Yer. 25 (see eh. xiv. 12).-The snpreme mistake. We may well be startled, and we mny well be solemnized, as we witness- 1. THE MARVELLOUS RANGE OF HUMAN COMPLACENCY, It is simply wonderful bow men will allow themselves to be deceived respecting themselves. That which they ought to know best and most thoroughly, they seem to be least acquainted with-their own standing, their own spirit, their own character. They believe themselves to be all right when, in fact, they are all wrong. They suppose themselves to be travelling in one way "·hen they are moving in the very opposite direction. This strange and sad fact in our experience applies to: 1. Our dfrect relation to God. We may be imagining ourselves reconciled to him, in favour with him, enjoying bis Divine friend- ship, engaged on his side, promoting his kingdom, while, all the time, we are far from him, are condemned by him, are doing the work of his enemies, are injuring his cause and his kiogdom. Witness the hypocrites of our Lord's time, and the formalists aod ceremonialists of all times; witness also the persecutors of every age; witness those of every land and age who have failed to understand that it is he, and only he, who "doeth righteousness that is righteous" in the sight of God. 2. Our relation to our fellow-men. How often men have tho1!1.ght themselves just when they have been miserably unjust, kind when they have been heartlessly cruel, faithful when they have beeo guiltily disloyal I 3. What we owe to ourselves. Only too often men think that conduct pure which is impure, consistent with sobriety which is a distinct step toward insobriety, agreeable which is objectionable, safe which is seductive and full of peril. II. THE DISASTROUS END OF A SERIOUS MISTAKE. The way seems right to a man, and he goes comfortably and even cheerily along it, but the end of it is-death. 1. In some cases this end is premature physical decline and dissolution. 2. In all cases it is spiritual decay and the threatened death of the soul, the departure and ultimate loss of all that makes human life honourable, all that makes a human spirit fair in the sight of God. 3. 'l'he death which is eternal. IIL Oun CLEAR WISDOM IN VIEW OF THlB POSBIBILI'I"Y. It is: 1. To ask ourselves now we stand in God's sight. :Man may be accepting us on our own showing, but God does not do that. "The Lord weigheth the spirits" (ver. 2). He "looketh upon the heart;" he considers the aim that is before us and the spirit that is within us; what is the goal we are really seeking; what is the motive by which we are really animated; what is the deep desire and the honest and earnest endeavour of our heart. 2. To be or to become right with him. If we find ourselves wrong in his view, to humble our hearts before him; to seek his Divine forgiveness for all our wandering; to ask his guidance and inspiration to set forth upon a new course and to maintain it to the end. He alone can "show us the path of life."-C.
Ver. 28.-(See homily on eh. xvii. 9.)-0. Ver. 31.-17,e crown of old age. Many are the crowns which, in imagination, we see upon the head. Many are eagerly desired and diligently sought; such are those of fame, of rank, of wealth, of power, of beauty. 'l'hese are well enough in their way; but (1) that which is spent in winning them is often far more valuable than the good for which the sacrifice is made; and (2) the crown, when it is worn, usually weighs heavier and gives less satisfaction than was imagined in the ardour of pursuit. Old acre is a crown. It is natural that men should desire it, for two reasons. 1. It means 0 a prolongation of life; and life, under ordinary conditions, is greatly desired, so that men cling to it even tenaciously. 2. It means the completion of the course of life. Age is one of its natural stages. It has its privations, but it has also its own honours and enjoyments ; those who have passed through life's other experiences may rightly wish to complete their course by wearing the hoary head of old age. But in conncc- "Lion with age, there is- I. 'l'HE CROWN OF SHAME, For it is not always found in the way of righteousness. A.n old man who is still ignorant of those truths which he might have learned, but has neglected to gather; or who is addicted to dishono1;1rable indulgenc~s whic~ ho has had time to conquer, but has not subdued; or who yields to unbeaut1ful habits of the spirit which he should long ago have expelled from his nature a.nu his life; or who hns not yet returned unto that Divine l◄'ather who has been seeking and c111ling him 011, XVI. 1--33.) THE PROVERBS. 329