HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers.1-8.-God's fudgments. I. THE DABK BIDE. "Burden." Word of ill omen to God's enemies. God's eye is on all. Storm gathering. Will soon burst in fury, just, universal, over·whelming. None so small as to be overlooked. None so great as to secure immunity. The wisdom of the wise, the resources of the rich, and the fame of ancient days will prove as vanity. II. THE BRIGHT BIDE. Eye of kindness. Hand of gracious interposition. Incor- poration of Jews and Gentiles in one glorious Church. 1. Divine protection. "Encamp," etc. 2. Righteous freedom. No more taskmasters, as in Egypt. 3. Grate- ful service.-F.
Ver. 9.-The ideal King. I. BEAUTIFUL VISION, Poets in rapt moments have had 11limpses of the highest (Ps. xiv. 72). The character, the life nnd work of a true King, have passed before them as things fair to see. But where is the reality? "Find me the true king or able man, and he has a Divine right over we" (Carlyle). II. PASSIONATE LONGING. The heart yearns for what is best. The need presses. Circumstances now and again arise that intensify the feeling and the cry. There is so much to be done-evils to remove, wrongs to be redressed, rights and liberties to be secured. Oh for the coming of the true King! "What he tells us to do must be precisely wisest, fittest, that we can anywhere or anyhow learn, the thing which it will in all ways behove us, with right loyal thankfulness and nothing doubting, to do. Our doing and life were then, so far as government would regulate them, well regu- lated" (Carlyle). III. IMMORTAL HOPE. There have been kings, good, bad, and indifferent. Some bogan well, but did little. '!'he best have come far short of the highest standard. The true King "not yet." Still hope. Faith in the possibilities of human nature; above all, faith in the promise of God. " Ring out false pride in plaoe and blood, The oi vio slander and the spite ; Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in the common love of good... , l')O THE BOOK OF ZEOHARIAH. [OR IX, 1-] 7,
• Bing in the Vl\liant man e.nd f'ree, The larger bee.rt, the kindlier hand I Ring out the de.rkneee of the le.nd, Bing in the Christ the.t is to be." F. Vere. 9, 10.-The advent of the King. The accession of a sovereign is a time of rejoicing (cf. Solomon, 1 Kings i. 40). But there may be disappointment. The early promise may fail, and the first joys end in bitterness. Not so with Messiah. The better he is known, the more he is loved. The longer experience of his reicrn, the greater the satisfaction. "' 1 L THE GREAT:NEss oF HIS NATURE. Son of man. Son of God. Dignity command- ing the highest homage. IT. THE BEAUTY OF ms CHARAOTEB, Everything in him that is true and fair and good. He is altogether lovely. 1. Just. Fulfils all righteousness. 2, Merciful. Stoops to the lowest. Kind to the poorest. Equitable to all. 3. Humble. Meek and lowly. III. THE GLORY OF ms REIGN. 1. Empire spiritual. His kingdom is "within." He writes his laws upon the heart. 2. Based on the free convictions and love of the peopk. His subjects do not bow the knee in form, but in truth. They honour him not with mere lip-service or state ceremonials, but with the homage of the heart. 8. Oharacteriud 'by righteoUBness and peace. "Salvation" is brought by him to all. He not only pardons the rebel, but converts him into a loyal subject. He not only emancipates the slave, but binds him for ever to himself in grateful devotion. He not .only rescues the lost, but unites them with all the redeemed in one holy and loving brotherhood. 4. Destined to universality and immort«lity. Of his kingdom there shall be no end.-F. Vers. ll., 12.-The sinner in three aspecta. L SELF-RUINED. Joseph, Daniel, Jeremiah, were cast into" the pit" by wicked hands. The sinner has himself to blame, If there is gloom, chains, and misery, it is because of revolt from God. It is not the body but the soul that is" in prison," and no soul can be imprisoned sa.ve by its own deed and consent. lL Goo-PITIED. Though we have ea.et off God, he has not cast off us. He is long- suffering a.nd merciful His voice to us is full of pity a.nd inspires hope. "Prisoners of hope." Why? Specia.lly: 1. As ea.lied of God. 2. Roused to a sense of danger. .3. Encouraged to seek deliverance. Ill. CHB.IBT-RESCUED. Refuge is provided. "Stronghold." 1. Near. 2. Open to all. a. Ample for the reception and defence of a.11 who come. Hence the urgent and lovincr appeal, "Flee." Happy they who ha.ve responded, "who have fled for refuge to lay h~ld upon the Hope set before us" (Heb. vi. 19) !-F. Ver. 13.-Victory through God. L THE lUBSHA.LLING OF THE FOBOES. The "trumpet" ea.Us to arms. On one side are the armies of heaven, and on the other the hosts of da.rkuess. IL THE TERRIBLENESS OF THE STRUGGLE. Characterized by : 1. Might, as of a storm carrying havoc far and wide. 2. Fury, as of wild beasts raging and ravening. 3. Deadliness, as of arrows tha.t strike quick, and with fa.ta.I effect. III. THE SPLENDOUR oF THE VI0TORY. Complete overthrow of God's enemies. Establishment of his people as a flock, in unity aod peace. Human agency, but Divine efficiency. Everything here to rouse ardour, to quicken flagging energies, and to nerve the soul to the highest endeavours, under the eye of the great Captain of our lialvation.-F. Vers. 1-8.-17.e dark and the bright Bide of God's revelation to mankind. "The burden of the word of the Lord," etc. This chapter beli(ins tha.t portion of the book v. Lose genuiueness, though denied by some, is accepted by most unbiassed expositors. As it is our main purpose, in preparing these sketches, to use the statements, whtither v•,saic or poetic, vrophetic or historic, to illustrate truths of universal application, it OR, IX, 1-17.] THE BOOK OF ZEOHARIAH. 101