: Vers. 16--18.-.d notable instance of the vicarious in the human lot and in suffering. The great desirableness of reading Scripture and nature alike, observant of the facts of each, refusing to disguise the facts of either, attentively following them as far as may be possible, and, if this be not far enough to conduct to the vindication of the facts themselves, reverently storing them, as tbe things that await explanation. 'l.'herefore- 1. Tm ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THE PRESENT SAVING FBOH DANGEB OF THIS ONE LIFE, ,THE LIFE OF JESUS, WAB, IN LITERAL TBUTH, THE INVOLVL>;G IN DESTllUC- TlO}I' A LARGE NUlDIEB OF OTHER LIVES INNOCENT AS THE LIGHT, AND THE CAUSING OJ' INFINITE GRIEF AND WAILING TO MANY, MANY MOTHERS. ·II. A.I.LOW F'ULLY THE FACT THAT Goo KNEW THIS, FOREKNEW IT, AND PEnldlTTED IT. III. RECALL THE FACT THAT THE ACT OF Goo IN THIS HATTER CAME FIBST; TU.\T IT WAS IN ITSELF A BIGHT ACT, NAY, WAB THE BIGHT THING TO DO UNDEB THE .omoUMBTANCES PRESENT; WHILE HEROD'S PASSION A.ND MOST CRIMINAL DEED C.UIE AFTEBW.ABD, SECOND IN THE BERi.ES, AND WERE 11'1'lt1Y51CALLY AND IN EVERY \\'A.Y tl'NJUBTIFIABLE. IV. SHOW THAT ALL wmcn IB HERE RECORDED AS TAKING PLACE AMOUNTS TO A ,VEBY VIVID DEED-PAINTING OF VERY, VEI\Y MUCH WITH WHICH WE ALL ABE BUT TOO FAIDLIAB IN HUMAN LIFE. BY 'l'HOSE WHO CANNOT FOBEBEE, FOREKNOW, THE RIGHT AND THE GOOD ABE TO BE DONE, MUST AND SHALL BE DONE; AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CONSEQUENCES BESTS ELSEWHERE, WHEREVER THAT ELSEWHERE MAY BE. V. POIN'I'. OUT THE BLIGHT CLUE THAT THIS PARSA.GE AFFOllDS TO THE PROBABILITY OF A COMING VINDICATION OF THE BITTEREST VIOARIOUS SUFFERING, THAT SHOULD SATISFY .AU,, AND BE ACQUIESCED IN NOT LEAST BY THE BUFFERERS THEMSELVES,-B.
Vere. 1-23.-Childltood of Jes'U,/1. I. HEROD AND JESUS. The king and the Babe; earthly might and spiritual power. This contrast comes continually in view through- out the life of Christ, but never more strikingly than here. Depict the appnrent helplessness of the young Child when confronted with the relentle:;H and crnfty hostility ,of Herod, 'l.'he restless, suspicious jealousy of the old king, nnd the guileless, uncon- 11cioue innocence of the Child. The selfish cruelty of the despot, and bis ever-increasing misery, contrast with the self-Racrificing love and the calm pence of the spiritual King. The results of Herod's reign, and the results of Christ's reign. A.nd yet how difficult to see the harvest in the seed I how difficult to disceru between apparent and real glory I and how hard, even when we have some understanding of the dilTercnce, to choose for ,ourselves the glory which is attained by self-sacrifice and which makes no appeal to worldly ambition 1 II. HEnoD AND Tn~ 11:IA.GI. 1. Two classes of inquirers after Christ-the well- 62 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [on. u. 1-23.