when "the secrets of nil hearts shall be disclosed," come t-0 the feet of a pardonina God. 2. It cornea to the penitent in the ca-ve of despondency. To all such God says, "Come now, and let us reason together.'' 8. It comes to the indolent in the cave of sloth. Years of profession unrelieved by e. single act of service or sacri- fice call for repentance. 4. It comes to the sorrowful in the cave of murmuring "Lift up the hands which hang down,'' &c •. Suffer your Redeemer to b~g you out of the horrible pit, o.nd " put a new song mto your mouth, even praise unto our God.'' CoNcLus10N. The Lord speaks to all. "To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.''-A. R. Vers. 12.-The still small Voice. Describe the stupendous scenes amidst which Elijah stood. A wind came shrieking up the ~ountain ravines, unseen yet instinct with secret force ; an earthquake made the solid ground heave and reel; fire glared from heaven, like that which had fallen on the sacrifice at Carmel, or on a subse- quent occasion consumed the captains and soldiers of Ahaziah. Amidst this war of the elements the prophet was unmoved by fear; indeed, probably a wild exultation filled his heart as he saw this stormy reflection in nature of the conflict within him. (Compare Shakespeare's splendid description of King Lear ~- the st_orm.) The uproar in nature was succeeded by a solemn calm ; and as EliJah waited for the next marvellous display of Divine power, "a still small voice" broke the silence, and the prophet knew that it was the voice of God. He who till now had been undaunted and unmoved, now reverently covered his face with hie mantle, and bowed in humble worship in the folt presence of Him before whom angels veil their faces. This strange and weird experience evidently had reference to the work which Elijn.h had attempted, ILIIO. over which he was now so despondent. When he learnt thn.t the Lord was not in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire, he re- flected that permanent religious reformation might not result from the mn.terial signs of Divine power, displayed in the withholding of the rn.in, the rn.ising of the dend, or the fall of fire on Carmel, but from the more quiet testimony of his own devout life, and from the fidelity of the " seven thousand who hud not bowell the knee to BnoJ..'' In effect, the message to him n.nd to us wn.s tl1is: "Not by 1.1.llght, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.'' We are taught, in the fil'St place- I. THE SPIRITUAL WEAKNESS OF WII.AT SEEMS MIGHTY. " The Lord was not iu the wind, . . . . in the earthquake, . . . . in the fire.'' Let us exemplify this truth-1. By the experience of Elijah. He had done many mighty works, but the people were stn.rtled rn.ther than roformed. No rndicoJ. and abiding cha.ngo had been effected. "The wind" may re_present the drought, both in its coming ancl in its ceasing; "the earthquake," the rmsing of the chihl from the dead; and "the fire," the answer to prayer on Carmel. It was not these wonders which could change the heart of the people, but " the still small voice" span.king within for Goel 2. By the miracles of judgment. Take the plagues of Egypt as specimons. Marvellous enough they were, but in the result "Pharn.oh's heart was hanlened." 8. By the penalties of the law. Show from the history of Israel, o.nd from the comments made on it in the Epistles, the powerlessness of the law to put away sin. The fear of punishment may check the outward manifestation of sin, but in itself does not conquer innate sinfulness. If a child does not love his father, no orders, however stringently enforced, will make him hn.ppy. It was not John the Baptist, but Jesus Christ, who was the world's Redeemer. 4. By the events of P·rovidence. Illness, the dread of death, a stn.rtling beren.vement, a national calamity, &c., do not convert men, unless through them or n.fter them •• the still small voice" is hoard. Men may be driven to aln.rm, to murmuring, to despn.ir, perhaps to suicide; but their hearts o.re still rebellious under the influence of troublo. It is not the storm, but the voice of Josus in the storm, saying," It is I," thn.t brings rest to those who welcome Him. II. THE SPIRITUAL BTRENOTII OF WHAT SEEMS FEEBLE. The still small voice 1 which C'' •ly a listening man could henr, was more Divine and more mighty than o.l.1 Elijn.b had witnessed before. There wn.s nil the difference between God's power and Go(l's 480 THE FIRST DOOK OF KINGS. [OH. XII., 1-21,
presence. "The Lord was not in the fire," but His was tho still smn,ll voice• con• cerning which we observe-I. It follows on preparation. Elijah had he~rd eo much, had been so startled into keen listening for the wonde1ful, that he did not fail to hear this. So the miracles which had not converted the people had made them ready for Elisha and the school of the prophets. Similnrly John preceded Jesus. It is thus in personal experience. The earthquake did not convert the jailer at Philippi, but it aroused him to ask, "What must I do to be saved l' " Trouble does not save a man, but it may make him ready to listen to the words of life. Some Zl:lust lose a~ befo~e they find all ~ God. 2. It reminds of secret forces. The most mighty are s~ent m nature and m grace ; e.g., gravitation is far more tremendous than volcamc agency. 8. It typifies the influence of the Holy Spirit. " He shall convince the world of righteousness," &c. How secretly He melts the heart to repentance, faith, and obedience, and changes the whole current of affec- tion and thought. 4. It whispers of the love of Christ. He forced none into His kingcl.om, but won all His subjects man by man. Not His reproaches, but His look of love, broke the heart of Peter into penitence, after the denial. Paul's inspiration was found not in applause or success, but in this-that he could ever say, "The love of Christ constraineth me." CONCLUSION. Wait for no resistless influences, for no startling events; but listen to the "still small voice'' which speaks within, testifying of your deep necessity and Christ's gloriollS redemption.-A. R.