Jeremiah 3

The plow goes before the seed be sown; the heart must be plowed up by humiliation and repentance, before God sows the seed of assurance. 2. He who has a real assurance, will take heed of that which will weaken and darken his assurance; he is fearful of the forbidden fruit; he kn…

In this covenant of grace we may see the cream of God's love, and the working of his bowels to sinners. This is a marriage-covenant (Jeremiah 3:14): I am married to you, says the Lord. In the new covenant God makes himself over to us, and what can he give more?

Response: God will not go from his promise. Jeremiah 3:12: Return, you backsliding Israel, says the Lord, and I will not cause my anger to fall upon you, for I am merciful. If your sins are as rocks, yet upon your repentance the sea of God's mercy can drown these rocks.

A pirate or rebel that knows there is a proclamation out against him, will never come in, but if he hears that the prince is full of clemency, and there is a proclamation of pardon to him if he submit, this will be a great incentive to him to lay down his arms, and become loyal…

Yes, and for such does God give gifts — 'the tongue of the learned.' God often gives a pastor after his own heart for a few: 'Take one of a city and two of a family, and I will give them pastors after my own heart' (Jeremiah 3:15). So even by Christ himself, as he says in Luke 4…

And Paul, I give thanks to my God, etc. And God's promise is, Jeremiah 3:19. You shall call me my father. The meaning of Christ is not to bind us to these words, but to teach us that in our prayers we must not have regard to ourselves only, but also to our brethren, and therefor…

Thus we see what the Father is. Now to believe in the Father, is to be persuaded, that the first person in Trinity, is the Father of Christ, and in him my Father particularly (Jeremiah 3:4, 19; Matthew 6:4), and that for this cause I intend and desire forever to put my trust in…

First of all, by this purgatory we understand the afflictions of God's children here on earth. Jeremiah 3: The people afflicted say, you have sent a fire into our bones. Psalm 66:12: We have gone through water and fire.

Query 1. If this be so, how is it that Christ put such a favorable construction upon the disciples' sleeping a third time when he had as often reproved them for it — Matthew 26:40-41? And how is it that we find in Scripture so many promises made not only to first sins but also t…

2. It serves to refute something in people's practice, and that is, their little sense of the need of grace; most part come and hear preaching as if they had the habit of faith, and as if it were natural to them, and pretend to the exercise of faith, never once suspecting their…

It is true, pride, covetousness, or some particular sins may come to the throne by turns, as either complexion, strength of corrupt nature, or times bear sway; for as Satan is not divided against Satan, so not any natural man will be a martyr for a false god, or a predominant lu…

And the grace of our Lord (says he) was more, or over-abundant in me through faith and love. (Jeremiah 3:1) And you have played the harlot with many companions, or lovers, yet return to me, says the Lord. It is here, as if Christ's rich grace and our extreme wickedness should st…

And this is a wanton eye, for a man may behold it with a wanton eye, either when he prides himself in it, or is induced thereby to licentiousness, and is glad of the occasion, and will say, if such and such men take such liberty, then they hope they may take the same liberty as…

Now there is a certain covenant between God and his people in all these; that look what a king requires of his people, or the people of a king, the very same does God require of his people, and the people of God, that offers himself to be a God to his people; that is, a governor…

Barbarous, as the eastern part of Arabia, toward Babylon. For the inhabitants dwelt in tents, and lived like wild and savage men, by robbing, and stealing, and consequently by killing (Isaiah 13:20; Jeremiah 3:2). Here we see Pauls estate and condition, when he first begins the…

Third, this repentance that has been described, is indeed the special condition of remission of sin. This seems very evident by the Scripture, as particularly, Mark 1:4: John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance, for the remission of sins. So, Luke…

Here is enough, not only to moves, but overwhelm my heart. May I not from this time cry unto you, my Father, you art the guide of my youth, Jeremiah 3:4 What a critical time is the time of youth? it's the moulding age; and (ordinarily) according to the course of those leading Pr…

