has come upon him, but the remembrance of his sins crushes hope of mercy (cf. Jndas" going out and hanging himself"). 3. The entanglements of sin. It is a great mistake to imagine that those \\'ho arc enslaved by any sin are happy in it. Not a.few of them endure a very hell in their frantic but futile endeavours to break the chain which long indulgence has forged and fastened around them. The bitter repentance, the una.e.iling remorse, every gleam of hope of deliverance so soon quenched, the reck- lessness of despair, the groaning as of the prisoner appointed to death,-all these are realities known to the slaves of sin, and should make every soul shudder lest the like should come upon him. 4-. The procmstinator's death-bed. He who has been convinced over and over again that he ought to seek the Lord, but has ever put it off,-his feet are likely to "stumble upon the dark mountains" when the night of the shadow of death draws upon him. III. How BUCH MISERY MAY BE A VOIDED. It was very near: the prophet's words imply that the oft-threatened doom was at their very doors. And so the like doom may be near to many now. But yet it may be avoided. Giving heed to God's Word (ver. 15). We have much hope when we see an earnest heeding of that Word, a really serious attention paid to it. But that by itself is not enough. There must be the actual "giving glory to God;" by confession of sin, acknowledging the wrong done; by casting the soul on God for forgiveness in lowly trust; by forsaking the evil that has roused the just anger of God, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man," etc. IV. Tm;; GBEAT REASON FOB FEAB THAT THIS MISERY Wll.L NOT BE AVOIDED AFTER ALL. It was and it ever is the accursed pride (vers. 15, 17) that will Dot allow of such giving heed to the Divine Word and such giving glory to him. All the instincts of the unrenewed heart are up in arms against such self-abasement. Any sacrifice will be brought rather than that of the broken and contrite heart. V. THE UTTERLY HOPELESS CONDITION OF THOSE THUS LOST. (Ver. 17.) See the prophet's piteous tears. He can do nothing-every resource has been tried and failed, and he can but " weep sore in secret places" for the "pride" that has ruined those he would fain have saved. Oh then, sinful heart, down, down before thy God, and" give glory to him," as he would have thee do, as it is so right and reasonable and good for thee to do, as the ministers of God entreat thee to do.-C. Ver. 20.-The neglected t""st demanded. " Where is the flock that was given thee," etc.? This word is addressed to the rulers of Judah and Jerusalem. Their people, the =tion over whom they ruled, were God's flock, his" beautiful flock." '£hat flock had been entrusted to the rulers' care. 'l'he influence of those in power was very great. AB were the leaders of the people-especially the king-so were the people themselves. They could be led like a flock, and were so. Tremendous, therefore, was the responsi- bility of those in power, to whom was entrusted this flock of the Lord. But they had used their great authority and power badly. Ruin had come or was about to come upon the flock (cf. vers. 18, 19); they were to be scattered, scattered wholly, and the greater portion of them lost. To these careless and guilty shepherds the Lord now comes, and asks for the flock he had placed in their hands. "Give an account of thy stewardship," was said to those who were to be no longer stewards because of their faithlessness. Now, this question, "·where is the flock," etc.? is one which should be often heard soundiDg in the ears of many others besides those to whom it was first addressed, e.g.- I. 'l'o THE P.ABTOBS OF THE CHURCH. 'l'he Church of God is his flock, his "beautiful flock." Its members are very dear to him, "purchased with his own blood." The Church is given, entrusted, to pastors. When Christ ascended up on high he gave some " pastors." This method of ordering his Church is the one he has willed. His blessing has evidently rested on it. What does not the Church of God owe to her faithful pastors? But whatever their character they cannot but have great influence. They a.re trusted by the people. They have received special gifti for their work in the form of mental and moral endowments. They are much prayed for. They a.re specially set apart for the charge of the Church of God. They have every induce- ment to fidelity. Faithful, the love of their charge will gather round them ; th~ fear of God will dwell within them; the crtiwn of life awaits them. And these mighty 011. xm. 1-27,] '!'HE DOOK OF THE PROPHE'l' JEREMIAH. 345
motives, acting upon hearts already prepared by God's grace and devoted to this hi"h office, have for the most part secured a great degree of fidelity in it. Hence a character and reputation have become associated with the office, which cannot but invest with much influence, as it does with much responsibility, all those who occupy it. But in spite of all this there may be, as there has been at times, great unfaithfulness. Hence the flock has been scattered. The Church has suffered in numbers, in purity of doctrine, in consistency of life, in spirituality of character. Its enjoyment in all holy service goes; its power for good in the neighbourhood where it dwells goes; its regar,1 for all that marks vigorous life in a Church all goes ; and ere long its " candlestick is removed out of its place." Perhaps its numbers may not greatly diminish. There shall be the observance of the sabbath, its services, its sermons, its sacraments-orderly, regular, frequent, Many things may conduce to this, Its name may live, but it is dead. Oh, the awfulness of this I And if it have been through the negligence and unfaithfulness of the pastor, who shall deliver him from the charge of blood-guiltiness which will lie at his door? What will he answer when the question is addressed to him, as one day it surely will be, "Where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?" Let every pastor of Christ's Church consider this and pray-
" Chief Shepherd of thy chosen sheep, From death and sin set free, Let every under-shepherd keep His eye intent on thee."