The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 526

rid of the chaff? Are we content to bear "the bruising flails of God's corrections" unlil they have" threshed off from us our vain affections"? Do we desire that every portion of this chaff may be got rid of, and "that we, wholesome grain and pure may be," and that only? Perhaps God's flails are laid upon us no,v, or his winnowing work is stripping off much from us, and making "our very spirit poor." Oh, if it be but to rid us of this chaff, let us not complain. Death itself is but God's chief flail " to purge the husk of this our flesh away, and leave the soul uncovered." Complain not., for" what is the chaff," etc.? And not only the sin in us, but much that looks and is reckoned as far other than sin, may be, after all, only chaff. Much of that feeling and conduct which is associated with our religious life may be of itself of a very worthless sort. Those tears which flow so freely when the preacher is in a pathetic mood,-what are they all worth if they never lead to a genuine repentance, a real turning of the 8oul to Christ? And that open profession of religion, coming to the table of the Lord and partaking of the sacred bread and wine, what is that if it be not the index and outward sign of a heart that trusts, that loves, that is consecrated to Christ? And that correct and orthodox creed for which we are so ready to show fight., and the deniers or doubters of which we so eagerly condemn, what is the good of it if it be 11ot the guardian of a God-fearing and righteous life? And that giving of money-for it is to the amount kept back after we have given, and to the motive which prompts the gift, that God looks to determine which is wheat and which is chafT. And that eager activity in many forms of Christian work which some show, unless it be the outcome of a heart aglow with love to Christ, counts for very little with him who here asks, " What is the chaff," etc.? Again we say we do not despise these things-we would that there were more of them ; but if at the heart of them there be not faith and love towards Christ, which alone are the wheat which these thin~s are intended to serve and minister to, then they are but as the chaff which the wind driveth away. We are apt to think a great deal of them, and to rely upon them not a little for ourselves and for others. But they are not the wheat, only its husk, and " what .. , Lord." Apply this question- III. To THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE CHunca. And without doubt it may be affirmed that if the pure wheat of God's garner be not to be found in the fel19wship of the Church, it is to be found nowhere. What our Lord said of his Church at the begin- ning," Ye are the salt of the earth ... ye are the light of the world," is true still. Oh, how many, thank God, of meek, pure, devout, consecrated souls has the Church ever numbered in her fellowship, and does so even yet! But still, even on the best threshing- floors the chaff is mingled with the wheat. Even those Churches which claim to be most careful over admission to their fellowship, and demand valid evidence to be given that there has been a real change of heart, a true conversion to God-even those can no more keep out the chaff than others who throw the responsibility of religious profession entirely on those who make it. But the presence of the chaff along with the wheat could be better borne if the two were always estimated as they should be. But it is not so. Let an unspiritual, worldly minded, hard, and unloving man find his way into a Church-and many such do-and if he be rich, or hold a good position in the world, he will at once be allowed an influence and an authority which he ought not to have-no, not for an hour. And if a Church can get hold of a number of such people, if wealth, and social influence, and education, and fashion flock to their doors, there you have the Church of Laodicea reproduced in most exact form. They will count them- selves and others also will count tbcru, to be" rich, and increased with goods, and to have ~eed of nothing." But what will the Lord say when he cometh with his winn~wing fan to throughly purge his floor? We arc sorely tempted, all of us, to crave with a great craving the presence amongst us of persons of influence, wealth, and power. And all well and good if they be earnest, godly men at the same time. Dut we are in danger of welcoming them even if this great qualification be largely absent. And that wo do too often find this ;.:.i intermixture of the'.worthless with God's wheat, is seen iu the quick falling off of some of those who once were gathered with the Church of God. A little persecution, loss of worldly advantage, desire to stand well with those around,- these have all served as pretexts for not a few to break away altogether. Like "the nautilus, which is often seen sailing in tiny fleets in the Mediterranean Sea, upon the amooi.h surface of the water, It is a beautiful eight, but as soon as cvor th:, tomros~ Cil. um. 1-40,] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEltEMIAH. !i33