We see in the ooiidact of Zacharias in this passage, a siriking examph of (he benefit of affliction. He resists the Irishes of his relations to call has new-bom son after hid own name. He clings firmly to the name '' John/' by which the angel Gabriel had commanded hfan to be called. He shews that his nine months' dumbness had not been inflicted on him in vain. He is no longer faithless, but belieymg. He now believes every word that Gabriel had spoken to him, and every word of his message shall be obeyed.
We need not doubt that the past nine months had been a most profitaUe time to the soul of Zacharias. He had learned, probably, more about his own heart, and about God, than he ever knew before. Hia conduct shews it. Correction had proved instruction. He wa^ ashamed of his unbelief. Like Job, he could say, '^ I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee." Like Hezekiah, when the Lord left him, he had found out what was in his heart. (Job xlii. 5. 2 Chron. xxxii. 31.)
Let us take heed that affliction does us good, as it did to Zacharias. We cannot escape trouble in a sin-laden world. Man is bom to trouble, as the sparks fly upwards. (Job V. 27.) But in the time of our trouble, let us make earnest prayer that we may '' hear the rod and who hath; appointed it," that we may learn wisdom by the rod, and not harden our hearts against God. '^ Sanctified afflictions," says an old divine, are '^ spiritual promotions/' The sorrow that humbles us, and drives us nearer to God, is a blessing, and a downright gain, l^o case is more hopeless than that of the man who, in time of affliction,, turns his back upon
42 BXPOSnOBY THOUGHTS.
God. There is an awful mark set against one of the kings of Judah : '^ In the time of his distress he did trespa^ yet more against the Lord : tiiis is ttiat king Ahaz." (2 Chron. xxviii. 22.)
. We see in the early history of John Baptist the nature of the blessing that we should desire for all young children. We read that " the hand of the Lord was with him."
We are not told distinctly what these words mean. We are left to gather their meaning from the promise that went before John before his birth, and the life that John lived all his days. But we need not doubt that the hand of the Lord was with John to sanctify and renew his heart — to teach and fit him for his office — ^to strengthen him for all his work as the forerunner of the Lamb of God — ^to encourage him in all his bold denunciation of men's sins — and to comfort him in his last hours, when he was beheaded in prison. We know that he was filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother's womb. We need not doubt that from his earliest years the grace of the Holy Ghost appeared in his ways. In his boyhood as well as in his manhood the constraining power of a mighty principle from above appeared in him. That power was the " hand of the Lord."
This is the portion that we ought to seek for our children. It is the best portion, the happiest portion, the only portion that can never be lost, and will endure be- yond the grave. It is good to have over them " the hand " of teachers and instructors ; but it is better still to have " the hand of the Lord." We may be thankful if they obtain the patronage of the great and the rich. But we ought to care far more for their obtaining the favour of