Purity nnd sanctity of character, 2. Natural intellectual faculty. 3. Special training. Wo cnnnot say thnt God never revealed bis mind to any one who did not possesR the first of these qualifications in n. high degree. Remembering Balaam and Jonah, it would be impossible to maintain that view. Yet we may be quite sure that such men ne Samuel and Elijah were preferred to others because of the elevation of their cha- racters. Nor_ can we suppose that the second qualification was indispensable; but we mo.y well believe that Balaam was employed as he was partly because he was a man of considerable intellectual endowment, and that Iea.iab and Amos were among the " chosen" partly for the same reason. We know that there was special training for the work of prophecy, for there were" schools of the prophets" in the time of the judges. 'Whether Zecbaria.b had one or all of these three advantages we do not know, but he was a man, on some such grounds, peculiarly adapted to receive communication from God, and, ha.ving received them, to deliver them. II. 'l'RE FACULTY OF ALL SPIRITUAL MEN. We also, as those who stand among the multitude of godly men undistinguished by any office, may have "understanding in the seeing of God." What are its conditions ? 1. Docility of spirit. If we would "enter the kingdom of God," i.e. if we would see God and know him as he desires to be seen and known by us as our forgiving Father, we must "become as little children" (Matt. xviii. 3; xix. 14). Much" understanding" in the way of human learning may, as in the case of the scribes and lawyers, keep us out of that atmosphere of docility without which we shall not learn of Christ, and shall not know God as we urgently need to know him (see 1 Cor. i. 26-29). It is the man that has come to understand his own spiritual ignorance and incapacity who will be willing to learn of God, and thus to "have understanding in the seeing of God." 2. Purity of heart. This, we know from the great Teacher himself, is an essential (Matt. v. 8). This purity of which Christ speaks includes: (1) Simplicity and sincerity of spirit; that which is not con- tent with passing through fleshly rites, but desires to know God himself, to come into communion with him, to gain his loving favour. (2) A freedom from degrading affec- tions ; and therefore from debasing acts and associations-a heart that is not worn with selfish ambitions, or worried with corroding cares, or blemished by injurious excitements. (3) Consequent elevation of affection and aim-the love of Christ, the love of man, the earnest desire to be of service to our generation. 3. Patient con- tin'Uance in well-being and in well-doing. To those who thus "continue in the grace of God" will be granted "eternal life." They who are faithful unto death shall wear "the crown of life" (see Rom. ii. 7; Rev. ii. 10). And we are sure that this life which is consummated beyond includes such a vision of God as we do not now enjoy, even when it is most true that "the eyes of our understanding are opened," and even when we are " blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." Then, with purer heart than we now possess, and with a holiness (Heh. xii. 14) to which we do not now attain, we shall "have understanding [ and experience] in the seeing of God." Surely every one that hath this hope in him will "purify himself, even as Christ the Lord is pure."-0.
Vers. 6-15.-A victorious career. Perhaps it is not well understood that Uzziah was one of the strongest of the kings of Judah, and ran a remarkably successful course. Had not his sun set in some dark clouds, bis name and fame would probably have stood far higher than they do. But when we have made necessary allowances, there remains before our eyes the picture of- I. A VICTORIOUS OAREEn. This, whether we have regard to : 1. The extension of his kingdom; he prevailed against the Edomites, the Philistines, the Arabians (vers. 2, 6-8). Or to : 2. The strengthening of his kingdom by military means-by build- ing fortilico.tions (vers. 9, 10), by ordering and equipping his army (vers. 11-13), by inventing or adopting the latest weapons of warfare (vers. 14, 15). Or to: 3. His attention to the national produce. It speaks very highly indeed for a monarch of that period that he dug wells, that he had much cattle, that he encouraged the vine-dressers, thn.t he "loved husbandry." These are things which in that age of _the world were too often disregarded and even dospised by men in high places, especially by monarchs. But it was on such things o.s these that national prosperity very largely rested. Much of the power of a country comes from its wealth; and its wealth comes from the soil. 320 'l'HE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [cu. XXVI. 1-23,