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1918.]   SPIRITUAL RECESSION.       205

rise to its fall.  To this end the Sons of Jacob were introduced into Egypt and afterwards by many miracles led from thence to Canaan.  And when the kingdom of Judah was destroyed, and Jerusalem sacked, its in habitants-many of them-were deported by the Babylonians.  Of the remnant, a group fled to Egypt for safety.  This group, under the leadership of Johanan, first enquired of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, that He might show them "the way" wherein they "should walk" and the "thing" that they "should do."  After ten days the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, and he replied in the words of our text, warning them not to flee into Egypt, but to abide in Judah under the Babylonian governor set over them.  They would not heed his words.  Their fear was great.  They fled to Egypt in order that they might see no more "war," nor yet "hear the should of the trumpet."  In after years when the captives were returned from Babylon, and Jerusalem rebuilt, nothing was heard of those who ha fled to Egypt.  The prophecy that they should "see this place no more" was fulfilled.  They were forever lost to Israel.

As the journey from Egypt to Canaan represented the process of regeneration or from natural becoming spiritual, so boing back from Canaan to Egypt represents the opposite, that is, a spiritual reversion.  The man who undergoes this reverse process is lots.  This is the reason why the prophets under any and every condition forbid a return to Egypt.  Such return represented a surrender of all that had bee gained by previous combats and victories.  It was a return to the early bondage, as if there had been no journey out of Egypt, no temptations in the wilderness, no conquests of Canaan, and no dwelling in the land.  To return to Egypt was to give up all hope of a future for Israel.  It was a confession of failure-a complete surrender.  The true course was pointed out by Jeremiah, to abide in the land and there await the return of the captives from Babylon, for such a return was promised.  To flee to Egypt was to desert Israel.  It was an act of cowardice resulting from distrust of the Lord's promise.  Of all nations Israel could least resist the alluring influences of Egyptian civilization; this is evident from the whole history of that people.  Doubtless this tendency arose from the powerful