The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 235

moral condition of the world, in view of the fact that God's " saving health" in the gospel hae eo long been made known to it. Consider- !. THE DIVurn REMEDY FOR THE MORAL MALADIES OF THE BUMAN RACE. Thi, remedy is the spontaneous fruit of the love of God. On the ground of that love we may justly expect such a remedy. It ie not likely that a God of infinite benevolence would leave the human race to perish. '!'hough redemption is "of grace," yet there is every- thing to make it antecedently probable. Though nature contains no revelation c,f it, yet to the eye on which the light of the gospel has once fallen, the whole constitution -:if the universe is full of dim prophecies and promises of some such ti-iumphant grace. The spirit of boundless beneficence that pervades and governs it-the fact that for every want there is a supply, for every appetite that which gratifies it, for every danger a safeguard, for every poison its antidote; above a.II, the silent witness in favour of mercy that is graven more or less deep on 11very human heart ;-all this is so much in harmony with the great redemption as in a sense to anticipate it. But it is facts, not proba- bilities, with which we have to deal. The gospel is God's actual answer to our human necessities, the sovereign remedy his love has provided for the sins and sorrows of the world. He heals them by taking them upon himself in the person of Jesus Christ his Son. "He was wounded for our transgressions," etc. (Isa. liii. 5); "Who his own self bare our sins," etc. (1 Pet. ii. 24); "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound," etc. (Rom. v. 20, 21). Note respecting this Divine remedy: I. It goes to the root of the disease. It does not effect a mere superficial reformation, as human methods for the most part do; does not flatter with the appearance of health while leaving the malady to strike its root.s down deeper and deeper into the soul. It reaches at once the secret springs of all mischief, destroys the germs of evil in human nature, changes the outward aspects of the world's life by giviag it a" new heart." 2. It is universal in its application. All national diversities, all varieties of social condition, of age, of culture, of intellectual development a._p,d moral life, etc., are alike open to its applica- tion, and it is the same for all. 3. It is complete in its efficacy, Every element of human nature, every department and phase of human life, bears witness to its healin~ power. A perfect manhood and a perfect social order a.re the issue it works out. 4. It stands alone, not one among many, hut absolutely the only remedy. It enters into no kind of competition with other methods of healing. It has the solitary and supreme authority of that which is Divine. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name," etc. (Acts iv. 12). II. 'l'BE HINDRANCES TO ITS UNIVERSAL El!'FIOIENOY. " Why then is not," etc.? The reason lies, not in any want of fitness in the remedy, or in any lack of power or willingness in him who provides it, but in certain human conditions that nullify its action and thwart his purpose. 1. In the self-delusion that leads men to think that they have no need of cure. "They that aro whole need not a. physician," etc. (Matt. ix. 12). 'l'he sense of moral sickness ie the first step to healing. ::l. In the vain self-trust by virtue of which men dream that they can cure themselves. How many and how plausible are the expedients by which the world seeks to rid itself of its own maladies! How slow is human nature to confess its helplessness I 3. In the obstinacy of spirit that refuses the Divine method. "Are not Abana a.ad Pha.rpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the watcrH of Israel?" etc. (2 King8 v. 12). Anything rather than God's way of healing by the blood of atonement and the regenerating grace of the Spirit ! 4. In the lethargy and neglect of those whom God has called to minister the healing power. Who shall say how much of the continued sin and misery of the world lies at the Church's door? If all who have themselves known the virtue of thi~ ~uvereign be.Im were but more thoroughly in earnest in their efforts to commend it and to persuade men to apply it, how much more rapidly would the health of human society everywhere be recovered 1-W. Vera. 1, 2.-The bones of the dead idolaters cast out before their cities. I. AsK HOW THIS SPOLIATION COMES TO PASI!. Ono ca.nuot suppose that it came by the intention of Jehovah. Rather would it arise asa necessary pa.rt of wholesale pillage. Considerable treasures miaht be lying in the tombs of these grandees of Israel, and much might also have been hidden in them for purposes of safety, and therefore, seeing that this hideoUB devastation had to happen, it was fitting to call attention to it beforehand. It was  234 THE BOOK OF THE PROPllE'l' JEREMIAH. [oH. vm. 1-22'.