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TITK

YNASTY OF DaVID ;

OK,

NUTICKS OF THE srcCESSIVE OCCUPANTS
OF Tin-: TIIKONE OF DAVID.

JiTilh o.tucsttons :it thf rub of ncli Tifigii

I'.Y

a !•: \ . .1 A M E S D U N C A N ,

HAYKIKM), (»NT..
WITH MKMOII! I;Y THE UF.V. .loHN lo(JIK

lli> iiami' sliall eiulure for ever.— Psalm Ixxii

TORONTO :

lAMKS (A M 1' H K I.L A SuN.
187-2.

PRINTK.n BY IIl'NTKR, HOHE & Co.

Toronto.

CONTENTS.

• —

'• ^^'"" J MnlvHi .-uul ministm.-il

'[• '"^'"'"^'o^ -':{ Ingratof,,! un.l unfuithful.

^"- '^''"0""^^. 4.; II;u,^'l,ty,uul hu.uiliukMl

'\- -^"'•'^^' <5(> Knliirhtoned, hut.nnvurthv.

■ "^ ••' KmiiiiMit,I)ut rotrogre.ssivi'

VI. Ji:mosma|.|,.vt 113 Wist-ly-.solicitous, but ue.tk

^"- •''•""•-^^' i:C Wicke.lan.lwoo-sulMuer.aMl

^"^- •^"^>''^" l<!<'Mi.sa.ss..ciato<l;tml,nislori

^•':- •'"'"" I«-^ Hi;^'hly-favore(l,ln.tn-creant.

:'^- -^■^' ^''-' ^" 20:, Anil.iti.Mi.s aiHl m.Kst wilful.

^"^^^ ^''"•'" -'-'<^ Distin-ui.shed but (lishunor-

(id.

^"- •'"■'■"■^^^ 247 Umlistingui.sho.l ami inotli-

cit'iit.

^^\[- ;^"'' 208 ()utrayo.m.san.l unrepentant

Ai\. IfK/.KKiAu 28!» UhLstriousbutun-naraccl

\\. Mana.sskh :>,n Flagitious, but p.nitent.

'^^^- '■^'"•'' -WIJ Jmpiou.s and unloved.

^,\^^- 'l""'-^" ;{54 I'iou.s and nm,n-n««i,.„

XV'III. ZkdEKIAH 'fi: T'..j...

clia.stized

ible and deeply

Xrx. TAnrANUEL-JEsus. 387 T

/ Transoendant, efi'ulgent , and

an so
abidin

PREFACE.

It may scorn mistaken ;ui(l })ro5;iimi>tU(>us to jdacc a
\(tliimi' (if small prt'tnisions licfoi-c tlic jJiiMic ; also, it
may M'cm iimn'ccssary, if not somt'what cliililisli, to ad"!
(|ilfstiolis to each I'ciLiii.

To tlii'X' anticipated ol>jection> we answer: —
l>t. All minds aii- not of the highest i:;rade, nor yet
are all minds ecjually de\elo|t('d. If oidy Itooks of tin-
liiu'liest stamp wei'e j>ulili>lied, the ^enei'al mind could
not have the heiiefit oi' the t-njoyment of reaflini:;. Ther(»
must he pi'o\ision for the mass as well as for the relinecl
ami the s]>('cnlative ; ami we hope there may he some
aiiioim' the Aarious <^rades who may iintl these jtaues n<»t

unuro

titahh

'Jmlly. We fancy that tho added (juostions may ho
fnuiid useful to some ])arents who wish to carry foi-\vard
the Hihle-education of their youn;.^ people, hcyond the
lU'dinary catechisms. The (|Uestions in the oi'dimiry cat-
echisms are neccssarilv u'eneral and do<nnatic, and meant
to he connnitted to memory ; tlu'so (|Uestious are to a
lireat extent personal and hiographical, and meant- -not
to he connnitted to nn'inoiy, hut simply to aid convers*;
Ix'tween jiarents and their youii^ jieople concernin<^' the
characters in (juestion. W'liilethe parent who sees them
need not confine himself wholly to them, ho may yet find
them useful in the way of suir<restion — enahliiiLf him

mere fully and more easily to impress im]M)rtant truth on
the heart of those ho loves, than he could without their
aid.

We mistake if there is not some intermediary books
wanting between catechisms and treaties.

J. I).

I'liKFATOllY NOTE.

Ill layiiij^ this vohim*! lu-forc tin- puhlic, it is only just
to stiitc tliat lint (tiif hair ot" the hook was iirrjiariMl for
tilt' jHcss l»y tlu' author hiinscll". The *'iii;htli scnnoii was
iKit ciUnidt'ltMl when he was calli'il away.

I'Voia ilic iiiaiuisrii|its lir.st used in tin- pulpit, tlii' rc-
inainiiiL; <liscoiir.s«'s liavf Imcii prcpariMl with as •^Vi'al cait;
as possihlc ; hut those hy whom the woik has Isx-u
ati'oiiiplishcd, art' kfciily conscious ot' what has hcfu its
(lilliculty ; the exact iiieaniiig t'veii may ii(»t always have
Iteeii appreheiuh'd, ami there may he some things iieces-

ful

s own can

sarily left unchanged, wlii<h tlu; author
hand would ha\'e hetter adaptt'd to the [)reseiit pur[)ose.
Fiarnestly rtMpiesting that such tlaw.s found in the later
])ages may he accounted, not to him who peiiiunl tho ser-

mou>. hut to those who have timidly and carefully at-
tempted to prepare them for puhlicatioii, the volume is
siihmitted to the [tiavi'iful perusal of those; who love,
or Would lo\e, to liiid (lud aiii-l his teaching in every part
of the word of Life.

MEMOIR.

Til.. i;..v. J;imrs DmiouiK ;lu5 aiitlioi- of tin's vnlnuw of
smnons, was bom oi, tlu' 18ti.ufAi.nl, |S();{,..,t AlMuuk,
i'mnty of XorthunilMTl;...!, Kw^Uuul IJis paivnt., Wil-
liam and Eleanor Dimcuu, were ir, mUovs of tli.' ScTssion
(•ongiY'i,'atiuM thoiv-thcsaiiM' n!)-iv-atioii in uhidi Dr.
Kerr, now of Glas-ow, lal.oi.r.sl for .sonic years. With
reference to lii-s parents, he too couM well say :

My boast is not tli.it I cvn trace my birth
From loins onthnmud, (.r rulers of the earth,
But higher far my proud i>retensif»n8 rise
The son of parents passed into the skies.

By the blessing of dud on tlie piotis trainin- under
their parental care, and the ministrations of the sanctu-
ary, two of the members of the family were led to de\-oto.
themselves to the office of the Christian ministry. Wil-
liam, the younger brother, a few years ago " hnislu'd his
course "in Australia; and James, the older, the subject
of this memoir, rested from his labour.-, at tin? c0m.nenc.3-
ment of the present year, in Canada.

With a view to the otfice of the ministry, James en-
tered the University of Edinburgh, pursued with marked
succ<-«s his literary and philosophical studies under the
distinguished men who at thattinu; filled their respective

VUl

MKMOIH.

fliaii'.s. lie iitNt (iitcicd tlic l)i\iiiity Hall of the tluii

Uiiitffl Secession Churcli, aiul passed tlDoiiL^h tlie Tlieoi,)-

gical course ^vitll liii^liest credit and picjniise. A xhoi't

tniie a

t'tei' h

le was (luiy ncensed a pieaeiior ot the .l;os|

.t' th

■1,

and spent a few months lalxmrinu in se\-eial of the \ai'ant
cungre<^ati(iiis of the church.

He accepted Ji call from the small and ifcently formed
congregation of W'arkworth, a (piiet and I'ather pleasant
village on till' hanks of the ('(M|n('l lv'i\-er, ahout eight
miles distant from his nati\-e town. His oidination took
place in (lie month of June \f<'.^^K

The entire peiiod of his ministry in England from iS'.ii
to till' year ls.")f, when he left for Canada, was drvoted
to the advancement of the spiritual interests of this small
hut intercstini; coniireuatioii. It has Ix-cn well >aid.

that nation is ha[)[)y that has ni

hist

orv

-understand-

ing hy /il.sfm-// what has too often jias.scd under tlial
name — a record of factions in thegovernmiMit. of intrigues
and imnioialities in the court, of civil hioil.^ and foreign
wai's. It is no less true of many of the most faithful and
honoui'ed ministers of ( 'hrist. they ha\'e lieen lia[>])y in
Inning no suchhistoiy. This ha])piness was pre-enunently
Mr. Duncan's during the eighteen years of his ministry
in W'arkworth, there were no ([uai'ivls in the session, no
factions in the congregation, not even one >olitaiy ap|ieal
in complaint to any of the chunh courts of the denoini-

1 and

oW Ll'ooi

nation. Ft could he truly said of them, '• 11

how pleasant it is for Invthien to dwell together in

unit}-."

The village itself in its ipiiet sim[>le l)eauty (or.e of the

MEMOIR.

many lovt'ly xillagos of ol<l Kngland) its Iionios rhistpriug
around tlio vt'noral)le ruins (jf the castle of Warkworth,
• tiK (if tile ancient seats of tlio Percy family, often referred
to in tlie wiitin;ns of Shakespeare, — this lonely and
jieaceful villaire is no iiia[>t i'e[>i'esentatiou of tli< peaceful
labours autl i-esultsof .Mr. Duncan's ministry amon^ thetn,
IT I'atliei", tiiey resemhled the ii;eiitle torm of the river
wliich iilided }»ast- — hut a few yai'ds from hisC'liurch and
Manse — on its way to the (lerman ( )eean. So |>ass(!d
jieacefully alon^ his (piiet untiring labours, with their
hle»eil fruits to the j^^reat ocean of eternity.

Sahhath after Sahliath you find hiiu in the pul[>it " a
scribe \\rll instructed in the mysteries of tiie kingdom of
( lod,"' •• strixing (and nut unsuccessfully, through (Jod's
grace) to approve himself inito (Jod a woikman that
needeth not to Ik- ashamecl." Wni meet him besidt' the
bed of the sick and the dying, poui'ing the balm of Chris-
tian consolation into suffering souls, disixdling gloom,
( lit'cring the drooi)ing, inspiring with the spirit of Chris-
tian resignation many a troul)leil soul, leading them
i(uietly to feel aiul say, " Ii is th<' Lord," " lie doeth all
things well," •' V.vrw so Fathei', I'or so it seemeth good
ill thy sight." He fails not to visit all the families of his
llock, and In- is there, as in the [iul[)it, the man of (rod.
No trifling gossip, no fri\-olous (|Uestioiis does hi', discuss.

The l)lessing of the Master rested on the labours of
the > 'rvant. The congregation, for the most part belong-
ing to the liunil)ler classes of the village and immediate
neighbourhoud, crowded around him Sal)bath after Sab
bath to receive from his hand " the bread of life," look-

MEMOIR.

iiig Up to him with an admiring al\^ction and respect we
have never seen surpassed.

Happy above most in his domestic relations, he had
married the eldest daughter of Mr. John Jobso i, a
gejitleman living in the immediate neighbourhood. And
as Mr. Duncan's family increased, great care was bestow-
ed in theii- education, which was carried on entirely
under the parental roof. This notice of his labours in
Warkworth, may be closed by referring to a statement
once made to the writer by a very intelligent young man
belonging to the village, and wliose connections at that
time lay with th(; Church of England. It certainly was
one of the finest compliments I ever heard paid to a
minister of Christ. This young man, though otherwise
intelligent and amiable, had spoken and acted in such a
way as to lead his fellow-villagers to cherish the belief
that he Avas an unbeliever in Christianity. In conversation
Avith him one day, I asked him if it was true that he had
lost faith in Christianity. After a momentary pause he
replied, " Not altogether, Mr. Duncan — the Presbyterian
ministei — stands between me and infidelity. From what
I see and know of that man, I cannot believe that Christi-
anity is a lie." On inquiry, some years afterwards, about
this young man, I learned with pleasure, that he became
altogether a Christian on the best grounds, joined the
fellowship of Mr. Duncan's congregation, and after adorn-
ing tlie doctrine of his God and Saviour, died a short
time ago in the faith and hope of the gospel.

