B.C. cir. 1035. d C. Simeon, M.A. v. 3. J. Bolton, Threefold Treat.; J. Penn, i. 352. Whosoever de took to defeat it. 1. He set himself to seek the Lord; 2. This was the most effectual means he could employ. Infer.:-(1) What reason have we for thankfulness on account of the appointment of this fast; (2) Of what signal use to a nation are the praying few; (3) How much may they do for their country, who are ready to think themselves incapable of rendering it any essential service.d nies that, spite Affinity with God in prayer.-It is a great truth, reader, that of all hindrances if we desire to gain anything from the Most High, our minds from individual must be set, more or less, to the same key as His. If two harps wickedness, be strung to the same key, but not otherwise, when one of them right shall not ultimately pre- is struck, the other gives a responsive sound. There must be vail, impugns not some secret affinity in nature between the lightning of heaven and the conductor which draws it down-between the steel and the magnet which attracts it-between the light substances and the chafed glass or sealing wax, towards which they leap up and cling. And in grace there must be a secret affinity between God and the soul (this affinity itself being the effect of grace) before the soul can lay hold of God's will, and draw out a blessing from Him, yea, draw God Himself into it. This affinity stands in love. alone human justice, but the jus tice of God. "Seek God upon thy way, and He will come to thee."-Schiller. e Dr. Goulburn. Jehoshaphat's prayer a Spk. Com. b Is. xli. 8; Jas. ii. 23. 53. 5-9. (5) before the new court, "one renovated either by Jehosh. or his father and now known as the new court," the large outer court is prob. meant. (6) art not thou, this questioning form naturally expresses the king's fears. (7) thy friend, El-Khalil. (8) sanctuary, ref. is to Sol.'s temple. (9) if when evil, etc., comp. Sol.'s great prayer. Prayer. A good man, whose occupation was that of a day labourer, had for his companions an ungodly neighbour and a little boy. It was frequently his practice to speak to his 1 Ki. viii. 22-neighbour on the things of religion. One day, in conversation on prayer, his companion told him that he had often said his prayers, but got no good by it; to which the other gave this Christ's righte- reply, "Take my advice, and follow it for one year. Fall down, ousness, pleaded and on your bended knees say, every morning and evening, for justice, is our one year, 'Lord, teach me to pray; God be merciful to me a full and final sinner;' and I'll engage you'll get good by it." This advice, which was given to the man, was blessed to the boy, who was observed to be always attentive to the conversation which passed. He, for one year, persevered in following that line of conduct, which the man disregarded, entered the Sunday school, that he might learn to read his Bible, and became a member of a Christian church. in the court of discharge. It lightens the stroke to draw near to Him who handles the rod. a Ps. xxv. 15, cxli. 8. B.A. v. 8. S. Bowes, v. 13. Dr. W. man's case SO 10-13. (10) and Mount Seir, comp. v. 1. wouldst not, etc., De. ii. 9. (11) reward us, evil for good. (12) no might, sense of helplessness to set them wholly leaning on Div. strength. our eyes, the attitude of dependence, prayer, and expectancy." (13) with.. children, this indicates such fear as led the people to seek shelter in the fortified city. Sinful cares (v. 12).-Cares are sinful when-I. They hinder or exclude sober devotion. II. When we let our minds run upon "There is no them at unseasonable times, as on the Sabbath, Isa. lviii. 13. III. dangerous as his When they deprive us of the proper enjoyment of what we have. whom Satan hath IV. When they lead us into unlawful or doubtful ways to obtain persuaded that our desires. Gen. xxx. 3.-Jehoshaphat's prayer (v. 12).—From his own righte- this prayer we learn-I. That the demands made upon us by present him pure great afflictions and troubles are utterly beyond the power of ousnes8 shall B.C. cir. 1035. and blameless in the sight of God. The best self-help. II. That spiritual hostilities and temptations cannot be repelled by human sagacity and strength. III. That a consciousness of our own weakness is one of the most indispensable requisites to all spiritual success. IV. That in all straits and difficulties, temporal or spiritual, it is the path of safety and of things we peace to have a fixed eye on the Divine all-sufficiency. This have somewhat includes-1. A conviction of God's presence; 2. A spirit of im- in them to be portunate prayer; 3. A lively expectation of deliverance; 4. An then can we do acquiescence in the Divine will. do pardoned. How anything meritorious, and worthy to be rewarded?”— watching without prayer is presumption."