Well then, if Providence has so disposed of you all, that you can eat your own bread, and so advantagiously directed some of you to imployments, that afford not only necessaries for your selves and families, but an overplus for works of mercy to others, and all this brought abou…

The Renuntiation of any hopes in expectation of deliverance either from sin or trouble, any other way; hope in Jehovah; this is frequently expressed, where the performance of this duty is mentioned; see Hosea 14:3. Jeremiah 3:22, 23. And we have declared the nature of it in the…

Or, 2. this word may be derived from Salem, which properly taken, is Jerusalem (Psalm 76:1) and (Hebrews 7:1) Melchisedec was king of Salem, which signifies peace, and so, as Shunamitish comes from Shunem, so Shulamite from Salem, and so taking the derivation thus, it comes to t…

3. What is the scope of these allegories, in other Scriptures, as that of Psalm 45, that of planting a vineyard (Matthew 21), that of marriage (Matthew 22), (which none can deny) is meant of espousing spiritually. (See this same allegory of marriage, Jeremiah 3, Hosea 2-3, Ezeki…

2. If the same allegories in other places of Scripture, will bear solid doctrines concerning Christ, his covenant, faith, etc. even such as are in plain Scriptures; then must this Song do the like, seeing it is the word of God, tending to the same scope with these. But it is cle…

7. God does expect, that London should mourn for her sins. We read (Jeremiah 3:21), A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the house of Israel. When the terrible voice of God's judgements has been heard in London, God does hearken for the voice of w…

The Lord hates putting away (Malachi 2:16). Though therefore the Church, through her weakness, does depart from him, and play the harlot, yet return again to me, says the Lord (Jeremiah 3:1). Learn we by this pattern to cleave close to the Lord, which is a duty most due to Chris…

6. The continuance of Christ's love was without date: Having loved his own, he loved them to the end. His love was constant (not by fits, now loving, then hating) and everlasting (never repenting thereof, never changing or altering his mind) — no provocations, no transgressions…

The [illegible] that accompanies the voice of God. Jeremiah 3:26, 27, 28, 29. The rejection of a plea of [illegible], wherein it consists.

Though profane men make no reckoning of it, yet were it in the hardest times, they that know the Lord will account of it as he does, a sweet alloy of all sufferings and hardship; though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not your tea…

See how God casts up his accounts. It is mercy (Jeremiah 3:12): I am merciful, says the Lord, and I will not keep anger forever. So his truth (Psalm 106:45): He remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.

A man is not to turn the back upon him, but call him Father, as well as he can. (Jeremiah 3:19) But I said, How shall I put you among the children, and give you a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? And I said, You shall call me my Father, and shall not tur…

So the Lord treats his people. (Jeremiah 3:5-6) You have said, you are my Father: Behold, you have spoken and done evil things as you could. God takes it to be a contempt and reproach to himself, when we do evil, yet come and call him Father.

The soul cannot keep away from God, and that is an implicit owning him as a Father. (Jeremiah 3:19), You will call me, My Father, and will not turn away from me. It is a child-like act to look to him for all our supplies, and to recommend our suit: as when a child wants anything…

What King will be in league with him that holds correspondence with his Enemy? 2. Labor for Faith; 1. Faith in the Mercy of God, Jeremiah 3:12. I am merciful, says the Lord, and will not keep anger for ever.

First, I say, not only infirmities do not, but the greatest sins cannot make a breach of Covenant between God and the soul that is once really (not rationally) wrapped up in the Covenant of grace. Indeed gross scandalous sins, nay infirmities, when they are given way to, and not…

God's justice is satisfied by Christ, but it must be glorified and owned by us. So (Jeremiah 3:13) I am merciful, says the Lord: only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against the Lord your God. God has mercy enough to pardon all; only he will have it sued ou…

1. What does this imply? It implies sincerity and integrity; for it is not to be taken in the legal sense with respect to absolute perfection, but in opposition to deceit (Jeremiah 3:10). Judah has not turned to me with her whole heart, but feignedly, says the Lord.

