It is impossible to read the continued perseverance of the mournful Prophet, and to hear the sad subject of the peoples neglect of his preaching, but with much exercise and pain of the mind. Reader! is not the same part acted over again, against faithful ministers of the Lord, in the present hour? Are there not thousands who reject the counsel of God against their own souls, and both neglect and despise the Preacher, and his word, as much as those of old? What can be an higher proof of the fall of men? What afford a greater testimony of the ascendency of Satan in the human mind by nature?
Jeremiah 26:1-7
1 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying,
2 Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:
3 If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.
4 And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,
5 To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened;
6 Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.
7 So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.