The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 525

words we are considering at once sng;cst this application. And let us be grateful to Goel that, amid the much prophesying of our own day, we have much of that" sure Word" to which St. Peter bids us give heed, as to a light shiniag in a dark place. Yes, there are faithful ministries, blessed be God for them; and that they are like the precious wheat, iu contrast to the worthless chaff, has been proved over and over again by the testimony God himself has given to them. For, like the pure grain, they nourish the souls that are fed upon the Word they minister. The instruction that builds up, consolidates, and strengthens the spiritual frame is shown by that very fact to be not as chaff, but as wheat. And he would not only be ungrateful, but untruthful, who should deny that God has given and is maintaining many who minister tr his people, whether young or old, in tho congregation, the family, or the school, the pure \Vord of God. And the other striking characteristics of the true \V ord of God which are here spoken of are also found in their prophesyings. The Word of God which they minister is as a fire. How it enlightens, how it cheers, as c,n a cold wintry day! How it consumes the ilross of the evil nature, burning on until all the evil in us be burnt out! Ah, yes, the pure Word of God-which still, thank God, is preached-is as a fire consuming the miserable pretences of self-righteousness in which the souls whom it touches have hitherto been trusting, and compelling them to hasten for shelter to him who is" the Lord our Righteousness." And it is a hammer, which, smiting the obdurate heart, causes the tears of true repentauce to flow forth and refresh those who long have been thirsting to see such living waters. As at Pentecost the hammer of that \Vord fell upon those hearts which had been hard enongh to crucify the Lord, and it so smote them as to break them, rock-like though they were, and they cried out, " What shall we do ? " These are the sigus of the Word of God, and they are not wanting still. But yet there is much of instruction given that is far different from this-as unlike it as chaff is unlike wheat. It may be the ministry of eloqnence, or of ritual, or of philosophy, or of human learning, or of taste, or of fashion; and not a little of such ministry there is in the present day. It is brilliant, attractive, followed by crowds, admired, applauded; it is associated with all that art, culture, music, and ritual pomp can supply ; it is very fashionable; for the sake of it humbler worship is abandoned, though that which is abandoned may be purer and more whole- some by far. But because in connection with all this m1nistry so pleasing to human likings there may bo lacking that which alono nourishes the soul, and which has upon it the sure tokeus of the Word of God, therefore, when there is this lack, God calls it chaff, and despises it accordingly. Do not think that all these things are in themselves to be despised. No; we would faiu have the ministry of the Wonl of God surrounded with all that can serve to win attention, command reverence, and excite interest ; we shoulu be alert to look out for such thiugs, and to secure them so far as we may; but let us see to it that they be but subordinate, that they all arc used as aids to what is far higher and more important than themselves-that within this husk the pure grain of God's Word is enshrined and preserved. What is the good of any preaching or iustruction, however pleasing or attractive it may be, that does not set the pure wheat of God's Word before hungry souls? Souls must live, anu they cannot live on chaff. Oh that all those who preach and teach may more and more hear ever sounding in their cars this startling word," What is the chaff," etc. I Apply this word- Il. 'l'o OUR OWN INDIVIDUAL CIIAUACTEll-What we, each one, !Lre. If we are the child.t·on of God, believing in tho Lord Jesus Christ, and humbly striving day by day to do his will and to be well pleasing to him, then there is much that is wheat- like in us. That repentance, that faith, that regenerating grace, that law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, its meekness, patience, zeal, love,-all these things am as the wheat, and blessed be God they are to be fonDLl in some measuro-woulu that it were larger-in us all. But thero is so much of a contrary nature, so chaff-like, !LS well. Yes, verily, as chaff lying close by tho sido of our heart, wrapping it round, long associated with it, grown up with it, bard, haru indeed, to be parte,l from it ; so is the evil of our hearts, the ilcshly nature, the carnal mind, which yet clings to us as the husk docs to the grain. And often we are at a complete loss to tell whother there is rnore of wheat or chaff about us-whether our destiny is to be stored. in tho garnPr, or to be as tho chaff which the wind driveth away. But do we think about the chaff and tho wheat as God thinks about them? Aro we willing-yea, longing-to be utterly 532 THE BOOK OF '!'HE PUOPHET JEREMIAH. [ea. XXlll. 1-4.0,