The people are consistently unstable ; easily excited
against the prophet (verse 8), amenable to lawful
authority (verse 12), responsive to a manly appeal
from the prophet's own lips (verse 16), but re-
lapsing, with fatal facility, into the bull-dog showing
his teeth (verse 24). Jeremiah himself is worthy of
all admiration. He exhibits the most perfect self-
control, pleads his commission, urges on the people
the necessity for repentance, and is apparently much
more anxious -e-about their salvation than about his
own. " But as for me, behold, I am in your hands ;
do to me as ye think well and fair. Only ye must
certainly understand that, if ye kill me, ye will bring
innocent blood upon yourselves, and on this city,
and on its inhabitants ; for, of a truth, Jahveh hath
sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears."



206 A TEMPLE ADDRESS

The mention, in \ei-5e 20, of Urijah, tiie son of
Shemaiah, as one who prophesied against the cit\' and
against the land "according to all the words of
Jeremiah," deser\es a passing notice. It proves that, if
Elijalihad his seven thousand secret \vell-\\ishers, who
had not bowed the knee to Baal, Jeremiah, more for-
tunate ui this respect, had at least one \\-ho stood openly
by his side and confirmed the truth of his message. A
momentar\- \\eakness proved fatal to Urijah. Fearing
the anger of the King, he tied to Egj-pt. but was fetched
thence and paid the penalty- A\ith his life. Jeremiah,
on the other hand, inspired fear in othei^s by his own
fearlessness, and outhved his enemies.