Therefore, 1. Commit yourselves to the care of his grace; a man is to choose God for a guide as well as to take him for a Lord, to ask his counsel as well as submit to his commandments (Jeremiah 3:4): Will you not from this time cry to me, My father, you are the guide of my yout…

Erubuit, salva res est. By how much less they are ashamed now, the more they shall be; their shamelessness will increase their shame (Jeremiah 3:3). You had a whore's forehead, you refused to be ashamed.

2. It is a great motive to repentance. As the prodigal thought of his father, so should we return; (Jeremiah 3:12) Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, backsliding Israel, says the Lord, and I will not cause my anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful…

7 And lastly, it is evident that sin has blinded man, that he can be content to be led, though but by a dog: Inter Caecos Inscus regnare potest, A half-eyed man may reign among the blind: Would a man be led by a dog if he were not blind? He would scorn it: Our Saviour tells us,…

'Tis indeed his goodness that he will admit us to repent, but that he will call and lead to repentance is goodness much more. And, oh, what goodness is it that he puts us to no greater penance than repentance (Jeremiah 3:13)! God might have said, you shall lie in Hell so many th…

[illegible] to have a thing, and crossness of spirit to resist that which brings it, cannot stand together; and in this sense it is you shall find the saints pray so earnestly, and affectionately for the keeping away of shame sometimes (Psalm 119), Turn from me rebuke and shame;…

He never casts off any that come to him, therefore it is your fault only which casts off mercy. If yet the sinner stand murmuring; behold yet further: He has not only sufficiency and enough to do you good, but freely and frankly offers [reconstructed: it] to all that will have i…

Either all, or none at all; not cut, but cut off; the soul is not only changed from her lusts, but divorced fully. In (Jeremiah 3:10) it is said they turned not to the Lord with all their hearts but feignedly; there is some secret lust reserved in the heart that is the bane of a…

O its a blessed thing to be (as Job says he was,) eyes to the blinde, much more to blinde souls; such are the Ministers. God himself calls Pastours after his own heart, that feed his people with knowledge and understanding, Jeremiah 3:15. But wo to those that are accessary to th…

But he is, to speak so, more than a God to others (Hosea 2:19): I will betroth you to me forever, indeed I will betroth you to me in righteousness, in judgment, and in loving kindness, and in mercy. Now the Lord is joined to backsliding Israel, in an external marriage covenant:…

In the first Covenant no surety was allowed, under the Covenant of Grace, if we do but confess the debt, Christ will be our Surety. What way could be thought of more ready and facile for the salvation of man, than an humble confession? (Jeremiah 3:13). Only acknowledge your iniq…

And know assuredly, that upon your Compliance or non-Compliance with them, depends your everlasting Blessedness or Woe. Consider both Call and Promise in that Word of Gods Grace, Jer. 3:12, 13, 14. Go and proclaim these Words towards the North, and say, Return you Backsliding Is…

For the wicked nature of man can dissemble and counterfeit God's grace. As the Lord complains of the Jews: her rebellious sister Judah has not returned to me with her whole heart, but feignedly, says the Lord (Jeremiah 3:10). Counterfeit repentance is either ceremonial or desper…

If this could have hindered, Judah should never have received mercy; but the text says, I have seen his ways, and will heal him. You have played the harlot with many lovers, yet turn again to me, says the Lord (Jeremiah 3:1). There is no time past if a man has but a heart to ret…

Then rebuking of Ephraim, which is called speaking against him, is dipped in mercy (Hosea 11:7): My people are bent to backsliding — this is a rebuke sharp enough — yet he chides himself friends with the people (verse 8): How shall I give you up, O Ephraim, my heart is turned wi…