The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 449

volition or power or the' potter will give to the clay vessel the qualities of a wooden vessel or one of metal. He may fashion it for a vessel of honour or dishonour, just as he pleases; but whatever its use its material is still of clay. And similarly we must recollect that, whatever God does with us, he does in harmony with our nature. He finds us, as to the affections and purposes of our hearts, free agents, and, however great the changes he may affect in our circumstances and our future, all must be done without touching this freedom. The Divine potter here was changing the circum- stances of the human clay, just because that clay was so stubborn in submitting to his will so clearly, so lovingly, so often expressed. If we refuse to be moulded into the shape that means for us true peace, glory, and blessedness, then we must be moulded into the shape which will secure at the least peace and blessedness in God's kingdom and manifest glory to his great Name. ' • II. THE GREAT RESULT WHICH SHOULD BE PRODUCED BY OUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS ILLUSTRATION. 'l'oo readily is it said by many, "If we are as clay in the hands of the potter, then we need not trouble ourselves, God will shape our destiny, what- ever we do." But ifwe look honestly and humbly at this illustration, we shall see that what God would have us above all things to learn from it is that the shaping of our destiny lies practically with· ourselves. In selfish and ignorant obstinacy we wish our life to take a certain mould. Strenuously, and heedless of all Divine counsel and warn- ing, we try what self can do toward the shaping. Then at last our purpose comes to be. broken off. • All that we have been and all that we have done prove useless so far as our aims are concerned. But for all that we cannot be useless to God. God wishes to work in us a change which would make· all our circumstances those of liberty. He wishes to renew our hearts and establish in them a holy love as the central principle. If we refuse this Divine appeal, then we must come under ever-narrowing constraints. We are asked to walk in-the liberty of God's children; if we refuse and confess our- selves the enemies of God, then we must be loaded with chains and put in the inner- most dungeon. Our wisdom is to turn from our hardness and impenitent hearts, and allow God to lead us·into the full µ.e-rcl.vo,rz (Rom. ii. 4). Then with understanding shall we address God, " We are the clay, and thou our potter" (Isa. lxiv. 8). If we by repent- ance come back to God and make ourselves clay, such as will have in it II peculiar responsiveness to the touch of God, then we may leave ourselves to his loving-kindness. He will fashion us into just that shape whereby we shall be meet for the Master's service. And if men say in their· ignorance tlmt we aro turning out but vessels of dishonour, let us recollect that of honour and dishonour Go<l alone is judge. If we only stoop from our pride to do the will of_ God, God will take care of our position. For is riot Go<l he who exalts the humble and abases the proud ?-Y. • Vers. 18-23.-Jeremiah's enemies and his prayer against them. I. THE CAUSE OF ms 'BUl'PLICATION'. His enemies have entered into a plot against him, and he bas hciard: of the plot. He has to do, we may imagine, hot only with the open threats of passionate men, face to face, but also with secret wiles. 'l'be language of intense provocation in which he speaks:must be remembered in trying to estimate the extent, depth, and bitterness of the hostility against him. Who wel'e they that thus proposed to foin together in ruining the prophet 1 Doubtle$S the three classes embraced by the reference that is made, namely, priest, wise man, and prophet. The priest would. go to the wise man and prophet, saying, " Seo how this fellow speaks against us all." A common hatred and a common peril swallow up for a time nil jealousies amongst bad men, and constitute o. strong bond of union, a strong incitement to all the ingenuity and designing powers of the mind. Wo arc not left without means of judging as to the motives of thesci three classes of men and their methods of proceed- ing when we consider the similar conspiracies against Jesus himself. Men belonging to conspiouous classes of the community attacked him, and they aro constantly mentioned as being joined together. 'l'his attack gives tho strongest evidence, both of the appropriateness of Jeremiah's message and his fidelity in delivering it. Such truth as a prophet has to speak must be met eitlier with penitent friendliness or: with bitter and active enmity. It must· be reckoned no strange thing if the faithful proclaimer of truth is exposed, not only to reproaches, misrepresentations, and loss of old associates, but even to deep-laid conspirncics. 'l'hcse men, while they were bent on  450 'l'HE IlOOK OF 'l'HE PROPHET JEREMIAH, [cu. XIX, 1-16.