dcli,erance fr<nn Egypt. 4. And this will be seen yet more if we take tho verses a8 pointing on to the u./timate•restorotion of Israel, Zechariah (xiii. and xiv.) speaks of this, as do many other Scriptures. It was the "hope of Israel" of whioh Paul told, and he places it in connection with the second advent and the resurrection. 6. And still more .if we understand by Israel the spiritual Israel, and regard all these p.romises as predicting the triumph of the Church. Thus regarded, the deliverance from Egypt was by com- parison a very little thing. But when that great triumph comes, where shall we be 'l God grant that it be amongst those wl1om on that day he will confess before his Father and the holy angels. But this notable instance in which past mercies promise greater ones to come is only one out of many more. Apply the principle declared- !. To THE CHURCH AT LARGE. What mercies in the past, what deliverances, the Church Las enjoyed: from persecutors," grievous wolves," superstition, infidelity, etc.! But all these are to be regarded as pledges of yet greater ones when they shall be needed. IL To INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THAT CnuBoH. Who of us cannot recount, in the course of our lives, temporal deliverances: from sickness, poverty, perplexity, sorrow, death, etc.? We are to take them all as reasons to anticipate greater things still, more to follow. And especially spiritual deliverances: from living on in disregard of God, from the power of the world, temptation, sorrow. But there are greater ones still. The Church in its full redemption shall prove the truth of this, and so shall separate members of the Church. All shall confess that the Lord bath "kept the good wine until now.'' CONCLUSION. 1. De not-dismayecl at the troubles of the present; do not ;think God's grace is exhausted. 2. See to it that you share in the first deliverance-that from guilt aud sin. Unless we have known the first, we cannot know the second and greater- that final deliverance from all guilt, all sin, all sorrow, all death, in tbe presence of God for ever.-C, . ' Vers. 16-21.-Sin fou.nd O'l/,t. The striking imagery .of these .verses. teaches us that there shall be no hiding-place, whether by sea or land, where God will not find those whom his vengeance pursues. The sinner may be sure that his sin will find him out. I. MEN DOU11T THIS. Reasons are: 1. Long impunity has made them.bold. 2. Such findings of them out as have taken place, in defilement of conscience, hardening of the heart, loss of peace with God, etc., they do not 1::are for. 'l'hey only.care for public exposure and punishment. 3. They see others go on in sin unpunished. 4. 'l'he power which we all have to believe what we wish to beJjeve. 5. The direct agency of the devil in fostering such false belief. II. BUT THE DECLARATION OF Gon ON THIS ll,UTTER IS N]!:VE_RTHELEBB TRUE. 1. The Scriptures affirm it (cf. all those which teach the omniscience and omnipresence of God). 2. Conscience attests it. 3. 'l'liere is nothing in sin to show wherefore it should not l.Je. 4. 'l'he revelation of the future life distinctly, provides for it. 5. And· even now it is continually being proved true. A ma1:1's sin finds him out in many ways-in body, mind, estate, reputation, etc. And in one or D;lOre of these sin does.ever find a. man out, even now. 6. The apparent exceptions are accounted for on the ground of (1) God's long-suffering to the sinful; (2) God's ptirpose to test and exercise the faith of his own people. III. A DEEP AND ABIDING CONVIOTION OF THIS TO BE GREATLY DESIBED, 1. What restraint it would exercise .on the will I (cf. "How can I.do.this great wickedness, and sin against God?"). 2. How exceeding sinful it would make sin appear I 3. What force it would lend to all endeavours after the reclamation and reformation of the sinful! 1 V. AND sucn CONVICTION MAY BE HAD,. It is the sacred and salutary power. of prayer thus to make God real to us. In prayer we lopl,i; to him and we see him looking u1,011 us; we speak to him and he speaks to us; by aid of it we walk with him and he walks with us. He who thus lives in daily fellowship with God can never be withou~ the conviction spoken of. .• V. liECAUSE SIN IS BURE TO FIND US, LET US AT .0N0E BEEK AND FIND CBRlBT,-O,
Ver. 19-cb. xvii. 3.-The accusers o/ the ungodly. The prophet appeals to- I. 'l'Wl: ANTICIPATED CONVERSION OF THE HEA'l'HEN, Ver, 19, "The Gentiles shnll ccn"e," _etc. 'l'hcsc heathen peoples will declare tho vanity of those idold in which Judah 1s now trusting (cf. Matt ..x.i. 20-24 ), Oll, xv1. 1-21,] 'l'liE BOOK OF TllE PROPHET JEREMIAH. 41 J