Jeremiah 3

As the Jewish nation were espoused to God by special covenant apostasy and idolatry, or dependence on heathen allies instead of God, are often represented as whoredom, adultery, or fornication, by the prophets, 1—5 Notwithstanding ye have, under the judgments of famine, &c. multiplied your idols and idolatry, and eagerly hunted after companions in it, and opportunities of committing it, in all the corners of your land, and have impudently gone to your very uttermost in speaking and acting the most horrid abominations; yet, without a moment’s delay, return unto me as your infinitely gracious Husband and Father

Jeremiah 3:11

The sins of the ten tribes, who had been long ruined or in a miserable captivity, were far less aggravated than those of Judah, being committed against fewer warnings, mercies, judgments, vows, &c

Jeremiah 3:12-25

These predictions began to be accomplished in and after the deliverance from Babylon; but will be much more fully accomplished in the future return of the twelve tribes to Canaan, and in the glories of the Christian church; especially in the millennium, when converts shall be numerous, ministers and magistrates faithful, ceremonies laid aside, and peace, harmony, faith, and godly sorrow, prevail

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. III.—How base, eager, active, abounding, and impudent, in wickedness, apostates from God become! And, if we would seriously repent, we must take a particular view of our sins and their aggravations. Unbounded is the mercy of that God of grace with whom we have to do: he is averse to punish with severity; and opens his arms and heart to receive the most enormous transgressors, who attempt returning to him by faith. But sad is the case when God’s judgments upon our neighbours do not awaken us to detest and avoid their sins. And that, when God bestows reforming magistrates and ministers, many, who join in reformation, do but dissemble with him. Few back-sliders from God are ever recovered. And obstinacy in sin lays bars in the way of our mercies, that nothing less than uncommon stretches of mercy can remove. Earnest are Jehovah’s calls to faith and repentance; and strong and moving his gracious encouragements: and it is the assured faith of his special mercy that will most effectually produce a true and gracious repentance. Peaceful, harmonious, well governed, conspicuous, and pure, is the gospel church when every thing in her is according to God’s word. And, when his Spirit draws men to himself, deep is their sense of their guilt and folly in departing from and rebelling against him: and cordial their dependence on him, and justification of his judgments