The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 441

Ver. 12,-Rejected preaching. I. THE BEST PREACHING MAY BE REJECTED.· ·Jeremiah was a true messenger of God and an able preacher, yet he was unpopular. Christ, who·" spake as never man spake," was "despi~ed and rejected of men." No greater mistake can be made than to judge of the value of any preaching by the popularity of it. If. JT IS THE DUTY OF TIIE FAITHFUL PREACHER TO BEAR HIS TESTIMONY EVEN JF IT BE REJECTED. He must not be unfaithful to his mission in order to catch the ears of his audience, nor must he silence his voice because it is unheeded. His duty is to speak, whether men will hear or whether they will forbear. If he loyally discharcrcs 0 this duty his conscience is clear. Ill. 'fHE REJECTION OF ~HE PREACHING OF TRUTH iS OFTEN TO BE ATTRIBUTF.D TO THE PRIDE OF INTELLECT, People have their "own devices." Divine truth does not require the contradiction of intellect nor the suppressioll of it, ,but it requires the submission of intellect to wel1°grounded faith in a God who is 'worthy of tru~t, even when he requires our acceptance 'of dark a.nd painful doctrines. • IV, THE REJECTION OF THE PREAORING OF Ti;tUT.EI IS OFTEN TO BE ATTRIBUTED TO STUBBORNNESS OF WILL. The J eW11 are represented as saying, " \Ve will every one practise the stubbornness of bis evil heart."· The ·excuse of intellectual doubt may be sought as a cloak for moral aversion to Divine truth. Many who have no doubt of the truth of the message of the servant of God refuse to accept it from sheer opposition to its spiritual requirements. • V, THE TRUTH PREACHED IS NOT AFFECTED BY THE REJECTION OF IT. If the word would be true when accepted it would ·remain true when rejected. We cannot alter facts by closing our eyes. If we refuse·to hear the words of faithful admonition, v.e shall not escape the doom against which they warn us, but- only the more surely run into it. We shall then simply rush blindfolcled to meet our fate; VJ. THE REJl!CTION OF THI!l PREACHING OF DIVINE TRUTH 18 ITSELF. A GREAT BIN; If the truth is recognized as Divine, rejection of this is rejection 'of the voice of God. It is an act of direct resistance to the will of God. It is· sinning against' light. It is refusing to accept offers of mercy, and returning insult for favour,e. ; ' Ver. 14.-Mountain snow. Any one who· has found himself in the valley of Chamouoix 011 a sultry summer afternoon must have felt the striking contrast between the eternal winter of the vast snow-fields of Mont Blanc, spread out in blazing sunlight high above his head, and the dust and heat of the parched land around. 'fhe perma- nence of this mountain snow is suggestive of spiritual lessons. •• I. MOUNTAIN SNOW IS AN EMBLEM OF SPIRITUAL LIFE MAINTAINED IN TilE MIDST OF WORLDLY SCENES. .Mountain snow is found in the hottest countries. You need not travel to arctic regions for perpetual snow, it may be found in the tropics. Christians need not be transported to heaven in order to live a pure Divine life. 'l'he duty of the Christian is to preserve this fresh and holy in the midst of the world, not to flee from the world. Dy remaining in the world the Christian is a means of blessing !t as the mountain snow descend.iug io glaciers and streams refreshes and fertilizes the valley. Dut the Christian's mission to the world is dependent on the preservation of his unworldly spirituality, as foe refreshing streams that flow down the gorges of the ~ountain are -0.ependent on the snows high above them. If the snow fails the stream 1s dried up. If the spirituality fails the Christian work becomes barren. lL MOUNTAIN SNOW 18 AN EMBLEM OF SPIRITUAL 1,IFE MAINTAINED IN THE MOST on. xvm.1-23.] THE BOOK OF THEl PROPHET JEREMIAH. 447