HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 1-8.-The world ruled in the interest of Ohristianity. I. THE POWERS OF TIIE wonLD AflJll UNDER THE CONTROL OF Gov. East and west, north and south, all the world over, God is supreme, He is the Lord of all forces, the Ruler of all events, the Arbiter of all destinies. War, famine, pestilence, may be the result of natural causes, but, all the same, they are his servants; they come and go at his command; they accomplish what he pleases. ''Happy the man who eees·e. God employed In all the good e.nd ill that cheq aer life." (Cowper.) II. THE POWERS OF THE WORLD ARE CONTROLLED BY Goo IN THE INTEREST OF CHRISTIANITY. God takes a direct and living interest in his people. He is Enemy of their enemies, and the Friend of their friends. "All things work together for good to them who love God." And there is nothing arbitrary in this. God is not partial, but just. As be is God, he must a.et as God. The true and the righteous and the holy must ever receive the protection and the blessing of the True and the Righteous and the Holy One. God's government is marked by immutability of counsel, variety of method, universality of range, sovereignty of sway, and beneficence of result. How grand and benign must be the end that satisfies the mind of the Eternal! "Quieted my .spirit."-F. Vera. 9-15.-" Messiah the Prince." "Behold." I. 'l'HE COMING MAN OF THE AGES. "Branch." Lowliness, and yet dignity. The heathens fabled that the Titans were sons of heaven and earth. Here is what they vainly imagined. "Grew up." Natural development. Perfection of humanity. Long the cry was, "He cometh." We see his shadow in every sacrifice. Find bis presence in every prophecy. Hear his footfall in every promise. He was the Hope of Israel, and the Desire of all nations. II.· CHARGED WITH THE NOBLEST MISSION. "Build "-personally and instrumentally. Many whom he honours as " fellow-workers." Temple slowly rising. Grandeur and beauty gradually unfolding. Implies the union and fellowship of men as " living stones" in the great temple of humanity. III. DESTINED FOR THE GRANDEST EMPIBE. "The glory." 1. Priest. Power with God. "For ever, after the order of Melchizedek." 2. King. Power with men. T~'3 rule of righteousness and love. 3. The recompense of his sufferings. "Sit and rule." First the cross, then the crown (cf. Heh. x. 12, 13; 1 Pet. i. 11). IV. DESIGNATED FOR IMMORTAL HON0UB. Heaven is the perfect state. What do we see there? Let St. John declare (Rev. v. 6). Even on earth, what honour to Christ! Every day, and especially on the Lord's day, what prayers in his Name! what offer- ings to his praise and glory I In how many lands, by what various voices, with what measureless love, is his name breathed forth! "Behold the Man! " Let each heart answer, with adoring gratitude and joy," My Lord and my God I "-F.
Vers. 1-8.-God's government of the world. " And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two moun- tains ; and the mountains were mountains of brass," etc. This is _,the la:;t in the series of visions, which amount in all to eight, during that on~ night. All are eo obscure that the more scholarly and enlightened the expositor, the less disposed will he be to regard his interpretation as absolutely correct. Certainly this is not more easy of interpretation than the preceding ones. 'l'he objects which were now revealed to the prophet's vision are various and strange. 1. He sees four chariots. It does not say expressly whether they were chariots of war bearing the warrior out to battle or home in triumph, or whether they were chariots used for private or public ,onveyances; but it is implied that they were war-chariots. 2. He _saw these four ,ha.riots proceeding from two mountains. These were not mountams of earth or stone, but mountains of brass; mountains, therefore, having peculiar soliuity and THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH, [oH, vr. 1-16,