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Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet; we shall do well enough since we have so many priests, wise men, and prophets orz our side. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words; let us lay things to his charge 19 that may blast his character, and even take away his life. Give

heed to me, O LORD, and hearken not to the voice of them that 20 contend with me.. Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, [and] to turn away thy wrath from them, though I denounced it; since they are incorrigible, I will The three last verses are the prophet's not any more intercede. prediction concerning his enemies, rather than his imprecation. 21 Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their [blood] by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and [be] widows; and let their men be put to death; [let] their young men [be] slain by the sword 22 in battle. Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt

bring a troop suddenly upon them for they have digged a pit 23 to take me, and hid snares for my feet. Yet, LORD, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay [me:] forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrown before thee; deal [thus] with them in the time of thine anger; they shall not escape the punishment due to their sins.

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REFLECTIONS.

ET us reverence the absolute power and sovereignty of God. We meet with frequent comparisons in scripture relating to this, which are very beautiful and striking. The potter can mould the clay into what form he pleases: so has God absolute power over his creatures. Our times, and the events of our lives, are in his hand. In his hand are the fates of nations: and therefore we must not dispute his will; but be content with the stations and circumstances in which he places us.

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2. Though God be absolutely powerful, yet he is unchangeably just. His sovereignty is not that arbitrary thing which many people have supposed. God does not say, Because I have my hand, therefore I will break or raise you, according to my will, without any other regard: but, if a nation repent, and become obedient, I will save them out of the deepest distress: if they go on in sin, I will destroy them when they think themselves most secure. But he never The distinction is very plain, and very important. God distributes his favours as he pleases, for he is a debtor to no man. punishes by prerogative; or where there is not guilt to deserve it; and in the final distribution of rewards and punishments, he will render to every man according to his works.

3. Let us lament the prodigious stupidity and obstinacy of sinners. No wonder that God calls the conduct of Israel a horrible

thing. They would not give heed to any of Jeremiah's words; but, right or wrong, were determined to act contrary to them. They would not so much as promise to reform; but would follow their own lusts and devices: and they encouraged one another to do so. This is the case of many under a christian name; and rather than part with their sins, they will smite, with their tongue at least, the prophets who reprove them. But God will bring upon them the judgments they despise, and overwhelm them with everlasting de

struction.

4. It will be a great satisfaction to us, when censured and reproached, to be conscious that we have not deserved it: but that, on the contrary, we have wished well and endeavoured to do kindness to those who have censured us. This is an amiable part of Jeremiah's character, v. 20, and shows, that his imprecations did not proceed from a malicious, revengeful spirit, but were prophetic denunciations. Thus let us bless them that curse us, and pray for those that despitefully use us; rendering blessing for cursing. This will be our rejoicing in the day of evil. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

CHAP. XIX.

By the significant type of breaking the potter's vessel, Jeremiah is directed to predict the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem. The prophets frequently taught by symbolic actions, as well as by words.

HUS saith the LORD, Go and get a potter's earthen

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and of the ancients of the priests; that is, the elders of the people, some of the great council, and the heads of the courses of the 2 priests; And go forth unto the valley of the son of Hinnom, which [is] by the entry of the east gate, and proclaim there the 3 words that I shall tell thee, And say, Hear ye the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem, that is, the princes of the blood, and chief magistrates; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle; so dreadful will it be that it shall astonish and terrify every one. 4 Because they have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, this holy city, the place of my residence, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, nor the kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of innocents; have improved upon their fathers' idolatry, and the wickedness of former kings, and sacrificed their chil 5 dren to Molech, or the sun; They have built also the high places of Baal, another name for the sun, to burn their sons with fire [for] burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake [it,] neither came [it] into my mind, but which I express

6ly forbade, Deut. xii. 31. Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of slaugh7 ter. And I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place; and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hands of them that seek their lives: and their carcasses will I give to be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth; they shall be defeated and destroyed, and see the vanity of those contrivances, by which 8 they thought to escape my judgments. And I will make this city desolate, and an hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall 9 be astonished and hiss because of all the plagues thereof. And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend in the siege and straitness, wherewith their enemies, and 10 they that seek their lives, shall straiten them. Then shalt thou

break the bottle, or vessel, in the sight of the men that go with 11 thee,* And shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Even so will I break this people and this city, as [one] breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again: and they shall bury [them] in Tophet, till [there be] no place to bury. 12 Thus will I do unto this place, saith the LORD, and to the inhabitants thereof, and [even] make this city as Tophet, a place of 13 slaughter and burials: And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall be defiled, by reason of the dead bodies there, unburied, as the place of Tophet, because of all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings unto 14 other gods. Then came Jeremiah from Tophet, whither the LORD had sent him to prophesy, and he stood in the court of the LORD's house; and said to all the people, to some of the priests that would not go with him, or could not leave the temple, and to the people, probably at the hour of sacrifice, when many 15 were assembled, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon this city and upon all her towns, the other cities of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against it, because they have hardened their necks, that they might not hear my words.

