Ver. B.-Relig,:on reproached through the conduct of the religiom. De.vid's wiclrnd- uess gave occe.sion for reproach of religion by ~he ungodly e.mong his subjects, e.ud by the heathen peoples around. Indeed, it occasions blasphemy and contempt of religion down to the present day. I. Co!.'DUCT WBI0H O00ASIONB CONTEMPT AND REPROACII OF RELIGION. 'l'he conduct must be that of profesrndly religious men, and the more strict their profession, and the more prominent their position, so much the gree.ter the mischief they do. 1. Grea-4 ,:t1consistency between profession and conduct. Gross immorality, fraud, falsllhood avarice, intemperance, hasty temper, revenge, etc. 2. Unworthy presentation oj religion itself. Ignorant rant, unctuous cant, too much insistence on mere doctrinal refinements which have little or no bee.ring on practice.I life, elaborate ceremonialism, fierce strife in a Church, l!ectarian bitterness aud exclusiveness, indifference to the well- being of the general population, clerical pretensions, ambition, or a.varice,-all in their various ways and degrees occasion " the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme." II. 'l'HE CLASS OF PERSONS LED THEREBY TO DESPISE AND REPROACH RELIGION, " 'l'he enemies of the Lord." Not his friends; they know too well the value of religion; reverence and love it too much. 'l'he effect of such conduct on them is sorrow, self-examination, and greater watchfulness a.nd prayer, lest they also should be. overcome by temptation. Also prayer and effort (if possible) to rest(lre those who have sinned. To take occasion from the inconsistencies of Christians to despise and revile their religion is a manifest sign of enmity to God. It is also a. mark of great ignorance. of the religion they revile; for, did they understand it, they would perceive its opposi- tion to the sins a.nd follies of its professed adherents; and that its truth and goodness remained the same, whatever their conduct. Or, ../ it be said that it is only the profession of religion that is spoken of with contempt, it is plainly unjust to cast a slur on all who make it because of the sins of a few of their number. III. THE SERIOUS EVILS 'l'HUS WROUGHT. 1. The slanderers are therr/,selves injured. To occasion them to blaspheme is to occasion the increase of their guilt, and tbo greater hardening of their hearts; whereas it should be the aim of good men to do all that is. possible to bring them to the knowledge of the truth and the experience of salvation. 2. Discredit is brought upon religfon. Hence some who might have been disposed to inquire into its claims, and others who were preparing to make an open profession of godliness, are deterred from doing so. In this view the inconsistencies of Christians are a. serious matter. They help to promote in society a sentiment adverse to earnest godliness and the profession of it. 3. The hearts of true-hearted and consistent Christi.ans are wounded and distressed. 4. .Above all, and including all, the Name of God is dishonoured, and the progress of l>us kingdom checked. Finally, let inconsistent professors of religion ponder the words of our Lord (Matt. xv iii. 7, Revised Version), " Woe unto the world because of occasions of stumbling ! for it must needs be that the occasions come; but woe to that man through whoµl the occasion cometh I "-G. W.
Vers. 22, 23.-.An infanfs illnas and death. This part of the narrative introduces us to a. spectacle which, in its main features, is common enough. A c};iild sickening and dying, a parent striving with God in prayer and fasting for its life, but striving in vain. But there are peculiar circumstances here which give the 11cene a special interest. I. THE cHILn's FAT.AL s1cn.Ess. 1. The cau.se of it. The sufferings and deaths of little children are painful to witness, and a.waken many questionings. Why should these innocent lambs suffer? Why shoulii the sinless die? To which we may reply, \\Thy should they not, seeing that to them death is an escape from a. world of sin and misery, with its awful possibilities of evil, into the world of perfect and eternal purity, safety, and bliss? Besides, he who gave life may take it at his plea.sure. Holy Scripture throws some further light upon the mystery. It teaches us in general, that, death came into the world through sin. Children die because they heloJJ.g to a filinful, dying race. Their deaths are part of the penalty of the sins of men. In them the il,nc,cent suffer for the guilty, because of their guilt, and to promote their deliver- ance from sin. Amongst the forces at work to promote repentance and holiness, not the least powerful are the deaths of little children. God thus finds a way to the OH, XII, 1-31.] 'fHE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 32,3