HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 1-5.-The perils of suretyship. Here we ha.ve- 1. A FEATURE OF ANCIENT LIFE. The warnings against incurring this responsibility a.re very frequent in this book ( eh. xi. 15; xvii. 18; xx. 16; xxii. 26). For the bail was treated like the insolvent debtor (2 Kings iv. 1; Matt. xviii. 25). He was subject to distra.int or to be sold into slavery. Ben-Sira. (xxix. 18, seq.) says, "Suretyship ha.th destroyed many that were doing well, e.nd swallowed them up as a wave of the sea. It hath turned mighty men out of their homes, and they wandered among foreign peoples." The surety struck his hand into that of the debtor, as a sign that he would answer for him. This would be accompanied by a. verbal declaration, and hence the me.n had bound and confined himself-" snared himself by the words of his mouth." The rigidity of ancient custom in this particular told with terrible severity against thought- less incurrers of responsibility, no matter how kind the motive. Hence- 11. THE URGENT NEED OF PRUDENCE. Ver. 3: "Since thou hast come into the band [power] of thy neigh hour, stamp with thy foot, l\nd storm thy neigh hour; " i.e. be urgent and insistent with the careless debtor for whom thou hast pledii;ed thyself, press upon him the fulfilment of his responsibilities before it be too late. Exercise a sleep- less vigilance (ver. 4, "Tear thyself free like a. gazelle from its haunt, and like e. bird from the hand of the fow !er"). III. MODERN REFLECTIONS AND LESSONS. 1. Let us be thankful that the severity of the ancient laws and customs concerning debt e.nd suretyship has been mitigated. The history of the changes of le.w is one of the best evidences of Christianity, and proof that prior conceptions of God advance side by side with gentler conceptions of social relations and duties. 2. Prudence is a constant necessity, and its cultivation a virtue, though not the highest. We must learn to adjust the claims of prudence and of neighbourly love. 3. Independence is not only a "glorious privilege," but the firm foundation for the best life-enjoyment and life-work. These a.re @:Olden words from Ben-Sira., valid for all time : "Take heed to thyself, lest thou fail. The elements of life are water, bread, and a coat to one's back, and a dwelling to hide unseemliness. Better the poor man's life in hie hut than faring luxuriously in others' houses. . .. It is an ill life from house to house, and not to be able to open your mouth where you a.re sojourn- ing." To do our own work or God's work wtill, we should aim at detachment, dil- embarrassment,freedom of spirit.-J. Vers. 6-11.-The sluggard admonished. I. THE PICTURE OF INSECT INDUSTRY. The ant we.s viewed e.s the very picture of laboriousness in ancient as in modern times. It is interesting that the German word for" industrious" (emsig) seems derivable from amessi, "emmet, ant." The like may probably be traceable in some English dialects. 1. The industry of the e.nt he.s e.11 the appearance of a virt'Ull. For it seems unforced; there is no judge, superintendent, or onlooker, or taskme.ster, to superintend its work, PROVE RDS, L 146 THE PROVERBS. [err. vr. 1-35.
Contrast with the representations on various monuments of tho taskmasters with whips superintending gangs of labourers. 2. It is provident industry. It lays up against the rainy day. Tlle closer study of ant-life by modern observors opens a world of marvel, and sng?:ests other lines of thought. It is sufficient for didactic purposes to note the general principle; the external appearances of nature reveal moral analogies. II. TrrE CONTRAST oF HUMAN SLOTH. (Vers. 9-11.) 1. The lazy man seems ae if he would sleep for ever (ver. 9). 2. He knows not when he has reposed enough (ver. 10). An ironical imitation of his langour, his lazy attitude. 'l'he arms ever crossed, instead of being opened and ready for toil. "When I begin to turn about," said the Dnke of Wellington," I turn out." 3. The result of sloth (ver. 11). Poverty surprises him like a robber, and want like an armed man. A striking picture of the seemin,q suddenness with which men may sink into destitution. But it is only seeming; it bas been long really preparing. III. MoRAL ANALOGY AND APPLICATION. Sloth in all its forms is ruinous to body and soul. Mental inertness and vacuity is a common form. The mind must be aroused, interested, filled. Here is one of the great sources of drunkenness, because of depression. If you have no occupation, invent one. Goad your temper by hopes and fears, if it will not wake up without them. In religion " be not slothful." Worlc at the practical or theoretical side of it, whichever suits your capacity best. Work out your own salva- tion. Take it all for granted, and you will presently find that all has slipped away, and naught remains but an impoverished intellect, a stagnant will.-J.