More than ordinarily attached to his family, as they
advanced towards manhood, he saw and felt as a matter

ME.MOIK.

Lme

lort

Iter

(»f simple tluty, tliat rciniiining in England, they must bo
scattenMl, To prevent this, his thoughts were turnel to
emigrating to one or other of the colonies, and thus secure
a home for them on a farm. He at last resolved on com-
ing to Canada, and foillnvith resigned his charge in
Warkworth amid nuitual regret. He foiuid a home for
his family not far from the shore of Lake llui'on, in the
neighbourhood of the \-illage of liaylieM, and oidy a short
distance from ofon*; of oiii' congregations, then under the
pastoral care of Mr. Logic. A few months after his arrival,
the minister of liavHeM Koad (•oni--reL:;ation, on account of
the extent of this licld ot labour, felt himself compelled
to I'csign his chaigcof the congregation into the hands of
tlic Presbytery. Having abundantojiportunity of learning
llic ministei'ial gifts of ^^r. Duncan, a unanituous call
was tendered to him, wiiich after mature deliberation
was accepted.

The year 185 t saw him inducted into the pastorate of
this conureij-ation. His labours were i)ursued in their
midst with th(^ sam(> (juiet diligence on his [)art, and the
s:imc unity and [)eace, the same alfectionate respect and
contidence on the [>art of the congregation as in Lngland.
After a ministry of sixteen yeai's in Canada, increasing
infirmity constrained him in .liini^ 1870, to resign his
charge. For many years he liad sulfered from a painful
atfection in his eyes, so much so, at om; time, as to lead to
the interru[)tion of his studies, when attending the Uni-
versity, and more or less he continued to feel this weak-
ness to the close of his life. A few years ago he was
atUicted with a partial failure of memory, which caused

XII

MEMOIII.

him to lay aside his lonnerliabit of preaching from notes,
and write liis sermons fully out, and read them to his
people. This was tolh)wed no long time after, with a
tendency to asthma, accompanied with sucli liodily
Aveakness as almost e^.tirely to unfit hini for active
exertion.

Six months only had elapsed from his resignation when
the great summons came, and the tiuKi and the manner
most singulai'ly in ai'i'ordanct' with his previously expr«\ss-
cd desires. In convei'sntion. not longhi^fore, on death and
the well grounded hopes of the Christian in connection
withthat (n'ciit, among other remarks he stated that now,
since his work and usefulness were well nigh over, he had
a desire that his i-elease miglit comt; si)eedily, as he was
anxious n(<t to pi-oNc a hui'den to the loved members
of his family, through h('li)lessness from the increasing
iuHrniities of age. Ih* remarked also his dc^irt' to he ex-
em[)te(l fiom the sutferings of a protracted death-bed, as
he hatl always shrunk with peculiar sensitiveness from
pain, but he (piickly ad<led — " These are my weaknesses,
the will of the Lord in this, as in all else l)e done."
The loving Saviour sympathized with the weakness of his
servant, and grantt.^d him the desires of his heart.

On Sabbath, the Sth Jaiuuiry, 1(S71, he was worshi])ping
Avith the church behnv ])L'fore the dawn of another day
hi! was worshipping with the church above. On return-
ing to his home he made no complaint, seemed in his
usual h(\dth, discharged tlie ordiuaiy duties of the
Christian father, and retired to l)ed at his usual hour.
Towards midnight he ap])earcd to have been seized with

ArEMOIR

XIII

an attack of asthma. He was in the act of risiiK' to
secure some medicine to rehovo his Invathing. IMrs.
Duncan persuaded him to remain in ])('d till she went
for the medicine desired, first helping to support liim,Avitli
the aid of pillows, in a sitting position, as more easy for
his breathing, and so calm was he and seemingly un-
conscious of what was just at hand, noticing that Mrs.
Duncan, in lier haste to bring relief, was neglectful ot
herself, his last words were, '' put something around you,
you will catch cold." On i-eturning with the means of
relief she noticed that his head had fallen to the one side.
He was dead— thus passed away with<nit a struggle
without even the consciousness of the presence of death
this servant of the Lord. How appropriate the words
of the hymn.

" Servant of God, well done !
Rest from thy loved employ,
The battle fouylit, the victory won,
Enter thy Master's joy.

Tlie voice at midnight came,
He started up to liear,
A mortal arrow pierced his frame,
He fell, but felt no fear.

His spirit with a bound,
Left its encund)ering clay ;
His tent at sunrise on the ground,
A darkened ruin lay.

Soldier of Christ — well done.
Praise bo thy new employ.
And while eternal age.-* run,
Rest in thy Saviour's joy.

XIV

MEMOIR.

The physician calliMl in — i)ronoiiiicc(l disoasc of tlic
heart the cause of his deatli. Thrcf of liis bretlircii in
tlie ministry took part in the fiiiieral service, lield in the
church, amid the sorrowing faniilyjtlie nienil)ers of tlie con
gregation and many synii)alliizi?ig friends from the locali-
ties around. To the menil)ers of the bereaved family,
these promises of (Jod Ikuc come near, *' I will be a
liusbiind to the widow, and a lather to the fatherless," —
and those words of richest comfoit, •■ Sorrow n<»t even as
others which have no ho})('/' may they be enabled, to lay
hold of them. To the congiegation this scripture demands
practical application, " llemend)er them that have the
rule over you, who hav(.' spoken unto yt)U the word oi'
God, whose faith follow, considering tin; end of tlu'ir
conversation, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day,
and for ever."

On meeting Mr. Duncan foi- the first time, a look of
intelligence, the prominent brow, tlie massive head, con
veyed to the thoughtful observer the impression, this
must be a man of no ordinary mental endowments. This
impression was confirmed on listening to his conversation,
it ripened into conviction on hearing him in the pul})it,
or from the platform. As a student ho carried off some
of the highest literary luniours of the University of Edin-
burgh — among others, the first prize for poetry — original
and translated. In the Divinity Hall his exercises called
forth the warm encomiums of his professors. By his fel-
low students he was looked up to as possessed of high
mental ability. They anticipated for him the highest
prospects in the future as a light in the church, and a

{

MEMOIR.

(•redit to the denomination. In a convor.sation, many
years ago, with one of hi.s fellow student.s now well known
in the Christian world, and well (jualiticd to judge — ])r
Eadie, of Glasgow — remarking on the disai)[)uintnu'nt
often expressed in connection with young men; some from
whom littlt; was expected, in after years becoming dis-
tinguished, tilling tlunr old friends with agreea1)le sur-
prise, others from whom you expected great things, being
never afterwards heard of. He referi'ed U) Mr. Duncan,
than minister at Warkworth, as the most remaikable ex-
ample of this second class that had come undei' liis obser
ration, " We all," he said, " regarded him as a man of
highest promise, of superior mental abilities and gifts,
that he would yet be heard of in the church : now he
has sunk into obscurity, he is never heard of"

It is just to state, in this connection, that the church to
which Mr. Duncan belonged was not in fault (if fault there
was) for his comparative obscurity, in tlu^ village of
Warkworth. His distinguished ability as a man, and
attainments as a minister of Christ, were known and ap-
preciated in the highest quarters of that church, and })er-
sistent efforts were put forth to induce him to leave his
village charge. At one time the greatest pressure was
exerted in urging him to take charge of one of the
large and influential congregations of the denomination in
the city of Edinburgh. All in vain, his resolution wag
inflexible to remain where he was.

In proof of the high regard in which he was held as a
man and a Christian minister, it may not be out of jjlace
here to present some extracts from the public testimony

XVI

MKMOII!.

borne to his many excellencies. The first is taken from
a biograi)hical skt'tcli that appcart'il in out' of tlic news-
papers of Ills native country, England, since his death.
It was written, we believe, l)y one of his former members
in Warkworth congregati(jn.

" Mr. Duncan was minister of the United Pre.sl>yterian
Church at AVaikwortli, for eighti-en years. He was a
l)eautiful character, full of manly teiideiness and strength,
huml)h', unassuming, an elo(|uent preacher, and a man of
rare culture. By his people he was greatly beloved, to all
he was a sympathizing father and aide counsellor. lit
M'alked very closely with God, and perhai)s all his people
were not able to keep pace with his l)rightening spiritu-
ality. No doubt he sometimes outsoared their highest
flights. But it was his delight to pt>int sinners to Jesus,
and this he even did in the simplest and most persuasive
manner. He possessed a fine i)oetic genius, and a literary
taste almost unerring. He carried off several prizes for
poetry during his college course, and Ave have seen notes
of high approval appended by the late celebrated Professor
Wilson, (Christopher North) to some of his translations of
Homer. He published a few sermons and poems during his
residence at Warkworth ;but only those who heard his voice
Sunday after Sunday coultl form a just opinion of his
powers — of the exhaustless freshness of hismintl, and the
dignity and splendourof diction which he could command."
Yet another brief extract from the same sketch. " Dur-
ing his college career he was laid aside for about a year,
his sight having almost entirely left him, and it was at
one time doubtful whether he would eve)' be able lt» I'e

MKMOIR.

XVII

Slime his stiidie.s. A circiimsUmce occurrod in tliis con-
nection worth nothig, evincing as it does Mr. Dunciin's
strict adherence to principle. A gentleman wjio kiirw his
worth offered him tlie (»flic(i of postmaster of Px'iwick-iipon-
Tweed, with a salary of three hundred pounds sterling a
year. After deliberation he declined the tempting otVer
becau.se it would have entailed upon him some Sunday
duty." We extract from another sketch of his life, pu))-
lished in the paper of his native town, the following : —
" He passed through the literary and philosophical classes
of the Universitv of Edinbury:h, and the theological course
of the Secession Church with great distinction. In I*ro-
fessor Wilson's class he gained the first i)rize for poetry,
and his essay on conscience was pronounced the best of the
session. A few sermons and poems have been published
by him, but they form no adequate representation of his
mental power. The news of his death will be received
by his old friends with great regret. He was much es-
teemed among them for his abilities and the genial kind-
ness of his disposition." I may also refer to the testimony
borne by his brethren of the Presbytery of Huron, at the
period of his resignation, extracted from Minutes of
Presbytery.

'"The Presbytery, in accepting Mr. Duncan's resignation
of his pastoral charge, desire to place on record their
sense of the loss sustained by the causes which, in the
Providence of God, have led to this step. Throughout
the period of his connection with this Presbytery, Mr.
Duncan had won, in ever increasing measure, the confi-
dence and love of his brethren ; and they cannot allow his

XVlll

Mi;\ln|l

(illicial (•(»init'('ti»»ii with tliiMii to cfasr wiflmiit rxprcssinu'
tlicii' i^fatitiidc to tlic (Iivai llra<l nl tlic ( "liiiicli, tliat
one s(» (listiiii^ui^lu'il lof his ahility, and attainiiiciits,
• h'pth ot'jtirty, ami >iii;4h'ii('>s nf jaifposc in th<' work <»f'
the ministry, should haxc hccii s(» Ion,:;' spaicl in the sci-
vici' <ir thf Clnirch. Tiny \\'>nld cxpi-css thcif deep
sympathy uitli him in the piTsciit state til' hi.-> health,
theii' h(tp<^ that a cessatinii tVoia [)nl)lie duty may tend to
his impro\-ement in physical eiiei'i;)'. and their prayer that
his decliniii.^' years may l»e ei'owiieil with the fiehcst
maiiit'ostatioiis ol" the M.istef's presence and t'aNours."

'I'lie (|Ue.-lion may naturally arise in the mind of the
reader who, prohahly for the tirst time, may have heard
that there was such a .gifted IJrother in oni- ( 'amulian
Church. How came he tt* remain in such obscurity I
furnishing auuther illustration to the truth :

Full many a gem of purest ray Horene,
The dark unfathomud caves of ocean hoar;
Full many a Mower is Ixtrn to hinsh imseen,
And waste its swcotness on the desert air.

This ohscuritv aro^e ))artlv from his meekness, I

le was

one of the most unassuming of men. We ne\'er think' of
liim in this light without having the testimony l)orne<(f

ose

•resis

tihl

}•

<lln-,r,.s

ted t

o oui' nuno

Now tlu

man,

-M.

