wns a time when they might excusably go far in the direction of peace. Would .it not be wrong, by any churlishness or obstinacy on small points or narrowness of view, to plunge the infant Church into strife, perhaps mortal strife with those who had so much in common with them, and whom charity might co~sider brethren? w:trnt a pity to endanger the work in hand and, it might be, bring everything to failure when the prospeets of success were so bright, if, by entering· on an a.Ilia.nee with these _men, t_hey could insure the cons1:1mmation _of their hopes I Perchance, too, they might wm these men to a purer faith; the sight of the temple on its old site, the performance of t~e old rites, the singing· _of tho old psalms, &c. might purge theu hearts of the evil leaven that had crept m, &c. Thus their, minds may have been agitated by doubt and distraction, questioning whether they should have a perilous alliance or a defiant and dangerous isolation. So purity, truth, piety find thernse!Yes courted by those who are their adversaries, but who speak with the voice and use the language of friendship. And often do they find themselves greatly tempted to make peace and enter into alliance. Sometimes they do, and disastrous is the result. Like the Rhone and the Arve outside Geneva, the pure blue waters of the one flow for some time side by side, without mingling, with the muddy and earth-discoloured waters of the other; but farther down they intermix, and the blueness and the purity are gone I But here we have- • III. A STOUT-HEARTED REFUSAL (ver. 3). Zerubbabel and Jeshua peremptorily declined the offered alliance. "Ye have nothing to do with us." " We ourselves will build," &c. (ver. 3). Whatever inward conflict there might have been, there was no vagueness or hesitancy in their answer. It was explicit and downright, as an answer should be to a deceitful offer. It was seen to be their duty to keep apart from men whose association would too probably have ended in corruption, and they dared all consequences. First puruy, then peace ( James iii. 17). Let there be no compromise when the maintenance of principle is at stake. There is far more to lose than to gain in having the help of those who are not really and heartily at one with us. Mere matters of detail are things for arrangement, and it is often wise and Christian to forego onr preferences for the sake of brotherly accord. But when great and vital truths are at stake, truths on which human hearts live, truths which heal and save and sanctify the soul, truths for the purity and integrity of which we exist to testify, then let us put our foot firmly down, and, risking misrepre- sentation and attack, say, "Ye have nothing to do with us." We must walk apart.-C. Vers. 1-5.-.A sinful alliance sought and rejected. I. A sinful alli_ance SOUGHT. "Let us build with you" (ver. 2). 1. The people. 11 The adversanes of Judah and Benjamin" (ver. 1 ). These were a mixed race, partly Israelitish but chiefly foreign. The more dange~ous 1:>ecause the more nearly related to_ ~sraej,; error is more dangerous when allied W1th truth. 2. The pretext. (1) Utility. Let us build." They would help in the enterprise of Israel. Sinful alliances alway~ seem advantageous. (2) Religion. "For we se~k your God" (ver. 2). Those.who seek sinful alliances often assume the garb of piety ; they come as angels of light. (3) Community of interest. The Samaritans wanted to make a common cause with Israel· what fellowship hath light with darkness? 3. The plan. (1) Secret, and not open. They . concealed their real intentio_ns. Suspect the world. (2) Friendly, and not hostile. _They came not as warnors, but as belp~rs. Be_ n?t deluded by the smiles of sm. (3) Dangerous, and not safe. The kiss of sm 1s perilous ; the dagger is behind. . . " II. A sinful alliance REJECTED. 11 Ye have nothmg to do with us (ver. 3/·. 1. Wisdom. The hypocrisy_ was detected by the leaders of I~r:iel. We. need spmtual discernment in dealing with the world ; we must try the spmts. Be wise o.s serpents. 2. Independence. "But we ourselv~s together will build" (ver. 3~. The Church can do its own work ; it needs not the aid of the unholy. God requires t~e good mo.n to be independent of carnal helpers and of worldly compacts; ~are to reJect apparent ad vantage. 3. Det,ermination. A most decided reply w3:s g:iven to the proposed allies, and Israel was prepared to bra".e the result. Hes1tat_10n w~uld ha:'e been fotal. 4. Dis<Uter. The professed fr1enqs soon reveal t)leir enmity: reJect tllo OH, IY, 1-6.j THE BOOK OF EZRA, 51
world, and it will soon "trouble you in building." The enmity of sin is better than its friendship ; sin triumphs for a time.-E.