402. 8236. ....[Jer. 30:] verse 7. "The day is great" because the human race is preserved and saved. "Jacob" here is the Messiah, so it is added, "he shall be saved out of it"; but see the text. Verse 8. Here that appears even more clearly, because the "yoke," that is, eternal death, "is broken" from on Him, and thus "the bonds have been burst," so that they should no longer have to serve the hellish gang, nor the evils within themselves. For the righteousness of the Messiah is accounted to them, and the evil removed so as not to appear, even though it remains. This is noticed the moment we are left to ourselves, however faithful we may be. This could be corroborated by much experience, for if we are left even the least bit to act from self and from our inborn desires, we at once fall into evil. Thus that accounting [of righteousness] is accompanied by a continual uplifting and almost separation from evil, causing us to suppose that we are faithful, when yet just the opposite is the case. [Evil; Sin]