The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 68

show so fully how God has been pleased-in lesser spheres and in greater, in temporal atfairs and in spiritual, throughout all the Jong ages-to use the impulse of rewards. 'l'his may be fully and impressively illustrated in the Bible story; and of the character of the illustrations we give a. few suggestive instances. 1. In the first trial of humanity it was distinctly understood that the maintenance of all that was gathered up in Paradise was the reward of obedience. 2. To Abraham God offered himself in his personal favour, and in hi~ power to guide and bless, as "his exceeding great Reward," and even Abraham's fmth and loyalty were upheld by the promise that in his "seed all nations of the earth should bo blessed." 3. Israel was helped to endure the rigours of Egypt, and to make a great stand for liberty, under the assurance of a great reward, even the heritage of the land that flowed with milk and honey, And it has often been pointed out tlrn.t temporal prosperity in Canaan was distinctly offered as the reward of obedience to the Law. 4. 'l'he prophets-as may be most impres- si,ely seen in Isaiah-held before the people most glowing visions of coming clays aR the sure reward of a full and hearty national return to Jehovah. 6. Our Lord himself fitted the impulse of reward into his most gracious invitation, "Come unto me . . . and I will give you, rest." 6. The apostles urge the disciples to all earnestness in the Christian life and labour, by the assurance that we run for an "incorruptible crown," and may hope to receive a. "crown of glory, that fadeth not away." Our last sight of Christ in the Word presents him as saying," Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me." We may, then, use the promise of rewards; they appeal to senti- ments and feelings in us that are good and useful. We may magnify the grace of God in even thus helping us to win "the holy." And we may reasonahly expect present, and certainly look for future, gracious rewards of obedience and faithfulness.-R. 'l'. "Vers. 21-23.-The dignity of all work. These verses set before us the interesting fact that God recognizes a man's occupation, and knows precisely his sphere and his work. .Another striking illustration of the precision of the Divine knowledge, and the observation even of a man's handicraft, is found in Acts x. 5, 6, where God gives these minute directions: "Send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter; he lodgeth with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside." In these verses different occupations are honourably mentioned; some wrought fine linen; others were potters and gardeners and hedgers ; and so is suggested to us the honourableness and usefulness of all kinds of work. '!'here was no such sentiment among the Jews as unhappily prevails in all so-called highly civilized countries, that there is a kind of degradation in having to work for your own living. Every Jewish Loy was required to learn a trade, and the greatest rabbis preserved their dignity and learning along with service to the community in some humble occupati_on. Consider- !. ,vORK AB A CONDITION OF HUM.AN LIFE ON THE EAilTH. If there IS one law more absolute for mankind thau another, it is that they shall work, 'l'hey are set in this , arth-garden, as Adam was in Paradise, to win it, to use its forces, to dress it, to keep it. For " work" man is endowed. He has muscles with the needed physical strength, and hands with the needed physical skill, and brains with the needed guidance and control. And he is in the midst of condilions that demand work; the earth will only yield l1er stores and her increase in response to man's work, If a man "will not work," then the law God has put into the very creation of the earth is, that "he shall not eat." And this work-condition is designed by God to bear directly 01. ,rnrn's moral tramrng. Only by and through work can character grow aad unfold. Toil is testing and trial, out of which alone can virtue be born. So all work is noble and holy. II. WoRK AS A CONDITION OF CIVILIZED LIFE. Here its simplicity is lost. It becomes a diversified and complicated thing. As men live together in cities a thousand fresh wants, real and fancied, become created, nnd trades are multiplied for the supply of the thousand wants. Work is divided and subdivided; sometimes it seems a higher kind, and sometimes a lower. While some must work by hand, others are called forth to work by voice, and pen, and brush, and chbel, and brain. Thousands must toil in various ways to supply the necessaries of life, and tens of thousands must toil to supply the ever-increasing demand for luxuries. And so, in civilized times, work seems too uften to grow into man's curse; and he toils at sweat of brain as well as uf face; 1111d -spencls strength and health ancl life in winning bread from tho~c who "fare sump- cil. 1v. 1-43.J 'l'HB 1~1RS1' BOOK OF THE CHil.ONICLES. 59