Seventeen shekels of silver.] The shekel at this time must have been a nominal coin; it was a thing of a certain weight, or a certain worth.

Seventeen shekels was the weight of the silver paid: but it might have been in one ingot, or piece. The shekel has been valued at from two shillings and threepence to two shillings and sixpence, and even at three shillings; taking the purchase-money at a medium of the value of the shekel, it would amount only to about two pounds two shillings and sixpence. But as estates bore value only in proportion to the number of years before the jubilee, and the field in question was then in the hands of the Chaldeans, and this cousin of Jeremiah was not likely to come back to enjoy it after seventy years, (nor could he then have it, as a jubilee would intervene and restore it to the original family,) and money must now be very scarce and high in its value, the seventeen shekels might have been a sufficient sum for a field in those circumstances, and one probably not large in its dimensions.

Jer. 32:1-15 Jeremiah, being in prison for his prophecy, purchased piece of ground. This was to signify, that though Jerusalem wa besieged, and the whole country likely to be laid waste, yet the tim would come, when houses, and fields, and vineyards, should be agai possessed. It concerns ministers to make it appear that they believ what they preach to others. And it is good to manage even our worldl affairs in faith; to do common business with reference to the providence and promise of God.

Jer. 32:16-25 Jeremiah adores the Lord and his infinite perfections When at any time we are perplexed about the methods of Providence, it is good for us to look to first principles. Let us consider that God is the fountain of all being, power, and life; that with him no difficult is such as cannot be overcome; that he is a God of boundless mercy that he is a God of strict justice; and that he directs every thing for the best. Jeremiah owns that God was righteous in causing evil to com upon them. Whatever trouble we are in, personal or public, we ma comfort ourselves that the Lord sees it, and knows how to remedy it. We must not dispute God's will, but we may seek to know what it means.

Jer. 32:26-44 God's answer discovers the purposes of his wrath agains that generation of the Jews, and the purposes of his grace concernin future generations. It is sin, and nothing else, that ruins them. The restoration of Judah and Jerusalem is promised. This people were now a length brought to despair. But God gives hope of mercy which he had i store for them hereafter. Doubtless the promises are sure to all believers. God will own them for his, and he will prove himself theirs He will give them a heart to fear him. All true Christians shall have disposition to mutual love. Though they may have different views abou lesser things, they shall all be one in the great things of God; in their views of the evil of sin, and the low estate of fallen man, the way of salvation through the Saviour, the nature of true holiness, the vanity of the world, and the importance of eternal things. Whom God loves, he loves to the end. We have no reason to distrust God' faithfulness and constancy, but only our own hearts. He will settl them again in Canaan. These promises shall surely be performed Jeremiah's purchase was the pledge of many a purchase that should be made after the captivity; and those inheritances are but fain resemblances of the possessions in the heavenly Canaan, which are kep for all who have God's fear in their hearts, and do not depart from him. Let us then bear up under our trials, assured we shall obtain all the good he has promised us __________________________________________________________________

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