Vere. 12, 13.-0ulpable unbelief. The Jews are accused of unbelief as a sin. It is therefore sometimes to be regarded in this light (e.g. Heh. iv.). Let us consider the characteristics of a culpable unbelief and its origin. J. UNJIELIEF IS MORALLY CULPABLE WHEN IT ABISES FROM AN EVIL HEART. 1. This unbelief must be distinguished (1) from that of ignorance; (2) from that of prefudice, bad education, etc.; (3) from that of honest doubt. 2. It is recognized (1) as residing in the will rather than in the intellect-a result of wishing a thing not to be true; and (2) as coloured by custom, worldly proclivities, base passions, ill feeling against all that the highest truth is concerned with. It is practically equivalent to the wilful rejection of truth. He who is blamed for this is not blamed for his opinions, but for the moral determining causes of them. We are not responsible for our beliefs, in so far as they nrc purely intellectual, but we are responsible for them in so far rui they are formed under morn! influences. II. THI!: EVIL TENDENCIES TOWARDS A CULPABLE UN11ELIEF ARE ABUNDANT AND FOWERFUL, These are not to be found in a simple proneness to err, a natural weakness of faith, nor in the dangers accompanying daring speculation. They are to be tracc,l in conduct and practical affairs. 1. Untruthful habits. Israel had dealt treacherously with God (ver. 11). We must be truo to discern truth. If the eye is evil, the whole body is full of darkness. 'l'here is a close connection between those two evil things which go under the name of infidelity-treachery and unbelief, lack of faithfulness and lnck of faith. 2. Resistance to the will of God. The language of the people betrays an animus, a spirit of enmity to God. "They have belied the Lord." Nothing blinds like hatred. 3. Love of ease. The words of Jeremiah were not pleasnnt; he threatene,l terrible things. Therefore his hearers refused to accept his message. Their conduct was most illogical, since truth is not affected by our liking for it-are there not many unpleasant truths ?-and most injurious to themselves, since it was for their own interest to give heed to tho warning of approaching calnmity, that foresight might mitigate the force, if it could not now prevent the falling, of tho blow, Yet this conduct was most natural. It is constantly to ho observed that people listen to the teachers whom they like rather than to those whom they believe to be spenking the most important truths, and accept the opinions which suit their inclinations rather than those possibly less acrreeable ideas which slnncl. on tho surest foundntion of fact. 4. Spiritual deadness. fhe Jews deny the inspiration of the prophets. To them weighty words such as tho~o of Jeremiah are mere" wind." So there were those who derided him who spakc wilh 118 TIIE BOOK OF TUE PROPHET JEHEMIAII. [mt. v. 1-31
llrn weightiest authority and "as never man spake." Sin deadens the soul to the perception of God's voice in nature, in the llible, in Christ, in conscience. Ver.19.-Suitab7e ret,,ibution. In anticipation of their astonishment at the character of the retribution that is to fall upon them the Jews are to be shown that this is fittinu0 and rightly corresponds to their conduct. I. 'l'HEY =o FORSAKE GOD lN PROSPERITY WILL FERL THE LOSS OF GOD m ADVER- SITY. According to the religious conduct in sunny days will be the condition of rest or ruin in dark days. II. THE FALSE GODS OF PROSPERITY PROVE WORTHLESS IN ADVERSITY. Israel served hen then gods in their own land. In their captivity they are to be slaves to strange men. The gods are then nowhere. Men make gods of we:i.ltb, pleasure, fame, etc., nnrl find that, though these may be worshipped, they can do nothing to deliver their devotees. III. THEY WHO THROW OFF THE SERVICE OF GoD MUST SUBMIT TO HARDER SERVICE. They think to be free, but they really are the slaves of sin (John viii. 34). They reject the easy yoke and light burden of Christ only to find themselves bound in the galling fetters of Satan. IV. TnE ABUSE OF BLESSINGS IS NATURALLY PUNISHED DY THE LOSS OF THEM. ' In their own land the Jews had proved unfaithful to t,heGod who bad given it them. They are rightly punished by exile to a strange land, where they must miss his gracious go,ernment. •