might think.
It must be recollected, too, that religious obedience was under the
Jewish covenant awarded with temporal prosperity. There seemed, then,
every reason for Jeremiah at first to suppose that bright fortunes were
in store for the Church. Josiah was the very king whose birth was
foretold by name above three hundred years before, when Jeroboam
established idolatry; who was the promised avenger of God's covenant,
"the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in[5]."
Israel (the ten tribes) having gone into captivity, schism had come to
its end; the kings of the house of David again ruled over the whole
extent of the promised land; idolatry was destroyed by Josiah in all the
cities. Such were the present blessings which the Jewish remnant
enjoyed. At first sight, then, it seemed reasonable to anticipate
further and permanent improvement. Every one begins with being sanguine;
doubtless then, as now, many labourers in God's husbandry entered on
their office with more lively hopes than their after fortunes warranted.
Whether or not, however, such hope of success encouraged Jeremiah's first
exertions, very soon, in his case, this cheerful prospect was overcast,
and he was left to labour in the dark. Huldah's message to the king, on
his finding the Book of the Law in the temple, fixed the coming fortunes
of Judah. Huldah foretold a woe,--an early removal of the good Josiah to
his rest as a mercy to him, and to the nation, who were unworthy of him,
a fierce destruction. This prophecy was delivered five years after
Jeremiah entered upon his office; he ministered in all forty years before
the captivity, so early in his course were his hopes cut away.

But even though Huldah's message be supposed not to reach him, still he
was doubtless soon undeceived as to any hopes he might entertain,
whether, by the express Word of God informing him, or by the actual
hardened state of sin in which the nation lay. Soon, surely, were his
hopes destroyed, and his mind sobered into a more blessed and noble
temper,--resignation.

I call resignation a more blessed frame of mind than sanguine hope of
present success, because it is the truer, and the more consistent with
our fallen state of being, and the more improving to our hearts; and
because it is that for which the most eminent servants of God have been
conspicuous. To expect great effects from our exertions for religious
objects is natural indeed, and innocent,