Carlyle wanted a new house he sallied forth on horseback, with a map of the world in his pocket; perhaps it was the disproportion of the large map that defeated the domestic quest. The theologian, with a mind full of immensities and eternities, of the cosmos and the ages, is not always the best interpreter of ephemeral matters. The unquestionably unrivalled contribution of the Church to society is in its benign action upon character and morals; as it enforces worthier ideals, and strengthens men to live purer and more unselfish lives, it makes possible the desirable legislation. Do we with anything like constancy concentrate ourselves upon this our special mission, and so prompt government to act on the higher level?

Finally, do we practically and adequately recognize the reality of the divine government? The Old Testament is eloquent throughout on the sovereign rule of Jehovah ; the New Testament everywhere assumes it; and, theoretically, we all accept the doctrine. Yet when we come to actual life, our sense of dependence on the overruling Power is often very faint, and we little reckon upon it in the conduct of national affairs. The whole political atmosphere is intensely secular; we are inclined to think that it is even more so than that of commerce. The spiritualization of politics

seems a hopeless task. And yet, is not this endeavour supremely important? If, indeed, the realm of human affairs that lies beyond either human insight or control is large, and must for ever be left in the hands of Providence,' how essential it is that we live in fellowship and harmony with Him in whose hands it is! There is a vastness in God's plan, a wisdom in its execution, a mighty love in its design, that we cannot comprehend, but it is our privilege to apprehend the principles which regulate the divine government, and to receive power by which we may order our legislation accordingly. Let us more fully claim this high privilege. For the leaders of their people cause them to err: and they that are led of them are destroyed' (Isa. ix. 16). Let us pray God to save us from such leaders! And the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do' (1 Chron. xii. 32)— pray God to give us such leaders! In prosperous times let us acknowledge His blessing that makes the wealth of nations; in days when we exchange purple for sackcloth let us seek His face with broken heart and contrite spirit. With what grandeur would such a habit invest our politics, now so often trivial, mean, intolerable! Make room for God! Let the nation dwell in the light of His Presence. Such a

nation, one that identifies itself with the mediatorial reign, shall never perish. His name shall endure for ever: His name shall be continued as long as the sun and men shall be blessed in Him: all nations shall call Him blessed' (Ps. lxxii. 17).

XII

THE SHADOWED LIFE

But I know thy sitting down, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy raging against Me.-Isa. xxxvii. 28.

As the detective, all unknown to the person under observation, follows his every movement until the hour of judgement arrives, so Jehovah was acquainted with the sitting down and rising up, the going out and coming in, of Sennacherib. All the thoughts and actions, the purposes and undertakings, of the Assyrian monarch were under the divine observation and control until the hour of retribution should be ripe. We note:

I. The severity of the divine oversight.

Broadly speaking, the text is a declaration of the divine omniscience; for as Jehovah kept the Assyrian in sight, marking his every imagination and manœuvre, so is He intimately acquainted with the thoughts and artifices of us all. From Him no secrets are hid. As a fact, finally, there are no secrets. Yet it is not

easy all at once to accredit this doctrine, and to persuade ourselves that there is no darkness in which the workers of iniquity may hide themselves, that all their cunning tactics to this end are vain. There can be little doubt that by far the largest amount of actual crime remains unpunished and unknown. The detective system, with its highly trained agents, its use of electricity, journalism, the microscope, and photography, its numerous methods of detection by means of finger-prints, heart-beats, experimental psychology, and such-like devices, is a wonderfully effective organization. Yet it is morally certain that a whole world of dark deeds remains undisclosed, unavenged. Again, we can only guess and fear for the social dishonesty, injustice, and sensuality which are too evasive to be caught in the meshes of law, although essentially as base as any deeds that are. And, finally, when we come to the personal life, how much of which we are ashamed remains unseen, unvisited! Like concealed magnets, ten thousand secret sins disturb and afflict society. It often seems, therefore, that a great deal of darkness does remain in which the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.

Nevertheless the deeper truth persists to assert itself that 'there is nothing covered that shall not