The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 380

II. BUT THERE ARE CONDITIONS WHICH DESTROY TIIE EFFICACY OF BUOH INTERCESSION, Their influence is but partial and imperfect, depending as it does upon their own inadequat<l fulfilment of the Law and will of God. If it were a question of strict account, they themselves would not be able to stand in his presence. It is of his grace that, even for a moment, they may be said to have influence for others. And it may be said that their intercession is but provisional, and, if not followed up by the obedience of those for whom they pray, it will be followed with the mor<l condign punish- ment upon the transgressors. It is a great tribute to the vicarious power possible to saints that even the most eminent of them should be quoted in such a connection. But. it shows how inadequate such a mediatorship would be for the general sin of man. We may do much, each of us, to avert just judgments, to secure opportunities of salvation, and to bring the grace of God to bear upon the hearts of others; but we cannot save them by any communication of our own acceptance with God to them. They must stand or fall according to their own relation to the will of God and the person of his Son. And there are degrees of guilt which far surpass any intercession of this kind. The sin of unbelief especially, if it be unrepented of, will prevent any benefit being received. The permanent position of ow- souls with respect to Divine grace will depend, therefore, upon their own action or belief. Even Christ cannot save if we do not believe in his Name and obey him.-M. Ver. 10.-The offence of faithful preaching. That the preaching of the gospel should stir up the evil passions of men would at first appear strange. It is the declara- tion of good news to them that are perishing, and an effort to restore men to happiness and peace. But that it has been accompanied with such manifestations of ill will from the beginning is sufficiently well known. The preaching of the cross has in every age been resisted and resented by the world. It is" to the Jews a stumbling-block, and to the Greeks foolishness; but to them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God" (1 Cor. i. 23). L WITH WHAT THE FAITHFUL PREACHER COMPARES HIMBELF. Jeremiah says that ho might have been a brawler, a dishonest debtor, or a usurer to have stirred up the strife and hatred which he experienced. As has been said, lending and borrowing cause most lawsuits. "' I have not lent nor borrowed.' My dear Jeremiah! Thou mightest have done that; that is according to the custom of the country; there would be no such noise about that" (Zinzendorf). Elijah was reproached by Ahab, "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" (1 Kings :rix. 17). St. Paul was persecuted. Even Christ himself was accused of stirring up sedition, and the preaching of the Word has often been accompanied by demonstrations of violence. II. To WHAT THIS MAY BE A'l'l'RIDUTED. It is due chiefly to the dislike of men to the truth itself, in whatever shape presented. The natural heart is enmity against God and his Word. Care must be taken to distinguish between accidental and essential provocations of this spirit. The manner of the preacher should never be such as of itself to dispose men unfavourably towards his message. The greatest care ought to be taken to conciliate and to win. But the original hatred of men to truth must not be ignored. It exists, and will have to be reckoned with in one form or another. One man will object to it in toto; another to the degree of obedience which it exacts. WiLh some the idea will be pleasing but the practice irksome. If men hated Obrist, we need not suppose that they will be more amiable towards us if we are faithful. III. CoNsOLATIONB. These troubles need not afflict us if we remember, with respect to our hearers, that it is not theirs but them we desire. The worst enemies have been reconciled and the fiercest natures subdued by the power of the Word. It is well too in the midst of suffering to have the testimony of a good conscience. To him also who is faithful in the midst of opposition and hatred is that beatitude, Matt. v. 11. But perhaps the strongest .consolation of all is_in the fellowship of him for whose s,ake the opposition is experienced.-M. Ver. 15.-" Thou knowest it." There is One to whom the true prophet and saint must stand or fall. He is anxious, therefore, for his approval. He labours ever as in the great Taskmaster's eye. "Thou God seest me," which is the terror of the sinner, is the chief reward and comfort of the saint. The prophet here consoles himself- OH. xv. 1-21.] THE BOOK Olt' THE PROPHET JEREMIAII. 383