disappointed. His '\"e:rntion is perpetu11.l, (oomp. eh. vi. 27-30). The prophet is com- R.nd his wounded spirit finds no comfort. pared to e. smelter. Dy the forvour of his As a liar ; rnther, as a deceitful stream. The inspired exhorlntions, ho seeks to draw away word "stream " hns to be understood as in from the mass of unbelievers e.11 those who llfico.h i. 14. Many of the water-courses of are spiritually capable of better things. The Palestine ore filled with a rushing torrent "vine-dressers and hnsbandmen," whom in the "inter, but dry in summer. Hence Nebuzar-ade.n had left after the capture of the pathetic complaint of Job (vi. 15). The Jerusalem, though outwardly "the poor of opposite phro.se to that used by Jeremiah the lo.nd," might yet be ennobled by the is "n perennial stream" (Amos v. 24). The word and example of Jeremiah. [Some force of the passage is increased if we read explain " the precious " and " the vile " it iu the light of Dr. Grii.tz's hypothesis. difterently, taking the former to be the Ver. 19.-If thou return, etc. Most com- p111·e Word of God (comp. Ps. xii. 6; Prov. mentators regard these words as containing xxx. 5), the latter the base, human elements a gentle rebuke to Jeremiah for his doubts which are a.pt to be mixed with the Divine respecting God's care of him. It may be message \Comp. oh. xxiii. 28). But we.a it questioned, however, whether such passing not the very fidelity of Jeremiah which doubts could be described as a turning a.way exposed him to the persecutions of which from Jehovah. If the word "retnm " is to he has been complaining-1 Othe!'S suppose be interpreted in a spiritual sense, we must an inward purifico.tion of Jeremiah himself surely conclude that the people is addressed to be intended, " the vile" being those (=ip. eh. iii. 12; iv. 1). But this does not humo.n iDtlrmities of which he ho.d just o.gree with tbe context. Hence Grii.tz's view given evidence, as opposed to "the pre- seems very plausible, that the reference is cious," i.e. the spiritual impulses which to the proposal that Jeremiah should place come from a.hove. But is ·not such e.n ex- himself under the protection of Gedo.lie.h ple.ue.tiou too evangelico.1, too Pauline, for (comp. eh. xl. 5," Go back also to Gedaliah," this context?] Thou sha.lt be e.s my mouth. etc.). Then will I bring thee again ; viz. For devoting himself to this possible into the right relation to me, so as to be my " mustard seed'' of a better and holier minister (Keil). But by altering one of the people, the prophet should be rewarded (l) vowel-points (which form no part of the by close prophetic intercourse with his God, text), OD tbe authority of the Septuagint, we o.nd (2), as the next clause ate.tee, by e. get a more satisfactory sense, 1 will give thee moral victory over his opponents. "Mouth" a settled place. The verb must in any case be for" prophet," e.s Exod. iv. 16 (comp. Exod. coupled with the following one. Jeremiah vii. 1). Let them return unto thee, etc.; longs for a quiet home, oDly as supplying rather, they shall return unto thee, but thou the conditions of prophetic activity. Thou shalt not return unto them. They she.II shalt stand before me. The phrase is taken come over to thy side, and thou eholt not from the wont of slaves to stand in their need to make humiliating e.dvo.nces to them. masters' presence, waiting for commands. Ver. 20.-And I will make thee, etc.; u It is also applied to courtiers (Prov. xxii. 29) solemn confirmation of the promises in e.nd royal councillors (1 Kings xii. 6), to eh. i. 18, 19. 11ugds (Luke i.19) e.nd to prophets (1 Kings Ver. 21.-0ut of the hand of the wioked, xvii. 1; 2 Kings ill. 14). Jeremiah was by etc. The "wicked" (liternlly, evil) and the God's will to find e. new and importe.nt "terrible" mo.y be the bo.nditti, composed mission to the Jews with Gedaliah. U thou of desperate patriots, who ultim11toly oa- take forth the preoious from the vile, etc. sassine.ted Gedaliah (eh. xii. 1-3). The metaphor is derived from metallurgy
HOMILETICS. Ver. 2.-Various destinus of punishment. I. PUNISHMENT WILL BE ASSIGNED AB A DEFINITE DESTINY. It is not casual. It cannot be evaded. It is decidedly appointed and inflexibly executed. The destiny it involves, though not original buts consequence of voluntary actions, is as certain as if it were in accordance with a primary law of nature (Gal. vi. 7, 8). Il. PUNIBHMENT WILL BE ASSIGNED IN A VARIETY OF DESTINIES. All the wicked will ~ot suffer alike. There will be various forms of penalty and various degrees of s uffermg. Some are appointed to the painful death of the plague, some to the sudden <lealh of the sword, some not to death at all but to exile. Punishment will be various (1) because men's constitutions, capacities, and susceptibilities a.re VILrious, so that th~ oli. xv. 1-21.J THE rmoK Oll' THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. 371