mh_parser/vol_split/24 - Jeremiah/Chapter 6.xml

<div2 id="Jer.vii" n="vii" next="Jer.viii" prev="Jer.vi" progress="29.78%" title="Chapter VI">
<h2 id="Jer.vii-p0.1">J E R E M I A H.</h2>
<h3 id="Jer.vii-p0.2">CHAP. VI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Jer.vii-p1" shownumber="no">In this chapter, as before, we have, I. A prophecy
of the invading of the land of Judah and the besieging of Jerusalem
by the Chaldean army (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.1-Jer.6.6" parsed="|Jer|6|1|6|6" passage="Jer 6:1-6">ver.
1-6</scripRef>), with the spoils they should make of the country
(<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.9" parsed="|Jer|6|9|0|0" passage="Jer 6:9">ver. 9</scripRef>) and the terror
which all should be seized with on that occasion, <scripRef id="Jer.vii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.22-Jer.6.26" parsed="|Jer|6|22|6|26" passage="Jer 6:22-26">ver. 22-26</scripRef>. II. An account of
those sins of Judah and Jerusalem which provoked God to bring this
desolating judgment upon them. Their oppression (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.7" parsed="|Jer|6|7|0|0" passage="Jer 6:7">ver. 7</scripRef>), their contempt of the word of God
(<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.10-Jer.6.12" parsed="|Jer|6|10|6|12" passage="Jer 6:10-12">ver. 10-12</scripRef>), their
worldliness (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.13" parsed="|Jer|6|13|0|0" passage="Jer 6:13">ver. 13</scripRef>), the
treachery of their prophets (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.14" parsed="|Jer|6|14|0|0" passage="Jer 6:14">ver.
14</scripRef>), their impudence in sin (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.15" parsed="|Jer|6|15|0|0" passage="Jer 6:15">ver. 15</scripRef>), their obstinacy against reproofs
(<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.18-Jer.6.19" parsed="|Jer|6|18|6|19" passage="Jer 6:18,19">ver. 18, 19</scripRef>), which
made their sacrifices unacceptable to him (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.20" parsed="|Jer|6|20|0|0" passage="Jer 6:20">ver. 20</scripRef>), and for which he gave them up to
ruin (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p1.11" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.21" parsed="|Jer|6|21|0|0" passage="Jer 6:21">ver. 21</scripRef>), but tried
them first (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p1.12" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.27" parsed="|Jer|6|27|0|0" passage="Jer 6:27">ver. 27</scripRef>) and
then rejected them as irreclaimable, <scripRef id="Jer.vii-p1.13" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.28-Jer.6.30" parsed="|Jer|6|28|6|30" passage="Jer 6:28-30">ver. 28-30</scripRef>. III. Good counsel given them
in the midst of all this, but in vain, <scripRef id="Jer.vii-p1.14" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.8 Bible:Jer.6.16 Bible:Jer.6.17" parsed="|Jer|6|8|0|0;|Jer|6|16|0|0;|Jer|6|17|0|0" passage="Jer 6:8,16,17">ver. 8, 16, 17</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Jer.vii-p1.15" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6" parsed="|Jer|6|0|0|0" passage="Jer 6" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Jer.vii-p1.16" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.1-Jer.6.8" parsed="|Jer|6|1|6|8" passage="Jer 6:1-8" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Jer.vii-p1.17">
<h4 id="Jer.vii-p1.18">Judgments Threatened against Israel; The
Doom of Israel. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.vii-p1.19">b. c.</span> 608.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jer.vii-p2" shownumber="no">1 O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves
to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in
Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Beth-haccerem: for evil
appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.   2 I have
likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate <i>woman.</i>
  3 The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they
shall pitch <i>their</i> tents against her round about; they shall
feed every one in his place.   4 Prepare ye war against her;
arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day goeth
away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.   5
Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.
  6 For thus hath the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.vii-p2.1">Lord</span> of
hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem:
this <i>is</i> the city to be visited; she <i>is</i> wholly
oppression in the midst of her.   7 As a fountain casteth out
her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness: violence and spoil
is heard in her; before me continually <i>is</i> grief and wounds.
  8 Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from
thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.vii-p3" shownumber="no">Here is I. Judgment threatened against
Judah and Jerusalem. The city and the country were at this time
secure and under no apprehension of danger; they saw no cloud
gathering, but every thing looked safe and serene: but the prophet
tells them that they shall shortly be invaded by a foreign power,
an army shall be brought against them <i>from the north,</i> which
shall lay all waste, and shall cause not only a general
consternation, but a general desolation. It is here foretold,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.vii-p4" shownumber="no">1. That the alarm of this should be loud
and terrible. This is represented, <scripRef id="Jer.vii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.1" parsed="|Jer|6|1|0|0" passage="Jer 6:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. The children of Benjamin, in
which tribe part of Jerusalem lay, are here called to shift for
their own safety in the country; for the city (to which it was
first thought advisable for them to flee, <scripRef id="Jer.vii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.4.5-Jer.4.6" parsed="|Jer|4|5|4|6" passage="Jer 4:5,6"><i>ch.</i> iv. 5, 6</scripRef>) would soon be made too
hot for them, and they would find it the wisest course to flee out
of the midst of it. It is common, in public frights, for the people
to think any place safer than that in which they are; and therefore
those in the city are for shifting into the country, in hopes there
to escape out of danger, and those in the country are for shifting
into the city, in hopes there to make head against the danger; but
it is all in vain when evil pursues sinners with commission. They
are told to send the alarm into the country, and to do what they
can for their own safety: <i>Blow the trumpet in Tekoa,</i> a city
which lay twelve miles north from Jerusalem. Let them be stirred up
to stand upon their guard: <i>Set up a sign of fire</i> (that is,
kindle the beacons) <i>in Beth-haccerem,</i> the <i>house of the
vineyard,</i> which lay on a hill between Jerusalem and Tekoa.
