by the mischievoue influence of a corrupt court and aristocracy, and by the diecontent produced br corruptions of the fountains of justice. II. UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE PEOPLE lcNFEEBLES THE NATIONAL LIFE, Illustrate by the effect of prev<"nt sensuality on the mom,le of soldiers. The moral degradation of France was the secret of her weakness when struggling against Germany. A nation's manhood sinks under the power of self-indulgence and sin. This was strikingly illus- trated again and &gain in the history of God's people Israel. When they were idolatrous and immoral they were v.,eak before their foes. Virtue is strength. III. U1rnIGHTEOUS:-ESS PREPARES THE WAY FOR NATIONAL EVILS. Both for such as are inter11al and for such as are ea;ternal. Family life, society, religion, all are e.ffected. Ordinary checks are removed. The sense of common weal no longer binds men together to seek national interests. And the "enemy coming in like a flood" finds no "standard of the Lord lifted np against them." Illustrate by the iniquities wrought by e.nd encouraged by Hophni and Phinehas, and the consequent despising of Jehovah's worship, and inability to stand before the nation's foes. Nobody from outside can really hurt a nation. Nations hurt themselves by permitting vice and iniquity to run riot. Show what arc the features of modem city sins, country sins, national iniquities. These are our peril, our woe, our curse. Against these every servant of the Lord must strive and plead and fight. Nations can build national life securely on no o.ther foundation than this-morality, righteousness, the clean heart, and the clean. hand. -R.T. Vers. 24, 25.-Hope in God's refinings. Cheyne translates, "Ha! I will appease me through mine adversaries, and avenge me on mine enemies, and will bring back my hand upon thee, smelting out as with lye thy dross, and will take away all thy lead- alloy." The" lye" referred t.o is potash, which was used as a flux in purifying metals. Calamities, diseases, bereavement.", failures, anxieties, are God's refining forces, but their influence for good depends on the state and condition of those to whom they come. I. CALAMITIES OF LIFE TO MEN STANDING ALONE. Without any faith in God, or idea of the gracious meaning there is in earthly trouble. How such men fret and chafe, and question why they have to suffer, and give way to rebellious thoughts I Too often troubles only harden them, and drive them further still from God. II. CALAMITIES OF LIFE TO MEN UNDER Goo's WRATH. These must take intense and severe forms. They must first crush and humble, breaking down proud wills and rebellious spirits. They must first look like overwhelming judgments, and then, if men will respond to them, they shall seem to be gracious chastisements.and refinings. • III. CALAMITIES OF LIFE TO MEN UNDER Goo's MERCY. Thi~ opens the whole subject of God's refining and purifying of his people. We all have so much tin and dross mingled with our gold, and it is so good of God that he will not let, the dross_ stay. With bis " fires " and his "lye" he will graciously refine us, until all the dross 1s got away, and his image shines clear on our purified gold. And God's dealings with indi- viduals may be illustrated by his dealings with nations, and especially with his own favoured nation.-R. T.
SECTION IL DENUNCIATION OF Goo's JUDGMENTB Ul'ON HIS PEOPLE (cB. II.-v.).
EXPOSITION. Ven. 2-4.-PnOPHEOY 011' THE LAST CHAPTER II. DAYS. The resemblance of this prophecy Ver. 1.-TrTLE OF THE CHAPTER, It is to Micah iv. 1-3 is so close e.s to neces- generally allowed that the heading belongs, sitate the conclusion either. that one of the not to this chapter only., but to a section of two prophets copied from the other, or that the work, beginning here and ending at the both copied from e.n ee.rlier docu1nent. The cl01e, either of eh. iv. or of eh. v. It is latter view, which is the.t taken by Rosen- probe.hie tbe.t the section was originally miiller, Maurer, De Wetto, Mder, and Hr. publialied separately. Cheyne, seems profcraUe. on. u. 1-22.] 'l'HE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 31