sure to regard the tears of his own elect, that is, all faithful repentant Christians; and as they, in their day of affliction, have sought out and known the things which belong unto their peace, so may they console themselves with the sweet assurance, that if they so continue to the end, faithful and repentant, come what will on them of earthly sorrow and suffering, the mercies of God in Christ Jesus shall be to them steadfast and immoveable, and shall never be " hid from their eyes."

SERMON XX.

GOD'S JUDGMENTS ON HIS CHURCH.

JEREMIAH. vii. 12.

"But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it, for the wickedness of my people, Israel."

THERE is, as it may seem, no part of the gospel history more worthy of the consideration of thoughtful persons, especially in times of trial, doubt, and perplexity, than what we are told of the circumstances attending our blessed Lord's last visit to the city of Jerusalem; as we find those circumstances detailed in the twenty-first chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel, and the eleventh of St. Mark's. The sacred history intimates that the day was far spent when he first came in, and that he had then only time to enter into the temple, and to "look round about upon all things." He beheld, doubtless with sorrow and indignation, the irreverence and profaneness, now almost grown into a system, with which the Lord's chosen house was treated by the Lord's chosen people. It does not however appear that, on that evening, he expressed his displeasure, either by word or action; but, as night came on, and the multitude who had accompanied him was dispersed, he returned again with the twelve to Bethany, their lodging-place.

The next morning (early, St. Luke says), he came again into the city, having by the way, in the withering up of the fig-tree (at once a miracle, a parable, and a prophecy), given his disciples occasion for reflection on what his meaning might be, in working a wonder so unusual with him in its kind; and also put them in the way VOL. I.-16

to perceive the force of the solemn warning implied in what (as soon as he came to the temple) he proceeded at once to accomplish. For, as the history tells us, as soon as he came into the city, he went into the temple and began to—that is, spent much time and labor in"casting out them that were buying and selling in the temple; and he overthrew the tables or desks of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves. And would not suffer that any man should even carry any vessel through the temple." And then he began, at length, "to teach the people," to tell them the meaning of what he had done; turning their attention especially to two passages in the ancient Scriptures, the one in the prophet Isaiah, the fifty-sixth chapter. "My house shall be called an house of prayer for all people ;" the other in the prophet Jeremiah, the seventh chapter, "Is this house which is called by my name become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord." So leading on the thoughts, at least of reflecting persons then present, especially those who saw the fig-tree that morning dried up from the roots, to what follows: "But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it, for the wickedness of my people Israel."

At the time when (six hundred years before) the holy prophet Jeremiah was commissioned to deliver these solemn words of warning to the Jews, their condition, in all respects, was most miserable. They had sinned against the Lord, and their sin was just finding them out; yet they did not ever the more turn to him, with repentance of heart and amendment of life.

They had had the blessing, for thirty years, of the example of their good king Josiah ; but notwithstanding their external shows of respect for him, as a nation, they were far more disposed to pursue the wicked track marked out before by his grandfather Manasseh, and subsequently followed up by his own two sons, who, after him, were kings in succession, Jehoahaz and Jehoiakim; of both of whom it is testified, that "they did evil in the

sight of the Lord, according to all that their (not their father, but their) fathers had done."

Of the corrupt state of God's people at that time we need seek no farther evidence than that of the holy Jeremiah, in this very chapter, where the Holy Spirit, in describing the conduct of the Jews, seems (as it were) to set forth before all generations of men, and especially before Christians, the fatal nature of that hypocrisy which leads people to suppose that the mere possession of divine privileges will secure them the divine favor, without correspondent holiness of heart and life.

"The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, stand in the gate of the Lord's house"-that is, the temple at Jerusalem-" and proclaim there this word, and say,

"Hear the word of the Lord, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways, and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place"—that is, ye shall not be carried captive. "Trust ye not in lying words"—that is, believe not the assurances of your popular teachers, men of the world, who encourage you by saying there is no danger, God will never cast off his chosen : "The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, are these." "Ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not, and come and stand before me in this house which is called by my name: and say, or imagine, we are not delivered to do all these abominations;" our privileges will protect us, though our conduct be ever so unsuitable to them? "Is this house which is called by my name become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold; even I have seen it, saith the Lord.

"But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel." And from that example learn to fear for yourselves.

Within twelve years from the time in which this warning was given, came the army of the king of Babylon, and besieged the city, till, from want of food, they were forced to surrender. The king of Judah was taken and brought before the king of Babylon, who gave judgment against him. His sons were slain before his eyes, then himself was cruelly made blind, bound with fetters of brass, and carried to Babylon. The house of the Lord was burnt, also the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem. Thus, says the sacred history, Judah was carried away captive out of his own land, and thus was fulfilled the fearful threatening denounced by the all-merciful Jehovah himself against his rebellious people. "Now, because ye have done all these works, saith the Lord, and I spake unto you, rising up early, and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not; therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh; and I will cast you out of my sight." And then presently turning his address to the prophet himself, "Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me, for I will not hear thee."

Thus did God speak of and to his elect, chosen people. But to perceive the force of the divine warning, "Go to my place which was in Shiloh, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people," we must somewhat look back into the more ancient history of the Jews.

You may observe, then, that after the children of Is rael came under God's miraculous guidance into the land of Canaan, a long space, even four hundred and fifty years, elapsed before a temple was built for the reception of the holy ark, the symbol of the divine presence. During the first portion of this long period, the sacred tabernacle, as we find in the eighteenth of Joshua, was set up at a place called Shiloh, near to the centre of the kingdom, which was as it were the first Jerusalem, or city of peace, and of which it may be remarked, that