great assize will be held, not on earth, but in the unseen world; not in time, but in eternity. T_ha~ the Prea_cher had no clear perception of either the time, place, or nature of this Judgment, 1s probably correct, but that he alluded to a dread tribunal in the great hereafter seems a legitimate conclusion from the circumstance that he elsc"·here (eh. viii. 14) adverts to the fact that in this life men are not always requited either for their righteousness or for th€ir wickedness. What was com- paratively dark to the Preacher is to us clearly illumined, viz. that after death is the jndgrnent (Heb. ix. 27). 2. Divine. The Judge will not be man, but God (eh. iii. 17; Ps. lxii. 12; Isa. xxx. 18). This fully discovered in the New Testament, which states that God shall judge men by Jesus Christ (Acts xvii. 31; Rom. ii. 16; 2 Tim. iv. 1). 3. Individual. 'l'he judgment will be passed, not upon mankind in the mass or upon men in groups, but upon men as individuals (2 Cor. v. 10). 4. Oertain. A; the Preacher himself was not dubious, so would he have the young to know that the future judgment will be a momentous reality (Heh. xii. 23; 2 Pet. ii. 9). III. AN URGENT DUTY-to banish sorrow and evil. 1. To remove sorrow from the heart. Either (1) the sorrow of vexation, in which case the counsel is to avoid cherishing a peevish, morose, or discontented spirit, such as arises from looking at the dark side of things, and to cultivate a. cheerful disposition-a state of mind which accepts whatever lot falls to it in providence (Phil. iv. 11). Or (2) that which causes sorrow to the heart, viz. sin; in which case, again, the exhortation is to abstain from all ungodliness, the real root of heart-bitterness (Deut. xxix. 18; Prov. i. 31; Gal. vi. 8), and to follow holiness, which alone contains the secret of happiness (Ps. cvi. 3; Isa. xlviii. 18). 2. To put away evil from the flesh. Doubtless (1) physical evil, pain, suffering, affliction, whether occasioned by the self-inflicted tortures of asceticism or by the accidentally incurred strokes of disease-a clear injunction to promote the body's comfort and he.alth. But also (2) everything that may induce suffering or evil in the flesh; hence once more sin which, apart altogether from those wickednesses which are against the body (1 Cor. vi. 18), has a. tendency to engender disease and accelerate death. IV. A SERIOUS REA.SOY-the vanity of boyhood and manhood. 1. Both are transient. Youth and the prime of life will not last, but will pass away. Hence they should be kept as joyous and pure as possible. Only one thing more unfortunate for the after-development of the soul than a sunless youth, namely, a sinful youth. If the opening years of man's pilgrimage on the earth should be radiant with happiness, much more should they be glorified with holiness. 2, Both are inexperienced. Hence their fervid impulses should be moderated and restrained by the solemn considerations that spring from the brevity of life and the certainty of a future judgrnent. Learn: 1. That youth should be happy and serious. 2. That man's existence has a future and a present. 3. That privilege and responsibility ever go together.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1, 2.- Works of charity. There can be little doubt that these ad.monitions apply to the deeds of compassion and beneficence which are the proper fruits of true religion. Especially in some conditions of society almsgiving is expedient and beneficial. In times of famine, in cases of affliction and sudden calamity, it is a duty to supply the need of the poor and hungry. At the same time, the indiscriminate bestowal of what is called charity unquestionably does more harm than good, especially in a state of society in which few need suffer want who are diligent, frugal, temperate, and self-denying. But there are many other ways in which benevolence may express itself beside almsgiving. The Christian is called upon to care both for the bodies and for the souls of his fellow-men-to give the bread of knowledge as well as the bread that perisheth, and to provide a spiritual portion for the enrichment and consolation of the destitute. l. THE NATURAL EMOTION OF BENEVOLENCE IB RECOGNIZED AND HALLOWED BY TRUE RELIGION. It may be maintained with confidence that sympathy is as ~atural to man as selfishness, although the love of self is too often allowed by our smful nature to overcome the love of others. But when Christ takes possession, by his Spirit, of a fJH, XI, 1-10.] ECCLESIASTES; OR, THE PREAOHEH. 285