meet and right that they should praise him for--( 1) The wall itself, so strong a defence against their enemies ; within which the citizens, with the temple and religious ser- vices, would be secure. (2) The wonderful way in which they had been led and prospered in the work. (3) The conquest effected over great obstacles, and powerful, cunning, and resolute opponents. (4) The rapidity with which the work had been done. 2. A consecration to God's service of the wall and all it was to guard. 8. A committal of all to his care and protection. As conscious that without him strong walls are vain. They may well have remembered-it is not unlikely that they sang- the song in lea. xxvi. 1, or the promise given in Zech. ii. 5. Lessons :-1. For success in every good work praise should be offered to God. Th~ joy it awakens should be directed heavenwards in thanksgiving. For however active we and others may have been, it is to God the good issue is to be ascribed. The power and the will to work, the favouring circumstances, the assistance of others, &c., all are from him. 2. All should join in thanksgiving for mercies common to all. For signal national blessings, national thanksgiving should be rendered. 3. The best expression of gratitude for Divine gifts is to dedicate them to the Divine service. All that we are and have should be thus devoted to God. 4. Purity is necessary for, and may be secured by, those who engage in religious services (Prov. xv. 8: Isa. i. 15, 16; 1 Tim. ii. 8; Heb. x. 22). The last-quoted passage, with the previous verses, shows bow the needful purification is to be obtained. Not from merely human priests, but from the great High Priest, who needed not, like the priests mentioned in ver. 30, to purify himself before purifying others (see Heh. vii. 26, 27). 5. Children should be associated with their parents in the worship of God. Vers. 44--47.-Joy of the Church in her min-isters. In these verses an account is given of the measures taken for the full and regular supply of the wants of the priests and Levites, and the readiness with which the people did their part, because •· Judah rejoiced for the priests and Levites that stood [before God]; and they [the priests and Levites] kept the charge of their God, and the charge of the purification; and the institutions of the singers and the porters, according to the commandment of David," &c. (vers. 44, 45). I. WHENCE JOY IN MINISTERS ARISES. 1. On the part of ministers, from consistent lives and diligent attention to their duties. Israel felt satisfaction with the priests, &c. because they did their work well (vers. 44, 45), and because they were upright (ver. 47). As the people consecrated of their substance to the Levites, so did the Levites to the priests, according to the law. If ministers are negligent, and eho":' no interest in their work, or if their conduct be inconsistent, they need not be surprised that the people become indifferent to them and their ministrations. But con~istent, earnest, faithful, loving, diligent ministers go the way to secure the affection~ _of their congregations and give them pleasure. 2. On the part of the people, the ability to appreciate good ministers. The beet ministers fail to give satisfaction to many. They cannot appreciate them, owing to want of piety, the absence of earnest de~i~e for instruction and salvation, love of novelties, "itching ears," a censorious sprnt, self-conceit, carnality of mind, &c. Some may hate them becauee of their faithful reproofs of their beloved sine. Thue the very excellences of a minister may pr~vent joy in him in some quarters. But where a true-hearted minister bas the happ1~ees tu labour amongst an earnest, godly people, he will be their joy, as they will be hlB. II. How JOY IN MINISTERS SHOULD BE EXPRESSED. Not by mere words, not merely by praise to God for them and prayer on their behalf, but (as in the ~aee of Israel and the ministers of the temple) by making suitable provision for tbell' sustenance. This is according to the Jaw of (.,'bri~t no less than that of Moses (1 Co~. ix. 18,. ~4; Gal. vi. 6; 1 Tim. v. 17, 18), and will be cheerfully done by such as nghtly reJOI~e in their ministers. Such provision should be, as in the text, (1) liberal, (2) eystematio and regular. III. THE IMPORTANCE OF SUCH JOY so EXPRESSED. 1. To the happiness and vigorous labours of ministers themselves. If good ministers make satisfied and generous congregations, they are also to a great extent made by them. The influence is re- eiprocal. The mental and spiritual powers of a minister cannot develop aud exerciso themselves to the full in an atmosphere of coldness, suspicion, dissatisfaction, or oa. xu. 27-47.) THE BOOK OF NEREMIAlI. 137
illibemlity; his physical and mental energies will alike be impaired if he is scantily furnished with materird supplies. 2. To the spiritual profit of hearers and their families. The teaching of a pastor in whom lively interest is felt, and to whom generosity is shown, will be listened to with the attention and confidence needful for profit. Children will be taught to respect and love him, and so will be likely to accept him as their guide and friend. But a.n opposite state of things will produce opposite results. Even satisfaction which expresses itself in words only, where deeds e.re needful e.nd possible, will tend to give an unreality to the whole religious life, and prevent any real and lasting good.