III. The sacrifice of personal convenience to the good op others. Ezekiel could minister to the cap' ives in Babylon. Jeremiah had his work in comforting the remnant in the land of Israel. If he had consulted his own convenience, he might have accepted the offer of a safe and probably honourable position in the land of exile. But he had his work to do at home, and he stayed to do it. Such conduct is a fine example to those of us who, in choosing a place of residence, think of our own plea- sure and profit rather than of the good we may do. More especially does this apply to t)hristian ministers. If the clinice lay between easy work in a beautiful place in Devonshire, and tlie toil of seivice amid all the squalor and ugliness and wretchedness of a densely populated district in the east end of London, should we be willing to choose the harder but more useful life ?
IV. Contentment and simplicity. These are minor characteristics of the choice of Jeremiah, but they are not without their significance. Jeremiah was satisfied to stay in the old land with the poor, after the wealthy and great had been banished. To
OH. zu 1—16.] THE BOOK OF THE PBOPHET JEBEMIAH. Ifid
the luxuries of court life at Babylon he preferred the homely ways of the peasants oi Israel. In ahandoning simplicity for display and excitement, the fashion of our age drives men and women to a life that is neither healthy nor happy. Even if the out- ward suri'oiindings of a quieter life are not so attractive, its true experience will give a restfulness and a satisfaction that cannot be found in the race of worldly pleasuiei.
Yen. 7 — 12. — 3%e dutiet of mdversity and their reward, L Thb duties. 1. Btib- mission. We are not ruquired to yield before avoidable troubles ; but finding some to be irresi.stible, we are to learn the wisdom and obligation of bending to them without further demur. The captains were no cowards; they had fought and had lost. Their resiiitance against the inevitable was a mistake ; continued resistance after defeat would have been nothing but folly. Submission is much easier when we remember that the trouble is in accordance with the will of a God who is always wise, fair, and mercifiiL 2. Industry. Gedaliah advised the people to set to work at their regular avocations. " But ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put them in your vessels," etc (ver. 10). It is difScult for a dispirited, humiliated, poverty-striken people to settle down to quiet, earnest work. Nevertheless, their duty aud their happiness lie in their doing so: (1) their duty, for adversity is no excuse for indolence ; and (2) their happi- ness, because (a) the fruits of their labour would be a beginning of a return to prospenty and wealth, and (b) in the very exercise of work they would fiud a solace and a refreshment. There is nothing so weak or so injurious as an idle brooding over trouble. Be up and doing I And though the work Is irksome at first, it will prove itself a great healer of distress.
II. The bewabd. 1. A healthy influence over others. The example of the quiet condition of the remnant of Jews in their native country attracted fugitives to return from the neighbouring countries (ver. 11). Their action was a confirmation of the wisdom of their brethren. A man's behaviour under great trial is keenly observed. If he do well then, he may be the means of influencing others as he can never influence them under ordinary circumstances. Thus he may find consolation for his sorrow in the enlargement of his service to his fellow-men. 2. The successful issue of industry. The Jews reaped an unusually abundant grape and fruit harvest (ver. 12). " They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." If we complain and despair under distress, we have no right to expect a happy issue out of it. But patient endurance and diligent attention to duty may make us reasonably expect brighter days in the future. Borue with these accompaninicnts, trouble often reveals itself as less terrible than our fears. When distress comes, we imagine that it has blighted every tree in the orchard and every grape in the vineyard, and so we neglect what consolation we might have in those fruits of patient industry which might still be given to us. Let us remember that during the sad seventy years, and even just after the horrors of the Chaldean i&vuion, the Jews could gather " wine and sommei fruits very much."
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORSL
Ver. IS — eh. xH. 4. — The murder of Gedaliah ; or, noble creduTtty, No sooner Has the new govtrnment in a fair way of being settled and prosperous, than untoward ciicumstances occurred. Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, son of EUsliama, a connection of the royal house, inspired, perhaps, with a jealous feeling towards Gedaliah, began to plot with the King of Ammon against him. Under cover of paying his respects to the new governor, he visited him at Mizpab, and partook of his hospitality. Although warned by Johanan the son of Kareah that Ishmael entertained hostile designs against him, Gedaliah refused to credit the information, and indignantly forbade his informant carrying out his proposal to assassinate Ishmael. The latter, finding thus a clear way for his 'chemes, took advantage of the trustfulness of Gedaliah to accomplish his murderous purpose and to deceive his leading supporters. This done, crime followed upon crime with startling rapidity, until Johanan overtook the miscreant at the " great waters that are in Gibeon," and delivered the prisoners whom he was carrying oflp. la this tragic incident we see —
L How THE VIBTDB OF 0KB POSITION HAT BE THE VIOK 0¥ ANOTHEB. A trustin|b
160 THE BOOK OP THE PROPHET JEREMIAH, [ch. XL. 1—16.
Ingenuous man like Gedaliab was out of place In more senses than one as governor <rf 8uch=a people. In any circumstances it is necessary that the iitraost precaution should be taken with respect to the person of a ruler, as there are always evil-disposed persons who may take advantage of an opportunity, and accidents and misfortunes are con- tinually possible. The off-hand openness, therefore, which is so admirable in the private citizen. Upon whose life so little depends, is highly reprehensible in one occupying BO responsible a position. When it is remembered that the people over whom Gedahah ruled were wholly undisciplined, and had but recently been exposed to the most demoralizing influences, his rashness will be even more apparent. It is well when a ruler can combine the trustful ingenuousness of the private citizen with the sagacity and watchfulness his responsibilities impose upon him. Life is full of such misplaced virtues. The poor man open-handed and lavish as when he was wealthy ; the rich man meanly careful as when he had everything to acquire, etc.