HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-6.-Ambitious usurpation. Nothing shows the extent and significance of Gideon's influence so much as the anarchy that followed his death. The presence of one may check, restrain, direct, &c. in a degree wholly inexplicable until its removal. The retrogression of peoples-bow difficult to comprehend I Sometimes a single individual (at most a few) concentrates in himself all the highest tendencies of his time, the only original of what appears a common possession. The weakness -mental, spiritual, political, and religious-of the nation now reveals itself. A. time like that following upon Gideon's judgeship tries men and declares their real motives. Of the usurpation now attempted, notice- I. THE AIM. Worthy men seek to emulate the moral and intellectnal excellence of the great deceased; unworthy, merely to succeed to their office and to enjoy their honours. It was a splendid opportunity which now presented itself to carry on, and to higher issues, the work initiated by Gideon. Instead of this, personal aggrandise- ment is the all-absorbing aim. Unscrupulous advantage is taken of the interregnum in the judgeship. And the more utterly base appears the project, inasmuch as it is not only what Gideon enjoyed that is sought, but what he rejected, as considering himself unworthy. II. THE SPIRIT. 1. Irreligious. No betaking of himself to the oracle; no recog- nition of God as Supreme Arbiter and Judge-maker. 2. Immodest. Personal fitness is not questioned, nor is the superior qualification of others considered. 3. Se~h. The rights of others are trampled upon, human blood is spillf!d like water, and the nation is regarded only as a corpus vi,le for political experiments and ambitious aims, III. THE MEANS AND METHODS. Arguments. Falsehood and sophistry. The alternatives presented-" Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you ? "-are not real. Charging others with the same aims !1.9 bis own. Appeals not to the nation's sense of right, but to expediency, and kinship, &c. Its occasion is the misfortune and weakness of others. Its instrumentality, unhallowed gold and a mercenary soldiery. Its method, a series of wrongs culminating in murder. IV. THE SUCCESS. Apparently sudden, complete, absolute; really hollow, involv- ing constant diijtrust and fear, and ever new outrages, and having in itself the- elements of ultimate judgment.-M. Vers. 2, 3.-Unrigliteous claims of kindred. A great force in the arrangements and promotions of human life. The unrighteousness of it often felt wbon it cannl't be explained. As much to be deprecated in the endeavour to secure the ordinary advantages of life as in the competition for its great prizes and honours. Let us loolc closely at this plea.," He is our brother." J. lT IS THE EXAGGERATION AND PROSTITUTION OF A NATURAL AND PROPER AFFECTION. Of the true claims of " our brother'' how much might be said I A ba~is for moral oblig·ntions, and rights, and dnties seldom fairly acknowledged. But to the desirable things of the world and " out in the open" there are many claimants whose title has to he weighed. The fond mother, desirous of such things for her son, mtiy be asked, "Why your son, and not another's?'' II. fr IGNORES AND TRAMfLES UPON GENERAL INTERF.STS FOR THE SAKE OF INDIVIDUAL ADVANCEME!lT, Next to the nbsolutc appointment by Gou, and often ir.dicative of it, JI ~ THE BOOK OF JUDGES. [CH, tx. 1-6,
is the "greatest goo? of the greatest number." T~e king or other publio officer ie for the people, not vice versa. Although absolute right may be sometimes waived because of general advantage, when both are wanting the claim is weak. III. THE TRUE TITLE-DEEDS TO ADVANCEMENT ARE NOT RECOGNISED OR APPEALED TO, Divine appointment ; unique capacity ; desire for the good of others rather than the advantage of self; service rather than office; duty than right.-M. . Ver. 5.- Shortcomings of unscrupulous schemes. That there are instances of eeem- mgly complete and permanent success cannot be denied. But the cases in which the act just falls short of success are too frequent and dramatically striking not to be pondered. l. A MORAL GOVERNMENT OF THE WORLD IS WITNESSED TO. II. IF EVIDENT IN SOME CASES, MAY NOT THE SAME LAW EXIST WHERE NOT CLEARLY VISIBLE? Ill. JN THIS IS ILLUSTRATED THE ESSENTIALLY MORAL CHARACTER OF HIGHEST REASON. The wicked always leave something unconsidered or unprovided for. The lives and schemes of the wicked are based on fallacies. Truth and righteousness coincide.-M.