mh_parser/vol_split/24 - Jeremiah/Chapter 31.xml

<div2 id="Jer.xxxii" n="xxxii" next="Jer.xxxiii" prev="Jer.xxxi" progress="40.06%" title="Chapter XXXI">
<h2 id="Jer.xxxii-p0.1">J E R E M I A H.</h2>
<h3 id="Jer.xxxii-p0.2">CHAP. XXXI.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Jer.xxxii-p1" shownumber="no">This chapter goes on with the good words and
comfortable words which we had in the chapter before, for the
encouragement of the captives, assuring them that God would in due
time restore them or their children to their own land, and make
them a great and happy nation again, especially by sending them the
Messiah, in whose kingdom and grace many of these promises were to
have their full accomplishment. I. They shall be restored to peace
and honour, and joy and great plenty, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.1-Jer.31.14" parsed="|Jer|31|1|31|14" passage="Jer 31:1-14">ver. 1-14</scripRef>. II. Their sorrow for the loss
of their children shall be at an end, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.15-Jer.31.17" parsed="|Jer|31|15|31|17" passage="Jer 31:15-17">ver. 15-17</scripRef>. III. They shall repent of
their sins, and God will graciously accept them in their
repentance, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.18-Jer.31.20" parsed="|Jer|31|18|31|20" passage="Jer 31:18-20">ver. 18-20</scripRef>.
IV. They shall be multiplied and increased, both their children and
their cattle, and not be cut off and diminished as they had been,
<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.21-Jer.31.30" parsed="|Jer|31|21|31|30" passage="Jer 31:21-30">ver. 21-30</scripRef>. V. God will
renew his covenant with them, and enrich it with spiritual
blessings, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.31-Jer.31.34" parsed="|Jer|31|31|31|34" passage="Jer 31:31-34">ver. 31-34</scripRef>.
VI. These blessings shall be secured to theirs after them, even to
the spiritual seed of Israel for ever, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.35-Jer.31.37" parsed="|Jer|31|35|31|37" passage="Jer 31:35-37">ver. 35-37</scripRef>. VII. As an earnest of this
the city of Jerusalem shall be rebuilt, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.38-Jer.31.40" parsed="|Jer|31|38|31|40" passage="Jer 31:38-40">ver. 38-40</scripRef>. These exceedingly great and
precious promises were firm foundations of hope and full fountains
of joy to the poor captives; and we also may apply them to
ourselves and mix faith with them.</p>
<scripCom id="Jer.xxxii-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31" parsed="|Jer|31|0|0|0" passage="Jer 31" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Jer.xxxii-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.1-Jer.31.9" parsed="|Jer|31|1|31|9" passage="Jer 31:1-9" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Jer.xxxii-p1.10">
<h4 id="Jer.xxxii-p1.11">Promises to Israel; Joyful Return from
Captivity. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p1.12">b. c.</span> 594.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jer.xxxii-p2" shownumber="no">1 At the same time, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p2.1">Lord</span>, will I be the God of all the families of
Israel, and they shall be my people.   2 Thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p2.2">Lord</span>, The people <i>which were</i> left of
the sword found grace in the wilderness; <i>even</i> Israel, when I
went to cause him to rest.   3 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p2.3">Lord</span> hath appeared of old unto me,
<i>saying,</i> Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love:
therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.   4 Again I
will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou
shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the
dances of them that make merry.   5 Thou shalt yet plant vines
upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall
eat <i>them</i> as common things.   6 For there shall be a
day, <i>that</i> the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry,
Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p2.4">Lord</span> our God.   7 For thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p2.5">Lord</span>; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and
shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and
say, <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p2.6">O Lord</span>, save thy people, the
remnant of Israel.   8 Behold, I will bring them from the
north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth,
<i>and</i> with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child
and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall
return thither.   9 They shall come with weeping, and with
supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the
rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble:
for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim <i>is</i> my
firstborn.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxxii-p3" shownumber="no">God here assures his people,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxxii-p4" shownumber="no">I. That he will again take them into a
covenant relation to himself, from which they seemed to be cut off.
<i>At the same time,</i> when God's anger breaks out against the
wicked (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.30.24" parsed="|Jer|30|24|0|0" passage="Jer 30:24"><i>ch.</i> xxx.
24</scripRef>), his own people shall be owned by him as the
children of his love: <i>I will be the God</i> (that is, I will
show myself to be the God) <i>of all the families of Israel</i>
(<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.1" parsed="|Jer|31|1|0|0" passage="Jer 31:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>),—not of the
two tribes only, but of all the tribes,—not of the house of Aaron
only, and the families of Levi, but of all their families; not only
their state in general, but their particular families, and the
interests of them, shall have the benefit of a special relation to
God. Note, The families of good people, in their family capacity,
may apply to God and stay themselves upon him as their God. If we
and our houses serve the Lord, we and our houses shall be protected
and blessed by him, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Prov.3.33" parsed="|Prov|3|33|0|0" passage="Pr 3:33">Prov. iii.
33</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxxii-p5" shownumber="no">II. That he will do for them, in bringing
them out of Babylon, as he had done for their fathers when he
delivered them out of Egypt, and as he had purposed to do when he
first took them to be his people. 1. He puts them in mind of what
he did for their fathers when he brought them out of Egypt,
<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.2" parsed="|Jer|31|2|0|0" passage="Jer 31:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. They were
then, as these were, a <i>people left of the sword,</i> that sword
of Pharaoh with which he cut off all the male children as soon as
they were born (a bloody sword indeed they had narrowly escaped)
and that sword with which he threatened to cut them off when he
pursued them to the Red Sea. They were then <i>in the
wilderness,</i> where they seemed to be lost and forgotten, as
these were now in a strange land, and yet they found grace in God's
sight, were owned and highly honoured by him, and blessed with
wonderful instances of his peculiar favour, and he was at this time
going <i>to cause them to rest</i> in Canaan. Note, When we are
brought very low, and insuperable difficulties appear in the way of
our deliverance, it is good to remember that it has been so with
the church formerly, and yet that it has been raised up from its
low estate and has got to Canaan through all the hardships of a
wilderness; and God is still the same. 2. They put him in mind of
what God had done for their fathers, intimating that they now saw
not such signs, and were ready to ask, as Gideon did, <i>Where are
all the wonders that our fathers told us of?</i> It is true, <i>The
Lord hath appeared of old unto me</i> (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.3" parsed="|Jer|31|3|0|0" passage="Jer 31:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>), in Egypt, in the wilderness,
hath appeared with me and for me, hath been seen in his glory as my
God. The years of ancient times were glorious years; but now it is
otherwise; what good will it do us that he <i>appeared of old</i>
to us when now he is <i>a God that hides himself</i> from us?
<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.45.15" parsed="|Isa|45|15|0|0" passage="Isa 45:15">Isa. xlv. 15</scripRef>. Note, It is
hard to take comfort from former smiles under present frowns. 3. To
this he answers with an assurance of the constancy of his love:
<i>Yea, I have loved thee,</i> not only with an ancient love, but
<i>with an everlasting love,</i> a love that shall never fail,
however the comforts of it may for a time be suspended. It is <i>an
everlasting love; therefore have I</i> extended or <i>drawn out
lovingkindness unto thee</i> also, as well as to thy ancestors, or,
<i>with lovingkindness have I drawn thee</i> to myself as thy God,
from all the idols to which thou hadst turned aside. Note, It is
the happiness of those who are through grace interested in the love
of God that it is <i>an everlasting love</i> (from everlasting in
the counsels of it, <i>to</i> everlasting in the continuance and
consequences of it), and that nothing can separate them from that
love. Those whom God loves with this love he will draw into
covenant and communion with himself, by the influences of his
Spirit upon their souls; he will <i>draw them with
lovingkindness,</i> with the cords of a man and bands of love, than
which no attractive can be more powerful.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxxii-p6" shownumber="no">III. That he will again form them into a
people, and give them a very joyful settlement in their own land,
<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.4-Jer.31.5" parsed="|Jer|31|4|31|5" passage="Jer 31:4,5"><i>v.</i> 4, 5</scripRef>. Is the
church of God his house, his temple? Is it now in ruins? It is so;
but, <i>Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built.</i> Are
they parts of this building dispersed? They shall be collected and
put together again, each in its place. If God undertake to build
them, they shall be built, whatever opposition may be given to it?
Is <i>Israel</i> a beautiful <i>virgin?</i> Is she now stripped of
her ornaments and reduced to a melancholy state? She is so; but
<i>thou shalt again be adorned</i> and made fine, adorned <i>with
thy tabrets,</i> or timbrels, the ornaments of thy chamber, and
made merry. They shall resume their harps which had been hung upon
the willow-trees, shall tune them, and shall themselves be in tune
to make use of them. They shall be adorned with their tabrets, for
now their mirth and music shall be seasonable; it shall be a proper
time for it, God in his providence shall call them to it, and then
it shall be an ornament to them; whereas tabrets, at a time of
common calamity, when God called to mourning, were a shame to them.
