HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHOTIS. Ver. 1,-..4. wicked city spared/or the sake of one saint. The challen~e is very bold o.nd striking. It proves how thoroughly the prophet, as taught by tho Spirit, had read the national corruption. At the same time it furnishes n gauge of the long-s~fl'e~ing mercy of God, and the influence for good of one true man, Jerusalem, lhe clnef city, is chosen as representing what is best and most influential in the nation; and its streets and lanes as the haunts of the multitude, the merchants, the artisnas, and common people who would represent tho general public morality. It is as if he had said, "In practi~al life, amid the miscellaneous throng, seek for tho just and honourable man.'' What light this throws upon- I. THE EXTENT OF CORRUPTION P0SSIDLE IN HUMAN NATURE I The Jewish metropolis hn,l been highly favoured. 'l'he priesthood had its betul-quartcrs there. 'l'be chief 120 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JmREMIAH. [mt. v. 1-31.
messages of tl1e 11rophct.s ha,l been delivered in its precincts. It was the centre of influence, nation,tl spirit, and intelligence. Yet the effect of all this was morally nnd spiritually nil. Worse even than Sodom and Gomorrah in actual spiritual condition, as certainly it would be far less tolerable for it than for them in tho day of juul(ment. Ideally it was the city of the saints and of heavenly pence and order; actually its temple was a den of thieves, and its streets the scenes of universal dishonesty, godless- ness, and corruption. .As has been said of a certain metropolis of Christendom, it would app&'lr to ha,·e been the case thnt "the more churches the less religion." Allowing it to be a rhetorical exaggeration, it was nevertheless a terrible statement to be able to make. But the great cities of the modern world havo filled with a like despair the minds of the wisest thinkers. The measure of man's possible degeneration and depranty who can fix? n. 'l'RE IMPORTANCE OF INDIVIDUAL INFLUENCE IN SPIDITUAL THINGS I The spectacle of Abraham praying for the cities of the plain is most impressive. But may it not be paralleled by the unconscious influence of good men? Even accepting the statement as a challenge, was it not a great thing to say that one man by his holiness could have saved the city? Suppose there had been such a man. One can imagine what would l,ave been bis sorrow at the universal evil, and his feeling of helplessness and useless- 1,css amid the prevalent irrcligion. Yet would his presence there be no light matter, no Yaiu thing. 'Though he knew it not, he would have been the saviour of the people- i ·nmediately from the judgment of God, possibly in the future from the sin that was ,icstroying it The value, therefore, of individual influence in spiritual matters is incal- culable; and no Christian can say that he is of no use. Godward the prayer of the faithful may soar in constant intercession and mediation; manward his character and works are a constant testimony to the unbeliever. Ill THE INFINITENESS OF GoD's LONG-SUFFERING LOVE. The presence of one good man in the wicked city would have been an appeal to God's iustice that could not be tlcspised. He could not "destroy the righteous with the wicked." But far more would it have been an appeal to his love. 'l'he hope of the future would have been wrapped up in that solitary saint. In him grace would find a secret sanctuary, and the forces of rnlvation a vantage-point from which to sally forth to the rescue of perishing souls !lnd the work of national, yea, of world-wide, regeneration. The judgments of God are not inflicted arbitrarily or in haste. He has "no pleasure in the death of the wicked." Any reasonable excuse for merciful intervention or delay is welcome. Countless acts of mercy and forgiveness, countless opportunities for repentance, have occurred ere the n plifted axe has dealt its terrible stroke. Learn, then, from this that: 1. The life as the prayer of a righteous man availeth much with God. 2. That God will save us if we wal only let him ; and 3. He will begin his work of salvation from the least, and carry it on even to the greatest. JV. THE REASONABLENESS AND RIGllTEOUSNESB OF VICARIOUS BUFFERING THROUGH CliRIBT.-M. Ver. 3.- What God requires of man. "0 Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth?" This is better rendered, "0 Lord, look not thine eyes for fidelity?" Faith is the grand requirement. It is the condition of communion between man and God, and man and man. Scripture lays stress on this. Faith cannot be a mere logical abstraction or a condition beyond the reach of man. It roust be practical-within the power of the will, and such as may be reasonably looked for in all, "Fidelity," the Old '.l'cstament equivalent for the New Testament "faith," has its expression in reality, honesty, thoroughness. These are the marks of the man God delights to honour, and they are the obligation of all (cf. Micah vi. 8). I. THE SIMPLICITY, REASONADLl!:NEBS, AND NECESSITY OF IT. God could not ask for less than man demands of his fellow, and society re 1uires for its Rtability and advance- ment. It is obviously independent of the accidents of culture, fortune, or position; and for any solid understanding between God and man, absolutely indispensable. We arc God's stewards, servants, representatives, etc. Having thiB, we have ell; wanting this, all our other acquirements are vain. 11. 'l'liE SCARCITY Ol" n•. .A little while ago we read that not a just man could be found iu all Jerusalem. Here it is said tLat even in the most sacred oath there i~ false clt. v. 1~31.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. 121
swearing. The want of this quality, rather than its presence, strikes the inquirer. This it is that gives rise to wars, jealousies, selfishness, 11in in all its forms. III. THE BEASON FOR ITS ABSENCE IN MOST HEN. Because men are sinners, alienated from the life of God and unconscious of his claims. The carnal nature is unable of itself even to be real, to be truly honest, or to discharge faithfully and completely the most ordinary duties. A supernatural aid is required. A Saviour must die. Through him the soul must be united with God in a true love and holy understanding. The better nature thus awakened, the trust and confidence and love thus created must be reinforced by the Spirit. How terrible tho thoughts, "Thou God seest me" 1 "Be not deceived: God is not mocked" I "His eyes are as a flame of fire" I "Tbe Word of Go,l is sharper than any two-edged sword," etc. I Who shall deceive that all-seeing One'? 'l'he eyes of Jehovah, reading the secrets of the soul, look for fidelity, for/aith.-M.