Ill, IT IS A 8UPilEME EXPRESSION OF WICKEDNESS AND WILL BE PUNISHED AS BUCH. -M. Vers. 14-, 15.-Jehovah an unfailing Help to his people; or, the" snow of Lebanon." One of the most striking scenes visible from a great distance is Hermon, with its l't\OW and vapours. It is covered with white snow all the year round, and from its &IIIllmits flow down cold, pent-up streams to the valley beneath. God asks why Israel has forsaken him; whether there was any failure of his grace and power. Has he not been constant and ever ready to help? How is it, then, that he is for- saken? The snow of Lebanon is, like the dew of Hermon, a symbol of the grace of God abiding upon Zion, from which the streams of grace flow forth in inexhaustible supply. l. THOSE WHO FORSAKE GOD DO SO BECAUSE OF THEm OWN PERVERSITY AND NOT DECAUSE OF Goo's NEGLECT. "Is his arm shortened that it cannot save?" is a question we ought to ask ere we make up our minds to leave God. The secret of spiritual disaffection and apostasy is in ourselves and not in God. II. APOSTASY FROM Goo IS A TRANSCENDENT Il'ISTANCE OF INGRATITUDE. 1. The providences of God have been unceasing, manifold, and overflowing. They have come without effort of man. Yet the sinner has gone away and obstinately continues in his sin. 2. But in the grace of God there are elements that appeal to our deepest affection and trust. It is so rich, undeserved, and free. Why should he have chosen any one? How often has he healed the backslidings of his people! The cross of Christ is the grandest expression of love of which we know. It "passeth knowledge." III. WHEN SINNERS FORSAKE Goo IT IS TO THEIR OWN INJURY. 1. By their purauit after sinful gratifications they forfeit the en/oyment of Divine mercy. Providential mercies may not always be withdrawn, but their beneficial effect is destroyed. The fellowship and presence of God are lost. His favour and help cannot be expected. 2. The sources of pleasure they apply thimselves to are disappointing and fatal. Sinful pleasures soon pall. There is no enduring rapture in the gratification of sense, but an enduring sting remains. The constitution of the sinner is sapped and undermined by his excesses, and the general, social, and political life of the nation corrupted. There is no sorrow so profound and incurable as that which results from the abuse of reli- gious privileges and the loss of the heavenly birthright; it" worketh death." But, in . addition to all this, the anger of God is kindled, and who shall extinguish it? Ha himself can. With him is forgiveness that he may be feared, and plenteous redemption that he may be sought unto. "His mercy endureth for ever." It is only needed that we change in heart and life to recover our lost estate and experience Bia.in more than our lost joy.-M.
Ver. 16.-EcclesiasticaZ succession 11ersus individual ministry. The spirit of these words is not hard to divine. "We have a succession of priests, teachers, and prophets assured to us by our traditional institutions; so there is no great loss if J eremlah be discounted; and we need not fear the cessation of the Divine revelation,-is it not pro- vided against by a sacred succession?" I. '!'HEBE ARE l1ANY WHO BELIEVE Ill THE OFFICE OF THE MINISTRY AS AN Il'IDE• PENDENT SOURCE OF msPmATION AND TRUTH. II. THIS IS ALLEGED IN EXCUSE FOB: 1. Refusing su,pporl lo special religious offore. 2. Contempt and opposition of individual ministers. III. IN CORRECTION OF TWS EBROB MA y BE NOTED : 1. That it is not cozmt611anced by God. 2. History has frequently shown its falsehood. 3. It is really a reliance upon the human and not the Divine. 4. God does his special work nearly always through individuals. 5. The dishonour done to the servant is done to his Master.-M.
Vera, 18, 19.-The preacher's foes; or,false tongUts and deaf ears. I. THESE OPPOSE MORE on LESS EVERY TBUE MINISTRY. 'l'he persecutors of Stephen "stopped their ears and ran upon him/' II. THEY ABE AN ll!DIREOT TESTIMONY TO THE TRUTH AND FAITBFULNESS OF THB MESSAGE DELIVERED, III. 'l'HEY MAY RETARD, BUT THEY CANNOT STIFLE, TIIE DIVINE MESSAGE. Tho JEREMIAH. 2G 450 THE DOOK OF 'l'HE PHOI'HET JEREMIAH. [cu. xvm. 1-1!3,
~lander c::m be lived down. The voice of just men done to death will speak when 1they are dead. JJfagna est veritas et prevalebit. •• I\T. THERE IS A SILENT WITNESS WHO SHALL TAKE ACCOUNT OF ALL, 1. It is o/ less consequence to us that men approve and attend than that God should do so. The preacher addresses not only a visible, but an invisible, audience. Of every w,ord that proceeds from his servants' lips God takes note. 2. He will protect 'his servant until 11 is worl. has been accomplished. 3. The slandei·s and ind(fference of those to whom the Word is spoken will be punished. (Matt. xii. 36, 37.)-M.