and Eli adverted to it, as well calculated to enforce liis exhortations, and to dissuade his sons from their impieties. His sons were transgressors of no common stamp : they are justly reprobated as sons of Belial. Their father being advanced in years, the administra- tion of the priestly office had devolved to them. This office they abused to the purposes of oppression and debauchery. The interposition of their father became highly necessary : as God's vicegerent, he should have vindicated the honour of God, and the rights of his subjects. He should have interposed, not only with parental but judicial authority. He should not only have manifested his detestation of their lewdness and rapacity, but should have punished them with degra- dation. He however, either from a timidity and supineness incident to age, or from a shameful par- tiality for his own children, forbore to inflict the punishment they deserved ; and contented himself with expostulations and reproofs. He said to them, '' Why do ye such things ? for I hear of your evil doings by all this people. Nay, my sons : for it is no good report that I hear ; ye make the Lord's people to transgress. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him ; but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him?" With less har- dened criminals these words might have produced a good effect : for if it be awful to be summoned before an earthly judge, how much more so to be called into the presence of God, laden with iniquities, and destitute of any advocate or intercessor !
May our minds be impressed with reverence and godly fear, while we consider the import of this admonition, and deduce from it some suitable and important observations !
The words of the text do not at ffi'st sight appear to need much explanation : but we cannot well understand the antithesis, or see the force of the interrogation, without adverting particularly to the circumstances, which occasioned the reproof. The sense is not. That, if a man violate an human law, he shall be condemned by an earthly judge ; and, that