aclion which God overrules for good. Nebuchadrezzar is to be punished for the very act in which God uses him as his servant (ver. 12). Yet the relation between God and his wicked servants is wholly mysterious. IV. Goo EXERCISES AUTJI0RITY OVER THE MOST mRESP0NSIDT,E TYRANTS. Nebu- chadrezzar is the greatest monarch of the world. He is just inflated with one of the grandest victories in all history. Naturally he is an autocratic tyrant who makes an idol of his own will. This man is really God's slave. God overrules all kings, shapes and moulds all history, and mauifests his providence in the great onward march of humanity. This fact should give us confidence in the midst of the darkest events. It should humble the great to feel that they are as nothing before God. V. THE UNCONSCIOUS SERVANTS OF Goo DO NOT KNOW THE nLESSEONESS OF BIB HIGHER SERVICE. As they do not willingly serve, so they do not reap the spiritual joys of service. 'l'he service is nothing to them, though much to the world. 'l'be true ser- vant of God knows bis master's will and delights to do it, sacrifices his own will and submits obediently to the higher will. To fulfil such service is the highest privile'"'e 0 of mankind. In the accomplishment of it is peace and blessedness (Ps. :d. 6-8). Ver. 15.-The wine-cup offury. I. THE WRATH OF GoD rs LIKE INTOXICATING WINE. 1. It is powerful. The wino is strong drink. We arc too ready to close our eyes to this aspect of the Divine nature. The love of God is so treated by some that it leaves no room for anger. But God is not weakly indulgent; if he were so, even bis love would be fouud wanting, for there is no wrath more terrible than that of outraged love. 2. The anger of God produces terrible ejfects. The wine intoxicates. It cannot be a. matter of no concern to us to know how God feels towards us. All affections tend to actions. The anger of a man is not likely to waste itself in aimless fury ; it will flow out in deeds. God is a King whose wrath will find expression in acts of sovereignty, a Father whose anger must necessarily affect his treatment of his children. If there are men at whose anger we may smile, there are others who cannot be safely despised. Dut who dare disregard the wrath of God? Once it is outpoured it must be over- whelming, must take possession of men. 3. It will not only produce outward distress, but inward confusion and helplessness, so " that they shall reel to and fro, and behave themselves madly." Therefore the man who is smitten by Divine wrath has not those internal somces of comfort and strength with which we try to bear up under outward calamity. IL THERE ABE TIMES WHEN TIIE WINE-CUP OF FURY IS POURED OUT. It is not always flowing. Though" God is angry with the wicked every day," he is forbearing, and restrains bis wrath till it cannot longer be justly withheld. 'l'hen we may suppose that the longer it has been accumulating the worse will be its outflow. Men have been treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath. Such sea.sons of the outpouring of the cup of fury may be noted in history; e.g. in the invasions of Nebuchadrezzar, the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, the sacking of Rome by Alaric. It is important to note that this happens in seasons. It is not always harvest. But the spring sowing prepares for the autumn reaping. \Ve may be now preparing for an outburst _of wrath. How foolish not to guard against it because it has not yet come I Delay of Judgment is no excuse for doubt about it, for this is part of the Divine method of action. III. ALL THE GUILTY MUST DRINK OF THE WINE-CUP OF FURY. Jeremiah summons the various nations to partake of it. The Jews are not spa.red though they arc the "elect people." The heathen are not excluded though they do not recognize God truly. God is still the impartial Father of all, and i:uust execute judgn:i~nt UJ:!0n all classes, while, of course, he has due regard to the hght _and opportumt1es of ea.eh. "lteligious" people will have to drink of the dreadful cup, 1f they are morally co_rrupt. \V orldly people will also have to receive it, though they may prof~ss to have nothmg to do with God and his laws. There is no escape in the day of Judgment. Men may refuse to taste of God's love; they cannot refuse to partake of his wrath (ver. 28). IV. THE DITTER CUP WIIICil CIIRIST DRANK 18 AN ANTIDOTE •ro THE WINE-CUP OF FURY. God could never have been angry with his beloved Son. He must have regarded him as he was in his pure goodness; could not have imputed to him sins of which_ he was not guilty, nor have looked wrathfully upon him when he was regarding him with nothing but love and approval. Dut Christ was 80 one with us, 80 took our place as our oH. xxv. 1-38.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JERE.MI.AH. 557
High Priest, that be must have felt, as the most guilty man never felt, the horror of tho wrath of God against the sinful world of which he stood forth as the Representative. He drank to the dregs the bitter cup of spiritual woe as well as that of his bodily passion. The gospel of his grace proclaims to us that they who are liable to the outpourings of o. Divine juclgment on their sins may fiud through Christ's sacrifice peace with God. By faith in Christ we are reconciled to God, and find that his anger is put away for ever in the free pardon of our sins.