M's. was \ery meek a!)ove a

11 t

le men wiiicii

were u[ion the earth." and, hut for tiie dixiiu' hand
that pushed Moses to the front, he Would lia\e [lassed the
remainder of his da}"s in the oliscurity of tin' land of
jMidian. It arose also jtaitly from jdiysical causes, the
weaJvuess of his eyes, which at one time threatened him

MKMolH.

XIX

■■Ml

dl.

■I
■Hi

witli Idindiicss and iiiterniptccl his stiulics for a \vli()l('
yi;ii' -an excessive sou.sibility (iiat led liiiii to slirink
t'ldni the excitement of a more actise lih-. lie entdd
sehh»iu Ite in(hiee(l to jU'eaeh ont (>t his own i»nl))it,
' xrcpt hy great pressui'e, and tlien i»nly in a few clvniches
ill his iiiinie(liate neighltoui'iiocnh I lis iiun-atteiKhmce in
the Church Couits may also in some measure help to
actoimt for his heini; almost unknown to the chiireh at
lar^e. Hiice calling' his attention to this, hi> (|uiet rei)ly
was. '• 1 ha\(' no gift and no inclination that way, I feel
giateful that so many of my brethren can make them-
sehcs useful ill the ]»ul)lic l)iisim'ss of the clnweh, and
.-upply the jil.ice of a sleeping paitiier like my.s(df." A
young hrother of the Preshytery of Newcastle once called
the iitteiitioii of the ( 'ourt to Ah. 1 )uiican's non-attend-
ance. Mr. I'lingle, of Newcastle, then one of the must
acti\(' and puhlic spirited memheis of Preshytery, arose
and said, "Let Mr. Duiujan alone, he is a man .sv// 7^/,!-
'/■/.v, notwithstanding his nun-atteiidance, we ought, 1.- a
Pieshytery, to feel grateful that such a man is among us."
And after all, may he not have accom])lislied in his
comparative ohscurity, more true service for tla; Master
than had he occupied a place in the front rank ( May
his meekness, couple<l with his i-minent gifts and graces,
not now serve "to point a moral." In these days, when
amhition is the besetting sin of many a Christian
minister, as they are seen jostling each other in their
eager rush for the up[)ermost seats of the synagogue, is
it not refreshing to turn away from t\\v. unseemly sight
to see f/iis brotlier (piietly taking his place in the lower

MK.VOlll.

most soat, pr<'f('rrin<,' tlu) siniill, stni<;i,'lin^' ooiif^regation
ill the ubsciirc villa;;!', to tin' lar,L,a' and iiitliuMitial ojh; in
tliu cajtital of Scotland. \\'lit'n lit- left bidiind him, on the
ei^didi ot'danuaiy last, one of the lowcrmo.st .scats in the
Church Militant, may he not, on reaching the C'liurch
triumphant, have heard from the li[)s of the great Master
tilt' joyful salutation, " Conu' up hither." " He that
liumhleth himst'lf shall l)e exalte(l."

Many ministers, excelling their hrethi'cii in mental
power, have yet been greatly deficient in the gifts of per-
suasive elo([Ucnce. It was not so with Mr. Duncan, his
gift in this respect was C({ual to his intellectual ability.
On leading, several years ago, for tlu,* first time, the
memoir of the Uev. Mr. Toller, of Kettering, England, by
Koliert Hales, in a very interesting passage of that memoir
to which reference is made by the late Rev. Mr. dames, of
liirmingjiam, in his " Earnest Ministry," a description is
given of the; remai'kal)le power of i)ersuasive elot^ucnce
possessed l)y Mr. Toller.

i was then much struck with the resemldance to what

I had seen and felt un(h,'r Mr. Duncan's ministry in

Warkwoi'th. It was our privilege to spend a year in

that neighbourh(^o(l, about twenty-five years ago. The

remembrance of those Sabbaths, worshipping in that

huml)le chapel, rises up before us like a beautiful vision

of the past calling forth our grateful thanks for the high

privilege we then enjoyed along with our fellow worship -

l)ers. Truly " we joyed when it w\as said unto us, go

ye up into the house of the Lord." We had listened in

our native Scotland to the ministrations of many of the

MKMOIU.

XXI

most gifted and elcxjucnt of lior iniiiist»'rs, })ut iu'vor )»'
fort' had wo st'eu tlie cross so lift<;il u[) as i!i tliat jmlpit in
W'arkwortli; never had we listened tu siudi ch.'ar ami im-
pressive exhiliitions of the "^ra'id (htetrines of Christianity;
never had we witnessed sneli elfects on an audience. It
is to say Httic, that we wen^ awetl with the beauty and
grandeur of tlie tliouglit, lifted to highest admirati<,n
at the elevation and dignity of the language. We were
at times as if .spelhhound under the sway of the pn.'acher's
l)Ower, at one time thiilled with raptuif a- he dwelt on
the character of (rod, on the manifestation of his mercy
and love in the gift of his Son, on the beauties of holi-
ness, on th(! joys of the blessed, and again nitdted into
tears as tlu^ evils of sin were portrayed, oi- the humilia-
tions and sufferings of the Saviour i)assed btd'ore the view.
The heart and conscience were api)ealed to in a manner so
tender, so melting, so irresistibly moving, 1 can oidy say
it was to us like a new revelation of the power of human
speech, it was sometimes felt to be almost overwhelming.

1 may just point out one or two features in this won-
drous power of the preacher.

The remark has been made in reference to the power
possessed l)y the eloquent Whitefield, that from the veiy
manner in which he pronounced "Mesopotamia" he could
make you either laugh oi' weep. On listening to Mr.
Duncan, we were struck with ihis very peculiarly, even
in his very utterance of a sentence of Scripture which you
may have heard a thousand times, without being specially
impressed with its beauty (jr its force. As it fell from
his lips it seemed to possess a new beauty, to have a new

XXll

MEMOIR.

(Iq)tli and width of meaning, a more convincing- power.
His vrry nttcrance of tlu; 8('ntt'iic(!, " In him dwelleth all
tile fuliie.ss of tlie (loddiead liodily," came Imnic to tlie
mind with sucli clearness and ])owei' that it .seemed im-
possil)le to d(jubt the divinity of the Saviour. It seenunl
as if the very utterance of the words had sent a flood of
li_i;ht upon the understanding and an overwh.dnung tide
of impression on tin; heart. Another examjjle we can ne\ei'
forget, on repeating the words, "liehold I come (piickly,"
the tone and em[)hasis was such that the eflfect on the
audience, and ourselves was electrical; it seemed to hi'eak
npdU the soul like the living voice of the Lord, authority,
warning, summons to instant pi'eparation, appeared to
hlend together in arousing and startling the hearer.

Another charactei'istic featuie of his preaching was
the power of concentrating the att<'ntive of his hearei'son
one fixed point, whether a IJihle character, an event in
Scriptural history, a doctrine, or a di\ine ])recept, placing
it before vou till the attention of his audience was secured,
and then he surrounded it with such a flood of light,
that it stood })efore you afterwards in almost visilile dis-
tinctness, literally haunting you for weeks and months
afterwards, as haunts the traveller some special sights,
which have most impressed his mind.

Ijut the <'xcelling feature of his power was eai-nestncss.
Many circumstances lent a charm to his address, his
striking intellectual appearance .• a voice of great sweet-
ness and compass ; a diction slightly tinged with the
poetic, and peculiarly his own ; the silvery accent of his
fine English voice, these combined exerted no little in-

MivMrm;,

XXlll

ig power.
►•('Ik'th iill
lie to the
cmcd iin-
t secinod
I Hood of
nini^ tide
•an lunci'
luickly,"
■t on the
to hi'Ciik
ithority,
'iiicd to

ing was
ai'ci's on
vent ill
])]acin<j-
('(■lli'cd,

' ligiit,
>le di.s-
nontlis

lliiriicc in favour of the speaker. Rut o\erto)»ping them
ill, and ill a hrief spaee sweeping them all out of sight,
was that eai'nestne.ss, which seemed to infuse the soul
(if tlir si)rak('r, hciicath liis <;-lowinL!' words and Ituniiui;
jiriidds, into the \cry hearts of his hearei's. It was tlu'
iviiiaik (if a lirotlni'. oil n'tnrning from listening to one of
his addri'-srs from tlic }ilalforni, " Is it not a [>ity that
such a man sli(»iihl l)e addressing an audience like this,
that cannot a[»[)reciate him." So fir as the intellectual
-ide of his addri'ss was concerned there may have heeii
Miuie truth in this — douhtless the humhlest of his audience
may ]ia\'(! fiiled to comprehend some of his language (»r
L:ia>i> the ele\'ation of his thoughts, hut the humhlest
lailcd not to cat(/h the spirit of the s[)eakei' — ^a sight of
their fu'cs set all douhts at rest ; there, on every fice, was
ciithidiied th(' excited interest, the rapt (h'light, no douht
iniiiLiled here and there with a trace of hewihh'rment.
Oncof these plain hearers, on hearing just such an address,
iviiijiked to the writer, *• I ncN'er heartl the lik(^ of that
hifdir. h.mg as I lia\'e heeii in tlu^ world."

As a nuin and a Christian, to know him was to love
liitu ; as a hushand, affectionate and sympathizing ; as a
t'alhci', hicnding the gentle and the Ijrui; he ruled well
ill his (iwii house ; as a lailcr in (oxl's house, faithful, yet
drawing liy a singular power of attraction the hearts of
lii> people towards him; in the commiiiiity around the ob-
ject ul' iiiii\crsal res[»c('t and esteem. A little inci<lent
will exjilain the secret ol this general esteem. Meeting
an iiidi\ idual one day on the highway, the nanii' of Mr.
I'Miican was incidentally meutioncd. "1 never heard

XXIV

MEMOIR.

him speak, hut one thmg I know," said he, "he is a very
pleasant man to pass on the road." A friend in Wark-
worth, in a communication on liearing of his death,
remarks, " I enjoyed the pleasure of his acquaintance,
from the autumn of 184:0 till he left for America ; we
were attached friends, no one couhl know him and not
love him, he was always so hum])le, so kind in disposi-
tion, so amiable in his manners, that he possessed in no
ordinary degree tlie power of making himself beloved by
all who knew him. His mental endowments Avere of a
high ordtu', 1 can truly say that I have met with few, if
any, possessed of a clearer head, and :; more loving heart
than Mr. Duncan."

He Avas held in the highest respect and love by every
one of his brethren in the ministry who enjoyed his
friendship. He was uniformly kind and courteous, and, in
reference to his brethren, he seemed only to have an eye
for their excellencies, none for their weaknesses ; indeed
of all the fathers and brethren Avith whom Ave have had
personal acquaintance, Ave knoAv of none that surpassed
him in drinking the spirit of these loA^ely Scriptures: "Let
the same mind be in you Avhich Avas in Christ Jesus."
" Charity sufFereth long and is kind, vaunteth not itself,
is not puffed up, thinketh no evil, l)eai-etli all things, be-
lieA'eth all things, hopcth all things." Put on, as the
elect of (xod, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kind-
ness, huml)leness of mind, meekness, long suffering, let
the peace of God rule in your hearts, be thankful.

Noticing his strong attachment to the endearments of
of his peaceful home, and .shrinking from the excitements

MEMOIR.

XXV

IS a very
in Wark-
is death,
laintance,
erica ; we
I and nut
n disposi-
iscd in no
aloved by
wore of a
ith few, if
•ing heart

by every
joyed his
IS, and, in
ve an eye
; indeed
lave had
surpassed
[■es: "Let
t Jesus."
lot itself,
ungs, be-
ll, as the
it's, kind-
'ring, let

■ments of
ntenients

(»f jiiiblicity ; thf iiifcrenco would 1)C altogether incorrect,
tlial al)Sorl)ed in liis own little world, he looked with
sdiiu'tiiing like indiffereiic(^ on all that was passing in the
world without. (In the contrary, no nuiii more sympathized
wilh the maxim of the ancient philosopher, " Wliatever
cnncerns in.in concerns me." Foremost of all, he ever
iiianifesttMl the deepest interest in all that concerned the
interest of that " kingdom which is not meat and drink,
Imt righteousness and i)eace, aud joj^ in the Holy Clhost."
Ami tlu' constant teiuleiicy of his mind, was to look at
all otiier movements going on in the world in their bear-
ing: on t]i(^ hiii;her interests of the kiiiirdom of Christ.
In a volume recently published on the History of Aln-
wick, his name is honourably mentioned as one of the
most celebrated of the young men that led to the forma-
liou in that town of the first " Literary Society." We
well remember the lively interest he took in England, in
what was then calhnl the Voluntary Controversy, or the
Spiritual Emancipation of the Church of Christ, from
State controul. AVe have lying besides us a lecture on the
Independence of the Kingdom of Christ, puldished at
the request of the Young ]\Iens' Voluntary Association of
Alnwick.

