V. Egypt was the ally of Israel. The alliance of the Church is no safeguard when the Church herself is eiTJng. Companionship in sin with men who have been accounted Christians will do nothing to lighten the weight of guilt. They will have to suffer for their share in the wickedness, and if their previous reputation cannot shield ttiem, it can have no protection to extend to others.
VI. Egypt made a brave eesistanok. Jeremiah describes the battle array in stirring word.s. The army was imposing. Yet was defeated. It is vain to resist the decree of Divine judgment. He who fights against this is striking at Heaven. The blow can only recoil on his own head.
VII. Egypt was to be inhabited again. God mingles mercy with judgment. He nas pity on the heathen. He seeks the ultimate recovery of those whom he first punishes. In later years Egypt became the home and centre of the most brilliant Christian life and thought.
Ver. 11. — Incurdble diseases. I. What dibeabes abe naturally inoctbable ? 1, Sin. No man can root out his own evil nature. The wicked man, left to himself, will never grow into righteousness. Sin does not burn out ; it continually finds fresh fuel and kindles a greater fire. 2. !Z%e Judgment of sin. This cannot be resisted, for it comes from the hand of the Almighty. It cannot be bou<;ht off by compensating merits, for the most we can do is not to deserve more punishment in the future by new sin. When we have done our best we are " unprofitable servants ; we have done that which was our duty to do."
IL How God cubes the natukallt incurable disease. Christ is the good Physi- cian, the great Healer. Where medicine fails miracle triumphs. She who "had suffereil many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse," was made whole by a touch of the hem of the Saviour's garment. The cure may be impossible with man, but with God all things are possible. 1. The cure for sin. This is in the new birth which makes the Christian a "new creation " in Christ Jesus, and the constant aid of the Spirit of God to cleanse ana purify the soul. 2. The cure for the Judgment of sin. This is in the free pardon offereid to the penitent who trust to Christ, and it is secured through his mediation, his one sacrifice for sin, and his perpetual intercession for sinners.
Ver. 20. — ITie heifer and the gadfly. " Egypt is a very fair heifer, but a gadfly Cometh."
I. Worldly advantages are no safeguards against trouble. The heifer is very fair, yet the gadfiy attacks her. Egypt, rich in her fertile Nile valley, the granary ni the East; splendid with vast and gorgeous temples, whose ruins are now the wonder o the world ; in the forefront of speculation and scii-nce ; hoary with antiquity, and proud of her aeons of history even in Jeremiah's age — twenty-five dynasties had already passed away; — this great Egypt is to suffer humiliation at the hand of the upstart Babylon. Her very magnificence attracts the greedy invader. Wealth and rank may ward off some distresses, but they will invite others which never condescend to attack the poor md obscure.
II. Worldly advantages afford little consolation in trouble. If the heifer is very fair, her beauty is no antidote to the pain she feels when the probe of the gadfly is in her back. Egypt may have every advantage of wealth and science, and yet she finds no comfort in these things when her life-blood is flowing beneath the sword of the rude invader. The death of her firstborn is as heavy a blow to the queen as to the meanest slave in the laud. The rich man feels his gout at least as acutely as the poor man. Mental distress, anxiety, and care are not to be bought off with money.
III. A SMALL OCCASION MAT PRODUCE GREAT TROUBLE. The gadfly is but half an inch long. Yet it can so irritate the heifer that she will rush madly about, with head
214 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. [cH. xlVi. 1— 28,
thrust forward and tail stuck out, in the vsun hope of escaping from her tormentor Many • man has just one cause of trouble, looking to others quite insignificant, yet which is to him the fly spoiling the most precious ointment. How much of the dis- tress of life comes from the fret and worry of little things 1 It is a comfort that we are not only invited to cast our burden upon the Lord, but to cast all our " care upon him, for he careth for us."
IV. We may be unable to pbevent the attack or the smallest occasion of TROUBLE. The horns, which would be good weapons for attacking a large animal, are useless against the gadfly. Many troubles come like this fly. We cannot touch them; they are swift to attack, and once they are upon us no defence is possible. In our own stn ngth we cannot throw off the smallest sin. Perhaps we are strong to resist great temptations, and fall victims to miserable little failings. The devil is not always a roaring lion ; sometimes he is more like a gadfly. We can drive off the lion ; we cannot resist the gadfly. Lying, theft, murder, etc., may be kept out, and yet our souls may lose all peace and Divine communion by yielding to hasty temper, discon- tent, cowardice, etc. But Chiist comes as the Saviour from all evil and all sin, includ- ing those meaner ging which may ruin our spiritual life even when greater sina ai« avoided.
Yen. 27, 28.— <Se« homily on ch. xxs. 10, IL)
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHOKa
Ver. 1. — The judgment of the nations. I. Uttered bt the prophet •» rwt theo- OBAOT. 1. Because they are related to the theocracy. Even in antagonism ; but some- times in conscious or undesigned co-operation. The future of the kingdom of God is not, therefore, to evolve itself independently of these, but in close connection with them. It is this, and this alone, which gives them their importance. They are asso- ciated with the destinies of Gk)d's people. What mysterious necessity is it that ever blends God's kingdom with the main stream of history ? It is the dominant influence even when it seems to be temporarily overthrown. 2, The kingdom of Ood is to he fulfilled in the whole earth. Not only in Israel is it to come, but in the " uttermost parts of the earth." The kingdoms of this world are to " become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ " (Rev. xi. 15). For this reason their history, too, is sacred, and is to be read in the light of revelation if it is to be understood. The true history ol every nation and individual is determined by relation to the truth of God. 3. For the instruction and comfort of Ood's people. It is manifest that Divine providence can be explained worthily only upon such a scale. And the subjects of the Divine kingdom have to be tauL;ht the real character and destiny of the powers into relation with which they are brought. Gbd is seen as ruling, not only in • little comer, but in the whole earth.