Jeremiah 24

Do the enemies carry away the good figs — even the best among the people — into captivity? This looks like a sad providence; but yet God sends them there for their good (Jeremiah 24:5). Does God take the Assyrian as a staff in his hand to beat his people with?

For, as by virtue of the Covenant made with Noah, the whole earth shall never be overflown with a deluge, yet there may, and hath been such inundations since, that several parts of the earth have been swallowed up with water: So the Church Universal cannot be extinct, yet it may…

True it is that God has neither hands, nor any bodily shape: but thus it pleases the Holy Ghost to stoop down to our slender and weak capacities, that he might the better set forth the infinite love which he bears us. And because the Church is in many places called the Temple, o…

And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my Statutes, and ye shall keep my Judgments and do them. To which may be added, Jer. 24. 7. And I will give them an Heart to know me, that I am the Lord, and they shall be my People, and I will be their God; so they s…

This also is a sweet principle of peace and quiet to the Christians mind, that he knows not, but his good may be imported in what seemed to threaten his ruine. Many were the distresses and straits of Israel in the Wilderness, but all was to humble them, that he might do them goo…

Our misery lies in the ignorance of God, and the transgression of his law; our happiness in being enlightened and sanctified by the spirit of wisdom and understanding. It is God's great gift (Jeremiah 24:7): I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord, and they shall…

His pleasure should satisfy us though we do not see the reason of it. So (Jeremiah 24:5) God speaks of the basket of good figs, whereby were represented the best of the people, "whom I have sent into the land of the Chaldeans for their good." What can there be seemingly more con…

Surely he means a saving knowledge: and therefore when the work of grace is expressed by knowledge, a theoretical and notional knowledge is not understood, but that which is practical and operative; such a knowledge as does work such a change both in the inward and outward man,…

There are conditions that concern making covenant, and keeping covenant. First, conditions for making covenant (Jeremiah 24:7): I will give them a heart to know me that I am the Lord. (Ezekiel 36:26): A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I bestow upon you.

In regard of a man's weakness, the well is deep and you have nothing to draw with, the work of application is spiritual and mystical, the eye is dim and your understanding shallow, not able to search into such mysteries, you cannot discern neither the way, nor the work, how will…

I will give you an heart of flesh. I will soften your Adamant hearts in my Sons blood: shew God his hand and seal: and there is another gracious promise, (Jeremiah 24:7). They shall return to me with their whole heart.

As (Ezekiel 9:4): Set a mark on them that mourn, but utterly slay all the rest; which was accomplished. (Jeremiah 24:5) The basket of good figs was preserved, but the other was for a prey to captivity, and the sword, and pestilence, and to utter extirpation from the earth. Hence…