He showed also a deep interest in the Temperance re-
formation, then at its commencement ; indeed, I notice in
the sketches of his life published in his native county of
Northumberland, that the friends of temperance there
claim him as the founder of many of their societies. We
lia\e beside ns two ]mblications, in poetry, entitled
" Daniel," and " Timothy," " For the sober and the

XXVI

MK.MOIl!.

Younn," written expressly to promole the cmsc of tcm-
p(!raii(_'('. That interest remained una1»ate(l in Canada.
As a token of liis dee[) and intelli.^cnt interest in ;dl that
was lioinir on in the ^\•()l■l(K 1 inav mention tliat the last
lime we W( I'e pl■i^•i]e^•ed to meet he manifested hi^^li ex-
pectations fi'iim the I'^i'iiieli anddei'iiian War, then uoing
on, an<l oecn})ying the' L:,cneral attention. Like many of
the thoughtful, he regarded the i'rovidential mission
of Prussia as a great om' ; her origin, sprung from the
bosom of the reformation ; iier rapid progress to her pre-
sent commaiuling position; the need of some jjower in
Central p]urope to keep in check the l.'o}iish nations,
Austria and France; he dwelt witli animation on tlie pro-
i)able ])enefits to Christendom from a United Germany
ai)plying this vigorous check ; these Avere some of the
topics on which he dilated with interest.

The publication of this volume of his sermons will be
received with favour l)y the many friends who enjoyed
his friendshi[), had often prolited from his ministrations,
and admired tlie giace of God in him through these ser-
mons, " though dead to them he may yet s})eak."

The thought is a pleasing one, that Heaven is being
enriched with the spoils of earth, and as tlie shadows of
evening an' felt gathering around many of us, and the
solemn announcement is ever reaching us, •' Your fathers,
where are they ? and the prophets, do they live for ever 1 "
it yields the highest encouragement to look u[), and
th«'re, along with patriarchs, prophets, apostles, con-
fessors, and martyrs, to see the ever increasing nnmliei- of
the loved fathers and Ijrethren, who but yesterday lived

MKMOIR.

XXVll

;iiiil laltiuiied ;it oiu' sido, and thus seeing and feeling our-
M-hcs encompassed witli so great a eloud of witnesses.
Ildw im[)ressive and stinuilating comes to us the sacred
snninKiiis, •' Lay aside every Aveiglit, tiie sin tliat (hitli so
fioily beset, run with patience the race set before you,
Idoking unto Jesus the autlior and finisher of your faitli,
wild foi- the joy set Ix-fore them, en(hnTd tlu' cross, dis-
|ii>ing the sliame, and is set down at tlie right hand of
the throne of fJod."

NoTK. — Tlu' fori'L^oing ln-ii'f AtcniDir of tliu Kcv. Jiinu's Dnnoan
(savi' a few adtlitions) is taken from tlu' July iimnbcr of tlio "J\econl
of the Canada PreHbyterian Cliurch," as furnished l)y the Rev. .lohn
liO'^ie, Mr. Duncan's predecessor in the congregation of Baytield
road.

I. DAVID.

•I *

', "Anrl David pcrrcivcil tlint the T/ntd Imd i'sta1>lislu'(| liini
(^^) l\iiiLC (>\rr Israel, aiiil that \lr had fxalti'd His Kiii;,nl(>iii for
V His p(M>i)h; Israel's Hiike. "--11. Suiuud v., IL'.

t }f )i /^' ^^"'^ ""' 1'^^^'' '^^'^*^' ^" niiricijvitc tlu' i'liliii'c,
\ y k\U / <'itli»'i" '•"' ,i;>"><l or tor cxil. Illcssiii^s sjn-iiig
I Sj,.-^''^ ii|» ill tlic |»atli <if tlic wix', -wliicli tlicy never
/ - / f could li;i\e tlrejiliit crill the eaiHel' staiifs of

( f tlieii' liciiiu' : niid sorrows and au'iMiies assail tlie
j '( i^ ccniseioiisiiess (d' tin' unwise, wliicli they eould not
' .: ha\"e helieNcd possilile in the sweet; hoiirs of their
youth and iiiexperience.

riow little l>a\id imaiiined, while yet a sliej)-
herd lioy. the ANdiuleifiii liistoiy he was to woi'k
out. ami the hd'ty honours that -were to attach to

this name I Jle was t(» he the toiinder of a I'oyal
dynasty : he Mas to he the sweet silver of a re-
i covered world ; he was to lie the type and ]irou('ii-
J'^ iter (d" a Siiepherd Iviiii:. more glorious and iiioi'o
i potent than aUL:ht (d' ulory oiof potency e\i'r know n

(iiiji' men : and yet he went in ami out of his father.s
,,.,! ..iw.ii,- ,,,w.',,,.,.;-.,,c. r.r 1,;.. i,.it,- ,],,.*;,,,- 'ii.,.,.„

;nii(iii<i' men : and yet he went in ami out ot histather.s

litiUse wholly uiicoiiscioiis of Ids hdty destiny. '1 here

was m>tliin]n- aj))iarently to (Ustiiicuish him from (dher

hey>. and yet what an unusual splendour \\as in due
<;,"... 4 ..'.,., 1.: 1 1.: —

time to cidw II his name and \ii^ memory.

His greatness, ho^exor, Avas not sudden ; it trrew upon
him ■■••■■'•■" ' ■■'- '•■••1 -- ..-..:-. 1 - ^■->i .1. •■ '

liiiii!

IS ^reainess, nowe\ei, was iiol suooeii ; ii uiew u[)ou

Liiadiially, and it had not attained its lull de\t'lo[)-

... ut cvt n when lie was suniinoned to tlie I'liseeii, His

• iiown is extending- in the earth at the jdcM'iit hour.

-iiiktil with the iJivine, his na.me will uo d(/wn with

luiiiour to the latest posterity.

'Jhcre is miicli to lie said conceining this illustrious
individual, as you very well know; but we would confine

Tin: DYNASTY OF DAVTO.

y"iir attciit i(Mi, oii the ])Tcs<'iit occasion, to tliroo things
siiijucstcd hy the Wolds of our ttxt, viz., liis muJt'sty, his
cnli^^litcniiiriit. iiiid his li(h'hty.

/. ///.s' rii(i(h'shi ill T( hilidv fo Ilia cnrn r/vafnr.^s.

He li.id now rcarlicd tlic siniiiiiit ol' hiiinaii aiiihition.
ifc was iiii(lis|iut('(l Kin^ in Israel : his capital was fi xcd :
his |ialacc was luiilt: his kiti^<lotii was cstahlislicd. 'riioro
was no tiihc now in revolt : thciv was no rival to dis-
pulc his I'oyalty ; and nci^hhourin^i; kin^jj^s sent ni<'ssa,i;cs of
I'ccomdtion and IVicndship. lie was sccui'c in the hci<;lits
of /ion. ami notldnu,' foiiiiidal)!*' oi' [iriturl.iin^^- })i'('st'nt('d
itself at any ]ioint of his hoii/oii.

^\'hat, in such cireninstanees, nii^Lcht wo oxpocfc tlio son-
tinK'iits of David to he '. \\'hy, jud;4in>f according- to tho
<i;oneral couise of things, we would ex]K'ct him to ho
im])('iious and self-centicd. Wo would e.\|»ect him to he
full of his achie\'ements, and hent on niakin,^ everythiiiff
suhservieiit to Ills own aggrandisement. It was so witli
Neliuehadnezzav at I'ahylon. when he foun<l hims(df
undisputed master in ( 'liald<'a ; and, as he walk'ed in his
haniL!;ini,^-gardens, lookin;; over the nii,i;hty city whieh
h(> ruled, antl in winch thousands of wai'riors and artizans
were ](>ady to do his liiddin;^^ whether in the way of
conf|uest Ol' of construction, he exi laimed, "Is this not
gn'at IJahvlon, that I have Imilt hir the liouse of the
kinf,nlom, hy the miudit of my ])OM-ei-, and loi' the honour
of my majesty ?" \'ou se(> the loity l)earine; of the man.
It is l)y his (jwn power (as lie su)»poses) that lie hath
achieved his ureatness. and himself is the end of it all.
And it is not otliei'wise ^vith successful as[)irants after
rovaltN' in e\ciy a_ue. though they may not express tliem-
pelv<'S so clearly or so ])roudly. 'rh<\v recognise no unseen
Power or ProAidence. Th<'y are the ;iititiceis of their own
greatness (such at least is theii- assum])tion), and they are
their own end. All the resources of the community must
})e thrown into their colTers. All the ^^^enius of the
gifted must he employed to show forth their greatness.
All the skill of the skilful mustlje engaged in decorating

r».\\ ii».

things
esty, his

mihition.
•;is fixed:
There
1 to (lis-
ssagc's of
e hei,ii;lits
)l'eseiite(l

tlio soii-
li;^' to tho
in to he
lini to he
/erytliini^;
^ so with
1 himself
I'll in his
■Nvliich
arti/.ans
wiiy of
his not
of tlie
honour
le man.
lie liath
)f it alL
its after
-s them-
II unseen
leir own
they are
lity nuist
(.f the
reatness.
}corating

heir palaces or their ]iersons. It is well if they ediitenl

|ieiii-<'l\es with li'naliseil exnctiuiis. In too many casses

hev •li>play a s|iiiit of ( a|iiice and ciiielty. I need hut

(•mind \iin of Nern and 'i'iiierins. fanjieiurs ot" Ilmne.

)!' the latter it has heen said : •• lie lived in the dreail

'ill |»i'i\;iey (if siinie faliled deity, and wa-- niily felt at the

artlie.-t ends i>\' his Mni]iil'e hy the unhaiipuiess he oe

casiiiueil. I'>\' his inuideis and ini|iiis(ininents. and e\cry

s]iecie> (if >ntl'eriiiL;, iiieu's lieai'ts and minds wei'c howcd

ijdwii heneath this in\ i>i!il(' ami iii-esi>tii»le (i|»|ii'ess(ir."

Ill tlie li.uht (if the.^e exampje.s Uiaik" the niddesty of
David :--

/•'/'/■.</. " lie |ieivei\ cd that (hid had made him KiiiL!;."
l! was imt hy his own ])r(iwess. nor yet hy his dwn wis^
(letii. that he hail heen enalile(l til (ixcrciinie t he many
(ili-lacles that lay in his way to sn|ireme pdwer. Tine,
lie had ]iid\f<i him.self hdtli cdiira^ncods and juuden*; as
the servant df KiuLi,- Saul, hiit these excellencies had (inly
iiileii>itieil the hatre(l df his ma>t (T t d\\ar( I him. These

\(iy excellencies had thus rende!('(l his life nidl'e ]ire-

caiKiUs, and his jiossihle elevatidu iiKuc unlikely. The
truth is, it was a hii;her hand than his that had |iiU aside
all ii\als. It was a mi,ulitier will than his that had
cdiitrdlleil the jealousies of the ti'ihes, and conciliatcil
their ic^aids tdwaiil hinisell'. lie was not, therefdre, the
architect n\' \\\< dwn fdrtunes. liut the fa\(iure(l and
hdiidUi'ed diie df an unseen TrdN idence. If it he said,
that lie cduld lia\'e less excuse than Nehucliadnez/ar foi'
atlriliutiii,^' his elewitidU to his own pnwei', seeinL;- that he
was aiidinted to the otlice df Kin- w Idle yet a \ (Uit li,
we aii>wei' ill the iii>t instance, that Neliuclia(ln('//ar was
the sdii of a kiii,u\ and had thus a startin^u ]»dint for
royalty indeiieiideiitly of his own a,i:eiicy. This td him
aniiiuiited td a desio-nation as decided as that ,i;i\(ii to
l>:i\id. Then, in the second [ilace. the agency of I)a\id
liad interwoNcn itself lor years with the Divine i)ur[>os(!
and Prdvidetiee. just as in the case of Nehuchadne/zar.
\ nil will rememljer that it is natural and easy h»r the
heart uf man to overlook, or to foruet altogether, tho

iirr; f»v.\.\stv of p.wik.

