The Pulpit Commentary — Jeremiah — Volume 1 — Section 539

to God." Banished from Palestine, they are still "his banished ones," and he will make them to return. 'l'hose who are undergoing severe trials, in circumstances, in faith, etc., but who are truly seeking after God, are to be comforted with this word. It is a promise that has been gloriously fulfilled, It pledges- I. Gon's CARE. 1. Pi·otection. 2. Provision, temporal and spiritual. Although we see him not, he ever sees us and regards us with complacency and love. II. Gon's FAVOUR. This indicates interest, but because of something evoking it- the first germs of faith and repentance. When others see them not, he sees the longings of the soul and its efforts after better things ; and he will further them. III. Gon's GUIDANCE. Although they were led away into a strange land and amidst an alien people, he would never lose sight of them; but, directing their footsteps, would bring them back again to the land they had left and to himself. It was a strange way, but it was God's way, and his influence would be continually in them and upon them for good. It is the surest proof that God's eye is upon us for good when his Spirit is within us. As many as are led of the Spirit are the children of God.-M. Ver. 7.-The conditions and relations of salvation. I. THE ABILITY TO KNOW GOD IS TIIE GIFT OF Gon. Not more facts, external, historical, etc., are required. Not a new Dible-the letter of the Bible is probably completed already. Nor even a new mode of spiritual demonstration. But a new heart. We cannot make a new heart. God will save us by renewing: 1. The moral nature. 2. The whole life through it. II. THE BLESSINGS OF SALVATION CAN ONLY BE SECURED IN ABSOLUTE CONSECRATION. "They shall return unto me with their whole heart." Complete salvation is impossible without complete faith. To believe-to believe simply, to believe wholly,-this is the condition of perfect salvation. III. THE IDEAL ISRAEL MUST EVER BE A THEOCRACY. In the obedience of faith they shall be God's people, and he will be their God. That upon which we depend in faith is that which we observe and respect in practice; it is the law and inspiration of life. Christ leads us to the Father that he and we may be one in God; not merged, confounded with Deity, but in eternal and ever-blessed subordination to him.-M. Vers. 1-10.-The two baskets of jigs; or, our character and destiny independent of our circumstances. I. THE SYMBOLS EMPLOYED. The two baskets of figs-one very good, the other very eviL But: 1. They had each the same advantages and disad- vantages. The same seed, soil, training, climate, sunshine, and other influences teeming on them. 2. They were of directly opposite characte1·. (Ver. 2.) II. 'rHE PEOPLE REPRESENTED BY THl!:M. The men of Judah and Jerusalem. Now: 1. The circumstances of all these were the same. Pare·ntage, religion, teachers, dis- ciplines, privileges, opportunities. 2. But some of these people were symbolized by the good figs, and the other by the evil. Those who had been carried off to Babylon were the good; those who remained still in Jerusalem were the evil. 3. The reverse results might have been looked for. For the good had been dealt with more sternl_y than the evil. How terrible and sad their lot appeared I Torn away from all their wonted privileges; made to endure a fate which others deserved far more than they; surrounded with idolaters and blasphemers of God. But the evil continued in the possession of all those aids to religion and piety of which those others were deprived. So that the circumstances of the good were less favourable, and those of the evil far more so. Exile, which might have been thought to injure the captives, had done them good ; whilst exemption from it, which might have been thought to bepefit the eTil, bad wrought them harm. " With the exiles were some of the choicest spiri~s of the nation. Ezekiel, second only to Jeremiah himself in the prophets of this epoch; and, probably, the ancestor of Mordecai; and Daniel, with his three companions." "'l'he exiles became humble, repentant, reformed. 'l'he resident Jews became insolent, self-secure, defiant. The former became worthy of comparison with ' the first ripe figs;' the latter as the 'naughty figs, which could not be eaten.'" Ill. THE LESSONS TAUGHT 'l'HEREDY. That character and destiny do not depend on drcumslances. \Ve should have thought that either all would be al_ike, or else that the characters and destinies would have been the reverse of what they were. 1. Let the good who may be placed in adverse circumstances take encouragement from this cu. xxrv. 1-10.] 'fHE BOOK OF 'fHE PROPHET JEP.EMIAII. 547