Jeremiah 8:4-8

DISCOURSE: 1041
EXPOSTULATION WITH THE IMPENITENT

Jeremiah 8:4. Thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord; Shall they fall, and not arise? Shall he turn away, and not return? Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? They hold fast deceit, they refuse, to return. I hearkened and heard; but they spake not aright; no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What hare I done? Every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle. Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle, and the crane, and the swallow, observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the Lord. How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.

WHATEVER difference civilization may produce in the external habits of men, it makes no change in the dispositions of their minds towards God. The advantages of religious instruction may rectify their sentiments in many things, and raise the standard of morals among them; but Divine grace alone can reach their hearts or dispose them to devote themselves to the service of their Maker. Hence the unregenerate amongst us are, in their general character, the same as they have been in all ages, and under all the different dispensations of religion. Papists and Protestants, Jews and Christians, differ only in name, and in a few outward observances: their hearts are all alike; and the same warnings and exhortations may be fitly addressed to them.
The Prophet Jeremiah was commanded to expostulate with the Jews upon their wickedness, their impenitence, their folly, and their presumption. On these same topics we would address ourselves to you. We shall not however make a formal division of our discourse, or mark our transition from one part of it to another, but shall prosecute our subject in the precise order of the words before us.

Permit me then to observe to you, that,
Men will endeavour to remedy any misfortune that has happened to them—
[“If a man have fallen, he will rise again;” he will not be contented to lie where he is, in a state of stupid indifference, but will exert himself to regain the posture that is better suited to his nature and pursuits. “If a man turn out of the way,” when prosecuting a journey of great importance, “will he not, us soon as he finds his error, return,” and get into the right path? No one can doubt what his conduct would be on such an occasion, Such is the conduct of all men in relation to temporal matters.]

But they do not act thus in reference to their souls—
[It is undeniable, that, we “have slidden back” from God, “like a backsliding heifer” that will not submit to the yoke [Note: Hosea 4:16.] — — — Of this we cannot but be convinced, seeing that we violate his law in unnumbered instances, and neither can, nor will, endure its restraints [Note: Romans 8:7.]. But, “having fallen, do we strive to arise; having turned aside, do we endeavour to return?” On the contrary, have not our “backslidings been perpetual,” without any serious endeavours to amend our ways? Had our deviations from duty been only occasional, and under the influence of some violent temptation, or had they been intermitted, with seasons of penitence and contrition, there would be something hopeful in our case: but we have been contented to continue in our devious paths, and to lie wallowing in the mire of sin.

We have even laboured to persuade ourselves that we were not so faulty as God’s word represented us, We have gladly embraced any principle, that might justify this opinion; and satisfied ourselves with any excuse, that might keep us from self-reproach. When our delusions have been pointed out, and the vanity of our excuses plainly shewn, we still have “held fast deceit,” and have taken refuge again in the same lies, just as if they had never been at all exposed. The invitations and promises which have been held forth to us in the name of God, have produced no salutary effect: we have “pulled away the shoulder,” and “refused to return,” and “made our faces harder than a rock [Note: Jeremiah 5:3.].”

But, notwithstanding our obstinacy,]
God is ever looking wishfully for our return—
[“He looks down from heaven, to see if there be any that will understand and seek after him [Note: Psalms 14:2.].” “He willeth not the death of any man, but rather that he should come to repentance and live [Note: 2 Peter 3:9.].” He even swears that this is the state of his mind towards us [Note: Ezekiel 33:11.]. He “hearkens” with more than parental anxiety ‘Cannot I hear some acknowledgment amongst them; cannot I hear so much as one groan, or one sigh? O that I could! O that they would suffer me to exercise mercy towards them [Note: Jeremiah 3:4; Jeremiah 3:13; Jeremiah 13:27 and Hosea 11:8.]! Would they but “speak aright,” and condemn themselves for their iniquities, I would soon shew them how gracious and merciful I am.’ Thus does God listen, as it were, in hopes that some will repent and turn unto him;]

But scarce any will repent of their wickedness, or even consider their ways—

[We hope that impenitence is not quite so universal amongst us, as among those whom the prophet addressed. We cannot quite adopt his complaint, and say that “no man” repents. We trust there are some amongst us, who have “called their ways to remembrance,” and sought for mercy in God’s appointed way [Note: This must be amplified, or not, according to the state of the persons addressed.] — — — But certainly there are very few that will turn their thoughts inward, or seriously ask themselves, “What have I done?” Reflection is painful to the generality; and, instead of cherishing it, and setting apart seasons on purpose for it, the greater part do all they can to stifle it; they run to pleasure, to company, to business, in order to shake out of their minds all painful recollections. In all the concerns of time, they will examine carefully enough, whether they have prospered or not: nor would they be averse, in a journey through woods and forests, to compare their steps with the directory that had been given them, and to inquire occasionally whether they were in the right path. But in the concerns of their souls they harbour no doubts; they go on even in direct opposition to the strongest evidence s and take for granted that they are right, when, if they would make the smallest inquiry, they could not but find that they are in the most fatal error.]

