HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 8.-The woi·king of the sin-stricken conscience. I. GoD THE JUDGE REVEAL- ING BIMSELF. 'l'he voice of the Lord God represents to men the knowledge of them- selves, which, like light, would be intolerable to the shamefaced. II. MAN HIDING Fnoir THE JUDGE BECAUSE UNABLE TO MEET Hur. While the darkness of the thick foliage wns regarded as a covering, hiding nakednE>ss, it is yet from the presence of tlie Lord God that the guilty seek refuge. III. MAN'S SELF AGAINST HIMSELF. The instinctive action of shame is 0. testimony to the moral nature and position of man. So it may be said- IV. GUILT is itself God's witness, comprehending the sense of righteousness and the sense of tra11,sg1·ession in the same being. (Perhaps there is a reference to the working of the conscience in the description of the voice of God as mingling in the fo.cts of the natural world; "the cool of the dciy" being literally the "evening breeze," whose whispering sound became articulate to the ears of those who felll'e<l the per- sonal presence of their Judge.)-R.
Ver. 9.-The searching question. We can picture the dread of this question. Have you considered its love-that it is really the first word of the gospel? Already the Shepherd goes forth to seek the lost sheep. The Bible shows us - 1. The original state of man ; what God intended his lot to be. 2. The entry of sin, and fall from happiness. 3. The announcement and carrying out God's plan of restoration. THE GOSPEL DEGJNS not with the promise of a Saviour, but WITU SHOWING MAN IIIS NEED. Thus (John iv. 15-18) our Saviour's answer to II Give me this water'' was to convince of sin: 11 Go, call thy husband." That first loving call has never ceased. Men are still straying, still must come to themselves (Luke xv. 17). \Ve hear it in the Baptist's teaching; in the preaching of St. Peter o.t Pentecost; and claily in his life-giving work the Holy Spirit's first step is to convince of sin. And not merely in conversion, but at every stage ho repeats, "\Vhere art thou? 11 To welcome God's gift we must feel our own need; o.nd the inexhaustible treasures in Christ are discerned us we mark daily the defects of our service, o.nd how far we are from the goal of our striving (Phil. iii. 13, 14). Hence, even in o. Christian con- ~reg11tion, it is needful to press "Where o.rt thou? 11 to leo.d men nearer to Christ. We want to stir up easy-going disciples, to mo.ke Christians consider their calling, to rouse to higher life and work. Our Saviour's co.II is, "Follow me." How ure you doing· this? You 11re pledged to be his soldiers; what reality is there in your 70 THE BOOK OF GENESIS. [en. r. 8-19,
figli~ing? How many are c_ontent_ m_erely to do as others do I What do ye for Chnst?_ You have,)'Ot\r Bible; lB 1t studied, prayed over? What do yo to sprea? its truth? . -Y c thmk _no_t how much harm is done by apathy, how muoh silent teaching of nn?ehef th~re 1s m the want of open confession of Christ. Many are zealous for the1r own view~. Where is the self-denying mind of Christ, the spirit of love i' Many count themselves spiritual, consider that they have turned to the Lord, and -are certainly in his fold. Where is St. Paul's spirit of watchfulness? (1 Cor. ix. 26, 27). "Where art thou?'' May the answer of each he Not shut up in myself, not following the multitude, but "looking unto Jesus. "-M.' Vere. 14, 15.-.The doom of Satan and iM hope of man. I. THE DOOM OF DEGRAD ATION (ver. 14). II. THE DOOM OF HOSTILITY (ver, 15). Three stages :-1. The enmity. .2. The conflict. 3. The victory. .le,ssons .-1. See the wondrous n1ercy of God in procla.irning from the first da} of sin, and putting into the forefront, a purpose of salvation. 2. Have we re- cognised it to the overcoming of the devil ?-W.