Or it may refer to their use of tabrets in the solemnizing of their
religious feasts and their <i>going forth in dances</i> then, as
the <i>daughters of Shiloh,</i> <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Judg.21.19 Bible:Judg.21.21" parsed="|Judg|21|19|0|0;|Judg|21|21|0|0" passage="Jdg 21:19,21">Judg. xxi. 19, 21</scripRef>. Our mirth is then
indeed an ornament to us when we serve God and honour him with it.
Is the joy of the city maintained by the products of the country?
It is so; and therefore it is promised (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.5" parsed="|Jer|31|5|0|0" passage="Jer 31:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>), <i>Thou shalt yet plant vines
upon the mountains of Samaria,</i> which had been the head city of
the kingdom of Israel, in opposition to that of Judah; but they
shall now be united (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.37.22" parsed="|Ezek|37|22|0|0" passage="Eze 37:22">Ezek. xxxvii.
22</scripRef>), and there shall be such perfect peace and security
that men shall apply themselves wholly to the improvement of their
ground: <i>The planters shall plant,</i> not fearing the soldiers'
coming to eat the fruits of what they had planted, or to pluck it
up; but they themselves <i>shall eat them</i> freely, <i>as common
things,</i> not forbidden fruits, not forbidden by the law of God
(as they were till the fifth year, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:Lev.19.23-Lev.19.25" parsed="|Lev|19|23|19|25" passage="Le 19:23-25">Lev. xix. 23-25</scripRef>), not forbidden by the
owners, because there shall be such plenty as to yield enough for
all, enough for each.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxxii-p7" shownumber="no">IV. That they shall have liberty and
opportunity to worship God in the ordinances of his own
appointment, and shall have both invitations and inclinations to do
so (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.6" parsed="|Jer|31|6|0|0" passage="Jer 31:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>): <i>There
shall be a day,</i> and a glorious day it will be, when <i>the
watchmen upon Mount Ephraim,</i> that are set to stand sentinel
there, to give notice of the approach of the enemy, finding that
all is very quiet and that there is no appearance of danger, shall
desire for a time to be discharged from their post, that they may
<i>go up to Zion,</i> to praise God for the public peace. Or <i>the
watchmen</i> that tend the vineyards (spoken of <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.5" parsed="|Jer|31|5|0|0" passage="Jer 31:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>) shall stir up themselves, and
one another, and all their neighbours, to go and keep the solemn
feasts at Jerusalem. Now this implies that the service of God shall
be again set up in Zion, that there shall be a general resort to
it, with much affection and mutual excitement, as in David's time,
<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.122.1" parsed="|Ps|122|1|0|0" passage="Ps 122:1">Ps. cxxii. 1</scripRef>. But that
which is most observable here is <i>that the watchmen of
Ephraim</i> are forward to promote the worship of God at Jerusalem,
whereas formerly <i>the watchman of Ephraim was hatred against the
house of his God</i> (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Hos.9.8" parsed="|Hos|9|8|0|0" passage="Ho 9:8">Hos. ix.
8</scripRef>), and, in stead of inviting people to Zion, laid
snares for those that set their faces thitherward, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:Hos.5.1" parsed="|Hos|5|1|0|0" passage="Ho 5:1">Hos. v. 1</scripRef>. Note, God can make those who
have been enemies to religion and the true worship of God to become
encouragers of them and leaders in them. This promise was to have
its full accomplishment in the days of the Messiah, when the gospel
should be preached to all these countries, and a general invitation
thereby given into the church of Christ, of which Zion was a
type.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxxii-p8" shownumber="no">V. That God shall have the glory and the
church both the honour and comfort of this blessed change
(<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.7" parsed="|Jer|31|7|0|0" passage="Jer 31:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>): <i>Sing with
gladness for Jacob,</i> that is, let all her friends and
well-wishers rejoice with her, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.32.43" parsed="|Deut|32|43|0|0" passage="De 32:43">Deut.
xxxii. 43</scripRef>. <i>Rejoice, you Gentiles with his people,</i>
<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Rom.15.10" parsed="|Rom|15|10|0|0" passage="Ro 15:10">Rom. xv. 10</scripRef>. The
restoration of Jacob will be taken notice of by all the neighbours,
it will be matter of joy to them all, and they shall all join with
Jacob in his joys, and thereby pay him respect and put a reputation
upon him. Even <i>the chief of the nations,</i> that make the
greatest figure, shall think it an honour to them to congratulate
the restoration of Jacob, and shall do themselves the honour to
send their ambassadors on that errand. <i>Publish you, praise
you.</i> In publishing these tidings, praise the God of Israel,
praise the Israel of God, speak honourably of both. The publishers
of the gospel must publish it with praise, and therefore it is
often spoken of in the <i>Psalms</i> as mingled with
<i>praises,</i> <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.67.2-Ps.67.3 Bible:Ps.96.2-Ps.96.3" parsed="|Ps|67|2|67|3;|Ps|96|2|96|3" passage="Ps 67:2,3,96:2,3">Ps. lxvii. 2,
3; cxvi. 2, 3</scripRef>. What we either bring to others or take to
ourselves the comfort of we must be sure to give God the praise of.
<i>Praise you, and say, O Lord! save thy people;</i> that is,
perfect their salvation, go on to save <i>the remnant of
Israel,</i> that are yet in bondage; as <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p8.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.126.3-Ps.126.4" parsed="|Ps|126|3|126|4" passage="Ps 126:3,4">Ps. cxxvi. 3, 4</scripRef>. Note, When we are praising
God for what he has done we must call upon him for the future
favours which his church is in need and expectation of; and in
praying to him we really praise him and give him glory; he takes it
so.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxxii-p9" shownumber="no">VI. That, in order to a happy settlement in
their own land, they shall have a joyful return out of the land of
their captivity and a very comfortable passage homeward (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.8-Jer.31.9" parsed="|Jer|31|8|31|9" passage="Jer 31:8,9"><i>v.</i> 8, 9</scripRef>), and this beginning
of mercy shall be to them a pledge of all the other blessings here
promised. 1. Though they are scattered to places far remote, yet
they shall be brought together <i>from the north country, and from
the coasts of the earth;</i> wherever they are, God will find them
out. 2. Though many of them are very unfit for travel, yet that
shall be no hindrance to them: <i>The blind and the lame</i> shall
come; such a good-will shall they have to their journey, and such a
good heart upon it, that they shall not make their blindness and
lameness an excuse for staying where they are. There companions
will be ready to help them, will be <i>eyes to the blind and legs
to the lame,</i> as good Christians ought to be to one another in
their travels heavenward, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.29.15" parsed="|Job|29|15|0|0" passage="Job 29:15">Job xxix.
15</scripRef>. But, above all, their God will help them; and let
none plead that he is blind who has God for his guide, or lame who
has God for his strength. <i>The women with child</i> are heavy,
and it is not fit that they should undertake such a journey, much
less those <i>that travail with child;</i> and yet, when it is to
return to Zion, neither the one nor the other shall make any
difficulty of it. Note, When God calls we must not plead any
inability to come; for he that calls us will help us, will
strengthen us. 3. Though they seem to be diminished, and to have
become few in numbers, yet, when they come all together, they shall
be <i>a great company;</i> and so will God's spiritual Israel be
when there shall be a general rendezvous of them, though now they
are but a little flock. 4. Though their return will be matter of
joy to them, yet prayers and tears will be both their stores and
their artillery (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.9" parsed="|Jer|31|9|0|0" passage="Jer 31:9"><i>v.</i>
9</scripRef>): <i>They shall come with weeping and with
supplications,</i> weeping for sin, supplication for pardon; for
<i>the goodness of God</i> shall <i>lead them to repentance;</i>
and they shall weep with more bitterness and more tenderness for
sin, when they are delivered out of their captivity, than ever they
did when they were groaning under it. Weeping and praying do well
together; tears put life into prayers, and express the liveliness
of the, and prayers help to wipe away tears. <i>With favours will I
lead them</i> (so the margin reads it); in their journey they shall
be compassed with God's favours, the fruits of his favour. 5.
Though they have a perilous journey, yet they shall be safe under a
divine convoy. Is the country they pass through dry and thirsty?
<i>I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters,</i> not the
waters of a land-flood, which fail in summer. Is it a wilderness
where there is no road, no track? <i>I will cause them to walk in a
straight way,</i> which they shall not miss. Is it a rough and
rocky country? Yet <i>they shall not stumble.</i> Note,
Whithersoever God gives his people a clear call he will either find
them or make them a ready way; and while we are following
Providence we may be sure that Providence will not be wanting to
us. And, <i>lastly,</i> here is a reason given why God will take
all this care of his people: <i>For I am a Father to Israel,</i> a
Father that begat him, and therefore will maintain him, that have
the care and compassion of a father for him (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.13" parsed="|Ps|103|13|0|0" passage="Ps 103:13">Ps. ciii. 13</scripRef>); <i>and Ephraim is my
first-born;</i> even <i>Ephraim,</i> who, having gone astray from
God, was <i>no more worthy to be called a son,</i> shall yet be
owned as a <i>first-born,</i> particularly dear, and heir of a
double portion of blessings. The same reason that was given for
their release out of Egypt is given for their release out of
Babylon; they are free-born and therefore must not be enslaved, are
born to God and therefore must not be the servants of men.
