The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 171

ah_...ays involves the outrageous wickedness which is told of in their prophecies; it can ex1stand yet never" commit abomination," as did these to whom Jeremiah npoke. It is found in company with much outward religiousness, much moral propriety, much amiability of character; but wherever it is, Christ's word concerning all such is," Ye must be born again." It is in its nature fierce, savage, unsubdued still. It often seems t-0 be tamed, and moves about soft-footed and gently as if it never could <lo harm; but Jet some lure be held out to it, some provocation be given, and then iti1 f<•rocity and all its hideous evil will reveal itself at once. Accustomed as we are to see this evil nature held in check by the usages of society, the habits of civilized life and a refined selfishness, we are often blind to its true character, and "marvel" much at our Saviour's reiterated word," Ye must be born again." II. ITS EFFECTS. 1. Disregard of and dislike to the Word of God. "To whom shall I speak?" said the prophet. He could get no one to listen to him. And this is the too frequent experience of our own day. How deserted the churches are, and where they are bettel' attended, what kind of listening is it that prevails? Granted the intolerable dulness of many preachers, but the evil is not probed when this is said. 'l'he true cause is " the uncircumcised ear" that Jeremiah tells of. But not only have men " no delight iu" the W'ord of God, they count it" a reproach." They come to be ashamed of its being thought that they should regard it with interest or have any real care for it. The tone adopted regarding those who do delight in God's Word is one of scorn and contempt. 2. Men go on unchecked in sin (cf. vers. 13, 15, and passim). Surely it is a question not merely for the Church, but for thoughtful men of the world, whether it be well for any community or people to be throwing aside all the restraints of God's Word, a.s so many are doing. The history of Israel of old is a beacon-light, warning the people of our day of what comes from despising the Word of the Lord. 3. God's judgments come upon such people (ver. 12). 4. Men become shameless and hardened (ver. 15). 5. The heart of God's faithful servants is sorely troubled (cf. ver. 10). Here the prophet mourns over their "uncircumcised ears." Ill. ABETTORS AND '.MINISTERS TO TIIIS EVIL. 1. Unfaithful priests and prophets (ver. 13). 2. The hardening effects of the people's own sin. IV. THE REMEDY. Yet more impassioned and earnest ministry of the Word. There must be no giving up of work or abandoning it in despair. But-as ver. 11-more intense devotedness in the endeavour, futile as it may appear, to save men from death. 2. The fiery disciplines of God. He is "a consuming fire;" and the fire of his love will burn fiercely on until the evil on which it fastens is burnt out of the soul, the Church, the nation, he loves. Oh, the awfulness of the love of God I If God were not love, there might be a possibility of a soul being allowed to perish in its sins and to go its own way to death unchecked; but as the fondest mother will subject her child to terrible suffering for the saving of its life, so, too, will God. CONCLUSION. What a summons comes to us from these truths: (1) to seek the renewing grace of the Spirit of God ; (2) to take heed how we hear 1-C. Ver. 14.-The vampires of the soul. There is a hideous creature called the vampire bat, that is said to destroy its victims by sucking their life-blood. Whilst thus destroying them, it gently fans them with its wings, and so keeps them in a profound slumber, from which the probabilities are that they will never wake. And what other a.re they who Juli the wuls of sinful men to the sleep of death by "saying, Pence, peace; when there is no peace"? No greater crime can be imagined than this of which our text tells. The physician who should pamper a man in his disease, who should feed his cancer or inject continual poison into the system, whilst at the same time he promised soUI1d health and a long life,-such a physician would not be one-half so criminal e.s the professed religious teacher who should knowingly bid those entrusted to his charge to Le at ease and to t.ake comfort, when he ought to be crying," Woe unto them that are at ease in Zion!" The pilot who should pretend to steer a ship toward its proper haven, but all the while was of intent drh·ing her upon unseen rocks, would not be a worse traitor than the man into whose hands the helm of human souls is entrusted, and whose professed duty it is to steer them towards Christ, but who, instead of so doing, was guiding them to utter ruin, by flattering them that all was well when all was ill. In ihe great day, when all shall render up their account to God, what awfulness of doom cir. vr. 1-30.] THE BOOK. OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH.