you." This is not peace of condition, but peace of conscience. The ocean, like Christ's li fo, may be troubled outwardly, but there is rest at the heart of it. We cannot judge .7.Jy the surface-features of life. We must enter within to know if there be really peace. We must see the man in trouble, trial, solitude, and death. Then we shall see how true the acclamation is, "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." Bunyan had peace in Bedford Gaol ; so had the confesRors and martyrs of olden time. II. CnRisT's ATONEMENT GIVES PEA.OF.. "Having made peace through the blood of his cro6s," We may be unable to give a theory of the atonement that can cover all its meaning-from the days of Anselm until now men have debated about that; but in depths of agony about sm we/eel the need of a Saviour, and rejoice toeing- "Nolhing in my hands I bring, Simply to thy croBB I cling." III. CHRIST GIVES PEACE THROUGH TRUTH. He tells the truth about our moral state and condition. He reveals the truth concerning the nature and purposes of God. He unveils the immortal life, not only as a doctrine, but in himself, in heavenly beauty of the earthly life. "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Lire." How comfortable it is to rest on this gracious promise, and to know that the True One cannot lie 1-W. M. S. Vera. 1-8.-0omplacency, rebulce, and acquiescence. We may gather the preliminary truth that we need to look u·ell before we decide on the character of Divine decisions and of human actions. Otherwise we shall certainly fall into serious mistakes. 1. It would be a mistake to assume that the calamities here foretold were consequent on Hezekiah's fault, So, at first sight, they might appear to be; but we may be quite sure that they were not. For in other places these national dis,1sters are referred, not to one individual delinquency, but to national apostasy and disobedience. It was simply that the pride of the king provided a suitable occasion/or intimating the sad humiliations which were in store for his descennants; just as the complacent remark of the disciples called forth the prediction that those great stones of the temple, in which they so much rejoiced, would before long be cast clown to the ground (Mark xiii, 1, 2). We need not, as indeed we cannot, suppose that God would visit on a remote generation a terrible calamity in punishment of one comparatively small transgression. 2. It would be a mistake to suppose tliat Hezekiah was indifferent to the fate of his posterity so long as he and his contemporaries were secure (ver. 8). So selfish e. spirit is inconceivable in so good a man. We have, of course, only a small part of his reply to the prophet; but we may assure ourselves that he meant nothing more than to signify his thankful- ness Lhat the jud~meuts of God were to be mitigated by mercy toward himself aud his people. Thtl incident may sprak to us of- I. 'l'HE PERIL OF COMPLACENCY. It seems that, after his recovery from sickness, gratitude was lost in self-gratulation. Then came the ostentation which met with the Divine reproof. Complacency is e. very "slippery place" for our foot to tread. Only the steadiest can walk there without a stumble. Whatever may seem to justify it- even if it be successful philanthropy, religious service, or delightful devotiun-it is a perilous place, in which it is easy to err and almost impossible to keep quite straight with God. Our occupancy of it should be but momentary; gratitude is much safer as well aR much more acceptable to God. II. TnE D1vrnm REBUKE. God reproved Hezekiah for his foolish ostentation. This is a sin which i~ no less offensive to him thau it is distasteful to us. We can all see o.nd d,, all feol how very unbecoming is pride iu man. For: 1. We have nothing e.t nil ,l'bich we he.ve not ultimntely received from God. 2. Whlltevor we possess, whether of strength, beauty, facult.y, honour, riches, etc., it is all so much moro than we deserve. 3. At any moment we mo.y be required to lo.y it down. Of the house of our power and our possession wo are but" tenants-at-will.'' Who can tell the.t God may not be about to say to us, "This night" thou goest forth? Ill. HUMAN AOQUIESCENCE. "Good is the word of the Lord." God's rebuke may be met with (1) e. sullen, rebellious resentment (Gen. iv. 9); (2) or with a stony e.nd sinful indifference; when he humbles men in his providence, and they take no note e.t all of the humiliation he sends them, but continue in ungodliness; (3) or with an ignorant astonishment; when men know not their own spiritual poverty e.nd blindness (Rev. iii. 62 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. [en, XXXIX, 1--8,
17); (4) or with a wise and reverent acquiescence (text) ;-then God is pleased with us and we rise to higher ground in our Christian pilgrimage.-C. '
Ver. 4,-.71,e home, s~ tho7!gh not shown. No do~bt the_ ambassadors of the King of Babylon saw many thmgs m the palace of Hezekiah which ha did not exhibit to the~ ; more things are se~1? than those which a1;e displayed._ It is eo in every house ; and 1t may be that the VlSltor goes away more impressed with soma thingR which I!O one pointed out to him than with anything to which his attention was called. If any one were t-0 ask him what he has seen in tha house, he would mention that which its master had not thought to show him. What would any visitor to our house aee though we did not show it to him? ' I. ORDER oR DISORDER? 'l'he manifest presence ofa strong hand keeping every one in order and everything in its place; or the painful absence of it? II. OBEDIENCE OR DISOBEDIENCE? Filial readiness and even eagerness to comply at once with the parents' wish; or the lingering step or even the entire disre<rard 0 of that desire? III. CouRTESY OR DISCOURTESY? Habitually becoming behaviour at. the tatle and the hearth ; or the unwise neglect of those smaller observances which minister to the beauty and the sweetness of daily life? IV. LOVE OR INDIFFERENCE, OR POSITIVE DISLmE? The presence of that warm affec- tion which should bind husband and wife, parent and child, brother and sister, in the bonds of happy imd enduring fellowship ; or a cold and sad indifference to one another's well-being; or a still sadder animosity and persecution? V. SELFISHNESS OR SYMPATHY? 'The confinement of thought and care to the four walls of the home establishment; or a considerate and generous regard for the wants and wishes of neighbours and fellow-citizens? YI. PIETY OR WORLDLINESS? Family worship, and-what is better still-a prevailing religious tone, as if parents and children all felt that temporal success was a very small thing in comparison with spiritual worth; or the language and habits of an ignoble and degrading worldliness ?-C.