Prepare to make a vigorous resistance, <i>for the evil appears out
of the north.</i> This may be taken ironically: "Betake yourselves
to the best methods you can think of for your own preservation, but
all shall be in vain; for, when you have done your best, it will be
a great destruction, for it is in vain to contend with God's
judgments."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.vii-p5" shownumber="no">2. That the attempt upon them should be
bold and formidable and such as they should be a very unequal match
for. (1.) See what <i>the daughter of Zion</i> is, on whom the
assault is made. She is compared <i>to a comely and delicate
woman</i> (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.2" parsed="|Jer|6|2|0|0" passage="Jer 6:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>),
bred up in every thing that is nice and soft, that will not set so
much as the sole <i>of her foot to the ground for tenderness and
delicacy</i> (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.28.56" parsed="|Deut|28|56|0|0" passage="De 28:56">Deut. xxviii.
56</scripRef>), nor suffer the wind to blow upon her; and, not
being accustomed to hardship, she will be the less able either to
resist the enemy (for those that make war must <i>endure
hardness</i>) or to bear the destruction with that patience which
is necessary to make it tolerable. The more we indulge ourselves in
the pleasures of this life the more we disfit ourselves for the
troubles of this life. (2.) See what the daughter of Babylon is, by
whom the assault is made. The generals and their armies are
compared to <i>shepherds</i> and <i>their flocks</i> (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.3" parsed="|Jer|6|3|0|0" passage="Jer 6:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>), in such numbers and in
such order did they come, the soldiers following their leaders as
the sheep their shepherds. The daughter of <i>Zion dwelt at
home</i> (so some read it), expecting to be courted with love, but
was invaded with fury. This comparing of the enemies to shepherds
inclines me to embrace another reading, which some give of
<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.2" parsed="|Jer|6|2|0|0" passage="Jer 6:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>, <i>The daughter
of Zion is like a comely pasture-ground and a delicate land,</i>
which invite the shepherds to bring their flocks thither to graze;
and as the shepherds easily make themselves masters of an open
field, which (as was then usual in some parts) lies common, owned
by none, <i>pitch their tents</i> in it, and their flocks quickly
eat it bare, so shall the Chaldean army easily break in upon the
land of Judah, force for themselves a free quarter where they
please, and in a little time devour all. For the further
illustration of this he shows, [1.] How God shall commission them
to make this destruction even of the holy land and the holy city,
which were his own possession. It is he that says (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.4" parsed="|Jer|6|4|0|0" passage="Jer 6:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>), <i>Prepare you war
against her;</i> for he is the <i>Lord of hosts,</i> that has all
hosts at his command, and he has said (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p5.6" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.6" parsed="|Jer|6|6|0|0" passage="Jer 6:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>), <i>Hew you down trees, and cast
a mount against Jerusalem,</i> in order to the attacking of it. The
Chaldeans have great power against Judah and Jerusalem, and yet
they have no power but what is <i>given them from above.</i> God
has marked out Jerusalem for destruction. He has said, "<i>This is
the city to be visited,</i> visited in wrath, visited by the divine
justice, and this is the time of her visitation." The day is coming
when those that are careless and secure in sinful ways will
certainly be visited. [2.] How they shall animate themselves and
one another to execute that commission. God's counsels being
against Jerusalem, which cannot be altered or disannulled, the
councils of war which the enemies held are made to agree with his
counsels. God having said, <i>Prepare war against her,</i> their
determinations are made subservient to his; and, notwithstanding
the distance of place and the many difficulties that lay in the
way, it is soon resolved, <i>nemine contradicente—unanimously.
Arise, and let us go.</i> Note, It is good to see how the counsel
and decree of God are pursued and executed in the devices and
designs of men, even theirs that know him not, <scripRef id="Jer.vii-p5.7" osisRef="Bible:Isa.10.6-Isa.10.7" parsed="|Isa|10|6|10|7" passage="Isa 10:6,7">Isa. x. 6, 7</scripRef>. In this campaign,
<i>First,</i> They resolve to be very expeditious. They have no
sooner resolved upon it than they address themselves to it; it
shall never be said that they left any thing to be done towards it
to-morrow which they could do to-day: <i>Arise, let us go up at
noon,</i> though it be in the heat of the day; nay, (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p5.8" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.5" parsed="|Jer|6|5|0|0" passage="Jer 6:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>), <i>Arise, let us go up
at night,</i> though it be in the dark. Nothing shall hinder them;
they are resolved to <i>lose no time.</i> They are described as men
in care to make despatch (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p5.9" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.4" parsed="|Jer|6|4|0|0" passage="Jer 6:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>): "<i>Woe unto us, for the day goes away,</i> and we
are not going on with our work; <i>the shadows of the evening are
stretched out,</i> and we sit still, and let slip the opportunity."
O that we were thus eager in our spiritual work and warfare, thus
afraid of losing time, or any opportunity, in taking the <i>kingdom
of heaven by violence!</i> It is folly to trifle when we have an
eternal salvation to work out, and the enemies of that salvation to
fight against. <i>Secondly,</i> They confidently expect to be very
successful: "<i>Let us go up,</i> and let us destroy her palaces
and make ourselves masters of the wealth that is in them." It was
not that they might fulfill God's counsels, but that they might
fill their own treasures, that they were thus eager; yet God
thereby served his own purposes.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.vii-p6" shownumber="no">II. The cause of this judgment assigned. It
is all for their wickedness; they have brought it upon themselves;
they must bear it, for they must bear the blame of it. They are
thus oppressed because they have been oppressors; they have dealt
hardly with one another, each in his turn, as they have had power
and advantage, and now the enemy shall come and deal hardly with
them all. This sin of oppression, and violence, and wrong-doing, is
here charged upon them, 1. As a national sin (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.6" parsed="|Jer|6|6|0|0" passage="Jer 6:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>): <i>Therefore</i> this city <i>is
to be visited,</i> it is time to make inquisition, for <i>she is
wholly oppression in the midst of her.</i> All orders and degrees
of men, from the prince on the throne to the meanest master of a
shop, were oppressive to those that were under them. Look which way
you might, there were causes for complaints of this kind. 2. As a
sin that had become in a manner natural to them (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.7" parsed="|Jer|6|7|0|0" passage="Jer 6:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>): She <i>casts out wickedness,</i>
in all the instances of malice and mischievousness, <i>as a
fountain casts out her waters,</i> so plentifully and constantly,
the streams bitter and poisonous, like the fountain. The waters out
of the fountain will not be restrained, but will find or force
their way, nor will they be checked by laws or conscience in their
violent proceedings. This is fitly applied to the corrupt heart of
man in his natural state; it <i>casts out wickedness,</i> one evil
imagination or other, as a fountain <i>casts out her waters,</i>
naturally and easily; it is always flowing, and yet always full. 3.
