The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 301

a lonelr man. This isolation of bis lot was. bis grief, but the persistence of the succession of the prophets proved the unswervmg purpose of God ultimately to save, not only Israel, bnt the "'orld. There might be from time to time but one or two who could say ".Amen" to his judgments, but some day the people as a whole would themselves endorse and approve them. .And soon in the "fulness of the time" Christ would come, who is the faithful and true Witness, the ".Amen" of all the Divine Law and promise. In his world-wide reign as our Representative, Prophet,· Priest, and King, through faith in him, the race will be constituted into a new Israel, to keep the word of God. In this transfer of influence the law is that the communication shall proceed from the higher consciousness and consecration to the lower; the travail for souls, etc., being but a detailed sponsorship, one day to be done away with, when "all sl::.ould know him, from the least even to the greatest."-M. Ver. 10.-SpirituaZ atavism: or, the sins of the fathers. There are punishments and tonsequeuccs of ancestral sin which reach even to descendants of remote generations. l'his seems to imply a descent of responsibility-a subject full of difficulty and mystery. 'l'he unity of the race in its sin and misery is, with St. Paul, an argument for the probability and even certainty of its unity in the grace of salvation. 'l'he doctrine of original sin is treated in Scripture as antecedent to the doctrine of salvation by faith in Christ. In connection with this subject, notice- I. THE INFLUENCE OF HEREDITY. In modern times the laws of heredity have been scientifically investigated, and startling results brought to light. 'l'endency can be traced from parent to child in gradually deepening lines and more confirmed manifesta- tions. Spirit as well as body acknowledges this law, and, whether in health or disease, its operation is now placed beyond all dispute. But another law or modification of this law is perceived working alongside of it, namely, the law of atavism, in which not the general tendency towards improvement or degeneration is observed, but an apparently arbitrary and capricious recurrence of ancestral peculiarities that had long disappeared from the race. Of this nature seems to have been the present sin of Israel. It was not in the line of continuous succession, but a recurrent phase after intervals of normal and religious life. Thus it showed that the power of evil had only been "scotched," not killed; and that it was ready on the slightest provocation to assert itself in the rankest forms. How much that is mysterious in the conduct of individuals can be traced to the influence of such a principle I The two selves of every man represent influences that have been at work in his progenitors from remotest time. II. How SOLEMN THE I:ESPONSIDILITY OF PARENTS, No care can be too great in relation to those we bring into the world. Our own nature and character should be diligently cultivated, and the utmost attention paid to parental example, family influence, aod educative circumstance in their upbringing. It will not do to ignore the fact that, from generation to generation, there are transmitted both physical and spiritual tendencies which have largely to do with the formation of chamcter and tho deternlining of destiny. For good or for evil, the parent e:itercises a despotio influence upon all whom he brings into the world. JIL YET THE ACCOU1''TADILITY OF TIIE CHILDREN REMAINS. In tho sad entail of evil there are many bright instances of bold and pronounced departure from ancestml sin. The individual is not wholly subject to predetermining influences. If so, moral freedom would be but an illusion. A power is required to break the tyranny of inherited sin, and this is provided in the grace of God. 'l'he gospel is the development of this grace as an efieclual and adequate means of salvation.-M. Ver. 14.-The 6taying of interces6ion. The desperate condition of Israel is shown in this prohibition. How great must have been the sin of God's people, ere prnyer on their behalf could have been forbidden I What could haYe been the reason of this? l. WHIL!!T 81N 18 PERSISTED IN THERE OAN DE NO REMOVAL OF DIVINE JUDOMENT!l, 'l'he righteousness of God has, after Jong-suffering mercy, brought these upon his people. 'l'he wisdom of their imposition is infallible; and they spring from the deJ!th~ of a~ inscrutable, infinite love. Whilst, therefore, the condition which involved their 11npos1- tion i? unchanged, it would be presumption to suggest their rcmo!al. It is rather for the nghteous conscience of saints sorrowfully to approvo the action of the Supremo ou, XJ. 1-23.J 'l'llE IlOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. 301