The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 211

the sake of their children, that they might not be harmed, keep back from sin to which but for ~uch motive they might have yielded I 2. It deepens repentance for ~in. (CF. 2 Sam. xx1v, 17.) 3. It makes sin more hateful to us. What must that be which destroys not us only, but our children, innocent of all sin? And it may be that the thus furnishing of nd<litional safeguards against sin, and of additional motives to obedience, was one reason in the Divine mind for constituting us all "members one of another." IV. AND THE THOUGHT 01!' THE INNOCENT VICTIM 01!' SIN, OUR LORD JESUS, IS •rHE MOST BALUTABY OF ALL, For he transforms us from victims into victors-victors over the condemning, the attractive, the defiling, the enslaving power of sin. And it is as we "look unto" him, as our souls habitually trust him to do all this for us, that we cease to be victims of sin, and become victors over it. Let us give glory to him by accepting his offered grace.--C, Vers. 21-28.-The indispensable condition of well-being. This is laid down in ver. 23-obedience to God. It is the teaching of the entire Ilible, of our Lord, the prophets, his apostles. The gospel is for this-to secure it more perfectly; and the sacrifices of the ancient Law were for the same reason. Ilut men have ever rebelled against this. They were doing so in Jeremiah's time. They sought to make their sacrifices and burnt offerings a substitute for the obedience God commanded. Hence, as Hezekiah was compelled to destroy the venerable relic, the brazen serpent, which, intended as an aid to faith, had become the object of faith, so now Jeremiah was com- pelled to speak slightingly of the appointed sacrifices and worship of the temple for the very same reason. Ver. 21: he mocks at their repeated sacrifices, and (ver. 22) declares that at first God never desired or commanded any such things---0nly that they should obey his voice. Re implies that they were afterwards given but as safeguards and helps to their obedience, which, without them, could not be secured. That obedience (ver. 23) he emphasizes as the one thing needful-the only thing for which God cared. but which they had persistently and, what was worse (ver. 26), increasingly refused. So that now (ver. 27) they were fixed in their disobedience, and no words, however divinely authorized, however earnestly urged, would have effect, end there was nothing left but to declare (ver. 28) their utterly abandoned character and con- dition. And the like conduct is seen still. Meu still are ever attempting to evade the Divine rule of life. By reliance on sacraments, profession of religion, adherence to orthodox creeds, resting in feelings and periods of religious excitement when their emotional nature has been deeply stirred,-in almost anything rather than in that God faith in whom is shown only by obedience to his will. And the habit of this grows, and its results, as of old, become worse and worse, and all exhortation and warning fall on deaf ears and hardened hearts, and men still become as those who "obey not the voice," etc. (ver. 28). Let us remember that this is the subtle temptation of all ages, all Churches, and all people; and let us pray that God would write upon our hearts the sure truth that the one only evidence of our having so "named the name of Christ" as to be" in him" is our" departing from iniquity."-C. Ver. 29-ch. viii. 3.-The harvest of sin. I. WE READ IN OTHER SoRIPTURES OF" THE JOY OF HARVEST." Such shall be the joy of God's redeemed people when his purposes of grace are fulfilled in and for them. It will be a joy unspeakably glorious. TI. BUT HERE WE HAVE PORTRAYED ANOTHER HARVEST-that of sin. Here there is no joy, but bitter lamentation and weeping and woe ( ver. 29). We are showu : 1. The seed from which this harvest springs (ver. 30)-the doing evil in the sight of the Lord; setting their abominations in his house (ver. 30). 2. We see its growth-in open ~nd unblushing idolatry ; in the debasement of their nature. 'fhey had come to sacrifice their own children to their idol-god, to such horriblo cruelty had they _sunk do_wn. 3. We see its harvest, (1) in death, widespread and terrible (vers. 32, 33); (2) m the flight of all joy and gladness (ver. 34); (3) in public and <leep dogradation (eh. viii, 1, 2); (4) in utter despair (eh. viii. 3). Ill. AND THOUGH DIFFERING IN OUTWARD CIRCUMSTANCE, YET IN SUDSTANCE AND REALITY THE BAME HARVEST WILL EVER SPRING FROM THE BAME SEED. 1. .All evil- doing is such seed. And sheltering thia unt\cr the cloak of rcligion,-this is the same JF:TIF.MU.ll, p  THE BOOK OF 'l'HE PROPHET JEREMIAH. [oH. vu. 1-34-.