monotheistic faitli of Tsrael had, after their captivity, began its iconoclastic work. Orel large portions of the then civilized world that faith began to permeate and cleave its way. So that the old idolatries were in many places stricken with a mortal blow before even he was proclaimed who was to draw all men unto him. 2. The downfaU oj paganism. Notwitlistanding the many accretions of error and superstition with which the pure faith of Christ so soon became encumbered, there yet remained inherent in it and inseparable from it such vital and mighty energy that it smote as with a " battle-axe " one falsehood after another, until they were well-nigh all slain. The forces against her in that ancient world were simply tremeodous, but the Church went forth conquering and to conquer. In vain the scorn of the great, the fires of awful per- secution, the power of venerable superstition ; in vain the hindrances which she herself put in her own way ; the Church was still God's destroying power against the &l8e religions of that age, until at length the last emperor of Borne who endeavoured to revive paganism, Julian — whom a corrupt hierarchy malignantly branded as " the apostate," though, in fact, he tvas less apostate than themselves — confessed with his dying breath, " Galilsaan, thou bast conquered 1 " In all that long and heart-stirring conflict this declaration of the prophet was illustrated again and again. 3. In the BeformatUm. Not alone in those nations in which the Belbrmation principles took root, but in the Church of Borne herself, was the error and evil destroying power of the truth that dwelt in the hearts of God's people made manifest. See in such a book as Banke's ' History of the Popes' what vast difference and improvements were brought about in the Catholic Church itself by the awful discipline through which she liad then to pass. Whatever stern censures may have to be passed on that Church since tiie days of the Beformation — and they are neither few nor light — yet candour must admit that they are far fewer and far lighter than those which the outrac;ed conscience of Christendom heaped upon her in the generations before. 4. In all missionary and evangelistic triimtfhs over heathendom.
IL The witness of iNravmnAL Chbistian exfebienok. We are wont to speak of the truth of Gud as " mighty to the pulling down of the strongholds of sin and Satan." This is a Christian commonplace. And is it not true ? What but this battle-axe dew the giant sins that ruled and oppressed in each soul?
IIL The seobet or this fobce. What makes the Church Gh>d's battle-axe ? We answer: 1. The truth that sustains her. The truth concerning God and our relations to him — ^he our Father and we all his children. 2. The spirit that animates her ; not one of hate or disregard to man, as was common before Christ came, but love — love even towards the vilest for Christ's sake. 3. The rule that regulates her. The heathen looked on with amazement at the blamelessness of life and the sanctity of character which the faith of the Church produced, and they felt and owned its power. 4. The love that constrains her. She ever " bore about in the body the dying of the Lord Jeans," and, mindful of that, she shrank from no suffering and refused no service. 5. The hope that cheers her. She wrought, not for a corruptible crown, but an incorruptible ; and the hope, " that blessed hope," of her Lord's appearing to receive and reward his people, cheered them on amid the awful sufferings which they were called on to bear. And still it is in proportion as these mighty motives animate the Church in the individual soul that faithful and effectual service is done for Christ against the many and mighty adversaries of God with which the world abounds. — C.
Ver. 25. — A fatal/act. " Behold, I am against thee."
L Its tbdth confessed. When Jerusalem was taken the captain of Xebnchadnez- ziir's army avowed that what had happened was of God (cf. ch. xl. 2). So afterwards when, by the Boman army, Jerusalem was ag&n captured, as our Lord foretold it would be, then too we have it on record that a like avowal was made by the leader of the Roman armies. And so here in regard to Babylon, no other conclusion could be come ta So vast was the power of Babylon that only the Divine opposition could explain the calamities that came upon her. And so when we see nations, Churches, men, that have every worldly advantage nevertheless brought low, as Rome was by the Goths, we can account for it only by this fact — "I am against thee."
II. Its fatality shown. If empires like Babylon cannot stand when God is against them, wlio else can stand ? " If these things be done in the green tree, what shall bt
OH. u. 1—64.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEBEMIAH. 303
done in the diy?" If the mightiest &11 beneath the DiTine opposition, who of lesser power can hope to endure ? " Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." He is sure to if these do.
III. Its oonolusioh evident. Send an embassage and seek conditions of peace (Luke xiv. 31). "Be ye reconciled unto God." " Acquaint thyself with God, and be at peace." — 0.