-Jay. Extemporaneous prayer.-When Archbishop Secker was laid on his dying-bed, his friend Mr. Talbot came to see him. He felt it was their last meeting together, so he said, “You will pray with Hooker. me, Talbot, before you go away?" Mr. Talbot_rose, and went to "Prayer without look for a prayer-book. "That is not what I want now," said watching is hythe dying prelate : "kneel down by me, and pray for me in the pocrisy; and way I know you are used to do." So the good man knelt by his friend's bedside, and poured out his soul for him before his heavenly Father in such words as his heart dictated. 14–19. (14) came the spirit, ch. xv. 1. (15) but God's, i.e. you have put the matter into God's hands, and He will wholly undertake it for you. (16) cliff of Ziz, "the pass wh. leads northwards, by an ascent fr. Engedi to Jerusalem, issuing a little below Tekoa. brook, or wady. wilderness of Jeruel, the flat district adjoining the desert of Tekoa, now called El-Husasah.ac Ex. iv. 31. (17) stand, etc., do nothing; watch the Lord's doings. (18) d 1 Chr. vi. 22. face to the ground, the extreme attitude of truthful worship.e J. B. Smith, M.A. (19) Korhites, a family of the Kohathites specially distinguished That eloquent for musical ability.d statesmen, Henry the message a Robinson. propounded political scheme to an associate. will ruin "It Victory the gift of God (v. 15).-I. Let us therefore address Clay, had just our tribute of praise to God for every success in war. II. Let us remember that war, however it may, in answer to a nation's prayers, be crowned with victory, must be considered as a judgment. Learn-That we are all soldiers of Christ. That we your prospects have to be diligent at our posts. That if we succeed, it is God who giveth us the victory.e for the presidency," suggested his friend. "Is it right?" said Mr. Clay. Yes," was the answer. Mr. Clay continued, "I would rather be right than The way of success.-The men whom I have seen succeed best in life have always been cheerful and hopeful men, who went about their business with a smile on their faces, and took the changes and chances of their mortal life like men facing rough and smooth alike as it came, and so found the truth of the old proverb, that "Good times, and bad times, and all times pass president." over." Of all men, perhaps, who have lived in our days, the most truly successful was the great Duke of Wellington; and one thing, I believe, which helped him most to become great, was that he was so wonderfully free from vain fretting and complaining, free from useless regrets about the past, from useless anxieties for the future. Though for years he had on his shoulders a responsibility which might have well broken down the spirit of any man, though the lives of thousands of brave men, and the welfare of great kingdoms-ay, humanly speaking, the fate of all Europe-depended on his using his wisdom in the right place, and one mistake might have brought ruin and nimblest tongue shame on him and on tens of thousands; yet no man ever saw tires, and loudest him anxious, confused, terrified. Though for many years he voice grows was much tried and hampered, and unjustly and foolishly kept comes half-way from doing his work as he knew it ought to be done, yet when up to heaven. "In extemporary prayer, what men most admire God least regardeth-namely, the volubility of the tongue. Oh! it is the heart keeping time and tone with the voice which God listeneth unto. Otherwise the dumb, before it B.C. cir. 1015. the time came for work his head was always clear, his spirit was always ready, and therefore he succeeded in the most marvellous Only the conformity of the way. Solomon says, "Better is he that ruleth his spirit than he words with the that taketh a city." Now, the great duke had learnt in most mind, mounted things to rule his spirit, and therefore he was able not only in heavenly to take cities, but to do better still, to deliver cities-ay, and ceptable to God." whole countries-out of the hand of armies far stronger, Thomas Fuller. humanly speaking, than his own.ƒ f C. Kingsley. Jehoshaphat's exhortation thoughts, is ac a Comp. 1 Chr. xvi. 29; Ps. xxix. 20-25. (20) wilderness of Tekoa, the direction in wh. to meet the enemy. This was the act that tested their faith. stood, in the gate, watching them pass out. (21) consulted, so that there might be unity in the work of praise. beauty of holiness, this is the spirit in wh. they should praise, not a name for the God whom they praised." (22) ambushments, liers in wait; angels, not mortal men. It was a miraculous b "The word overthrow. (23) stood up, etc., this v. may poss. explain the ambushments. (24) dead bodies, by the time they arrived the powers, or angels conflict was over. (25) three days, indic. that the quantity commissioned was immense. 