Ver. 12.-Family zeal in good work. "He and his daughters." Some take "daughters" here in the sense which it bears in eh. xi. 25, 27, viz., "villages" (regarded as the daughters of the town or district to which they belong), and would read," it" (i. e. the half-part, or district, of Jerusalem)" and its villages." If, how- ever, we take the word "daughters" in the sense of women, they present us an instance of a father and hie daughters uniting in a good work. Probably the daughters bad independent means. They remind ue of the numerous instances in which piety and public i,pirit animate families-parents and their sons and daughters uniting in works of Christian usefulness. Such families are the strength of congregations. Union of a family in Christian work- I. INDICATES GOOD AND EFFECTUAL EDUCATION. It shows that the parents have trained their children in piety and zeal, taught them to take an interest in the work of the Lord, and set them the example ; and that the children have yielded to the influence thus exerted, imbibing the spirit of their parents, and imitating their deeds. Parents should early associate their children with them in good works, tenching and enabling them to give to the cause of Christ and to the poor, &c. Young people, who have if only a small income of their own, should devote part of it to the good of others, and should employ part of their time in doing good. II. J<'oRMS A SACRED FAMILY BOND. Sanctifies the natural ties ; binds po.rents and children in a holy fellowship. III. ELEVATE~ FAMILY LIFE. Supplying objects of common interest, topics for conversation, subjects for prayer, employments, occasions of mutual encourage- ment and help, all tending to uplift the thoughts, affections, motives, and aims above the region of self-interest, worldliness, and vanity : and thus form noble characters. IV. INCREASES AND EXALTS FAMILY HAPPINESS. No other pursuits in common, however innocent or laudable, can supply pleasures equal to those which spring from common consecration to the service of God and man. V. PREPARES YOUNG PEOPLE FOR HIGHER AND LARGER SERVICE. Thus supplying the Church with a succession of well-qualified workers. Such families are the beet nurseries, not only for the Church, but for the ministry and the missionary work. VI. AIDS IN INEURING AND PREPARING FOR FAMILY REUNION IN THE HEAVENLY HOME. Let parents then resolve with Joshua," As for me and my house, we will CB, IIJ. 1-32.] THE BOOK U1" NEHEMIAB.
sorve the Lord." Let sons and daughters heartily co-operate with fathers and mothers in executing this resolution. Ver. 20.-Earnest WQ'l'k. "Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired another piece." It is singular that this word " earnestly" should be used of Baruch and of none else. Perhaps it is a mis-reading. Or quite as likely it alludes to circumstances unknown to us. The word signifies" burning," and is commonly used of anger ; here, however, of zeal, or perhaps emulation. Baruch is set before us as" an earnest worker." Such should all Christians be. It is one of the marks of the "peculiar people" of Christ whom he has redeemed by giving himself for them, that they are "zealous of good works" (Titus ii. 14). The subject then is-earnestness in Christian work. I. WHAT IT IS. Not zeal without knowledge, nor zeal fed by worldly motives, nor the ardour of a bigoted sectarianism, nor yet the warmth of transitory emotion, excited by speech or sermon or passing incident ; but a steady flame of pious zeal, springing from Christian knowledge, faith, and love, and sustaining resolute purpose and endeavour. It is the life of God in the soul, in a state of vigour and animation, directed to practical service. II. !Ts CAUSES. 1. .Ardent gratitude for blessings received. It does not spring from a desire or expectation of earning or deserving salvation by diligent works, but from the experience and hope of salvation freely bestowed, and realisation of the manifold benefits included in it. Its language is, " What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me? " 2. Love to God and Christ and men. It is -love in action ; love to God and the Saviour, inciting to obedience and making ser- vice a delight; love to men, impelling to the effort to do them good. 3. Contempla- tion of the condition and prospects of mankind. 4. Faith in the Divine remedies for human sin and misery. 5. The example of others. Of such men as St. Paul. Pre- eminently of the Lord Jesus Christ," who went about doing good," and could say, "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." The example of known living Christians eminent for zeal has a mighty influence in pro- ducing like characters. Earnestness of men in other pursuits. 6. The very indif- ference and neglect of which some are guilty. Stirring the heart to excusable, if not holy indignation; fear lest the work should suffer in consequence, and determination that it shall not. 7. Anticipation of the final account. 8. Fervent prayer. For pure Christian earnestness, by whatever means excited, is a gift of the Holy Ghost. III. lTs SIGNS AND EFFECTS. 1. Generosity of gift and labour. Not meting these out according to a careful calculation of our share, or of what is "necessary" in order to retain a hope of eternal life, but delighting to do all that is possible. 2. Ready self-denial. 3. Courage in facing difficulty and opposition. Earnestness is slow to believe in impossibility. 4. Thoroughness of work. Doing our best as alone in any sense worthy of the Lord and his work. 5. Constancy and perseverance. Superiority to the influence of bncl. examples, a.nd all other temptations to remissness in, or abandonment of, the service. IV. !Ts BLESSEDNESS. 1. As a clear and abiding evidence of true faith and love. Giving "assurance of hope," which without practical and benevolent earnestness is unfounded, if it exist. No strictness of orthodoxy, or raptures of religious emotion, are sufficient without it. 2. As making the Christian's work happy. 3, .As securing the Divine approval and blessing. 4. As insuring success. 5. As anticipating abundant recompense. Ver. 28.-Doing good near home. "Every one over against his house." The priests and others (vers. 10, 23, 29, 30), whose houses were near the wall, repaired that part of the wall which was opposite each of their dwellings. This suggests an imf ortant rule for Christian workers . . THE ORDER TO BE OBSERVED IN SEEKING THE GOOD OF OTHERS. Let every one do the work which lies nearest to him. Let him begin with his own family. No amount of good work elsewhere will compensate for neglect there. Christian parent;i can do most good to the community by training well their children. Then, as ability and opportunity permit, let each seek the good of his dependents, friends, neighbours, NltHEMIAH, D 31 THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. [en. m. 1--32.