Vere. 19, 20.-The Review. The text reminds us- I. T!llT THE SEASON OF DEATH IS A TWE FOR REFLECTION. 1. In presence of a corpse the giddiest pause. (1) This is seen when an ordinary funeral passes along the streets, in the sombre countenances of the bystanders, if not in more special tokens of respect. It is more evident still when the deceased may h:ave been an acquaintance or a relative. But most so in the very house of mournmg, where the relics are seen shrouded in their pallor and immobility. (2) What trains of thought are started I (a) What a mystery is death I (b) What a _mystery is life! (c) What a mystery is futurity I-the spirit world-the resurrection-the jndgment-heaven-hell. (cl) Are we prepared to encounter the inevitable? Who can forecast the moment? (e) Why should we defer the needful preparation? 2. When a m,onarch dies a nation thinks. (1) 'fhis is so under ordinary condi- tions. The social position occupied is so elevated that the event is conspicuous to all. What a leveller is death I In this article all claim kindred, the prince and the beggar (Prov. xxii. 2). (2) But Jeroboam'e death wae by the stroke of God (2 Chron. xiii 20). Such a conepicuone judgment was fitting to the man of sin (see Isa. xi. 4 ; 2 These. ii. 8; Rev. xix. 15). How alarmingly would such a death speak to workers of iniquity I (3) The demise of Jeroboam opened tho succession to Nadab, who, without the genius of his father, followed in hie iniquities. 8. B'IJ,t the virtuous only are lamented. (1) Jeroboam was buried. He <µa come to t~a sepulchre "with his fathers." And he may have had the formality of a family mourning. His household may have gone barefoot, wept, tom their clothes, emote on their breasts, lay on the ground and fasted, as the custom was. (2) But there was no national mourning. The public mourning for Moses and Aaron lasted thirty dB.ye, that for Saul seven (Num. n. 29; Dent. xxxiv. 8; 1 Sam. xxxi. 18). OH, XIV, 1-20.] THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 821
For Abijeh, a pious prince of the house of Jeroboam, there was a nl!'tional mourning, though he never came to the throne ; but for Jeroboam, after a reign of twenty-two years, no mourning I (Ver. 18.) (8) What a contrast-the apathy of the nation, now at the close of their experiment at king-making, to the enthusiasm at its commencement (eh. xii. 20) I How seldom do revolutionists adequately consider the end I They often anticipate a paradise and :find a hell. II. THAT WE SHOULD, THEREFORE, SO LIVE TB.AT SUCH REFLECTIONS MAY PROVF. GRATEFUL. To this end our policy should be-1. Pure. (1) Such was not the policy of Jeroboam. When his people became restive under his rule, and he feared they would return to Rehoboam, instead of looking to God, he forsook Him and made Israel to sin. (2) The policy of purity is the policy offaith. Faith in God- in Christ-in truth. 2. Peaceable. (1) Peace ie kin to purity (James iii. 17). God made peace for Jeroboam before he had departed from Him (see eh. xii. 21-24). So does He still undertake for His people (Prov. xvi. 7). (2) Wars are born of evil lusts (James iv. 1). WbP.n Jeroboam forsook the Lord, then commenced an embroil- ment in hostilities from which he was never free. First with Rehoboam (ver. 30), then with Abijah (2 Chron. xiii). 8. So shall we avoid disaster. (1) By pursuing an opposite policy Jeroboam brought disaster upon himself. His body was smitten by God. There is no evidence of any repentance to the saving of his soul. (2) He brought disaster upon his family. The beet of his sons died prematnrely for his sin. Two years later he perished himself. Still two years later and his race became exterminated with violence. (3) He brought disaster upon his people. Impatient of taxation under Rehoboam, they made him king, but got no relief, having to build palaces and sustain wars. And by their complicity in bis idolatry they filled up the measure of their iniquity and incurred the anger of God, which involved them in the miseries of foreign invasion and captivity. What profit is there in a crown that is retained by the policy of sin ? The whole world is dearly purchased with the lose of the soul.-J. A. M. Ver. 18.-Early Piety in am, Unezpected Place. (A Sermon to Young People.) Jeroboam had married in Egypt a princess named Ano. She was the elder sister of Tahpenes, the wife of Shishak, king of Egypt. Their home had been gladdened by the Lirth of a child, whom they brought with them on Jeroboam's return to his own tribe and country. This child, Abijah, on whom their affections and the hopes of the people were :fixed, was stricken by illness, and seemed likely to die. Then the parents turned to the Lord in their trouble, for the calves at Bethel and Dan, they knew, were powerless to help them. [Note the frequency with which those who in theory deny God, or in practice forget Him, seek His help in their time of fear and grief.] They would not send to the temple at J eruealem for several reasons ; but Jeroboam remembered the old prophet, Ahijeh, who had spoken to him in the field some years before (eh. xi. 29-31), and foretold that he should rule over the ten tribes of Israel. Accordingly, Queen Ano secretly set out for Shiloh (the ancient sanc- tuary), where, in a humble home, the prophet lived. She disguised herself as a poor woman, and took a present such as a peasant would offer-ten loaves, two rolls for the children of the prophet, a bunch of raisins, and a jar of honey. Jeroboam hoped he might, by this deceit, get a word of hope about the dying boy, f~r he knew.that he could not expect comfort from Ahijah, because he hadgrievo~sly disobeyed his command. He feared, therefore, that if the man of God recogruzed Ano he would rebuke this sin. The attempt was vain. The prophet, nearly blind though he was, knew by revelation who was coming. Terrible were the words of doom he uttered about the house of Jeroboam; and the only gleam of comfort for the parents was that in Abijah " there was found some good thing towards the Lord God of Israel," so that he should not have the curse of living to see and sharo the woe and shame which were coming. Abijah gives us an example of piet~ which is worthy of consideration, especially by the young. 0
I. Al11JAH S PIETY WAS EARLY. 1. Define piety. It is right disposition toward. God, resulting from the secret influence of God's Holy Spirit. It reveals itself in desires after what is good, and pure, and trus; in resolutions to seek these ; in 828 THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. [on. XIV. 1-20,