give effect to them. No one can deny again that they havo often interfered to crood purpose. Witness the case of J ehoiada. It may sometimes be a dnty to interlere. But all the so.me, their planll is not the plane of politics. Their r.oAirwµ,a is the Chw·ch. And what is lawful, is not always expedient. Their meddling has often cost not only them, but the Church, dear. Well had it been for Abiathar; well for the "\Volseys, Richeliens, and many more, had they never given up" to party what was meant for mankind." There are questions-imperial questions of right and wrong-where the clergy must speak out; there are other questions-party ques- tions-where, for their own and their flocks' sake, they had better hold their peace. II. THAT PRIESTS ARE ?.IEN OF LIKE PASSIONS WITH OTHER MEN. Abiathar appa- rently was not free from that "last infirmity of noble minds.'' It was probably jealousy of Zadok impelled him to conspire against Solomon, and to join hands -with the mw·derer J oab against the prophet Na than. Neither the holy anointing oil nor the discharge of the priest's office destroys the phronema sarlros (see Art. IX.) It is worthy of note that the first high priest was gnilty of idolatry, enry, and murmw-- ings ; that the sons of Eli committed abominable crimes; and that the high priests Annas and Caiaphas condemned the Lord of Glory. Every high priest needed to "make atonement for his own sins" (Lev. xvi. 6, 11). Abiathar, the minister of God, was a traitor against God and His anointed. Having the frailties, temptations, and passions of other men, priests often commit sfns, sometimes commit crimes. IJI. THAT PRIESTS IIIAY BE PUNISHED FOR THEIR CRIMES BY THE SECULAR POWER. For centU1i.es the Latin Chw-ch contended with our forefathers for the exemption of ecclesiastics from the authority of civil tii.bunals. But the J e"l"rish priests enjoyed no such exemption. Abiathar was threatened by Solomon with death, and was thrust out of his office. Our Great High Priest respected the tii.bunal of Pontius Pilate. And His apostle answered for himself before Felix and Festus, n.nd before great Cresar himself. (Cf. Art. XXXVII. of the "Articles of Religion.") But IV. PRIESTS ARE TO BE TREATED WITH THE REVERENCE DUE TO THEIR OFFICE, "Because thou barest the ark of the LORD Goo." Criminous c:ergy are not to be so punishecl as to b1i.ng their sacred calling into contempt (not, e.g., to be set to sweep the streets, as General Butler forced one of the American bishops to do in New Orleans). If the man is entitled to no consideration, the office is. He wears the livery of the Great King. The vessel is" earthen," but the treasure "hea.enly" (2 Cor. iv. 7). "As men are to God's ministers, they will find Him to them." V. PRIESTS M.I.Y BE DEGRADED FROU TREIB POSITION, DUT CANNOT BE DEPRIVED OF THEIR PRIESTHOOD. They did not derive their authority from the civil power. It did not give, and it cannot take away. David did not make Abiathar priest, and Solomon could not unmake him. We find from chapter iv. 4 that he was still called "priest.'' He that is "called of God, as was Aaron," can only be recalled of God. When Solomon" thrust out Abiathar,'' he "deprived him of his dignity, but did not stii.p him of his priesthood" (Theodoret). The state may fine, imprison, banish, put to death Christ's ambassadors according to their deserts, but it may not alter their message, tn.mper with their creeds, confer their onlers, or prescribe their ordinances. "To Cresar the things which are Cresar's, and unto God the things that are God's.'' VJ. JN REMOVING THE UNWORTHY PRIEST THE CIVIL POWER IS FULFILLING THE WILL OF THE LORD. The" sure word of prophecy "-indeed o, double propl!ecy-had its fuUilment when Solomon banished Abiathar. The secular power thereby accom- plishecl the good pleasure of God declared four hundred years before (Num. nv. 13). And the magistrate who, in the exercise of the authority conferretl on him by God for the punishment of evil doers, degrades the criminous priest, silences him, visits him with appropriate pains and penalties, is doing God service ; is fulfilling the will of God, who would have evil ministers above all others brought to justice and chastised; the more influential their example, the more need of conspicuous and exemplary punishment.
Vers. 26-85.-The Death of Joab. "Know ye not that there is a prince o.ncl a great man fallen thie clay in Israel"-so might men say as they heard, so may we 44 TE:E FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. [en. II. 20-36.