tlrifl!II. 'Men decide from pArtial knowledge, and then fuller lnfOl'Dlation leads tbein to cha~ their minds. But God lrnows everything from the first. 2, He is strOflg, 'Men are persuaded &gainst their betoor judgment, or they weakly yield to temptntlon, But God Is perfect in will and ob1m1cter. He oannot be urged to do what he knows is not the absolufoly befit. 8. He is good. It ia well that men can and do change1 for much of the past course of the world's history is wrong, and the only hope for man is in his mending his ways. But God has been faultless from the first; there is nothing for him to repent of. II. THE Th"'FLEXIBILITY OF Gon 'IS A WARNING AGAINIIT MAN'S PRESUIIPl'ION. The danger is in judging God l-,y man's chan~ea.ble standards. Tt1Us people come to think that he will not really perform what he threatens. They trust to the influence of time in melting away the Divine purposes against sin; or they rely on their own urgency in attempting to persuade God not to acoomplish his will; or they imagine that in 110me way they shall be able to elude the grasp of his Law. All these courses show a foolish misapprehension of the firmness and strength of God. They are false because he is true. • Ill. Tim INFLEXIBILITY OF Gon IS AN ENOOURAGEIIENT FOB FAITH. 1. In hia Law. Be has revealed his will, and we may be sure that he will keep to it. Be is not like a fickle despot, whose shifting moods baffle the watchfulness of the most sub- servient courtier. When we once know his_ will, we ma.v rely upon it that this is per- manent. 2. Jn hi.s promise,:;. God has revealed himself in gracious purposes. These purposes he will never abandon. The ingratitude of man does not destroy.the good will of God. A weaker being would be wom out with the constant rebellion and the utter unworthiness of his children. But God is infinitely patient. In spite of the world's folly and sin, he holds inflexibly to his purpose of s11.ving and redeeming it. It cannot be that of all the Divine attributes mercy only is fragile and transitory; that while God's troth and justice remain, this one characteristic may be broken down, and may vanish away. On the contrary, it is explicitly revealed to us .over and over ngain that "the mercy of the Lord endureth for ever." IV. THE INFLEXIBILITY OF GOD IS NOT INCONBlSTENT WITH HIS VARYING TREAT- MENT OF us. He bas no rigid, uniform method of action. He. adapts his treat- ment of us to our conduct and our need. Bis inflexibility is in bis character, not in details of action. The very fact that he is changeless in himself leads to the result that he acts diffeTently under different circumstances. We are governed not by an iron law, but by a faithful God. 1. In answer to prayer. God is not changed or bent by our prayer. But be sees fit to do, in response to our confidence in. him, what he would not think well to do without it. 2. In the 'Tedemption of the world. This is a new action. The gospel declares a fresh Divine movement. But all of it. springs from the eternal purposes of God ; and all of it is in accordance with his changeless character of love and righteousnese.-W. F. A. Vere. 16, 16.-Troubled a.t the presence of God. I. Tms IS NATURAL m GBBAT DISTRESS. The soul is plunged into grief; like Jacob, .the desponding sufferer exclaims, "All these things are against me" (Gen. xiii 3G). Then he comes to regard God as the Source of his misfortunes. God seems to be his Enemy, and any approach of God is regarded with apprehension, as bringing fresh trouble. We have to learn not to form our judgment of God in our darker moments. It is difficult to have any well-balanced opinion when we are plunged in deep distress. While the knife is in him it is po_ssihle that the patient may think the surgeon rough, cruel, even malignant. But he 18 not then in a fit state for forming an opinion. ,, II. THIil IS RIGHT IN THE GUILT OF sIN. The wonder is that people sin with.BO little reflection a.s to how God regards them, and that they are often quite ready. to meet him without a thought of their grea.t guilt. Thus it is said of a bad man's end, that " he died like a lamb"! As thourrh bis dull and seneelese departure from this life. were any guarantee of bis spiritual state. But when conscience is roused, it ah~inks fr~m the searching gaze of God. Blind eyes may be turned t-0 the sun, at which seeing eyes cannot glance without pain. It is not only that God can punish sin, There is a sense of shame -in the thought that One so good and holy should ever see -ill, --Then J.t i.s all a direct -0ffence against him. When the sinner meeta God, he ew:ounteri, Ono on. XXIV. 1-25.J THE DOOK OF JOB. 407
whom he has ·grievously wronged. Lastly, as God ie our Father, there ie an especial ground of trouble in hie rebellious children meeting him. III. Tms JdAY BE OVEROOME BY A BETTER AOQUAINTANOE WITH Gon. The fear should not be perpetual. Something is wrong, or it would not have arisen, and that which caused the fear can and ought to be removed. It is not well that any map should continue to live in e. chill fear of God. In the New Testament God is so revealed that e.ll terror of him may be dissipated. 1. .As uur Father. If we thought him hard and stern, we were unjust. Christ has revealed his true nature in his Father~ hood. Therefore the idea 'that God's presence is itself terrible _comes from ignorance. Following the light of Christ, we discover that God is the home of our souls, and that no place is so safe, or so peaceful and happy, ae where his presence is felt. 2. As our Redeemer. The just fear that arises from sin cannot be rightly expelled until the cause of it is removed. As God must be angry with ~in, it would only be a dangerous deception that covered up and hid the thought of his wrath. But Goil himself bas provided the best, the only right way of dispelling the fear of his presence by giving us a remedy for sin. Now, as it is be who sends the remedy, we have to know his intentions in order that we may no longer live in fear of him. The very fact that Christ was sent from hea:ven to save the world from sin shows how terrible the evil was; but it also shows how deep and stron~ the love of God must ~eeper than his wrath, outlasting his chastisements.-W. F. A.