oll "·ho _honour him. Nay, he honours them; bnt after his own manner, not aftet' the fasl11on of the world. He honours_ faithful servants in this world by giving· therr:. more' "·ork to ~o. He honours true w1tn_csses by extending the rang·e for their testi- mony. Sometimes ~1e honours those w1~h whom he is w?ll pl_eased by appointing them to suffer for lns cause. St. Paul evidently deemed tins a !ugh honour. Witness his words to the Philippians: 11 Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe in his name, but also to suffer for his sake." Some he calls aw;y in· early years out of the world, but they leave behind a fragrant honoured name and· they go !o. 11 glory, honour, and immortality" in a better land. It is right to valu~ the good o~m1on_ of our fellow_-men; but there are always drawbacks and dangers in ron11cct10n ~1th _h?nour wluch comes from man.. In seeking it one is tempted to tarm~h lus sm1phc1ty of character, and weaken his self-respect. There is a risk of ,,m·ymg more successful, or exulting over less successful competitors for distinction. But it need ne,er be so in seeking" the honour which comes from God only." We ~eck it b_est not when we push ourselves forward, but when we deny ourselves, hononr !um, and by love serve the brethren. And then in our utmost success we ha Ye no_ground _of self-glorying, f?r all is of grace. Nor is there room for grudging or cn,_rmg. ,v1th the Lord there 1s grace enough to help all who would serve him and glory enough to re,vard all who serve him faithfully. ' 1I. Tim IMPIOUS DESPISED. "And they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.'• D,,spise the Lord God Almighty I Amazing insolence of the human heart, yet not infrequent. The sons of Eli openly slighted Jehovah by their rapacity in the prie~~•s office, and their profaning the precincts of his house with their debauchery. Lt11'.<g n.fter this, priests of Judah are reproved by the prophet Malachi for despising the name of the Lord of hosts, making his table contemptible by laying on it polluted bread, and dishononring his altar by offering maimed animals in sacrifice. The "·aming then, in the first instance, is to those who bear themselves profanely or carelessly in sacred offices, and in familiar contact with religious service. But the sin is one which soon spreads among the people Ezekiel charged the people of Jerusalem with having "despised God's holy things, and profaned his sabbaths" ( eh. xxii. 8). This sin is a common thing in Christendom. Men do not in terms deny God's existence, but make light of him; never read his word with any serious- ness ; never pray unless they are ill or afraid ; count Church service and instruction a weariness. The base gods of the heathen receive more respect and consideration from their votaries. Allah has far more reverence from the Moslem than the great God of heaven and earth obtains from multitudes who pass as Christians. They live as if he had no right to command them, and no power to judge them. They lift their own will and pleasure to the throne, and despise the Lord of hosts. With what result? They shall be lightly esteemed. Even in this world, and this life, the ungodly miss the best distinctions. They are not the men who gather about them the highest confidence or most lasting influence and esteem. After they leave the world, a few are remembered who had rare force of character or an unusually eventful career ; but how the rest are forgotten I .A. few natural tears from their nearest kindred, a few inquiries among friends about the amount and disposal of their property, a decorous silence about themselves on the principle that nothing but what is good should be said of the dead, and so their memory perishes. But all is not over. A terrible hereafter awaits the despisers of the Lord. "As a dream when one awaketh; so, 0 Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image." The clear alternative in this text is one that cannot be evaded. One may try to assume a negative attitude, and allege that he remains in a state of suspe;1se, and does not find the recognition of a Divine Being to be an imperative necess1~y; but this is practically to despise the Lord--making light of his word, and J!ronowiemg his very existence to be a matter of doubtful truth and of seco~dary 1~portance. Reject not wisdom's counsel; despise not her reproof. "To-day, if ye will hea1 tho voice of the Lord, harden not your_hearts."-F.
Ver. 35.-.A / aithful priest. In the strictest sens_e Chr[st. alone is now a Priest. In himself assuming the office, he has for ever ~bohshed 1t _m others, _Henc~ none are ea.lied priests in the New Testament, except m the modified sense in wlnch 1111 OH. Ill. 1-21.] THE FIRST BOOK Of 8AMUEL. 65
wl10 believe in l1im are so called (1 Pet. ii. 9; Rev. i. 6). But taking the expression as erp1ivalent to "n faithful ministry," consisting of men appointed hy Chri8t to a special service for him (Mai. ii. 6, 7 ; Acts vi. 4 ; Ephes. iv. 11 ; Col. i. 7 ; 2 Tim. ii. 2), and faithfully fulfilling the purpose of their appointment, it lead~ us to notice- I. WHENCE IT IS DERIVED. "I will raise up." 1. He alone can do it. From him come natural gifts and, still more, spiritual graceR, eminent faith anrl patience, humility, courage, meekness, tender compassion "on the ignorar:t and 0:1 thern tl,at are out of the way," &c. 2. He has promued and made provision for it (,Jer. iii. 15). "I will build him a sure ( enduring) house." "The death of Christ hatl, a great influence unto this gift of the ministry. It is a branch that grew ont of lhc grave of Christ; Jet it be esteemed as lightly as men please, had not Christ <lied for it we had not had a ministry in the world" (Owen, vol. ix. p. 441 ). He "will be inquired of" for it. If Churches would have" good ministers of Jesus Christ," they must seek them from God (Matt. ix. 38). II. WHEREIN IT APPEARS. "Shall do according to that which is in my heart an,\ in my mind." 1. Supreme regard to bis will as the rule of character and labour. 2. Clear insight into his mind in relation to the special requirements of the time, place, and circumstances. 3. Practical, earnest, and constant devotion to it in all things, the least as well as the greatest. Even as "Christ himself." "I have given you an example." III. WHEREBY IT IS B0N0URF:D. "And be shall walk before mine anointed for ever." 1. Enjoyment of the King's favour (Prov. xvi. 15). 2. Employment in the King's service; in continued, honourable, beneficent, e.nd increasing co-operation with him. 3. Participation in the King's glory for ever. "Be thou faithful,'' &c. (Rev. ii. 10). "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne" (Rev. iii. 21).-D. EXPOSITION.