Ver. 7.-Ci'.vic duties. From the duty of the Jews to the cities of their exile we may deduce the still more urgent duties of citizens to their own city. I. ONE OF THE FIRST INTERESTS OF A PEOPLE IS PEACE. There are times when war is necessary and right-to defend the hearth and home, to save the wee.k from oppression, etc. But such war must only be the means for securing a better, moro le.sting peace. The glory of war is an empty dream. The people gain little and suffer much, though the kings may win fame and power. II. PEACE IS TO BE SOUGilT BY TIIE ACTION OF CITIZENS. Individual men cannot wage a war or declare a truce. But the units constitute nations. If each is peaceable the nation is peaceable. lnsiguificant people have vast power for harm if they choose to execute it. It should be understood that seditious conduct is not only a political offence, it is a sin in the sight of God, a cruelty to tho many people whom it disturbs and injures. III. PRIVATE MEN HAVE PUBLia DUTms. We all rea.p benefits from the state. It is mean to accept them without taking our part in bearing the burdens of the state. There are people who deny the rig)it of Christian men to take part in" worldly politics," yet these people are glad to avail themselves of the protection and other advantages which are provided for them by the secular government they affect to despise. The neglect of public duty evidences a narrow and selfish disposition. IV. PRIVATE MEN ARE BENEFITED BY PUBLIC PROSPERITY. We are members one of another. There is a general harmony and health of the whole body, over and above the well-being of each member, when all work together for the mutual good. As individual men, we have great reason to be thankful for the general prosperity of the nation and for the maintenance of public peace. V. WE SHOULD DISCHARGE OUR DUTIES TO THE STATE THOUGH WE MAY NOT APPROVE OF THE GOVERNMENT. To be in opposition is no excuse for being in sedition. Unless we can change the government it is foolish and wrong to revolt against it. The nation is larger than the government. Ver. 10.-Seventy years. I. SEVENTY YEARS ARE A LIMITED TIME, Babylon was to tyrannize for a limited period only; the Jews were to suffer for a limited period. 1. God has set a limit to the triumph of evil. The storm rages; yet God says to it, "Hitherto she.It thon come, and no further," The lions roar, but they are chained. Wicked men fling the reins to their passions, break through all restraints of respect for the will of God and appear to be at liberty to work evil and revel in the fruits of sin ad libitum; but God has put bounds about their course. In due time he will lay his hand upon them and arrest them. 2. God has set a limit to the duration of trouble. The sorrow of God's people is temporal ; their blessedness will be eternal. Every trouble is weighed and measured by God. "Our times are in his hand." II. SEVENTY YEA.RB ABE A BHORT TIME IN THE HISTORY OF A NA'l'ION. The Captivity was to last for seventy years; prosperity had been enjoyed for hundreds of years before this, and would return and endure long after. The troublesome times are conspicuous, while the quiet times glide by unnoticed. Hence we are likely not to note how much more we have of the latter. History reads like a record of we.r11 and com- motions, because the happy but dull annals of prosperity do not contain many striking events. It is much the same in private life. For most of us the blessings greatly outnumber the troubles, the times of quiet far exceed those of distress. Yet it is difficult to recognize this, because what hurts us impresses our memory more than what pleases us. III. SEVENTY YEA.RB ARE A LIFETIME. Few, if any, of the first captives would survive the exile. To the individual man it was as bad as if it were perpetual. Yet if they were true patriots the national hope must have been a great comfort in the darkness of personal suffering. And the patriotic hope of Israel was one of the grandest features in the Hebrew character. We are all too selfish in our hopes. Christians should consider the cause of Christ and· the interest of humanity as of far more importance than their private prosperity. U in the end Christ will triumph, and the world will be lifted out of the sin and sorrow which have overwhelmed it, should not we rejoke, though our lot may not be to live till this is accomplished? Moses rejoiced in the Pisgah-view of the land he could never enter; Simeon was giad at seeing the infant Saviour, and could OB. xx.rx. 1-32.J THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. 591
depart in peace with the assurance of a redemption not yet accomplished. Still, the Christian may have a great personal hope beyond this. Seventy years I-but a span compared with eternity I When these swift days have flown the door will be opened to the infinite ages of eternity. What if the little life be tempest-tossed? the voyage 1s short, the haven is near (2 Cor, iv. 17, 18).