Vera. 1-5.-Divine punishment.and preparation of deliverance simultaneous. The heaviest 'udgments in human history Iiave been secretly charged with such merciful proV1sions. This circumstance alters the character of the infliction; it ceases to be mere vengeance, and becomes discipline. I. INSTANCES OF THIS IN SACRED HISTORY. The Fall and promise of the Seed. In Joseph's sale and slavery we see the anticipation of an evil not yet experienced., Esther is raised up in the Persian captivity. The age of the destruction of Jeru- salem was the age of the gospel. II. WHAT TIIIS PROVES. 1. God does not "ajfiict willingly" and for the sake oj ajfticting, but for ultimate good. 2. The wrath of God exists at the same time as his love, and is penetrated and overruled by it. 3. 1'he mercy of God i.sfar-seeing, wise, and painstaking.-M. Vera. 8-11.-Repetition of Divine favo1trs. There are visitations of God and signs of his favour that are not fully comprehended the first time, and their repetition alone can satisfy the cravings of the heart and the wonder of the spiritual under- standing. And God is considerate of our human weakness. "In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established." The blessing is then realised in absolute certainty, and a communion of faith. I. GoD'B PROMISES ABE- BO PRECIOUS THAT WE WISH TO BE ASSURED OF THEM. His words, so mysterious and far-sent, are like clouds full of rain for the thirsty soil, if we can only secure the blessing. When he condescends to visit thus the home of men it is for good, and not evil. And the blessings which he promises a.re not such as the world can give. The spiritual understanding can alone discern their true worth, and alone yearns for their fulfilment. The mere repetition of the terms and words is soothing and confirming. And to the faithful they will be spoken again as a token of favour, and the signs will be repeated; but to a "faithless generntion shall no sign be given," save tl!;it. which plunges in deeper wonder or increases tlw certainty of doom. II. How ARE GoD's PllOMISES TO llE REALISED? 1. By interested attention to tliem. l'itauoah's rniml i~ full of tlw message received by hi~ wifo. llo Llo1.:~ uot 144 THE BOOK OF JUDGES. [CH. XIII, 1-25,
dismiss it from mind and memory as a trifling thing. It is this pondering nnd waiting and se_archi~g spirit t~at is_ ~less~d. " How shall we es~ape if we _neglect so ~oat salvation? 2. By implu:ttfaith. He does not question the reality of the Divine message. He is eager to hear it, so that all its significance may be understood. He speaks even _at fi:9t of "the child that shall be born.•:, 3. By believi,ng prayer. How earnest 1s this man I "Manoah entreated Jehovah. There is no unnecessary delay : " God hearkened to the voice of Manoah." He loves to hear the voice of praying men. He loves to be "inquired of," and "entreated " and "wrestled 11 with. ''. The effec~~al, fervent _Prayer of a righteous man ~vail~th much." 4. By e.xpectatwn, and diligent watching for the answer. The reality of our prayer is thus shown. How often is prayer but an idle word uttered thoughtlessly when in a devout frame I Let us look for what we ask, and God will not weary our patience or betray our confidence. Ask, seek, knock (2 Tim. iv. 8 ; Titus ii. 13).-M.
Vers. 12-14.-Parental anxiety and its satisfying. Questions of great import- ance, which every parent ought to study. Circumstances may occur ,that render the responsibility of the parent peculiarly heavy. J. ALL PABENTR, OR THOSE ABOUT TO BE PARENTS, SHOULD BRING THEIR PARENTAL CARES TO GoD. - 1. It will relieve anxiety. 2. The sense of moral responsibility will be deepened and confi'l"'ITU!,d. 3. IJirection will be given /or duty and usefulness. II. THE BEST SAFEGUARD OF THE CHILD IS THE- CONSECBA'l'ION··OF THE PARENT. To regard the child-blessing as a trust. To seek the benefit of others through that which is a joy and gratification to oneself. To keep oneself pure and temperate, that no taint or evil tendency may pass to one's posterity, and that in oneself, as in one's children, God may be glorified.-M. Vers. 15-21.-Cf. on eh. vi. 17-21.-M. V crs. 17, 18.-The wonderful name. The balance of critical authority is in favour of the rendering "wonderful, 11 or wonder-working, and not that of "secret." It is to be taken as expressive not only of the general character of God as myste1ious, glorious, and ineffable, bat as doing wonders, i. e. mighty deeds of manifestation and salvation. This characteristic of God is to be studied as- I. PROVOCATIVE OF CURIOSITY. The Divine element has ever maintained its presence in human life, has kept the horizons of human consciousness wide apart and constantly extending, and has exercised the counteractive e.nd saving influence required by the action of the world-spirit upon the nature of .man. God has never left man alone. Ere a single page of inspiration was penned he dwelt "in the con- scious breast," and drew reverent eyes and feet after his marvels in the physical world. Man is, perforce of his moral constitution being linked and blended with his physical, a being "between two worlds." The gate is ajar, and no mortal can ever effectually close it. Led by this '' presence of the threshold," the fathers of faith began that religious movement that received its loftiest impulse and satisfaction in Christ. There were partial and progressive revelations, each new "wonder" laying firmer hold upon the imagination and the heart. Jacob at Bethel and at Penuel (Gen. =ii. 24-30), Moses at Horeb, Elijah in the cave of the desert, and David at the threshing-floor of Araunah, are grand typical figures, milestones-in this spiritual pilgrimage. And there is no individual life, even of this secularised modern world, that is not the theatre of "even greater works than these," speaking in it of a heavenly Father, and keeping it within sound of his voice. If we are true to our own inner selves and to our spiritual history we must be worshippers of him whose name is Wonderful. II. IN PROCESS OF REVELATION THROUGH MIRACLES. "And the angel did won- drously," i. e. true to his name, he acted miraculously. Creation, providence, the unfolding work of the world's salvation, are so many series of revelations in net and work. The general impression produced upon the mind by the scheme of the unfrerse is enhanced and led up into religious fervour by these miracles, of which our latest physical science dues not well know how to dispose. Th~ moral and spiritual lessons they teach, and the impression they produce upon the human heart, run OH. XIII. 1-25.) THE BOOK OF JUDGES.