Ver. 11.-The duty of non-resistance. Again and again in various forms Jeremiah recurs to the advice of submission to Nebuchadnezzar, In the present instance he addresses it to representatives of foreign nations, and urges it as politic, while to the Jews he was more anxious to show that it was in accordance with God's will. Viewed from various standpoints there were several grounds for non-resistance. I. THE WILL OF GoD. This was the highest reason. It could not be fully appre- ciated by the heathen ; yet even they were reminded that the Creator was the supreme disposer of the destiny of nations. The condition of the Jews, however, was peculiar. They were Jiving under a theocracy. The prophets were the ministry of the Divine King. Their utterances were revelations of law for the government of tho people. 'l'o resist Nebuchadnezzar in opposition to these utterances was to rebel against the decree of the supreme Sovereign of the nation. We do not stand in the same outward circum- stances. But we should learn that the first thought in public as well as in private affairs should be as to what is right, what is God's will; and all considerations of glory etc., should be subordinate to this. We cannot learn God's will from oracular teachers but we can ascertain it from a devout study of revelation, prayer, and honest thought . H. SOUND POLICY. Events proved that Jeremiah was politically as well as morally right. Religious duty lies nearer to useful policy than either fanatic dreamers or worldly UH, x..xvu. 1-22.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. 577
statesmen are able to see. History shows that all resistance to tbe mighty flood of the Babylonian invasion was futile. Timely submission alone could secure a mitigation of its violence, It is foolish for a nation to flourish empty notions of glory above con- siderations for the welfare of the people. The loyal statesman will care less for the fame of a great name, or the splendour of brilliant achievements, than for the peaceful prosperity of his fellow-countrymen. The first interest of a nation is this peaceful prosperity. There may be times when to maintain it self-defence becomes a duty. But when self-defence cannot secure it, when it is rather hindered than helped by resistance, it is foolish to resist for the sake of mere pride. IIL WHOLESOME MORAL GOOD. The Jews were taught that the invasion by Nebu- chadnezzar was sent bv God as a chastisement for sin. To submit to it was to submit to profitable correctio~. In the end the nation might hope to be the better for it. We have no right to complain of troubles which our own misconduct has brought upon us. We may" count it all joy" that we have fallen into tribulation if this works our higher and lasting good. Temporal distress should be patiently borne in the prospect of eternal blessedness, material adversity calmly endured when this is the means of securing inward spiiitual good. Ver. 18.-Prophecy tested by prayer. I. IT 18 THE DUTY OF A PROPHET TO PRAY. He should be spiritually what the priest can only be ceremonially, the mediator between man and God. Mediation has two sides. It implies the work of the interces- ~or as well as that of the prophet-the speaking to God for men as well the speaking to men for God. The former work, however, is in more danger of falling into neglect. It is more spiritual, it requires more humility, it gains less credit from men. But no prophet can even discharge his mission to men aright unless he is also a man of prayer. God reveals himself to those who seek him. Revelations from Heaven are vouchsafed to those who live in communion with Heaven. II. !NSPIBATION IS REQUISITE FOR PRAYER AS WELL AS FOB PROPREOY. The true prophet is the inspired man; he also has the first requisite for prayer. We need inspi- ration for prayer to bring us into sympathy with God. Prayer is more than asking for the satisfaction of our wants-it is communion with God; and communion implie:< sympathy. Like the bird which soars aloft because its wings rest on the surrounding air, we can only rise heavenwards as we bear ourselves up through an atmosphere of heavenly thought. Without the breath of God's Spirit in us we cannot withdraw from the world and attain to the vivid consciousness of spiritual things. For prayer involves the rising above our common, our ordinary life. Thus we may understand the mission of the Spirit as an intercessor. Christ intercedes for us with God. 'l'he Holy Spirit intercedes for God in us, helping our infirmities, teaching us what we should pray for, and how to pray, and breathing into us yearnings deep and unutterable (Rom. viii. 26). III. DIVINELY INSPIRED PBAYEB WILL BE REASONAllLE AND ACCORDING TO GoD's WILL. IC the prophets were inspired they would not ask for the impossible; they would not pray for that which they knew was contrary to God's will; they would not utter prayers of greed and pride. Inspiration does not make a man irrational; on the contrary, it makes him see facts as they are. If these prophets were inspired they would see the folly of asking back the lost vessels. Inspiration is concerned with the present and the future. It is foolish to waste time in lamenting the irretrievable. Let us see that we preserve what still remains with us, and secure what is best for the future. It is absurd to be boasting of great things when we cannot secure small ones. If the prophets could not protect the vessels in Jerusalem, much less could they recover those which had been already removed to Babylon. They might be uttering great prayers about the lost treasure; but while they made no prevailing prayer to secure the treasure Rtill in hand they only exposed their own incompetence. IV. PRAYER AND ITS RESULTS ARE TESTS OF A MAN'S SPIRITUAL CONDITION, If it can be said of a person, "Behold, he prayeth 1" we may know much of him. Prayer is the barometer that rises or falls with the changing tone or the spiritual atmosphere. When we " restrain prayer" this is a sad sign that our better life is failing. It is use- less to boast of spiritual attainments such as those of the professionnl prophets; these are nothing bnt delusions if the prayer-test reveals a condition of spiritual deadness, JEREMIAH. 2P 6i8 THE ROOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. [oH. xxvn. 1-22.