The first fruits of his increase] They were as wholly the Lord's, as the first fruits were the property of the priests according to the law Num. xviii. 13. These the priests alone had a right to devote to their own use.

All that devour him shall offend] As they were betrothed to the Lord, they were considered his especial property; they therefore who injured them were considered as laying violent hands on the property of God.

They who persecute God's children have a grievous burden to bear, an awful account to give.

Jer. 2:1-8 Those who begin well, but do not persevere, will justly be upbraided with their hopeful and promising beginnings. Those who deser religion, commonly oppose it more than those who never knew it. For this they could have no excuse. God's spiritual Israel must own their obligations to him for safe conduct through the wilderness of thi world, so dangerous to the soul. Alas, that many, who once appeare devoted to the Lord, so live that their professions aggravate their crimes! Let us be careful that we do not lose in zeal and fervency, a we gain knowledge.

Jer. 2:9-13 Before God punishes sinners, he pleads with them, to brin them to repentance. He pleads with us, what we should plead with ourselves. Be afraid to think of the wrath and curse which will be the portion of those who throw themselves out of God's grace and favour Grace in Christ is compared to water from a fountain, it being coolin and refreshing, cleansing and making fruitful: to living water, becaus it quickens dead sinners, revives drooping saints, supports an maintains spiritual life, and issues in eternal life, and i ever-flowing. To forsake this Fountain is the first evil; this is don when the people of God neglect his word and ordinances. They hewed the out broken cisterns, that could hold no water. Such are the world, an the things in it; such are the inventions of men when followed an depended on. Let us, with purpose of heart, cleave to the Lord only whither else shall we go? How prone are we to forego the consolation of the Holy Spirit, for the worthless joys of the enthusiast an hypocrite!

Jer. 2:14-19 Is Israel a servant? No, they are the seed of Abraham. We may apply this spiritually: Is the soul of man a slave? No, it is not but has sold its own liberty, and enslaved itself to divers lusts an passions. The Assyrian princes, like lions, prevailed against Israel People from Egypt destroyed their glory and strength. They brough these calamities on themselves by departing from the Lord. The use an application of this is, Repent of thy sin, that thy correction may no be thy ruin. What has a Christian to do in the ways of forbidde pleasure or vain sinful mirth, or with the pursuits of covetousness an ambition?

Jer. 2:20-28 Notwithstanding all their advantages, Israel had becom like the wild vine that bears poisonous fruit. Men are often as muc under the power of their unbridled desires and their sinful lusts, a the brute beasts. But the Lord here warns them not to weary themselve in pursuits which could only bring distress and misery. As we must no despair of the mercy of God, but believe that to be sufficient for the pardon of our sins, so neither must we despair of the grace of God, but believe that it is able to subdue our corruptions, though ever s strong.

Jer. 2:29-37 The nation had not been wrought upon by the judgements of God, but sought to justify themselves. The world is, to those who make it their home and their portion, a wilderness and a land of darkness but those who dwell in God, have the lines fallen to them in pleasan places. Here is the language of presumptuous sinners. The Jews had lon thrown off serious thoughts of God. How many days of our lives pas without suitable remembrance of him! The Lord was displeased with their confidences, and would not prosper them therein. Men employ all their ingenuity, but cannot find happiness in the way of sin, or excuse for it. They may shift from one sin to another, but none ever hardene himself against God, or turned from him, and prospered __________________________________________________________________

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