entered into covenant relations with Israel, he will not withdraw from them, even although their portion of the agreement has not been kept. He remains faithful, notwithstanding human unfaithfulness. The awful guilt of the elect nation cannot invalidate the obligations God has imposed upon himself. He is ready, therefore, at any moment to fulfil these when the conditions are complied with. 2. But it is rather to be taken as illustrating Divine mercy. The purposes of his love are never laid aside. He devises schemes of salvation when we are yet sinners. 3. Though hidden from human eyes. Divine love works continually and through all things. It was hard for mere men to see the favour of Gud in such times. Many of the Israelites themselves doubtless, imagined themselves forsaken. Yet was redemption nearer to them in Babylon than when at Jerusalem they insulted and disobeyed him. " All things work together for good to them that love God," etc. ; " Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him " (Job xiii. 16).
II. A EEVBLATION FULL OF WARNINO AND ENCOUBAGEMBNT. 1. The enemies </ tht
Church are not to presume upon her misfortunes. 2. The Church itself, although cast down and feeble, is tale of good cowrage, for it is not cast off. Adversity is not for- sakenness. " Lo, I am with you alway." There is no room for presumption, for tha chastisements of love have greater severities in store for aggravated guilt. But, relying on the grace of God, it may arise and recommence the mission it has forsaken.—- M.
OB. u. 1—61.] TEE BOOK OF THE PBOFHET JEBEMIAH. 289
Vers. 6, 50. — The duty' of teparating from the world. I. In what sense oblioatobt UPON THE CHILDBEN OB GoD. 1. Spiritual detachment ii always the duty of taints. In heart and life they are to be separate unto the Lord. Their motives, ulterior aims, and dispositions are to be such as the Holy Spirit creates and fosters. They obey the law of the resurrection-life, and "seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God, setting their affectioa on things above, not on things on the earth ' (Col. iii. 1, 2). 2. Physical rejnoval may be requisite when (1) all hope of saving or benefiting sinful men is at end ; or (2) there is danger that we shall yield to the temptations of their society, or encourage them in their evil courses, and thus share their curse. The Jews were to seek the peace of Babylon so long as that was possible ; to share in civic life, business pursuits, and social intercourse, until tkis prophecy came to their knowledge.
II. The motives and aims that abe to influenoe va nr doing this. They are not selfish. It is only when spiritual interests are at stake. There must be no idle- ness or lingering when the call of duty comes. The Jew was to arise and seek hii long-forsaken land at once. His motives were : 1. Allegiance to Ood. He was to " remember the Lord afar off." God was indeed near to him, even there in Babylon. He is to seek more closely to serve and honour him. And this ought ever to be the aim of Christians ; "a closer walk with God." And if he be spiritually minded, hs will feel the attraction of the Divine presence and the blessedness of the Divine communion, which far more than make up for temporal loss or sorrow incurred for conscience' sake. It is the special duty of Christians to call upon God and obey him when amongst those who do not know his Name. 2. The interests of the kingdom of Ood on earth. God sought to separate and sanctify to himself a peculiar people in olden time, that it might witness to his truth. He still seeks to gather a spiritual Church, whose communion consists of those who are redeemed by the blood of bis Son. Through its manifold ministries he is carrying out the salvation of the world. Every Christian is bound to connect himself with it in some form or other, and to take his part in its worship and work. The language of the ancient exile might well \t» adopted by every member of the new Israel— Pa. cxxii. ; cxxxviL 5, 6. — M.
Ver. 10. — Praise the outcome <f saintly experience, Thiese are the words of Jeremiah, but there can be little doubt he is but instinctively interpreting the emotion that must uU the breasts of his countrymen when his predictions were accomplished. Asa repre- sentative Israelite, he expresses the deep-seated impulse that is felt when the greater providences and special spiritual deliverances of life are realized.
I. Experiences of saving obaoe an occasion of thanesotvino akd fbaibb. We owe thankful recognition to God for our creation, preservation, and the recurring mercies of our temporal life ; but there are stronger emotions awakened by the experiences of grace in the spiritual nature. 1. Notice some of these. This deliverance from Babylon. Conversion, or the rescue of the soul from the spiritual Babylon. The triumphs of the gospel ; faithfulness of saints ; increase of spiritual power and influence ; preservation of Christian institutions in times of spiritual apathy or persecution; evangelization of heathen lands, etc. Special answers to prayer, or peace and comfort in private fellow- ship with our heavenly Father. 2. Their general character. " The Lord hath brought forth our righteoiMititts " (" righteousnesses "). This deliverance was a great act oi judg- ment. The cause of God's people was vindicated, and the guilt of Babylon avenged (cf. Ps. xxxvii. 6). The whole world was witness of the character and meaning of the event. And this is the element in all the experiences of grace that awakens special thanksgiving — they are manifestations of Divine righteousness in the life of men; triumphs of truth and holiness and love.
II. The special ddty to which they oalIi ub. 1. Declaring and interpreting God's work to men, (1) by word; (2) by work. 2. Public celebration in God!s house. Zion was the most fitting and representative place for such a duty. Public worship should be linked with the experiences of private devotion and the spiritual life, f ublio and common praise is the privilege and delight of Christians.— M.
Ver. Q.—" Escape for thy life!" "Flee out of the midst of Babylon," eta Thfa word was addressed to those who should be found in Babylon when the day of v«ii>
800 THE BOOK OF THE PEOPHET JEREMIAH. [oh. li. 1—64
geance came upon her (cf. Gen. xSx. 15). And it seems to anticipate what wai afterwards the fact — that many of the Jews would not care to go away from Babylon. Note—