Ver. 26.-The bles•ing of hunger, I. AT BOTTOM, HUNGER, THE NEED OF DnEAD, lS T!{E GREAT STING AND GOAD TO ALL EXERTION, TO USEFUL ACTIVITY JN GENERAL, II. HENCE HUNGER IS THE HELPER OF OUR TOIL. And we may thank God for every stimulus to do our best. Have not the best things been done for the wol'ld in every department by poor mrn? TII. As APPLIED TO RELIGIO~, IT IS THE HUNGER OF THE SOUL WHICH PR0MP1'8 us TO SEEK FOR RIGHTEOUSl\"Ess; the emptiness of other joys which sends us to the feast of the gospel. Through toil and trouble, the worst unrest and distress can alone be overcome.-J.
Vers. 27-30.-Penal judgments on guilt. GODLESS STRIVINGS. Life is full of success and failure, There are successes which cost the soul, and failures in which is contained the reaping of life eternal. The activity of the worthless man (ver. 27). 1. It is mischievou_s in spirit an~. in end. He is del;'icted as one _who digs a grave for others (eh. xxv1. 27; Jer. xvm. 20, sqq.). And his words are like fire that scorches bla~ting reputation, withering the buds of opening good in the sentiment of the young' scoffing down the right and true. 2. lt is contentious; breeding quarrels, creative of strife, introducing breaches between friends, disuniting households. "Envy and every evil work" is wherever be 11:oes. 3. It is the activity of the tempter, the seducer. Not content with error himself, he would have partners in sorrow and in• guilt.· It is thus truly diabolical. 4. It is mditated and determined (ver. 30). Very strikina is the picture of this verse--the eyes half closed, the bit lips, the firm line about th~ mouth of one resolved on dark designs and their determined execution. What e. power is thought for good or evil I Oh for its right direction by the loving and creative Spirit of all wisdom and goodness, that it may be ever inventive of kind and healing deeds, that may "seal up the avenues of ill," rather than open them more widely to the processions of darkness and hate !-J.
Vere. 31, 32.-The gentle life. Portrayed with exquisite sweetness and beauty. I. AN HONOURED AGE. The biblical pictures of the aged pious are very charming, and Polycarp, with his eighty-six years upon him, passing to another crown, that of martyrdom, is sublime; also "Paul the aged and the prisoner." 'fhe text points out what we must all recognize for an iesthetic truth, that it is the association of age with goodness which makes it truly respectable, venerable, beautiful. JI. MoRAL HEROISM. The heathen type of heroism was strength of arm-bodily strength, manly courage against an outward foe. The spiritual and the Christian type is in strength of will against evil, self-mastery; self-conquest, sublime patience. Better than to be members of any knightly order, "Companions" of the Bath, or any similar society speaking of the lower and carnal virtues, to be "companions in tribu- lation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ."-J.
Ver. 33.-Chance and providence. I. CHANCE IB BUT AN EXP.RESSION OF HUMAN IGNORANCE. When we speak of that which is contingent, we mean something the law of which is not yet knewn. II. MAN'S CONTROL OVER EVENTS 18 LIMITED. We can give the external occasion to a decision; the decision itself rests with a higher power. III. Goo OVERRULES ALL TIIINGB, AND OVERRULES THEM FOR THE DEBT. To pretend that we are not free is to deny our nature, and so to deny him; and it is also a denial of him to think that we can be absolute masters of our fate. Between night and day-truths that are obscure and convictions that are clear-our life is balanced. Life rests on two pillars-the providence of God and the responsibility of man.-J. Vere. 1, 3, 9.-Thought, action, prayer. It may be said that the three main elements of human experience are those of thinking, of acting, and of praying. We have not J~c our best until we have done all of these. Oil, XVI. 1-33,] THE Pll.OVERBS. 825