As that which had become a constant practice with them; <i>Violence
and spoil are heard in her.</i> The cry of it had come up before
God as that of Sodom: <i>Before me continually are grief and
wounds</i>—the complaint of those that find themselves aggrieved,
being unjustly wounded in their bodies or spirits, in their estates
or reputation. Note, He that is the common Parent of mankind
regards and resents, and sooner or later will revenge, the
mischiefs and wrongs that men do to one another.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.vii-p7" shownumber="no">III. The counsel given them how to prevent
this judgment. Fair warning is given now upon the whole matter:
"<i>Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem!</i> <scripRef id="Jer.vii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.8" parsed="|Jer|6|8|0|0" passage="Jer 6:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. Receive the instruction given
thee both by the law of God and by the prophets; be wise at length
for thyself." They knew very well what they had been instructed to
do; nothing remained but to do it, for till then they could not be
said to be instructed. The reason for this counsel is taken from
the inevitable ruin they ran upon if they refused to comply with
the instructions given them: <i>Lest my soul depart,</i> or <i>be
disjoined, from thee.</i> This intimates what a tender affection
and concern God had had for them; his very soul had been joined to
them, and nothing but sin could disjoin it. Note, 1. The God of
mercy is loth to depart even from a provoking people, and is
earnest with them by true repentance and reformation to prevent
things coming to that extremity. 2. Their case is very miserable
from whom God's soul is disjoined; it intimates the loss not only
of their outward blessings, but of those comforts and favours which
are the more immediate and peculiar tokens of his love and
presence. Compare this with that dreadful word (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.10.38" parsed="|Heb|10|38|0|0" passage="Heb 10:38">Heb. x. 38</scripRef>), <i>If any man draw back, my
soul shall have no pleasure in him.</i> 3. Those whom God forsakes
are certainly undone; when God's soul departs from Jerusalem she
soon becomes desolate and uninhabited, <scripRef id="Jer.vii-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Matt.23.38" parsed="|Matt|23|38|0|0" passage="Mt 23:38">Matt. xxiii. 38</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Jer.vii-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.9-Jer.6.17" parsed="|Jer|6|9|6|17" passage="Jer 6:9-17" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Jer.vii-p7.5">
<h4 id="Jer.vii-p7.6">The Universal Corruption of the
Age. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.vii-p7.7">b. c.</span> 608.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jer.vii-p8" shownumber="no">9 Thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.vii-p8.1">Lord</span> of hosts, They shall thoroughly glean the
remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back thine hand as a
grape-gatherer into the baskets.   10 To whom shall I speak,
and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear <i>is</i>
uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.vii-p8.2">Lord</span> is unto them a reproach; they
have no delight in it.   11 Therefore I am full of the fury of
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.vii-p8.3">Lord</span>; I am weary with holding
in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the
assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife
shall be taken, the aged with <i>him that is</i> full of days.
  12 And their houses shall be turned unto others, <i>with
their</i> fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand
upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.vii-p8.4">Lord</span>.   13 For from the least of them even
unto the greatest of them every one <i>is</i> given to
covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one
dealeth falsely.   14 They have healed also the hurt <i>of the
daughter</i> of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when
<i>there is</i> no peace.   15 Were they ashamed when they had
committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither
could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall:
at the time <i>that</i> I visit them they shall be cast down, saith
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.vii-p8.5">Lord</span>.   16 Thus saith the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.vii-p8.6">Lord</span>, Stand ye in the ways, and see,
and ask for the old paths, where <i>is</i> the good way, and walk
therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We
will not walk <i>therein.</i>   17 Also I set watchmen over
you, <i>saying,</i> Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they
said, We will not hearken.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.vii-p9" shownumber="no">The heads of this paragraph are the very
same with those of the last; for precept must be upon precept and
line upon line.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.vii-p10" shownumber="no">I. The ruin of Judah and Jerusalem is here
threatened. We had before the haste which the Chaldea army made to
the war (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.4-Jer.6.5" parsed="|Jer|6|4|6|5" passage="Jer 6:4,5"><i>v.</i> 4, 5</scripRef>);
now here we have the havoc made by the war. How lamentable are the
desolations here described! The enemy shall so long quarter among
them, and be so insatiable in their thirst after blood and
treasure, that they shall seize all they can meet with, and what
escapes them at one time shall fall into their hands another
(<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.9" parsed="|Jer|6|9|0|0" passage="Jer 6:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>): <i>They shall
thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine;</i> as the
<i>grape-gatherer,</i> who is resolved to leave none behind, still
<i>turns back his hand into the baskets,</i> to put more in, till
he has gathered all, so that they be picked up by the enemy, though
dispersed, though hid, and none of them shall escape their eye and
hand. Perhaps the people, being <i>given to covetousness</i>
(<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.13" parsed="|Jer|6|13|0|0" passage="Jer 6:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>), had not
observed that law of God which forbade them to <i>glean all their
grapes</i> (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Lev.19.10" parsed="|Lev|19|10|0|0" passage="Le 19:10">Lev. xix. 10</scripRef>),
and now they themselves shall be in like manner <i>thoroughly
gleaned</i> and shall either fall by the sword or go into
captivity. This is explained <scripRef id="Jer.vii-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.11-Jer.6.12" parsed="|Jer|6|11|6|12" passage="Jer 6:11,12"><i>v.</i> 11, 12</scripRef>, where God's <i>fury</i>
and his <i>hand</i> are said to be <i>poured out</i> and
<i>stretched out,</i> in the fury and by the hand of the Chaldeans;
for even wicked men are often made use of as God's hand (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.17.14" parsed="|Ps|17|14|0|0" passage="Ps 17:14">Ps. xvii. 14</scripRef>), and in their anger we
may see God angry. Now see on whom the fury is poured out in full
vials—<i>upon the children abroad,</i> or <i>in the streets,</i>
where they are playing (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p10.7" osisRef="Bible:Zech.8.5" parsed="|Zech|8|5|0|0" passage="Zec 8:5">Zech. viii.
