Jeremiah 6

But surely the death of one out of many, is much more tolerable than of all in one. Hence it is noted in Scripture as the greatest of earthly sorrows (Jeremiah 6:26), O daughter of my people gird yourself with sackcloth, and wallow yourself in ashes. Make mourning as for an only…

That is, I will spread the net of my judgements over them, and they shall be taken in the Net. 4. Covetousness. Jer 6. 12. I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the Land, for from the least of them, even to the greatest, every one is given to Covetousness. When men…

3. And how the Lord corrects, is worthy to be known. He corrects Jacob in measure (Jeremiah 6:28). Mercy wrapped about the rod, and a cup of gall and wormwood honeyed, and oiled with free love, and a piece of Christ's heart, and his stirred bowels mixed in with the cup, is a mer…

Christians (Acts 11:26). Some who have hardened their heart, are called men, but something more, reprobate (Jeremiah 6:28, 30). Seed of the Serpent (Genesis 3:15).

And because that may be more proper to corrupt teachers, Jeremiah speaks it of all the sons of nature, and those especially that had lived a while under the means, and were not thereby brought on to an estate of grace, those whom God had kindled some fire in their hearts, and wh…

This imitation of others, is to be limited with that necessary caution, in so far as the practice of others agrees with the first pattern, Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). In a word, this direction shows there is no way, but the good old way to be asked for, and followed in the most…

How universally has this sin reigned in the City? So that it may almost be said of London, as it was of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 6:13), From the least of them even to the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness. Those who have been free from gluttony, drunkenness, adulter…

Many persons are thus given over; as incorrigible and hopeless (Revelation 22:11). "Let him that is filthy, be filthy still." Jeremiah 6:29: "Reprobate silver shall men call them, for the Lord has rejected them." Isaiah 6: "Go make the heart of this people fat, their ears dull,…

Those also speak against the Scriptures, who profanely jest with them, and that they may the more securely rebel against Scripture laws, make themselves and their idle companions merry with the Scripture language. The word of the Lord is to them a reproach, as the prophet compla…

See Isai. 1. 5. Hosea 4:14. Jeremiah 6:29, 30, Hebrews 6:8. THE POEM.

(3) We speak peace to ourselves, when we do it slightly. This the prophet complains of in some teachers (Jeremiah 6:14): They have healed the wound of the daughter of my people slightly. And it is so with some persons, they make the healing of their wounds a slight work, a look,…

But men must be gold and silver in the bottom, or else refining will do them no good. The prophet gives us the sad issue of wicked men's utmost attempts for mortification, by what means soever that God affords them (Jeremiah 6:29, 30): The bellows are burnt, and the lead is cons…

And certainly, as to the wicked, it is a very great temptation, judicially inflicted, disposed of to them by God's judgment, they are plagued by worldly felicity; and it is part of their curse, that they shall be written in the earth (Jeremiah 17:13). And suitable to this purpos…

All religions aim at this, Ut anima sit subjecta Deo, & peccata in se; no true peace without the Word, nor no true holiness. The first is proved (Jeremiah 6:16): "Thus says the Lord, Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, a…

Because there are different ways propounded to man, therefore he must follow all, or take up one upon evidence. Not only in point of practice, as life and death is set before us (Deuteronomy 30:15), and the broad way and the narrow (Matthew 7:13-14); not only to counterwork the…

USE 2. If covetousness be the great hindrance from keeping God's testimonies, then let us examine ourselves, are we guilty of it? Doting upon the creature, and an inordinate affection to sensible things, is a natural, an hereditary disease, more general than we are aware of (Jer…

Principles must be fixed, before they can be improved, and we can feel their influence and power: but people will be making essays, and try this, and try that. God's grounds of comfort are immutably fixed; God will not change his gospel-laws for your sake: and therefore unless w…

3. With respect to the tendency and issues of things; and so it notes fore-consideration, or deliberation in order to choice. God bids his people stand upon the ways and see, and inquire after the old paths, which is the good way, and walk therein (Jeremiah 6:16). As travelers w…

1. Thoughts — they are liable to God's tribunal, which can be arraigned before no other bar, yet the Word does find them out. It does not only discover the evil of them (Hebrews 4:12): The word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to…

Wealth cannot allay a grieved mind, nor appease a wounded conscience. The Word directs us where we may find rest for our souls (Jeremiah 6:16): Go, ask for the good old way, and you shall find rest for your souls. We lose ourselves in a maze of uncertainties till we come to the…

Here pity is unseasonable and greatest cruelty. When out of [illegible] we are afraid to put men to pain, we increase their pains and hasten their destruction (Jeremiah 6:14): "they have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly." The Apostle teaches another way…

God puts us sometimes under the black rod; but it is virga disciplinaris, a rod of discipline; Hear you the rod, and who has appointed it. God makes our adversity, our university: Affliction is a preacher; Blow the trumpet in Tekoah (Jeremiah 6:1). The trumpet was to preach to t…

Meekness and zeal may stand together. In matters of religion a Christian must be clothed with the spirit of Elijah, and be full of the fury of the Lord (Jeremiah 6:11). Christ was meek (Matthew 11:29), yet zealous (John 2:14-15): The zeal of your house has eaten me up.

In a race there is the way or path to run in; so in Christianity there is the pathway in which we must run (Psalm 119:32): I will run the way of your commandments. This is a good old way (Jeremiah 6:16); it is as good as it is old. The way of sanctification and obedience is the…

While we are waiting, let us take heed of wavering. Go not a step out of God's way, though a lion be in the way, avoid not duty to meet with safety: keep God's highway, the good old way (Jeremiah 6:16), the way which is paved with holiness (Isaiah 35:8), and a highway shall be t…

The unjust knows no shame. It is a great shame not to be ashamed; the Lord sets it as a brand upon the Jews, (Jeremiah 6:15). Were they ashamed when they committed abomination; nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush .

'Why should you be stricken any more? You will revolt more and more' (Isaiah 1:5). And to keep to our metaphor, consult Jeremiah 6:29: God had put that incorrigible people into the furnace of affliction, and kept them long in that fire; and what was the issue? The prophet says,…

And therefore, if they were fair, why would they not allow it in spiritual things? and much more in them, agreeably to the vastly greater importance, and more affecting nature of spiritual things, and the concern which true religion causes in men's minds for the good of others,…

The captivity continued just long enough, for that perverse generation to waste away and die in their captivity; at least those of them that were adult persons, when carried captive. The old generation, and heads of families, were exceeding obstinate, and would not hearken to th…

To the dung or garbage, the poison, sting, excrement, vomit of these filthy creatures; to a root of bitterness which defiles many (Hebrews 12:15); to thorns and briers, which bring forth no other fruits but [reconstructed: curses] (Hebrews 6:8). To the excrement of metals, dross…

Offerings and sacrifices in themselves were holy things, but yet to them says the Lord, to a revolting and disobedient people, they shall be as the bread of mourners, that is unclean (Hosea 9:4), and the Prophet elsewhere intimates the reason, I hate, I despise your feast days,…