HOMILETICS. Vera. 4-6.-Persistent depravity. I. PERSISTENT DEPRAVITY HUST BE DISTm- GUISHED FROM A CASUAL LAPSE INTO BIN. 1. This is marked by a constant hal>it of sin, a falling without rising again. The best man is often guilty of mistakes, but he soon seeks to recover himself (Ps. xxxvii. 24). His habit is upright, the direction be follows on the whole, though now and then be may lose ground for a short time, is right. But the man who is persistently depraved makes the wrong way his main course, and if he ever deviates from it does so accidentally or only under some tem- porary impulse, soon returning as by instinct to wallow in the mire, where only he feels at home (2 Pet. ii. 22). 2. This is characterized by absence of repentance after sinning. No man is heard to repent (ver. 6). After a good man has fallen into sin he is overwhelmed with shame, plunged into dark depths of grief, tortured with bitter pangs of contrition, like Peter when he "went out and wept bitterly." But the persistently depraved man feels no such distresses. The sun shines as brightly afrer he has contracted a new crime as before. His serene self-complacency is not ruffled by one spasm of inward revulsion. 3. This is characterized by an impetuous impulse to sin. A good man may fo.11 into sin. One who is persistently depraved rushes into it. To the former sin comes as defeat after a battle in which his better nature has fought and failed; to the latter it comes unresisted, welcomed: he "returneth to hi~ course" with eagerness, "e.s the horse rusheth into the battle." II. PERSISTENT DEPRAVITY IS FAB MORE CULPABLE THAN A. 0ASUAL LAPSE INTO BIN. All sin is culpable. Sin cannot be entirely accidental in any case, or it won Id cease to be sin. But persistent sin is by far the most evil form of sin. 1. A casual fall may be induced by powerful external temptation; persistent depravity must rise from. e.n internal appetite. 2. A casual fa.II may come e.s a sudden surprise when a man is otr his guard; persistent depravity must be cle,.irly perceived and consciously cherished. 3. A casual fall may be the result of a sudden outburst of passion which results in something npproaching temporary insanity; persistent depravity must be calm and cold-blooded, standing the test of reflection. This is altogether beyond what • could be anticipated. You are not surprised that a man should stumble occasionally in the darkness of this world, amidst the snares and pitfalls of temptation, with the natural weakness of humanity, or that he should sometimes miss his way or be lured aside from the right roa<l to pleasanter paths; but that he should not care to rise after falling, not think of returning when be sees the error of his wny, but should keep to it with a consistency which would be heroic in. e. better course,-such depravity is unnatw·al and monstrous.
Ver. 7.-A lessonfrom thB birds. It is interesting to observe that the Scripture references to natnral history a.re not directed so much to theologico.l arguments as to moral lessons. While questions concerning the being o.nd nature of God absorb almost the exclusive attention of the natural theologian, the prophet, who assumes the belief of his hearers in the immanence of God in Nature, is more concerned to show how she rebukes man for his own shortcomings o.nd incites to goodness by her mute example. The scriptural treatment is, therefore, more nearly followed by the regan\ for the human and moral aspects of nature in the spirit of Wordsworth am\ Ruskin, which is characteristic of the better thought of our own age, than by the cohl, prosaic examination of the phy6ical world, as simply affording ono section of the evidences uf religion, which was pursued in the days of Paley. I. THB nmDS REMIND us THAT WE ARE SURROUNDED BY DIVINE ORDINANCES. t:igratory bir<ls have their o.ppointcd ti•ucs. Every creature has its special vocatiou. 218 THE BOOK 01'' 'l'HE PROPHET JEUEMIAH. [en. Vlll, 1-22.