<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.4.22-Exod.4.23" parsed="|Exod|4|22|4|23" passage="Ex 4:22,23">Exod. iv. 22, 23</scripRef>,
<i>Israel is my son, even my first-born; let my son go that he may
serve me.</i> If we take God for our Father, and join ourselves to
<i>the church of the first-born,</i> we may be assured that we
shall want nothing that is good for us.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Jer.xxxii-p9.6" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.10-Jer.31.17" parsed="|Jer|31|10|31|17" passage="Jer 31:10-17" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Jer.xxxii-p9.7">
<h4 id="Jer.xxxii-p9.8">Restoration of Israel; Promises to
Israel. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p9.9">b. c.</span> 594.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jer.xxxii-p10" shownumber="no">10 Hear the word of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p10.1">Lord</span>, O ye nations, and declare <i>it</i> in the
isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him,
and keep him, as a shepherd <i>doth</i> his flock.   11 For
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p10.2">Lord</span> hath redeemed Jacob, and
ransomed him from the hand of <i>him that was</i> stronger than he.
  12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion,
and shall flow together to the goodness of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p10.3">Lord</span>, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and
for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be
as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.
  13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young
men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and
will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.  
14 And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my
people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p10.4">Lord</span>.   15 Thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p10.5">Lord</span>; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation,
<i>and</i> bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children refused
to be comforted for her children, because they <i>were</i> not.
  16 Thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p10.6">Lord</span>;
Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy
work shall be rewarded, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p10.7">Lord</span>; and they shall come again from the land of
the enemy.   17 And there is hope in thine end, saith the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p10.8">Lord</span>, that thy children shall come
again to their own border.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxxii-p11" shownumber="no">This paragraph is much to the same purport
with the last, publishing to the world, as well as to the church,
the purposes of God's love concerning his people. This is a <i>word
of the Lord</i> which the <i>nations</i> must <i>hear,</i> for it
is a prophecy of a work of the Lord which the nations cannot but
take notice of. Let them hear the prophecy, that they may the
better understand and improve the performance; and let those that
hear it themselves declare it to others, <i>declare it in the isles
afar off.</i> It will be a piece of news that will spread all the
world over. It will look very great in history; let us see how it
looks in prophecy.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxxii-p12" shownumber="no">It is foretold, 1. That those who are
dispersed shall be brought together again from their dispersions:
<i>He that scattereth Israel will gather him;</i> for he knows
whither he scattered them and therefore where to find them,
<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.10" parsed="|Jer|31|10|0|0" passage="Jer 31:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. <i>Una
eademque manus vulnus opemque tulit</i>—<i>The hand that inflicted
the wound shall heal it.</i> And when he has gathered him into one
body, one fold, he will <i>keep him, as a shepherd does his
flock,</i> from being scattered again. 2. That those who are sold
and alienated shall be redeemed and brought back, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.11" parsed="|Jer|31|11|0|0" passage="Jer 31:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. Though the enemy that
had got possession of him was <i>stronger than he,</i> yet <i>the
Lord,</i> who is stronger than all. <i>has redeemed and ransomed
him,</i> not by price, but by power, as of old out of the
Egyptians' hands. 3. That with their liberty they shall have plenty
and joy, and God shall be honoured and served with it, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.12-Jer.31.13" parsed="|Jer|31|12|31|13" passage="Jer 31:12,13"><i>v.</i> 12, 13</scripRef>. When they shall
have returned to their own land <i>they shall come and sing in the
high place of Zion;</i> on the top of that holy mountain they shall
sing to the praise and glory of God. We read that they did so when
the foundation of the temple was laid there; they <i>sang together,
praising and giving thanks to the Lord,</i> <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p12.4" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.3.11" parsed="|Ezra|3|11|0|0" passage="Ezr 3:11">Ezra iii. 11</scripRef>. They <i>shall flow together to
the goodness of the Lord;</i> that is, they shall flock in great
numbers and with great forwardness and cheerfulness, as streams of
water, <i>to the goodness of the Lord,</i> to the temple where he
causes his goodness to pass before his people. They shall come
together in solemn assemblies, to <i>praise him for his
goodness,</i> and to pray for the fruits of it and the continuance
of it; they shall come to bless him for his goodness, in giving
them <i>wheat, and wine, and oil, and the young of the flock and of
the herd,</i> which, now that they have obtained their freedom,
they have an uncontested property in and the quiet and peaceable
enjoyment of, and which therefore they honour God with the
first-fruits of and out of which they bring offerings to his altar.
Note, It is comfortable to observe the goodness of the Lord in the
gifts of common providence, and even in them to taste
covenant-love. Having plenty (plenty out of want and scarcity) they
shall greatly rejoice, <i>their soul shall be as a watered
garden,</i> flourishing and fruitful (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p12.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.58.11" parsed="|Isa|58|11|0|0" passage="Isa 58:11">Isa. lviii. 11</scripRef>), pleasant and fragrant, and
abounding in all good things. Note, Our souls are never valuable as
gardens but when they are watered with the dews of God's Spirit and
grace. It is a precious promise which follows, and which will not
have its full accomplishment any where on this side the height of
the heavenly Zion, that <i>they shall not sorrow any more at
all;</i> for it is only in that new Jerusalem <i>that all tears
shall be wiped away,</i> <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p12.6" osisRef="Bible:Rev.21.4" parsed="|Rev|21|4|0|0" passage="Re 21:4">Rev. xxi.
4</scripRef>. However, so far it was fulfilled to the returned
captives that they had not any more those causes for sorrow which
they had formerly had; and therefore (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p12.7" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.13" parsed="|Jer|31|13|0|0" passage="Jer 31:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>) <i>young men and old shall
rejoice together;</i> so grave shall the young men be in their joys
as to keep company with the old men, and so transported shall the
old men be as to associate with the young. <i>Salva res est, saltat
senex—The state prospers, and the aged dance.</i> God <i>will turn
their mourning into joy,</i> their fasts into solemn feasts,
<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p12.8" osisRef="Bible:Zech.8.19" parsed="|Zech|8|19|0|0" passage="Zec 8:19">Zech. viii. 19</scripRef>. It was in
the return out of Babylon that those <i>who sowed in tears</i> were
made to <i>reap in joy,</i> <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p12.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.126.5-Ps.126.6" parsed="|Ps|126|5|126|6" passage="Ps 126:5,6">Ps.
cxxvi. 5, 6</scripRef>. Those are comforted indeed whom God
comforts, and may forget their troubles when he <i>makes them</i>
to <i>rejoice from their sorrow,</i> not only rejoice after it, but
rejoice from it their joy shall borrow lustre from their sorrow,
which shall serve as a foil to it; and the more they think of their
troubles the more they rejoice in their deliverance. 4. That both
the ministers and those they minister to shall have abundant
satisfaction in what God gives them (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p12.10" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.14" parsed="|Jer|31|14|0|0" passage="Jer 31:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>): <i>I will satiate the soul of
the priests with fatness;</i> there shall be such a plenty of
sacrifices brought to the altar that those who <i>live upon the
altar</i> shall live very comfortably, they and their families
shall be <i>satiated with fatness,</i> they shall have enough, and
that of the best; <i>and my people shall be satisfied with my
goodness,</i> and shall think there is enough in that to make them
happy; and so there is. God's people have an abundant satisfaction
in God's goodness, though they have but little of this world. Let
them be satisfied of God's lovingkindness, and they will be
satisfied with it and desire no more to make them happy. All this
is applicable to the spiritual blessings which the redeemed of the
Lord enjoy by Jesus Christ, infinitely more valuable than corn, and
wine, and oil, and the satisfaction of soul which they have in the
enjoyment of them. 5. That those particularly who had been in
sorrow for the loss of their children who were carried into
captivity should have that sorrow turned into joy upon their
return, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p12.11" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.15-Jer.31.17" parsed="|Jer|31|15|31|17" passage="Jer 31:15-17"><i>v.</i>
15-17</scripRef>. Here we have, (1.) The sad lamentation which the
mothers made for the loss of their children (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p12.12" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.15" parsed="|Jer|31|15|0|0" passage="Jer 31:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>): <i>In Ramah was there a voice
heard,</i> at the time when the general captivity was, nothing but
<i>lamentation, and bitter weeping,</i> more there than in other
places, because there Nebuzaradan had the general rendezvous of his
captives, as appears, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p12.13" osisRef="Bible:Jer.40.1" parsed="|Jer|40|1|0|0" passage="Jer 40:1"><i>ch.</i> xl.
1</scripRef>, where we find him sending Jeremiah back from Ramah.
<i>Rachel</i> is here said to <i>weep for her children.</i> The
sepulchre of Rachel was between Ramah and Bethlehem. Benjamin, one
of the two tribes, and Ephraim, head of the ten tribes, were both
descendants from Rachel. She had but two sons, the elder of whom
was one for whom his father grieved and<i> refused to be
comforted</i> (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p12.14" osisRef="Bible:Gen.37.35" parsed="|Gen|37|35|0|0" passage="Ge 37:35">Gen. xxxvii.
