The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 49

albeit religious, grad11ally issues in alienation of sons from home interests and com- mittal to friendsliips evil in tendency. The charm of novelty is powerful where homo life is rendered dull through inattention to the tastes and enjoyments of the young, and lience consent is given to enticing sinners. If, in any instance, there are in operation causes, either singly or combined, of the nature referred to, it is inevitable that a home, though in some degree pious, should be distressed by the pr13$ence _of u?igodly sons. So far as man's ~onduct determines religi~n or irreligion in offsprmg, 1t would be contrary to the action of natural laws for p10us sons to be the product of efforts inadequate to the end in view. If sons are godly in spite of errors and bad influence at home, it is because God in his mercy has brought other and more blessed influences to bear. Even defective training may be ultimately remedied by a more true use of prayer for mercy. Great sinners. The sons of Eli were the greatest sinners of their degenerate ag·e. From the most favoured home the worst men came forth. All sin is a great evil. It is the curse of man, the abomination of God. In its essence it is rebellion against the All-wise and Holy One. For all lack of conformity to his will implies a will supposed to be a more desirable guide than his, which is insult and insubordina- tion. But the Bible represents some sins as of deeper dye than others. There are beings deserving to be" beaten with many stripes." The tests by which the enormity of sins is estimated are, after reference of all to the perfect purity of God- I. THE CHARACTER Oil' THE DEEDS. The deeds perpetrated by the sons of Eli were of the vilest kind. In themselves they were calculated to awaken the intensest dis- gust and abhorrence of every pure and reverent mind. It is hard to conceive how men blessed with early privileges could sink so low, were it not that modem Christian times have produced the darkest sins in the professedly religious. The sins of open profanation of the sanctuary, of despite to the solemn sacrifice, of pollution in guiltiest lust, were but the outward expression of a state of soul foul, reckless, defiant beyond all description.. So, generally, the dark, horrid deeds on which men look are but the indicators of a very hell of iniquity deep down in the soul. There are- II. THE PRIVILEGES ENJOYED. It added guilt to the sin of the young men that they were the sons of tlie priest of God. It is a grave responsibility to be born of parents endued with any degree cf piety. Especially are they under strong obliga- tion to avoid sin who are, by virtue of their connection with the ordinances of worship, taught out of the law of the Lord, and surrounded by the hullowed influ- ences of the sanctuary. Every wise book read, every kind influence exercised, every prayer offered in public, or by parent8 at home, gives additional light and power wherewith to avoid the paths of sin. It requires a long and hard inward struggle to keep down conscience so as to become a desperate sinner. Men do not sink to lowest depths of vice suddenly. Every successive step is taken against clear light and restraining powers, and when the final surrender to guilty deeds is made, the whole privileges of the past speak out the greatness of the evil. The poor idolater ignorantly causing his sons to pass through the lire to Moloch is less guilty than the sons of Israel's high priest, when, crushing every sacred feeling, they turn from all the light of years to profane the sanctuary by violence and lust. Sodom was vile, but decorous Capernaum viler. The sin of despising a holier Sacrifice than of bulls and lambs is often committed by men blessed with faithful teaching. Ill. 'l'HE POSITION OCCUPIED. To the eye of the Hebrew the office of priest w,is most sacred. The reverence cherished for the office was transferred in some degree to the person who filled it. Hence, perhaps, the patience and submission with which the worshippers endured the greed and violence of the guilty sons of Eli. In itself, being a consecration of life to the holiest of employments, and considered, also, as a type of the one perfect Priesthood, there was solid reason for the comm')n senti- ment. No position is morally higher than tliat of him who sttmds between man and God for the performance of most solemn duties. Hence in all ages it has been recognised that the ministers of the sanctuary, whether priests, as anciently, or pastors and teachers, do exercise an innuenee which, while increasing the force of 44 THE FlRSr BOOK OF SAMUEL. [en. II. 11-26.