of the people. Dut their hopes were reviving at the accession of tho young Johoahaz, his son. For three months he reigned in Jerusalem, following the evil and not the good of his predecessor, and" Pharaoh-Nechoh put him in bands at Iliblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem.'' After appointiug Eliakim, another son of Josiah, to reign in his stead, he took tho captive prince to Egypt, where he died ('.! Killgs xxiii. 31-35). The exile of" Shallum" was quite recent at the time of.Lhis prophecy, and the nation was naturally more concerned over the tragic fate of Josiah than the evil fortune of his son. Jeremiah hastens to correct this mistake by assuring them of the miserable death of Shallum in Egypt. From this we learn that- . I. DEATH IS NOT THE GREATEST CALAMITY THAT CAN BEFALL MEN. Shallnm livfog, l,ut in shameful exile, was really more to be pitied in himself and to be deplored for the sake of his country, than Josiah dead, The latter was free from the degradations to "·hich his descendants were exposed, and saved the pain of seeing his country rendered tributary; he had also children to occupy his place. llut Sliallnm experienced all his natioll's shame, as it were, vicariously, and was helpless to rescue it from the foreign yoke under which the intrigues of his brother had brought it. 'l'he hopes of Israel had in a special but easily understood way centred upon Shallum, in whom it trusted to see the restoration of ancient glory. All these are cut off by a decree more than 1.rnman. He became, therefore, the type: 1. Of forfeited possibilities of use/ulness. 2; OJ 1;ational ignominy. 3. Of an irremovable curse. The apostate professor of religion, the impenitent sinner, etc., are worse than dead. It were better for the offender of the little ones that he had never been born (cf. Heb. x. 26; 2 Pet. ii. 20, 21). JI. THE COMPASSION OF MEN SlIOULD BE ClALLED FORTH l'OR THE MISERY OF THOSE WHOSE WRONG-DOING THEY llAVE SHARED, 1. Because of its vicarious character. 2. 'Because of the Divine displeasure which it represents. This extends to themselves; even al though they are not personally punished. Shall um, in this respect, is a type of him who was" made sin for us.'' 3. In order to pra1:tical measures being taken for its relief. There are many in our own day who, like Shallum, are the victims of national crimes and social sins, It is for those who have escaped the penalty to seek, by practical measures and the earnest presentation of the gospel, to redeem them to a happier life. The outcast and the fallen will be the brightest gems in the crown of the Church which gives itself to their redemption.-M. Vers. 15, 16.-True royalty. The contrast between Josiah and his son has had many a parallel. The family emerges from honest homespun into splendid di,honour, drop- ping its virtues and its religion as it goes. In all periods .of external. development and material civilization it is well to remember that true greatness must be in the man and not in his circumstances, and that the richest amongst us cannot aITord to do withou& the graces and benevolence that dignify and adorn even the humblest life. I. SHAM ROYALTY, "Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar?" With such persons the pomp of circumstance is everything. Autocratic imperiousness is mistaken for empire. The whole superstructure is unsafe because the foundation is false. The gronnd ia nndermine<l. In proportion as men lose the reality of power they grasp at its shadow. II. TRUE ROYALTY. Essentially a spiritual thing, 1. In what it consists. In moral autlfflrity and real influence over men. This is uevcr impaired by mere loss of external circumstance. The tru& king does not require his crown. 2. How it is secured, Dy (!) dependence on God, (2) simplicity of personal wan~s, (3? s~nglen~ss of p~~riot!c purpose, (4) sympathy with the ruled. "It was well with him.' This repet1t10n 1s intended to impress. " Then it was well with him "-an emphasis of time that was to be noted. Josiah himself had gone away from Lhis ideal life and God cast him ofi'.-M.
Vera. 1-10.-The mighty pleadings of God. These verses contain record of what we may fitly term a Divine wrestling with his sinful people to induce them to abandon their wickedness and live, so intense and urgent are the motives which he brings t11 bear upon them. Note- , 1. FoB WHAT GoD PLEADS, "That they should execute righteousness andjudgment." It is the King Jehoiakim who is addressed specially, a monarch one of the worst who filled the throne of David. " He remained fixed in the recollections of his countrymen llII, XXll, 1-30.J THE ilOOK OF THE PROPHET JERE:'llIAH. 499