The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-05-08
JEREMIAH, THE SENSITIVE CHILD.

During the times Of Josiah's successors,
Jeremiah passed through severe trials
His ellow-citizens of Anathoth sought
his life; in Jerusalem the people laid
devices against him; Pashur, the priest
and governor of the Lords house, smote
him and imprisoned him; and all because
he had delivered Gods messages, He
keeply felt the injustice of such treatment,
and in prison despair overcame him, and
he complained: then faith triumphed, and
he praised God: then again his shrinking
spirit gave way, and he, like Job, cursed
the day of his birth. (See Goth chapter
He was imprisoned in the reign of Je-
hoiakim, and his life threatened; yet the
shrinking youth boldly faced his captors,
and called upon them to amend their
ways. 'i8 .gn,taaI .'sj ci ieb'Inp 4" i.na
During the next reign, that of Jehoia-
chin, he saw the first captivity, when
Mordecai the Jew, and Ezekiel the pro-
phet, and the royal youths, among whom
were Daniel and the three Hebrew Chill:
dfen, were carried away e Babylon, r
is most probable that all of these pious
I persons had seen and heard jeremiah !;
and they may all have been personally
known to him, and associated with him,
in an age when piety was so rare.
| Wecan notnow follow jeremiah through
all the scourgings, and imprisonments,
and maltreatment, that he suffered under
these kings, and especially under Zede-
kiah, the last one. In many of these
trials he had the sympathy of his faithful
friend Baruch; and he was sustained by
the grace of God. During these latter
times of the kingdom, that which hissen-
sitive nature felt most keenly, was the
charge of being traitor to his country.
He advised, speaking by divine authority,
to bow the neck to Babylon. He urged
the nation to yield at once to the doom
assigned by their offended God, thatthey
might be the sooner prepared for liberty
and restoration. But such advice seemed
unpatriotic, and indeed treacherous. For
the nation was struggling for existence;
they were resisting powerful invader
who had brought destruction to theirvery
gates. The feeble defenders of the ma
tional capital needed every encourage
ment to nerve them to deeds of valor.
But here is the prophet in her midst, not
now beardless youth, but a man of SOL
emn visage and care-worn countenance,
proclaiming that the besieged city shall
be taken, and that they who escape to the
Chaldeans shall save their lives. History
gives no sublimer example of moral hero
ism than that of Jeremiah at this time.
To deliver his messages was not only to
risk his life, but, what was more to him,
also to sacrifice his reputation. He ap-
peared to be on the side of the enemies
of his country. Hemust be looked upon
by his own friends, his people whom he
loved, as bribed traitor within their
walls. And no one ever felt more keenly
such as a reproach, than this prophet Of
tender susceptibilities. And Yet at the
call of duty, duty to God, and duty to
his country, he speaks the truth, risking
life, and bringing upon himself certain
disgrace ooA 40 "'ieT TiH
jeremiah lived through these troubles
to see the city taken and destroyed, the
magnificent temple burned and broken
down, and the people carried away to
Babylon. He was left with the few poor
of the land who were beneath the notice
of the plunderer. And here the sorrow
ing man, it would seem, is in his element.
He was denied lodge in the wilderness
apart from his people; but now he can
60 and drop tear upon the ashes of the
fallen temple, and can sit alone upon the
crumbling ruins of the walls, and look
over the dissolution of the city. There
he uttered those sad Lamentations, that
God has perpetuated in his word, that the
grief of other hearts might find fit express
sion, as they weep over the low estate Of
the church. "How doth the city sit sol.
itary that. was full of people! She weep.
eth sore in the night, and her tears are
on her cheeks. The ways of Zion dc
mourn, because none come to the solemn
feasts: all her gates are desolate; bel
priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and
she is in bitterness" " '' s.s'lz4-
The sad pleasure that the prophe
found in bewailing the fate Of Jerusalem