35</scripRef>); the other she herself called <i>Benoni—the son of
my sorrow.</i> Now the inhabitants of Ramah did in like manner
<i>grieve for their sons and their daughters</i> that were carried
away (as <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p12.15" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.30.6" parsed="|1Sam|30|6|0|0" passage="1Sa 30:6">1 Sam. xxx. 6</scripRef>),
and such a voice of lamentation was there as, to speak poetically,
might even have raised Rachel out of her grave to mourn with them.
The tender parents even <i>refused to be comforted for their
children, because they were not,</i> were not with them, but were
in the hands of their enemies; they were never likely to see them
any more. This is applied by the evangelists to the great mourning
that was at Bethlehem for the murder of the infants there by Herod
(<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p12.16" osisRef="Bible:Matt.2.17-Matt.2.18" parsed="|Matt|2|17|2|18" passage="Mt 2:17-18">Matt. ii. 17-18</scripRef>), and
this scripture is said to be then fulfilled. They wept for them,
<i>and would not be comforted,</i> supposing the case would not
admit any ground of comfort, <i>because they were not.</i> Note,
Sorrow for the loss of children cannot but be great sorrow,
especially if we so far mistake as to think <i>they are not.</i>
(2.) Seasonable comfort administered to them in reference hereunto,
<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p12.17" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.16-Jer.31.17" parsed="|Jer|31|16|31|17" passage="Jer 31:16,17"><i>v.</i> 16, 17</scripRef>. They
are advised to moderate that sorrow, and to set bounds to it:
<i>Refrain thy voice from weeping and thy eyes from tears.</i> We
are not forbidden to mourn in such a case; allowances are made for
natural affection. But we must not suffer our sorrow to run into an
extreme, to hinder our joy in God, or take us off from our duty to
him. Though we mourn, we must not murmur, nor must we resolve, as
Jacob did, to go to the grave mourning. In order to repress
inordinate grief, we must consider that <i>there is hope in our
end,</i> hope that there will be an end (the trouble will not last
always), that it will be a happy and—the end will be peace. Note,
It ought to support us under our troubles that we have reason to
hope they will end well. <i>The righteous has hope in his
death;</i> that will be the blessed period of his grief and the
blessed passage to his joys. "<i>There is hope for thy
posterity</i>" (so some read it); "though thou mayest not live to
see these glorious days thyself, there is hope that thy posterity
shall. Though one generation falls in the wilderness, the next
shall enter Canaan. Two things thou mayest comfort thyself with the
hope of:"—[1.] "The reward of thy work:—<i>Thy</i> suffering
<i>work shall be rewarded.</i> The comforts of the deliverance
shall be sufficient to balance all the grievances of thy
captivity." God makes his people <i>glad according to the days
wherein he has afflicted them,</i> and so there is a proportion
between the joys and the sorrows, as between the reward and the
work. The <i>glory to be revealed,</i> which the saints hope for in
the end, will abundantly countervail <i>the sufferings of this
present time,</i> <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p12.18" osisRef="Bible:Rom.8.18" parsed="|Rom|8|18|0|0" passage="Ro 8:18">Rom. viii.
18</scripRef>. [2.] "The restoration of thy children: <i>They shall
come again from the land of the enemy</i> (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p12.19" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.16" parsed="|Jer|31|16|0|0" passage="Jer 31:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>); they <i>shall come again to
their own border,</i>" <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p12.20" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.17" parsed="|Jer|31|17|0|0" passage="Jer 31:17"><i>v.</i>
17</scripRef>. <i>There is hope</i> that children at a distance may
be brought home. Jacob had a comfortable meeting with Joseph after
he had despaired of ever seeing him. There is hope concerning
children removed by death that they shall <i>return to their own
border,</i> to the happy lot assigned them in the resurrection, a
lot in the heavenly Canaan, that border of his sanctuary. We shall
see reason to repress our grief for the death of our children that
are taken into covenant with God when we consider the hopes we have
of their resurrection to eternal life. They are not lost, but gone
before.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Jer.xxxii-p12.21" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.18-Jer.31.26" parsed="|Jer|31|18|31|26" passage="Jer 31:18-26" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Jer.xxxii-p12.22">
<h4 id="Jer.xxxii-p12.23">Ephraim's Repentance and Privilege;
Encouragements to the Captives. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p12.24">b. c.</span> 594.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jer.xxxii-p13" shownumber="no">18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself
<i>thus;</i> Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a
bullock unaccustomed <i>to the yoke:</i> turn thou me, and I shall
be turned; for thou <i>art</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p13.1">Lord</span> my God.   19 Surely after that I was
turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon
<i>my</i> thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did
bear the reproach of my youth.   20 <i>Is</i> Ephraim my dear
son? <i>is he</i> a pleasant child? for since I spake against him,
I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled
for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p13.2">Lord</span>.   21 Set thee up waymarks, make thee
high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, <i>even</i> the way
<i>which</i> thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn
again to these thy cities.   22 How long wilt thou go about, O
thou backsliding daughter? for the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p13.3">Lord</span> hath created a new thing in the earth, A
woman shall compass a man.   23 Thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p13.4">Lord</span> of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they
shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities
thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p13.5">Lord</span> bless thee, O habitation of justice,
<i>and</i> mountain of holiness.   24 And there shall dwell in
Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen,
and they <i>that</i> go forth with flocks.   25 For I have
satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful
soul.   26 Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was
sweet unto me.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxxii-p14" shownumber="no">We have here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxxii-p15" shownumber="no">I. Ephraim's repentance, and return to God.
Not only Judah, but Ephraim the ten tribes, shall be restored, and
therefore shall thus be prepared and qualified for it, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Hos.14.8" parsed="|Hos|14|8|0|0" passage="Ho 14:8">Hos. xiv. 8</scripRef>. <i>Ephraim shall say,
What have I do to any more with idols?</i> Ephraim the people, is
here spoken of as a single person to denote their unanimity; they
shall be as one man in their repentance and shall glorify God in it
with one mind and one mouth, one and all. It is likewise thus
expressed that it might be the better accommodated to particular
penitents, for whose direction and encouragement this passage is
intended. Ephraim is here brought in weeping for sin, perhaps
because Ephraim, the person from whom that tribe had its
denomination, was a man of a tender spirit, <i>mourned for his
children many days</i> (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.7.21-1Chr.7.22" parsed="|1Chr|7|21|7|22" passage="1Ch 7:21,22">1 Chron.
vii. 21, 22</scripRef>), and sorrow for sin is compared to that
<i>for an only son.</i> This penitent is here brought in, 1.
Bemoaning himself and the miseries of his present case. True
penitents do thus bemoan themselves. 2. Accusing himself, laying a
load upon himself as a sinner, a great sinner. He charges upon
himself, in the first place, that sin which his conscience told him
that he was more especially guilty of at this time, and that was
impatience under correction: "<i>Thou has chastised me;</i> I have
been under the rod, and I needed it, I deserved it; I was justly
chastised, chastised <i>as a bullock,</i> who would never have felt
the goad if he had not first rebelled against the yoke." True
penitents look upon their afflictions as fatherly chastisements:
"<i>Thou hast chastised me and I was chastised;</i> that is, it was
well that I was chastised, otherwise I should have been undone; it
did me good, or at least was intended to do me good; and yet I have
been impatient under it." Or it may intimate his want of feeling
under the affliction: "<i>Thou hast chastised me and I was
chastised,</i> that was all; I was not awakened by it and quickened
by it; I looked no further than the chastisement. <i>I have
been</i> under the chastisement <i>as a bullock unaccustomed to the
yoke,</i> unruly and unmanageable, kicking against the pricks,
<i>like a wild bull in a net,</i>" <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.51.20" parsed="|Isa|51|20|0|0" passage="Isa 51:20">Isa. li. 20</scripRef>. This is the sin he finds
himself guilty of now; but (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.19" parsed="|Jer|31|19|0|0" passage="Jer 31:19"><i>v.</i>
19</scripRef>) he reflects upon his former sins and looks as far
back as the days of his youth. The discovery of one sin should put
us upon searching out more; now he remembers <i>the reproach of his
youth.</i> Ephraim, as a people, reflect upon the misconduct of
their ancestors when they were first formed in a people. It is
applicable to particular persons. Note, The sin of our youth was
the reproach of our youth, and we ought often to remember it
against ourselves and to bear it in a penitential sorrow and shame.
