presence " and do His will. Let our aims and desires be in the same direction. Let us strive so to live, that we may one day stand with boldness before the throne of God, and serve EEim day and night in His temple. The way to this high and holy position is open before us. Christ has consecrated it for us by the offering of His own body and blood. May we endeavour to walk in it during the short time of this present life, that so we may stand in our lot with God's elect angels in the endless ages of eternity. (Dan. xii. 13.)
We see, finally, in this passage, how exceeding sinful is the sin of unbelief in the sight of God. The doubts and questionings of Zacharias brought down upon him a heavy chastisement. '^ Thou shalt be dumb," says the angel, "and not able to speak, because thou believest not my words." — It was a chastisement peculiarly suitable to the offence. The tongue that was not ready to speak the language of believing praise was struck dumb. — ^It was a chastisement of long continu- ance. For nine long months at least, Zacharias was condemned to silence, and was daily reminded, that by imbelief he had offended God.
Few sins appear to be so peculiarly provoking to God as the sin of unbelief. None certainly have called down such heavy judgments on men. It is a practical denial of God's Almighty power to doubt whether he can do a thing, when he undertakes to do it. — ^It is giving the lie to God to doubt whether he means to do a thing, when He has plainly promised that it shall be done. — ^The forty years wanderings of Israel in the wilderness, should never be forgotten by professing Christians. The words of St.