"'l'hou shaH surely die," and were "gathered together against" him (vers. 8, 9). It was to be expected that the priests and the prophetR should have been Lis accu,er, ( vcr. 11), and they already anticipate an unfavourable verdict. It is the educated and influ- ential amongst the laity who are bis judges (ver. 10)-a fortunate thing for him, as the event showed. They seem to have been more open to conviction, as they were probably better acquainted with the moral condition of the court and the political situation. The opposition of men is to be expected by the follower and witness of truth, for "the carnal mind is enmity against God" (Rom. viii. 7). But some will ever be found, if not convinced by him, yet, through the work of the Spirit, open to conviction. There is nothing which true religion demands in these crises but a fair hearing and an impar- tial judgment. II. His DEFENCE. He declares the reality of his mission-" the Lord sent me" (vers. 12, 15); his faithfulness to his instructions, and the merciful aim which be had in view (ver. 13) ; his helplessness and indifference to personal conseqnences (ver. 14); and bis own innocence of any evil design against the nation. God's servants, when thus arraigned, ought to be gentle and yet faithful to their message; the issue is to be left to him. 'l'he fear of man is to be forgotten in the fear of God and the enthusiasm of salvation. III. His DELIVERANCE. 1. The verdict is sensible and wise (ver. 16), and receives the adhesion of the people. It is the false prophets who are most obstinately opposed, who would probably have aroused the popular prejudices, had it not been for the interference of certain elders who recalled previous instances in point (vers. 17-23); and the strong personal influence of Ahikam, son of Shaphan. We a.re reminded of our Saviour's experience at the bar of Pila.ta (Matt. xxvii. 19-25). 2. The most prominent feature of thejudgment is its consequence. God's chihlren rr.ust frequently be disappointed in their appeals to men and their expectation of results from his Word. His ways are hidden, inscrutable, and hard to acquiesce in. A clear and intelligent verdict is not to be expected from those who are not prepared to yield themselves to God's authority. 'fhe clearest and most faithful expositions of truth will frequently appear to fail of immediate effect. The servant of God is to care chiefly to deliver his soul; his personal safety may be left to God. God can raise up influential friends for his people in critical times, but he will work out his schemes in his own way.-M. Ver. 6.-Spfritual pi·erogative not inalienable. The utterance of these words is the chief charg;e against the prophet; only, as in the case of Stephen (Acts vi. 13), the statement is mutilated in the accusation, the condition of the prophecy being entirely ignored (vers. 9, 11). 'l'he principle of indestructible consecration is still clung to by many in the face of the plainest declarations of Scripture. It may be well, therefore, to discuss its bearings in the present instance. I. 'fllE CIRCUMSTANCES OF ITS BESTOWAL. It was Divine grace to which it was due; but for this Jerusalem would have been like other cities. This favour had to be con- tinued from moment to moment, being indeed only secured by the continued indwelling of the Holy Spirit. What was due to grace coulJ. be freely withdrawn by its Donor. As a matter of history, the most sacred places of Israel were repeatedly ruined and pro- faned. This destruction is matter of ancient prophecy, ns in the present instance (Dan. ix. 26 ; Mark xiii. 2). II. 'fIIE 'l'ERMS OF ITS TENUitE. The repeated warnings and injunctions given prove that the consecration of the sacreJ. places depended upon their occupancy by God's Spirit, and this in turn upon the faithfulness of his people. Either these had no mean- ing or the grace could be taken away. Jeremiah said, "If ye will not hearken to me, then will I make this house like Shiloh." 'l'he testimony of 1 Kings ix. 6-8 is pre~ cisely similar (cf. Ps. •lxxviii. 60; eh. vii. 12). III. ITS OWN ESSENTIAL NATURE. Strictly speaking, all things made by God are good and holy, but they may be desecrated, in a secondary sense, by beiug misused, pro- faned, or defiled. Institutions, buil<lings, or material or mechanical structures of any sort, are at best but secondary receptacles of Divino grace. " God rlwelleth not in temples made with hands." It is the person occupying these who is the true temple, and when he is, defiled by sin or unfaithfulness thcro can be no virtue inherent in tho places which he frequents. Cons~cration is alono transmissible through the operntion 'l'llE BOOK OF 'l'llt.; l'HOl'lll-:'l' JEHE~IIAlI. [cu. xxvr. 1-2~.
a·1tl presence of ihe Holy Spirit, and ceases with the withdrawal of the same. It con- sists primarily in the personal character through which it is expressed, and only sccu11<brily in places and things, throu~h the uses and practices carried 011 by holy men in c, 111nection with them. 'l'o the unuoly, therefore, every place and thing will bo uuholy, and vice versa (Titus i. 15), :Material edifices, organization, and official preroua- ti\·c, nre nothing apart from this personal consecration associated with them; and tho loss of that inrnl ,·es the loss of usefulness, of peact>, and of sacredness, even in connec- tion with that with which they have been most idcntified.-M.
Ycrs. 8, 'J.-The perus of prophesying. I. TI.Iii: PROPHET OF GoD MEETS WITH tJ~lYEHSAL OPPOSITION. JI. llE rs IN PERSONAL DANGER. 1. The raponsibility of the fudgments predicted is altached to him.•elj. This is due to a false principle of association, having its root in human ignorance and depravity. Not even God is responsible. The sinner must blame himself (Gal. iv. 16). 2. The woi·st consequences are threatened. Hatred to God expresses it,,elf in hatred to his servant. It is, therefore, violent and in defiance of all justice. Transgressors think to escape judgment by denying it a.nd destroying its witnesses. UL CJHRACTER IS JEOPARDIZED. The verdict was but a half-hearted one, and did not meet with general assent. 'l'he worst charges are brought against Christian men who a.re faithful to their convictions; and it is not always the case that their ground- lessness is made clear. This is part of the "reproach of Christ,"-M.