HOMILETICS. VerL 1-18.-7'ie/ormaeive inftuenr,e of the (Jhurck. In the exceeding abundance cif suggestion of homiletic matter that characterizes Scripture, and even its historic books, there is naturally so much the less temptation to strain its sacred contents twhich at orr. vm. 1-lR.] 'l'HE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. !J7 ----------------------- - - - - - o.11 times serve their own purposes) by laying them under forced contributions to this prirticul!lr Borvice. It may be, therefore, perhaps best to say at once that this chapter docs not proffer, anything specially suitable for homiletics proper. None the less is it true that tho c)lapter o.uee exhibit certain points which look this way, and worthy of notice-as, e.gJ, once the central religious institution of the Church ancl nation bas found its settled pl11C8',!lnd established form, many other things seem even predisposed to seek and to find their settlement too, their order, and their abiding strength. The building of cities regained or rest~red, and the rebuilding, repair, and fortification of others- store cities and chariot cities and horsemen's cities (vers. 1-6, the language of the last of these verses reading, it will be noticed, specially emphatically); the assi!ming of the payment of tribute to the descendants of the original inhabitants (who, contrary to Divine direction, had not been thoroughly outrooted from the land) whose privileges there, as resident in and amid Israel, were cheaply bought by that tribute; the assigning of independence and posts of authority to others, of the people and officers of Israel itself (vers. 7-10); the apparently growing spiritual perception of Solomon, in what might presumably be regarded as a somewhat critical step, the removing·of bis wife, Pharaoh's daughter, from an abode that was "sacred," to one that was a palace indeed of palaces, but not sacred (ver. 11); the full observance and reviving from Moses' time and stand- point of all religious ritual and ceremony (but supremely of all which concerned the altar) for daily service and sacrifice, and sabbath and new moon service and sacrifice, and for those of the triple solemn feasts, to wit, of Unleavened Bread, of Weeks, and of Tabernacles, with the necessary courses of priests, Levites, musicians, and porters ;--a;ll this came of the" perfecting of the house of the Lord" (vers. 12-16), as though it were actually complementary to it. Does it not read, when all taken together, for the unsophisticated and devout mind, like some forecast of these two things, which we now, in the modern Church, so often say or hear said: 1. That the welfare of the diocese follows its bishop and its cathedral service, taking its tone and deriving no little of its health from them? This is abundantly conspicuous in the history of a newly carved out diocese. 2. A.nd that, one thousand to fifteen hundred years ago, the formative influence of the Church over the nation was indisputable; that the Church made the nation far more than the nation the Church, conspicuously lending to it, nay, giving to it a strength of foundation, variety of elements, and those in especial that make for durableness? Nineteen centuries a.go a theocracy, which may with most reverent intention be called comparatively mechanical, passed away. Let us hope, pray, and work that the centuries from then to the present hour may be but superseding it, with that founded on the new and better covenant.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-6.-Wise work. David had done excellent work for his country by unit- ing all the tribes of Israel in a strong band of attachment to himself, and thus to one another; also in defeating and subjecting the neighbouring powers, and thus giving peace and tranquillity to the nation. Solomon, coming after him, seconded and sustained him, not by acting on the same lines, but by "a new departure." Vv e very often show the truest regard to those who have been before us by illustrating their spirit in a very different method from that which they adopted. Solomon, like the wise man he was, set about building. He "built the house of the Lord and his own house" (ver. 1), taking time and building well. He then built cities, which were either strongholds or emporiums, serving useful purposes in war or in peace. He seems to have accom- plished much by so doing. I. WHAT SOLOMON AOHIEVED DY BUILDING. 1. He increased the security of his dominions. 'l'hoAe "fenced cities, with walls, 11:a.tes, and bars," must have added con- siderably to the defensive power of Israel. 2. He took effectual means for the enrich- ment of the country. The "store cities" would do much to promote communication and tmde with other states, would increase his imports and exports. 3. He immor- tali1.er\ himself. He caused his no.me to be associated with many places that for long centuries remembered him as their founder, and with one city (Ta.dmar) that will never be forgotten. 4. He made a deep mark on the future. Some of thes~ cities have abso- u. CHUONIOLES, H 98 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [orr. vrn. 1-18.
lutel~· perished ; the ruins of one of them still remain. It is impossible to say how much his enterprise had to do, but it certainly had much, with the brilliance, the power, and the rolitical and moral influence of Palmyra. The effects of this building went far beyond the satisfaction of the desire of his heart (ver. 6); they reached to remote cen- turies, and told upon people that were afar off. II. WHAT 1s OPEN TO us TO A0OOMPLISH. 1. The structure it is possible we may raise. This may be a house in the sense of a family (see 2 Sam. vii. 11); or it may be a house in the sense of a business establishment ; or it may be a churoh, wherein God shall be worshipped. and his Son exalted for many generations ; or it may be a society which shall receive and sustain many hundreds of human hearts. One thing there is we may all be building, and are indeed all bound to build with utmost care-a human character; a_ch~racter which s~a.11 be fair in its proportions, rich in its equip- ments, and strong m its defence a.gamst all assault. 2. The moral and spiritual materials with which, or of which, we should build. These are uprightness, truth, patience, courage, persistency. 3. The spirit in which we should work. This is the spirit of obedience, of resignation, of devotedness; so that we are not seeking our own persona.I aggrandizement, but the honour of our Divine Lord.-C.