I. TrIEnE IS A MEANING, RICH AND FULL, IN THE INCIDENTS OF LIFE, Each ono's life is fnll or_ incident, from morning till evening, from the beginning of tho year unto the <'nd of 1t. There may not have been the succession of what is startling and ~triking, as there w11s in the case of Israel, but simply common mercies coming speedily nn,l without pause, just as they were needed; the mercies one by one, fitting exactly into plr.cc, as if a gracious care had provided all. .As if-do we say? That is it. A gracic1ns care has proYidcd all. That is precisely our present postulate. We should as soon tl,ink that the letters in a printing ofiice would spontaneously arrange thomselvcs into or,kr for a printed book, as that the constant succession of our comforts in life shoulcl come as they do without any prearrangement. 1. Life's comforts and supplies arl' a constant disclosure of Divine loving-kindness. They reveal God (Ps. cvii. 43). 2. Tbcy are intendl'd to help on the culture and growth of character. Even supplies which come in the physical region, when granted to moral beings, have a moral signi- ficance in them. 3. By winning us to God, his mercies arc intended to lead us to repentance, and thus to open up to us a glorious goal in character and destiny. JI. 'l'HIS DIVIKE MEANING IN THE MERCIES OF LIFE IS OFTEN MISSED BY THOSE ON WHOM THOSE MERCIES ARE B_ESTOWED. Of how many it may still be said, " Having eyes, they see not; and havmg cars, they hear not" I This may arise from one or more of sevrral causes. 1. There may be some preconceived assumption or foreaone conclusion which, if indulged in, will shut out all acceptance of any thought of God's lo,ing-kindness in common life, or anywhere else. Some" high thought" may exalt itself against the knowledge of God. 2. There may be the lack of a spirit of loyalty, so that the individual is indisposed to read aright the messages of his Father's goodness. 3. There may be a misuse or non-use of the organs and faculties by which spiritual knowledge may be acquired. See 'Candid Examination of Theism,' by Physicus, which is a striking example of total failure in this respect. 4. There may be distraction of heart and soul by the whirl and rush of life, so that the spirit has no leisure there- from to learn of God in "secret silence of the mind." 5. There may be entire indifference concerning the higher meaning of common things. Any one of these iive causes will amply account for a man failing to learn of God through the experiences of life. UL THERE IS NO ADEQUATE REASON WHICH CAN JUSTIFY SUCH A FAILURE TO LEARN LIFE'S LESSONS. For: 1. 'iNe have a revelation of God given to us in the Book, ""hereby we may come at the true interpretation of life. Israel had their Law, by which they might read their life. We have both the Law and the gospel. And the preciousness of human life in the eye of God is taught us in Luke xv., and in the light of such a chapter should tbe mystery of human life and Divine care be studied. 2. We nave a distinct disclosure to us of the one condition on which religious knowledge and certitude can be acquired (John vii. 17; Ps. x.xv. 8, 9, 14). 3. There is a direct and clear promise of wisdom to those who lack it and seek it (Jas. i. 5-7). The promises given by our Lord are also abundant. 4. There is the testimony of the experience of such as are taught of God. They can tell of his mercies, and sing aloud of his righteousness (Ps. x.xxiv. 6; lxvi. 16). And such experience is or should be an invaluable help to those who have yet to learn "the secret of the Lord." Now, with this fourfold clue, it is altogether needless for any to misunderstand life's mystery and meaning. So that it follows- IV. THAT TO BE AND TO REMAIN WITHOUT SPIRITUAL PERCEPTION IS HATTER FOR SERIOUS REPROACH AND BEBUKE. It is not against God that the words of ver. 4 are spoken. He would have given them eyes to see, had they desired and sought that blessing. And so he will now. Hence there is a fivefold injustice done by us if wo remain without the true knowledge of the rich meaning in our mercies. 1. There is injustice to the Word of God. 2. There is injustice to the God of the Word. 3. There is injustice to ourselves. 4. There is injustice to the mystery of life. 6: There is injury to our future and eternal destiny. Well may we adopt for ourselves, on our own behalf, as well as on that of others, the prayers of the apostle for spiritual enlightenment (Phil. i. 9-11; Col. i. 9, 10; Eph. i. 15-18). For as we understand th11 mystery of God in Christ will all minor ones havo the light of heaven poured upon them.
Vera, 10-21.-.Apostacy in heart a root of bitterness. In tho midst of this fl/1, XXlL 1-29,] THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. 451