet.ray him. Jf, then, to the stainless soul the discovery of such treachery can cause such sorrow, how must the sorrow of those who, in addition to this, have the memory of their own sin, be deeper and more dreadful still'! V. 'l'IIE WAY OF WISDOM, WHICH KNOWLEDGE OF THEM POINTS TO. Surely it is this-to turn from all such "broken reeds" to "the rod and the sta.lJ" which Christ furnishes for all his pilgrims. - " One there is above all others, Well deserves the name of Friend," eto. o. Ver. 31.-" There shall be weeping." Tho text Is a solemn and awful declaration of the retribution of God upon impenitent men. I. No TllUTII MORE DOUDTED OR Dl<:NIED THAN TlITS. Lot was" to bis sons in la.w as one that mocked." And so it is still; this truth scarco gains any hearing and yet less belief. Reasons of this arc: the prevalent scepticism as to all religious belief; the special dislike to such a subject as this; false views as to the love of God; tho busy energy of the evil one, who will not suffer men to consider and ponder this truth. II. BuT IT IS NEVERTHELESS THE TRUTH OF GoD. Scriptnro is full, plain, and earnest. in the matter. 'l'he premonitions of conscienco endorse the Word of God. The conrse of observed events lends its strong testimony. 'l'he common consent of tbo wisest and best of men confirms it. The analogy of all human governmeni supports it. III. AND DEMANDS THEREFORE TO DE MADE KNOWN. Compa.ssion would prompt to its proclamation. The severe displeasure of God against tho watchman who neglect, to warn the people urges this. The example of our Lord, who over iusiste,l on it. It, manifest fitness to arouse and arrest the siuner. Beware, tber,1,fore, of yielding to the temptation to be silent on this theme. IV. BUT TO DE PREACHED ONLY BY BUCH AS BELIE~ A!-'D FEEL ITS TRUTH, Unbelieving or unfeeling fictting forth of tbcso awful verities will but steel the heart of the ungodly against them. But in the spirit of Jeremiah, and yet more in th, fiJJirit of our Lord, let meu be warned thnt for the impenitent there remaiueth the dread retribution of God. lOJ THE BOOlt Ot TllE PROPHEJT JEllEMIAII. (en. IV, 1---31,