the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ; the union of two minds in all rational and sober pursuits, whether intellectual, political, or social; the identity of interests 1• the community of pnrp_ose to make the most of what God has given to each for the com- mon stock of happmess; the care of each for the other as the first human duty, and the faithfulness of each to the other in the whole series of actions 1 from the least to the greatest-this is the ideal of Christian wedlock to which we are led by the failures of the one a_s w~ll a~ by ~he virtues of the other. . It is sad to think ho~ frequently happy married hfe 1s an idea only, and not a reality, from the entire f1ulure on both sides to carry out the conditions upon which happiness depends. A foolish choice at first, bas~d only upon b_eauty ~n? vanity, upon wealth and poijition, upon whim and ~ancy, without consulting religion, or reason, or true affection, is followed up by rndependent and selfish action, by each crossing the other's wishes, by mutual neg- lect, by mutual reproach, by mutual violation of the spirit of the marriage contract. There follow in different cases various degrees of unhappiness and disorder accord- ing to the various measures of temper, and violence, and self-will and disregard of solemn vows, and contempt of God's word, of the parties con~emed. In one home it is the constant jarring of antagonistic wills, and unloving tempers ; in another it is the coldness of distant and reproachful spirits; the constant sense of injury from unfulfilled duties : in others, the man having failed to find in his wife the kindness, the solace, the help, which he expected, seeks to indemnify himself in the flatteries and cajoleries of other women ; and the wife, wounded in her pride, and hurt in her affections, looks for balm and for revenge in the attentions of the profligate, and the admiration of the licentious. In both cases true manhood and womanhood are marred and crushed, and the whole life is distorted, and like a building in ruins. Public duties in the cabinet and in the field may indeed be performed by men of gifted minds and transcendent powers, in spite of their aberrations from moral rectitude ; but the delicate organisation of affections and faculties which werl!l given to make up the charm and beauty of private and domestic life cannot live in an atmosphere of vice ; and when there is a breakdown of the love and obedience due to God, there is a breakdown also of the dignity and happiness of man. The careful study by married people, in a spirit of true Christian philosophy, of what is necessary to make wedlock the blessing God intended it to be when he "made the woman and brought her unto the man," and the careful daily endeavour, in the spirit of saintly obedience, to per- form each his or her part in the mutual contract, in spite of difficulties and hindrances, would be a large contribution to human happiness, and to the beauty of the Church of God.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS A'GTHORS. Ver. 14.-Samson's riddle. A strong impression had been produced by the circum- sbnce upon the mind of Samson. This was one of the m~ans -~ed b); God ~o p~ne- trate and awaken the moral nature of bis servant. A certam D1vme wisdom 1s given for its interpretation, and for its suitable st.atement to the world, the heat~~n ?f h!s day. The form which the circumstance assumes w_he~ _declared to the Phih~tines is a favourite one to this day amongst Ee.stem and primitive peoples. It constituted a distinct portion of God's grea~ revelatio_n of himself t? man, but ~or many an~ weighty reasons it was not a plam declaration, but the "w1Bdom of God ma mystery. l. THE PHENOMENA 01" THE NATURAL WORLD LINK THEMSELVES WITH, AND BECOME SYMBOLS OF, SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE. Thus the deepest things of_the spir}tual universe may be uttered by those who a~': but dim!}'. conscious of t~eir meanmg. . And no man is wholly destitute of spmtual teachmg. The teachings of revelation thus become indefinitely enriched and extended. . II. To THE AWAKENED SPIRIT OP' MAN THE DinNE MEANINGS OP' LIFE AND THE "'.OllLD ARE ALONE IMPORTANT. How vast is the relationship of the truth thus genero.hsed I For many days will such food sustain the soul. Trials ~11 become the s~rces·o/ spi7itual consolation if overcome in God's strength. Death u the gate of Life. Ill To THE UNBELIEVING IS THE TRUTH orr Goo SPOKEN IN PARABLES, THAT SEEING, THEY. MAY NOT PERCEIVE, AND BEARING, TIIEY MAY N01' UNDEitS:AND. This might be called the " gospel of the Philistines." It is a mighty revelation. How near were OH, XIV, 10-20.] THE BOOK OF JUDGES 157
those heathen, if they had known it, to the wisdom and kingdom of God I So is it to-day with tho preaching of the gospel to unbelievers. The moral character, and not the mere intellectual power, of men is tested in this way. What the Spirit of the Lord inspires the same Spirit can interpret. God will bestow illumination upon those who seek it. How often has God spoken through striking incidents to those who would not care to hear the preaching of his word, or to whom it has not been granted I Do 1ot let any one hastily say, "I never heard." Do not let Christi,me despair of those who have not heard, and who will not hear the preaching of men. God has his own way to every heart.-M.