Ver. 5.-A dark prospect. If Jeremiah was ready to despair when he discovered the conspiracy of the men of Anathoth, how would he bear the news of the treachery of his own brethren? His condition under the lesser trouble made the prospect of greater trouble most alarming. The Divine admonition which such a situation showed him to need may be of value to others who may be repeating the experience of the prophet. l. DESPAIR UNDEB LESSER-TROUBLE MAKES THE ANTICIPATION OF GREATER TROUBLE A DARK PROSPECT. 1. Greater trouble may reasonably be expected. God usually pre- pares us for the endurance of trials by seuding them by degrees, and reserving the more severe till we have been trained to the endurance of milder ones. Few men can say that they have drunk the cup of so1Tow to the dregs, and none can know what bitter drops. mny yet be in store for them, 2. The advent of greater trouble is not itself an alarming fact. '!'rouble is fearful only in proportion as it strikes fear into us. If we are prepared to meet it we need have no terror. God can give strength equal to our requirement, and for the sterner trial the more abundant support, The man's trouble is greater than the child's, but so is the man's strength. 3. 'l'he one cause of alarm is in our weakness. If this is revealed before slight tests, it must be much worse when the strain is harder. The important point is not that after enduring the foot-race we shall fail in contending with the chariots, but that, failing in the one trial, we may expect only failure in the other. II. 'l'HE PROSPECT OF GREATER TROUBLE SHOULD HELP us TO DEAR THE LESSER. Some of us are too ready to" give way" at once. But there is more power of endurance in all of us than we are ready to acknowledge to ourselves. After the latest wrench of the rac).. we cry out that we can bear no more; yet another nnd still another turn is given, and we do bear it. The prospect of this possibility should make us husbnu<l our strength. The very sight of danger may be a stimulus to courage by inspiring a heroic spirit. Life is generally pitched in too low a key, nnd thus men whioe under slight smarts and shrink before mean difficulties. If the same men saw more impera- tive calls to energy nnd endurance, they would rouse themselves and call up latent powers which as yet lie slumbering unheeded. Ill. FAILURE DEFORE LESSER TROUDLE SllOULD LEAD US TO SEEK DETTEI\ MEANS FOR THE ENDURANOE OF THE GREATER. 1. It is more important that we should bo able to bear the greater trouble. This is a more serious matter, and defeat under it involves a more overwhelming disaster. Therefore it is exceedingly needful to learn the lesson of our weakness before this has brought us iuto I\ more tC'rrible con\1ition of distress. 318 THE IlOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH, [1:u. XII. 1-17.
2. It is also mo1·e d{(!iciiU to endure the severer strain. The strength which is barely sufficient for the cares and toils of a quiet home life will fail utterly if a man has to contend with lions in the wild thickets of the lonely Jordan valley. If health breaks down before the sofi breezes of summer, how will it stand bafore the frost and fog of winter? If the young man falls into vicious habits while under tho protection of· his father's homo, what will become of him when he goes out into the world? If the prospect of sickness and earthly sorrow fill one with hopeless distress, how will he pass through the valley of the shadow of death? how will he endure dea.th itself? 3. These questions should not make us despondent, but should drive us through selfs diffidence to seek the help of God. Fa.ilure in small things will be good for us if it teaches us a wholesome lesson on our own weakness, and so inclines us to· turn to a higher source of safety. Then we shall find that God's strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Cor. xii. 9). ,
Ver. 7.-1'he forsaken heritage. I. Goo REGARDS llIS PEOPLE AS ms IIERITAGE, The temple was God·'s house, the Jews were God's heritage. The Church is now the habitation of the Spirit of God, and her members are God's possession\ This fact implies: 1. That God d,vells with his people. 2. That he takes delight fa them. 3. That he may be expected to protect them from harm. 4. 'l'hat he has rights over them and claims their submission to himself. 5. That his honour is concerned with his people's conduct, so tha.t their wickedness is not a matter of indifference to him, but is an iosult to his Name. IL Goo MAY FORSAKE ms HERITAGE. God's people have no such" vested interests" that nothing can destroy their cle.ims upon him; The present ·enjoyment of God's favour is no guarantee that this will be perpetual. 1. History shows that God has forsaken his heritage in the past; e.g. the Jews, ancient Christian Churches of Asia. and Africa, individual Christi.ans who have fallen from the faith. 2. It is reasonable to expect that he will do this when honoilr. and righteousness require it.. Let us, there,. fore, not presume on the favour of God. • ' ill. Gon ONLY FORSAKES ms HERITAGE WHEN THAT HAS' BECOME CORRUPT. God never leaves his people till they leave him. He is not·cha.ngeable, capricious, arbitrary in his favours. His love never wanes, his grace never fails, his help and blessings are never limited. The change begins on man's side. It is found in rebellion against God. 1. In self-will. The heritage becomes like a lion of the forest-i.e. no longer tame, but swayed by its own wild passions. 2. In evil-doing. The lion is fierce and destructive -a beast of prey. 3. In direct opposition to God, The lion "cries out against" God. IV. Goo's HERITAGE 18 IN A TERRIBLE CONDITION WHEN· IT 18 FORSAKEN BY BIM, Birds and beasts of prey come up to devour the heritage. 1. It needs no positive :ace of God's to bring desolation on his sinful people. If he but withdraw his protection, the natural evils of the world and the special evils which they have provoked will be enongh to bring ruin on their heads. 2. God's people will suff/J'l' in an especial way by the withdrawal of the Divine presence. 'l'he heritage is "like a. speckled bird." It_ is strange, and so it draws upon itself opposition. The Jews were a. mark for the enmity of the heathen through the singularity of their national customs. Christians are often singled out for opposition from the world for similar reasons. If they have l?st their peculiar protection, their peculiar position and nature will invoke a pecttliar rum.