directed along a wrong track rather than in "the way everlasting." The sin of unfaithfulness is exposed in vers. 8, 9. Ministers may be "partial in the Law," e.g. winking at follies and sins fashionable among the rich, while severely condemning the ~ins of the poor, etc. But fidelity needs to be combined with discrirulrtation (Mark iv. 33, 34; John xvi. 12; 1 Cor. iii. 1, 2; 2 Tim. ii. 15; Heb. v. 11, 12). "For as all men cannot dive and fetch precious stones from the deep, but he that is cunninrr0 and bath the art of it; so not all, but the wise can either teach or conceive· the deep mysteries. First, children ruust be taught lettel'B, then syllables, after words, then constniction, and after all the matter." III. A LIFE ~ RARMo:-Y wrra IT: "He walked with me in_ peace an~ equity." These words remrnd us of the essential elements of a truly consistent Christian life. There must be righteousness with God, bringing after it peace with God. This righteous- ness is twofold. 1. A justification, which makes ns "ru:cepted in the Belovedt and gi,·es peace with God (Rom. v. 1; Eph. i. 6). 2. A right state of heart, a comicious integrity of purpose, which ensures our being "accepted ef him," well pleasing to him, and which brings with it a still deeper and purer peace (Isa. xlvii.i. 18; Rom. xiv. 17, 18). God desires that we should live in his perfect peace and favour in order that we "might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before hiin all the days of our life." Such peace a.nd equity t.oward God will ensur'e the same blessings in relation t.o our fellow-men. This consistency of conduct is especially needed in the ministers of Christ. They mnst maintain this character in their ·homes (1 Tim. iii. 2-5), in the Church (1 Pet. v. 3), and in the world (1 Tim. iii. 7). The guilt apd ~bame of inconsistent lives is exposed in vers. 8, 9, and is illustrated by the history of Eli's sons; 1 Sam. ii 30 being fulfilled in them, and in these priests (" I have made you contemptible." They had said in their hearts, "The table of the Lord is contemptible;'' so God would requite them" measure for measure''), and· in all unfaithful ministers'; who will be despised by the people they seek t.o conciliate and please. . • IV. ZEAL FOB TRE RECEPTION OF IT, By faithfully·discharging tbe duties·. of bis calling, Levi., i.e. the priesthood, "did turn many away froID. iniquity:" ,; In 'doing so he did nothing more than what the standing and vocation of the priest required. . The knowledge communicated to the mind was to be imparted by the lips. Without zeal for the reception of the message, and love that seelrs the salvati911 of souls• by means of it, the knowledge and "the tongues" of preachers profit nothing;· Th~ charge given to Panl (Acts xxvi 18) and t.o Timothy (2 Tim. iv. 5) applies to every-d good minister of Jesus Christ." We are appointed as witnesses for God; as labow-ers together with God; as ambassadors to promote reconciliation with God. W c ·are· I!linisters of the J!OOO tidings of Christ; soldiers of Christ (to overcome men's" evil" by Obrist's" good"). We are lights (•' the lamp that burneth and shineth," John v.·35) to light m:en to Jesus Christ. We are :fishers of men, that we may seca.re them for Christ ; under- shepherrls of souls, that we may keep them; watchmen, that we may warn them. Mediately we may be said to be saviours of souls (,fas. v; :t9, 20). • So earnest should we be 1;o secure this end, that our hearers should be able to say of us/as! a:''plain woman did of Robert McCheyne of Dundee, "He seemed as though lie were alm(lMt dyin' to have yon converted." Sa.eh a ministry will secure its object (1 Tim. iv. 12-16). A painful contrast is suggested between this ideal of the ministry and our attainments in attempting to reach it. We should learn humility and be melted i'.rito penitence. For God holds us responsible for what we might have been and might have done after all that he has done for us-a truth we are reminded of by God's appeal in ha. v. 4. But the lofty standard held out before us may also stimulate ua to "forget the things that are behind," etc., and to make the aims of the ChristAike Apostle Paul our own (1 Cor. ix. 16-22 ; Col. i. 28, 29). •
Vers. 10-16.-The Bin of conjugal =faithfulnes~ We here use •the term ,,1; .( (1H, II, 1-17,] Tij,E BOOK OF MALACHI. 27