Vers. 35 — 37. — Guarantees of perpetuity. These words are a promise to the Jews, ind plainly refer to the national existence of Israel ; but tlie breadtli and spirituality jf the covenant they confirm warrants us in seeing in them the pledges of God's faith- fulness and the Church's stability for all who enjoy the privileges of the covenant. These pledges are to be seeu in the symbolism of nature. The God of grace is the God of nature. Spiritual revelation i hrows light on the vague religion of nature ; but natnrr
22 THE BOOK Of THE tEGPHET JEEEMIAH. [ch. xixL 1— 40.
bends ktck oonfirmations for the truths of the higher revelation. Two are named lii;re. '
I. The UMiroBHiTY of law. This great doctrine has come to the forefront of modern science. By some it is thought to be a difficulty in the way of religious belief. But Jeremiah shows us how to regard it as an encouragement for faith. It proves to us the unchangeableness of God. Events shift and vary, but laws remain. The seasons come and go, but the sun still shines and rules them. Though the sea rages and roars, its wild waves are curbed by invisible reins, linked to heavenly motions, obedient to unvarying laws. So we may learn that amid the changing circumstances of life ami the varying actions of God in providence the same great principles are maintained and the promises of God work out their blessed results unceasingly. This is true of God's thoughts and will. It is true of our personal enjoyment of the privileges of his covenant. Israel is to endure. The Church is founded on a rock. The " final per- severance " of the Christian follows from his identification of his life with eternal laws of God. God will no more cast off his people than the sun cease to rule the seasons or the moon the tides ; for iu grace, as in nature, eternal laws and principles preserve eternal stability to the spiritual universe.
II. The immeasubable gbeatness of the itnivebbe As a mere figure of speech, ver. 37 is highly expressive. By appealing to an impossible feat God pledges his word the more clearly and the more forcibly. But we have here also an analogy based upon common principles of the material and spiritual worlds. 1. The Creator of heaven and earth is too great to be changeable. Change is a sign of weakness. Strength secures stability. 2. Our action is a small thing in the sight of God. It cannot shake the loundations of the universe, cannot even touch them. To us it appears to revolutionize all things ; but God sees it in its true light and treats it with calm pity. It is not in the power of such beings as we are to overturn the counsels of God. 3. As nature is wrapped in mystery, so is the spiritual kingdom of God. There are in both hidden forces the action of which we cannot predict. Therefore it is rash and foolish for us to judge God's actions by our limited knowledge. He may appear to cast his people off. We may no longer see him. His actions may seem harsh and cruel. But we are not competent to judge. Out of the mystery of I^ature and her dark depths of being, out of midnight and winter, there issue life and light ; out of God's darkest dispensations ol providence his eternal counsels of love proceed to their unerring beneficent results.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS.
Ver. 2. — Grace preparing for grace. There is some doubt as to the time alluded to, whether that of the Exodus or that of the Exile. A careful examination wou Id seem to make it clear that the former alone corresponds to the description. Pharaoh's cruel edict and the judgments and wars of the desert thinned the ranks of the Israelites. A remnant was left, with whom God entered into covenant relationship. Their survival under these circumstances was a sign of the Divine favour, at the time hard to be under- stood, but in the future abundantly confirmed. 1'heir ultimate entrance into Canaan was the seal of their acceptance.
I. The peesbnt tboubleb of saints abe no pboof of theib bejeotion. The history of the Church shows this. Here is an instance ; there have been many such. The best of God's servants have been most severely tried, and that just before attaining great rewards and satisfactions. The exiles ot Babylon are, therefore, to be of good cheer. The afflictions of the present may not only be the punishment for past transgressions, but much more — a preparation for future blessedness and usefulness, a grace in germ if not in formation. In the case of the Church they may bring back to a study of the title-deedi of faith; in that of the individual they may promote humility, heart-searching, and efforts to amend. However hard to bear, they should be endured as a grace preparing for grace.
II. Whebe the essence of God's qbace is pbesent, the fulness of it uat be WAITED FOB. 1. What t« the essential element in grace f Is it not the consciousness of acceptance with God? The child of God knows that be is such, and that therefore he is the iiubject of gracious infiueuces from the Holy Spirit, and heir of all that b truly
^H. XXXI. 1—40.] THE BOOK OP THE PROPHET JERKMIAH. 23
good. 2. It is in view of this that pi ese7U circumstances are to he interpreted. Tlie good as well as the evil. Our true, eternal blessedness lies beyond our greatest prescni happiness, amongst the " things prepared." Our anxiety shuiild be, not for immediate pos!>essions, but for meetness for the iuheritauce, and for entering in by the right way. — M.
Ver. 3. — Tlie character of the Divine love inferred from its history. I. Its history 1. It was self-declared. A free, spontaneous promise on Goil's part. This revelation was itself a grace, as the actual sentiment of God toward Israil might have been con- cealed. By the circumstances of its declaration all doubt was removed, and it became a fundamental article of Jewish faith, and a factor of Jewish lile and national develop- ment. 2. It existid from the very first. (Of. Deut. iv. 37 ; x. 15.) The dealings of God with Abraham, and with the ciiiidren of Israel In Egypt, proved tliis. Anticipating the beginnings of spiritual life : " We love him, because he first loved us " (1 John iv. 19 ; of. Bom. iv. 9 — 12). 3. It was constant and unceasing. With this truth the Israelites were familiar. Too often they had presumed upon it. But the continued existence of such a little nation in the midst of its great neiglibours was nothing less than a miracle of watchful, unceasing, Divine love. 4. Z7ie saws favour is extended to the Babylonian exiles. It comes to them freely as it came to tiieir ancestors. Through them the same purpose of love would work, and their mislortunes wouhl be overruled for ultimate blessing.