Ver. 12.-Despair, its causes, consequences, and cure. "And they said, Thero is no hope," etc. There is a show of humility about this word. The man has evidently 110 hope in himself, nor in any Church, nor in any human help whatsoever. Now, this so far so good. To get inen away from trusting in nn nnn of flesh is ever one of God's purposes. And when a man· is thus weaned from self and nil human reliance it is a good sign. But such distrust at times goes beyond this, to bdief that there is no hopJ anywhere, which is despair. Now, this a sore evil (cf. homily on eh. ii. 25, "A dread snare of the devil"). And to help in overcoming it we would speak- I. OF ITS CAUSES. They are of varied kinds, but a man is near to despair when he sees: 1. That his sin is inveterate. When year after year goes by and still thcro tho sin is.. 2. 'l'hat it is cont'inually successful in reducing his will to consent to it. 3. That his defences are only those derived from considerations of tho consequences and punishment of his sin. Motives of love to God and Christ, hatred of the sin itself, have ceased to rule him ; it is only the fear of what may happen that holds him back, though, indeed, su_ch defence is :veak_eno?gh. 4; Tha~ his sin has tendered ineffectnl\l many special dealmgs of God with huu m regard to it. He has broken through 1\11 462 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. [on: xvm. 1-23.
these gracious barriers one after another. All these are dreadful facts to contemplate, and tend to fill a man with the belief that " there is no hope." The good Lord forbid that we should ever have such facts to contemplate concerning ourselves. II. lTs OONSEQUENCES. They are dreadful in the extreme. They produce sullen obstinacy in evil. " They said . . . but we will walk after our own devices." Also unrestrained licence. The thought comes," We can but be lost; we will have what enjoyment we may." This is a frightful fruit of despair. If, then, any considering these dread consequences of despair tremble lest they should yield to it, but yet by reason of such facts as those above named are sore tempted thereto, let them remember there is deliverance for them. Consider, therefore- III. lTs CURE. It can only be, it ought only to be, by good hope of deliverance from that which is the cause of thy despair-thy sin. But whence can come this deliverance? ViTise and godly men have counselled after this manner. 1. Seek to gain and keep before the mind a. deep sense: (1) Of the guilt of thy sin. You who have received such light and grace a.re involved in far deeper guilt and your sin is far more heinous than that of others. (2) Of the danger of it. The danger of being hardened by its deceitfulness. Of bringing down on thyself some great temporal judgment a.s God's punishment of thy sin. Of losing thy peace with God and strength to serve him. Of eternal destruction. (3) Of the evils of it. It grieves the Holy Spirit of God. The Lord Jesus Christ is wounded afresh by it. All thy usefulness will be destroyed. God will neither bless thee nor make thee a. blessing. 2. Wrestle in prayer. 3. Watch against occasions and advantages of sin. 4. Go again to the Lord Jesus Christ, especially to him as your dying, crucified Lord. Live near his cross, for "his blood cleanseth from all sin." Cleave to him and let thy faith fasten upon him. So-his Word assures and experience proves, for there is no instance to the contrary, but innumerable ones in proof-the chain of thy sin shall be broken, and the sight of this shall so cheer thy heart that the demon of despair shall spread its dark wings and depart and leave thy soul unclouded. (See on all this, Owen on the Mortification of Sin.)-G. Vers. 18-23.-Persecution. The cruel sufferings of God's prophet which here and in other parts of his prophecy a.re recorded throw not a little light on all like perse- cution. For, though its rough and brutal forms have for the most part disappeared, still in others it yet lingers, and is the source of much distress. Note, then- L 1TB CAUSES. They are ever the same-hatred to the faithful Word which the persecuted one persists in preaching. Persecution, therefore, is inevitable where a faithful messenger of God comes into collision with those who hate and will not submit to his message. II. lTs PBETEXTB. Zeal for the Church and for sacred institutions imperilled by the prophet's preaching. We see them standing up for the priests and the Law and the prophetic order, all which, of Divine appointing, were wronged and injured by the prophet. Persecutors never will own, even to themselves, their own true motives. Those who sought to kill our Lord ever insisted on the highest motives for their conduct. Perse- cution is such an odious thing that, unless some fair disguise be thrown over it, no one would have anything to do with it. And no doubt some persecutors-like Saul of Tarsus-have been deceived by this disguise, and have sincerely thought they were doing God service. There is never any need for persecution, though our forefathers thought there was; for if any doctrine be of man only it will come to naught. The facts of life, the Word of God, reason and conscience, are all against falsehoods, and will expose and so extinguish them without persecution. For the nature of man is ma.de for truth, and hence what is contrary to truth cannot long live. III. 1TB INTENT. Revenge and the forcible silencing of an adversary. IV. !Te METHODS. 1. Defamation. "Let us smite him with the tongue." 2. Ostentatious iisregard of his teaching. "Let us not give heed," etc. (ver. 18). 3. Whatever "devices" will most of all tell against him. Sometimes open hostility is not safe. It was not against John the Baptist, nor our Lord, nor here (cf, eh. x.xvi. 16). And then other devices have to be sought out, and the finding, when sought by the persecuting spirit, does not take long. V. 1TB BELIEF. Not compromise, To give way where conscience commands stead- OH, xvm.1-23.J 'l'HE BOOK OF TRE PROPHET JEREMIAH.