2. translated am bushments means about the de son. by God to bring Faith the means of national and personal prosperity.—It is struction of the our intention to show-I. What is implied in the faith here army." - David recommended. 1. A renunciation of all false confidences; 2. a simple affiance in God. Let us consider-II. Its influence on sense our welfare. It has a favourable aspect on-1. Our national seems to be that prosperity; 2. Our personal welfare. We would further address God turned against the in- you on this subject (1) As members of the community; (2) As vaders the am- members of the Church.c "The bush wh. they had set against worth. c C. Simeon, M.A. The present aspect of religion.-Religion in most countriesIsrael."Words-more or less in every country-is no longer what it was, and should be a thousand-voiced psalm from the heart of man to his invisible Father, the fountain of all goodness, beauty, truth, and revealed in every revelation of these; but for the most part a v. 20. Col. R. wise, prudential feeling, grounded on mere calculation; a matter, Tichbourn. A as all others now are, of expediency and utility; whereby some Cluster of Grapes; smaller quantum of earthly enjoyment may be exchanged for a Dr. J. Gill, i. 70. far larger quantum of celestial enjoyment. Thus religion, too, is profit, a working for wages; not reverence, but vulgar hope "Knaves will or fear. Many we know very many, we hope-are still thrive when religious in a far different sense; were it not so, our case were knows not how too desperate: but to witness that such is the temper of the to live."-Shirley. times, we take any calm observant man, who agrees or disagrees in our feeling on the matter, and ask him whether our view of it is not in general well founded.d W. B. Cadogan. 2; honest plainness d Carlyle. the valley of blessing 26-30. (26) Berachah, blessing, Wady Bereikut, 2 m. W. of Tekoa. (27) forefront, as leader. (28) psalteries, etc., a Comp. Ne. xii. as 1 Chr. xiii. 8. They went out in faith, they came back in joy and triumph.a (29) fear, etc., wh. brought further blessing to "Prayer draws all the Christian the land, confirming its security from attack. (30) quiet, fr. graces into its other invasions. 43. Charity with her focus. It draws Asking a blessing-Learn to ask God's blessing on little things lovely train; Re- as well as great. There is nothing which it is right for us to pentance with do, but it is also right to ask that God would bless it; and, her holy sorrow; indeed, there is nothing so little but the frown of God can convert it into the most sad calamity, or His smile exalt it into Hope with her a most memorable mercy; and there is nothing we can do, but Faith with her elevated eye: B.C. cir. 1035. grasped anchor; its complexion for weal or woe depends entirely on what the Lord will make it. It is said of Matthew Henry, that no journey was undertaken, nor any subject or course of sermons entered Benevolence upon, no book committed to the press, nor any trouble appre- with her opened hended or felt, without a particular application to the mercy far and wide hand; Zeal lookseat for direction, assistance, and success. It is recorded of to bless; and Cornelius Winter, that he seldom opened a book, even on Humility looking general subjects, without a moment's prayer. The late Bishop at home."-HanHeber, on each new incident of his history, or on the eve of any undertaking, used to compose a brief Latin prayer, imploring special help and guidance. A late physician, of great rv. 28-30. celebrity, used to ascribe much of his success to three maxims of Brady, ii. 227. his father's, the last and best of which was "Always pray for b D. Hamilton. your patients." nah More. vv. 27-30. Nares, 383. end of the reign of Jehoshaphat E. N. 31-37. (31) mother's name, given to show that he was a genuine born Israelite. (32) departed not, wilfully, or wholly. Slips he made, but no falls. (33) high places were not, etc., comp. ch. xvii. 6, ref. may be to high places at wh. Jehovah worship was offered. (34) Jehu, see ch. xix. 2. is men-a1 Ki. xxii. 44tioned, 1 Ki. xvi. 1. (35) join himself,a in a commercial 49. alliance, needful to Ahaziah, as securing the trade of the Red b Dr. Haven. Sea. (36) Tarshish, prob. Tartessus in Spain: or poss. a place in India. Ezion-gaber, 1 Ki. ix. 26. (37) Mareshah, Jos. "I want XV. 44. broken, wrecked. the Lamb's fountain every day, His brightest human rags to cover me. A robe I must have of one whole piece, broad as the law, light, and richer spotless as the than an angel ever wore the robe of Jesus." Berridge. Degrees in backsliding. The following may serve as an ad- intercession monitory list of the steps taken in the downward path:- every moment; 1. Neglect of secret prayer, Job xv. 4. 2. Disregard of the Bible, and would not Jer. vi. 19; Hosea iv. 6. 