The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 167

And now ,'l"e ask- I. WHY SHOULD NOT THIS BE so? Many reply that if you find an adequate c11uso for any given effect, there is no need to look for any other. But, in answer, sec I let this book fall; what causes it to fall? The law of gravity will adequately oxpl~in it. But was that the real cause? Was not my will to let it/all that real cause? And so in human nffairs, we may see the immediate antecedent, but we have a right to ask, "What lies behind that?" You say, "Sufficiently plain motives led to such and such conduct;" but we ask, " Who brought these motives into action? who or what set them at work so that these results have come about?" Further- II. Goo IS A PERFECTLY HOLY BEING, AND THEREFORE MUST DESIRE TO HAVE ALL MORAL NATURES MADE LIKE UNTO HIMSELF. "Good and upright is the Lord, therefore will be teach sinners in the way." "The righteous Lord loveth righteousness;" hence we are bidden, " Give thanks at the remembrance of bis holiness," Hence it is certain that he will employ all means consistent with the nature be bas given us to bring our wills into Larmony with bis own. Therefore when we see a whole system of things, an entire course of events, tending to and actually producing this result-for the Captivity did cure Israel of their idolatry, they went no more after false gods, nor have they done so ever since-we at once put it down to him whose nature and whose will we know. III. A!>"'D OUR INDIVIDUAL CONSTITUTION SUPPORTS THIS VIEW. There are Divine laws for the body, the mind, the affections. And to bring us into harmony with his laws, which are the expression of his will, he has "begirt us round" with safeguards and guides which, if we heed, happy are we, but if we neglect, we suffer. It is certain that the health of our whole nature follows obedience to these laws; and, on the other hand, the misery which results from disobedience declares plainly his will, and shows that he is behind all those facts which we call the causes of these results, and is himself the Cause of them all. Now, this is true in the case of each single person. May it not, therefore, be true in the case of the world at large, and in regard to what we call "causes and effects" ? Then note further- IV. THE UNITY OF PURPOSE WHICH IS SEEN THROUGHOUT THE ORDERING OF THE UNIVERSE, SO FAR AS WE CAN TRACE, SEEMS TO INDICATE ONE MIND GOVERNING ALL, Read history, or such a book as Creasy's 'Decisive Battles of the World,' and note bow each great struggle has helped forward the advance of humanity, has bettered the condition of mankind, so that it is terrible to think what, in many instances, would have been the consequences had the even.ts fallen out in an opposite way. The hand of God in history is clearly discernible by all who believe heartily in the living, all- holy, all-loving God. V. And, of course, THE WHOLE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE SUPPORTS THIS DOCTRINE. (Cf. the story of Joseph, and his answer to his brethren, "It was not you that sent me hither, but God.") VL Learn in CONCLUSION: 1. To cast out from your minds every idea or thought of chance, fate, or any mere haphazard coming about of events. 2. How seriously we ougU to look at the events of our own lives, and inquire God's meaning in regard to his dealings with us. We are not to be drawn off from this by the imagination that our little lives are far too insignificant for God to care for or direct Does not God paint the roadside flower, the wing of the moth? Is there anything minute or insignificant in his esteem? 3. Rejoice and be exceeding glad. "Our Father's at the helm." "What we know not now we shall know hereafter." Therefore "rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him."-C. Ver. 7.-Sin compared to a "fountain." I. THE COMPARISON JUST. For: 1. Natural• ness. A fountain or spring burstini out on the hillside excites no surprise as if it were an unheard-of, an extraordinary thing. Nor does the outflow of sin from the human heart. 2. Continuance. The streams of each may sing- .. But men may come and men may go. But we flow 011 for ever." 8. Having thei'r source "from within." Out of the depths both alike come. 4,, Uncl.angeableness in character. What they were once they are always. 6. Spon• ou. vt. 1-30.] THE 13001{ Oil' 'l'HE PilOPHET JEREMIAH. 165