the Authorized Version, must be understood testifying itself in the crucifixillh of Christ to refer to the.removing of drought by rain. (see also, as comments on the expressions of On the other hand, tb& Authorized Version these two verses, Lev. xxvi. 14 · Deut. iv. is, in ver. 15, unfortuna.te in the unneces- 26, 27; xxviil. 37, and generally 15-64). s1uy and misleading insertion of the italics The se.me Hebrew w<,rds for a proverb and found there, a.nd in the use of the preposi- a byword among all nations are found in tion "in" for of, the simple case comtruct, ver. 37, as just quoted. which is manifestly what is wanted and in- Ver. 21.-The Hebrew ~xt of the tint tended. It was not absolutely essential that sentence of this verse differs here from that prayer should be made in the place. How in the parallel; but, in fact, neither text reads ma.ny references there are to prayer being satisfactorily and smoothly. The parallel made from a distance toward the place I (I Kings ix, 8) inserts the little word "at," Ver.16.-Thisverse gla.nces, as an answer though without italics, e.nd "which" in to the contents, or spirit of the contents, of italic type. The "at" is no doubt intended the second petition at eh. vi. 18-21. The to be condoned as supposed to belong to the beautiful touching condescension in the word astonished ; the following verb hiss wording of the last clause, Mine eyes and also permitting, thou~h not requiring, the mine heart shall be there perpetually, will appendage. Not leanmg to the text of the not escape notice. parallel (which shows no il1i~, and which Vera. 17, 18.-These two verses glance at shows the substantive verb ·in the future the first petition of Solomon's prayer (eh. vi. tense ;i:;:,:), we need not find any particular 15-17). (See also eh. iii. 12; 2 Sam. vii. difficulty in rendering our present text, 12; 1 Chron. xxii. 10.) And this house, which is most high (the Vera. 19, 20.-And forsake. The parallel word well favours this idea), shall be an. (1 Kings ix. 6) puts it, according to the astonishment to every passer by. The Authorized Version, •• If ye shall at all turn Septuagint reads simply, "This lofty house." from following me," etc., which rendering Why he.th the Lord done this 1 (see Deut. on the part of the A1,1thorized Version xxix. 24; Jer. :xxii. 8, 9). To the "astonish- probably errs by excess. Much mercy, much ment" prophesied here the parallel adds, forbearing, long-suffering, and slowness to "shall hiss "-in a forcible expression foun,l anger, were sure to mark the Divine rule; first in eh. xxix. 8, and afterwards in Micah nor would condemnation take effect, nor (vi. 16) and in Jeremiah (xrui. 16; xix. 8; did it take effect, till the revolt of the xxv. 9, eto.; Lam. ii 15, 16). people was a thorough revolt, as finally
HOMILETICS. Vars. 1-22.-The testimony by fire, and the vouchsafed glory of the Lord. This chapter invites attention to four subjects, no one of which is entirely fresh, but each one of which owns to fresh impressiveness by virtue of position, particularity of description, and the more touching associations which now surround it. Attention, then, may be called first of all and chiefly to- I. THE MARVEL OF THE DESCENDING FIBE FROM REA VEN. It is remarkable that the parallel (1 Kings viii.) does not mention this great event, and that a similar event is again carefully recorded by the writer of Chronicles (1 Chron. xxi. 26). Such a descending, kindling, lambent, and consuming fire-what a sign and token it was I What a startling testimony-to give a moment's directness of help to our own thought -such a manifestation of the elder Church would be to some finished effort of our later ecclesiastical life I It is not given, it is not to be given, to us. But never must we allow ourselves to forget that its spiritual antitype is to be believed in, sought by prayer, beheld in purest visinn of the elevated spiritual imagination, and to be regarded as indispensable. It meant, and its real and more spiritual fulfilment means: 1. The notice of heaven. What a genuine help to us, to have reason to believe this, and there- fore gratefully to cultivate the sense of it I The notice of heaven means nothing, or it means the notice of God. As surely as a deep present conviction of that notice is calculated to deter from sin, so surely is it adapted to encourage us in worship, prayer, praise, meditation, and reading of the Word of God, and to dignify to us the nature of'every encracrement. 2. The approval of heaven. There is much indeed that the eye of God unf~ilingly notices, but as unfailingly disapproves. Des_cending fir~ more than once was the proof in the history of the people of Israel of this also, but 1t was very differe:it descent and of altogether differing manifestation. 3. The act!1al participati011 •nd co-operation of heaven. The dedication of the temple was one thmg, but the con• 86 TBE SECOND BOOK OF TH:E: CIIRONiCLES, [ott. vn. 1-~2.