II. But there is a God-like force which shall prove a mightieb hammeb still. The strong one shall be driven out by the stron<rer. For proof of this, see: 1. The progress of humanity. Surely he must be blind who will deny the improvement in the general condition, conduct, and character of men since Clirist lived and died on this earth. Most admit it, but ascribe it to merely secular, natural, and subordinate causes. 2. The laws of civilized nations. How much more just, humane, and righteous they are than they once were 1 3. The philanthropic jnsii>ict amongst men. V\' hat abun- dance of objects there now are on which this instinct flings itself and toils for their good I Now, these things are, at least, " aids to faith," in a fuller and more complete deliverance of nian from all evil, which it is the glory of the gospel both to promise and to promote. But see this Divine power at work in the individual soul. The fear which hath torment is taken away. Tlie sin which tyrannizes is broken and subdued. The good which was weak is made strong, the evil which was strong is made weak. The sorrow which killed all joy is hushed. Death which destroyed is itself destroyed by the resurrection of Christ from the dead. These are some of the present trophies of the grace of God, and they are but an earnest of more and far better things to come. But in virtue of them we believe in the Son of God, who shall subdue all things unto himself. God's Word, God's providence, God's Siririt, all unite to testify to the existence and by-and-by the exercise of that triumphant power by which all the might of evil shall be crushed, shattered, and broken for ever. On which side, then, are we taking our place ? — 0.
Ver. 34. — A strong Redeemer. " Their Eedeemer is strong."
I. It was necessary that he should be so. 1. This is true of IsraeVs Sedeemer. See the power ranged against them. Physical, in the might of Babylon and the. many hostile nations. Spiritual, in the justice of the sentence under which they were suffering. Moral, in the enfeebling effects of tlieir disobedience, causing despondency, despair, timidity, giving power to evil habits, and making very difficult the acquire- ment of such as were good. But : 2. It is true of our Redeemer. The powers by which humanity is held in captivity are more terrible and unconquerable than were those by which Israel was held. These powers are commonly classified under the threefold division — a trinity of hell — of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Consider the power : (1) Of the world, in enslaving the soul of man. The seductiveness of its smile, the terror of its frown, the overpowering force of its rewards, the awfulness of its punishments. And yet all this miglit is against God and against the soul. (2) Of the flesh. Yes; it does beat against the spirit, it warreth against the souL If it once have gained dominion, is that dominion ever entirely destroyed while this life lasts ? And in some, yea, many, its dominion is allowed as something that cannot be broken. A moral despair comes over many in regard to it, and they cease to contend against a tyranny which they affirm they are powerless to escape from. (3) Of the devil. He is no mere imagination, or myth, or invention of a credulous and superstitious age, but a living reality, against whom our Saviour, who knew his strength and terror as none other did — for he had just come away from his encounter with him — bade us in our daily prayer say, "Deliver us from the evil one." Who but he is it that is ever plying us with unhallowed thought and suggestion, causing the will and opportunity to sin so fatally to combine? But who of us is or can be ignorant of his devices? And when the force of all these terrible foes is augmented, as it is by the force of habit, of example, of inherited tendency, of enfeebled power of resistance the result of past defeats,— dt, what need, indeed, is there that our Redeemer should be strong I But —
IL Blessed be Goo, he is bo. In regard to larad, he did redeem them in putt ^'^
Oft. L. 1—46.] THE BOOK OP THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. 285
their more complete redemption is yit to come. In regard to humanity at large, he is strong likewise. See in pruof of this : I. His mighty 'power when here on earth. All those signs and wonders, those glorious miracles, were designed to confirm our faith in our Redeemer as One " mighty to save." Hence diseases fled, devils were cast out, nature obeyed. Death gave up her dead, at his word. All these things were, as St. John calls them, " signs." 2. His might displayed in his Church. " I will build my Church," he said ; and in spite of the feebleness in numbers, in influence, in intellectual or social power, in adaptation of methods, in selection of men ; in spite ol ill the force that numbers, wealth, power, rank, cruelty, hate, could bring to bear ; — still his word was accomplished and is yet being accomplished. Must we not confess, in view of facts like theses, that our Redeemer is strong? 3. His power over the indi- vidual soul. How he gives strength against the terror of a violated law, the might of an indwelling sin, the crushing power of earthly sorrow, the king of terrors, death itself 1 " Conversion is the standing miracle of the Church" — the transformations of character, condition, and conduct, which are perpetually being wrought by the power of Christ. All these compel the glad confession that Christ is "mighty to save." Now, note —
III. That his stbenqtr bbcomgb oubs by means of cub faith. For faith in him brings to l)ear the power of : 1. The unseen. 2. Gratitude, 3. 2%« new Itfe, And so these marvels are wrought.
'* Mighty Redeemer, set me (toe From my old state of sin."
a
▼er. 36. — ITie liar^ sword, L It is onb which thet wield. It cuts asnnder : 1. The ties which bind man to man. 2. Those which bind the soul to truth and virtue. 3. Those which bind the heart to Ood. 4. Those which would lead the man to eternal life.
II. It is one which thet febl. It pierces the soul with shame, with anguish, with a deadly wound.