HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 2-5.-Kings: their attributes and duties. I. CONTRAST BETWEEN DIVINE AND HUMAN GOVERNMEJI'.l', Divine government is a mystery in its principles and its ends. J>artia.l revelation only is given of its method in the Scriptures and in the actual course of the world. Actual relations are one thing, their secret spring another. The former may be known, the latter is veiled from our scrutiny. On the contrary, human government should be founded on principles intelligible to all and commend- able to the conscience and reason of all. In the kingdom of God, says Luther, we must not seek to be wise, and wish to know the why and wherefore, but have faith in everything. ln'.the kingdom of the world a governor should know and ask the why and wherefore, and trust in nothing. II. 'fHE RESERVE OF RULERS. (Ver. 3.) If the heart in general is unsearchable, much more must theirs be who have not their own merely, but the secrets of nations in their keeping. The lesson is taught of abstaining from hasty censure of the actions and policy of those in power; the grounds of that policy may be far deeper than any- thing that meets the eye. III. THE DUTY OF DISCERNME:l."T IN RULERS. (Vers. 4, 5.) As the refiner separates the dross from the silver, which roars its beauty and purity, so shoul<l the king exclude from his presence and counsels the profligate and the base. A pure or vicious court has immense influence on the manners and morals of the community. Christ speaks in like manner of gathering out of his kingdom at the day of judgment all offenders and workers of iniquity. IV. THE TRUE FOUNDATJO:s OF AUTHORITY. (Ver. 5.) Not force, but moral power; not might, but right. How often in our time have thrones tottered or tho occupant fllllec. wheu physical force alone was recognized as the basis of security I Justice is iu.;printed upon the nature of man. And let rulers who would maintain their power ever appeal to reason and to right. He who takes the motto, "Be just and fear not." for the maxim of his policy lays the only stable foundation of law and govcrnment.-J.
Vere. 6, 7.-A lesson in courtly manners. Nothin11: in conduct is unimportant. Fitting and graceful manners are those which become our station in life. Here the relations to our superiors are touched upon. I. WE SHOCLD KNOW OUR PLACE, AND NOT STEP OUT OF IT. (Ver. 6.) As the Arabia proverb finely says," Sit in thy place, and no man can-make thee rise." "All that good nrnnners demand," says a great writer," is composure and self-content." We may add to this "an equal willingness to allow the social claims of others as to relf upon our own." Self-respect is complemented by deference. We need a ready perc~pt1on of worth and beauty in our companions. If it is folly to refuse respect to admitted ex:ternal rank, much more to the native rank of the soul. II. VvE SHOULD ASSUME TIIE LOWEST RATITER TITAN TITE HIGHEST PLACE, (Ver. 7.) 'l'l:r; lci:sc,n runs all through life, from the outward to the inward and the spiritual (see Luke xiv. 8-11). "Comme ilfaul-'al! we must bc'-is foe Freuchman'sdcscription OH, XXV, 1-28.] THE PROVERBS. 491
of good society." The lesson is mainly against presumption in any and all of its forms, an offence hateful to man and God. 'l'o take the lowly place in religion here becomes us, and it lee.de to exaltation; to grasp at more than our due is to lose all and earn our condemnation. Christianity has a deep relation to manners, 'l'here is nothin"0 so beautiful as the code of manners given in the New Testament,
"How near to good is what is fair! ,Vhich we no sooner see, But with the lines e.nd outward e.ir, Our senses ta.ken be." J. Vers. 8-10.-Some social pests. I. THE CONTENTIOUS PERSON. (Ver. 8.) Re is irritable, easily takes offence, is readily provoked, barbs even the playful darts of jest with poison. When the consequences of this ill temper have broken out in full force, its mischief is seen and exposed too late. Beware, then, of "entrance to a quarrel." The contentious man may make real in the end the enmity of which he only dreams. II. MANFUL CONDUCT IN DISPUTES. (Ver. 9.) If an unavoidable dispute has begun, bear thyself in it with energy, out with honour. It is unmanly and base to employ against one's opponent the secrets that have been learned from him in some earlier confidential moment. Go first to your adversary, and seek a cordial explanation of the difference, and a fair and honourable settlement. .And do not be tempted to mh: up foreign matters with it. "Agree with thine adversary quickly." III. THE EVIL OF NOURISHING QUARRELS. (Ver. 10.) Lawsuits consume time, money, rest, and friends. Worst of all consequences, however, is that in the man's own mind. He lights a fire in his own bosom, and keeps it ever supplied with the fuel of passion, and may turn his heart, and perhaps his home, into a bell.-J.