3. He is here brought in angry at himself, having a holy
indignation at himself for his sin and folly: He <i>smote upon his
thigh,</i> as the publican upon his breast. He was even amazed at
himself, and at his own stupidity and frowardness: He <i>was
ashamed, yea even confounded,</i> could not with any confidence
look up to God, nor with any comfort reflect upon himself. 4. He is
here recommending himself to the mercy and grace of God. He finds
he is bent to backslide from God, and cannot by any power of his
own keep himself close with God, much less, when he has revolted,
bring himself back to God, and therefore he prays, <i>Turn thou me
and I shall be turned,</i> which implies that unless God do turn
him by his grace he shall never be turned, but wander endlessly,
that therefore he is very desirous of converting grace, has a
dependence upon it, and doubts not but that that grace will be
sufficient for him, to help him over all the difficulties that were
in the way of his return to God. See <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p15.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.17.14" parsed="|Jer|17|14|0|0" passage="Jer 17:14"><i>ch.</i> xvii. 14</scripRef>, <i>Heal me and I shall
be healed.</i> God works with power, can make the unwilling
willing; if he undertake the conversion of a soul, it will be
converted. 5. He is here pleasing himself with the experience he
had of the blessed effect of divine grace: <i>Surely after that I
was turned I repented.</i> Note, All the pious workings of our
heart towards God are the fruit and consequence of the powerful
working of his grace in us. And observe, He was <i>turned,</i> he
was <i>instructed,</i> his will was bowed to the will of God, by
the right in forming of his judgment concerning the truths of God.
Note, The way God takes of converting souls to himself is by
opening the eyes of their understandings, and all good follows
thereupon: <i>After that I was instructed</i> I yielded, <i>I smote
upon my thigh.</i> When sinners come to a right knowledge they will
come to a right way. Ephraim was chastised, and that did not
produce the desired effect, it went no further: <i>I was
chastised,</i> and that was all. But, when the instructions of
God's Spirit accompanied the corrections of his providence, then
the work was done, then he <i>smote upon his thigh,</i> was so
humbled for sin as to have no more to do with it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxxii-p16" shownumber="no">II. God's compassion on Ephraim and the
kind reception he finds with God, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.20" parsed="|Jer|31|20|0|0" passage="Jer 31:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>. 1. God owns him for a child
and a prodigal: <i>Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a pleasant
child?</i> Thus when Ephraim bemoans himself God bemoans him, as
<i>one whom his mother comforts,</i> though she had chidden him,
<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.66.13" parsed="|Isa|66|13|0|0" passage="Isa 66:13">Isa. lxvi. 13</scripRef>. <i>Is</i>
this <i>Ephraim my dear son? Is</i> this that <i>pleasant
child?</i> Is it he that is thus sad in spirit and that complains
so bitterly? So it is like that of Saul (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.26.17" parsed="|1Sam|26|17|0|0" passage="1Sa 26:17">1 Sam. xxvi. 17</scripRef>), <i>Is this thy voice, my
son David?</i> Or, as it is sometimes supplied, <i>Is not Ephraim
my dear son? Is he not a pleasant child?</i> Yes, now he is, now he
repents and returns. Note, Those that have been undutiful
backsliding children, if they sincerely return and repent, however
they have been under the chastisement of the rod, shall be accepted
of God as dear and pleasant children. Ephraim had afflicted
himself, but God thus heals him—had abased himself, but God thus
honours him; as the returning prodigal who thought himself no more
worthy to be <i>called a son,</i> yet, by his father, had the
<i>best robe</i> put on him and <i>a ring on his hand.</i> 2. He
relents towards him, and speaks of him with a great deal of tender
compassion: <i>Since I spoke against him,</i> by the threatenings
of the word and the rebukes of providence, <i>I do earnestly
remember him still,</i> my thoughts towards him are thoughts of
peace. Note, When God afflicts his people, yet he does not forget
them; when he casts them out of their land, yet he does not cast
them out of sight, nor out of mind. Even then when God is speaking
against us, yet he is acting for us, and designing our good in all;
and this is our comfort in our affliction, that<i>the Lord thinks
upon us,</i> though we have forgotten him. <i>I remember him
still,</i> and therefore <i>my bowels are troubled for him,</i> as
Joseph's yearned towards his brethren, even when he <i>spoke
roughly</i> to them. When Israel's afflictions extorted a penitent
confession and submission it is said that his soul was grieved for
the misery of Israel (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p16.4" osisRef="Bible:Judg.10.16" parsed="|Judg|10|16|0|0" passage="Jdg 10:16">Judg. x.
16</scripRef>), for he always afflicts with the greatest
tenderness. It was God's compassion that mitigated Ephraim's
punishment: <i>My heart is turned within me</i> (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p16.5" osisRef="Bible:Hos.11.8-Hos.11.9" parsed="|Hos|11|8|11|9" passage="Ho 11:8,9">Hos. xi. 8, 9</scripRef>); and now the same compassion
accepted Ephraim's repentance. Ephraim had pleaded (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p16.6" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.18" parsed="|Jer|31|18|0|0" passage="Jer 31:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>), <i>Thou art the Lord
my God,</i> therefore to thee will I return, therefore on thy mercy
and grace I will depend; and God shows that it was a valid plea and
prevailing, for he makes it appear both that he is God and not man
and that he is <i>his God.</i> 3. He resolves to do him good: <i>I
will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord,</i> Note, God has
mercy in store, rich mercy, sure mercy, suitable mercy, for all
that insincerity seek him and submit to him; and the more we are
afflicted for sin the better prepared we are for the comforts of
that mercy.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxxii-p17" shownumber="no">III. Gracious excitements and
encouragements given to the people of God in Babylon to prepare for
their return to their own land. Let them not tremble and lose their
spirits; let them not trifle and lose their time; but with a firm
resolution and a close application address themselves to their
journey, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.21-Jer.31.22" parsed="|Jer|31|21|31|22" passage="Jer 31:21,22"><i>v.</i> 21,
22</scripRef>. 1. They must think of nothing but of coming back to
their own country, out of which they had been driven: "<i>Turn
again, O virgin of Israel!</i> a virgin to be again espoused to thy
God; <i>turn again to these thy cities;</i> though they are laid
waste and in ruins, they are <i>thy cities,</i> which thy God gave
thee, and therefore <i>turn again</i> to them." They must be
content in Babylon no longer than till they had liberty to return
to Zion. 2. They must return the same way that they went, that the
remembrance of the sorrows which attended them, or which their
fathers had told them of, in such and such places upon the road,
the sight of which would, by a local memory, put them in mind of
them, might make them the more thankful for their deliverance.
Those that have departed from God into the bondage of sin must
return by the way in which they went astray, to the duties they
neglected, must <i>do their first works.</i> 3. They must engage
themselves and all that is within them in this affair: <i>Set thy
heart towards the highway;</i> bring thy mind to it; consider thy
duty, the interest, and go about it with a good-will. Note, The way
from Babylon to Zion, from the bondage of sin to the glorious
liberty of God's children, is a highway; it is right, it is plain,
it is safe, it is well-tracked (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.35.8" parsed="|Isa|35|8|0|0" passage="Isa 35:8">Isa.
xxxv. 8</scripRef>); yet none are likely to walk in it, unless they
<i>set their hearts towards it.</i> 4. They must furnish themselves
with all needful accommodations for the journey: <i>Set thee up
way-marks,</i> and <i>make thee high heaps</i> or <i>pillars;</i>
send before to have such set up in all places where there is any
danger of missing the road. Let those that go first, and are best
acquainted with the way, set up such directions for those that
follow. 5. They must compose themselves for their journey: <i>How
long will thou go about, O backsliding daughter?</i> Let not their
minds fluctuate, or be uncertain about it, but resolve upon it; let
them not distract themselves with care and fear; let them not seek
about to creatures for assistance, not hurry hither and thither in
courting them, which had often been an instance of their
backsliding from God; but let them cast themselves upon God, and
then let their minds be fixed. 6. They are encouraged to do this by
an assurance God gives them that he would <i>create a new thing</i>
(strange and surprising) <i>in the earth</i> (in that land), <i>a
woman shall compass a man.</i> The church of God, that is weak and
feeble as a woman, altogether unapt for military employments and of
a timorous spirit (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.54.6" parsed="|Isa|54|6|0|0" passage="Isa 54:6">Isa. liv.
6</scripRef>), shall surround, besiege, and prevail against a
mighty man. The church is compared to a woman, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p17.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.12.1" parsed="|Rev|12|1|0|0" passage="Re 12:1">Rev. xii. 1</scripRef>. And, whereas we find <i>armies
compassing the camp of the saints</i> (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p17.5" osisRef="Bible:Rev.20.9" parsed="|Rev|20|9|0|0" passage="Re 20:9">Rev. xx. 9</scripRef>), now the camp of the saints shall
compass them. Many good interpreters understand this <i>new
thing</i> created in that land to be the incarnation of Christ,
which God an eye to in bringing them back to that land, and which
had sometimes been given them for a sign, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p17.6" osisRef="Bible:Isa.7.14 Bible:Isa.9.6" parsed="|Isa|7|14|0|0;|Isa|9|6|0|0" passage="Isa 7:14,9:6">Isa. vii. 14; ix. 6</scripRef>. <i>A woman,</i> the
virgin Mary, enclosed in her womb <i>the Mighty One;</i> for so
<i>Geber,</i> the word here used, signifies; and God is called
<i>Gibbor, the Mighty God</i> (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p17.7" osisRef="Bible:Jer.32.18" parsed="|Jer|32|18|0|0" passage="Jer 32:18"><i>ch.</i> xxxii. 18</scripRef>), as also is Christ in
<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p17.8" osisRef="Bible:Isa.9.6" parsed="|Isa|9|6|0|0" passage="Isa 9:6">Isa. ix. 6</scripRef>, where his
incarnation is spoken of, as it is supposed to be here. He is
<i>El-Gibbor,</i> the <i>mighty God.</i> Let this assure them that
God would not cast off this people, for that blessing was to be
among them, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p17.9" osisRef="Bible:Isa.65.8" parsed="|Isa|65|8|0|0" passage="Isa 65:8">Isa. lxv.
