ment. The true material wealth of every land, when we get at the substance of it lies in what its soil produces; and when men boast, as they are apt ti) do, that their'own land has gotten them their wealth, it is needful that Jehovah should show them how completely he controls the roots and fruits of everything that he has made to grow for human food. No wonder evil comes to those who do not say in their hearts," Let us now fear Jehovah our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest" (eh. v. 24). Malachi puts into striking words the fundamental reason for the sore complaint we have been considering, and the way in which it may be brought to cease (eh. iii. 9-11).-Y. Vere. 21, 22.-Why the hurt of Israel is not healed. I. IT IS NOT FOR WANT OF' EARNESTLY CALLING ATTENTION TO THE HURT. Jeremiah bad wearied and vexed hi~ fellow-countrymen by his persistent warnings. In ver. 21 he insists on how the hurt of Israel had become his hurt. In one sense he was not hurt, for he had kept clear of all idolatrous and unjust ways; he was in a different service and different kind of occupat.ion. But though separated thus, he was also united even as a member to the rest of the body, and had to suffer where he had not sinned. His fellow-countrymen, perhaps, sai<l to him, in substance if not in so many words, "Leave us to go our way, and go you yours; if we sin, we sin, and if we suffer, we suffer, and it is no concern to any but ourselves." The sinner in his suffering and his heart-corruption must be a cause of great trouble to those who are trying to serve God, They cannot go by on the other side and leave him. No matter how self-occupied one may have been before he came under the control of the Divine will, afterwards he must occupy himself with such things as concern the spiritual health and blessedness of all mankind. Jeremiah sets us a great example in thus speaking of himself as being individually wounded. If sinners continue careless, impenitent, incredulous as to the wrath of God and their pitiable state of alienation from him, there is all the more need that God's people should feel instead of them. These Israelites could not say they were left without warning and urgent remonstrance, for the man upon whom the business of warning had been laid cried and mourned over the troubles of others, because in a very deep seuse they were his own. Vain, therefore, wns it for the people, in after years, amid the gloom of exile and bereavement, to say they had not been properly warned. II. IT WAS NOT FOR WANT OF A MEDICAMENT. In wounds of the body, Israel knew where to go. They found balm in Gilead, and Gilead was not far ofJ, eveu supposing they had al ways to go there to get the balm. Balm of Gilead might bo made to grow nearer than Gilead. Thus we see the medicament was easily procured-a very important consideration. The incense for the altar they brought all the way from Sheba, but the balm for healing grew much nearer. Easiness of procurement., however, would have been little without cft1ciency, A certain remedy brought from the ends of the earth is better than a doubtful one near to home; only, of course, there must be foresight to la.y in a stock, so that it will be at hand when wanted. Evidently this balm of Gilead which grew within Israelite territory was a famous and trusted balm. Only some popular and widely known agent of healing would have served the purpose of tbo prophet for quoting here. And is it not plain that the God who thus provi,lcd for bodily wounds a balm so easily obtained and so efficient in its action, might abo be trusted to provide an available and thorough cure for the worst of spiritual ills? Assuredly the prophet means that an affirmative and encouraging answer is to be given to his question. There is balm in Gilead. There is peace for tho guilty con- science, purity for the turbid and defiled imagination, strength for the weakened will. Tho springs of all our pollution and pain can be dried up, and their placo know them no more for ever. III. IT WAS NOT FOR WANT OF A PHYSICIAN. The medicament is good, but it may require to be applied by a skilful am] experienced hand. 'l'he physician can do nothing without his medicaments, e.nd the medicaments are oftentimes nothing without tho physician. A physician is needed to prepare the way for saving truth, to apply it iu its most efficacious order, and to press it home in closo and vigorous contact with that which has to be healed. The balm of Gilead is not given that it may be trilled with, that it may film over deep evils with a deceptive appearance of removal. In applyiu<> that be.Im there me.y have to be pain, intense pain for a time, in order that a wors~ THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. [cu. 1x. 1-213.
pain may be for e~er tak.en away. The pain coming from self-indulgence must be s?cceeded by t~~ pam commg from self-denial. Men have to discover that the pains of sm are the sm1tmgs of God, and when they have made this discovery they will be in a fair way to learn that only he who smites can also hel\l, Do not let us unjustly complain of incurable ills; let us rather confess that we are much in the condition of th.e poor ":oman who, after spending. much on many physicians, found, by e. simple faith touchmg the true Source of healing, what she had long vainly sought. lV. THE. REASON PLAINLY LAY WITII THE rE.o~LE THEMSELVES. '!'hey would listen to no warn mg. Balm was offered, and the phys1c1au's skill to apply it, but they would no~ come to be h~aled. They preferred the pleasures of siu along with its risks ail(l pams. '!'hat their state was bad they knew, but they believed it was not near so bad as the prophet made it out to be. Only physicians e-an tell how many cases of bodily disease might be cured if the sick were willing to go to the root of the matter and mend their habits as to eating and drinking, working and playino-, Io-nora~ce indifference preju~i~, and unblus~ing !u~t of the flesh l!e at t.he botttm of much bodily disease; e~plammg both how. it ongm~tes and how. it contmues. And similar causes operate with regard to such ills as affi1ct the consc10usness of the entire man. Sinners must have a will to go to Jesus if they expect healing and life, and then life more abun- dantly.-Y.
EXPOSITION.