and still fewer believed that any more captives should be taken from Jerusalem, and again brought back.

Jeremiah did believe these things, but even his faith grew dim; and when King Zedekiah imprisoned him in the court of the palace, we may fancy his spirit was sorely cast down.

But one day the Lord told him he was to have a visitor in his prison. He told him also what the visitor wanted to say to him. The person who was to come was his cousin Hananeel, and the reason of his visit was to ask Jeremiah to buy a field that belonged to the family. The moment Jeremiah heard his cousin's request he "knew that this was the word of the Lord." And when Hananeel entreated him to buy the field at Anathoth he at once agreed, and paid the money -seventeen shekels of silver: this was about two pounds; and it seems a very small sum to pay for a field. But you must remember that among the Jews "the sale of portions of land was, correctly speaking, only the sale of harvests up to the year of jubilee; for then the property returned to the former possessor or to his heirs."

Jeremiah had a deed of settlement drawn up: he signed it in the presence of witnesses, who put their signatures to it also; and then in the presence of these witnesses, and in the presence of the Jews in the court, Jeremiah gave the evidence of the purchase to Baruch.

Another deed of settlement was drawn up. This one was not sealed, so that any one could read it; and should this be lost the other sealed-up evidence

was secure.

By the Lord's command both these writings were

put into an earthen vessel, and thus would be preserved from damp and decay for a long time: "For thus saith the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land."

Jeremiah had obeyed God in all these transactions, but he felt he needed His faith to be strengthened, and so he turns to God in prayer. Listen to his words: "Ah, Lord God! behold Thou hast made the heaven and the earth by Thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for Thee." Then he recalls the wonders God had done for His people; for He was "the Great, the Mighty God, the Lord of Hosts." Then he confesses the sin and ingratitude of his people, and acknowledges the justice of their punishment. Next, the prophet entreats the Lord to look at the mounts the Chaldeans had raised against Jerusalem; to look within the city and see its desolation; the deaths caused by the sword, the famine and the pestilence. And yet the Lord had given the strange command to buy a field in this down-trodden country. What did it mean? Would the Lord graciously let His servant understand His way?

His prayer is ended. He waits for God's answer. He had not long to wait. The Lord speaks. He takes up Jeremiah's own words, and lets his poor dejected servant see the strength and comfort there is in them-because He was "the Lord, the God of all flesh," there was "nothing too hard" for Him. So that even though the Chaldeans had destroyed the city, and carried its inhabitants into Babylon, yet from thence they should be brought back. And men should again buy fields for money, and witnesses should sign the deeds and seal them, just as had

been done by Jeremiah and his cousin Hananeel; and in the land which was now mourning and desolate, should again be heard the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, for the Lord would cause the captivity to cease.

And still more gracious promises were given. The prophet's sorrowful eyes were opened to see the distant future. Then the Lord would perform all that He had promised to the house of Israel and Judah. Then the "Branch of Righteousness would grow up unto David ;" and He would be called by the glorious name, "The Lord our Righteousness." And as if to make the promise doubly sure, yet a second time the Lord's word came to Jeremiah. This time he is asked a question: "Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the Lord hath chosen, He hath even cast them off?" So they spoke in their scorn and unbelief. But here is Jehovah's answer: "Thus saith the Lord, If My covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth; then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David My servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them." Amen, and Amen.

(Read Jer. xxxii. 6-27, 42-44; xxxiii. 14-26.)

21. THE RELEASE OF THE HIRED SERVANTS.

There was a law given by the Lord to Moses in the wilderness which seems strange to us. At the end of every sixth year each Hebrew servant, if he

wished it, might leave his master and return to his father's house. He was not to be sent empty-handed home; but he was to be furnished "liberally" with a present from the flock, from the threshing-floor, and from the wine-press. And the promise to the masters who did so was sure: The Lord would bless them in all that they did."

This law had not been observed of late years in the land of Judah; but when Nebuchadnezzar's army surrounded Jerusalem, Zedekiah and his people became afraid. They considered their ways; they saw how many of God's laws they had disobeyed; and they determined to enter into a new covenant with the Lord their God. They confirmed their oath in the most solemn manner. They slew a calf and divided it. Then laying some of the pieces on one side, and some on the other, they passed between the pieces and repeated their oath before God. Then they proclaimed liberty to their servants, both their men and women servants, and let them go free. How gladly they went to their old homes rejoicing in their liberty! But the poor servants did not long enjoy their freedom. The princes and people soon changed their minds. It seemed hard to lose their servants; they could not get on without them. So they sent after them, and caused them to return, bringing them again into subjection. But the Lord who in after ages sent His Son "to proclaim liberty to the captives," pitied these poor oppressed men and women. He sent Jeremiah to King Zedekiah and to the princes to tell them the punishment coming upon them for having broken faith with their servants and with their God.

A liberty was to be proclaimed for themselves,

but what a liberty it was to be! Liberty to the sword, the pestilence and the famine to consume them-liberty to wander, foot-sore and weary, in every distant land; for they were to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth; and the bodies of those princes and priests who had sworn, as they passed between the parts of the calf, were to be cast out, and become "meat for the fowls of heaven and for the beasts of the earth." And as for King Zede

kiah, he should fall into the

hands of the King of

the Chaldeans, and by him be carried to Babylon.

Then he was to die in peace, and to be honoured with a royal burial; for so had the Lord "pronounced the word."

(Read Jer. xxxiv. 5-22; Exodus xxi. 2.)

22. JEREMIAH'S IMPRISONMENT.

Zedekiah had not been long seated on the throne when he rebelled against the King of Babylon, and refused to pay tribute. To bring him again into subjection the Chaldeans invaded the land, and laid siege to Jerusalem. There was at this time a powerful king in Egypt: his name was Pharaoh Hophra. The Jews sent to him entreating for help against the King of Babylon. Pharaoh was not unwilling, for he feared that the Chaldeans would not be content with invading Judea, but would soon cast longing eyes on the rich corn lands of Egypt; so Hophra determined to go up against the Chaldeans. They, when they found themselves beset by a new enemy, raised the siege of Jerusalem, and turned to meet the Egyptians. Hope immediately sprang up