• '^

f 'i

uiisct'ii Pi'dN idt'tiri- (if (hkI, and to ostiiiuito ;ill tliin^^.s by
I lie visililf ii<;t'ticy l»y wliidi that I'l-ovidciuM' works,
'riius NrliiicliadiK'Z/ar cstiinatrd Ids (»wii tnrt lines ; and
tlius the kiiiins of cai-tli nstially cstiniatr tln'ir own a.i;;-
ifi'andiscnicnts and ad\ anta^i^cs. J'.nt not so l)a\ld. lie
|icicri\cd the liand of ( lod in Ins clcNatioii. il(!\vas not
contml to account \'i>v his adN'anccnimt hy attrihutin^i;' it
to his own ahilitics, or to his own jxtlitical sa,i;acity. His
achicNcnicnts as ;i wari'ioi-, and his skill in adnunistra^
tion, hail no donl»t contrihntrd to the I'csult ; hut a wider
wis(h»ni than his liad I'lirnislied the theati'c, and controlled
the elements ot" o|t|iosit idji, and lent facilities, without
which he ne\ei- could ha\'e I'eached tlie stahle royalty in
which lie now found liiniself : " lie perceived that the
I;oi(l had estahlishi'd him KiiiL;' o\-er Israel !" And he
had a further perception still. It was, —

Srcoinl, that his royalty was ministerial and not ulti-
mate. In the words of our text, he perceivcvl "that the
Lord hail exalted his kiii!;;(loni for ilis people isi'ael's
sake."' it was not simjily, you })erct'ive, that David
mii;ht shine anion^- men. It was not simply for David's
])ersonal a,u,ui;indisement. This, of course, would arise
by his I'oyal distinctions, and in tlu; })roi^ress of his royal
administration, but this was not the ultimatf; ])urpos(^ of
his success and glory. It could not otherwist; i)e but that
he would become famous and illustrious as the reii;nini>:
monarch of a successful and a united peo])le, l)ut this his
ulory was lather incidental to his ele\ation than the end
aimed at in his elewitioii. lie, as Iving of Israel, was,
under (iod, wdiat Joseph Avas under Pharaoh, — he was
exalteil foi' the good of the kingdom. I'liaraoh took his
ring froui his fingei', and authorised Josejih to act with a
view to the ]»reser\ation of the jieojile during the coming
famine ; and (iod, in effect, took a ring fioni His finger,
and authorised l)a\id to care for dacob His people aiul
Israel Ilis inheritance. And David knew it. He per-
cei\ed the intention of God in the establisliment of His
kingilom,- — It was for Isi-ael's sake.

With such a conviction, David could not consistently

liiii^us l»y
<■ works,
ncs ; and
f own a,L(-
vld. Ji(>
I' was not
iltutini;- it
ity. ili.s
miiiistra-
t a wider
onti'ollcd
, \\itliont
oyalty in
that the
And lie

not nlti-
' that the
! Israel's
j David
• David's

M arise
n's I'oyal
I'jtose of

lilt that
I'cii^ning

this liis

the end
U'l, Avas,

lie was
took his
with a

coming
> liiigei',

l>le and
He ])er-

uf His

istently

it.w II). 5

ahnse his position to selHsh ends. He conld not make
war merely to gratify his own aml)ition. He eould not
t'dioe contributions IVom his sultjects mei'ely to ]>lease his
own vanity. In one woi'il, lie was not at liherty to |iiel"er
his own wish(\s to tiu' interests of jiis kingdom. He was
a respoiisihle oflicial. King though he was in i-elation to
iiieii, Ik; was still a servant in I'elation to the inis(M'n
I'liwt'i' that had elevated his kingdom, and he must u-e
his royal power in the interests of that kingdom, lie
must eondjine its resources and its chivalry to lice the
itiliciifanee assigned to it hy ( iod from enemies and in-
truders : he must se(! to it, that the worship of the (Iod
of Israel was duly attended to : he must gathei'. as far
a-^ he could, the trihes to oiie centre of <le\(itioii. in con-
formity with the unity of deli(»\ali. The jtolytheistic
nalions might have many shi'ines, hut the ])eoj»le whose
<loil was one must have onl}' oiu' central shiine. and
l»a\id nmst see to this. He must j)romote, too, ju>tice,
and education, and temperance, and all other excellencies
among the jieople, so far as his e.\am[»le ami his royal in-
thlclice extendeil.

Such was the modest ])osition and moilot pei'ce|itions
of |)a\id in the height of his pi'os[)erity. He \\as King
licranse ( lud had made him so. It was not hy usurpa-
tion (Ui his jtail, nor yet hy superiorit\- in him. hut hy
the will and })ower of (!od. And he was King, not tor
his pei'sonal gratification, hut to snhseixc the interests-—
llic liheily, the unity, and the .uhancenient of Israel.
t'ther Kings may walk loftily; David could not, so long
;i^ lie retaine(l and cherished these convictions. Othei'
Kiii,L;s may ahuse their power, and jx'i'vert the I'esources
of their kingihuii to selfish aggramlisenieiit ; Haxid
iiMild not, so long as he remend>eied hi^ ministerial posi-
tion. So far from his elevation, causing i)ride or strength-
ening selfishness in him, it could oid\-, with these con-
\ictions, give modesty to his thoughts, and righteousness
\i> his government And here allow me to oh>er\t', that
this nujdest and ministerial style of feeling ought to
• liaiacterise all successful men. Success in an\ nnder_

■ *

Tin; hVNAsTY (IF DAVri).

taking, or in any ac<niisiti()ii, rt'(|iiirt!s and implies mow
than nici'fly activity, <>r aliility, ov pcrfemviTancc on tlic
jiart of tlic successful jiaity. There is a ])«'rniis.siv(' or
a favoni-inn l'i(»\i(h nee involvetl in that success. An un-
seen hand hath withhehl ()|i|iosit ion, or renio\-ed liin-
(liances. Many thin_us lieyond the control of the mh:-
ces.sfid paity lia\e contrilaited (o the result ; and the le-
CMtunition of this fact is calculated to make, or to keep,
tlu' successful one huinhle and UKxh'st. It is often other-
wise, we know. Too luaiiy, in eveiy walk of activity, ai'(^
disp(tsed to feel if not to speak in the style of Nehuchad-
ne//.ai'. 'I'hey '.'eco^nise only their own agency in their
;;(iod foitune, and o\t'i'look the coiicuirini;' and favourin^i;'
agencies or circumstances that made theii- success possil)li'.
They aic proud in conse((uence, and take far in(»rt' credit
to iheniseUcs than they are eiititleil to. Instead of i-rat-
itnde to an unseen and coml>ining l'ro\i(h'nc<', they boast
of their own skill or sagacity, and forget their ministerial
I'esponsihility. Their ac (juisitions are their own, as they
.suppose, and tliese aojuisitions ar(^ to he sj)ent or employed
solely for their own gratitication <»r aggramlisement.
They fail to see that (lod, in His I'rovidcnce, liath made
them licli oi' powerful that they may suliserve the
])Uiposes of His goNci'unu'nt, hy soothing the disajipoiut-
nients of the less foitunate, or l»y ministei'ing to the
maintenance oi the extension of I)i\ine trutli in the

I'arth. So far a.-

far :
relation
awake

as' unseen l*ro\ idence is conceiiied, and
f ].

IS the nigler ])ui'poses or loving mtelligenct! ni

to I

nM!'.;)i:ity are ni (|Uestion, tiiey livv as litth

as the liil.rioi' creation. They li\'e to themseU'c'
alone. They enter not into the thought>of (lod. '1 h''y
never tiiink of the ministerial character of their pros-
jx'rity ; and they fail, therel'ore, to consecrate their re-
soui'ces by an enlightened and devout ust; of the same.
'Tis pity that it siiould be so ; for they lose theicby an
oppoi'tunity of ennobling theniseh-es and of mitigating
the evils that atfect their rac '. In the language of Scri[)-
tnre, — "They sow to the tlesh, and not to the .S[)irit,"
and they, you know, whu ,suw to the fleslv-shall uf the

DAVID.

flt.'sh iva]» (.'orruptiuii. Tlu'ir richt's will |)i'i'isli uith
tlit'in. Tlu'S'' ricln's, liaviiii,' iiiiiii.stcn'il tu tlirir juidc,
and sc'llisiiin'ss, and ohtran^i^ciiu'iit tVoiu ( iod. can liavc no
ulterior hciiiL^iiant iiitliu'ticc on thfir lii.stofv. Had tlu'su
riflu's Ix'cii cinployt'd in the intrTt'sts >>{' llfavcn had
tlit'ir .succt'issl'ul |)o,s.st'ssor sowed to the Spirit, and not- to
till! rtcsli, then they had eventuated in a joyou.s in'j;ather-
iiiil — even in immortal lite and honour: tor, "Ihithat
bnweth to the S|»iriL shall of the Spirit reap life cver-
hi^tiiii,^ 1" O that men would he remimled of their true
wisdom in thu matter of earthly sueeess I It is not to
pi'ide themselves in that success, nor yet to sj)end the re-
sources the/uhy gained for their personal gratilicMtioii.
It is, on the contrary, to recognist* the gracious Provi-
dence that has Messed their elforts, and to use their ac-
(luisitions in concui'rence with the higher i)urposes of
that l'ro\i(lence. It is to t'ucognisu tlio fact, that they
art^ stcnvards of tlu^ All-Contrcdling One, .iiid to help on,
as Mis willing and intelligent ser\-ants. His rectifying and
healing oix'iations in the earth as fully and as far as their
resources will jtermit. This, this, is true iiohility I 'I'his
is t(» enter int(j the thouiihts of (iod- lo I'ise ahove self
and decay— to concur in the grand puri)oses of the uni-
verse — to tind a lofty joy now — and to prepare the way
fur a larger and hjftier joy hereafter !

But this leads me to notice concerning David : —

11. This cnli(jhtciuncid lib rclaliuu to the j_nu'i>ost:.i vj Uud
ill the earth.

He knew that God had chosen a jx-oplc from among
the nations to subserve some worthy and Divine pur[)ose.
This appears in his c:>nviction conc(!rning the ministerial
character of his estaljlished kingdom. It was for " Hi'
people Israel's sake." All peoples were (Jod's in tlu;
light of creation, but all were not His by miraculous
interposition and covenant. This honour bidonged to
the children of Israel. They were a chosen generation
— a peculiar })eopl(i — an holy nation. David recognised
this fact : and he knew, besi.les, that Israel, as God's

THE DYNASTY OF DA\'1D.

})f'f)ple, wore a blessed people, and that they were not
only Messed themselves, Imt designed to l)e, in sonie
w;iy, the means (or me(lium) of hh-ssini;; to nuudvind.
Tlie tiiith is, David was not nnmindful of tlu; ])romise
made to Al)raham : " In thee and ,u thy seed shall all
the nations of the earth l)e blessed." Mow this 7Uiri>ose
was to be wi()nii;lit out, he niii;lit not see, but the pi'omise
Avas to him leliahle and i;laddening notwithstanding.

