Jeremiah 2:22 - Homilies By S. Conway

The sinner's attempt to wash away his sin.

I. WHEREFORE HE MAKES THE ATTEMPT . Sometimes it is that

II. THE MANNER IN WHICH HE PROCEEDS .

1. He partially abandons known sin, as Pharaoh, Nineveh, Israel. at time of Josiah's reformation, Herod.

2. Multiplies religious services.

3. Is ready with good resolves.

4. There is some stir of religious feeling. Tears are shed, the emotional nature is excited, and there is some temporary tenderness of conscience. Added to all this there may be:

5. Self-inflicted punishments, bodily mortifications. Such is the washing with nitre and the taking of much soap which the prophet describes.

III. ITS USELESSNESS . The stain of the iniquity is there still ( Jeremiah 2:22 ). How powerfully is this confessed in the great tragedy of ' Macbeth'! After his dread crime, the conscience-stricken wretch thus speaks—

"How is't with me, when every noise appals me?

What hands are here? Ha! they pluck out mine eyes!

Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood

Clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather

The multitudinous seas incarnadine,

Making the green—one red."

IV. THE TRUE CLEANSING WHICH IT SUGGESTS AND INVITES US TO . Isaiah 1:18 , "Come now, and let us reason together," etc.—C.