90. The Ethopian.

Can the Ethiopian change his skin? - Jeremiah 13:23.

JEREMIAH had spoken to these people, and they would not hear; he had wept over them, and they would not consider. Even God's judgments had failed to move them, and he came to the conclusion that they were incorrigible, and could no more improve than a black man could become white. Jeremiah's figure was most probably suggested to him by the Ethiopians in the king's court, one of whom attended more to him than his countrymen ever did (Jer. 38:7-13). Persons of color were no doubt more notable among an exclusive people like the Jews than they would be among us.

I. THE QUESTION AND ITS ANSWER. "Can the Ethiopian change his skin?"

The expected reply is, "He cannot do so."

The outward impossibility is the Ethiopians changing the color of his own skin: a physical experiment never yet accomplished.

The inward impossibility is a change of heart and character by one "accustomed to do evil."

Can he — will he — change himself? Never.

The difficulty in the sinner's case lies—

1. In the thoroughness of the operation. The Ethiopian can wash, or paint; but he cannot change that which is part and parcel of himself. A sinner cannot change his own nature.

2. In the fact that the will is itself diseased by sin. The man cannot do good, for he has no mind to it, no wish that way. In man's will lies the essence of the difficulty: he cannot means that he does not will to have it done. He is morally unable.

3. In the strength of habit. Use is second nature. Practice in transgression has forged chains, and bound the man to evil.

4. In the pleasure of sin, which fascinates and enslaves the mind.

5. In the appetite for sin, which gathers intensity from indulgence. Drunkenness, lechery, covetousness, etc., are a growing force.

6. In the blindness of the understanding, which prevents men from seeing the evil of their ways, or noting their danger. Conscience is drugged into a deep sleep, out of which the man cannot arouse himself.

7. In the growing hardness of the heart, which becomes more stolid and unbelieving every day, till nothing affects it.

8. In the evident fact that outward means prove ineffectual: like "sope" and "nitre" on a negro, they fail to touch the living blackness.

For all these reasons we answer the question in the negative: sinners can no more renew themselves than Ethiopians can change their skins.

Why then preach to them?

It is Christ's command, and we are bound to obey. Their inability does not hinder our ministry, for power goes with the word.

Why tell them that it is their duty to repent?

Because it is so: moral inability is no excuse: the law is not to be lowered because man has grown too evil to keep it.

Why tell them of this moral inability?

To drive them to self-despair, and make them look to Christ.

II. ANOTHER QUESTION AND ANSWER. Can the Ethiopian's skin be changed? Or, can the sinner be made anew?

· This is a very different affair, and in it lies the door of hope for men.

· Assuredly the Lord can make a black man white.

· The greatest sinner can be transformed into a saint.

· The grounds for so believing are many.

Here are a few of them—

1. All things are possible with God (Matt. 19:26).

2. The Holy Spirit has special power over the human heart.

3. The Lord Jesus has determined to work this wonder, and for this purpose he came into this world, and died, and rose again. "He shall save his people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21). —

4. Many such jet-black sinners have been totally changed: among ourselves there are such and in all places such may be found.

5. The gospel is prepared with that end. It does more than change the skin; for it affects the head, the heart, the understanding, the conscience, the motives, the desires, the hopes, the fears; and through these, the whole conduct, so that those who were accustomed to do evil become expert in doing good.

6. God has made his church long for such transformations, and prayer has been offered that they may now be wrought. Will not the Lord hear us? Herein lies hope for the most inveterate sinner.

· Not in the bath of baptism;

· Nor in the scalding tears of remorse;

· Nor in the medicine of vows and pledges;

· But in his word of power, who doeth great wonders of grace.