ELl's UNFAITHFULNESS REPROVED.
1 Sam. ii. 30. Them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
HOWEVER the promises of God may be ex- pressed, they are never so to be miderstood, as if they should be fulfilled to us whilst we are in a state of wilful sin : there is always in them an im- plied condition, that we depart from iniquity, and endeavour faithfully to serve the Lord. To Aaron a promise was made, that the priesthood should be continued in his family, and in that of Eleazar his son : yet for some wickedness of his descendants it was transferred from the family of Eleazar, his eldest son, to that of his younger son, Ithamar, from whom Eli was descended. Again the promise was made, that it should be continued in the line of Eli : but, for a similar reason, it was afterwards taken from Abiathar, his descendant, and given to Zadoc, who was of the elder branch. That the promises were to be understood with such limitations, God himself declares in this address to Eli ; wherein he tells Eli, that he had rescinded the promise made to him, and determined to act towards him on the broad basis of equity, precisely as he would towards all mankind: " I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever : but now the Lord saith. Be it far from me ; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed."
Here we may see,
I. What conduct God requires of us —
This will be best learned from a review of the context. Eli being far advanced in age, his sons performed the priestly office in his stead. But they abused their power to such a degree as to "make the offerings of the Lord to be abhorred." Eli heard of their proceedings, and reproved them for their
284.] ELl's UNFAITHFULNESS REPROVED. 127
wickedness : but he neglected to exert that authority with which God had invested him ; and manifested more regard for the feehngs of his sons, than he did for the honour of his God. This was Eh's fault, and the occasion of God's heavy displeasure against him. From hence then we see what God requires of us : he expects us,
1. To have a supreme regard for his glory — [The honour of God ought to be dear to every one of us :
for though we cannot augment or diminish his essential glory, we may greatly affect the regards of men towards him, and be an occasion of his being either honoured or blasphemed by multitudes around us. In truth, there is not any thing we do, but has considerable influence of this kind. How careful then should we be, and how watchful, not to do any thing which may lower him in the esteem of men! The thought that should be ever uppermost in our minds, is tliis; " What aspect will such or such conduct have upon religion ; and what effect will it produce in advancing or retarding its influence in the world? ]
2. To promote it to the utmost of our power —
[To exemphfy rehgion in our own conduct must be our first labour, and to shew all possible respect to every thing that relates to God. His word, his Sabbath, his name, his Gospel, his cause and interest in the world, must be exceeding high in our estimation. But we must not content ourselves with ho- nouring God in our own persons ; we must exert all our influence that he may be honoured by all around us. Some are invested with magisterial power ; and they must use it for God, and not bear the sword in vain. To others is committed the ministry of the Gosj)el ; and they must boldly reprove sin of every kind, and commend themselves to every man's con- science in the sight of God. To others is parental authority intrusted ; and they must not content themselves with gently rebuking the wickedness of their children, but must exert themselves to the uttermost to restrain it. Here was Eli's defect. He did well to begin with mild reproof: but he should have proceeded to severer measures, when he saw that they were not to be reclaimed by gentler means. In a word, we should be so intent on advancing the honour of God in the world, as to esteem nothing too much to do, nor any thing too great to suffer, for the attainment of our object: relations, interests, or life itself, should be of no account with us in comparison of this ^]