5</scripRef>) or whither they run out innocently to look about
them: the sword of the merciless Chaldeans shall not spare them,
<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p10.8" osisRef="Bible:Jer.9.21" parsed="|Jer|9|21|0|0" passage="Jer 9:21"><i>ch.</i> ix. 21</scripRef>. The
children perish in the calamity which the fathers' sins have
procured. The execution shall likewise reach <i>the assembly of
young men,</i> their merry meetings, their clubs which they keep up
to strengthen one another's hands in wickedness; they shall be
<i>cut off together.</i> Nor shall those only fall into the
enemies' hands who meet for lewdness (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p10.9" osisRef="Bible:Jer.5.7" parsed="|Jer|5|7|0|0" passage="Jer 5:7"><i>ch.</i> v. 7</scripRef>), but <i>even the husband with
the wife shall be taken,</i> these two in bed together, and neither
left, but both taken prisoners. And, as they have no compassion for
the weak but fair sex, so they have none for the decrepit but
venerable age: <i>The old with the full of days,</i> whose deaths
can contribute no more to their safety than their lives to their
service, who are not in a capacity to do them either good or harm,
shall be either cut off or carried off. <i>Their houses shall then
be turned to others</i> (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p10.10" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.12" parsed="|Jer|6|12|0|0" passage="Jer 6:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>); the conquerors shall dwell in their habitations,
use their goods, and live upon their stores; their <i>fields and
vines</i> shall fall <i>together</i> into their hands, as was
threatened, <scripRef id="Jer.vii-p10.11" osisRef="Bible:Deut.28.30" parsed="|Deut|28|30|0|0" passage="De 28:30">Deut. xxviii.
30</scripRef>, &amp;c. For God <i>stretches out his hand upon the
inhabitants of the land,</i> and none can go out of the reach of
it. Now as to this denunciation of God's wrath, 1. The prophet
justifies himself in preaching thus terribly, for herein he dealt
faithfully (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p10.12" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.11" parsed="|Jer|6|11|0|0" passage="Jer 6:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>):
"<i>I am full of the fury of the Lord,</i> full of the thoughts and
apprehensions of it, and am carried out with a powerful impulse, by
the spirit of prophecy, to speak of it thus vehemently." He took no
delight in threatening, nor was it any pleasure to him with such
sermons as these to make those about him uneasy; but he could not
contain himself; he was <i>weary with holding in;</i> he suppressed
it as long as he could, as long as he durst, but he was so <i>full
of power by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts</i> that he must speak,
whether they will hear or whether they will forbear. Note, When
ministers preach the terrors of the Lord according to the scripture
we have no reason to be displeased at them; for they are but
messengers, and must deliver their message, pleasing or unpleasing.
2. He condemns the false prophets who preached plausibly, for
therein they flattered people and dealt unfaithfully (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p10.13" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.13-Jer.6.14" parsed="|Jer|6|13|6|14" passage="Jer 6:13,14"><i>v.</i> 13, 14</scripRef>): <i>The priest
and the prophet,</i> who should be their watchmen and monitors,
have <i>dealt falsely,</i> have not been true to their trust not
told the people their faults and the danger they were in; they
should have been their physicians, but they murdered their patients
by letting them have their will, by giving them every thing that
had a mind to, and flattering them into an opinion that they were
in no danger (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p10.14" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.14" parsed="|Jer|6|14|0|0" passage="Jer 6:14"><i>v.</i>
14</scripRef>): They have <i>healed the hurt of the daughter of my
people slightly,</i> or <i>according to the cure of some slight
hurt,</i> skinning over the wound and never searching it to the
bottom, applying lenitives only, when there was need of corrosives,
soothing people in their sins, and giving them opiates to make them
easy for the present, while the disease was preying upon the
vitals. They said, "<i>Peace peace</i>—all shall be well." (if
there were some thinking people among them, who were awake, and
apprehensive of danger, they soon stopped their mouths with their
priestly and prophetical authority, boldly averring that neither
church nor state was in any danger), when <i>there is no peace,</i>
because they went on in their idolatries and daring impieties.
Note, Those are to be reckoned our false friends (that is, our
worst and most dangerous enemies) who flatter us in a sinful
way.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.vii-p11" shownumber="no">II. The sin of Judah and Jerusalem, which
provoked God to bring this ruin upon them and justified him in it,
is here declared. 1. They would by no means bear to be told of
their faults, nor of the danger they were in. God bids the prophet
give them warning of the judgment coming (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.9" parsed="|Jer|6|9|0|0" passage="Jer 6:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>), "but," says he, "<i>to whom
shall I speak and give warning?</i> I cannot find out any that will
so much as give me a patient hearing. I may give warning long
enough, but these is nobody that will take warning. I cannot speak
<i>that they may hear,</i> cannot speak to any purpose, or with any
hope of success; for <i>their ear is uncircumcised,</i> it is
carnal and fleshly, indisposed to receive the voice of God, so that
<i>they cannot hearken.</i> They have, as it were, a thick skin
grown over the organs of hearing, so that divine things might to as
much purpose be spoken to a stone as to them. Nay, they are not
only deaf to it, but prejudiced against it; therefore they cannot
hear, because they are resolved that they will not: The <i>word of
the Lord is unto them a reproach;</i> both the reproofs and the
threatenings of the word are so;" they reckoned themselves wronged
and affronted by both, and resented the prophet's plain-dealing
with them as they would the most causeless slander and calumny.
