will havo their reward. For sloth, neglect, waste, and abuse, God will ent.er into judgment with us.-J. Ver. 16-ch. iv. l.-771e women of Jerusalem. The habits and the morale in general of the court 1md the aristocracy are a sure index of the state of the nation. Fashion guides, but is in a measure controlled by the general opinion. Wanton pride and luxury in high places bespeak a general want of moral tone. I. THEIR PnIDE. The picture is minute and scathingly satirical. The daughters of Zion ·walk with "mecks held up." II. THEIR LASCIVIOUSNESS. The "rolling eyes" are often mentioned as characteristic of Aphrodite or Ashtoreth, the unchaste goddess of sensual love. Ill. THEIR FINERY AND LUXURY. A complete catalogue of articles of personal adorn- ment is given. The instinct for dress and decoration, so strong in women and so graceful if followed with moderation, easily passes beyond the bounds, and becomes an offence and vice. IV. Tm;; REVERSE OF THE PICTURE. The perfumes will be exchanged for a stench, the waistband for the rough cord of poverty, the abundance of flowing hair will be replaced by repulsive baldness. "A brand instead of beauty!" Their husbands will fall in the war. There will be melancholy groups gathering at the public place, the gates; and in vain will they, once lapped in luxury, seek the protection and the honour of the marriage state (cf. 1 Cor. vii. 36). One of our poets has called up the picture of Venice and her women in old days of mirth and folly, which may be compared. "As for Venice and her people, merely born to bloom and drop, Here on earth they bore their fruitage-mirth and folly were the orop. What of soul was left, I wonder, when the kissing had to stop? Dust and ashes l " ; Only the "sweet and virtuous soul" can give to woman an immortal charm, and ensure her from corrupting and being corrupted.--J. Ver .. 9.-The revealings of the fuce. "The show of their countenance doth witne,s against them." We are "fearfully and wonderfully made." Just as the countenance reveals the state of our physical health, so do thought and character manifest themselves in the face. All our nature, with its complexity of being, has yet a subtle and myste- rious oneness, and the tone of the. mind and the inclination of the heart are made manifest, not alone in speech, but in look and gesture and manner. In the simple language of the holy Book, there is a show of the countenance. I. MEN- CANNOT PREVENT SELF-REVEALING. As the New Testament says," They that .bo otherwise cannot: be hid." There is no concealment in nature. The hidden seed .springs up even in the cleft of a rock. There is always some damaging witness waiting for an evil man. As the snow reveals the footsteps of the beast of prey, as the wind of the desert drifts the sand from the body that is buried in it, so sin will surely be found ciut. A bad man's face is a tell-tale of levity and scorn and shame. If God is not in the heart, the light of his presence will not be in the countenance. 11. MEN CANNOT LONG ACT A PART. Nature is against insincerity. You cannot forge her handwriting. You cannot make your artificial rock so that it shall remain wiknown beside hers. No. And it is so with voice and face. Hypocrisy drops unconsciously its mask.. The same words are spoken differently by sincere and insincere men. We read of hollow laughter. So there is hollow exhortation which does not exercise inspira- tion over our hearts. So men cannot twist their countenances into false witnessing. 'l'here is a blatant iniquity about the wicked which cannot be concealed by long effort. " They declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not." HI. MEN CANNOT AVERT PUNISHMENT. " woe unto their soul ! for thev have rewarded evil unto themselves.'' 'fhey create their own inquisition-()hambcr. Memory is their misery. No theories of unaccountability can live. Excuses there a.re none. The conscience tears them to pieces like a spider's web. Life is personal and accountable. We all .feel that. "Say ye to the righteous, it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe uuto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands thall be given him." Reward, then, is not ulways blessing; it is 60 THE BOOK OF 'l'HE PROPHlfi' ISAIAH. (011. III. 1-20.
harvest of golden sheaves or gathered tares, according to our planting. Verily a light from within fills the countenance even of godly men. 'l'he prayer is fulfilled. "Oause thy face to shine upon us." "Who is the Health of my countenance, and my God."- W. M. S.