Verily the ark of God, the presence of God, the secret of God, the Spirit of God the Church of God, are all of and with the hum hie and ung:t asping and unexpectant h'eart. That kind of heart God surprises and makes it his home. Ill. HIGH RELIOIOUS TRUST FAITHFULLY MET AND FULFILLED BRINOS FULLEST RICHEST BLESSING. It is well to note the great stress laid upon the shower of blessin; that descended upon the house of Obed-edom and himself, "and all that he had." It were well if it were not too much considered old-fashioned to think, to say, heartily to believe, that God's blessing does go with hospitality shown to bis servants, liberality shown to his Church, honour shown to his Word. The history before us tells us the old-day fact plainly. It is not obsolete as a principle. Let the conditions be seen again, and the results will be seen again. If, indeed, a man give wealth and render honour, hoping to receive for it in another way what he would regard as a very ample equivalent, this should earn for itself but the name of another form of simony and evoke again the just anathema, "Thy money perish with thee . . . thou hast neither part nor lot in the matter . . . thy heart is not right in the sight of God." Therefore we cannot say, and would not say, "Let the experiment be but tried, and await with confidence the result." For so soon as ever it be regarded as experiment, and take the least semblance of any of the shapes of calculation, the Spirit has gone-the greater Spirit has sped his flight far enough distant. But when this thing genuinely appears in heart or home, and honour is first shown to God, service first shown to Christ, and the ear listens first of all sounds for the whisper of the Spirit-theA three months' sojourn of all Divine token is none too much condescension for the majesty of Heaven to deian, and perennial blessing upon the family, the business, and all unto which the hand ~ay be set, none too great bounty for the Giver of all to bestow. That house is full of fra- grance; the perfume spreads grateful abroad. More and still more of gift is not grasp- ingly, selfishly, anxiously sought. It comes, and the earth yields her prophetic full increase. Little enough is said of what reverence, what care, what holy fear, Obed- edom and family showed the ark. These are to be supoosed. But enough is said of bow well God pays his faithful steward.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 1-3.-Revival of religion, The resolve to fetch back the ark of God was a sign of reviving interest in religion, of a more lively desire for the Divine favour, and of a deeper sense of the importance of observing religious ordinances. .As the symbol of the Divine presence, as the depository of mementos and pledges of Jehovah'R authority and mercy, the ark was held sacred by the Hebrew people. Its proper position was in the most holy place of the tabernacle. It was justly felt to be a national calamity when the ark was taken by the Philistines in battle. That it was allowed to remain after its restoration at Kirjath-jeariru for seventy years was culpable negligence, which was significant of religious indifference. The newly elected king was acting rightly aa the human head of the theocratic kingdom in 11dvising that the almost forgotten ark should be brought up with joyful solemnities to Jerusalem. His resolution, supported by the sympathy and co-operation of the people, was indicative of a revival of religion. 'l'he incident suggests several highly important lessons. I. NATIONAL IRRELIOION ENTAILS NATIONAL CALAMITIES. It is always unjustifiable to attribute specified individual instances of calam:ty to the intentional interposition of a retributive Providence. At the same time, the world is under a righteous Ruler, and communities as well as individuals are subject to his sway, National vices and crimea have unquestionably a tendency to produce national troubles and disasters. Sin cannot go unpunished; a nation suffers when a nation errs. II. REPENTANCE 18 A NATIONAL DUTY. If a people in its corporate capacity can err, why can it not in the same capacity repent? David reminded the chiefs that, as a people, Israel had not inquired at the ark in the days of Saul. 'fhus he quickened the conscience of the community. Insensibility to sin is of all sins the worst. 'l'o recognize and confess, to mourn and to forsake sin, is the indispensable condition of acceptance 11nd of reformation. " If we confess our sins, he is faithful," etc. JJT. IN 4 GREAT IIOBAI, CJIIIIIB IT BECOMES THE BJ:PR'F.RENTATIVES 011' J.. NATION 'IO 206 THE FIRST BOOK OF 'l'HE CHRONICLES. [oK. xm. 1-14,
CONSULT WITH A VIEW TO UNITED REVIVAL, David consulted every leader and referred the matter _to all the congregation. In a theocracy, nq doubt, action was possible. which 1,;,oul~ be impracticable in a nation '!"here great diversity of opinion· and practice prevails. But how obviously appropriate is it that religious societies and their leaders -the devout, the wise, the experienced-should take counsel with a view to religious re,i val and reform ! IV. GENERAL COUNSELS OF REFORMATION SHOULD ISSUE IN PRACTICAL ACTION, The people were not brought together merely to "talk over" the existing state of things. They were summoned under the king's leadership to act, and they did act. (What are called "resolutions" at religious meetings are often misnamed; it is sometimes the case that those who pass them never dream of exerting themselves to carry them into effect.) If religion is to be revived and the land to be purged of iniquity, if the favour of God is to be recovered and the honour of God to be sought, it must be by united effort and action. Each godly person must ask, "What can I do towards such an end?'' True acknowledgment of God is not merely veri:Jal, it is practical. When all the people, repenting of sin, turn unto the Lord, he too will turn them again unto himself, and they shall be saved.-T.