This was <i>kicking against the pricks</i> (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Acts.9.5" parsed="|Acts|9|5|0|0" passage="Ac 9:5">Acts ix. 5</scripRef>), as the lawyers against the word of
Christ, <scripRef id="Jer.vii-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Luke.11.45" parsed="|Luke|11|45|0|0" passage="Lu 11:45">Luke xi. 45</scripRef>,
<i>Thus saying, thou repoachest us also.</i> Note, Those reproofs
that are counted reproaches, and hated as such, will certainly be
turned into the heaviest woes. When it is here said, <i>They have
no delight in the word,</i> more is implied than is expressed;
"they have an antipathy to it; their hearts rise at it; it
exasperates them, and enrages their corruptions, and they are ready
to fly in the face and pull out the eyes of their reprovers." And
how can those expect that the word of the Lord should speak any
comfort to them who have no delight in it, but would rather be any
where than within hearing of it? 2. They were inordinately set upon
the world, and wholly carried away by the love of it (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.13" parsed="|Jer|6|13|0|0" passage="Jer 6:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>): "<i>From the least of
them even to the greatest,</i> old and young, rich and poor, high
and low, those of all ranks, professions, and employments, <i>every
one is given to covetousness,</i> greedy of filthy lucre, all for
what they can get, <i>per fas per nefas—right or wrong;</i>" and
this made them oppressive and violent (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p11.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.6-Jer.6.7" parsed="|Jer|6|6|6|7" passage="Jer 6:6,7"><i>v.</i> 6, 7</scripRef>), for of those evils, as well
as others, the love of money is the bitter root. Nay, and this
hardened their hearts against the word of God and his prophets. It
was the covetous Pharisees that derided Christ, <scripRef id="Jer.vii-p11.6" osisRef="Bible:Luke.16.14" parsed="|Luke|16|14|0|0" passage="Lu 16:14">Luke xvi. 14</scripRef>. 3. They had become impudent in
sin and were past shame. After such a high charge of flagrant
crimes proved upon them, it was very proper to ask (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p11.7" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.15" parsed="|Jer|6|15|0|0" passage="Jer 6:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>), <i>Were they ashamed
when they had committed</i> all these <i>abominations,</i> which
are such a reproach to their reason and religion? Did they blush at
the conviction, and acknowledge that confusion of face belonged to
them? If so, there is some hope of them yet. But, alas! there did
not appear so much as this colour of virtue among them; their
hearts were so hardened that <i>they were not at all ashamed,
neither could they blush,</i> they had so brazened their faces.
They even gloried in their wickedness, and openly confronted the
convictions which should have humbled them and brought them to
repentance. They resolved to face it out against God himself and
not to own their guilt. Some refer this to the priests and
prophets, who had healed the people slightly and told them that
they should have peace, and yet were not ashamed of their treachery
and falsehood, no, not when the event disproved them and gave them
the lie. Those that are shameless are graceless and their case is
hopeless. But those that will not submit to a penitential shame,
nor take that to themselves as their due, shall not escape an utter
ruin; for so it follows: <i>Therefore they shall fall among</i>
those <i>that fall;</i> they shall have their portion with those
that are quite undone; and, when God visits the nation in wrath,
they shall be sure to be cast down and be made to tremble, because
they would not blush. Note, Those that sin and cannot blush for it
are in an evil case now, and it will be worse with them shortly. At
first they hardened themselves and would not blush, afterwards they
were so hardened that they could not. <i>Quod unum habebant in
malis bonum perdunt, peccandi verecundiam—they have lost the only
good property which once blended itself with many bad ones, that
is, shame for having done amiss.</i>—Senec. De Vit. Beat.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.vii-p12" shownumber="no">III. They are put in mind of the good
counsel which had been often given them, but in vain. They had a
great deal said to them to little purpose,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.vii-p13" shownumber="no">1. By way of advice concerning their duty,
<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.16" parsed="|Jer|6|16|0|0" passage="Jer 6:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. God had been
used to say to them, <i>Stand in the ways and see.</i> That is,
(1.) He would have them to consider, not to proceed rashly, but to
do as travellers in the road, who are in care to find the right way
which will bring them to their journey's end, and therefore pause
and enquire for it. If they have any reason to think that they have
missed their way, they are not easy till they have obtained
satisfaction. O that men would be thus <i>wise for their souls,</i>
and would ponder the path of their feet, as those that believe
lawful and unlawful are of no less consequence to us than the right
way and the wrong are to a traveller! (2.) He would have them to
consult antiquity, the observations and experiences of those that
went before them: "<i>Ask for the old paths, enquire of the former
age</i> (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.8.8" parsed="|Job|8|8|0|0" passage="Job 8:8">Job viii. 8</scripRef>),
<i>ask thy father, thy elders</i> (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.32.7" parsed="|Deut|32|7|0|0" passage="De 32:7">Deut. xxxii. 7</scripRef>), and thou wilt find that the
way of godliness and righteousness has always been the way which
God has owned and blessed and in which men have prospered. Ask for
the <i>old paths,</i> the paths prescribed by the law of God, the
written word, that true standard of antiquity. Ask for the paths
that the patriarchs travelled in before you, Abraham, and Isaac,
and Jacob; and, as you hope to inherit the promises made to them,
tread in their steps. <i>Ask for the old paths, Where is the good
way?</i>" We must not be guided merely by antiquity, as if the plea
of prescription and long usage were alone sufficient to justify our
path. No; there is an <i>old way which wicked men have trodden,</i>
<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:Job.22.15" parsed="|Job|22|15|0|0" passage="Job 22:15">Job xxii. 15</scripRef>. But, when we
ask for the old paths, it is only in order to find out the <i>good
way,</i> the highway of the upright. Note, The way of religion and
godliness is a good old way, the way that all the saints in all
ages have walked in. (3.) He would have them to resolve to act
according to the result of these enquiries: "When you have found
out which is the good way, <i>walk therein,</i> practise
accordingly, keep closely to that way, proceed, and persevere in
it." Some make this counsel to be given them with reference to the
struggles that were between the true and false prophets, between
those that said they should have peace and those that told them
trouble was at the door; they pretended they knew not which to
believe: "<i>Stand in the way,</i>" says God, "and see, and
enquire, which of these two agrees with the written word and the
usual methods of God's providence, which of these directs you to
the good way, and do accordingly." (4.) He assures them that, if
they do thus, it will secure the welfare and satisfaction of their
own souls: "<i>Walk in the good old way</i> and you will find your
walking in that way will be easy and pleasant; you will enjoy both
your God and yourselves, and the way will lead you to true rest.
