that which is dangerous and to gaze with delight and even rapture on the beauties n.n.d glories of the world ;-this is a very striking instance of the wonderful skill and power of our Creator. II. EVIDENCES OF DIVINE GOODNESS. For what sources of knowledge, of power, of pure gladness of heart, of mental and moral cultivation and growth, has not God given to us in sculpturing for us "the hearing ear," in fashioning for us "the seeing eye"? III. SUGGESTIVE OF THE D1v1NE KNOWLEDGE. "He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?" (Ps. xciv. 9). The wonderful Worker who has snpplied us, his finite and feeble creatures, with such power of hearing and of vision, witlL such sources of knowledge,-how great, how perfect, how boundless, must be his own Divine perception! How certainly must he hear the whisper we would fain make inaudible to him! how inevitably must he see the action we would gladly hide from his searching sight! How absolute must God's knowledge be, both of our outward life and of the inner workings of our soul! IV. OPPORTUNITY FOR DIVINE SERVICE. For here are the means we want of learning of God, of knowing, that we may do, his holy will. Our eye uot only conveys to us the sight of the beautiful, the richly stored, the glorious world that God has made for lll!, but it enables us to read "the book be has written for our learning," wherein we can find all that we need to know of his nature, his character, and his will And our ear not only conveys to us the melodies of the outer world, but it places within the reach of our spirit the Divine truths which are uttered in our presence. These, as they come from the lips of parent, or teacher, or pastor, can "make us wise unto salvation," can fill our hearts with holy purpose, with true and pure emotion, with abiding peace. And we may add that the speaking lips are also that which "the Lord bath made;" and what an opportunity these give us of uttering his truth, of helping his children, of furthering his cause and kingdom ! Such excellent service can our bodily organs render to our immortal spirit; and so may they be impressed into the holier service of their Divine Author.-C,
Ver. 17.-(f:ee homily on eh. ui. 6-8.)-C.
Ver. 22 (eh. xxiv. 29).-Resentment and forgiveness, The Christian doctrine of for- giveness finds here a distinct anticipation ; but that doctrine was not found in the highway, but rather in the byway of pre-Christian morals. It made no mark. It did not find its way into the thought and the feeling of the people. I, Vi'E MUST EXPECT TO BE WRONGED, OR TO BELIEVE OURSELVES WRO~GED, AS WE GO ON OUR WAY, So conflicting are our interests, so various our view8, so many are the occasions when an event or a remark will wear an entirely different aspect according to the point of view from which it is regarded, tho.t it is utterly unlikely, morally impossible, that we should not be often placed in a position in which we seem to be wronged. It may be some sentence spoken, or some action taken, or some purpose settled upon, slight or serious, incidental or malevolent, but we may take it that it is one part of the portion and burden of our life. II. BITTER RESENTMENT IS DISTINCTLY DISALLOWED. It is natural, it is human enough. .As man has become under the reign of sin, it finds a place in his heart if not in his creed, everywhere. It :seems to be right. It has one element that is right- the element of indignation. But this is only one part of the feeling, and by no means the chief part. A bitter animosity, engendered by the thought that something has been done against us, is the main ingredient. And this is positively disallowed. '' Say not, I will recompense evil;" "It bath been said, . . . hato thine enemy; but I say unto you, Love your enemies . . . do good to them that hate you;" "Avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath;" "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger . . . be put away from you, with all malice" (Matt. v. 43, 44; Rom. xii. 19; Eph. iv. 31). III. WE HAVE AN ADMIRABLE ALTERNATIVE. We can "wait on the Lord," and he will "save us." We can: 1. Go to God in prayer; take our wounded spirit to him; cast onr burden upon him; seek and find a holy calm in communion with him. 2. Commit our cause unto him; be like unto our Leader, "who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to hilll l'll0VE81JS, 2 D 402 THE PROVERBS. [011. :xx. 1-30.
that judgeth righteously" (1 Pet. ii. 23). We shall thus ask God to save us from ou,._ selves, from indulging thoughts and feelings toward our neighbour which shame rather than honour us, which separate us in spirit from our great Exemplar (1 Pet. ii. 21); and to sa"e 11s from those who would injui·e us, working outf or us, in his own way and time our deliverance and recovery. ' IV. WE wrn THE TRUE VICTORYJ I To be avenged on our enemy is a victory of a certain kind; the moment of success is a moment of triumph, of exultation. But: 1. That is a victory which is greatly and sadly qualifled. When we recrard 0 the matter disinterestedly and dispassionately, can we really envy such triumph ? Should we like to have in our heart the feelings which are surging and swelling in the breast of the victor-feelings of bitter hatred, and of positive delight in a brother's humiliation or suffering, or loss ? 2. The victory of forgiveness is pre-ei"'inently Christian. It pl;ces us by the side of our gracious Lord himself (Luke l..itiii. 34), and of the best and wortbiest of his disciples (Acts vii. 60; 2 Tim. iv. 16). 3. It gives to us a distinct spiritual resemblance to our heavenly Father himself, (Matt. v. 45.)-C. Ver. 23.-(See homily on eh. xvi. 11.)-C.