HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTIIORS. Ver. 30.-Laban's eye of greed. "And when he saw the bracelets," &c. One thing moved Laban to offer hospitality to a stranger-the vision of gold on his sister's form. J. COVETOUSNESS MAKES A MAN CALCULATING WHEN APPEARING TO DE GENEROUS. Laban had not been so pressingly urgent in bis invitation if be had not cherished a hope of further advantages. He was a chnrlish man. He said, "Come in, than blessed of the Lord," &c., because he saw that which was to him the greatest sign of blessing-wealth. Laban helped the more readily to ungird Eliezer's camels be- cause he hoped thereby to loosen the girdle-purse of his visitor. He had the eye of greed. Ile could not see anything valuable belonging to another without wishing; to possess it. 11. COVETOUSNESS MAKES A MAN, GENERALLY, SHORT-SIGHTED WITH RESPECT TO Rl:1 OWN BEST INTERESTS. Laban gave Eliezer a bad impression of himself. The latter would soon see through such a man as Laban. Ile showed this when he gave pre- sents not only to the sister and mother, but to the brother (ver. 53). He knew that it would not be advisable to overlook Laban. Eliezer knew be could be bought. Laban, when treating with Jacob, was just ns short-sighted. He gave Leab and Rachel to Jacob as wives only after years of service for which he stipulated. He changed Jacob'e wages ten times. Through his greed be at last lost Jacob. He confessed how greRt II helper Jacob had been. "The Lord bath blessed me for thy sake" ( eh. xxx. 27). Jacob would not tarry with him, and even the daughters were glad enough to got Rway from such a father. Covetousness is opposed to our temporal and eternal interests. We lose by it the respect of others here und of God hereafter. 111. COVETOUSNESS IS EVER INDIIJ'FF:RENT TO THE RIGHTFUL CLAIMS 011' OTHERS. It will ignore those cluime altogether, if possible. 1. We find Laban thus ignored tho influence of his father throughout the whole transaction. Perhaps Bethuel was infirm or aged, but he is, consistently with the character of Laban, thrust into the b:1ck- ground. Laban also takes all presents, and there is no mention of any being given to hie father. 2, We find also he was in great measure indifferent to the happines8 of his sister. He was subtle in tongue, and spoke of the Lord arranging things, bui he believed in the arrangement because his family was the gainer. A good chance is offered by the Damascene stranger, nnd Rebekah soon saw that it was n foregone conclusion that she should go with him. Covetousness will mnke pnrents cnreless as to the physical, mentRI, and moral well-being of their children, and employers cnre- lose of the state of tlu,ir servants. It is covetousness also that lends mnny to spread temptations, too strong to be resisted, before others, and one nation to get rich out of that which is sapping the life-blood of another. IV. COVETOUSNESS NEVER SATISFIES, AND OFT :!!AKES MEN MOST MISERABLE. "Ho that is greedy of gain troubleth his house." "Envy is rottenness to the bones." Misers perish in the midst of plenty. niches possessed, the desire for morn i,i generally intensified. The desire is no more checked than a lamp is extinguished by added oil. V. COVETOUSNESS IS SURE, SOONER on LATER, TO DE ltEDUKED. Tito greed in Lnbnu'e eye which glistened at tho eight of the golden ornamc11t,i on hi:1 TUE nooK OF GENESIS. [,;n. XXIV. 6L-G7.
sister's form deepened wiLh the passage of years, Ai hat, in hie pursuit of Jacob, he was rebuked by God in a vision, and afterwards by the man ho had wronged. Learn, therefore, that medium prosperity is better than great riches gained by greed. Despise not the comforts of life, but live for something higher. What is gained in the world is speedily gone. If we gain much and ruin our souls, we sh1lll uot only be rejected by God, but shall bitterly condemn ourselves,-H. Ver. 31.-Laban, the solu:it-Ous host. "Wherefore standest thou without?" The character of Laban has been well explained by Blunt in his 'Coincidences.' It is one of consistent greed. He was sincere in inviting Eliezer because he saw tho bracelets on his sister's orrn, and expected still further favours from a guest who can so lavishly bestow gifts. Christ asks us to enter his king·dom, but he expects notl1ing from us in return but love. We may adapt this inquiry of Lo.ban to souls e.s yet outside the Church. • I. THE POSITION OCCUPIED. "Without." Probably they have no realised pardon, no enjoyment in religion, no future prospects of joy. Life is a dread mystery to them. They are saying, "\Vho will show us any good?" They may be just awakened spiritually, like the Philippian jailor. They may be under the condemn- ings of law and conscience, and in dread of the consequences of sin. !'hose within the true Church know in whom they have believed, and rejoice in forgiveness and the prospect of heaven. They are no longer outside the gates of memy. We may be in o visible Church without being of Christ's fold. It is penitence, faith, o.nd character that determine our position, and not birth, rank, or ceremonial observances. ll. THE REASONS WHEREFORE MANY RETAIN A POSITION OUTSIDE THE CHURCH. 1. Accustomed to the state, and unwilling to change. They are like the prisoner who, nfter many years' imprisonment in the Bo.stile, wo.s liberated, and went forth only to find all bis friends gone and himself a mere burden to society. He went back ancl entreated to be allowed to retain his cell until he should pass out of the world. 2. Many, because they are ignorant of the fulness of Divine mercy. 3. Others, becauso they think there is so much to be done ere they can be fitted to be received within, and are looking to their own efforts to prepare themselves. 4. Many, because they fear their opportunity of admittance is past. 5. Others, because undecided as to whether they shall give up the pleasures of the world for the privileges of Christian fellowship. 6. Others, because they lack faith in their faith ond its power to justify. 7. Many stand outside because they think themselves o.s secure outside as within. They forget that Christ demands open confession, o.nd that to be united openly to his Chnrch is one way of confessing his name before men, Let there be o. person!\! and searching inquiry, ",VI1erefore standest thou without?" The invited guest passed within, and found his highest expectations more than realised, becaW!o God "bud prospered hiij joumey."-H.