Though it cost you some pains to walk in that way, you will find an
abundant recompence at your journey's end." (5.) He laments that
this good counsel, which was so rational in itself and so proper
for them, could not find acceptance: "<i>But they said, We will not
walk therein,</i> not only we will not be at the pains to enquire
<i>which is the good way,</i> the <i>good old way;</i> but when it
is told us, and we have nothing to say to the contrary but that it
is the right way, yet we will not deny ourselves and our humours so
far as to <i>walk in it.</i>" Thus multitudes are ruined for ever
by downright wilfulness.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.vii-p14" shownumber="no">2. By way of admonition concerning their
danger. Because they would not be ruled by fair reasoning, God
takes another method with them; by less judgments he threatens
greater, and sends his prophets to give them this explication of
them, and to frighten them with an apprehension of the danger they
were in (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.17" parsed="|Jer|6|17|0|0" passage="Jer 6:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>);
<i>Also I set watchmen over you.</i> God's ministers are watchmen,
and it is a great mercy to have them set over us in the Lord. Now
observe here, (1.) The fair warning given by these watchmen. This
was the burden of their song; they cried again and again,
<i>Hearken to the sound of the trumpet.</i> God, in his providence,
sounds the trumpet (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Zech.9.14" parsed="|Zech|9|14|0|0" passage="Zec 9:14">Zech. ix.
14</scripRef>); the watchmen hear it themselves and are affected
with it (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.4.19" parsed="|Jer|4|19|0|0" passage="Jer 4:19">Jer. iv. 19</scripRef>), and
they are to call upon others to hearken to it too, to hear the
Lord's controversy, to observe the voice of Providence, to improve
it, and answer the intentions of it. (2.) This fair warning
slighted: "<i>But they said, We will not hearken;</i> we will not
hear, we will not heed, we will not believe; the prophets may as
well save themselves and us the trouble." The reason why sinners
perish is because they <i>do not hearken to the sound of the
trumpet;</i> and the reason why they do not is because they will
not; and they have no reason to give why they will not but because
they will not, that is, they are herein most unreasonable. One may
more easily deal with ten men's reasons than one man's will.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Jer.vii-p14.4" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.18-Jer.6.30" parsed="|Jer|6|18|6|30" passage="Jer 6:18-30" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Jer.vii-p14.5">
<h4 id="Jer.vii-p14.6">Equity of Divine Judgments; Punishment
Predicted. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.vii-p14.7">b. c.</span> 608.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jer.vii-p15" shownumber="no">18 Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O
congregation, what <i>is</i> among them.   19 Hear, O earth:
behold, I will bring evil upon this people, <i>even</i> the fruit
of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words,
nor to my law, but rejected it.   20 To what purpose cometh
there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far
country? your burnt offerings <i>are</i> not acceptable, nor your
sacrifices sweet unto me.   21 Therefore thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.vii-p15.1">Lord</span>, Behold, I will lay stumbling-blocks
before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall
fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.  
22 Thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.vii-p15.2">Lord</span>, Behold, a
people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be
raised from the sides of the earth.   23 They shall lay hold
on bow and spear; they <i>are</i> cruel, and have no mercy; their
voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array
as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion.   24 We have
heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken
hold of us, <i>and</i> pain, as of a woman in travail.   25 Go
not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the
enemy <i>and</i> fear <i>is</i> on every side.   26 O daughter
of my people, gird <i>thee</i> with sackcloth, and wallow thyself
in ashes: make thee mourning, <i>as for</i> an only son, most
bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.
  27 I have set thee <i>for</i> a tower <i>and</i> a fortress
among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way.   28
They <i>are</i> all grievous revolters, walking with slanders:
<i>they are</i> brass and iron; they <i>are</i> all corrupters.
  29 The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire;
the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.
  30 Reprobate silver shall <i>men</i> call them, because the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.vii-p15.3">Lord</span> hath rejected them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.vii-p16" shownumber="no">Here, I. God appeals to all the neighbours,
nay, to the whole world, concerning the equity of his proceedings
against Judah and Jerusalem (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.18-Jer.6.19" parsed="|Jer|6|18|6|19" passage="Jer 6:18,19"><i>v.</i> 18, 19</scripRef>): "<i>Hear, you nations,
and know</i> particularly, <i>O congregation</i> of the mighty, the
great men of the nations, that take cognizance of the affairs of
states about you and make remarks upon them. Observe now what is
doing among those of Judah and Jerusalem; you hear of the
desolations brought upon them, the earth rings of it, trembles
under it; you all wonder that <i>I</i> should <i>bring evil upon
this people,</i> that are in covenant with me, that profess
relation to me, that have worshipped me, and been highly favoured
by me; you are ready to ask, <i>Wherefore has the Lord done thus to
this land?</i> <scripRef id="Jer.vii-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.29.24" parsed="|Deut|29|24|0|0" passage="De 29:24">Deut. xxix.
24</scripRef>. Know then," 1. "That it is the natural product of
their devices. The evil brought upon them is <i>the fruit of their
thought.</i> They thought to strengthen themselves by their
alliance with foreigners, and by that very thing they weakened and
diminished themselves, they betrayed and exposed themselves." 2.