Too many amongst us seem even to glory in their sins—
[The image by which this truth is represented in the text, is as just and beautiful as any that can be conceived. Look at the description given of the war-horse in the book of Job: “He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth forth to meet the armed men. He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword. The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield. He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage; neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains and the shouting [Note: Job 39:21.].” What a lively representation is this of sinful man! he heareth of God’s judgments, but laugheth at them: ho in a measure feels them; and is only stirred up by them to a more resolute defiance of them, Destructive as his sin is, he “makes a mock at it,” and accounts it sport: and, whatever his ways have been, whether those of a proud self-righteousness, or open profaneness, he “turns to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.”]

In these respects they act a more irrational part than even the brute creation—
[“The stork, the turtle, the crane, the swallow, observe” invariably the approach of summer or of winter; and adopt measures either to escape the impending calamities, or to secure the blessings which God has prepared for them, They loiter not till the season for action is past, but avail themselves of the first intimations which they receive, to avoid the evil, and obtain the good. But sinful men possess not that wisdom; they “know not the judgment of the Lord;” God tells them of approaching blessings, but they labour not to possess them: he warns them also of approaching miseries, but they use no means to escape them: though they feel in themselves, and behold in all around them, striking intimations of the way in which God will ultimately proceed with men, they take not one step to avert his wrath, or to conciliate his favour.]

To complete the whole, they persuade themselves that they are safe and happy—
[They call their own ways wisdom, and the conduct of those who differ from them, folly. Surprising! “We are wise!” Would they account any one wise that should pursue a similar conduct in reference to the things of this world? Would it be wise in a merchant never to inquire into the state of his affairs? Would it be wise in a person to reject wholesome food, and to eat nothing but what was sure to bring upon him disorders and death? Yet the folly of such persons would not be worthy to be compared with that which the inconsiderate world are guilty of, in reference to their everlasting concerns. And strange it is to say, that they will even quote the word of God, as countenancing their ways; and, without once considering the true import of the passages they adduce, they will cry, “The law of the Lord is with us [Note: They will quote Proverbs 3:17 and Micah 6:8.].” But let them bring forth their strong reasons; let them shew us from the word of God, that no “difference shall be put between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth the Lord and him that serveth him not:” let them prove to us, that a course of sin and impenitence, and an unconcern about our future state, are innocent, or at most only trifling faults, which will not be regarded in the day of judgment. Let them shew us these things from the word of God; and then we are prepared to say, “In vain has God made it, and the pen of the scribes (who have either recorded or expounded it) is in vain.” Certainly, if they succeed in that attempt, the Bible is the most worthless book in the universe; for men could live in sin and neglect God, without any book to direct or encourage them in such ways.]

That our expostulation may not fall to the ground, we entreat you to listen to a few words of salutary advice—
1.

Consider your ways—

[This is a reasonable duty; and can do you no harm: if your conduct have been conformable with the will of God, you will have great comfort in ascertaining that it has been so: if, on the contrary, it has been such as God decidedly condemns, you will have an opportunity of altering it before it be too late — — —]

2. Renounce your sins—

[This must be connected with the former, and indeed must result from it [Note: Ezekiel 18:28.]. You cannot but know that there has been much amiss, both in your heart and life: search it out therefore, and, whatever it may be, put it from you: if it be useful as a right hand, or precious as a right eye, spare it not, but cast it uttterly away. Attempt not to justify or extenuate it; but acknowledge your criminality and danger; and cast overboard the goods that would sink the ship — — —]

3. Obey the Gospel—

[Sinful as your state has been, the Gospel proposes to you an infallible remedy: it sets forth a Saviour; and invites you to come to him. Obey the call: come to him, who bought you with his blood: and accept the salvation which he freely offers to the chief of sinners — — — At the same time “Be wise indeed, and let the word of the Lord be truly with you.” Let “the glorious Gospel of the blessed God” be indeed the one ground of your hope, and the one rule of your conduct. Let the light which it exhibits be desired by you; and let all “your deeds be brought to it, that it may be manifest that they are wrought in God.”]