our increasing likenes~ to our Leader and Exemplar; (3) our filial obedience and sub- mission to his will!-C. Vers. 13, 15-17.-The source of sati~faction. Vve learn- I. THAT THERE SOMETIMES RESTS A LONG AND DEEP SHADOW ON THE l'ATlI OF lIUMAN UFE. 1. Sometimes a long one. "All the days of the afflicted are evil." They are not R few who have to make up their minds for many months or years of separation 0r pain, or even for a lifelong trouble. 'l'hey know that they will carry their burden to the grave. 2. Sometimes a deep one. "By sorrow of heart the spirit is broken." The ' bnrden is greater than the spirit can bear, it breaks beneath it; the heart is simply ornrwhclmed; all hope has died out, all gladness is gone from the life, all licrbt 0 from 1.he countenance, all elasticity from the step; the heart is fairly broken. II. THAT FAVOURABLE CIRCUMSTANCES CANNOT COMMAND SATISFACTION TO THE srIRIT. 1. Wealth will not do it. Great treasure often means great trouble (ver. 16) • shares an~ stocks often bring as_ much ?urden as blessing with them; be who pile~ gold on his counter may be heapmg anxiety upon his heart. 2. Sumptuous fare will fail (ver. ~ 7). .All the delicacies t~a_t can be spread upon the table will not give enjoy- ment to him that bas a restless spmt, or a secret that he knows he cannot hide, or a debt be knows be cannot meet, or a bounden duty he knows he has neglected. III. THAT HAPPINESS MUST BE HEART-DEEP, OR IT IS NOTHING. (Ver.13.) Ifit is not the merry heart that produces the cheerful countenance, the smile can very well be spared, both by him who smiles and by those who are in his presence. Few things are sadder to hear than hollow laughter, or to see than a forced and weary smile. IV. THAT A CllEERFUL SPmIT IS A VALUABLE BESTOWMENT. (Ver. 15.) Better than the large estate or the high position, or the influential circle, is the buoyant spirit which "Ever with a frolic welcome take1 The thunder and the sunshine." V. THAT A LOVING SPmIT rs A STILL GREATER GIFT OF Goo. "Where love is," there is peace and there is joy, however mean the home or slight the fare. He who carries with him to every table and every hearth a loving spirit is a friend of God's own sending; he is "the welcome guest; " he has a treasure in his breast which no coffers will supply. # VI. THAT PIETY IS THE ALL-COMPENSATING GOOD. 1. It makes the poor man rich -" rich in faith," "rich toward God," rich with a wealth which "no thief can steal." 2, It brings comfort to the sorrowful, and introduces that Divine Physician who can bind up the broken heart, and heal its wounds. 3. It speaks of a heavenly portion to those who have no hope of deliverance here; there may be "affliction all the days" of life (ver. 15), but "the righteous hatb hope in his death" (eh. xiv. 32). Blessed, then, is he in whose heart is" the fear of the Lord."-C.
Ver. 29.-Gorl's distance from us and nearness to u,. "The Lord is far frnm the wicked ; " and yet how near to us I '' He is not far from any one of us; " " He compasses us behind and before, and layeth his hand upon us." We may, indeed, iasist upon- I. Goo's LOCAL AND EFFECTIVE 1'"EABNESS TO THE WIOKED AN AGGRAVATION OF TB.Em GUILT. The fact that "in him they do live, and move, and have their being," that by his operative presence they are momently sustained in being, that by the working of his hand around and upon them they are supplied with all their comfort, and filled with all their joys,-this great fact makes more heinous the guilt of forgetful- ness of God, of indifference to his will, of rebellion against his rule. But the truth of the text is- II. Goo's DISTANCE IN SYMPATHY AND IN SPIRIT FROM TlIE WIOKEO. God is far from the wicked in that : 1. He is utterly out of sympathy with them in all their thought and feeling, in their tastes and inclinations, in their likings and dislikinge. He hates what they love; he is infinitely repelled from that which they are drawn to. 2. He regards them with a Rerious Divine displeasure. He is "angry with the wkked every day." His "soul finds no pleasure in them." He is grieved with them; in his holy and loving heart there is the pain of strong parental d;npproval. 3. He is prac- CH. XVI. 1-33.] THE PROVERBS. 309
tically inaccessi'ble to _them. It is only he "that has clean hands and a pure heart" who is free to draw mgh unto God. "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination" unto him (see homily on ver. 8). God cannot hear us if we "regard iniquity in our hearts;" we virtually withdraw ourselves from him, we place a terrible spiritual distance between our Creator and ourselves, when we take up an attitude of disloyalty toward him, or when we abandon ourselves to any evil course. Yet let it be always kept in mind, that: 4. To the }enitent and believing he is always near; in whatever far country the wayward son is living, he may address himself i=ediately to his heavenly Father. III. Gon's SYMPATHETIC NEARNESS TO HIS CHILDREN. "He heareth the prayer of the righteous." Those who aye earnestly desirous of serving God, of following Jesus Christ, ll!ay :iie o.ssured: 1. Of ~IS actual and ob~erv~t neaJ?less to them when they approach him 1n prayer. 2. Of his tender and loving mterest m them (Mark x. 21). 3. Of his acceptance of themselves when they offer their hearts and lives to him and his service. 4. Of his purpose to answer their various requests in such ways and times as he knows to be best for them.-C.