V. At first but a remnant of a remnant abb saved bt Christ. The question whether few were to be saved was not to be answered for the satisfaction of idle curiosity (Luke xiii. 23). But that only a few sought the grace of Christ at first is a historical fact. The number has grown wonderfully, and yet how large a part of the world must be accounted still dark and dead in sin 1 But the few are saved that they may win the many. The first disciples became apostles. The small remnant laid the foundation of a great nation. The Church is called to evangelize the world.
HOMILIES BT VARIOUS AUTHORS.
Vers. 1 — ^14 (vide ch. xliii. 8 — 13). — The condition of hardened sinners desperate I. Why IS IT bo? 1. Because rejieatid warnings have leen rejected. (Vers. 4,5.) These have been insjiired and infallible. Had they believed ever so little they mit^ht have trusted implicitly what was spoken, accompanied as it was with such miraculous credentials. We, in these last times, have had the Lord himself. He has revealed the heart of the Father. (2) Tliey were sufficiently numerous and seasonable. Gkid " rose up early and sent them." He sent them all. No opportunity or peculiarity ol individual influence was omitted. Christ is greater than all the prophets put together.
OH. XUT. 1— 30.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH, 191
and his gospel is universally declared and nniversally authoritative over the consciences of men. God cannot send another messenger, nor would it avail if he could. 2. Because the lessons of experience have been ignored. (Vers. 9, 10.) How terrihiy severe had not these been i It was scarcely possible for greater temporal punishments to be inflicted. Yet it was in the discipline of these judgments they were to have been saved. The path of transgressions, as the sinner looks back upon it, is marked by ruin and death. Yet will he not repent. 3. Their persistent disobedience is an intoler- able offence to Ood, (Ver. 8.) God's judgments are not exhausted, but his patience may be. The history of ofifence and punishment will not repeat itself indefinitely. There are abysses of wrath. There is an eternal fire. Let them beware lest they be utterly consumed.
II, What are the signs that it is so ? 1. The Word of Ood is wholly against ihem. The indictment has no redeeming feature. 2. The pathos and pitifulness of Ood's entreaty. (Vers. 4, 7.) Tiiere is compassion in the Divine mind because of the consequences that impend. Who so able to understand the sinner's circumstances as bis Father ? He who can see before and after, and who can fathom the mystery of iniquity, fears for his erring child.
III. What element of hope, ip ant, is stili. left fob them ? 1. Ood still pleads. Silence would mean hopelessness. Whilst his servant is authorized to speak, there may remain a way of escape. 2. The fatherly compassion his voice betrays. There are tears in the entreaty : " Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate I " It is the birth-cry of an evangel ; a prophecy of Jesus. Mercy may move and melt where judgment has failed. "For the love of Christ constraiueth us," etc. (2 Cor. v. 14) ; " But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet ■inners, Christ died for us" (Rom, v, 8).— M.
Vers. 15—23. — Credentials of rdigion. Very important to know why we prefer one religious system to another, and also why we ought to prefer it. A man is con- tinually in need of having to give a reason for the hope that is in him. The higher religions find the field already occupied by many great systems, and have to vindicate themselves. The arguments employed here are those most conmionly adduced, because most superficial. As appealing to the sensuous and material side of human nature, they are very influential. „ , , j , ^ i^ .
I. Worldly arguments fob a bblioion. Here they are employed on behalf of • false religion, an idolatry; but they are often made use of in recommending true religion. Tl'iey are generally of two classes, viz. pertaining : 1. To authority. The Idolatry here defended was (1) general and fashionable ; (2) ancient ; (3) patronized by royalty ; (4) practised in the mother city ot God's people. 2, To tendency. It was alleged to have promoted prosperity and peace.
li. Their inconolusivbness. 1, Authority ts only valuable as it helps to establish truth. Sin in its most flagrant forms, ignorance and inhumaniiy, have been more and longer prevalent than the greatest religions the world has seen. The most cruel and debasin" reliiiions are the most ancient in most countries. The only authority which can be admitted in such a connection is that of the best, i.e. tlie wisest and purest 2 The tendency argument is open to similar objections. It is a great dtal to say in favour of a religion that it has promoted the welfare and happiness of its supporters; but it is not so "easy to prove it. Here the prophet alleges that it was their idolatry which lay at the root of all the misery of the people of Judab. It requires a very wide varied and lengthened induction of a people's circumstances ere such a statement is leir'itimate' either way. And even if it were made out to one's satisfaction that a relis'ious svstem had a beneficial effect upon the material condition of a people, it must still be remembered that man is a spiritual being, and that his moral and spiritual nature will sooner or later enter an imperious claim to attention and saiislaction. Only that which is right and true can meet the wants of the human spin! under all circumstances. And God is the one Being who can satisfy the spiritual aspirations and needs of his creatures If the best and the holiest of men cannot be content with material advan- ta-'es and comfort, but are ever yearning for something beyond, it is evident that ttttlitarianism must be interpreted in a very spiritual sense indeed ere it 04»n pass muster as a tolerable criterion of any religion. It is chiefly because Christianity has
in THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH, [oh. xlit. 1— 30
revealed a Divine communion and a universal moral basis that it is destined to siip< plant all other creeds. But at the same time, it is also enforced by the test of utility in its more material aspect, ^o religion has so advanced the comfort, civilization, and peace of this world. — M.
Vers. 26 — 28. — Hit danger of corrupting true religion. God has from the beginning been solicitous for the purity of his revelation and worship. He would never suffer his ordinances to be tampered with, or share his honour with other gods. " Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve " (Deut. vi. 13 ; Luke iv. 8).