Vers. 9, 10.-Oonsecrated propirty. I. WE 0AN HONOUR Goo WITII OUR PROPERTY. It is not to be supposed that because religion is a wholly spiritual power it has no bearing on material things. Our religion is a mockery unless it affects the way in which we spend our money, as well as all other conc(lrns of life. Property can be con- secrated to God by being spent in conscious obedience to bis will and by being used for the promotion of his glory, as in the maintenance of worship, the extension of missions, the relief of the poor, the sick, the widow and orphan. JI. Goo RAS CLAIMS UPON OUR PROPERTY. 1. It originally came from him. He createcl tbe materials and powers of nature. He gave to us our faculties. We sow the Reed, but God gives the increase. 2. It is only lent to us for a season. Till recently it was not ours; soon we must leave it. While we have it, it is a talent to be used in our great Master's service, and for which we shall have to give an account. Rieb men will be called to a Divine audit, where all their wealth will be reckoned and their method of spending it apprised. But so also will the poor; for we are all answerable for the use we make of our possessions, whether they be much or little. 'l'he one talent must be accounted for as well as the five talents. III. OUR WHOLE PROPERTY SHOULD BE CONSECRATED TO Goo. It was all given to ua by God. We shall have to give account of the use we make of all of it-of the substance or capital and of the increase or yearly income. We cannot compound for the abuse of the larger part of our goods by sacrificing to God a small proportion of them. If we give a tithe of our possessions to God, we do hot thereby receive a dis- pensation to give the rest to Mammon. Is the mendicant friar, then, the typical Christian? No. An enlightened Christianity will teach us how to consecrate our posses- sions to God, while retaining the control of them. We are to be stewards, not beggars. IV. THE BEST OF OUR PROPERTY SHOULD BE MORE DIRECTLY OFFERED TO THE SERVICE OF Goo. While all we have should be held sacred to God, some should be spent on objects that plainly involve self-sacrifice, and that manifestly concern the kingdom of heaven. We must not make the lofty thought of the consecration of all -our property an excuse for low selfishness in spending the whole on ourselves. God expects the best. He should have the firstfruits; his claims should be recognized before all others. People often give to religious objects what they think they can spare e.fter satisfying all other calls. They should give to these first, and see afterwards what is spared for more selfish things. V. IT IS WELL TO DISPOSE OF OUR PROPERTY ON A 0ERTAm METHOD. People who give to religious and philanthropic objects on a system of se~ting apart a ~ertain ~ortion of their income for such purposes, find that they can thus give most readily and Justly. It is for each to settle in his own conscience and before God according to what propor- tion he should give. One may fiod a tithe too much, considering his duty to his family, etc. Another may find it far too little, considering his ease and affluence and the needs of the world. VI. Tills CONSECRATION OF PROPERTY TO Goo BRINGS A BLESSING ON THE OWNER. If it is not always rewarded with temporal riches, it is repaid in better treasures- pleasures of sympathy and benevolence and the smile of God.
Vers. 11, 12.-0hastening. I. Goo CHASTENS HIS CRIT,DREN WITH BUFFERING. All sufferin" is not chastening. Some trouble is the pruning of branches that already bear fruit, in° order that they may bring forth more fruit (John xv. 2). But when it meets us in our sins and failings, it is to be regarded as a Divine method of correction. It iij not then the vengeance of a God simply concerned with his own outraged anger; be[ore this we should tremble with alarm. It is not the chance product of the unconscious working of brute forces; s1;1ch a material~sti~ explanation. of suffering ~ight well induce blank despair. '!'he teachmg of revelation is that suffenng comes with a purpose, and that the purpose is our own good; it is a rod to chasten us for our faults, that we may be led to forsake them, and a JJruning-knife to fit us for larger fruitfulness. OH, III, 1-35.] THE PROVERBS. 71