of material good things, and we need heavenly words for our soul's sustenance then as much as in the conscious helplessness of trouble. We have special duties belonging to the time of prosperity. Prosperity brings talents, opens up opportunities for enlarged sen-ice, calls for renewed devotion of love and gratitude. There are also peculiar da11gers attending prosperity, and it is well that we should hear a Divine voico warn m against them, and heed a Divine counsel which will direct us how to conquer them. 2. There are means by which God speaks to us in prosperity. He is ever speaking to us, even when we do not bear bis voice-by the Bible we should be reading, by tbe ordinances of the Church and the institution of preaching, by the course of providence, by the life of nature, by the still small voice of conscience. But there are special voices of prosperity. Prosperity speaks to us of the goodness of God exercised towards us in spite of our ill-desert and in a degree beyond all reckoning. II. THERE IS DANGER LEST WE SHOULD DISREGARD THE VOICE OF Goo m PROSPERITY, God does not thrust his messages upon unwilling ears. We may refuse to hear. Yet ho speaks so that we may always hear, so that if we do not heed his voice it must be because we will not hearken to it. 1. Prosperity may disincline us to do this because it seems to satisfy us without God. Really satisfy us it cannot. But temporarily it acts as an opiate, and when we do not feel the need of God we are tempted selfishly to dis- regard his voice. 2. Then prosperity is distracting. Sorrow is lonely and silent, and leaves us in the dark night to listen to heavenly voices and gaze on the wonders of the world above. The garish day of prosperity, with its noisy and dazzling distractions, withdraws our attention from such things. 3. Further, prosperity begets pride. It leads us to think much of self, to yield to self-will, and to rebel against the requirement to act as God's servants and stoop beneath the yoke of his will. Hence it inclines us to a rebellious disregard for his voice. 4. If men have been hardened against God from their youth, it is not likely that they will heed his voice in the time of prosperity. 'l'he longer we neglect this voice the more deaf do we become to it. It is terrible to think of the folly and wickedness of persistent disregard to God's truth while he is patient and long-suffering and persevering in seeking access to our hearts. Some great shock seems to be required to disturb this habit of hardened indifference. An earthquake of adversity may be required to break up such fallow ground. If trouble comes with this end it is a great blessing. The adversity of the Captivity was such a blessing to the Jews; it led them to regard the voice that was unheeded in their prosperity. So our sorrows are often blessings if they make us to hear the voice of our Father in heaven.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-23.-Truth-spealcing under d{ffeculties. The prophet is commanded to go down to the king's palace and deliver his prophecies in the royal audience. His mission did not admit of time-serving or evasive utterance. Like that prophet who said to David, "Thou art the man," he had to speak to the king face to face and with great plainness. I. Gon's CHILDREN ARE OFTEN CALLED UPON TO WITNESS TO HIM m DIFFIOULT PLAl,'ES, In king's courts ; in society; in unbelieving homes; in the office, workshop, etc. lJ. 'l'HEIR WITNESS IB OFTEN m SHEER CONTRADICTION TO THE ACTIONS AND HABITS TH.AT PREVAIL THERE. The sin of Judah was flagrant and open, affecting the most elementary laws of righteousness. The Law of Moses guarded the widow and the orphan. The Law of God, in its ~ighteou_sne~s, purity, and love, is s~ill st~ang~ to the world's life, and is constantly VIOiated 1n 1t. But the duty of w1tness1ng 1s only rendered the more imperative. Ill THEY ARE SUSTAINED BY: 1. The consciousness of inner rectitude and duty. 2. The witness of conscience in the transgressors. 3, The presence and promises of him who sends them.-M. Vers. 5, 7, 13, 14.-Building in unrighteousness. The building of a house, be it small or great, is always an interesting and suggestive process. It is a lengthened operation, expensive, and representing a great part of a man's aims and efforts. Various purposes may be sought in it according to the character, circumstances, etc., of the mr. x.x11. 1-30.J THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. 497