"That it is the just punishment of their disobedience and
rebellion. God does but execute upon them the curse of the law for
their violation of its commands. It is because <i>they have not
hearkened to my words nor to my law,</i> nor regarded a word I have
said to them, but rejected it all. They would never have been
ruined thus by the judgments of God's hand if they had not refused
to be ruled by the judgments of his mouth: therefore you cannot say
that they have any wrong done them."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.vii-p17" shownumber="no">II. God rejects their plea, by which they
insisted upon their external services as sufficient to atone for
all their sins. Alas! it is a frivolous plea (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.20" parsed="|Jer|6|20|0|0" passage="Jer 6:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>): "<i>To what purpose come there
to me incense and sweet cane,</i> to be burnt for a perfume on the
golden altar, though it was the best of the kind, and far-fetched?
What care I for <i>your burnt-offerings</i> and <i>your
sacrifices?</i>" They not only cannot profit God (no sacrifice
does, <scripRef id="Jer.vii-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.50.9" parsed="|Ps|50|9|0|0" passage="Ps 50:9">Ps. l. 9</scripRef>), but they do
not please him, for none does this but the sacrifice of the
upright; that of the wicked is an <i>abomination to him.</i>
Sacrifice and incense were appointed to excite their repentance,
and to direct them to a Mediator, and assist their faith in him.
Where this good use was made of them they were acceptable, God had
respect to them and to those that offered them. But when they were
offered with an opinion that thereby they made God their debtor,
and purchased a license to go on in sin, they were so far from
being pleasing to God that they were a provocation to him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.vii-p18" shownumber="no">III. He foretels the desolation that was
now coming upon them. 1. God designs their ruin because they hate
to be reformed (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.21" parsed="|Jer|6|21|0|0" passage="Jer 6:21"><i>v.</i>
21</scripRef>): <i>I will lay stumbling-blocks before this
people,</i> occasions of falling not into sin, but into trouble.
Those whom God has marked for destruction he perplexes and
embarrasses in their counsels, and obstructs and retards all the
methods they take for their own safety. The parties of the enemy,
which they met with wherever they went, were stumbling-blocks to
them; in ever corner they stumbled upon them and were dashed to
pieces by them: <i>The fathers and the sons together shall fall
upon them;</i> neither the fathers with their wisdom, nor the sons
with their strength and courage, shall escape them, or get over
them. The sons that sinned with their fathers fall with them. Even
the <i>neighbour and his friend shall perish</i> and not be able to
help either themselves or one another. 2. He will make use of the
Chaldeans as instruments of it; for whatever work God has to do he
will find out proper instruments for the doing of it. This is a
people fetched <i>from the north, from the sides of the earth.</i>
Babylon itself lay a great way off northward; and some of the
countries that were subject to the king of Babylon, out of which
his army was levied, lay much further. These must be employed in
this service, <scripRef id="Jer.vii-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.22-Jer.6.23" parsed="|Jer|6|22|6|23" passage="Jer 6:22,23"><i>v.</i> 22,
23</scripRef>. For, (1.) It is a people very numerous, <i>a great
nation,</i> which will make their invasion the more formidable.
(2.) It is a warlike people. <i>They lay hold on bow and spear,</i>
and at this time know how to use them, for they are used to them.
<i>They ride upon horses,</i> and therefore they march the more
swiftly, and in battle press the harder. No nation had yet brought
into the field a better cavalry that the Chaldeans. (3.) It is a
barbarous people. They <i>are cruel and have no mercy,</i> being
greedy of prey and flushed with victory. They take a pride in
frightening all about them; their voice <i>roars like the sea.</i>
And, (4.) They have a particular design upon Judah and Jerusalem,
in hopes greatly to enrich themselves with the spoil of that famous
country. They are <i>set in array against thee, O daughter of
Zion!</i> The sins of God's professing people make them an easy
prey to those that are God's enemies as well as theirs.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.vii-p19" shownumber="no">IV. He describes the very great
consternation which Judah and Jerusalem should be in upon the
approach of this formidable enemy, <scripRef id="Jer.vii-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.24-Jer.6.26" parsed="|Jer|6|24|6|26" passage="Jer 6:24-26"><i>v.</i> 24-26</scripRef>. 1. They own themselves in
a fright, upon the first intelligence brought them of the approach
of the enemy: "When <i>we have but heard the fame thereof our hands
wax feeble,</i> and we have no heart to make any resistance;
<i>anguish has taken hold of us,</i> and we are immediately in an
extremity of pain, like that of <i>a woman in travail.</i>" Note,
Sense of guilt quite dispirits men, upon the approach of any
threatening trouble. What can those hope to do for themselves who
have made God their enemy? 2. They confine themselves by consent to
their houses, not daring to show their heads abroad; for, though
they could not but expect that the sword of the enemy would at last
find them out there, yet they would rather die tamely and meanly
there than run any venture, either by fight or flight, to help
themselves. Thus they say one to another, "<i>Go not forth into the
field,</i> no not to fetch in your provision thence, <i>nor walk by
the way;</i> dare not to go to church or market, it is at your
peril if you do, for the <i>sword of the enemy,</i> and the fear of
it, are <i>on every side;</i> the <i>highways are unoccupied,</i>
as in Jael's time," <scripRef id="Jer.vii-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.5.6" parsed="|Judg|5|6|0|0" passage="Jdg 5:6">Judg. v.
