have no reason for supposing that this is always a count.erpart to the fact~ of the larger world. II. PRIVATE SPECULATION WAS ESPECIALLY LIKELY TO IMPORT ERROR INTO THIS PROPHECY. It was always fallible, but in the present instance it was peculiarly likely to err. 1. It was attempting too great a task. The prophets were venturing to predict the future of their nation under the most difficult circumstances. 2. It was biassed by prejudice, passion, and interest. The prophet3 were swayed by their own inclination. In religious questions personal considerations blind men to pure truth. III. NEVERTHELESS THIS PROPHECY WAS VERY POPULAR. 1. It was recommended by the official teachers. 2. It was recommended by the majority of the prophets. Jeremiah stood almost alone; his opponents were numerous. 3. It was flattering to the people; it represented them as less guilty, as deserving less punishment than was threatened by Jeremiah. 4. It was pleasant. The prophets spoke smooth words and promised comfortable things. Such teaching is only too popular. IV. No PROPHECY IS RELIABLE WHICH IS NOT INSPIRED BY Goo. The prophecy is condemned simply for want of this one fundamental condition. The history of religious speculation proves the helplessness of all attempts to solve the great problems of the future and of the spiritual by bare human intelligence. If, therefore, we believe that the Bible is inspired, weight should be given to its teaching as to an authority. In our own thought, and our meditation on the Scriptures, we need those lesser degrees of inspiration by which all Christians may be led into truth (John xvi. 13). Vera. 23, 24.-.Tlie omnipresence of God. I. THE FACT. God must be thought ot ns fully present everywhere; not as a great Being who fills a great space with, however, only distinct parts in each section of space. The whole of God is present everywhere. He is as much present in every separate locality as if he existed nowhere else. All his infinite attributes of knowledge, power, and goodness are present, to be brought to bear on each individual of the infinite variety of things in the universe. God is as much present in the less seemly places as in those that are recognized as fitting temples for him to dwell in. He is in the earth as well as in hea\·en. Heaven is described as his throne, earth as his footstool. He is present with the godless as well as with the godly, in the heathen world as well as in Christendom. More particularly: 1. God is present with those who do not recognize him. The sunlight is not limited by man's vision; it shines as clearly about the blind mnn as about one with keen eye- sight. So, though we may not think of God's presence, it is not the less near to us. 2. God is present with those who refuse to obey him. We cannot remove ourselves from thl' observation and control of God by forsaking all alleh•iance to him. Jonah could flee from his mission, but be could not flee from his God. God's eyes are on the ovil as well as on the good. 3. God is present with those who nre far from enjoying the blessedness of the full manifestntion of his presence. God is present with the Christian all through his earthly pilgrimage. Though God appears to hide himself for a season, though thick clouds intervene between the soul and that beatific vision which is reserved for the future state, God is as truly with his people on earth as ho will be in heaven. II. PRACTICAL LESSONS. 1. It is foolish to expect to escape from tlie judgment oj God. God never abdicates his right to be the Judge of nll his creatures. '!'here is no possibility of hiding from him. God searches us and knows our deepest heart-secret. Will it not, then, be best for us to be truo and open and frank with him? 2. We must not ascribe the confusion of the world to God's ind~tference. If he knows all and does not set it right, this must be (1) partly because he gives large liberty to his creatures for the possibility of attaining higher good than would be reached by the exercise of any irresistible power, and (2) partly because he must have higher ultimato designs than any we can conceive of in the present imperfect condition of the world. 3. No change of place will bring us nearer to God. "He is not far from every one of us" (Acts xvii. 27). Therefore (1) it is needless to wait for some better tirue for approaching God. No time will be better than the present. He will never be nearer to us than he is now. He only waits that we should open our eyes. (2) It is a mistake to suppose that any outward event will lead us nearer to God. Death will not br.ng us more closely into hie presence, No journey to a heavenly world will do 622 TUE BOOK OF 'l'IIE rROPHET JEREl\IIAH. [cu. xxm. 1-10.
this. We only need a change of heart to recognize and enjoy the eternal presence of God, which will make heaven wherever it is felt. 4. Cliristirms need fear no ltarm. They must meet with troubles and temptations, bnt God is present to uphold them. They must go through the valley of the shadow of death, but God is there. 'l'bcy must enter the strange land of dcpnrted souls, but ho is there also. .And wherever God is it must be well with ],is faithful children. -