th11t antithetical force here 11s in Job viii. 20. tributive sense, Bs in vcr. 18, or Tea/on, is The lotoly (anayyim); Vulgate, wtnsueti; the subject. Vo.rious interpretations ho.ve LXX., ,,-a,r,ivo,; properly, "the afflicted," been given of the passngc. (l) Tho Vulgato with added notion of submission and lowly renders, s!ultorum exalta!io ignominia; i.e. demeanour, a.nd hence the meek, gentle- as in the Authorized Version," sho.me exalts t.hc gentle towards man, and the abased and fools." They "glory in tl.Jeir shame" (Phil. lowly before God. St. James (iv. 6) quotes (ii. 19) ; or shame renders them con- the LXX. of this passage, "God resisteth spiouous o.s warning l'Xo.mples (Ewalt!); or, the proud, but giveth grace to the humble." as Dathe explains it, " Stulti info.mill. sunt 'With the exception of substituting K6pws for famosi," "Fools become famous by infamy;" e,6s (cf. 1 Pet. v. 5), our Lord's parable or o.s R~bbi Levi, "Shame exalts tliem ns of the Pharisee and publican illustrates the into the air, and makes them vanish o.way ." teaching of this verse (Luke xviii. 9-14). (2) The LXX. renders, Ai aue,B,,s 11,i,wua11 Yer. 35.-The wise shall inherit glory. clnµ.la11, i.e. "Fools exalt shame, prize what Ch. xi. 2 indicates that "the wise" here are others despise" (Plumptre). (3) Umbreit, to be identified with "the lowly" of the Dertheo.u, Zockler, render, "Shame sweeps preceding verse. Inhe,it; succeed to it as a fools awo.y," i.e. lifts tbem up in order to matter of course by hereditary right as sons. sweep away and destroy them (cf. Isa. !vii. Heirship implies sonship. Glory (l.avod); or, 14). (i) The true rendering seems to be honour; not merely earthly distinctiou and given by Michaelis, "Fools carry away sple11dour, the glory of man, but the "glory shame " as their portion. So the 'l'argum, of God." But shame shall be the promotion Delitzsch, Hitzi§, Wordsworth. They look of fools ; or, as margin, shame exalteth the for "promotion.' They attain such as it fools. The rendering of the original, is, but the end of tlleir attainments is vuk' silim merim kalon, depends upon the "shame and everlOBting contempt." As the meaning to be given to merim, tile hiph. wise inherit glory, so fools get as their participle of rum, hiph. "to lift up, exalt;" portion shame and ignominy, a.nd whether the plural, k'silim, in a dis-
HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-4.-Making the heart a treasury of good principles. I. THE TREASURE. Innumerable impressions are constantly being made upon our minds, and as constantly transferring themselves into memories. Frivolous thoughts, false notions, corrupt imaO'es, once harboured, take up their abode in the soul, and ultimately modify its cha:"acter to the likeness of themselves. It is most important for us to guard our memories from such things, and to fill them with more worthy stores. Consider, therefore, the best subjects for contemplation and memory. 1. The Law of God. Divine truth is the highest truth, the noblest theme of meditation, the supreme guide to con- duct. Truth concerning our actions, the revealed will of God, is for us the most valuable Divine truth. Other forms of truth may please and help us, but this is essentially needful as a lamp to our feet. We can afford to lose sight of the stars if the harbour light shines clear on the waters over which we have to sail. This practic11l Divine truth-not our dreams and fancies, but utterances of God's will-we are called to remember. Hence the importance of studying the Bible, which contains it. It is well for children to store their minds with passages of Scripture. These will afford strength in temptation, guidance in perplexity, comfort in sorrow. 2. Mercy and truth. "'l'he letter killetb." It is 6uperstition that merely treasures up the words of Holy Writ, and repeats them parrot-like, as _thoug~ a _spell were to_ be wrough~ by the very utter- ance of them. The truth contamed w1thrn these ancient words 1s what we need to recollect. And it is not the exact verbal bearing of the Law, but the wide-reaching principles underlying it, that Christiane are called upon to tre11sure; not rules of sacrifice, but principles of mercy; not merely the prohibition, "'fhou shalt not steal," but the higher precept," Thou e?alt love thy neighbour as thyself." 3: (!hrist. ~hrist is the Truth• he is the incarnatwn of mercy, our great exemplar, the v1s1ble manifesta- tion of God'~ will, the perfect Ideal of our life. If we are weary of reading dry legal rescripts, and fail in contemplating bare abstract;truths, we have a better way of treasuring good principles, by cherishing the vision of Christ. II. THE TREASURY. This is the heart. It is not enough that the Law has been once for all revealed that we come under it nnd under the institutions of the Church, that we treasure the Bihla in our library, that we hear it read in hasty moments. Oil. UI, 1-85.) THt PROVERl\S. 69