8</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxxii-p18" shownumber="no">IV. A comfortable prospect given them of a
happy settlement in their own land again. 1. They shall have an
interest in the esteem and good-will of all their neighbours, who
will give them a good word and put up a good prayer for them
(<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.23" parsed="|Jer|31|23|0|0" passage="Jer 31:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>): <i>As
yet</i> or rather <i>yet again</i> (though Judah and Jerusalem have
long been an astonishment and a hissing), <i>this speech shall be
used,</i> as it was formerly, <i>concerning the land of Judah and
the cities thereof, The Lord bless you, O habitation of justice and
mountain of holiness!</i> This intimates that they shall return
much reformed and every way better; and this reformation shall be
so conspicuous that all about them shall take notice of it. The
<i>cities,</i> that used to be nests of pirates, shall be
<i>habitations of justice;</i> the <i>mountain of Israel</i> (so
the whole land is called, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.78.54" parsed="|Ps|78|54|0|0" passage="Ps 78:54">Ps. lxxviii.
54</scripRef>), and especially Mount Zion, shall be a <i>mountain
of holiness.</i> Observe, Justice towards men, and holiness towards
God, must go together. Godliness and honesty are what God has
joined, and let no man think to put them asunder, not to make one
to atone for the want of the other. It is well with a people when
they come out of trouble thus refined, and it is a sure presage of
further happiness. And we may with great comfort pray for the
blessing of God upon those houses that are <i>habitations of
justice,</i> those cities and countries that are <i>mountains of
holiness.</i> There the Lord will undoubtedly <i>command the
blessing.</i> 2. There shall be great plenty of all good things
among them (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.24-Jer.31.25" parsed="|Jer|31|24|31|25" passage="Jer 31:24,25"><i>v.</i> 24,
25</scripRef>): <i>There shall dwell in Judah itself,</i> even in
it, though it has now long lain waste, both husbandmen and
shepherds, the two ancient and honourable employments of Cain and
Abel, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p18.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.4.2" parsed="|Gen|4|2|0|0" passage="Ge 4:2">Gen. iv. 2</scripRef>. It is
comfortable dwelling in a <i>habitation of justice</i> and a
<i>mountain of holiness.</i> "And the husbandmen and shepherds
shall eat of the fruit of their labours; for I have <i>satiated the
weary and sorrowful soul;</i>" that is, those that came weary from
their journey, and have been long sorrowful in their captivity,
shall now enjoy great plenty. This is applicable to the spiritual
blessings God has in store for all true penitents, for all that are
just and holy; they shall be abundantly satisfied with divine
graces and comforts. In the love and favour of God the weary soul
shall find rest and the sorrowful soul joy.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxxii-p19" shownumber="no">V. The prophet tells us what pleasure the
discovery of this brought to his mind, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.26" parsed="|Jer|31|26|0|0" passage="Jer 31:26"><i>v.</i> 26</scripRef>. The foresights God had given
him sometimes of the calamities of Judah and Jerusalem were
exceedingly painful to him (as <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.4.19" parsed="|Jer|4|19|0|0" passage="Jer 4:19"><i>ch.</i> iv. 19</scripRef>), but these views were
pleasant ones, though at a distance. "<i>Upon this I awaked,</i>
overcome with joy, which burst the fetters of sleep; and I
reflected upon my dream, and it was such as had made <i>my sleep
sweet to me;</i> I was refreshed, as men are with quiet sleep."
Those may sleep sweetly that lie down and rise up in the favour of
God and in communion with him. Nor is any prospect in this world
more pleasing to good men, and good ministers, than that of the
flourishing state of the church of God. What can we see with more
satisfaction than <i>the good of Jerusalem, all the days of our
life, and peace upon Israel?</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Jer.xxxii-p19.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.27-Jer.31.34" parsed="|Jer|31|27|31|34" passage="Jer 31:27-34" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Jer.xxxii-p19.4">
<h4 id="Jer.xxxii-p19.5">God's Covenant Renewed. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p19.6">b. c.</span> 594.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jer.xxxii-p20" shownumber="no">27 Behold, the days come, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p20.1">Lord</span>, that I will sow the house of Israel and
the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of
beast.   28 And it shall come to pass, <i>that</i> like as I
have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to
throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over
them, to build, and to plant, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p20.2">Lord</span>.   29 In those days they shall say no
more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth
are set on edge.   30 But every one shall die for his own
iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be
set on edge.   31 Behold, the days come, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p20.3">Lord</span>, that I will make a new covenant with
the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:   32 Not
according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day
<i>that</i> I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land
of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was a husband
unto them, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p20.4">Lord</span>:   33
But this <i>shall be</i> the covenant that I will make with the
house of Israel; After those days, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p20.5">Lord</span>, I will put my law in their inward parts,
and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall
be my people.   34 And they shall teach no more every man his
neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p20.6">Lord</span>: for they shall all know me, from the least
of them unto the greatest of them, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p20.7">Lord</span>: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I
will remember their sin no more.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxxii-p21" shownumber="no">The prophet, having found his sleep sweet,
made so by the revelations of divine grace, sets himself to sleep
again, in hopes of further discoveries, and is not disappointed;
for it is here further promised,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxxii-p22" shownumber="no">I. That the people of God shall become both
numerous and prosperous. Israel and Judah shall be replenished both
with men and cattle, as if they were sown with the seed of both,
<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.27" parsed="|Jer|31|27|0|0" passage="Jer 31:27"><i>v.</i> 27</scripRef>. They shall
increase and multiply like a field sown with corn; and this is the
product of God's blessing (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p22.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.23" parsed="|Jer|31|23|0|0" passage="Jer 31:23"><i>v.</i>
23</scripRef>), for whom God blessed, to them he said, <i>Be
fruitful.</i> This should be a type of the wonderful increase of
the gospel-church. God will build them, and plant them, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p22.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.28" parsed="|Jer|31|28|0|0" passage="Jer 31:28"><i>v.</i> 28</scripRef>. He <i>will watch over
them</i> to do them good; no opportunity shall be lost that may
further their prosperity. Every thing for a long time had turned so
much against them, and all occurrences did so transpire to ruin
them, that it seemed as if God had <i>watched over them to pluck up
and to throw down;</i> but now every thing that falls out shall
happily fall in to strengthen and advance their interests. God will
be as ready to comfort those that repent of their sins, and are
humbled for them, as he is to punish those that continue in love
with their sins, and are hardened in them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxxii-p23" shownumber="no">II. That they shall be reckoned with no
further for the sins of their fathers (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p23.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.29-Jer.31.30" parsed="|Jer|31|29|31|30" passage="Jer 31:29,30"><i>v.</i> 29, 30</scripRef>): <i>They shall say no
more</i> (they shall have no more occasion to say) that <i>God
visits the iniquity of the parents upon the children,</i> which God
had done in the captivity, for the sins of their ancestors came
into the account against them, particularly those of Manasseh: this
they had complained of as a hardship. Other scriptures justify God
in this method of proceeding, and our Saviour tells the wicked Jews
in his days that they should smart for their fathers' sins, because
they persisted in them, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p23.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.23.35-Matt.23.36" parsed="|Matt|23|35|23|36" passage="Mt 23:35,36">Matt.
