The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 173

kling, that seems in all respects like pure, wholesome water. But the skille,l chemist drops into it the fitting test, and at once the poisonous substance is precipitl\ted, and thus is made evident to all. Now, with all these deceits of which we have been telling, their true nature may be made manifest if we apply those tests which only the true peace of God will endure. For, if the peace in which we are trustin"' be a true one and not a deception, it will: 1. Alw:1.ys teud to the making of us holier: pnrer, more Christ-like. God's peace always does this, It "keeps our hearts and miuds in Christ Jesus,'' it" rules" in our hearts. 2, Stand under the hardest blows of misfortune and earthly sorrow. Listen to its voice: "'!'hough he slay me, yet will I trust in him;" "'l'he Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the Name of the Lord." Now, will peace such as springs from such sources as those told of help a man in straits like those of Job? 3. Be with him in death. 4. Have Chtist at the heart of it as its Alpha and its Omega, its beginning and its end, Ill. BOT OUR SUREST SAFEGUARD IS NOT IN OUR BEING ABLE TO DETE0T THE FALSE PEACE, BUT IN POSSESSING THE TRUE, 'That is ours when we surrender our souls to Christ. Then we shall have peace indeed. (1) Peace from fear of God's condemnation ; (2) peace from dread of guilt; ( 3) peace from the tyranny and oppression of "the evil one;" (4) peace from the crushing power of earthly sorrow; (5) peace from the terror of the grave and the judgment day; (6) peace in the conscious possession of the love of God. Such is the true "peace of God." Oh, how foolish, then, to barter that for the false and fatal pretences of peace which are for ever beguiling the hearts of sinful men ! May he who is " our Peace," even Christ, cause us to give heed to his own loving call, "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give yon rest" !-C. Ver, 15.-The sin against the Holy Ghost. I. Tms BIN 1s SET FORTH HEBE. For the sin is no one definite act, but a condition of mind which renders repentance hope- less and persistence in sin certain (cf. Revised Version, Mark iii, 29, where the truo reading is as there given, "is guilty of an eternal sin"). But is not this the condi- tion described in the text, described vividly, accurately? '!'hey had hardened themselves till repentance, yea, even shame, on account of" abomination" was utterly absent from tliem. "• They were not at all ashamed,' no tinge of it, not the least 'blush' was visible. Was it not certain that such people who would go on, as they did, in sin, were in danger of eternal sin?" Hence they had never forgiveness, and the prophet was forbidden (see eh. vii. 16) even to pray for them (cf. 1 John v, 16). II. OTHER INSTANCES OF IT OR .APPROXIMATIONS TO I'!). 1. Those who with unblush- ing effrontery ascribed Christ's holy ministry and his deeds of merciful might to Satanic power. They cried out," Show us a sign from heaven," implying that thus far he had only shown them signs from hell. 2. 'l'hose who were responsible for the cry," His blood be on us, and on our children!" And there are instances now. 'l'he condition of sbamelesmess in sin and of helplessness as to repentance may be, and we fear al: times is, reached. 'l'herefore note- 111. THE STEPS BY WHICH MEN REACH THIS CONDITION, 1. By disregard of the rebukes of conscience, stifling them, instead of going, as they would prompt, to tho mercy-seat, and there confessing the sin. 2. By persistence in sin. 3, By the com- mission of great sins. 4. By loss of self-respect. 6. By forfeiture of character and tho esteem of men. IV. !Ts nooM, "It bath never forgiveness." "They shall fall among them that fall; they shall be cast down, saith the Lord." Wherefore th,is? 1. Because sin an_d sorrow are linked together by a chain that cannot be broken. Therefore where there 1s eternal sin there must be eternal punishment. The latter keeps pace with the former, and doge its footsteps for ever. It cannot but be so. 2. Because such men are murderers of other men's souls. They are centres of rebellion against God, of deadly spiritual contacion. Blood-guiltiness is upon them, yea, they are steeped therein. 3. Because God could not be God and not abhor such condition of soul as this sin LetrayL , . , V. ITS SOLEMN LESSONS. 1. Cherish a holy hatred of em, for its tendency 1e ever to reproduce itself, and so to become eternal. 2. Beware of disregarding the monitor within-conscience, God's voice in our souls. To do so is to drive away the trusty en. v1. 1-30.] 'l'HE BOOK OF THE PROPHE'r JEREMIAH. lil