must ever be binding upon all Christians. As explained by an a1='atle, it is "knowing how to po~sess the vessel of the body in sanctification and honour. -R. 'l', Ver. 9.-00'llditions of answer to prayer. Were these men, whose lives were spent for self, but ~ho made a show of seeming to want God, proper persons to receive answers to their prayers? Let the Apostle James answer. "Ye ask, and receive not because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts" (Jas. iv. 3). God wants signs of right character in those whose petitions he grants; for such character is t~e only _guarantee that what h~ gives _is rightly accepted and rightly used. Here with special reference to the particular sms of the age, we have these conditions laid down. 1. Cea.sing from stern and cruel dealings with those who serve us. "Take away the yoke" (see ver. 6). 2. Taunts of those who are recognized as the faithful servants of God, but do not make just the same expression of their piety that we do. "Putting forth the finger;" a gesture of derision. "Indicative of mockery and inso- lence towards the pious and persisting part of the nation" (Matthew Arnold). 3. Boasting. A. spirit of self-~atisfaction, which is quite inconsistent with any approach to God with expressions of need and fervent desires. "Speaking vanity." While these evils must be put away, it is made a further condition of answer to prayer, that he who prays shall be j)Ositively set upon doing good, caring for the hungry and the afflicted. As the immediate reference is to the prayers offered on the national fast-days, this homily may be made to bear specially upon national days of humiliation, Lenten times, etc. Such times are useful, and are necessary. They are called for by the Divine judgments. Ilut the special danger of them is insirtcerity. 'fhe special condition of their accertance with Goe!. i,,; national turning from sin to righteousness and charity. Therefore, at such seasons, the work of God's ministers is to produce due convictions of national sins. Our Lord taught conditions of prayer for his individual disciples, in his sermon on the mount. "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive yo1L"-R. T.
Ver. 11.-Guided, provided, and refreshed. "Guide thee;" "Satisfy thy soul in drought; " "Make fat thy bones; " " Make thee like a watered garden." These figures are all plain and simple, but the last of them gains point by some knowledge of Eastern sentiments. Van Leunep tells us that, in the East, "almost every house has more or less of a garden adjoining. There is neither system nor regular laying out. Trees are ,;;cattered about with little or no plan, and patches for vegetables are laid out as most convenient, onions and cabbages being the universal favourites. But the ornament most prized in a garden, one which all seek to possess if they can possibly afford it, is the marble tank--square, oblong, or octagonal-with a spout in the centre, always out of order. They would not give up that spout in the centre for a good deal, although it does not play once in a generation; but they sit there and think how fine it woulrl be t-0 see it work, and it is almost the same as if they did see it. 'l'hese tanks are often very tastefully cut and ornamented. The ground around them is always well smoothed, and fine grass is sown in it, and kept fresh by frequent sprinkling." The immediate reference of the text is to the restoration of the exiles. 1'heir journey they well might fear. Weariness, drought, peril, they could but expect. So the Divine assurances come meeting the three points of their special need. Their need is ours in th!I journey of life, our journey home to the new Jerusalem. L Gon PROMISES HELP FOR ALL THE MOVEMENTS OF LIFE. "Guide thee continu- ally." Vve are very familiar with journeyings. We are always guing to and fro. By land we are constantly within the flange of a wheel of destruction. Dy sea only a plank or a plate of iron keeps us from foundering. Yet how securely we go I Is it human science or skill that we trust? Nay, God guideth. To every man the lifo-path is unknown. We have never gone the way heretofore. No matter, God guideth. IL Gon PROMISES SUPPLY FOB THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE. "Satisfy n thee. Com- pare " Verily thou shalt be fed." Forty years in the wilderness Israel was fed. For months Elijah was fed. Through the long march the exiles were fed. Manna did not more truly come from God than does our daily supply. None of his people are left desolate. Ill. Gon ~IUSEB Bl!:~P roa TaB WJAnu.Essas or :i.m. Buch 1111 QOIIle& to ou. LIX, 1-21.J THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 385
drooping flowere in the garden when the sort rains fall. Such as comes to parched travellers when in the deeert they find the living, sparkling spring. Who of us cannot recall sweet memoriee of Divine refreshings, winds of God, waters of life ?-R. 'f.