The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 172

will not be reserved for him who has been chargeable with blood-guiltiness like this? We observe- !. THAT IT IS AN ALL Too FREQUENT BIN. 1. The prophets of Judah and Jerusalem were guilty of it, notwithstanding ·that (1) they knew the truth; (2) they professed the truth ; (3) they were ordained to teach the truth. Still, out of all manner of evil motive they were guilty of this sin. Oh, let all who teach, whether in the pulpit, the home circle, or in the school, remember that their sacred charge and duty may not merely be imperfectly fulfilled-that it ever is; nor even neglected merely, sad as that is; but it may be utterly perverted, and that which was designed to be for our own and others' great good may become the means of our and their more terrible condemnation. From this may God save teachers and taught alike 1 2. And there are now those who are bidding men be at peace when there is no peace. (1) 'rhey who bid men be at peace on the ground of their moral integrity, their respectability of character, and of the righteousness with which they are credited amongst their fellow-men. Gcxl forbid that we should decry or depreciate the value of character, reputation, and integrity amongst men, No, indeed; but all the same we feel that it is a plea all too feeble, and one that cannot avail such as we are before the bar of the all-holy God. (2) They who teach men to trust in sacraments or Church ordinances of any kind. These, too, are precious in their proper place, but regarded as a valid claim to eternal life, apart from the disposition of the heart God wards, they will save no man, and he who trusts them or teaches others to trust them, is guilty of saying, "Peace, peace," etc. (3) They who rely on a faith which is fruitless in love to Gcxl and man. This is the characteristic of all forms of Antinomianism, and though that be " a way which seemeth right unto many men, the end thereof is death." 3. But let us remember that we may practically be preaching this fatal peace, Christian men and women, who do nothing for the salvation of those around you; who are eager about amusements, business, worldly position, and all such things, but who are unmoved or bnt very little moved at the ungodliness in the midst of which you live; what is the conclusion that others draw from this unconcern? Why, that you don't believe what you profess, and that therefore they need not either. And so you enconrage them to say, "Peace, peace," etc. Whose conscience is there that does not smite him here? and who of us is there that has no need of the prayer, "Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, 0 God, thou God of my salvation"? A.nd all who are unconcerned about their own eternal welfare, Fathers and mothers who have not sought the Lord, you will die in your sins if you repeut not; but you will die not to yourselves merely; you will drag your children down with you, for you are teaching them to be unconcerned and indifferent, when neither you nor they possess any true peace at all. 4. Bnt after all, those who are the most guilty of saying, " Peace, peace," etc., are sinful men to them- selves. 'l'he devil taught men the way very early in the history of our rnce. " Yo shall not surely die;" so he lyingly declared to our first mother, and she, all too willing to believe that there would be peace though she did disobey God, ruined herself, her husband, and all her children by that one deed. And ever Rince men who love to disobey have encouraged themselves in their sin by this fatal flattery of their souls of which our text tells. They did so in the days of Noah, " until the flood came an,l took them all away." See also Belshazzar's feast at tho height of merriment, when the handwriting appeared on the wall, and that night Babylon was taken and her king slain. So has it been with the Jewish people-in Jercmiah's time, and so in our Lord's, The Ciiptivity shattered that first false peace, and the utter destruction of Jerusalem the second. A.nd we are told it will be so at the last, in that "day when the Son of man cometh." Observe, then, some of the deceits whereby men beguile themselves into saying," Peace, peace," etc. They arc such as these: (1) 'l'he infinilo mercy of God. (2) "I am no worse than those who make a religious profession. If they are saved, i shall be too." (3) "Yes, I am going to repent and turn to God; I certainly mean to one day." ( 4) Religious profes~ion: "I am baptized and take tho sacrament." (6) Denying the truth of the Bible: "I have no proof that there is a God a heaven, or indeed that I have a soul. It is all a 'perhaps;'" sr- men say, A.nd ther~ are many other such deceits. But now- II. NOTE HOW THE LIE THAT IB IN ALL BUCH SAYING OF" PEACE, PEACE," ETC., MAY DE DETE0TED, A. man may hold up a phial of liquid that is colourless, clear, spar-  170 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAll. [on:. vr. 1-30.