L1tBSONB. l. 'l'ho pre-eminence of JcRus Christ, and of the Christian religion. 2. Grntitu<lo for God's unspenkable Gift. 3. The clnty of seeking in Christ satisfaction for the soul's true desires. Ver. 8.-The silver and the golrl: a sermon on money. I. A FORGOTTEN TRUTH RESTATED. That God is the sole Proprietor of money : "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts" (cf. Joel iii. 5). The proof lies in three things; that the silver and the gold are: 1. Of God's making. They belong to him as part of that earth and its fulness which he hath created (Ps. xxiv. 1; 1. 12), as David acknowledged in his prayer, "All that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine;" and again, "Of thine own have we given thee" (1 Chron. xxix. 12, 14). 2. Of God's giving. God claimed that he had multiplied judah's silver and gold (HM. ii. 6); and David owned that "all things," including '' riches and honour," were of him (1 Chron. x..xix. 12). The same sentiment is involved in the words of the Baptist (John iii. 27), in those of Paul (1 Tim. vi. 17), and in those of James (i. 17). 3. Of God's keeping. As no man cau obtain wealth from other than God, so with no help but his can man retain the wealth he has got. " Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman watcheth in vain" (Ps. cxxvii. 1). Nor can any one keep it longer than God chooses. At any moment can he recall what he has given. II. AN IMPORTANT INFERENCE DEDUCED. That no man is the owner of his money, but merely its selected steward, its casual recipient and temporary holder. What Benhadad of Syria said to Ahab of Israel," Thy silver and thy gold is mine" (1 Kings xx. 3), expresses God's thought concerning millionaires and paupers alike ; while the answer of Ahab, "My lord, 0 king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have," exactly utters the response which every one possessed of silver and gold, whether much or little, should give to the Divine declaration. Few things are more difficult for men to realize than that that is not their own for which they have laboured, sometimes like galley-slaves, and not unfrequently sinned. The habitual attitude of men towards their silver and their gold is that of the rich farmer in the Gospels, "my fruits," "my barns," "my goods" (Luke xii. 17, 18). A recognition of man's steward- ship in respect of silver and gold would secure three things of immense conseqnence, both for the religious life of tha individual, and for the moral welfare of the world. 1. ..d. fuse estimate of money. As one of God's gifts, it would be highly valued, but as only a gift it would never be regarded as a permanent endowment, or preferred above the Giver. 2. .A proper use of money. As a trust it would be carefully kept, wisely used (Matt. xxv. 16), faithfully administered (1 Cor. iv. 2), and correctly accounted for (Luke xvi. 2). It would not be prodigally squandered (Luke xv. 13), or in mis~r fashion hoarded (Matt. xxv. 25), or selfishly expended (Hos. x. 1), but skilfully, lovingly, and unweariedly employed for the Master's glory. 3. ..d. right feeling with regard to money. Neither inordinateliesire after it (1 Tim. vi. 10), nor over-esteem of one's self on account of it (Hos. xii. 8), would arise in one's bosom; bat feelings of con- tentment with what one has received (Phil. iv. 11; 1 Tim. vi. 6), and of gratitud~ that one has received any (Gen. xxxii. 10).
Ver. 9.-The latter glory of "this house ; " or, "the glory that e:uellah." I. 'l' H.B HOUSE. 1. The temple of Zeruhbabel, then building, which, however, was regarded as a continuation of anJ ILS one with the temple of Solomon (cf. ver. 3). 2. The Christian Ohurch, which on a similar principle of interpretation was viewed as an outcome 1111<! development of the Hebrew temple (cf. John ii. 20, 21). II. 'l'HE GLORY. Called by Haggai "the latter glory" of this house, in contradis- tinction to the earlier or former glory which belonged to it before the Captivity, this can only signify tho glory which, in Messianic times, should pertain to the temple when it should have reached its ideal form in the Christian Church, whose "glory," in com- parison with that of the Solomonic structure, should be a glory that excelletb. 1. The glory of spiritual magnificence, as opposed to that of merely mate1ial splendour. The temple of Solomon was, after all, but an "earthly house" of polished stone, carved cedar, and burnished gold; but the temple of Jesus Christ is a spiritual house, con- structed of lively stones, or believing souls (1 Pet. ii. 5), "an holy temple" erected out of quickened and ronewecl hearts "for an habitation of God through the Spirit" (Eph. 30 THE BOOK OF HAGGAI, [OH, ll, 1-23,