6</scripRef>. Let this remind us, when we travel the roads in
safety and there is none to make us afraid, to bless God for our
share in the public tranquillity. 3. The prophet calls upon them
sadly to lament the desolations that were coming upon them. He was
himself the lamenting prophet, and called upon his people to join
with him in his lamentations: "<i>O daughter of my people,</i> hear
thy God calling thee to weeping and mourning, and answer his call:
do not only put on sackcloth for a day, but gird it on for thy
constant wear; do not only put ashes on thy head, but <i>wallow
thyself in ashes;</i> put thyself into close mourning, and use all
the tokens of bitter lamentation, not forced and for show only, but
with the greatest sincerity, as parents <i>mourn for an only
son,</i> and think themselves comfortless because they are
childless. Thus do thou lament for <i>the spoiler that suddenly
comes upon us.</i> Though he has not come yet, he is <i>coming,</i>
the decree has <i>gone forth:</i> let us therefore meet the
execution of it with a suitable sadness." As saints may rejoice in
hope of God's mercies, though they see them only in the promise, so
sinners must mourn for fear of God's judgments, though they see
them only in the threatenings.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.vii-p20" shownumber="no">V. He constitutes the prophet a judge over
this people that now stand upon their trial: as <scripRef id="Jer.vii-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.1.10" parsed="|Jer|1|10|0|0" passage="Jer 1:10"><i>ch.</i> i. 10</scripRef>, <i>I have set thee over the
nations;</i> so here, <i>I have set thee for a tower,</i> or as a
sentinel, or a watchman, upon a tower, <i>among my people,</i> as
an inspector of their actions, <i>that thou mayest know, and try
their way,</i> <scripRef id="Jer.vii-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.27" parsed="|Jer|6|27|0|0" passage="Jer 6:27"><i>v.</i>
27</scripRef>. Not that God needed any to inform him concerning
them; on the contrary, the prophet knew little of them in
comparison but by the spirit of prophecy. But thus God appeals to
the prophet himself, and his own observation concerning their
character, that he might be fully satisfied in the equity of God's
proceedings against them and with the more assurance give them
warning of the judgments coming. God set him for a tower,
conspicuous to all and attacked by many, but made him a
<i>fortress,</i> a <i>strong tower,</i> gave him courage to stem
the tide and bear the shock of their displeasure. Those that will
be faithful reprovers have need to be firm as fortresses. Now in
trying their way he will find two things:—1. That they are
wretchedly debauched (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p20.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.28" parsed="|Jer|6|28|0|0" passage="Jer 6:28"><i>v.</i>
28</scripRef>): <i>They are all grievous revolters, revolters of
revolters</i> (so the word is), the worst of revolters, as a
<i>servant of servants</i> is the meanest servant. They have a
revolting heart, have deeply revolted, and revolt more and more.
They seemed to start fair, but they revolt and start back. They
<i>walk with slanders;</i> they make nothing of belying and
backbiting one another, nay, they make a perfect trade of it; it is
their constant course, and they govern themselves by the slanders
they hear, hating those that they hear ill-spoken of, though ever
so unjustly. They are <i>brass and iron,</i> base metals, and there
is nothing in them that is valuable. They were as silver and gold,
but they have degenerated. Nay, as <i>they are all revolters,</i>
so <i>they are all corrupters,</i> not only debauched themselves,
but industrious to debauch others, to corrupt them as they
themselves are corrupt; nay, to make them seven times more the
children of hell than themselves. It is often so; sinners soon
become tempters. 2. That they would never be reclaimed and
reformed; it was in vain to think of reforming them, for various
methods had been tried with them, and all to no purpose, <scripRef id="Jer.vii-p20.4" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.29-Jer.6.30" parsed="|Jer|6|29|6|30" passage="Jer 6:29,30"><i>v.</i> 29, 30</scripRef>. He compares them
to ore that was supposed to have some good metal in it, and was
therefore put into the furnace by the refiner, who used all his
art, and took abundance of pains, about it, but it proved all
dross, nothing of any value could be extracted out of it. God by
his prophets and by his providences had used the most proper means
to refine this people and to purify them from their wickedness; but
it was all in vain. By the continual preaching of the word, and in
a series of afflictions, they had been kept in a constant fire, but
all to no purpose. <i>The bellows</i> have been still kept so near
the fire, to blow it, that they <i>are burnt</i> with the heat of
it, or they are quite worn out with long use and thrown into the
fire as good for nothing. The prophets have preached their throats
sore with crying aloud against the sins of Israel, and yet they are
not convinced and humbled. The <i>lead,</i> which was then used in
refining silver, as quicksilver is now, <i>is consumed of the
fire,</i> and has not done its work. <i>The founder melts in
vain;</i> his labour is lost, <i>for the wicked are not plucked
away,</i> no care is taken to separate between the precious and the
vile, to purge out the old leaven, to cast out of communion those
who, being corrupt themselves, are in danger of infecting others.
Or, <i>Their wickednesses are not removed</i> (so some read it);
they are still as bad as ever, and nothing will prevail to part
between them and their sins. They will not be brought off from
their idolatries and immoralities by all they have heard, and all
they have felt, of the wrath of God against them; and therefore
that doom is passed upon them (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p20.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.6.30" parsed="|Jer|6|30|0|0" passage="Jer 6:30"><i>v.</i> 30</scripRef>): <i>Reprobate silver shall they
be called,</i> useless and worthless; they glitter as if they had
some silver in them, but there is nothing of real virtue or
goodness to be found among them; and for this reason <i>the Lord
has rejected them.</i> He will no more own them as his people, nor
look for any good from them; he will <i>take them away like
dross</i> (<scripRef id="Jer.vii-p20.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.119.119" parsed="|Ps|119|119|0|0" passage="Ps 119:119">Ps. cxix.
119</scripRef>), and prepare a consuming fire for those that would
not be purified by a refining fire. By this it appears, (1.) That
God has <i>no pleasure in the death</i> and ruin of sinners, for he
tries all ways and methods with them to prevent their destruction
and qualify them for salvation. Both his ordinances and his
providences have a tendency this way, to part between them and
their sins; and yet with many it is all lost labour. <i>We have
piped unto you, and you have not danced; we have mourned unto you,
and you have not wept.</i> Therefore, (2.) God will be justified in
the death of sinners and all the blame will lie upon themselves. He
did not reject them till he had used all proper means to reform
them; did not cast them off so long as there was any hope of them,
nor abandon them as dross till it appeared that they were
<i>reprobate silver.</i></p>
</div></div2>