of the capture of the city by the Chaldeans the previous year. "It may be," says the prophet, "they will present their supplication before the Lord, and will return every one from his evil way." And doubtless Jeremiah uttered many a prayer that day, for a blessing on the words of the Lord, as Baruch read them in the hearing of the people.

It seems that Baruch was reluctant to undertake this service. Jer. 45 1-5. He was a young man of learning and talent, of a distinguished family, and probably was looking for preferment, which he thought might be hindered if he offended the princes and great men at court by reading the predictions of Jeremiah. The prophet was commanded to remind him how vain would be the anticipated honors, if he obtained them by declining the task, and how valuable would be the reward of compliance. "Seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not for behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the Lord: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest." After the destruction of Jerusalem, Baruch went down into Egypt with Jeremiah; and the Jews have a tradition that he at length removed to Babylon and died there.

Baruch read the words of Jeremiah in the ears of the people. The matter was soon reported to the king, who commanded that the roll should be read in his presence. One of his attendants began

to read it, but before he had proceeded far, the king cut the roll with a penknife, and notwithstanding the remonstrances of some of his counsellors, cast it into the fire which was burning in a brasier or pan at his side. The Jews still commemorate the burning of this roll by an annual fast. The king commanded his attendants to seize Jeremiah and Baruch, "but the Lord hid them." The prophet gave Baruch another roll, and he wrote in it all that was contained in the former one, "with many

like words" in addition.

Jehoiakim was twelve years old when the Pentateuch was discovered at the temple, and could not have forgotten how his pious father on that occasion humbled himself, and wept because the people had not "kept the words of the Lord." What a contrast between the conduct of Josiah and that of his godless son. The one listens to the word of the Lord with fear and trembling; the other casts it from him with contempt and indignation. The one seeks for the Lord's messengers, that they may teach him his duty; the other, that he may quench his impious fury in their blood.

Even at this day the Bible is sometimes cast into the fire by those whose principles or practices it condemns. But let such as treat it after the manner of the apostate Hebrew monarch, ponder well his fate. "Thus saith the Lord, Thou hast burnt the roll; Therefore thus saith the Lord of Jehoia

kim king of Judah, He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David; and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost." As if this high-handed wickedness had closed the gates of mercy, no further attempt appears to have been made to check Jehoiakim in his mad career. The pages of the prophet record no more rebukes of this reckless transgressor. The prediction was in due time fulfilled, when the Chaldeans bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon," on the journey to which city he probably died. "Who hath hardened himself against the Lord and prospered?"

During the short reign of Jeconiah, who succeeded Jehoiakim and imitated his evil example, Jeremiah uttered but one prediction: that was a message of wrath; which was speedily fulfilled in the captivity of the king and his mother, who never returned from Babylon.*

*The prophecies of Jeremiah in the reign of Jehoiakim, are, according to Blaney, from the 13th to the 20th chapter inclusively, to which must be added chapters 22-26, 35, 36, 45-47, and most probably 48, and as far as to verse 34 of the 49th chapter.

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE CAPTIVITY.

EARLY in the reign of Zedekiah the Lord showed the prophet "two baskets of figs," set before the temple, such as it was customary to offer up for first-fruits. One basket had very good figs, like the figs which are first ripe. The figs in the other basket were not fit to be eaten. The one represented the Jews that were in captivity; the other, the Jews that were still left in their own country. Of the former, the Lord said, "I will set my heart on them for good, and I will bring them again to this land; and I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord; for they shall return unto me with all their heart."

Many pious Jews during their captivity enjoyed distinguished respect and honor, in consequence of their knowledge of the true God and their devotedness to his service. It was because the Lord had "set his heart on them for good," that Daniel, interpreting the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, was elevated to the highest office at the court of Babylon; and that his three friends, saved from the devouring flames, were raised to important stations in the government. It was because the Lord had "set his heart on them for good," that he wrought such

wonders in their behalf as to compel their proud conqueror to own that the gods of no other nation could be compared with the God of the Hebrews, and we may even hope to become at length his worshipper. This reverence of Jehovah, on the part of the Babylonish monarch, would lighten the yoke of the captive Jews. And it was because the Lord gave them " a heart to know" him, that, tempted as they were to renounce their religion, the exiles clung to the institutions of their law; while their brethren in Judah, proceeding from bad to worse in the service of idols, were about to be scattered abroad," a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse," among all the kingdoms of the earth.

To keep up a good understanding with Nebuchadnezzar, to whom he had sworn allegiance, Zedekiah, in the beginning of his reign, sent an embassy to Babylon. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Jeremiah addressed a letter of advice and consolation to the Jewish captives in that city. There was more need of such a friendly correspondence, as there appears to have been at that time no true prophet in Babylon, except Daniel, who was occupied with the management of public affairs. Ezekiel did not enter on the prophetic office until several years later.

The captives, deluded by a belief that they should soon return from exile, were disinclined to make provision for a permanent residence in that land.