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…

Now when God offers to us his presence, his gracious blessing, sanctifying, and saving presence, and that in and by promises which shall never fail, what unspeakable guilt must we needs contract upon our own souls, if we neglect or despise the tenders of such grace? But because…

Q. Do you mean then that a true believer can never totally nor finally fall away, but shall persevere in grace to the end? A. Yes, I mean so indeed; this perseverance of believers in the state of grace being plainly and plenteously taught in the holy Scriptures (1 Peter 1:5; Luk…

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…

Sixtly, for that they being elected, can in no wise perish, for the counsel of the Lord shall stand for ever (Psalm 33:11). And he loveth them with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 3:4). Though a Mother should forget her Child, yet he will not forget them, for he has graven them up…

This is that change which alone does or can evidence the other internal changes of the mind, will and affections to be real and sincere (Proverbs 28:13). Whatever without this is pretended, is false and hypocritical; like the repentance of Judah, not with the whole heart but fei…

The Scriptures give us a contrary assertion to this of our brethren here; for they tell us, that to deny the children of the church, to have any part in the Lord, has a strong tendency in it, to make them cease from fearing the Lord, or to harden their hearts from his fear (Josh…

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…

The Scriptures do everywhere imply and signify this answerable act of the creature to the call of God: God says, Seek you my face and the soul like a quick echo, Your face Lord will I seek (Psalm 27:8). So (Jeremiah 3:22), Return you backsliding children, and I will heal you; an…

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…

Have you been made to see your perishing condition, by reason of sin and wrath lying upon you? Can you remember how the Lord has made you bemoan yourself to him with Ephraim (Jeremiah 3:18-19)? To renounce all false props and confidences with Paul (Philippians 3)?

The two idolatrous cities, Samaria and Jerusalem are compared to two adulterous women, Aholah, and Aholibah. They have committed adultery with stocks and stones (Jeremiah 3:9), that is, because they made them media Cultus. Hence Rome is called the Mother of Harlots (Revelation 1…

And therefore assemblies united by covenant to observe this doctrine may be true churches, when the assemblies of Papists and others may be false, although they also were combined by covenant: the reason of the difference rising from the difference that is in the doctrine and re…

Certainly this notes that God aimed at more by the land of Canaan than merely to possess them of so much ground. Further, yet there are divers titles that are given to this land; it is called a holy land in (Zechariah 2:12), and it is called a good land in (Numbers 14:7), that w…

If we well consider the prayers that we find recorded in the Book of Psalms, I believe we shall see reason to think, that a very great, if not the greater part of them, are prayers uttered, either in the name of Christ, or in the name of the Church, for such a mercy: and undoubt…

And though, if the words are thus understood, we must suppose an ellipsis in the text, something understood that is not expressed, as if it had been said, Those of other cities shall say, I will go also — yet this is not difficult to be supposed; such ellipses are very common in…

Jeremiah 23, having threatened them that they feed not the people, he says after, [I will gather the rest of my sheep out of all the land whither I had driven them, and I will bring them back to their sheepcots, where they shall multiply and increase, and I will set over them Pa…

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…

But now, a man that has presumptuous persuasions of his own goodness — his persuasions will make him more bold, and more adventurous to run into sin; he will make no bones of sin, and he cares not for falling into one sin today, and another sin tomorrow, and committing wickednes…

[in non-Latin alphabet] from [in non-Latin alphabet], is properly desiderium, desire; but is no where used in the Scripture, but for a thing, or person desired, or desirable, loved, valued, or valuable: as is [in non-Latin alphabet] also. Daniel 9:23, chapter 10:11, chapter 11:8…

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…

This is the usefulness of the word of God (2 Timothy 3:15), the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise to salvation. They that have them not must needs die without knowledge, it is the main design of the means to point us to this; God gives pastors to feed men with kno…

I brought you out of Egypt, and yet he will not tell the millions of the Heathen Christ died for them, and saved them from the guilt of sin and everlasting wrath, as touching their everlasting destruction? which love yet he expressed not to them. Though it ill becomes us to cens…

Whereas, to sinful sovereigns, power is a law many take by violence, fields and houses, because its in the power of their hands to do it (Micah 2); the law of the Lion and the great Fish, to devour the Lamb and swallow the lesser Fish, is only power and strength. Satan and his n…

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.