The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 342

they were, more than by' aught else, hindered from receiving the word of God. The inflated shape, the mean material, and the easily destroyed nature of those " bottles " to which he had likened them, as well as the arrogant boastful talk of the drunkard w_b?se doings theirs be predicted should resemble; both these comparisons show ho,; v1vidly_tbe prophet discerned in them this besetting sin of pride, and the ruin it would be sure to work them. Let us, therefore, note-- L S011E OF THE BEABONB FOB THIS EXHORTATION, u Be not proud." 1. The main reason which the prophet here urges is its antagonism to the Word of God. Now, such antagonism cannot but be, for: (I) The Word of God despises what men most estum. (a) 'l'heir own moral worth. How high men's estimate of this I how low that of the1Word of God I (b) Their own capacities. Man deems himself capable of self-support, se\f. deliverance, and self-salvation. 'fhe Word of God tells him he is utterly dependent on God for all things, be he who he may. (c) 'fbe world-its maxims, honours, wealth, etc. (2) It esteems what men mod despise. (a) Such qualities of mind as meekness, forgiveness of injuries, humility, indifference to the world, great regard to the unseen and the spiritual. (b) Persons·who have nothing but moral excellence to recommend them, be they poor, obscure, and despicable in the world's esteem. (c) Courses of life which may involve "the loss of all things," so only as we "may be accepted of him." 2. Its other terrible fruits. Some of these are given in the verses following. J t will not suffer men to give glory to God; it leads men into deadly peril (ver. 16). It causes deep distress to those who care for their souls; it will end in their utter ruin (ver. 17). II. How OBEDIENCE HAY BE RENDERED TO IT. Probably there is nothing but that threefold work of the Holy Spirit of which our Lord speaks which will ensure such obedience. Pride is too deeply rooted in the hearts of men to yield to any lesser force but: 1. The conviction of sin-destroying all man's self-complacency. 2. Of righteo11S- ness-filling him at the same time with admiration of the righteousness of Christ, with despair of attainment of it, but with joy that, though he cannot have it in himself, be yet has it by virtue of his faith in Christ. 8. Of judgment-destroying the supremacy of the world over his mind, and so delivering him from the temptation to its pride. This work of the Holy Spirit lays the axo at the root of the tree, and ere long hews it down. Let, then, this Holy Spirit be sought in all sincerity, and let his guidance be ever followed; so shall "the mind of Christ" be increasingly formed in us, aad we shall learn of him who was "meek and lowly in heart," and so find rest in our soul&.-C. Vers. 16, 11.-Lust upon tl1e dark mountains. "Give glory to the Lord," etc. I. THE SCENE PORTRAYED. It is that of unhappy travellers overtaken by night, when crossing some of the perilous mountain tracks of Palestine. A traveller overtaken as these seem to have been by II night storm, is in imminent danger of falling ovcl precipices and perishing miserably. Even by day the way is perilous : the paths are easily lost, or are strewn with rocks, or they lead along steep and slippery slopes, or by DVerhanging cliffs, where a single footslip may plunge the heedles11 passenger headlon~ to a frightful death in the far depths helow. But how much more daugerous such journey must be when night overtakes the travellers, is evident. The fadin11: light has gone, but the journey has still to be pursued. And now comes that stumbling upon the dark mountains, which is so terrible and inevitable. '!'here is the anxious looking for the fitFul light of moon or stars, and occasionally hope arises that the clouds will break and some glimmer appear. But this hope has been speedily quenched by tho clouds gathering over again, and with the added darkness of the rain-storm, so that tho darkness-is "gross," like unto that of the shadow of death. Every step, therefore, is fraught with frightful peril, and not a few thus benighted amid such mountain passes perish miserably ere the morning dawn. Such is the scene portrayed. II. THAT WHICH IT REPRESENTS. 1. The temporal calamities which God sends-as to the Jews-in punishment for their sins. All earthly distress has the sad tendency to unhinge the mind, to fill with foreboding fear, and greatly to perplex and over- whelm; but when to the natural effects of such earthly distress there is added the consciousness of guilt and of having deserved· what God has sent, then the dismay, distress, and despnir which arc suggested by the prophetic picture arc miserably increased. 2. The hardened sinner's despair of God's mercy. The vision of jndgment nod wr:ith 344 THE BOO!t Ol!' TI:lE PROPHET JEREMIAH. [crt. x.iu. 1-27.