The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 250

Vere. 22-24.-The knowledge of God the only real, "glory" of man. Comparison of the earthly acquisitions and properties of the natural man with those which are spiritual and Divine frequent in Scripture. In hi8tory and in life they are seen in com- petition. It is not that the one class of gifts is to be wholly despised and the other alone sought. A correct perspective must be established. It is the II glory" of a man that requires in the first place to be determined. After that is settled, all other things will take their clue place and precedency. J. THE II GLORY" OF IIIAN HOST DEPEND UPON THE END FOR WHICH HE HAS BEEN BROUGHT INTO EXISTENCE. ThIB is written in his nature, confirmed by providence, and made clear by revelation. In the words of the Westminster Catechism," The chief end of man is to glorify .God, and to enjoy him for ever." Everything else must be subordinated to this; but if pursued in its place, will show itself to be a perversion of his nature, and will end in calamity and misery. How very few care to satisfy them- selves upon this momentous question I Hence the necessity for the teachings and warnings of experience. 1. The" glory" of man will be declared by the manner in which the circumstances of his earthly lot affect it in the working out of thn.t end. Each of the qualities and properties upon which men usually pride themselves has been tried in this way and found deficient. The wisdom of the world has a thousand times been shown to be foJlishness before God. There are a myriad problems for which it has no key. 11 Might" has been reduced to nothingness by the least of the duties and experiences of the spiritual life. Disease and death can bring down the mighty from their sea.Mi, and stay the greatest worker at his task. Many a time has the cherished object after which one has laboured with apparent success been snatched a.way just when about to be attained. Aud "wealth" is similarly discredited. The moth aud the rust can corrupt the treasures of earth, and the thief breaks through and steals them from their most guarded security. 'l.'he accident of fortune may give or take away the greatest fortune. And when death comes, all these earthly possessions have to be left behind. They cannot avail for what lies beyond. How seldom are the.se gifts used for the highest end I And how unavailing of themselves would they be to secure it! 2. The "glory" of man must depend upon the success with which it contributes to secure that end. II. THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD IS INDICATED UNMISTAKABLY BY THESE TESTS AS THE ONLY TRUE "GLORY" OF HAN. God is identified with the ultimate aim of our being. He made us, and it is for him we live. Consequently, the better we know him, the better shall we be able to serve him. 1. lmitatio-11, of God will spring from the know- ledge of him. The more we know of him the more we must love him, and admiration will lead to resemblance in spirit and in life. "We love him, because he first loved us." 2. Knowledge depends on and leads to obedience. (John vii.17.) The knowledge of God sheds light upon the universe and lire, and directs the soul and body into the channels of health, happiness, and usefulness. 3. It is connected with and wlm.inates in Divine fellowship. In this way the character and presence of God are brought into closest contact with the spirit of man, his character is moulded into the image of the Divine eriginal, and the joys of communion deepen and enlarge into the blessedness of heaven. "This is life eternal, [even now] to know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."-M. Ver. 1.-The testimony of tears. Tears l\re an unusual, a strange end sight in a strong man. But here Jeremiah appears utterly broken down. He l\ba.ndons himself to a very agony of sorrow. His teus remind us of those of our Lon! and of St. Paul. But they are also a. relief to the overburdened heart. Like the cry of the sufferer in sore pa.in. We a.re glad when we behold one enduring some crushing sorrow enabled to pour forth his grief in tears. The heart-broken prophet has evidently felt them to be such a relief. His thoughts of his country's sorrows, when they lie too deep for tears, a.re greater than he can bear. Ho would, therefore, that he might be able continually to weep. But tears are admonitory. They bear a. very powerful testimony, which we shall do well to givo heed to. For they bear witness- I. 'l.'o HIS PROFOUND CONVICTIONS, 1. In regard to the truth of the message he has delivered. When,_ wo behold Gocl's servants, such as Jeremiah and St. Pa11l and others, labouring with all energy of soul, with infinite self-sacrifice, exposed to every form of  250 THE BOOK OF THE PROPH.E'J.' JEREMIAH. [oa. u. 1-26.