it been so, his breach with the Philistines might have been hol\led, e.nd his whole future career would have been changed. But this was prevented by the intempemte haste of Samson's father-in-law. Instead of waiting to see whether Se.meon'e just anger would subside, e.nd keeping the door of reconcilfation open, he ge.ve Samson's v.·ife to his friend. When Samson returned in a spirit of generous' forgiveness, he found the false woman on whom he threw away his love e.lree.dy wedded to another, and the door closed against him. His fury knew no bounds. Everything Philistine was hateful in his eyes. The former wrong was lost in the glare of the far greater ,nong which succeeded it. The Philistines were made to pay dearly for the insult and injury they had done him. And then, as so often happens in embittered resent- ments, even the attempt to pacify him only added fuel to the flame. Hie wife's adultery had been a cruel blow; the punishment of that adultery by a horrible death was a still deadlier one. The burning of corn-fields had been a sufficient revenge for the one ; the slaughter of the Philistines was the only expiation for the other. And so the quarrel went on from bad to worse; the enmity became more dead!::,, the strife more embittered. It went on through bloodshed and captivity, till Samson and his enemies perished together under the ruins of the temple of Dagon. If quarrels are to be healed, there must be patience on both sides. Neither side must credit the other with an unappeasable hatred or with an inextinguishable wrath. He.sty insults and hasty overtures of peace must alike be avoided. Time must be given for resent- ment to cool and for the sting of the wrong to be forgotten. Otherwise things will grow from bad to worse ; the petty insult or annoyance will be succeeded by the mortal wrong, and the melancholy spectacle will follow of two human beings, who ought to love one another as children of the same heavenly Father, using all their powers and opportunities to wound each other's feelings, and to inflict injuries upon one another. But the only real remedy for enmities is to be found in the true spirit of Christian love: " Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, e"\"'en as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." In the presence of the cross enmities and hatreds are crucified. The bitterest offence given and wrong suffered will only provoke the prayer," Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 1-3.-Atonements of the unri,ghteous. A great wrong had been done. An act of warfare against the country of Samson's wife is punished by domestic treachery and wrong. For fear of the Philistines, Samson's wife is given to another. The fear of Samson takes the place of the fear which inspired the unrighteousness. Suggested atonement does not allay the wrath of the wronged, but magnanimously he turns his wrong into an occasion of renewed hostility to the Philistines. A national calamity thus springs from a private offence. l. GREAT WRONGS ARE COMMITTED UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF FEAR. II. THE ATONEMENTS AND EXCUSES OF THE UNRIGHTEOUS BUT ENHANCE THEIR GUILT, III. THE CONSEQUENCES OF EVIL ACTIONS CANNOT BE FORESEEN OR ADEQUATELY WARDED OFF BY THE OFFENDER ('Vi,de ver_ 6). IV. PRIVATE WRONG l'rlAY BE PUNISHED BY NATIONAL DISASTER.-M. Vere. 1-5.-God', ,ervant set free by the l!rovid,ences of life. _The e~tanglements into which Samson fell were brought upon himself. God by pamful circumstances destroys these. Samson then felt that he was at liberty to carry on war against the enemies of his country. I. Goo's SERVANTS ARE JrREQUE!,'TLY HAMPERED BY THEIR OWN IMPRUDENCES AND FCJLJ,IES, II. THE PURPOSE OJ!" THE DISCIPLINE OF LIFE 18 TO REMOVE THESE ENTANGLEMENTS AND TURN THEM INTO A STRONGER INCENTIVE TOW ARDS HIS SERVICE. Entanglement and re-entanglement, deliverance beyond deliverance, is the history of Samson's career.-M.. Vere. 4, 5.-Foxea and firebrands. Thie circumstance has become classic. It vividly illustrates- OB, V, 1--8,] THE BOOK OF JUDGES. 161
I. Trm INGENUITY OF INSPIRED VENGEANCE. II. LITTLE CAUBEB OF MISCHIEF AND GREAT CONSEQUENCES. Ill. Trrn MISCIIIEF Goo's ENEMIES ENTAIL UPON THEMSELVES. It is unexpected, overwlielming, nnd vital. The year's produce, upon which the life of the peoplo depended, wus swept away nt a single stroke. No one knows how to punish the rebel ngninst his kingdom as God himself does.-M.
Vera. 6-B.-Those who have occasioned evil punislied for those who caused it. Of this policy amongst individuals and nations the world is full. J. WICKED MEN ARE 0I<TEN WISER THAN THEIR ACTIONS WOULD INDICATE. It was well to inquire, "Who hath done this?" but when the agent was discovered, they were too afraid of him to punish him, so they wreaked their vengeance upon those who could not defend themselves. • Greater care is shown by men in removing occa• sions of evil than in curing the source of it. 11. HUMAN INJUSTICE MAY UNCONSCIOUSLY EFFECT THE ENDS OF DIVINE JUSTICE, The father-in-law and wife of Samson deserved punishment, but hardly from those through dread of whom they had done Samson wrong. Ill. BY ACTING AS THEY DID THE PHILISTINES ONLY BROUGIIT UPON THEMSELVES GREATER DISASTERS, IV. ONE WRONG LEADS TO ANOTHER.-M.