II. To PROFOUND COMPASSION'. He who has known the compassion of God for his own soul will, in proportion to the depth of that knowledge, feel compassion for the souls of otherd. Indifference and unconcern are no longer possible to him who knows the love of God when he sees men perishing in sin. "'l'he love of Christ constraineth" him. Aud the same compassion, thus begotten, leads him to mourn when the offer of God's mercy is refused. Snch tears, being interpreted, tell of bis passionate but useless desire that the sinner's doom had been averted. Cf. David's exceeding bitter cry, "0 Absalom, my son, my son I" etc. And they are made to flow the more freely by the remembrance that that lost condition might have been so altogether different. There was no necessity for it. That which could not have been avoided, which we feel to have been inevitable, we bear with more calmness. But when there is the conscious- ness, such as David had concerniog Absalom, that he might have come to au end so different, to an end as honourable and blessed as this was disgraceful and miserable, that reflection made his tears flow faster .than before. .And when it is not mere folly but grievous sin which has brought God's judgment upon men, then the compassionate heart grieves yet more; a further drop of bitterness is infused into the cup, and such tears as we are contemplating have this sorrow in them as well as the others we have spoken of. And that now there is no hope, no remedy,-this is the last and worst reflection which wrings the compassionate heart with uttermost grief. Jeremiah beholds the house of Judah "left unto them desolate;" the daughter of bis people not merely "hurt," but slain. How is it that, with like reasons for such corn passion as that of Jeremiah, we know so little of it? "Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy Law ''-so spoke God's servant in the hundred and nineteenth psalm. But who can say that now? Compassionate Saviour, give us of thy mind. III. To THE BEHOLDERS OF SUCH GRIEF. 1. .Are you workers for God, Then remember that disappointment and present failure have been the lot of many of the noblest of the servants of God. There is a goodly fellowship of such. 2. Are yon believers in God 1 Then remember his sure promise as to what shall follow this "sowing in tears," this "going forth weeping, bearing precious seed." We arc. not to think that we have seen the last result of our tc,il because that which we do see is so distressing. 3. .Are you ,·ejecler& of God 1 Then remember that God puts such tears "in his bottle," and they are treasured by him ; and their testimony, whilst it will be for the salvation of those who have shecl them, will bo far moro terrible judgment against those who have caused them. "Weep not for m<:," said our Lord on his way to the cross, " but weep for yourselves, and for your children .... If they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?" Yes, these tears tell of the sorrows of God's people, but they predict a worse sorrow still for his hardened foes. Look, theu, 0 thou who hardenest thyself against God, and ask thyself, "If this be the sorrow I have caused, what shall that be which I shall have to bear?" Remember that it is not only here that there are tears, but in the future abodo of the impenitent it is di,- tiuctly declared, " There shall be weoping." 'l'hen cease to causo such teard here, that you may never have to shed tears far more bitter there.-C.
Ver. 1.-The moral degradation of women. The expression, "tho slain of the daughter of my people," suggests this subject. Therefore we may thus apply tho prophet's words. Note- I. 'l'HE MORAL DEOilADATION OF THE DAUGHTEilB OF A PEOPLE IS A JUST CAUSE FOR THE DEEPEST SORROW. For think of what and how much is slnin in these slain ones. The ruin of health, and the early and often dreadful death, nro tho least that is s~ain. Happiness is slain-that of the victim, and of those to whom sho 1vns once prec10us. The joyous hopes once cheiished. The influence which might hnve been so pure a~d purifying, now corrupt and corrupting. 'l'he character once honoured, no:v drn~ged Ill the mire. The soul, in all its moral worth aud spiritual energies and desires, that toe) is slain. Therefore, when contemplating such cruelly slain onos, the prophoL's piteous cry of anguish is no more than such utter woe constrains. II. BuT BUCH SORilOW BHOUJ,D TURN INTO SOORN AND WRATH FOR THE SLAYERS OF THESE SLAIN. Beware of tho hideous complacency with which tho worhl regards snch urnnlerers. Pray to be kept from the paths of such "bloody men." III. HU'l' SUCH SORROW SHOULD ?-OT FOnoi,:•r '1'11.\'l' 'l'IIERE 1S A DIVINE SrmIT 'l'IIAT 252 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAll. [all. ix.1-26,