praise more intelligently, devouUy, and warmly. Israel might include some we should take in all, tho following considerations, to stimulate to intense thankfol~es~. I. We wero nothiag, had nothing, and yet we have all given to us" richly to enjoy." 2. \Vo aro sinful, and have forfeited thereby oven our natural claim. Yet all is continued to us, in unwearying kindness ancl unabated faithfulness. 3. We have not only the actual possessions of earth's wealth, but aro put in possession of the mind ancl purpose of the Great Framer of all, that ours may be the praise of understandin" hearts. 4. Wo read that God wills to have on this globe a ransomed people, ours, thcref~re, may well bo the jubilant praise of redeemed men. 5. We are not here merely to enjoy this world and then to know no other, but to enjoy this world as a stepping-stone to another. llcnce ours should be the triumphant shout of men with a glori,;us destiny ahea,1, and of those who use this worlu so as to help them to a better. Finally: 6, The present form of earth is destined to fall away. God will" make all things new" (Ps. cii. 26 ; Heb. i. 12; 2 Pet. iii. 13). We for whom this world was made, will then be rejoicina iri God, and will be enraptured to see what ever-advancing forms of beauty "he bath prepared for them that love him." Thus ours should be the praise of men on whom even tho too oft-repeated dirge, "passing away," leaves no trace of gloom or of regret. If we are the redeemed of the Lord, our life may be a song of thanksgiving, and our death a shout of victory! Vera. 11-18.-(See Homiletics: eh. vi. 10-19.) Ver. 16.-(See Homiletics: eh. viii. 1-6.) Vers. 17, 18.-Danger of self-glorification. The enjoyment of God's mercies, which should be so provocative of thankfulness, may become a snare, if we are not careful to guard against their misuse. Several of the dangers to which prosperity makes us liable are dealt with in the Homily referred to above. Here, there is one specially namerl, which is perhaps the most common of all, viz. that of attributing success in life to one's own skill, or wisdom, or might: "And thou say in thine h~art, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth" (see Ezck. xxviii. 4, 5; xx.ix. 3; Ps. xii. 3; J udg .. vii. 2). So strong is the tendency to accredit ourselves with any gains which may be ours, in a vain, self-glorifyin~ spirit, that we cannot be too anxious to guard against it, by exposing the sin and evil oi it. I. IT IS UNTRUE. However much care we may have taken to ensure success, whether we gain our end or no, has been dependent at every moment on a conjunction of circumstances, which we were as powerless to bring about or to avoid, as to create the tides or arrest the moon. And even the ability to take care, and to put forth effort, has been a gift. We are violating the first· rudiments of most certain truth, when we take the credit of success in life to ourselves. II. IT IS DISLOYAL, For it is God who gives us the power to get wealth. We owe all we have to his bounty, and even the very breath we draw, to bis unceasing care. The laws on which we have relied to bring prosperity have been of God's creation. And for a creature to plume himseif on the gifts of the Creator, who can adequately set forth such injustice to high Heaven? III. IT Is UNGRATEFUL. For, as if it were not enough that the Most High should have all our faults to bear with unceasingly-is it uot marvellously ungrateful that creatures who would have long ago been cut down except for the long-suffering of God, should pride themselves on the abilities which have be~u in such forbearance continue,l to them? IV. IT IS MO$T MISCHIEVOUS IN ITS EFFECTS. For it nurses pritle, instead of fo~tering thankfulness. It genders selfishne~s, it freezes benevolence, and will surely breed a covetous, tyrannous, hau.,hty0 disposition, if not fought against and overcome. V. IT IS OFFENSIVE IN GoD's SIGHT. (Prov. vi. 16, 17; Jas. iv. 6; 1 Pet. v. 5.) God sets himself in array a<>ainst pride of heart. How can it be otherwise? "What communion bath light with darkness?" God will dwell with the contrite and humble spirit, but" the proud he knoweth afar off." VI, IT Is THE REVERSE OF THAT WHICH GODS DESIGNS. (Ver. 16.) For the varied t>:Y periences of life ~re an appeal of Goel to !Ilen as moral beings, "to humble them and 1/iS TllE nooK OF lmUTERONOMY. [en. vm. 1-20.
pr,,,.<' 11,<'m;" n.nd if, in spite or nll, nny fake the credit to themselves of their own pr, 1 sr••rit~-. God's own intent i11 their life-history is being reversed, y JI. 1T WII,I, ROONF.R on 1,ATF.R nRING HUMILIATION AND BUFFERING. (Prov. xxlx, :!::!.) Agnin 11nd 11gn.in dors onr 81wiour 11lso fay down this principle, thnt pride ex- ]'<lscs to _nrn_ch slJRmc (M~1 •. xxiii. lZ; Luke xiv. 11; xviii. 1_4), I~ is not for us to sriy, m nny 1rnil\·1<¾11nl c11sc, rn what fnrm the debn.semcnt or d1sn.ppomtmont will come. Hut c-omc it will. It mny ht· 111 (Ill(' or more of tho following wn.ys: 1. Dy tho romovn.l of the "·ra!lh which \\'ns gained, nnd a sn,ldcn plunge from prosperity to ndversity, It is sn<l when men hnYc to pn.rt with all before they will learn that God p;nvo nil I 2, Ily ,lt'pri,·ing men of nny fnrther power to attend to worldly concerns, they m11y h11ve to sr,· their ut.tcr helplessness without God. 3. Dy n searching dealing with the spirit in the furnace of tri buln.tion, God may graciously burn up tho prido, nnd purgo nw11y <'orruption. Rut the prooess is a terrific one, even here. It is being saved," yot sons by Jira." St.ill, it is better to be saved, even thus, cost what it mny (1 Cor iii. 18), It is onl.r when God succeeds in" humbling" us, that he can do us gool\ "at the lntter end." 4._ If, nftc~ n.11 wnrnini:s, tca?hings, nnd strivings, God's voice is still unheard,.nnd prido sllll rPnrs itself up against him, he w,11 reckon the proud one ns "the chaff which the win<l drivcth :twny." And oh, how will this self-elation shrivel up then (see Isa. ii. l 0-:?'.?) ! God will not gi 1'e his glory to another (1 Snm. ii. 30; Ma!. iv. 1). What reYcrsnls of position will that day witness! That which the world reckoned as" great wt•alth" will come to nought, and the "wealthy" ono will be bankrupt for eternit_y • while those "·ho in lowliness of spirit have received thankfully tho knst of God's gifts: shnll have him as their" exceeding great Reward." To such ho will say, "Friend come up higher!" '
Y crs. 19, 20.-(See Homiletics: eh. uviii.)