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REFLECTIONS.

How is lodgments were to be plainly threatened

O W kind is God to take so many methods to prevent the

by Jeremiah, and the causes of them specified. This sermon was

Probably some had made a jest of the representation in the former chapter, saving. We have been made and hardened long ago, and shall not be easily broken. But the prophet was now to break the vessel in their sight, to represent their utter destruction.

+ Josiah had defiled this place, by burning dead men's bones there: the filth of the city also was carried into it, and a fire kept burning to consume it. Such was the state of Tophet when this message was delivered. What a dreadful representation of Jerusalem and the other cities which should be made like it! Hence it came to be used as an emblem of hell

to be preached at Tophet, that their imaginations might be struck, with the horrible scene before their eyes. So unwilling was a gracious God to leave any method untried, that might awaken these stupid people. And he still bears with sinners; commands his ministers to urge every topic and argument likely to influence them; and has appointed some sacramental signs, the more deeply to impress their minds. So unwilling is he that any should perish; and so inexcusable will be the guilt of sinners if all has no effect.

2. It becomes the greatest of men to pay a serious regard to all divine messages. The princes, priests, and elders of Judah, (though it appears that they hated and despised Jeremiah) had yet such a sense of decency and regard to the message from God, that they followed him to Tophet. Thus should those who are most respectable for age, wealth, and station, reverence the word of God, and attend upon his institutions. Their own salvation depends upon it; and their example will have great influence upon others. If superiors allow themselves to show any slight to divine ordinances, their inferiors will pay no regard to them and thus the little religion which is left among us, may soon be quite lost.

3. Whatever the counsel and opinion of wicked men may be, God will defeat them, and fulfil his own threatenings to the uttermost. This is frequently repeated; viz. that God will do all that he has declared; and bring about all the evil he has pronounced. His judgments will be found to be as dreadful as his word declares them to be, whether men will believe it or not. They think him to be such an one as themselves: that he forgets what he has threatened, or will not fully execute it. But God is faithful, and cannot deny himself. Let us therefore never harden our hearts; but diligently hear and obey his word: so shall we escape the evil which shall come upon the obstinate, and stand before the Son of man.

CHAP. XX.

In this chapter, Pashur, for smiting Jeremiah, receives a new name, and a fearful doom; Jeremiah complains on account of the difficul ties and persecutions he met with in the discharge of his office.

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OW Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who [was] also chief governor in the house of the LORD, that is, head of the course of Immer, which was now in waiting, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things; or rather, heard him 2 prophesy these things himself. Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that [were] in the high gate of Benjamin, which [was] by the house of the LORD, where he continued all night, publicly exposed to the ridicule of the people, 2 in order to punish and silence him. And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him, The LORD hath not called thy

name Pashur, but Magormissabib, that is, fear round about. 4 For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will make thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy friends: and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and thine eyes shall behold [it ;] thou thyself shalt be an example of all the dreadful calamities which are coming upon thy friends and country, even such miseries as shall terrify both thee and them and I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive into Baby5 lon, and shall slay many of them with the sword. Moreover I will deliver all the strength of this city, and all the labours thereof, and all the precious things thereof, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah, all their magazines and riches, will I give into the hand of their enemies, which shall spoil them, and 6 take them, and carry them to Babylon. And thou, Pashur, and all that dwell in thine house shall go into captivity: and thou shalt come to Babylon, and there thou shalt die, and shalt be buried there, thou, and all thy friends, to whom thou hast prophesied lies; to whom thou hast promised peace and deliverance in the Lord's name. The prophet then proceeds to describe the workings of his own mind, which were not very regular.

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O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived:* thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed; I was content with my former state, and would gladly have declined the prophetic office; but thy command and inspiration overpowered me: I am in de8 rision daily, every one mocketh me. For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; I spake earnestly, I complained of their violence and spoil, and threatened them with worse things ; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily, therefore they insulted me, and derided my message. Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But [his word] was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not [stay ;] I had such an impulse on my spirit that I could not rest; it broke out like a fire that was pent up.

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For I heard the defaming of many, the reproach of many Magormissabibs like Pashur, fear on every side, that is, many persecuting enemies, whose doom shall be like Pashur's. Report, [say they,] and we will report it; set a lie a going, and we will push it forward: All my familiars watched for my halting, [saying,] Peradventure he will be enticed and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him; they represented me as a traitor to my country, and as corrupted by the king of Babylon; they endeavoured to provoke me to say something, for 11 which they might accuse me. Thus was Christ served. But the LORD [is] with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be

He misunderstood the divine promise; he expected he should have no oppression: but Cod had only promised that his life should be spared. Or it may be rendered, Thu haut ★ rsuaded me, and I was allured; and this sense is favoured by the next words.

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