xxiii. 35, 36</scripRef>. But it is here promised that this severe
dispensation with them should now be brought to an end, that God
would proceed no further in his controversy with them for their
fathers' sins, but remember for them his covenant with their
fathers and do them good according to that covenant: <i>They shall
no more</i> complain, as they have done, that <i>the fathers have
eaten sour grapes and the children's teeth are set on edge</i>
(which speaks something of an absurdity, and is an invidious
reflection upon God's proceedings), but <i>every one shall die for
his own iniquity</i> still; though God will cease to punish them in
their national capacity, yet he will still reckon with particular
persons that provoke him. Note, Public salvations will give no
impunity, no security, to private sinners: still every man that
<i>eats the sour grapes</i> shall have his <i>teeth set on
edge.</i> Note, Those that eat forbidden fruit, how tempting soever
it looks, will find it a <i>sour grape,</i> and it will <i>set
their teeth on edge;</i> sooner or later they will feel from it and
reflect upon it with bitterness. There is as direct a tendency in
sin to make a man uneasy as there is in sour grapes to set the
teeth on edge.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxxii-p24" shownumber="no">III. That God will renew his covenant with
them, so that all these blessings they shall have, not by
providence only, but by promise, and thereby they shall be both
sweetened and secured. But this covenant refers to gospel times,
the latter days that <i>shall come;</i> for of gospel grace the
apostle understands it (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p24.1" osisRef="Bible:Heb.8.8-Heb.8.9" parsed="|Heb|8|8|8|9" passage="Heb 8:8,9">Heb. viii. 8,
9</scripRef>, &amp;c.), where this whole passage is quoted as a
summary of the covenant of grace made with believers in Jesus
Christ. Observe, 1. Who the persons are with whom this covenant is
made—<i>with the house of Israel and Judah,</i> with the gospel
church, <i>the Israel of God</i> on which <i>peace shall be</i>
(<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p24.2" osisRef="Bible:Gal.6.16" parsed="|Gal|6|16|0|0" passage="Ga 6:16">Gal. vi. 16</scripRef>), with the
spiritual seed of believing Abraham and praying Jacob. Judah and
Israel had been two separate kingdoms, but were united after their
return, in the joint favours God bestowed upon them; so Jews and
Gentiles were in the gospel church and covenant. 2. What is the
nature of this covenant in general: it is a <i>new covenant</i> and
<i>not according to the covenant made with them when they came out
of Egypt;</i> not as if that made with them at Mount Sinai were a
covenant of nature and innocency, such as was made with Adam in the
day he was created; no, that was, for substance, a covenant of
grace, but it was a dark dispensation of that covenant in
comparison with this in gospel times. Sinners were saved by that
covenant upon their repentance, and faith in a Messiah to come,
whose blood, confirming that covenant, was typified by that of the
legal sacrifices, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p24.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.24.7-Exod.24.8" parsed="|Exod|24|7|24|8" passage="Ex 24:7,8">Exod. xxiv. 7,
8</scripRef>. Yet this may upon many accounts be called new, in
comparison with that; the ordinances and promises are more
spiritual and heavenly, and the discoveries much more clear. That
covenant God made with them when he <i>took them by the hand,</i>
as they had been blind, or lame, or weak, <i>to lead them out of
the land of Egypt, which covenant they broke.</i> Observe, It was
God that made this covenant, but it was the people that broke it;
for our salvation is of God, but our sin and ruin are of ourselves.
It was an aggravation of their breach of it that God <i>was a
husband to them,</i> that he had espoused them to himself; it was a
marriage-covenant that was between him and them, which they broke
by idolatry, that spiritual adultery. It is a great aggravation of
our treacherous departures from God that he has been a husband to
us, a loving, tender, careful husband, faithful to us, and yet we
false to him. 3. What are the particular articles of his covenant.
They all contain spiritual blessings; not, "I will give them the
land of Canaan and a numerous issue," but, "I will give them
pardon, and peace, and grace, good heads and good hearts." He
promises, (1.) That he will incline them to their duty; <i>I will
put my law in their inward part and write it in their heart;</i>
not, I will give them a new law (as Mr. Gataker well observes), for
Christ <i>came not to destroy the law, but to fulfil it;</i> but
the law shall be written in their hearts by the finger of the
Spirit as formerly it was written in the tables of stone. God
writes his law in the hearts of all believers, makes it ready and
familiar to them, at hand when they have occasion to use it, as
that which is <i>written in the heart,</i> <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p24.4" osisRef="Bible:Prov.3.3" parsed="|Prov|3|3|0|0" passage="Pr 3:3">Prov. iii. 3</scripRef>. He makes them in care to observe
it, for that which we are solicitous about is said to lie near our
hearts. He works in them a disposition to obedience, a conformity
of thought and affection to the rules of the divine law, as that of
the copy to the original. This is here promised, and ought to be
prayed for, that our duty may be done conscientiously and with
delight. (2.) That he will take them into relation to himself: <i>I
will be their God,</i> a God all-sufficient to them, <i>and they
shall be my people,</i> a loyal obedient people to me. God's being
to us a God is the summary of all happiness; heaven itself is no
more, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p24.5" osisRef="Bible:Heb.11.16 Bible:Rev.21.3" parsed="|Heb|11|16|0|0;|Rev|21|3|0|0" passage="Heb 11:16,Re 21:3">Heb. xi. 16; Rev. xxi.
3</scripRef>. Our being to him a people may be taken either as the
condition on our part (those and those only shall have God to be to
them a God that are truly willing to engage themselves to be to him
a people) or as a further branch of the promise that God will by
his grace make us his people, a <i>willing people, in the day of
his power;</i> and, whoever are his people, it is his grace that
makes them so. (3.) That there shall be an abundance of the
knowledge of God among all sorts of people, and this will have an
influence upon all good: for those that rightly know God's name
will seek him, and serve him, and put their trust in him (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p24.6" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.34" parsed="|Jer|31|34|0|0" passage="Jer 31:34"><i>v.</i> 34</scripRef>): <i>All shall know
me;</i> all shall be welcome to the knowledge of God and shall have
the means of that knowledge; <i>his ways shall be known upon
earth,</i> whereas, for many ages, <i>in Judah only was God
known.</i> Many more shall know God than did in the Old Testament
times, which among the Gentiles were times of ignorance, the true
God being to them an unknown God. The things of God shall in gospel
times be made more plain and intelligible, and level to the
capacities of the meanest, than they were while Moses had a <i>veil
upon his face.</i> There shall be such a general knowledge of God
that there shall not be so much need as had formerly been of
teaching. Some take it as a hyperbolical expression (and the
dulness of the Jews needed such expressions to awaken them),
designed only to show that the knowledge of God in gospel times
should vastly exceed that knowledge of him which they had under the
law. Or perhaps it intimates that in gospel times there shall be
such great plenty of public preaching, statedly and constantly, by
men authorized and appointed to <i>preach the word in season and
out of season,</i> much beyond what was under the law, that there
shall be less need than there was then of fraternal teaching, by a
neighbour and a brother. The priests preached but now and then, and
in the temple, and to a few in comparison; but now all shall or may
know God by frequenting the assemblies of Christians, wherein,
through all parts of the church, the good knowledge of God shall be
taught. Some give this sense of it (Mr. Gataker mentions it), That
many shall have such clearness of understanding in the things of
God that they may seem rather to have been taught by some immediate
irradiation than by any means of instruction. In short, the things
of God shall by the gospel of Christ be brought to a clearer light
than ever (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p24.7" osisRef="Bible:2Tim.1.10" parsed="|2Tim|1|10|0|0" passage="2Ti 1:10">2 Tim. i. 10</scripRef>),
and the people of God shall by the grace of Christ be brought to a
clearer sight of those things than ever, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p24.8" osisRef="Bible:Eph.1.17-Eph.1.18" parsed="|Eph|1|17|1|18" passage="Eph 1:17,18">Eph. i. 17, 18</scripRef>. (4.) That, in order to all
these blessings, sin shall be pardoned. This is made the reason of
all the rest: <i>For I will forgive their iniquity,</i> will not
impute that to them, nor deal with them according to the desert of
that, <i>will forgive</i> and forget: <i>I will remember their sin
no more.</i> It is sin that keeps good things from us, that stops
the current of God's favours; let sin betaken away by pardoning
mercy, and the obstruction is removed, and divine grace runs down
like a river, like a mighty stream.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Jer.xxxii-p24.9" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.35-Jer.31.40" parsed="|Jer|31|35|31|40" passage="Jer 31:35-40" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Jer.xxxii-p24.10">
<h4 id="Jer.xxxii-p24.11">Evangelical Promises; The Rebuilding of
Jerusalem. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p24.12">b. c.</span> 594.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jer.xxxii-p25" shownumber="no">35 Thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p25.1">Lord</span>, which giveth the sun for a light by day,
<i>and</i> the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light
by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The
<span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p25.2">Lord</span> of hosts <i>is</i> his name:
  36 If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p25.3">Lord</span>, <i>then</i> the seed of Israel
also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.   37
Thus saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p25.4">Lord</span>; If heaven above
can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out
beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that
they have done, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p25.5">Lord</span>.
  38 Behold, the days come, saith the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p25.6">Lord</span>, that the city shall be built to the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p25.7">Lord</span> from the tower of Hananeel unto the
gate of the corner.   39 And the measuring line shall yet go
forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about
to Goath.   40 And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of
the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the
corner of the horse gate toward the east, <i>shall be</i> holy unto
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jer.xxxii-p25.8">Lord</span>; it shall not be plucked
up, nor thrown down any more for ever.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxxii-p26" shownumber="no">Glorious things have been spoken in the
<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p26.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.1-Jer.31.34" parsed="|Jer|31|1|31|34" passage="Jer 31:1-34">foregoing verses</scripRef>
concerning the gospel church, which that epocha of the Jewish
church that was to commence at the return from captivity would at
length terminate in, and which all those promises were to have
their full accomplishment in. But may we depend upon these
promises? Yes, we have here a ratification of them, and the utmost
assurance imaginable given of the perpetuity of the blessings
contained in them. The great thing here secured to us is that while
the world stands God will have a church in it, which, though
sometimes it may be brought very low, shall yet be raised again,
and its interests re-established; it is <i>built upon a rock, and
the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.</i> Now here are
two things offered for the confirmation of our faith in this
matter—the building of the world and the rebuilding of
Jerusalem.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxxii-p27" shownumber="no">I. The building of the world, and the
firmness and lastingness of that building, are evidences of the
power and faithfulness of that God who has undertaken the
establishment of his church. <i>He that built all things</i> at
first <i>is God</i> (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p27.1" osisRef="Bible:Heb.3.4" parsed="|Heb|3|4|0|0" passage="Heb 3:4">Heb. iii.
