HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 1-8.-The Impenitent Beeker. The day of judgment will come at the ond of the world, when the heavens and earth shall be bnrnt up (2 Thess. ii. 7-10; 2 Peter iii. 7). But this he.s its prelude in a, sea.son of judgments which overtakes the sinner in this life. Jeroboam, havin~ sinned away his day of grace, had now entered into such a season. But of this he seems to have been doubtful. Hence learn-- I. THAT TBE SINNER l\lAY BE SURPRISED IN HIS SEASON OF JUDGMENTS. 1. That there are such seasons is evident. (1) Witness the great deluge (Gen. vi. 11-13). Also the rain of fire on the cities of the plain (Gen. xix. 13). The overthrow of nations. Signal visitations upon notorious sinners (Exod. ix. 13-15; 1 Sam. =viii. 15-19). (2) Such were presages of the awful judgment to come (Matt. xxiv. 37-39; 2 Peter ii. 4-G; Jude 5-7; Rev. xviii. 4). 2. But all affeictions are not such retributions. (1) Some are entailed upon us through the fall, and alike affect the penitent and impenitent (Gen. iii. 16-18; Job v. 17; 1 Cor. x. 13). (2) Some come to us through the wickedness and blnndering of those around us. Many suffer, irrespec- tive of their character, as when a ship is wrecked through the drunkenness of the master. (3) Some are appointed or permitted for disciplinary and educational purposes. These are often amongst our greatest blessings. (4) Sometimes we suffer for the benefit of others-vicarioUBly. When this is voluntary it is very Christ-like (see Psa. xxii. 11; Col i. 24). (5) Under all these we have a. refuge in God (P~a. iL 9, 13; xlvi. 1). 3. These may be confounded. (1) Had Jeroboam known that the mercy of God had reached its limit, and that the season of retribu- tion had set in, he might have spared his queen her journey to Shiloh. (2) But what else could he have expected 'l Was he not obstinately wedded to his sins 'l Had he not before him the history of Saul? (1 Sam. :xxviii. 15-19.) (3) Men still, in our day, presume upon the mercy of God to their destruction. Eminently the case wHh those who defer repentance. Learn further- II. THAT A SINNER MAY SEEK THE LORD TO NO GOOD PURPOSE. This happens- !. When the end sought is unprofitable. (1) Suoh was the case with Jeroboam. His inquiry should have been, not, "What shall become of the child?" but, "How may the anger of God be averted?" (Compare 2 Sam. xii. 16, 17.) But he was not prepared to repent of his sin. (9) His inquiry was one of curiosity as to the future. Similar curiosity was manifested by Sanl under similar circumstances. It is unseemly for a sinner to pry into Divine mysteries rather than seek the salva- tion of his soul 2. When the spirit of the seeker is improper. (1) He did not, indeed, seek his calves (compare 2 Kings i. 2). He rather sought Ahijah, because the spirit of prophecy was with him (ver. 2). But he had no such faith in his calves. (2) Why, then, did he not renounce them? He had reasons of worldly policy ngainst this (see eh. xii 26-28). He was therefore o. deceiver of the people. Hence he would have his queen disguise herself. So several of the Popes were known to have been infidels. (3) So were he and his dupes doomed to perish together (see Matt. xv. 14; 2 Thess. ii. 9-12; 1 Tim. iv. 1, 2). 3. When the manner of the search is unwo·rthy. (1) He paid a respect to the man of God. This was the meaning of his present (see 1 Sam. ix. 7, 8). Hence such gifts are oo.lled blessings (see Gen. xuiii. 10, 11; Judg. i. 15; 1 Sam. uv. 17; x:u. 26, marg.; 2 Kings v. 15). (2) Even Jacob would eat of his son's venison before he l>roceeded to bless him (see Gen. xxvii. 4, 19, 25, 31; see also 1 Kings xvii. 11). (3) So are God's blessings and sacrifices offered to Him commonly associated (see Gen. viii. 20-22; ix. 1-17). All His blessings come to us througl;i. the sacrifice of Christ; and especially so when we, by faith, present Christ to Him. (4) But here wo.s no sacrifice ; and the value of the gift was small. Who.t were a few loaves, a few cakes, o.nd a cruse of honey as a gift from a king I (Compare 2 Kings v. 5; viii. 9.) The meanness of his present wo.s another reason why he would have his queen disguised. What an argument for early piety is here I Surrender to Christ before you 1 RINGS. 'I 822 THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. [on. xrv. 1-20.
nre overt.aken by a season of judgments. How admonitory is this subject to the effect that prnyer should be true; that we should seek the right thing, in the right spirit, and in the right manner 1-J. A. M.