Ill. Goo's PECULIAR RELATION WITH ms PEOPLE IS AN UNSPEAKABLE BLESSYNG TO THEM, 1. He makes them his inheritance, i.e. prizes them as property, values them "as the apple of his eye" (Deut. xxxii. 10), as bis "peculiar treasure" (Mai.iii. 17). If God showers down upon all his creatures mercies countless as the stars of heaven, what must be the wonder and the glory of their state whom God thus prizes and marks for special favour I 2. They find in him their Portion. (1) The Portion is God, not the gifts of God, for the Giver is better than his gifts. God is more to his people than all he bestows upon them. (2) This portion is independent of all earthly circum- stances; it may be enjoyed in sickness, in poverty, in human contempt. (3) It is the highest blessedness of the soul-enjoying God, living in the light of his love, receiving the essential blessedness of Heaven. IV. 'l'HE BLESSING OF THIS PECULIAR RELATIONSHIP WITH Goo IS OPEN TO ALr, MEN. The Jews too often rested their claim on inherent national rights-their birth- rights. But the New Testament declares the spiritual Israel to be the true Israel (Gal. vi. 15, 16), and this Israel is composed of all who walk "according to the rule" of faith in Christ. Therefore the broad invitation for all to follow Christ opens the door for all to the closest relationship with God. If all are invited to Christ who is the Way, all may become God's peculiar inheritance, and find their Portion in him (1 Pet. ii. 9). Vers. 23, 24.-0onfession and correctim. I. GENUINE CONFESSION INVOLVES A CLEAR RECOGNITION OF DUTY AND A WILLINGNESS TO RECEIVE NECESSARY CORRECTION, 1. '!'here must be a recognition ef duty. We cannot confess the wrong till we know the right. Conscience awakes only when a standard of right outside ourselves is per- ceived. 2. There must be a willingness to i·eceive necessary correction. If we make honest confession of sin, we imply that we desire to be free from it, But a right under- standing of our own condition in the light of God'11 requirements makes the necessity of correction apparent. II. A CLEAR RECOGNITION OP DUTY WILL SHOW THAT Tms CONSISTS IN SELF-All~'EGA- TION TO A. HIGHER WILL. The essence of sin is self-will. The first sin was an net of disobedience. All wickedness is a rebellion against a supreme authority. Man is not free to live to himself, sw1Lyed oniy by his own lawless caprice. He has a vocation to fulfil. I. He has no right to go his own way. He is a servant. He is lawfully subject to a. righteous Lord, before whom duty requires him to say, "Not my will, but thine, be done." 2. He has not light enough to direct his own steps. Future accidents cannot be anticipated. The ultimate effects of the simplest nction are not to be traced. beforehand. Hence the need of a higher direction. 3. He has not power to succeed in his own way. If he starts by himself, making the awful experiment of r1 self- sustained pilgrimage through the toils and storms of life, he will assuredly make ship- wreck. Our duty is not to live for self, nor oven for God in our own way or by our own unaided strength, but to do his will, in his way, by bis aid. Thus the Christ:.:111, looking for authority, guidance, and strength in Christ, is taught to say, "'l'o me to live is Christ." Ill. A WILLINGNESS TO BEOEIVE CORRECTION ARISES FROM A PERCEPTION OF ITS JUSTICE AND UTILITY WHEN VU.WED IN THI!: LIGHT OF 'l'HE nEQUinEMENTB OF DUTY. 1. It must be 'tecognized as just, not only merited, but coming in a fair degree. We could not willingly accept a correcting chastisement which was disproportioonte to guilt. 2. It must be recognized as given on principles of righteousness, not out of vindictive wrath. 8. It must be recognized as sent for a merciful purpose. It is cor- rection, not simply retribution. 'l'his is wholesome, and given, not in anger, which would be fatal (Ps. ii. 12), but in love (Prov. iii. 12). Such correction we should not murmur under, but welcome, accept as a blessing, and even pray for. But we shall ouly do this when we are impressed with a right sense of duty, which makes us acknow- ledge that we are not to live for ourselves, and must be subdued aod trained by all necessary means to submissi~n_ and ?b~di?nce and a true f~eling of our ?wn_ helpless- ness, requiring the help of D1vme d1sc1pl_me. Because man i way 1s not 10 h1wself he may naturally ask for wholesome correction.
JEREUIAft, 'l' 2,4 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. [oa. x. 1-26.