Old cast clouts, and old rotten rags] The fact seems to be this: there were several garments that had been used, and would not be used again; and there were others which, through continuing long there, had by insects, &c., been rendered useless. These he took, tied to the cord, let down to the prophet, that he might roll them round the ropes, and place them under his arm-pits, so that in being hauled up he might not suffer injury from the ropes, which in this case must sustain the whole weight of his body.

Jer. 38:1-13 Jeremiah went on in his plain preaching. The princes wen on in their malice. It is common for wicked people to look upon God' faithful ministers as enemies, because they show what enemies the wicked are to themselves while impenitent. Jeremiah was put into dungeon. Many of God's faithful witnesses have been privately made awa in prisons. Ebed-melech was an Ethiopian; yet he spoke to the kin faithfully, These men have done ill in all they have done to Jeremiah See how God can raise up friends for his people in distress. Order were given for the prophet's release, and Ebed-melech saw him drawn up Let this encourage us to appear boldly for God. Special notice is take of his tenderness for Jeremiah. What do we behold in the differen characters then, but the same we behold in the different character now, that the Lord's children are conformed to his example, and the children of Satan to their master?

Jer. 38:14-28 Jeremiah was not forward to repeat the warnings, whic seemed only to endanger his own life, and to add to the king's guilt but asked whether he feared to do the will of God. The less men fea God, the more they fear men; often they dare not act according to their own judgments and consciences __________________________________________________________________

Original Hebrew