(Jod then had a people in the earth, and l)a\id ai)])re-
hended the fact: and God had shown the prcjfoundest
intei'est in that jn'ople, and I)a\id knew it. lie had
raised ui) Moses in their behalf lb' had l)i'ouiiht them
from their Egyptian bondage undei" that leader, and with
a high hand. He had legislateil for them --mimitely and
a[»i)i'opriat(dy. He had shown to tlunn something of His
august majesty at Mount Sinai, ami obtained from them
their tonsent to be His. He had led them through the
wililerness, and jjlaced them in Canaan — s])ite of armed
and apparently uneoncpierahle opposition. I le had raist^l
lip (U'liveiei's for them fiom time to time, and now He
had eiithroned I)avid in the heights of Mount Zion in
their interests. l)a\id recoHnisecl it ail, and ruminated
on the wondrous history continually. His Psalms are
lull of tlie.sf themes. ^\nd he knew further, that (Jod
had ulteiior agencies in reserve in relation to the acconi
plishnieiit of His purposes in and by that people. He
kut.'W that what had ali'eady Ix-en done was Ijut a pre-
paration for far greater things that were j'et to be done.
He anticipated the enthi'oiu'nient on Mount Zion of a
King; a\ hose power would be irresistible, an<l whose
favour would be the \ery highest felicity. 'J'his King
would dasli His implacable eiiennes in pieces like a pot-
ter's \'essel, and would bless beyond thought all those
A\lioput their trust in Him. He sang of this King as
'• the Lord of glor\',' whose coming would he a matter »jf
transcendent joy, thus, " Jiitt u[) your heads, ( ) ye g;ttes,
and he ye lifted up, ye eveilasting doors, and the King of
glory shall come in." Nay more, he spake of t..is won-
drous One as seated at the right hand of the Majesty on

DAVID.

high, and as addressed by the Supreme Ruler, as "a priest
for ever after the onh'r of Melcliizt-dck." And all
nations, he knew, would fed in some way the influence of
tliis Kinj^ (,f glory and this })rii'st of enduring power,
it was not Isi'at'l alone that would 1)e benelitcd by these
l)i\in(,' evolutions, Ijut the entire world.

Such were the ap|)rehensions and convictions of David.
He saw a meaning in hi.story higher and more signiticant
than the th(jught.s of men. Jle entered, as it were, into
the thoughts of God on a national and wttrld-wide scale,
as well as in relation to himself. And this is what we
call his enlightenment ; and this eidightenment accounts
for his moiU'sty in relat'on to his own gr(>atness. He
felt himself to be but tiu; svrvant of a higher will than
his own. Nay, Israel itself was not ultimate ; its
ailvancement and higher fortunes wei-e to be made to
liear on the interests of the world. And if Israel itself
was jiot idtiniate. nnich less his own rt)yal glory — seeing
that he M'as e.xalted for Israel's sake — even for the C(jn-
solidation and exaltation of God's people. He was but
oiif (if a succession of agents, empl(»yed by God to cai'iy
foiward a Divine pni'pose in relation to Isiael, and to the
woild through Isratd. JNfoses and Samuel had ])recede(l
liini, and how many might follow him befoi'e the advnt
ol' th«' Lord of ,uh-. y he could not tell. Mis throne he
cli'aily saw \;is = 'bs"r\ lent, and hisgloiy oidy incidental.
The supieiMe ihatter was the i»ui'pose of the (!od of
Israel. \. ' establi,>lnMl his throne, and Avho nsed him, in
coniiiK ;i V "th manv more, to secure results of which he
had. and < ■idsi haxc, no ade(|uat(,' c(;n ■'"'' 'U.

'I "his sta e of mind and thought is very diHerent, as you
ni'.tst at oree ]»ereeive, from the state of mind and thouglit
among ordinary kings. Read the history f/f any of them,
t'lpui Alexandri- to Xajx.leon, .-nul tir.d if you can any
traces of tlu! enlightenment of whii h we sj)eak. They
reeog.'iise not the all-embi'a'';ng .l*r^.\ idence of Hea\en.
'1 liev enter not in th'ir].o!Ie\ i'lti tlie thoui;hts of (bid.
'I hey recognise ncjt tlu' fac'. tiiat Goii hath a peculiar
pt'ople among men; nor do diey shape their policy with

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

II ^

I f

an eye to the liberty and safety of that people. God
moves in history, but they do not seek to walk in the
same line with Him. In many cases, they overlook the
fact of God's Providence and purpo-^tvs altog(?ther : nay,
sometimes they set themselves in direct opposition to the
Supr(;me will. Instead of rememb(;ring and consenting
to the purposes of God by His people, they persecute
that people, and even seek to annihilate that peuple.
And, when they find they cannot succeed in this, they
seek by l^ribes to subordinate the Divine element in
human society to their own earthly and crooke ! ways.
The fact is, they are so beclouded in mind ., to be
wlndly unconscious of any thing lilve ministerial ic -ijon-
sibility. They live for themselves alone, as we have
already said. They tax tlui resources of the nations and
the industry of the industrious for their own earthly
aggrandisement, and think only to gratify their own
pride, and to follow out the dictates or caprices of their
own irresponsil)le will. Hence their oppressions at
home, and, Avhen opportuiuty offers, their invasions
abroad. Might with theni is right, and subjection to a
commanding and unseen ])ur[)ose in history is a thing
they never dream of This is a matt(M' (k'ei)ly to be
regretted. It is the fruitful and endless source of
op[)ressions, revolts, conflicts, invasions, and barbarous

executions from age to age.

conse(pience, am

1 mill

ions are e

Millions have sutfered in
now sufteriniz in many

parts of the earth. Were rulers generally enlighteuf'd.
like David, in re''ation to their ministcjial and subservient
character, they could not tyrannise as they d- ; and weni
they aware that a Divine purpose runs through the ages,
and shapes itself by tlii' agency of a chosen i)eople, they
Avould not dare to oppress or labour to extinguish, as they

do, or to pervert, the sacred association.

But this subject again belongs to ordinary men as well
as to kings. It admonishes us, and all, of things higher
and more important than the ordinai\' interc.x:ts of life.
It reminds us of God's pur})ose, and of God's ])eo])i(' ; and
we ought to reiiiember, that we )'-.ive bettc* means of

DAVID.

Ifm

knowing that purpose, and of ti-acing tlio action of tliat
people on the institutions and progress of the world, than
David himself had. We arc not unfamiliar with the
name of the illustrious Tieader ui' God's people in these
later ages. We hear of llim contiinially — even of Ini-
inai'ui'K fhr Incarnnfc One — His diseii)l»'« in our own day
arc every where. They are found in all latitudes, and
they speak all langnagt'S. They are scattered far and
near, hut they arc all one iu thcii' ghjrious Chief They
c()n!>titutc the spiiitual Israel. They are God's ])coplc,
and (Jod's agents for the cnliiihtennicnt of mankind.
Their existence and their nn<lertakings are of far more
consequence to human society than is the ])olicy of the
nii^htiest nation amoni;' men. Thev are scatteriuLr the
seed of divine Truth through all lands (!Ven now — seed
that will yet spring forth i)i a harvest of righteousness
and joy over all the earth. Their agents are on all con-
tinents, and on veiy many of the islunds of the sea. Then,
their intluence at the ( Vmrt of Heaven is availing!;, and
their j)etitions ht'fore the Throne are ])erpetu;i,l. Their
])rayei-s, indeed, are but the echoes in heaven of the wortls
ami lireathings of tiie Spirit of lo\(' in their hearts on
cailh. God fi'om His throne touches them on His foot-
stool, and they from tlu^ footstool send their grateful re-
s])onse Ijack to the thi'one. (Jod wakes them t(j prayer
that He may put forth His strength in aiiswerinij; their
]'ra\ers. Their petitions are l)Ut an index to His pur-
'J'hey labour and ]>ray that all the world may be
1 fi'om idols to th(^ liviiiii- (Jod, and all the world

lox's.

turn

shall accordingly be tui'ued from idols to the living God.
The days of benediction are advancing apace, 'i'he i)ro-
niise to Abraham shall yet l)e amply fulHllcd, — that in
him, antl in his seed, all the world should be Itlesscd.
The special seed of Abraham, we know, is the Son of
Clod in human natuic, and His true and loving disciples

constitute in and w

nn lieaven s consecr;

ite<l 1

lost U)Y

*'ic emauci]>ation and harmoidsation of long-enthralled
ami dissociated humanity.

]S'o\v, to kn(jw this is to be enliuhteiied with the enli^ht-

■ i

'I'UE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

enmeiit of David, and to enter into the thoughts of God.
Alas, how many do not ! Ahis, how many liave no ap-
preliensioniieyond tlie visible interests of this passing
life ! Like tlie kings in their i)alaces, vi.'ry many private
men think only of their own advancement, or of how
they may mt)st effectually gain advantage against their
neighl tours, They have no conc(ption that tiiei-e is a
divine interest intei'weavinti; itself with human thiniis —
a*" ine interest which demands consideration and regard.
The N Ti o\r htiow that there is sucli an association as the
Chui,.i!. -ut they never dream of it as a remedial agency
for the J 'fication of the world. They regard it rather
as a refuge for the timid or tlu' penitent, where personal
safety may l)e sought. Encu in this light, they concern
themselves little about it so long as they are in health
and al)l(^ to prosecute the })rizes of earth; but to regard
true Christians as the people of God — as a consecrated
agency foi' the <)Utcarr}'ing of divine purj)oses among men
— of this they have no aiipivhensicui. Still less do they
perceive, that it is tlu'ir duty to strengthen the heaveidy
agency by joining tlu^ Church, and by entering into its
pui'poses. If you t;i.k to the prosperinis in the spirit of
our ti'xt — raying that they have been made pi'osperous,
or establi^Iled in their ])ros})erity, for Gotl's people's
sake — they would stare or sneer at you as fanatical. But
why should it be so 1 If men were as eidight(UU'd as
David it would not be so. Is not tlie ])urj)ose of God
pressing thi'ough the ages as certainly now as in the times
ot the son of Jesse 1 Hath not (iod a peo])le — an Israel
— a ))rayerful host — now as surel}'^ as He had then I If
that Israel])eo])le is more spiritual and more scattered
than foi'inerly it is only that it may be more elfective and
more extensisely iidluential, it' God enunciated and
conserved Ilis Tiutli in ancient Isi-ael, He seeks to spread
it by His modern Isi'ael ; and if David's throni; was estab-
lished foi' God's Isiael's sake, why should the pros})erous
not reckon that thiii' ])i'osperity hath ])vv]\ given, or estab-
lished, in the same interest I \i' they do not, it is because
they stand aloof from the sacred i»eople, which is their

J. J. j^

DAVID.

flishonnur, or hecaiise thoy are imenlightonofl or apatlictie
in relation to God's purposes of mercy toward the e.irtli.
It Avere well that the ))n>spen)us should reconsider their
prosperity iu the li_i,dit ot" this suhject, ami that all, whether
j)rosperous or not, should renietnher that their history
ought to he ministerial rather than si'lt'-terminating — in
other words, every intidligent man shoidd seek to help on
as he may, the work of (Jod in the earth — a work wliich
we rei)eat runs through the ages. The ageiK^y of each
may he small — may he intiiutesimal — hut it ought to run
in the line of the divine pur|)os(»s.

And this leads me to notice, in I'clation to David : —

///. His fi'lcIHi/ in rt'Iafinn to fJic kin(jih)rii in the interests
nj irhich his throne hml heen estnUisJied.

Here observe, that the bent of a man's mind will be seen
by his first solicitude when he finds himself at leisure or
in possession of j)Ower. So long as circumstances control
liini you cannot detennine deciile(lly what he sui>remely
wishes ; but let him, by the ac(piisition of wealth, or by
the removal of checks and hindrances, })e free to choose,
and you will forthwith have indications of his true char-
acter. If vicious, he will speedily throw himself into
vicious pursuits and vicious companionshi[)s. If viituous,
he will seek virtuous associations, and turn to some ap-
jiropriate undertaking or puisuit. i\Iore particularly, if
he delight in pictures, or in books, or in landscajte garden-
ing, he will take immediate ste)»s to fui'iiish his gallery,
or his libraiy^ or to have his parks and pleasure grounds
improved or extended, as the case may be. This, then,
is one way by which Ave learn to know what a man is.
Another way is, to mark his history, and to notice what
is the ever-recurring and persistent purpose of his heart,
lie may often seem to act inconsistently. He may even
be forced out of his chosen chainiel fiom time to time,
but ever he will find his way back again, and })ress on in
one direction. There may be eddies in his progress, and
unexpected turns, as in the case of a river, but still the
stream of his history moves on, and is not to be per

' _

:':

i V

' .

TlfF, D^N'ASTV OF [)AVin.

