will exercise such distinguished power and hold such eminent position that they will be "as kings," if they are not so called by their fellows. God endows us very differently, and he puts it in the power of a. few to wield commanding influence, to rise to high rank, to sway a wide and powerful control over their countrymen. And it has often been a matter for serious concern that, to a very large extent indeed, the prosperity and well-being of an entire people bas rested with the decision of, has been held in the balance by, a single hand. Then we naturally tbink that-- II. How HIS HAND WILL MOVE DEPENDS UPON HIS HEART. As the heart feels the hand directs. Behaviour is the outcome of character. Given a stern, insensitive heart, and we count on a hard and cruel policy; but given a kind and considerate heart, and we reckon on a just and humane career. A country has therefore the deepest interest in the character of its rulers, as it has in the moral and spiritual condition of its leaders in any and every sphere of thought and action. We therefore gladly remember that-- III. THE HEART OF THE POWERFUL IS IN THE HAND OF GoD. ".As rivers of water he turneth it," etc. In the formation of this globe, in the arrangement of land and water, in the upbuilding of the great mountains, in the cutting of the fruitful plains, in the tracing of the fertilizing streams, we recognize the band of God. He has used a great variety of agencies to bring about all these and all such results; but everything on the surface of the globe bears the impress of his wise hand. 'l'be rivers do not run where they list-they flow along the water-courses which bis wisdom has arranged. And so with the hearts of the great and the strong, of the king and the counsellor, of the warrior and the minister. God has access to them; he can as easily touch and affect them in their thoughts and judgments as he can determine the channels in which the springs shall run. He can arrest them in their purpose; he can change or even reverse their course. Our human minds, as well as all material objects, are subject to his sway, and own the touch of his controlling hand. Therefore we conclude that- IV. WE NEVER NEED DESPAIR, BUT SHOULD ALWAYS HOPE. For in the darkest hour we know that we have one resource. When we can touch no other human or earthly springs, we can make our appeal to God. We can seek to" move the hand which moves the universe," and which "tumeth the hearts of kings wbithersoever he will." ,ve are sure that : 1. God is never regardless of, or indifferent to, the course which his strong sons are taking. 2. He is ruling the world in the interest of righteousness. 3. He is willing, a □ d indeed wishful, to be sought by those who Jove and trust him. Let the people of God, therefore, cherish hope in the midst of dire trouble and impend- ing evil ; and let the enemies of God beware. One touch of the Divine finger, and their fine fabric of oppression falls instantly to the ground.-C.
Ver. 2.-(See homily on eh. xvi. 2.)-C. Ver. 3.-Devotion and duty. It is certainly noticeablo that this truth should be expressed by Solomon. For the one great work of his life was the erection of the temple wherein sncrifice should be offered to the Loru.. He might have been excused if his leaning had been toward the ceremonial rather than the morn!. But he was not the first Hebrew thinker to give utterance to the idea. It is interesting to trace- I. 1TB HISTORY IN HEBREW THOUGHT. We find: 1. Samuel holding this view, o.nd declaring it in firm and powerful language (1 Sam. xv. 22). 2. David filled with a deep sense of it as he humbled his soul before God (Ps. Ii. 10, 15-19). 3. Asaph powerfully affected by it as he wrote his sacred song (Ps. I. 8-15). 4. Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Micah insisting upon this truth in strong and fervent words (Isa. i. 11-17; Jer. vii. :.!2, 23; Micah vi. 6-8). 6. John the Baptist making nothing of ceremonial religion, and making everything of a true and genuine repentance. 6. Our Lord himself, by his teaching and his attitude, preferring the peuitent publican and harlot to the much-sacrificing but hard-hearted Pharisee; while by his own sacrificial death he removed for ever the need of any further offering on any altar whatsoever. 7. His inspired apostles declaring the needlessness of any sacrifice except those which are of e. epiritual order (Rom. xii. 1; Heb. ix. 28; x. 12; xiii. 15, 16). II. lTs SIGNIFICANCE TO OURSELVES. We naturally ask-What is the relation of devotion to duty or righteousness? and we answer: 1. No measure of devotion can • PROVERBS. 2 E 418 THE PROVERBS.