receive the benefit of such ability honour the human while they bless the Divine .Author of it. 3. That His a gift for the use of which its possessors should feel a lar;:;e measure of responsibility. Who shall measure the vastness of the influence for good or evil which one man of great ability may exert, if we take into account not only the direct but all the indirect result9 of his action? 4. That the approval and award of the Master depend, not on ability, but on faithfulness. They who have served God with special powers will have the gratification of seeing peculiarly large results; but whether our talents be few or many, if we be faithful at our post, we shall all share the" ·well done" of the righteous Judge.-C. Vers. 14-34.-Aspects of OhrisUan work. In the service of the sanctuary there were many offices to be filled, various duties to be discharged. 'l'hese will bring to our remembrance three aspects of our Christian service. J. THAT LOWLY LABOUR IN TBE SERVICE OF THE SAVIOUR IS HO~OURABLE WORK. The work of the Nethinims (ver. 2) was not to be despised; they did work which was comparatively menial, but it was work that neetled to be done for God, and was accepted by him. Of the Levites, some "had the charge of the ministering vessels" (ver. 28); others of "the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices" (vers, 29, 30); one of them was placed "over the things that were made in the pans" (ver. 31). These offices were humble enough, but they were not count~d dishonourable by those who rendered them, and they were esteemed worthy of record in the sacred chronicle. In the cause of Christ and of man there are many duties that are demanded of us, which, to the eye of impiety, may seem servile and mean. If, however, we are looking at things with the eye of faith and filial love, they will not wear this aspect. Loyalty counts nothing too mean to be rendered to its sovereign ; love nothing too trivial to be offered to its friend. Our loyalty to the heavenly King, our love to our Divine Friend, should make us not only willing but eager to take any part and do any work in his sacred service. II. THAT A POST OF TRUST IS ONE OF SPECIAL HONOUR. It is very noticeable that so much is said about the porters that kept the gates : " the work of the service" is markedly referred to as "keeping the gates of the tabernacle; " these "over the host of the Lord," were" keepers of the entry" (ver. 19; see vers. 21-24). We read also that "four chief porters ..• were over the chambers anu treasuries" (ver. 26). Special provision we.s made for their entertainment (ver. 27). 'l'hese actions wero simple, mechanical-it might be thought lowly, if not menial. But they were places of trust, It was important that none should be admitted to the holy places but thoso who had the right of entrance. These men bad the purity of the sacred courts at their command; they were trusted to see that these were not profaneu by unhallowed feet. When we are trusted by our fellows or by our Master to do nnything, whether it bo in itself serious or slight, we should feel that we are being honoured, and we should put forth all our vigilance, strength, vigour, to prove ourselves worthy of the confidence pl~ced in us. Nothing should make so strong an appeal to our undivided energies ns bemg trusted to see that something is done well in the service of our Saviour. Ill. THAT CONSTANCY IS A VERY VALUABLE VIRTUE IN CHRISTIAN SERVICE. The singers "were employed in that work day and night" (ver. 33). It was pleasing to ~he ear of Jehovah to hear ceaseless strains of holy song in tho house of the Lord. It Is pleasing to the heart of the ascended Saviour to witness spiritual constancy in thosi, tha_t bear his name and profess to be his disciples. He has ordained us that " our fruit should remain" (John xv. 16), He wishes that we should "continue in his love" (John xv. 9). We a.re to continue in the doctrine of Christ (Acts xiv. 22; l Tim. iv. 16 ;_ Col. i. 23), and in brotherly love (Heb. xiii. 1). The secret of constancy in tbo various graces of Christian character is abiding in Christ himself (John xv. 1-7). Abiding in him-our spirit trusting, resting, rejoicing, hoping in him-our lifo will not flicker or expire; it will shine, like the lamp in the holy place, liko tho song in tho sanctuary," day and night," steadily, serenely, abidingly, in the presence of Gotl.-C.
Ver. 20.-11 God with us." "Tho Lord was with him." These words frequently occur in the sacred Scriptures. Of many of the worthies of ancient time is God's favouring 11reoonce stated-of Abraham (Gen. nvi. 24), of Jacob (Gen. uviii. 15), of Josepu 118 TilE FIRST DOOK OF 'l'IIE CHUONICLES. [en. Ix. 1-44.
(Gen. xxxix. 2), of Samuel (1 Sam. iii. 19), of David (l Sam. xviii. 14), etc. 'l'hore is evidently something more in the words than- I. THE OBVIOUS SKNSE IN WHICII Gon IS CONSTANTLY l'HRSEN'r Wl1'11 EVImY ONE, The omuiprcsent One cannot be separated, in space, from any of his creatures. " llo is not far from cv<•ry one of us: for in him we live, and move, and ho.ve our bciug" (Acts xvii. 27, 28). " A wake, asleep, at homo, abroo.d, We are surrounded still with God."
(See Ps. cxxxix.) We shall fail to find in the text its chief significance if we do not scc- II. THE DEEPER SE~SE rn WHICH Gon IS WILLING TO DE NEAR us ALL. He is ready to be with us: 1. \\Tith his favouring presence; as a loving friend is, in sweet fellowship with his friend. 2. With his sympathizing presence; as tl.ic patient mother is with her sick or suffering child, taking his hand to assure him of her closeness to him and tender care for him. 3. \Vith his encouraging presence; as a teacher is with his pupil, animating him to do his best in the trial-hour. 4. With his guiding and _guardian presence; as the father leads his child on in the darkness, at once showing the way and defending from the unknown perils in the pQth. If we yield ourselves to God in the time of our youth, and determine to walk with Christ along the path of life, 1 lien his gracious presence will attend us at every step, he will be with us to our journey's end, and will finally take us to be with him in the eternal home.-C.