fac~d. Something of this must be considered by us or we may make· an ignominious •failure. Jeremiah was warned of opposition. Christ discouraged rash, heedless entlrnsiasm (Luke ix. 57, 68), and bade men count the cost of his service, . II. Goo OYERPOWERS ms SERVANTS. Jeremiah complaiDCld that he was not only enticed but prevailed upon by God by force. "'l'hou art stronger than I." God never forces a man's will. But still he hedges a man in and uses such influences upon him tl,at many of tbe experiences of his life may be ascribed to God's supreme power ra~her than to the man's spontaneous action, If these result in shame and apparent failure, as they oi'ten may, at first sigl1t it seems as though God had been dealing harshly_ with his. servant. 1. But we shouhl remember that it is a blessed thing to su.f!er for God, It 1s an honour to be a true martyr to God's will (Matt. v. 10, 11). 2. We should understand that good pw·poses are being effected through such suffering. H is not witLout its end. God is honouring us as he glorifies his Son, by making, us the sacrifices for the accomplishment of a blessing to mankind. 3. We should believe that a great reward in heaven will compensate for the patient endurance of these brief c~rthly troubles, Without this the problem would be inexplicable. With it all wrongs ''"ill be righted. T er. 9.-The burning fire of inspiration. I. THESE WORDS ARE A PROOF OF THE GEJSUlJSE IKSPIRATION OF THE PR0PJlET. He is not thinking of convincing others of the fact of his inspiration, but simply pouring out the .trouble of soul that it occasions, 'Ihe ingenuousness of the utterance and the indirect allusion to the inspiration make _them the more va!U11ble. Then, the words of prophecy gained the prophet no power nor popularity, but only contempt and persecution. It is impossible to study the language of Jeremiah without feeling that he was overwhelmed with the consciousne~s of a Divine spiritual influence, while the dignity, vigour, and moral sublimity of his propliccies make it unreasonable to suppose tllat he was a self-deceived fanatic, II. 'l'HESE WORDS ARE AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE POWERFUL INFLUENCE OF INSPIRATION. This n-as not a mere illumination; it was a p9wer. The inspired prophet was not simply gifted with insight into truth; he was swayed by the might of it-. He did not feel at liberty to deal with it as he pleased, to mediate on it by himself, to suppress it, to utter it only as his convenience was suited; it was his master, a hand laid heavily upon him, a fire burning in his bosom, that must come out. '£he same_ experience is felt by all men who have spiritual relations with truth. They do not ho_ld truth; they find that truth holds them. That inspiration influences the, will as well as the intellect is strikingly proved in the case of Balaam {NWI1b, xxiv.)._ The reason of this .is found in the real presence of the Spirit of God. Revelation is by inspiration, and inspiration is the breathing of God's Spirit into a man's spirit, so that he becomes possessed by it. The tremendous importance of the truth revealed. increases this com- pulsion of utterance. Jeremiah had revealed to hi.J;n no barren, abstract dogmas, no trivial religious notions, no empty answers to curiot1~ J;!rying questions of little practical .moment, but terrible truths concerning his peopfo, 0 and: t~eir highest interests. , .Uow could he hide 1mch ti-uths as we have se~n he had-been entruste9- with? . If God speaks it must be to utter important words. The burden of them urges their custodian to declare them. _. _ l!L THESE WORDS ABE AN EVIDENCE 0lf THE PAINFUL EFll'E0TS OF INSPIRATION, No man need desire to be a. prophet from motives of worldly ambition or selfish pleasure. The high privilege of inspiration carries with it danger, \oil, anguish, terror. Prophecy has its Gethsemanes and its Golgothas. If its mission is faithfully carried out it leads to the cross. If this is faithlessly abandoned the pi-ophet is consumed with inward fires. Inspiration is no substitute for mental labour, no excuse for intellectual indolence. On tlie contrary, it rouses the whole soul, quickens its energies, and works them to weari- ness. In so far as any of us are possessed in varying degrees by spiritual influences we 6hall find the Word of God a fire within us, which bur_ns till we bare discharged the mission it brings.
V~re. 10, lL-.4 prophet persecuted by spf,_es, J'. T.llE PBBSEOUTION D~ SPIES. 1, Cons1~er the persons persecuting. (1) They were mean ancl weak. Their names.are r.ot gi. veu; Wf' know little of their characters and actiops; yet the despicable conduct ,H, ll, 1-18.J THE BOOK OF THg PROPHET JERE1UAH. 46,