o.ncl hostility (Pe. lxxv. 4-7, 10; Jer. xlviii. 25; Deut. xxxiii. 17; 1 Kings xxii. 11) -suffice to prove this. However restrained at that morn en t, the ability and the dis- position to injure were still in existence. 2. ltB peculiar greatness. This (1) as to power. How much evil those same Gentile horns had already done in the past (see end of vers. 19 and 21) I Also perhaps (2) as to direction; the "four" horns repre- senting that they had such enemies on all sides (comp. Ps. lxx.xiii. 5-8, where every side of Palestine seems to be represented). Or possibly (3) as to duration; first one enemy, then another, as in the very similar description of Jei·. I. 17; or else with some reference to the four successive world-empires of Daniel's visions, and as meaning to intimate, in that co.se, that, whichever of such " horns" should be specially exalted for the time, it would be a horn against them. So much was their condition, of itself, like that described in Luke x. 3. II. THEIR SPECIAL DEFENCE. 1. The fact itself. This manifest-having such enemies as they had-from their still continued existence. Though "scattered," it was not beyond recovery; though so prostrate that no man could "lift up the head," they were not destroyed (comp. Ps. cxxix. 1, 2). Who could have caused this but Jehovah himself? 2. The peculiar nature of this defence. Jehovah restrains the many enemies of his people by "fraying " or frightening them from going too far (comp. Ps. lxxvi. 9, 10; also Gen. xxxv. 5; Exod. xv. 16; 2 Kings xix. 6; 2 Chron. xvii. 10; and to some extent the cases of Abimelech, Gen. xx. 6, 7; and Balaam, Deut. xxiii. 5). 3. The peculiar instrument of this defence. Not other "horns" to push against these; not other men of war to overcome these; but artificerd only, men of peace. Possibly also artificers of the class engaged in builtling, as though to intimate that the work of building God's temple was the best defence at that time to God's people. 4. The peculiar completeness of this defence. As shown, perhaps, by there being as many in number thus to defend as there were to attack. From which- ever side, at whatever time, the attack, there also would be prepared against it this kind of defence (comp. Ps. xxxii. 7, 10). We see all this abundantly illustrated: 1. In the subsequent history of the literal Israel. How often since assaulted! how apparently close, at times, to extermination 1 how utterly powerless, frequently, in themselves I yet how wonderfully preserved in existence, by similar restraints of their enemies, from that day until this! 2. 1-n the history of nations and Churches. It is at least worthy of consideration, in this connec- tion, that since the day when the Refo1mation found its most congenial home in this island,every projected hostile invader has been restrained from reaching our shores. Also, perhaps, the remarkable (true) prosperity and preservation of the Moravian and Walden- sian Churches, are cases in point. 3. In the history of the spiritual Israel at lar~e. How many its enemies from the first (Acts xxviii. 22; Luke xxi. 17; Eph. vi. 12) I How incapable of defending itself (Matt. x. 16, as before)! Yet how wonderfully pre- served until now; and also, to be preserved to the end (Matt. xvi. 18) ! 4. In the experience of individual believers. See lives of such men as Luther, Wesley, White- field, Simeon, and others. We may almost say of each of such, as just now of the Church at large, "Each man immortal till his work be done." So in truth of every one who truly believes in Christ Jesus. The righteous scarcely is saved, but he ia saved, after all,
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS.
Vers. 1-6.-God's call to repentance. Repentance is turning from sin unto God. I. THE CALL 18 FOUNDED ON GOD'S ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO OBEDIENCE. "Lord of hosts." Sublime title. Thrice used, to give the greater impressiveness. Implies that God's rule is wide as creation. Mark the "host" of stars (Isa. xl. 26). Higher, behold the "angels and principalities and powers" (Ps. ciii. 20, 21). God is Lord of all, and it is this God that claims our homage. To turn from him is folly and ruin; to turn to him is the highest wisdom and blessedness. II. URGED DY GoD's JUDGMENTS oN TRANSGRESSORS. Israel is our "ensample" (1 Cor. x. 11). The sun dues uot ripen the corn more surely than God's favour attended the Jews when the_y were steadfast to walk in his ways; nor are thurus and 10 THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. [oll. I, 1-21.
bri11.rs more cert11.in to spring up in a neglected field than God's judgments to fall on Isra.el when their he11.rtA were set in them to do evil. God is not changed. The world is governed now on the same principles as in the past. III. ENOOURAGED BY Goo's PROMISES. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth spe11.keth." So or God's Word. It reveals his heart. There is no bar on God's part to the sinner's return. He himself has opened the way, and his promise is to tbos~ who turn to_ him. "I will turn unto you." Here is hope held out, help graciously offered, Joyful welcome assured. We have not only doctrines, but facts. Great cloud of witnesses, who can say each for himself, like Paul, " I obtained mercy." IV. E'!-,'TORCED BY THE EXPERIENCES OF LIFE. Every man's life is separate. But much common. The brevity of life. Delay is dangerous. The confessions of life. God's Word is truth. Faithful are his promises and his threateninas. 'I'he monitions of life. Voices of the past, of the good, and of the evil, of earth a~d heaven, all com- bine and cry with awful and convincing force," Repentl"-F.