4</scripRef>), and the same is he that makes all things now. The
constancy of the glories of the kingdom of nature may encourage us
to depend upon the divine promise for the continuance of the
glories of the kingdom of grace, for <i>this is as the waters of
Noah,</i> <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p27.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.54.9" parsed="|Isa|54|9|0|0" passage="Isa 54:9">Isa. liv. 9</scripRef>. Let
us observe here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxxii-p28" shownumber="no">1. The glories of the kingdom of nature,
and infer thence how happy those are that have this God, the God of
nature, to be their God for ever and ever. Take notice, (1.) Of the
steady and regular motion of the heavenly bodies, which God is the
first mover and supreme director of: <i>He gives the sun for a
light by day</i> (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p28.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.35" parsed="|Jer|31|35|0|0" passage="Jer 31:35"><i>v.</i>
35</scripRef>), not only made it at first to be so, but still gives
it to be so; for the light and heat, and all the influences of the
sun, continually depend upon its great Creator. He gives <i>the
ordinances of the moon and stars for a light by night;</i> their
motions are called <i>ordinances</i> both because they are regular
and by rule and because they are determined and under rule. See
<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p28.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.38.31-Job.38.33" parsed="|Job|38|31|38|33" passage="Job 38:31-33">Job xxxviii. 31-33</scripRef>.
(2.) Take notice of the government of the sea, and the check that
is given to its proud billows: <i>The Lord of hosts divides the
sea,</i> or (as some read it) <i>settles the sea, when the waves
thereof roar (divide et impera—divide and rule</i>); when it is
most tossed God keeps it within compass (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p28.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.5.22" parsed="|Jer|5|22|0|0" passage="Jer 5:22">Jer. v. 22</scripRef>), and soon quiets it and makes it
calm again. The power of God is to be magnified by us, not only in
maintaining the regular motions of the heavens, but in controlling
the irregular motions of the seas. (3.) Take notice of the vastness
of the heavens and the unmeasurable extent of the firmament; he
must needs be a great God who manages such a great world as this
is; the <i>heavens above cannot be measured</i> (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p28.4" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.37" parsed="|Jer|31|37|0|0" passage="Jer 31:37"><i>v.</i> 37</scripRef>), and yet God fills them. (4.)
Take notice of the mysteriousness even of that part of the creation
in which our lot is cast and which we are most conversant with.
<i>The foundations of the earth cannot be searched out beneath,</i>
for the Creator <i>hangs the earth upon nothing</i> (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p28.5" osisRef="Bible:Job.26.7" parsed="|Job|26|7|0|0" passage="Job 26:7">Job xxvi. 7</scripRef>), and we <i>know not how
the foundations thereof are fastened,</i> <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p28.6" osisRef="Bible:Job.38.6" parsed="|Job|38|6|0|0" passage="Job 38:6">Job xxxviii. 6</scripRef>. (5.) Take notice of the
immovable stedfastness of all these (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p28.7" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.36" parsed="|Jer|31|36|0|0" passage="Jer 31:36"><i>v.</i> 36</scripRef>): <i>These ordinances cannot
depart from before God;</i> he has all the hosts of heaven and
earth continually under his eye and all the motions of both; he has
established them, and they abide, <i>abide according to his
ordinance, for all are his servants,</i> <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p28.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.119.90-Ps.119.91" parsed="|Ps|119|90|119|91" passage="Ps 119:90,91">Ps. cxix. 90, 91</scripRef>. The heavens are often
clouded, and the sun and moon often eclipsed, the earth may quake
and the sea be tossed, but they all keep their place, are moved,
but not removed. Herein we must acknowledge the power, goodness,
and faithfulness of the Creator.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxxii-p29" shownumber="no">2. The securities of the kingdom of grace
inferred hence: we may be confident of this very thing that <i>the
seed of Israel shall not cease from being a nation,</i> for the
spiritual Israel, the gospel church, shall be <i>a holy nation, a
peculiar people,</i> <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p29.1" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.2.9" parsed="|1Pet|2|9|0|0" passage="1Pe 2:9">1 Pet. ii.
9</scripRef>. When Israel according to the flesh is no longer a
nation the <i>children of the promise are counted for the seed</i>
(<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p29.2" osisRef="Bible:Rom.9.8" parsed="|Rom|9|8|0|0" passage="Ro 9:8">Rom. ix. 8</scripRef>) and God <i>will
not cast off all the seed of Israel,</i> no, not <i>for all that
they have done,</i> though they have done very wickedly, <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p29.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.37" parsed="|Jer|31|37|0|0" passage="Jer 31:37"><i>v.</i> 37</scripRef>. He justly might cast
them off, but he will not. Though he cast them out from their land,
and cast them down for a time, yet he will not cast them off. Some
of them he casts off, but not all; to this the apostle seems to
refer (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p29.4" osisRef="Bible:Rom.11.1" parsed="|Rom|11|1|0|0" passage="Ro 11:1">Rom. xi. 1</scripRef>), <i>Hath
God cast away his people? God forbid</i> that we should think so!
For (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p29.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.5" parsed="|Jer|31|5|0|0" passage="Jer 31:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>) <i>at
this time there is a remnant,</i> enough to save the credit of the
promise that God <i>will not cast off all the seed of Israel,</i>
though many among them throw away themselves by unbelief. Now we
may be assisted in the belief of this by considering, (1.) That the
God that has undertaken the preservation of the church is a God of
almighty power, who <i>upholds all things by his</i> almighty
<i>word. Our help stands in his name who made heaven and earth,</i>
and therefore can do any thing. (2.) That God would not take all
this care of the world but that he designs to have some glory to
himself out of it; and how shall he have it but by securing to
himself a church in it, a people that <i>shall be to him for a name
and a praise?</i> (3.) That if the order of the creation therefore
continues firm because it was well-fixed at first, and is not
altered because it needs no alteration, the method of grace shall
for the same reason continue invariable, as it was a first well
settled. (4.) That he who has promised to preserve a church for
himself has approved himself faithful to the word which he has
spoken concerning the stability of the world. He that is true to
his covenant with Noah and his sons, because he established it for
an <i>everlasting covenant</i> (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p29.6" osisRef="Bible:Gen.9.9 Bible:Gen.9.16" parsed="|Gen|9|9|0|0;|Gen|9|16|0|0" passage="Ge 9:9,16">Gen.
ix. 9, 16</scripRef>), will not, we may be sure, be false to his
covenant with Abraham and his seed, his spiritual seed, for that
also is an <i>everlasting covenant.</i> Even that which they have
done amiss, though they have done much, shall not prevail to defeat
the gracious intentions of the covenant. See <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p29.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.89.30" parsed="|Ps|89|30|0|0" passage="Ps 89:30">Ps. lxxxix. 30</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jer.xxxii-p30" shownumber="no">II. The rebuilding of Jerusalem which was
now in ruins, and the enlargement and establishment of that, shall
be an earnest of these great things that God will do for the gospel
church, the <i>heavenly Jerusalem,</i> <scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p30.1" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.38-Jer.31.40" parsed="|Jer|31|38|31|40" passage="Jer 31:38-40"><i>v.</i> 38-40</scripRef>. <i>The days will
come,</i> though they may be long in coming, when, 1. Jerusalem
shall be entirely built again, as large as ever it was; the
dimensions are here exactly described by the places through which
the circumference passed, and no doubt the wall which Nehemiah
built, and which, the more punctually to fulfil the prophecy, began
about the <i>tower of Hananeel,</i> here mentioned (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p30.2" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3.1" parsed="|Neh|3|1|0|0" passage="Ne 3:1">Neh. iii. 1</scripRef>), enclosed as much ground
as is here intended, though we cannot certainly determine the
places here called <i>the gate of the corner, the hill Gareb,</i>
&amp;c. 2. When built it shall be consecrated to God and to his
service. It <i>shall be built to the Lord</i> (<scripRef id="Jer.xxxii-p30.3" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.38" parsed="|Jer|31|38|0|0" passage="Jer 31:38"><i>v.</i> 38</scripRef>), and even the suburbs and
fields adjacent <i>shall be holy unto the Lord.</i> It shall not be
polluted with idols as formerly, but God shall be praised and
honoured there; the whole city shall be as it were one temple, one
holy place, as the new Jerusalem is, which <i>therefore</i> has no
temple, because it is all temple. 3. Being thus built by virtue of
the promise of God, <i>it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down,
any more for ever;</i> that is, it shall continue very long, the
time of the new city from the return to its last destruction being
fully as long as that of the old from David to the captivity. But
this promise was to have its full accomplishment in the gospel
church, which, as it is the spiritual Israel, and therefore God
will not cast it off, so it is the holy city, and therefore all the
powers of men <i>shall not pluck it up, nor throw it down.</i> It
may lie waste for a time, as Jerusalem did, but shall recover
itself, shall weather the storm and gain its point, <i>and the
gates of hell shall not prevail against it.</i></p>
</div></div2>