the othe~, froi:n b~':_evolence in the form of me~cy. "According to !!is .mercy I e iaaved us (Titus 111. 5). 2. In the mode by winch they are commumcated. 'l'l·e opC'ration of the laws of nature (Gen. viii. 2:!; Jer. v. 21); the gift and sacrifice·of his only begotten Son. "Through Jesus Christ." 3. In the nearness with which the great Benefactor comes to us. "Thou visitest the earth" (Ps. lxv. 0) ; but" blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causest to approach unto thee" (Ps. !xv. 4) in that closer fellowship which those who are reconciled in Christ enjoy, and wli'ose hearts are the temple of thine abode, the habitation of thy Spirit. "Revelation is the vnlnntary approximation of the infinite Being to the ways and thoughts of finite lnn11:inity ; and until this step has been taken by Almighty grace, how should man ha,·c a warrant for loving him with all his mind, and heart, and strength?" (A H. Hallam). II. INVOLVE MORE YALUABLE GOOD. 1. The one pertains to the body, the other to the soul. 2: The one ~o man c?nsidered simply as a cr_eature, needing support; the other as a sinner, needmg forgiveness, renewal, salvation. 3. The one pertains to time, the other to eterni,t,y; "bread that perisheth," "bread that endureth to ever- lasting life" (John vi. 27, 51); "that good part which cannot be taken away" (Luke x. 42). III. PRODUCE MORE EXALTED JOY. "Rejoiced." "The joy in harvest" (Isa. ix. 3). I. In its relation to God. The one is felt less and the other more directly in him. Tlie difference is very much the same as that which exists between the joy felt at receiving a present from a friend at a distance, nnd that of seeing his face and holding personal intercourse with him. And what are all the harvests which the earth ever µroduced compared with one smile of the Father's countenance, one whisper of Di,-ine love? (Ps. iv. 6, 7). 2. In its influence on the heart; elevating, purifying, enlarging, strengthening, satisfying it. 3. In its power over circumstances. The joy of our harvest may be speedily turned into sorrow by bereavement (ver. 19) and other afflictions ; but the joy which is felt in God is independent of outward circum- stances, lifts the soul above them (Hab. iii. 17, 18), lives in death, and is perfected in hea,enly bliss. ' IV. INCITE TO MORE COMPLETE CONSECRATION. 1. With respect to the Giver. His hestowment of "fruitful seasons, filling our heart with food and gladness," incites to some return to him (Exod. xxiii. 14-17) ; but his bestowment of mercy and grace, to tl,e "whole burnt offering" of the man himself (Rom. xii. 1). 2. With respect to our fellow-men. The one incites to the giving of "those things which are necessary for the body" (Exod. xxiii. 11); the other incites (and effectually constrains) to the giving of what is good for the whole m,m, body and soul; to self-sacrifice, and the "peace offerings" of brotherly kindness, and of charity toward all men. 3. The whole course of life; not in one or two acts merely, but in a continued service of love to be completed in eternity. Conclu.ion.-1. If God has bestowed upon you temporal good, rejoice not in it so much as in spiritual. 2. If he has withheld it, rejoice in the higher good which is yours. 3. "Seek first the kingdom of God," &c. (Matt. vi. 33).-D. Vern. 19, '20.-lrreverence. I. THE OFFENCE. The Philistines are not blamed for sendincr away the ark of God on a wooden car. They did not know, or, if they knew, they h~d no means of observing, the mode of carriage by Levites which had been prescribed in the Mosaic law. In placing the ark on a new car never before used, and drawn by young cows that had never before worn a yoke, the Philistines meant to show respect. But the men of Beth-shemesh, being Israelites, and having Levites amonu- them, knew, or ought to have known, the laws reg·arding the sacred ark. So they ~ere more severely judged. Their familiar handling of the ark was a pre- wmptuous sin. lrre,·erence had grown during the _vears of misgovernment and license through which Israel had passed. It is evident that before the people would have dared to send for the ark to Shiloh, and take it into the field of battle, they must Lave lost much of the veneration with which their fathers had regarded the symbol of J eh oval, 's presence. And now the men of Beth-~hemesh actually presumed to look into the 11rk, perhaps to ascertain whether the Philistines had put any gold into it, besicies foe golden offerings which they h,1d placed in a separate coffer. So doing, I ,OH, \"11, 1-17.] Tlm FIIlST BOOK OF SA:\IUEL. 121
.they forgot, or wilfully broke, the law which allowed none of the people rrt large so much ns to approach the ark, and required that the priests should cover it wit!, " veil, before the Kohathites might carry it; and in carrying it those Levites might not lay their hands upon it, but were commanded to bear it on gilt staYes passing through golden rings in the four corners of the sacred chest. Indeed the Kohathites, though thus honoured as the bearers of the ark, were forbidden not onl,v to touch it, but even to go into the most holy place to see it covered under pain of death. 11. THE PENALTY. The Lord saw it needful to restore reverence for his law anrl for the ark of his testimony by striking a blow at presumption which ,vould not be soon forgotten. Accordingly, seventy of the country people at Beth-shemesh were smitten with death. On the same ground, a few years later, was Uzzah the Levite -stricken dead because he put his hand on the ark of God. What a warning against irreverence I For this cause men may die close to the ark of the covenant, perish beside the mercy-seat. Nay, that which is the greatest blessing may be turned by presumption into the greatest disaster. The savour of life may be turned into a savour of death. It is especially a warning to those who '' name the name of the Lord." The ignorant and profane are judged, but not so strictly as those who " pro- fess and call themselves Christians; " just aH the Philistines were afflicted with boils, but the Israelites were visited with death. God is much displeased with listless minds, irreverent postures, and heedless spirits in his Church. No doubt it may be pleaded that such faults come of want of thought, and not of any evil intent; but want of thought is itself a very grave offence in such a matter as the service of God. Even levity is inexcusable ; for, at all events in adult persons, it comes of hardness of heart, ingratitude to Christ, neglect of reflection on sacred themes and objects, en- grossment of thought and affection with the things which are seen, and an indiffer- ence to the presence and purpose of the Holy Spirit. Let us study reverence. " God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the holy ones, and to be had in reverence -0f all that are round about him. "-F.
EXPOSITION.