HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 5.-Lessons of the earthquake. "Speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee." So said Job (xii. 8). 'I'he earthquake serves- !. To IMPRESS us WITH THE GREATNESS OF Goo. There a.re forces great and terrible. But back of all, and controlling all, is God. So the prophets taught, and BO we believe (Ps. lxvili. 8; civ. 32; Job x.xv. 9-14; Exod. xix. 18). II. To :e:uMBLE us UNDER A SENSE OF OUB UTTER HELPLESSNESS. :Many things possible to man. Can tame the wild beasts and subdue the earth. Can make fire and air and water his servants. But there are times when he feels his impotence. When the earthquake comes, can only say, "It is the will of the Lord" (Isa.. ii. 19-22). IIL To CONVINCE us OF THE INSTABILITY OF ALL EARTHLY THINGS. The earth seems of all things the most stable. But there comes a crisis, and our old faith is gone for ever. "A bad earthquake at once destroys our oldest associations. The earth, the very emblem of solidity, has moved beneath our feet; one second of time has created in the mind a strange idea of insecurity which hours of reflection could not have pro- duced" (Darwin). !V. To .ADMONISH US OF THE JUDGMENTS THAT ABE COMING UPON THE EARTH, Geologu;ts tell us of internal fires, and the probability of some great catastrophe, sooner or later. "Coming events cast their shadows before." Earthquakes are prophecies. Confirmed by Scripture (2 Pet. iii 10-12). V. To TEACH us THE PEBFEOT SECURITY OF Goo's SAINTS. Come what will, who shall separate us from the love of God? There are things which cannot be moved, and they are the heritage of God's people (Isa. !iv. 10; Ps. xlvi.; Heh. xii. 25-29). "We look for a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."-F.
Vers. 6, 7.-The day of days. The promise that" at evening-time it shall be light" is suggestive and comforting. I. 'l'HE DAWN. Ordinary light seems withdrawn. Things are seen dimly. Dis- couragement and fear. Ready to say, "Darkness shall cover us." Call for faith. "God is light." "He will bring the blind by a way that they know not, making dark- ness light before them" (cf. Isa. 1. 10). OH, XIV, 1-21.] THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. lfi5
II. PRoaRESS. Still uncertainty. Neither wholly day nor night. Alternations. Now the sun seems about to break forth, now the gloom returns, Hopes and fears. But on the whole advance. Faith still finds firm footing. Hope brightens. Love never foils. Amidst all the conflicts with science and philosophy, Christianity abides in its power, There is promise of the" perfect day." III. THE CLOSE, "Evening." After long waiting and many disappointments, When most needed and least expected. Not in the order of nature, but of grace. When the shadows are lengthening and the sun going down, the light shines forth with a sweet and beautiful radiance. Glorious endin11: to a dark and cloudy day. The history of the Church, and the experience of individual Christians, afford many illustra- tions. The promise sometimes finds a tender and comforting fulfilment in the last hours of the dying believer. Bunyan tells us of Mr. Fearing, that, at the entrance of the Valley of the Shadow of Death, he was "ready to die for fear." But to him the valley was quiet from troublers. Then Greathea.rt notes, as something very remarkable, at the departure of this pilgrim, "The water of that river was lower, at this time, than ever I saw it .in all my life; so he went over at last not much above wet- shod."-F. Vers. 8-11.-.Living waters. Emblematic of the gospel. I. SouBCE. "Jerusalem." Centre of supreme a.utbority and law. The place of holy sacrifice. The city of the great King. Here is God's throne (Rev. xxii.1). "Salva- tion is of the Jews." "Of whom as concerning the flesh, Christ ea.me." II. DIRECTION, There is movement. Not arbitrary, but regulated. Not limited to one land, but for all people. "Beginning at Jerusalem." Such was the law; but from that starting-point the messengers of salvation were to go forth to the whole earth. Water seeks the lowest level, and the gospel comes down to the poorest, the most despised, " the chief of sinners." III. AFFLUENCE, Rich supply-ample to meet the needs of all. In the wilderness the rock-waters followed the Israelites in all their wanderings. But this river is sufficient "for the whole world." IV. PERPETUITY. There e.re rivers that vary. They run part of the year, and then they fail. But this river never fails. Neither the winter's cold nor the su=er's heat can affect its flow. There are rivers that have disappeared-like old peoples and old civilizations-but this river runs on throughout the ages with unchanging life and virtue. V. BENEFICENCE. Vitality. Life and the power of life. What so sweet an,' refreshing as the streams of pure water? Carry blessings far and wide. So with the gospel. Converting souls. Purifying society. Advancing the world in the highest forms of civilization. Grand future. Universal subjection. Universal homage. "One Lord."-F.
Vers. 9-11.-The elevation of Zion. Morally and spiritually (Isa.. ii. 2; Micah iv. 1 ; Ezek. xl. 2). I. RAISED ABOVE THE STRIFE OF FACTIONS. Sects. Party spirit. Din and strife of tongues. Confusion and every evil work. But for Zion's children there is a purer e.tmo~phere and serener skies. II. RAISED ABOVE THE CORRUPTIONS OF THE WORLD, we hear much in our dltf of germs. The air is everywhere infected. The seeds of disease are on every side. But rise higher, and the danger ceases. So of Zion. Drunkenness, illegitimacy, worldliness, and other sins a.bound, and lower the tone of society. Need to rise nearer to heaven. " Ye are from beneath: I am from above," sairl our Lord. III. RAISED All0VE 'l'HE ASSAULTS OF THE WICKED. Storms. Enemies. Tempta- tions. Cry," Deliver us from the evil." The higher we rise, the greater our safety. 'J.'he more we resemble Christ, with the more hope can we say, "The prince of this world cometh, and bath nothing in me." IV. RAISED ABOVE THE VICISSITUDES OF TIME, Dispensations vary. Ha.bits of society nlter. Beliefs may change. But eternn.l. truth and righteousness abide. "The true religion is built upon the rock, the rest are tossed upon the waves of time" (Ilacou). Hi6 THE :ROOK OF ZECHAnIAIT. [en. xtv. 1-21.