destruction of their many enemies, they, on the other hand, will bo seen to he over- whelmed with sorrow of heart. 'l'heir souls, as it were, will be plunged into darkness at the very breaking of day. The very thing they have hoped for seems close at hand; and, lo! they are as men in despair. Equally remarkable, next, with the time of this sorrow, is its character. So we shall find, whether we consider (1) its peculiar origin; or (2) its peculiar magnitude. I. ITS PECULIAR ORIGIN, To what is it due? Not to those causes which bring abont the ordinary "sorrow of the world" (2 Cor. vii. 10). On the contrary, being sorrow which is "according to God" (,car4 e.~.,, 2 Cor. vii. 10), it has the" things of God" as its ea.use. In other words, it is occasioned: 1. By the action of God on the hearts of his people.. He " pours on " them : (1) " The spirit of grace." He gives them, i.e., in overflowing abundance, those gracious influences of the Spirit of holiness by which men are enabled to believe in him as "the God of all grace," and so are encouraged t-0 pray (Rom. viii. 15; Gal. iv. 6). (2) "The spirit of supplications." He gives them, i.e., in similar abundance, those other gracious influences of that same Holy Spirit by which he is pleased both to guide men and also to assist men in their prayers (Rom. viii. 26; Eph. vi. 18; Jude 20). 2. By the consequent thoughts of God's peopk ahcut him. (1) They think of him as having been "pierced" by their sins. This is an especial feature, we know, in "godly sorrow "-its horror at having sinned against God (Ps. Ii. 4; Gen. :xu:iL 9; 2 Sam. :xii. 13; perhaps also Isa. ::tliii. 24, end; Eph. iv. 30). (2) They think of him as having been alienated by their folly. They .. mourn for him" like those mentioned in 1 Sam. vii. 2. After their prinleges are gone from them, they see, with sorrow, how much they have lost. From none of these sources, we repeat, is man's natural sorrow found to flow forth. II. ITS PECULIAR JUG?,"TI'UDE. Wide waters are generally shallow; deep waters are seldom broad; but here we have both. 1. Peculiar deptli. On the one hand, (1) there is only one known kind of sorrow equally deep. As the shades of life's afternoon thicken around ns, it is to our children we look to give us comfort and hope, and to keep up the interest of life in our hearts (Gen. v. 28, 29; John :xvi. 21). How peculiarly great, therefore, the sorrow of losing a first born and only son (Gen. xxii. 2; xli:x. 3; Prov. iv. 3, 4; Luke vii. 12) ! The loss bewailed here is like that,-loss of all I On the other hand, (2) there had never been but one previous err.,a,mple of sorrow equally deep, viz. the sorrow felt on the death of Josiah, almost the very best (2 Kings :xxiii. 25; x,iii. 5), and certainly the last real, king among the descendants of David- a sorrow the memory of which, in the prophet's own day, bad not at all been forgotten, and the sound of which is to be heard still by the world in the Lamentations of Jeremiah (2 Chron. :x:xxv. 25; Lam. iv. 20). 2. Peculiar diffusion. We find this sorrow described as pervading not the city only, but all the "land." We find it affecting every separate "house" amongst the houses of Israel, whether in Church or state (Levi and David[?]), whether well known or only little known (David and Na.than), whether with good antecedents or evil ones (Levi. and Shimei; see Dent. xx:xiii. 8; 2 Sam. xvi. 5-13); also affecting e!ery "family" of every separate .. house·" also every adult member of every family, whether male or female. At once, therefore, in this tempest of sorrow, they were all united, yet all "apart." Even so, with their separate roots, are the "trees of the wood," when all moved by _one wind (see ls&. vii. 2). We see, in all this, something: 1. To give us comfort and hope. Without attempt- ing to dogmatize on such a subject, we cannot but see, from this analysis of the passage, what i_t seems to foretell,_ viz. the future c_<?~Version of. the whole _people of Israel to belief m the gospel of ChrLBt (comp. 2 Cor. m. 13-16 with Rom. x1. 26-27; see also John :xix. 37; Rev. i. 7; and, in addition to all that has been noted above, see how accurately this application of the passage to a future national recognition of Christ by Israel helps to explain the singular change of person, viz. from "me " to "him" in ver. 10, 11omething the same a.11 in that other passage where tho Angel- Jehovah is speaking, viz. Gen. :xxii. 12; and note, finally, as to the peculiar time and character of this sorrow, the Tery remarkable language of Hos. iii. 6, end ; while as to the ,iuyful importance of such an interpretation, if correct, see again Ilom. xi. 12, 1.6). ~ !'v 9ivt: U8 instruction ar,,d warni11,g. Equally great, for example, ought to bo our en. xu. 1-14.l THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. 141
riorrow for ein (Rom. iii. 9, 29). Equally, also, ought it to be founded on our thoughts about Christ (John xvi. 9; Acts ix. 4, 5; Matt. xxv. 40, etc.). And equally, finally, can we only hope to receive it as o. gift from above (Acts v. 31; 2 Tim. ii. 25).
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vera. 1-9.-77ie security of Zion. I. MIGHT OF HER KING. The worlds of matter and .of mind are under his control. If so, there is no such thing as cha.nee. 'fhen whatsoever God has promised he will certainly perform. Then to trust and to obey God must be the great end of our being. God's friends a.re blessed (vers. 2, 4). His e:.emies, intoxicated by pride, muster for the fight. They are discomfited and driven back in headlong rout. Blindness seizes them, terror overpowers them; they perish, as at the Red Sea and in Midia.n's evil day (cf. Ps. cxxxii. 18). II. ENERGY OF HER LEADERS. (Vers. 5-7.) Men of faith and capacity, command- ing the confidence of the people. Bound together by their common faith in God and devotion to the highest interests of humanity. III. HEROISM oF HER PEOPLE. (Vers. 8, 9.) Strength, Divine in its source, various in degree, adequate for every emergency, making the weak strong, and the strong stronger. A united people, with settled government, equal laws, courageous and faithful for the right. Zion united can stand against every assault, but divided becomes the prey of her enemies. "Pray for the peace of Jerusa.lem."-F.
Ver. 8.-'.Irue greatness. I. NOT INHERITED, BUT PERSONAL. Il. NOT IN CIRCU14STANCES, BUT 0HARACTER. Ill. NOT IN SELF·AGGRANDJZEMENT, BUT IN SOCIAL USEFULNESS. IV. NoT BOUND BY HUMAN WEAKNESS, BUT RISING TO THE GL0BY 01!' DIVL."11 STRENGTH. V .. NOT RESTRICTED TO INDIVIDUALS, BUT THE COMMON POSSESSION 01!' THE GOOD VI. NOT LIMITED TO EARTH, BUT LEADING TO THE HONOURS OF ETERNITY.-F.