souls asleep in Bin. Which of us has not lived through a thoUMnd of them, and never aeen, never noticed, never given heed to, one? Death, sudden death, coming-into our 1treet, or into onr home,-which of us has not hardened his heart again, after a very brief pause, against lessons which this ought to teach, and sinned on as before? Oh the desperate hardness of the human heart! What can melt it save omnipotent grace?" VI. WHAT IS TIIE REASON OF THIS ? The answer is manifold, as, for example: L Tho86 that are spared a ~ from that fact that they need not repent. The Jews thought that those on whom the tower of Siloam fell must indeed have been sinners. Our Lord told them that was not the case, and, said he, " Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." And no doubt "the rest of mankind" told of in our text congratulated themselves, not only that they were spared, but that they did not deserve what had befallen the others. 'l'here was, therefore, no need for them to repent-so would they argue, as do and have done their successors ever since. 2. Bin deadena belief in God, It makes men practical atheists. Gud, therefore, is not recognized in aught that occurs. 3. God:sjudgme,nts are put down to S1Jcondary causes. Everything can be explained; they know how and why things fell out as they did. They look not bey9nd or above those causes which are close at hand and can be readily understood. Hence their own sin and God's displeasure thereat, being far too abstract and remote factors, are not even considered. 4. "Perfect love casteth out fea.r." This is true in a sense the apostle never meant. Let the heart love sin, as it is so prone to do, aud that love will utterly cast out the fear of God. And some sins, especially, will do this; those that are named in these verses will. Idolatry, which lulls the conscience whilst it gives free licence to sin. Gain gotten in ungodly ways-"thefts," as they are here called. Who does not know how the petty pilferer develops into the practised thief, embezzler, robber, and forger, uutil he has graduated in all such villainy? Lust- "fomications," as it is here termed. Let those who have known its hell and have told its dark dread secrets be believed, when they affirm that, indulged, it becomes ungovernable. Against it the fear of God bas no chance. Cruelty-" murders " is the name given it here ; that, too, grows with deadly speed and force. The Herods, Neros, and Henry the Eighths, Duke Alvas,and the entire spawn of the Inquisition,- they were once tender, humane, gentle-hearted. But, like the tiger that has tasted blood, it will have blood whenever it can. And: 5. The law of habit. We spoke of this j11St now. Character ever tends to become permanent. "He that is holy" to be "holy still "-blessed be God for this !-but "he that is unrighteous, ••• he that is filthy," to be "Ulll'ighteous," to be "filthy atiU." You may bend the sapling, but not the tree. VIL How INTEN'>ELY SERIOUS ARE THE TEACHINGS OF THIS FACT! Is it true that, though God sends judgment after judgment upon men, they will yet not repent? Then: 1. More jiulgme,nts and worse will comi,. Assuredly it will be so. W c cannot imagine God allowing himself to be for ever baffled by the unruly wills and affections of sinful men. "Our God is a cousuming fire;" and until the droBS be separated the fire will burn on. How awful, therefore, is the prospect for ungodly and impenitent men! 2. How we need to watch and pray lest we b6 hardened through the deceiifulne,a of rinl Ah, what fools they are, "who make a mock at sin; " who dally with it, count it a trifle! Better play with vipers and scorpions. 3. What imperati11e need then i, of tlie power of the Holy Spirit/ The disciples were in despair about their work. How- ever should such as they persuade and convert men? The Lord promises to send the Holy Spirit, and" when he is come he shall convince the world of sin, of righteousne1111, and of judgment." The baptism of the Holy Ghost-that is the need of the Church if she is ever to win the world for Christ. 4. Surrender to Ohrut, prompt, complete, abiding, that he, according t.o his Name, may save 118 from our sins,-this assuredly is our bounden d11ty, our true wisdom, because our sure aafeguard, and our only oue. -S. 0. Vera. 1-6.-The 6'1Jil effect of degeneracy: the fallffl stew. Homiletic expoeitlou aim t.o avoid as far as possible the topics of controversy, Yet m11St they be de1lnite 1n their view of the interpretation of the words of Holy Scripture. Their own apbGN la the moral and praeticaL They speak with no authority in the department flf 270 TD REVELATION·OF·ST. JOHN THB DIVINll' [Cllt.b.1---11.
~ - , ,The:view tllken of t.hts figure ddee not couim:e'fbl reference to anyindl- vldnal'fM111011; although eome individuals have gained&' special notoriety. :Man,1 who ba•eJ oocul)k!d the place of "lrtare," which are "the angels of the Churches, ha1n1 falli,n from their place and oeaB€d to be· illuminating powers, and their degeneracy Ii-. been the oooasion of a tempoY&ry triumph of evil in one form ar other.' Th81!8 have let loose the spawn of hell. Here the sad picture is presented of the ill effects of such degenenioy. It may be moral or intellectual descent; although the alliance with evil WOttld seem rather to confine it to a departure from goodness and righteousness. A mere m$ltal. ·aberration not equally destructive. The great power of evil is found in that unthlthfwneBB to truth which iasues in degeneracy of manners and life, Tlie evil of BUch degeneracy is- I. WmESPBE.ll). From the position and influence of him who has been a.a a leader · and guide f4 others. His life known, his influence great, his example contagions. Men follow leaders ; and the weffare of the world is now advanced, now retarded, by the fidelity or unfaithfulness of them who are charged with hi~h trust and responsibility; II. DESTRUCTIVELY INJURIOUS, In proportion to the influence which any one wields is his power for good or eviL If one falls from a high position, he drags down others. The angel of light, become an agent of evil, opens the bottomless pit. He brings the utmost evil upon men such "as have not the seal of God upon their foreheads." IIL BITTEBLY .ill'PLICTl'VE, The injury caused is great in the social degeneracy, in the weakening of moral principle. A pillar of the house trembles, all becomes less secure. But the painfulness is great: 1. To him who falls. 2. To them whom he drags down with him. 3. To them whose sympathi88 being only with goodness are afflicted by anything that tends to degeneracy of manners, to feebleness of faith, or to the lowering of the tone and felicity of human life. 4. To the widespread, outlying multitudes, amongst whom the spread of goodness is retarded by every act of unfaith- fulness and every instance of degeneracy and defection.--:--R. G.