3. Forsaking the means of grace, Neh. give a groat for the broadest fig x. 39; He. x. 25. 4. Worldly-mindedness, 2 Tim. iv. 10; 1 John leaves, or the ii. 16. 5. Levity in conversation, Eph. v. 4; 2 Peter iii. 11. 6. A quarrelsome spirit, Isaiah xxix. 21; 1 Cor. iii. 3. 7. Dwelling on the faults of others, Matt. vii. 3-5. 8. Readiness to take offence, Prov. xiv. 17-19. 9. A murmuring, repining spirit, 1 Cor. x. 10; Philip. ii. 14. 10. A critical hearing of the Word, 1 Cor. iii. 4; 2 Tim. iv. 3. 11. Covetousness, Luke xii. 15; Col. iii. 5. 12. Light thoughts of sin, 1 Kings xvi. 41; Mat. xxii. 5. 13. Intemperance, Prov. xxiii. 29-32. 14. Love of pre-eminence, Prov. xvi. 18; 3 John 9, 10. 15. Indulgence in secret sin, Num. xxxii. 23; Eccles. xii. 14. 16. Falling into outward sin, Prov. xiv. 4; Hosea iv. 17. 17. Into scoffing and infidelity, 2 Peter iii. 3. 18. Persecuting the righteous, Acts vii. 52. 19. An awful death, Prov. xiv. 32. 20. Final perdition, Matt. xxv. 41.a Gradual backsliding. We warn you against little concessions, little acquiescences, little indulgences, little conformities. Each may only destroy the millionth part of the velocity; but this destruction of a millionth has only to be perpetually repeated, and the planet's march is arrested, and its lustre is quenched. If vital religion be driven out of the soul, it will be as the Canaan- Buck. ites were to be driven before the Israelites, "by little and c H. Melvill. little."c Effects of backsliding. -"Loss of character; loss of comfort; loss of usefulness; and, as long as any remain in this state, a loss of a well-groundhappiness." — C. ed hope of future c 2 Sa. vii. 12- 2 Ki. viii. 19; Ps. revolt of the a1 Ki. xi. 14; 2 Ki. viii. 21; 1 Chr. xviii. 12, 13; 2 Chr. xxv. 19. CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FIRST. 1-7. (1) Jehoram, comp. 2 Ki. viii. 16. He had been associated with his father in government for two years before his father's death. (2) Azariah, 2 sons appear with the same name, in Heb., however, one is spelt Azariahu. (3) fenced cities, of wh. they were governors :" so they were not dependent on, and would not trouble, the reigning king. (4) slew .. sword, an act so violent as to indic. the advice of Jezebel.' of the princes, suspected as belonging to the party. Israel, not the northern kingdom here, but put for Judah. (5) eight years, only six as sole king. (6) Israel, here distinctly the northern kingdom. (7) not destroy, i.e. at once. explains God's patience with Jehoram. The cruelty of tyranny.— Our emperor is a tyrant, fear'd and hated; He thinks the sun is lost that sees not blood, This ver. 8-11. (8) Edomites, Ge. xxxvi. 9, 43.a (9) by night, so effecting a surprise. (10) so the Edomites, should be yet. Comp. 2 Ki. viii. 22. The Edomites were more successful in a second attempt. b Libnah, Jos. x. 29. because, etc., these national losses came as a punishment for idolatry, etc. (11) made high places, for the unlawful Baal worship. fornication, a b Ge. xxvii. 40. common metaphor, signifying idolatry, or spiritual unfaithfulness. An idolater's hope.-The Rev. Mr. Francis, an American The heaviest load of guilt, if Christian missionary, stationed in India, states that in December, there is true and 1832, he met with an aged Brahmin, and conversed with him in heartfelt repent-reference to futurity. On inquiring his age, the Brahmin told ance, cannot lay him he had lived in this world about eighty years. In reply to a more weight upon the true second inquiry, he admittted that he had committed many sins. and only Foun- The missionary then said: “As it is evident, from your advanced dation" than it age, that you have but a short time to remain on earth, do you know how your sins are to be pardoned, and what will be your "The miserable state after death?" He replied: "My hope is in the Ganges." hath no other On the missionary expressing his sorrow at the delusion he medicine, but cherished, and stating the general arguments which prove the absurdity of such a system, he looked very serious; and when the question was a second time pressed upon him, he confessed, that if the Ganges could not take away his sins, he knew not what could. will bear. only hope."Shakespeare. "Where there is no hope, there can be no deavour, or caution."-Johnson. Elijah's letter to Jehoram en a "The document in ques tion is not called a letter (iggereth, 12-15. (12) a writing, the word used is not either of those for a lettera fr. Elijah some think this should be Elisha. Apparently Elijah was translated before this. Some think he lived unto the reign of Jehoram. And some deny the truth of the narrative here.d (13) of Israel, who were with extreme measures dishonouring Jehovah.e (14) plague, or stroke, v. 17. (15) disease, etc., kind of consumption. "He had no bowels of compassion for his own flesh and blood,” v. 4. |