fr11red the people. If all the evil could be clone that is desired to be done, socidy woulcl become intolerable. Now, the peculiar mischief that these prophets did was in strength- ening the hands of wicked men who were also weak. They spoke encouragingly, and perhaps drew them on by example. Hence evil was done openly that otherwise might have been done secretly. Conspiracies and alliances became more prncticablo, Evil was made to put on the aspect of good, and men did energetically with perverted consciences what otherwise they might have done with much hesitation, and therefore with diminished force. There are certain men always to whom evil-doing becomes easy when it becomes respectable. Thus we sec how great were the responsibilitic,J and opportunities of the old Hebrew prophets. II. Hence we see something of what A DUTY AND OPPORTUNITY BELO~G TO Ar.:. CnmSTIAN PEOPLE. Are not all the Lord's people prophets, if only they choose to regard their opportunities? With regard to evil men, it is especially laid on us le hinder their action by all wise and rightful means. The formation of their designs wo cannot hinder; we cannot see beneath the surface, and prevent the germination of tha poisonous growth; but when it appears above the surface, we may do our best to pluck it out. Unrler the specious guise of love for individual liberty we may tolerate the greatest evils till they grow beyond our control. The man who took a tiger's cub for a pet found it become perilous long before he expected. We should do all we can to strcn 6 then those who are the modern equivalents to the Hebrew prophets. Such men appear from time to time, and we should pray for insight that we may discern their mission and claims. Such men are sent to weaken, and ultimately to paralyze, the strong hands of the wicked. '!'hey are the ropresentatives of great causes; and if through cowardice, self-indulgence, and fear of being thought peculiar, we neglect them, then we may do much harm. Ill. THE GREA'l' IMl'OllTANCE OF STRENGTHENING THE HANDS OF ALL WHO WA~T TO DE oooD. They are so often weak in action. "The spirit is willing, but the flesh i~ weak." They arc hinderecl by strong temptations which come in their way, when they are striving to get nearer God's ideal for them. They are in need of sympathy. They have to be helped in reaching encouraging views of Divine truth. They need to ba remembered in prayer, and generally to have more heart and spirit put into them; then, having abundant life within, they will not lack force, steadiness, and persistency of hand. If we arc actively engaged in strengthening the hands of the good, we are to this extent weakening the hands of the evil. And, finally, it is very consoling to recollect that when those who profess to bo good are found strengthening the hands of evil- doers, this is precisely the time when God's indignation is aroused and his opposition most dl'ective. "If God be for us, who can be against us? "-Y.
Ver. 16.-Spcaldng the vision of one's own heart. Observe- !. THE!lE IS 'l'HE PUTTING OF ONE'S OWN IMAGINATION IN TIIE PLACE 0~' Gou's TRUTH. A prophet, divinely sent, expresses the words which Goll has put into his tnouth, or reports the vision which God has made to rise before him. If, then, it was true that these prophets, as prophets, were speaking only the vision of their own hearts, it was quite enough to condemn them. lt is very possible that they had brought themselvos to believe that they wero speaking the truth. In the clays when prophetic vision was vouchsafed to man nothing was easier than for a heated imagination to see whatever it wanted to sec; and then the subject of this vision would persuade himself that the vision was of God. How, then, was a prophet to Tcnow that what he had seen was t,,ii/y of God 1 '!'he answer is very largely to be found in considering the se11s0 of burden and responsibility which evidently rested on true prophets. About a truo prophet thero was nothing egotistic, conceited, or impetuous. Generally, too, ho had to say things which were painful for a sensitive man to speak, and humiliating for scll'- willed people to hear; whereas theso prophets against whom Jeremiah warns the people managed to sny things very agreeable. We read that they proclaimed peaco and pros- perity to the evil-doer. Now, whatever peculiarity there was in the vision~ given to the prophets, it is plain that there could be nothing contradictory to God's holiness and his laws, so clearly expressed, for human life. When prophets came with visions contradicting human self-will and human expectations, there was in this a presumption that they were sent of God. David desired to build a house for God in place or the olu 64-0 TlIE BOO]{ OF T11E PROPIIET JEREMIAH. [cH. xxm. 1-40.