I. CHRI~TU.NB ARE THE; LoRo's INHERITANCE. 'l'hat part of mankind which is specially his. 1. Whlch he hBB peculiarly appropriat.ed. All the world is his, but1 while he has left; the larger portion of it for a time comparatively waste, he hna in a special manner claimed and separah!d this for himself. 2. For which he specially cares, bestowing upon it peculiar culture, watching over it with special interest. 3. From whioh he expects and reoeives 11pecial returns. Of thou11:ht, love, confidence, praise "fruits of righteousness" (Phil. i. 11), glory (Matt. v. 16), 'l'he words, "inheritance of the Lord," may be applied to the whole Church; or (according to the analogy of the t.ex:t) to any part of it, any Christian society; or to individual Christians. And it is fitted to awaken in them reflections as to the degree in which they are worthy of the name, and to encourage the sinoere to expect the special protection and blessing of God, II. THERE ARE ATTEMPTS TO DESTROY Goo's INHERITANCE. Some are wron<1ly 0 charged with such attempts. Joab declared truly that bis aim was not to" swallow up or destroy" (ver. 20). He only wished to punish a traitor, by doing which he would serve instead of injuring "the inheritance of the Lord." In like manner, men who endeavour to purify the Church from error and sinful practices may he wrongly ohar"ed with seeking to destroy what their desire is to conserve. Reformers are often regarded as destructives. Such, however, do need to be cautioned lest anything in their spirit or measures sb.ould injure what is good more than correct what is evil. Some, again, injure God's inheritance without deliberate intention. Unworthy ministers of religion, hypocrites, and inconsistent Christians are of this class. But others are chargeable with endeavooring to destroy God's inheritance. 1. Such as attempt to destroy faith in the great Christian verities. Could they succeed, there would be no Christianity,no Church, no "inberitance of the Lord," left in the world. 2. Persecutors of Christians in general, O'f' of particular secti,()'11,S of them. Various bodies of Christians have in tum sought not to convince (which is rigb.t), but to root out, their fellow-Christians, employing the civil power, if that were at their command, or, if not, using their wealth or social influence to oppress or-entice in order to suppress. ill. THE EXPOSTULATION OJI' TIIE TEXT 11.AY BE JUSTLY ADDRESSED.TO THOSE WHO II.A.KE BUCH ATTEMPTS. "Why wilt thou swallow up," etc.? The words may be used to urge consideration of: L The reasons and motives which prompt the attempts. Such as: (1) Hatred of piety and holiness. This often impels infidels in their assaults on the faith of Christians; but many who are called Christians, if they examined themselves, would find that it was also the motive of their endeavours to suppress Christians more in earnest than themselves. (2) Love of domination. (3) Pride of superiority, real or supposed. (4) Indignation at faithful testimony or reproof. (5) Inability to discern the marks of God's true people. 'l'he external being regarded to the exclusion of the internal and spiritual; the essential qualities being overlooked because dissociated from certain over-estimated accidentals. A blindness produced by a narrow education, or exclusive intercourse with one kind of Christians. (6) Unholy zeal, such as actuated St. Paul before his conversion (Acts x:xvi. 9; Phil. iii. 6; comp. John xvi. 2). The assailants of the Church or any part or member of it may well be urged to pause and consider their real spirit and motives; and whether these will bear reflection, or are capable of justification. 2. The imputy and t1,nrighteousness of such attempts. The wise woman suggests to Joa.b, by the words she uses, that he would be guilty of these sins if he persisted in hls assault on the town. So those who assail the Church of God: (1) Sin against God. Whose inheritance they are invading. So far as they succeed, they lessen God's part in society and its affairs; they injure those who are precious in his sight (" He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye," Zech. ii. 8; comp. Acts ix. 4; Rom. iv. 15, 20; 1 Cor. viii. 12). 'fhe friends of God should shrink from any conduct which tends to lessen the testimony for him in the world, and cripple those who are desirous of promoting bis kingdom according to their lights. (2) They violate the rights of Christians. Every part of the Christian community is entitled to liberty of profession and "prophesying" (see Bishop Jeremy Taylor's treatise on this subject), and to sympathy and all possible help from the rest. All good citizens are entitled to the protection of the state, and cannot be justly persecuted by it on account of their religion. 3. Their futuity. " The inheritance of the Lord" cannot be really ., Rwallowed up," although certain portions of it may for a time be injured. "Upon ibis rock I will build my Church; and the gates of Ha.des shall not prevail against it'' On. XXI. 1-22.] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 51L
(Matt. ivi. 18). 4. The retributirm which wi?l aurely follow them. Christians who, in their blindness, make them in ony degree, receive lose and injury thereby in their 0wn Roule nnd in their influence for good ; the enemies of God will find that he is too tnighty for them. Ile will "plead his own cause" (Ps. lxxiv. 22), and "avenge his elect" (Luke xviii. 7).-G. W.