greatest affairs, of prevision and provision, of ruling and overruling, is at his command. His wisdom is incap11blo of increase; it is absolutely complete. II. HUMAN LITTLENESS. "The nations are as a drop of a bucket" (ver. 15). We note, as corresponding with God's greatness: I. Our insignificance. We may find ourselves mean and humble enough when compared with our fellow-men; most certainly we do when we bring onrselves, our circumstances, our authority, into comparison with him. 2. Our impotence. How very little can the strongest and most influential men effect! how much less those whose lives are spent in lowly spheres! 3. Oui· ignorance. We want men to direct our spirit, to counsel us, to teach us knowledge. There are few men from whom we have not something to learn. \Ve need to be acquiring knowledge, not in the time specially devoted to study, but ali day long nnd all life through. 4. Our foolisl,ne.~s. \Ve do not know how to conduct our own affairs wisely, and arc co11tinually making larger or smaller mistakes: how much more so in our conduct of other men's affairs! Therefore we do well: (1) 'l'o retain truest and deepest reverence of spirit; filial confidence and joy in God must always be made consistent with profoundest adoration. (2) To accept without question the truth he has revealed to us in his Word. (3) To trust his guidance in the direction of our lives, how- ever dark and inexplicable some passages may Eeem. (4) To work on cheerfully and hopefully, though a successful issue appear exceedingly remote.-C. Vers. 16-26.-The hopelessness and the simplicity of Divine service. "Lebanon is not sufficient to burn," etc.; "Not one faileth." If we were asked whether it was a very difficult or a very simple thing to serve the Lord, we should say, "It is both the one and the other; everything depends upon the way and the spirit in which we proceed." We learn- I. THAT MERE QUANTITY OF SERVICE IS VAm AND FUTILE. "Lebanon is not !!1lfficient to burn, nor will [all] the beasts thereof suffice for a burnt offering," if the acceptable element in worship be absent. Great hecatornbs are heathenish things; they are based on the essentially false idea that God can be enriched by human gifts-" as though he neede.i anything," as though, "if he were huugi-y, he would tell us." And all ideas as to quantity in service are erroneous. It is not by" thousands of rams or tens of thousands of rivers of oil," that he is to be placated. It is n hopeless and impossible task which so many set themselves to accomplish-to please and serve the living God by a multitude of services, of celebrations, of privations, of prayers (" much speaking"), of acts ,,f outward benevolence. As all Lebanon with all its beasts would not be snfficient for one acceptable sacrifice, taken of itself and of themRelves, so millions of Masses and multitudes of charities, and innumerablo nets of service, whether good or bad in them- selves, would take a man no nearer to the favour of God and the kingdom of heaven, if there were not present something apart from these things and of more intrinsic excellence than they. Without this Inst, service is either formal, or superstitious, or selfish ; in any case it is worthless. II. THAT TilE SMALLEST SERVICE RIGHTLY RENDERED IS EFFECTUAL WITH Goo. Not one of the vo.st army of the heavenly hosts fails to take its place o.nd exert its influence and do its ap;iointed work in the vast plans of the Creator. Every smallest star gives its light, and helps to keep everything iu the sidereal universe in equipoise and in orderly movement. Not one faileth. So may this be true in the great army of Divine worshippers and of Christian workers. With a reverent and a loving spirit, the service of God is the simpkst thing in the world. 1. The ejaculation of a moment is an eff'ectual prayer. 2. The gift of two mites is a liberal offering. 3. The cup of cold water will by no means lose its reward. 4. The simple sentence of encouragement to the tired traveller along the road of life, or of comfort to the wounded soldier in the battle of life, or of good cheer to the baffled workman in the Master's vineyard, is eloquent in the ear of the Lord of love. 6. The household duty conscientiously and devoutly discharged will be owned and blessed by him who observes nnd rewards the "bond and free." 6. 'l'he simpkst net of mngn:1ni111ity, rendered in tho interchange of our homeliest relations, by which a brother, or sister, or neighbour is frankly forgiven the hard word, or tho inconsidernto silence, or the unloving deed, weighs in the scales of him who was the first to say, "Love your enemies." Every soldier among the rank-aod-filo can serve the Divine Captain. With love in the heart there is no need of 86 'l'HE BOOK OF THE l'UOPHET ISAIAH. [ott. XL. 1-31,
Lebanon and its beasts for an altar or a sacrifice. Not one need fail to do day by· day hour aft.er hour, act after act, that which is well pleasing in the eyes ~f him "with whom we have to do," whose good plea.'!ure with us is the gladness of our heart and the music of our life.--0.