The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 347

shame, they would be willing then to be rid of the sin itself, But their return to their sin shows how momentary and superficial this feeling was. And men would be will- ing, perhaps, ,f by some one act the whole cure could be effected; if the being made whole was not so slow, so difficult, so self-denying a process. And, in fact, they do hope that by some one act-a death-bed repentance-the whole process will be accomplished. IV. BUT WITHOUT MAN'S OWN CONSENT HE CANNOT DE MADE WHOLE. God does not by a mere act of power make a man spiritually whole, as he makes one tree an oak, ano~her a.n elm. The will must consent. We have this awful power of compelling ~h~1st to "stand at the door and knock;" for the door of our hearts is opened from the 1ns1de. We must undo the bolts and remove the bars. No view of the Holy Spirit's influence which contradicts this can be a. true view. We can, and alas I do, say "No" to God. But also we can, and he is ever pleading with us to, say "Yes" to his call. V. BUT ONE DAY IT SHALL BE GIVEN. "My people she.II be willing in thedayofmy power." Christ wept over Jerusalem, but yet he told them that when next he ea.me they should say, "Blessed be he that cometh in the Na.me of the Lord; cf. also the predicted repentance of the Jews, "'!'hey also which pierced him," etc. (Zech. xiv.). But oh, what" everlasting burnings," what awful scourgings, has Jerusalem bad to go through before, like the prodigal, she came to herself l Let none abuse this doctrine. If we will say "Yes" to God now, and come to Christ in loving self-surrender, we shall find his yoke easy and his burden light; but if we will say "No," then we shall have to come to ourselves; and what may not tbe.t involve? Truly, "now is the accepted time," etc.-0. Ver. 16.-.A solemn warning. This is an appeal to the fears of the people; one of the many instances in which the prophet seeks to win them to the way of righteousness by the presage of impending woe. Utter destruction is before them (ver. 14), the twilight is fast deepening into "gross darkness." B11.t even now it is not too late for them to avert the calamity by their repentance. It is not mainly through their fears that Christianity exerts its influence over men. But, e.s many of the discourses of Christ show, men may sometimes sink into conditions of moral insensibility from which only an alarming voice will a.waken them. And the gospel has its side of terror. Even the gracious Saviour and bis apostles spoke of" wrath to come.'' Consider (1) the duty, (2) the motive. I. THE DUTY. "Give glory to your God.n Severa.I distinct elements of thought and life are involved in this. 1. A recognition of the sacred and indissoluble relation in which we stand towards God. However we may have forsaken him, he is still" the Lord our God." We are still his dependent creatures, his needy children. To please him, to serve bis purposes, to show forth his glory, must, in the very nature of things, be the end of our existence. All religious life begins with the devout e.cknowledgment of this supreme personal relationship. 2. A due sen6e of the claims God has, on the ground of what he is in himself, on our regard. The true glory of the Divine Being is his infinite moral perfections. When Moses said," I beseech thee show me thy glory," God answered, "I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the Name of the Lord before thee." We" give glory to God" when, gazing upon the beauty and majesty of his intrinsic moral excellences, we yield back to him a dne response of reverence, and admiration, and trust, and love. 3. Practical surrender to his service. "Glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Cor. vi. 20). 'l'he actual homage of a godly life is indicated here-the consecration of all the powers of our nature as a" living sacrifice" upon the altar of the Lord. If the Name of the L?rcl our God is hallowed in our hearts, we shall thus give ourselves and our all to him. l'ractical goodness akin to his own is the best and most acceptable tribute we can pay. We honour him most when we most strive to be like him in a.II holy character and Godlike deed. II. THE MOTIVE. "Before he cause darkness," etc. Here is a prospect that may well awaken fear. Something more than mere external calamity is suggested. There is internal distress, mental perplexity and bewilderment ; a condition in whi.:h the s1~irits of the people become a prey to all kinds of misleading and deluding i_nfluences, wildly groping after a good that is lost and gone from them for ever. Few pictures of i111ngination could be sadder than that of men looking and longing for the light, only to cu. :mr. 1-27.J THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. 349