Ver. 16.-.Elden, cmd cMJd,,,.en. The oocaeion is serious. National disaster seems imminent. What ehall be done to tum away Divine anger? Let the people be sum- moned to meet in solemn assembly, and by fasts and prayers let them address them- selves to the Divine compassion. And that it may be a truly national and popular act of religion, let no class, no sex, no age, be omitted from the summone, or exempted from the exercises of devotion and interceeeion. Thus elders and children are, upon Divine authority, a.seociated in holy services. L OLD A1iD YOUNG ABE ALIKE P.ABTAXBBB 01' THE DxvniE BOUNTY, ALIKE OBJEOTB OF Vrvn.'E C"-11.B. Il. Ol.D .A5D YOUNG ABB .ALIJ[II: POBSEIISBD OF BPIBITUAL OAPAOITIEB AND FACULTIES. It. ie 110meti1Il811 taken for granted that children, because of imperfect knowledge and undeveloped intellect, are incapable of any serious part· in the religious exercises of the Church. But intelligence is relative. Is not the "grey barbarian lower than the Christian child"? Is DDt the full-grown man but a babe when comp:ired with heavenly inteliigence1? Faith is often stronger and prayer is often more genuine in the child than in the adult. Ill OLD AJID YOUNG ABB ALlKE JIECEBB.A.BY TO TRJ!I OOHPLETENEBB 01' 8001.AL LIFE, It has often and justly been ssid, that a community without children would be scarcely human. Providence has 110 ordered 110Ciety that those of all ages should live together in mutual intercourse. And no religion can afford to leave out of sight those who are growing up to be the men and women of the next generation. It would indeed be unwise, even ruinous, to so adapt the language and the thoughts in prayer, praise, or meditation to the capacities of the young, as to estrange the mature and intellectual from the eervicee of the Church. Yet there must be milk for babes, as well as meat for Rtrong men. The admonition of the text should. reach the ears especially of Christian minillt.ers, "Gather the children."-T. Ver. 11.-Priastly entreaty. The prieBt.a of the old covenant occupied a position, relatively to religion and to the Church, very difi'er-ent from that occupied by Christian minister& of any special order. Their oflfoe was partly fulfilled and supeneded by the minietratioill of " the great High Priest of our profession," and partly taken up by the whole body of the faithful, who are" priests onto God." • L THE PRIESTLY OFFICE. Priests were: 1. Miniffters of the Lord, appointed by him to serve in the officee of religion. ~- Representatives of the people, from amongst whom they were ae1ected by Divine wisdom. 3. Mediators between the laity whom they represented, and the Eternal whom they aerved in his temple. ll. TBE PBIEBTLY GBID'. In time of calamity it was the function of the priests to mourn. They were men, and repreeentatlve men. 'fhey were touched with a feeling; of the pee.pie's infinnities. They ~re the burden ?f the nat_lon on their hearts. Ile~ween the porch and the altar, it was thell' B&Cred function, clad m dark sackcloth, to lift up their vuiC(:;8 a.nd to weep. on. 11. 1-82.] THE BOOK 'OIi' JO'ET,. 89
III. THPJ l'BJEIITJ,Y HTBl!lA'l'Y. The llimple and touching langu~e, in which the Hebrew prieete appealed on behalf of the nation to the mercy of high Hoaven, hM pa.seed lnto the Lft&ny of the Chri,tian C,'boreh. The tuppllcation for pity and delivll'l'- ance ie urged by the united appeal of the holy 881embly in the word11, "Spare UH, good Lordi" , IV. TBl!l PBrBll'l'LY PJ,IIA, The t,gt dou, not urge the Dece&sitiee and eorrows of the people ae a motive for Divine interposition, IIO much a11 the reputation, the honour, of the God of IHra.ol. U God's choaen people perish, then Jehovah will no longer be worshipped, and the heathen wlll triumph <1Ver the downfall of the true faith. This leeeon·we may leam from this ;plea, that to a rightly judging mind the glory of God himeelf ill the higheat, nobleet aim that can be 10ught and striven and prayed for.-T.
Vere. 18--20.-Piey amd relffltimg. The transitions of 10ntiment with which we meet in the Hebrew prophet11 are remarkable, but not 1Hl3CCO\lntable. Threats and promises on God's part, rebellion and penitence on man'& part, aucceed one another with great rapidity. Yet there 111 order and method. in these changes, which are always dependent upon moral and spiritual relations, and are ne9'er arbitrary and eapricious. I, THE OOOABION' OJI' DIVINE Bl!lLEN'Tllll'G. The deep-seated cause is t.o be fonnd in the character, the moral nature, of God hi1D.86lf. He is mercriful, and delights in mercy. Yet this attribute can be exercised only upon certain conditions, only toward11 those in a certain attitude of heart. Penitence, humiliation, contrition, entreaty, on the part of Judah, account for the exercise of compaaeiou on the part of God. II. DIVINE RELENTING LEADS .TO THE BEHOVAL OJI' GBIBVOUS EVILS. The northern army of locusts, and perhaps also a hOBtile force figured by it, should be driven away, and famine and pestilence averted. The penalties of sin, being intended mainly for the correction of offenders, are not retained when their purpose is accomplished. In the midst of wrath God remembers mercy. III. DIVINE RELENTING PROVES ITBELJ' BY AN ABUNDANT Bllll'IEJl'IOENCE. The Jews were assured thatr as a sign that the storm-cloud of wrath was overpaet, they should again enjoy the fruits of the earth-" corn, wine, and oil" Those whom God pardona he blesses too; he takes away the wrath to bestow the loving-kindn088; the load of trouble is caet in~ the sea, and "he loadeth with benefita."-T.