!; 8

Tuanontly altcnMl Ly oltstaclos lyina; in his -way. Whon,
tliorcforo, we can ixtccInc sonic (nri'-T-ccin'rinij:; solicitude
in any man's liistory, Ave tliei'cl)}' nndcrstaiid his chai'iU'ter,
even tiion^li that character may liave miicli ahout it that
is, on a hinitcd inspection, inconsistent with itself: that
is to say, ])ersistency manifests charact<'r as well as a first
free and voluntary act A. third way of jud;^in:L( of char-
acter is — the ari'an,L;ements a man makes at his death.
These, if in liaiinoiiy with his ])revious history, indicate
very decidedly the supreme solicitude of his heart. Of
course, a man m.iy make ari'an,i;einents in relation to his
property at his death very difleivnt fioin th<' complexion
oT is life. In that case, the ari'anu'cment only indicates
fear, or siiperstition, or interested influence over him hy
others ; hut wlu-n the ai"ran<j;ement is spontaneous, and
ill >cco(viaiice with the lifediistory, it pjives further evi-
(h'lice of the state of the heart.

Now, jndi^e of ^)a^■i(^s fidelity to the interests of Israel,
and to his sense of the ndnisterial character of his royalty,
by these tests, and you will find, we fanc}", something
both to he admired and imitated.

In tli(> Jirst i)lac(^ : What was his immediate solicitu(h>
on findini;' himself securely enthroned on the heiiiiits of
Zion I What was the first public care that occupied him
when his rivals of the house of Saul were icmoved and
his persistent enemies, the Philistines, effectually sub-
dued ? Was it some selfish gratification, or some personal
ambition I Was it some grand display to daz/le the mind
of his subjects, and to impr<'ss upitn them his own glory
and greatness 1 Not at all ! It was the upbringing of
the Ark of God from Baale (or Baalah) of -Judah (or
KhjatJi-jfarim). Now that liis cai>ital was fixed, ho
W(Md(l, as the first exercise of his nndisputed royalty,
have the symbol of the Divine presence enshrined there.
For this }»ur{)ose, he gathered together the chivali'v of
Israel — even thirty thousand men — and they commenced
the procession with sacred gladness iv\Ci varied music:
" All the house of Israel pla} cd befon^ the Lord on all
manner of instrnnients made of fir wood — even on harps,

ii^

DAVID.

and on psaltorios, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on
ovrnbals." True, he and they were arrested by tlie sud-
den death of Uzzah, who, for irreverence and unper-
mitted Hberties witli th? sacred siijn, was smitten of the
Lord, and died ])y tlie ark ; but tliat did not vitiate tlie
intention of David. It checked his zeal, but it did not
falsify his h)yaU.y. It was nu\ant, too, to remind liim of
an o\<'i'si-;ht, l)Ut not to disown his sei'vice. In the cn-
iji(»ssmeiits of ])ubli(' affairs he had ovei'looked the special
diiettions i;iven l)y (Jod Himself as to the manner of carry-
ing tlie ark. It was set on a new cart, when it ought to
ha\(' been l)oi'ne liy the Levites. Still, the int"ntion of
l)a\ id was loyal. He meant to honour the (Jod of Israel ;
ami he meant to unite the trilx'S of Israel around the
symbol of the Divine presence, as well as around his own
throne. He Avas willing to liave his own royalty over-
shadowed by the presence of a higher royalty ; nay, he
was desirous of meiging his own glory as king in the
greater glory of the (Jod of Israel. An earthly-minded
and self-seeking king would have preferred to leave the
aik in obscurity while he gathered the gloiy of the tril)es
ai'ound himself; or, if he brought the ark to his capital
at all, it would have been to increase his own glory l»y
subordinating its ordinances and ministrations to his
])olicy. But it was not thus with I)avid, He acknow-
ledged his elevation to be of God, and in the interests of
(iod's p(>o])le ; and while he wished to associate the ai'k
of ( Jod with his throne and capital, it Avas in acknowledg-
ment of the supremacy of the God of Israel, and of the
sultordi nation and ministerial character of his own gov-
ernment. Here then was one decided evidence of his
lidelity. We have a

iSfCdiid, In his persistency as to purpose. Though
turned for the moment from his undertaking — l)y tin^
death of Uzzali, he was not permanently so. So soon as
his mind recovered its tone after that startling event, he
resumed his jiurpose. He made new arrangements for
having the ark brought to Jerusalem, and placed in
the tabernacle which he had prepared for it. And the

JU:

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID,

iip-TniiiifinG; was a joyous as avcII as a solomn ocrnsion. — •
It is said that " David and all tlio house of Isi'acl hroiiij^ht
up the ark of iIk; fjOid with shoutiii,^' and ^ith the sound
ot the ti'uni]»('t." Nor did he att<'iM[)t to niaice capital
out of the occasion in the way of seiuiin,::^ honour to hini-
.sf'lf. Instead of this, he actually danced hefoi'e the ark,
as an humble attendant, <i;irde(l with a linen ephod. A
self-centred monarch would have l»een himself a con-
s])icuous object in the procession — drav.ini^ as much at-
tention and admiration from the exciteil nndtitude as
possible, but David was content to be iidthinu:; on the
occasion, that the entire interest might gather ar(.)und the
ark of the (Jod of Israel ; nay, be was content to minister
himself in a hundde ])osition to the glory of the Lord.

Then, bis solicitude concerning the ark of the Loid did
not stoi here. Ibning secure<l its presence in bis ca]»ital,
be was struck with the dis[)arity l»etweeu its a( ct-mmoda-
tion and bis own. " I dwell," said he to Nathan, " in a
House of cedar, but the ark of (rod dwelleth within cur-
tains." This, to the min<l of David was unseendy and
incongruous. Had he felt himself to be first and tlie ark
second, it ba<l been })ro])er enough, l)ut be felt rather that
bis throne was suboi'tlinate wbile the symltol of God's
presence was preeminent. His next solicitude was, there-
fore, to 1)uild an house for the aik of the Lord, surpass-
ing and outshining his own palace, as far as be possibly
could make it. lie was checked in this ])urpose, as you
know ; but, did be thencefortb dismiss the thought of
any further honour to the ark of the Lord ? Not at all.
If be could not build the house, he could make prejiar-
ations for its erection. Informed that his son would
build it, he set aside the spoils of his wars and the suiplus
of his revenue with a view to the great undertaking. A
worldly minded ruler wo\dd have accumulated the treasui^e
for its own sake, oi' spent it for bis own glory; but David's
su})reme solicitude was to honour God, an-l to subserve
the i)urposes of God's grace among men, and therefore he
consecrated his wealth to the undertaking — which he might
not himself accomplish. But for his j^iG-tminent de-

DAVID.

votodiips?!, ho would liavo left Solomon to find tlio means
of l»nildinix the T(.'nii)le iiimself. Yoii see thus that he
was faitht'ul to the God ot" Isi'ael, l)y whom his throne had
heen estal)lished. His devotedness was neitiier tempor-
ary nor discontinued. His deviations from rectitude
mi'dit be (were indeed) serious, hut the bent of his history-
was heaverily and disinterested. And the third test is
equally decisive : That is,

TJiirdhj, the arrangements he made a year or two he-
fore his death. These were still in keeping with his life-
IdUg solicitude concerning the ark of the Loi'd. He call-
ed Solomon, his son and successor, and, having enjoined
on him to attend to the statutes and judgments which
the Lorl charged Moses with concerning Israel, he deliv-
ci'cii himself thus : — " Now, behold, in my trouble I have
prcpare(l for the house of the Lord an hundred thous-
and talents of gold, and a thousand thousaiul talents of
silver ; and of l)rass and iron without weight ; for it is in
abundance: tind)er also and stone have 1 })repared ; and
thou mayest a'kl thereto. jVIoreover there are woikmen
with thetjin abundance, hewers and workers of stone and
timber, and all manner of cunning men for every manner
of work. Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the
ii'o)i, there is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing,
and the Lord be with thee." (1 Chron. xxii., 14 — IG.)—
The King commanded the Princes also to help Solomon
in the great and })ions undertaking.

See, then, how completely the zeal and fidelity of Da-
vid arc vindicated : — his first solicitude after tlie estab-
li>hmciit of his throni! was fbi' the honour of God — his
]M'rsislent sidicituik; through lil'e was for the honour of
God — his latest solicitude and directions were still for the
honour of (,!od. lie wished, with a view * this honour
for ''the building of a house for the ark of the Loi'd
which should be exceeding magnificent, of fame, and of
glory, throughout all countries," and he devoted uii/llons
of n-iidtli for the purpose, as well as employed workmen
to }trei)are stones and other materials for the undertakinrr.
David had his faults, and they were serious faults too;

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

I f

but iKilt'-licartcdiR'ds in tlu' ^^ervicl^ of Guil was not on<i of
tlicni. Tlu'ic are who oljlrndo his faults on <il)stM'vation;
hill tlicy, who do so. art' cai't'fid to for^'ct all the evidence
his hisioiy furnishes of uiu; h»yalty to tln' interests of
Israel and of lleaxcn : and such, we fancy, will he found
wantini;- when hron,t;ht into comparison with him Ite-
fore the ^leat white throne. Will they, think you,

he liiunt

I to 1

ia\'e sii).)scr\e(

d th

puri

)oses o

f 11

eav(!n, as

David did ( Will tlu-y he found to have thrown all their
solicitudes into tiie advancement and estahli^hment of
(jod's kingdom in the earth, as 1 )avid did I Will they
be found to ha\t' thrown all their we;dth and ac<'umula-
tiuris iiiio the treasury of God, as Da\id did i Will they
be f)U:ul to have manifested asupri'meand i)ersisteni re-
artl tct the unity and glory, and piety <J' Isratd, as Da-

vid did { We 1

ear m

)t. ]Sur will it be better in thi.-

respect with many who ai'e co

ntent to meru'O David's

faults in his excellences, and wdio claim him as a fellow-
servant. It will be seen concei'uing them also, that tluy
have not ministered of their means, or of their abundance,
either to the unity of God's people, or to the extension of
His truth — (not, at least, in any full stream of lov
concurrence) — after the numner of Davul.

niu

Nor hit it be said, that Dn.vid's case was peculiar.

une are snnilar cases ui moilern tunes.

wo s

tril

^e us

now. Cai'ey, the great missionary, had an ample income
from r;o\-eriiment, as Professor at Fort A\'illiam. He took
a small })ittance for his own maintenance, and devoted
all the rest to the cause of God. It was not with hii

tritli

V to the cause of (rod and the wsi for self, but, a
trille for sell' and tlu- rest for the cause of God. Thomas
Gouge again, w ho li\"ed in the seventetMith centuiy, gave
two-thirds of his income, as widl as his [)ersonal ext-rtions.

to the advancenKuit of I'ducation in Wah

He had

X3')0 a year: he gavt; £'200 of it in the service of Hc>aven
ami humanity. But the whole matter lies in the state (jf
the heart — he that lovelh little will give little, wdiile he
who lu\ eth much will uut be content willi small u'ivinus !

DAVID.

ft ono of
TNiitictn;
!vi(U'nc(i

LU'C'StS (»f

)e found
liim 1)0-
iik you,
;i\(;n, as
all their

lUU'llt of

ill they

■cuuuila-

-'ill they

stent rc-

, as Da-

in this

David's

I fellow-

liat they

mdanee,

iisiou of

loving-

)e(.'uliar.

like us

income

le took

le voted

th hiui,

f, but, a

1 honias

y, .i^ave

ell ions,

ie had

llea\'en

slate (_)f

lile he

living's i

QUESTIONS OX DAVID.

To what oiuiuuuee did David ultiaiatuiy attain i

He became uudispiitevl master ill Israel. Jle tixed hi.s
cajjital on Mount Zion, and all the tribes gathered loy-
al 'y around his throne.
What was the sentiment of Nebueha(ln(;zzar when he t'DUiul
himself uiuUsiiuted master in Babylon i
Pride anu self elation. "Is this not great Babylon," said
he, "which I have built for tlie house of tlie kingdom,
by the might of my power, and for the honour of my
majesty."
Is it not very generally with the lloyal and the Imperial as
it was with Nebucliadnezzar I
History seems to say so: — Whether Persian, Maoedonian,
Koman or Modern.
But was it so with David in the heights of Mount Zion (
No : Ids convictions were those of a man who lecognised
a i)ower higher than his own.
What did he perceive conceriung his royalty /
That it was of God and not merely by his own prowess
or genius.
Had not his own prowess and prudence contributed to the re-
sult i
Certainly : but he saw at the same time, that a wider
wisdom than hi.s own had made tlie necessary cumbina-
tious and secui'ed success to his agency.
And what did he understand to be the oliject of God in mak-
ing him king i
Tu prouKjte the interests of Israel : " He perceived that
God had made him king for His people Israel's sake.
Was his reign in acccn-daiice witli this [)erceptiou i

For the most part it was : — He fought the batUt-;? of Is-
rael — he arranged according to divine directioii i nc wor-
shi[j of Israel — and he made it his supreme care t(j pre-
pare for the erection of a su[)erl) Temple as a centre of
wi>rship for the sacred tribes of Israel.
What are the lessons wliich this style of feeling and acting
on the [)art of D.ivid when crowned with success siiould
teach to successful men {
A uDdest estim ltd oi tlioir own agency in relation to their
success, and a desire to understand how God would iiave
theui use tlieir actiuisitions in His service.

