severity of the Mosaic code, the frequency of the penalty of death, and the strictness with which the penalty was in almost every case exe.cted. The first idolatry was vunished by the death of three thousand by the sword (Exod. xx.xii. 28). Nadab and A.bihu, for offering strange fire, were destroyed by :fire from heaven (Lev. x. 1, 2). When Korab, Datban, and Abiram rebelled against Moses, the earth gaped and swallowed them up (Numb. xvi. 32). The iniquity of Peor was avenged by the ,daughter of all the beads of the people (Numb. x.xv. 4, 5). The sin of Gibeah cost the lives of twenty-five thousand Benjamites (Judg. x.x. 46). Elijah, in calling down :fire from heaven upon the minions of an idolatrous tyrant sent to arrest him for declaring to their master the sentence of Jehovah, was but acting in the general spirit of the Law, which regarded all opposition to Jehovah as deserving of death, and looked upon the inspired prophets of God as the ministers of an avenging righteuusness. From time to time some signal display of Jehovah's anger against rebels and his p<iwer to punish them was requisite to preserve among the people any respect or reverence at all for true religion ; and Elijah deemed that the time for such a display was now come. That the fire fell at bis word showed that he had judged aright, and that his will reflected the Divine will and was in unison with it. II. THl!: SPIRIT OF THE NEW DISPENSATION. The new dispensation opened with the proclamation of" peace on earth, good will toward men" (Luke ii. 14). The curses of the Law were replaced by the Beatitudes" (Matt. v. 3-10). The gentle and tender Jesus destroyed nothing but a single senseless tree (Matt. x.xi 19). He went about doing good. He was" sent to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that wer~ bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord" (Luke iv. 18, 19). When men rose up against him, when his life was attempted, before his hour was come, he was content by an exertion of his mire.culous power to withdraw himself, to pass through their midst, and go his way. On one occasion be himself pointed the contrast between the two dispensations in the most distinct and remarkable manner. It was when he and his disciples were proceeding on a journey through this very district of Samaria, where Elijah had shown forth the justice of God, that his disciples, James and John, the "Sons of Thunder," as they were called, desired to repeat the Tishbite's net for the punishment of some Samaritans who would not permit him to enter their village. "Lord," they said, "wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? " But they little knew the Master they addressed. Jesus "turned and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village" (Luke ix. 51-56). "It was," remarks Archbishop •rrench, "as if he had said, 'Ye are mistaking and confounding the different standing- points of the old and new covenants, taking your stand upon the old-that of au avenging righteousness, when you should rejoice to take it upon the new-that of a forgiving love'" (' Notes on the Miracles,' eh. iv. p. 36, note). 'l'he spirit of the Christian dispensation is seen especially in such commands as the following: "Resist not evil but whoaoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the othtn· al~o" (Matt. v. 39) ; " Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you" (Matt. v. 44); "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another" (Rom. xii. 10); " Recompense to no man evil for evil " ~Rom. xii. 17); "Avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it 1s written; Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink : for in so doing thou ehalt heap coals of fire upon his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good" (Rom. xii. 19--21).
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. . Vere. 1--4.-Seeking after strange gods: its cause and consequence. We are here mtroduced to a kingly home. All the pomp of royalty is there. Ilut it is not a happy home. To begin with, there is sickness in that home. Royalty, or rank, or riches 8 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. [err. 1.1-18.