Vere. 19, 22.-Prayer a fruit of chastisement. There is a deeper and more spiritual tone in this utterance. The heart of Israel is conceived of as having been searched and revealed. Repentance is felt, and confession made. The true source of peace and help is sought after ; and the false ones which have been tested are rejected. I. IN THE DISCIPLINE AND JUDGMENTS OF LIFE Goo TEACHES MEN HOW TO PR~Y. Thereby they learn in a stem school their own sinfulness; the misery and desolation of the soul that is alienated from the life of God and exposed to his wrath and curse ; the incapacity of earthly things to deliver or console, and the power of God to forgive and to save. It is in this estimate of themselves and their resources that the foundation is laid for real spiritual desire. When sin has been felt and acknowledged, a relation is established between the soul and God which is immediately recognized in its claims. II. THE SPIRIT wmoH 1B THUS PBODU0ED IS ALONE ACCEPTABLE TO Gon. There are many prayers which evidently ought not to be, and with due regard to the needs of the sinner and the honour of his heavenly Father could not be, answered. The chief end of prayer is not gained in the obtaining of the objects that are asked for, but in the gradual assumption of a right relation to God and acknowledgment of his character ao,I authority. Thus it is that some prayers sound like wails of despair, whilst others are full of the breathings· of resignation, obedience, faith, and love. It is with this filial tone that true prayer begins. And it is only when we have learned that " whom he loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receivetb," that we are able to adopt it. "Thy will be done" is the burden of every Christ-taught prayer, as it is the out- come of all true spiritual discipline.-M.
Ver. 21.-lnvoking the honour of God, Not along ago this phrase," Do not disgrace the throne of thy glory," was employed in prayer by a convert in a certain religious meeting. Shortly after a letter was sent to the papers, inveighing against the "pro- fanity" of the idea; in apparently complete ignorance of its scriptural origin and warrant. Often the language of humility may conceal a conception of real arrogance, and so, on the other hand, the most daring appeals to the promises, the character, and the honour of God may have their root in the profoundest reverence and faith. It is high ground to take, simply because no other ground is available. I. As SINNERS HA VE NO BEASON FOR MERCY IN TREMSEL VES 1 THEY MUST APPEAL TO Goo. Mere pity would be inadmissible I\S a motive to which to appeal. There is no ground of acceptance in the sinner himself, and consequently there remains only that course of action which will illustrate and glorify the character of God. That God had chosen Israel as bis servant, and Jerusalem as the seat and centre of the theocracy, are the only reasons that are valid in approaching him for mercy. Any course of action which would fail to give due respect to the attributes of his character or the purposes of his grace in the world is already forbidden when it is stated. Go,l has been at pains to pledcre himself to the ultimate salvation of men. His Name is itself a proniso that no compromise shall be ~ntered i~to or ineffectual m_eane of sal_vation ac~opt?cl. '~'herefo~e the necessity of Chnst's sacnfice and resurrection. In huu the Jus•1ce ot God 1s honoured, and his Name revealed in the hearts of men, It is only as the gospel is per- 862 THE BOOK OF THE l'HOPHE'l' JEREMIAll. [011. xiv. 1---:12,
~cived as the offspring of the purest, highest motives on the part of God that it c.'\Il call mto existence corresponding motives in the sinner himself. II. To THE SAINT THE HONOUR OF Goo SHOULD EVER BE OF MORE ACCOUNT THAN HIS OWN WELFARE. "For Christ's sake" is a formula in which much of this feelin" is implici(.ly expressed. The exigencies of God's kingdom, the furtherance of his purp~sea of love and grace, the recognition of the principles of righteousness, are essential to a trne Christian life as to true prayer. And the keenest susceptibility should be felt to any conduct on the part of God's servants which would seem to inj~ his cause in the world or to misrepresent his character. lll. Goo's NAME IS PLEDGED TO AND DOUND Ul' WITH THE SALVATION OF MF.N. H seems a daring and wondrous plea to urge in the presence of him with whom we have to do; but it is the only one which we can truly ott'er, and it is of infinite avail. • If we accept Christ as representing the honour and righteousness of God, are we not assured tliat every prayer truly offered in his name shall be answered? The welfare and useful- ness of God's scrrnnts arc guaranteed by such a consideration, and we cannot offer it too often or insist upon it with too great earnestness.-M.