! : i-

\'.:

TTIE DY^TASTY OF DAVID.

f, !

I I

Is it tisnally tliiis witli anccossfiil men ?

We fciir not : too niiuiy such attrihnto their success to
their own skill or sagacity, and, forgettini,' their niinia-
terial rt;H|)(insil)ililit;s, employ their ac([nisitions for ' '
•^ratilication of tlieir own iminoiirs or aniliitiotis.
What in that case is tlieell'ect of their success on theirnaturo
and history ?
Tt re-acts disastrously npon both, Tt deliases the one
and darkens tlu^ other. Fn the languaL(i' of Sri'ipture,
"They sow to the flesh, and of the Uesh they reap currup-
tion.
What on the other hand is the elfect, or re-action, of pros-
perity, when successful men regard themselves as
sei'vaiits and stewards of (lod ?
The use they make of tlieir wealth in that ease ennoldes
their nature and l)riL,ditens their history : "They sow to
the spii'it, and of tlie s^iirit they reajt life everlasting."
To what extent was David enlightened as to the purposes of
(;od i
He knew that the Holy One had chosen a people f i
aruong the nations witli a view to ulterior [)rocee<.l
Me knew most of tlu; miraculous history (»f the ]»eo^..^,
and he ruminated upon the miraculous history contin-
iially. He knew also, that aii illustrous Triest and king
was yet to arise among that peoi>le to bring ahout the
times of universal benediction promised to Abraham :
" In thee and in thy seed, shall all the nations of the
eai'th be blesstul."
What is noteworthy in this enlightenment on the part of
David I
That he entered thereby into the thonghts of God — not
oidy in relation to his own royalty, but alst) in relation
to the pco[)le over whom he ruled, and to the entire
world indeed through th;u peoi)le.
Is such enlightenment conui.on among Rulers now ?
Far from it : Rulers generally overhxjk the fact that
(Jod hath a people in tiie earth, iind that through that
people He is seeking to prepare the nations for their high-
er destinies.
What is that too, in relation to their office, which Rulers very
generally foi'get >.
Its ministerial and responsible character : they very
generally think that the resources of the nation are for
their aggrandisement, and not that their ollice is for the
good of the nation.

DAVTD.

What aro s<inio of tho hiuI Cdrisuquonct's of this :uistako oil
the part of UiiK'r.s /
Ojipri-ssioii, I'Xiu'ti.iii, rev. "Ih and cfiicl wroii'^'s. If IJiilt-rH
wtic awiiif, lil<i! l);i\iil, tliat a diviiiL' iiiir|Mi.su iiiiih
tliioii'^li thu a,i(L'M, and tliat that |Mii'p(»si,! Hhapos itself in
Hoiiic nirasiirc hy thi? au'i'ncy '>f a flinscn |i(M»pU% wuidd
they pL'i'srcutc or .siiiv in hrihi; lli;it chust-n pi!t)ph', as
they HO often do ^ No inchjud : thi-y would not (hiru to
inirrfi'i'c witli ho inipnftant and hi> nai-ivd an aucnc-y.
iJnt'S this snhji'ft of i-nlii^hti'mm-nt an (o the purposcH of (lod
Ix'lon;^ to ordinary men as well as to kini^s '.
Certaiidy ; it is inipoi-tant that all should know that
(jiud hath a ]iet'uliar people anionic men tliat tlu! tril)i'S
of that pi'euliar peo[»le are led l>y Immannel -that the
intluenee of that peofdo at the court of lli-aveii is avail-
ing—and that that peo[)le eonstitute, in CDnneximi with
their ^L^reat chief, (liod's con.secr.i ted host for the rect ili-
eatioii of the wurld.
And is it enough meri'ly to know that there is such a people I
No: (!Very man to wlmm tiie testiiiiMuy of (iod coiin's is
under obligation to join this people, and to help on thoii*
great i)inp((se.
Isit necessary for che poor and the unintluential as well as
for the niling and the successful to do so >
Yes: every intelligent IjeiuLT, however Innnhle, ought to
help on as he may the work of CJod in the earth.
How did David show his zeal for the cause of (»od on his tind-
ing himself established in his kingdom >.
By his ])rom[>t attempt to bring np the ark of (Jod to
his ca[tital thus, marking the suboJ'dination of his throne
to the God of Israel.
He failed in the attempt, as you know. H(nv did he furtlier
show his devotedness /
By renewing the attempt soon after : and especially by
his humble and worshipful bearing on the occasion.
How next did he manifest his enlightened zeal for God's
piu'poses in Israel i
By pro[)osing to build a Temple of unusual magnificenco
for the ark.
When ai-rested in this by Nathan, how did lie still more
strikingly manifest his suiireme and persistent solicit-
ude forthe honour of God and the unity of the tribes ?
By putting aside all the spoils of his ci>n<piests, and by
making other large and long preparations fur the build-
ing of the Temple by his son,

.•,;|.

TTTE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

While vre (leplorc Da.vi(Vs fmilta, is it right to overlook
the evidence of his iirevjiiliiit^ fidelity and devotedness?
Assnn^dly not ; they do injnstico to him Avho obtrude
his faults while they merge his disinterestedness and un-
waveiiny zeal for (rod.
Are there any similar cases f)f unstinted devotion to the
cause of (Jod in modern times ?
Yes : Carey, for exami)le, in the last age, and Thomas
Gouge in the 17th century.
What chieily determines the rate of giving to the cause of
Cod?'
The state of the heart. They who love much will give
accfU'dingly.
What in few words are the lessons to he learned from this
view of David's sentiments and character /
That success is of God — and that the successful ought to
use their acc][uisitions in the interests of Cod's Israel.

soLo^rox.

II. SOLOMON.

" And the Lord wai an'^TV "•'ith Solomon, becanae his hoart

was turned from tlie Lord (rod of Israei, which had appeared

to him twiee, and had eonim imh' 1 liim con(n'i'nin,' thi-i tliin^'

f that lie sliould not tro aftt'i' other i^'ods : l)ut hi' krpt not that

Y wliieh thi' I,ord coniinanih'(l. Wli.'ri-fore the ijovd rtaid unto

j*l' Si>lon\on, ' Fora'^^Mueh. as this i><doneof thcf, and thou lia^t not

\i l<ept my covenant and my statntes, whicli I have commanded

A) tiiee, I will snrely rend the kin^'doii> from thee, and will x-ive

^^ it to thy ser\ant.' '"—(I. KinLCs, xi., 'J, 11.)

,T is not safe to judiio of mf.i, or of tlieir

Iiappinoss, l)y apjx'ai'am'es. This every ono

knows in words. Imt vei'v many disre^'ard it

in fact. Th(\voui\L;, (\<])ecially, fancy that the

rich iTiust h(^ liJippy, and lia])py because of their

M . riches. Thev foriii't or oveilook the unseen ele-

'T[^ ments that belong to the question, and attach an

unibie importance to the one element that addresses

itself to their observation.

Solomon is a striking instance of this. Tie was
distinguished in his day l)y his wisdom, and l)y the
splend(»nrs of his court. Kings and ciiiefs came
jf from all the regions around Palestine, (or sent their
A ambassadors) to behold his grandeur, and to listen
4 to his utterances. His palaces were superb ; the
i Tem])le of Jeliovah, built by him, was pre-emin*'nt
among human erections, ibr its golden beauty and mag-
nificent site. He !iad added ornamental bui Mings besi(h^«;
all around his ca])ital (to say noi-liing of Tadmor in Hie
wilih'rness) ; and all his a[)[)ointments, as to shiidds and
thi-(»nes, and drinking vc^ssels, and horses and chariots,
Were of the most co>tly description. Ilis. indeeil. would
soeni to have been the golden age, ami himself the must
sumptuous of monarchs.

!' mm

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

i I

i^' }

If riclios and splendour could secure happiness, then
Solonidii must be re^^ardcd as hap])y ; and, viewed i'r()m
a human ])oiiit of slight, lie was i^ally jx'onounced to be
so by his coiitcni|)oiai'ifS. 'J'lit' C^)ue('u of .Shcl)a ,^ave utter-
ance to the convietKju of his numerous visitors when she
exclaimed in his presence, " Happy are thy men (O
King I) and haji}»y are these thy servants, which stand
continually before thee, and that hear ■"' wisdoiu !"
This Avas but an indii'ect aud delicate a y of saying,
"]ia)»py art thou, (J Solomon !"

Such was this prince as seen to the eye ; he Avas the
greatest and hai)piest of nu-n : and yet at the very
time an nn.-ieen chiud rested U2)on him. Th*' frown of
Jehovah daikeiied all his glory. If men, dazzled by the
visible, and but i)ai'tially iulbrmed, pi'onounced him
hai»py,the enlightened servant (jf the Divine judged and
decided otherwise. The gland essential of liapi)iness
was not the!i his. The comi»lacency of the Eternal was
not resting lik«; sunshine upon his heart. On the con-
trary, " The Lord was angry with Solomon." It is not
pleasant to live under the anger of a fellow-mortal, how
much less pleasant — (nay, how ])ositively painful !) to
live under the frown of the Almighty ! The admiration
of the C^ueen of Sheba, was a small set-off against the
disi)leasure of God. Pity for Solomon ! We would
have expected better things concerning him, had we
known only of his conduct and })rayer at the dedicati(jn
of the Temple. And how weak is human nature, when
so wise and so promising a king shouhl have so far for-
gotten himself as to incur the anger and disapprobation
of his father's Almighty Friend.

In further lujticing this prince, we shall remind you
of the reasons of God's displeasure with him — ^ f the sad
consequences of his folly — and of the use of his story to
us.

/. 'The reasons oj God's displeasure leith Solomon.

These were, in general, the countenance and encourage-
ment he gave to idolatry. He not only tolerated idola-

SOLOMON.

tP^iis worship in Jernsal(>m (and tliis had l"»eon V)ad
entingh), he actually enicaLjcd in such vv'orship himself.
'' He went after Aslitoretli, tlu^ (Joddess of the Zidniuans,
and after Milconi, the ahonunation of the Amniniiites :"
Nay, more, " lie built an hii;li place f(»r Cheniosh, the
aliouiiuation of Moah, in tin? hill that is Ixd'on' Jerusa-
lem, aud for ^loloeli, the ahnuunatiou of the childnui of
Amnion : and likewise did he for all his stran_iL;"e wives,
wliich l>ui'nt incense aud sacrificed unto their ;4'ods." I
su]>[»osc he would think this A\'as liberality on his part,
and a proof of that superior wisdom for which he was
fame(l. It is thus at least with many woulibbe-wise ones
in our own day. They }>ut truth and error on the same
foot iiu;, and crv out aLrainst those who olniM't to their
action as bi^^oted and narrow-minded. They pride
ihemselves in being free from what they regard old-fasli-
i(tiied prejudices, and fail to perceive that their fancied
liberality in n-lation t(j error, is really injustice and trea-
son in relation to truth. The earth-born has no riirht to
he ])Ut iiixui the same footing with the heaven-descended,
and Solomon at least was in circumstances to know the,
(lili'ereiice. He knew very well that the (;Tod of Israel
was the true God, and that no god could confer benefits
or answer prayer save Jehovali Himself alone. He knew
this, not merely tlie(»retically and historically : he kmnv
it by personal experience as well : and, therefore, he was
the more; inexcusal»Le in his defection. Hi; built high
places for false gods in the very presence of the Temple
of the true God, and thereby diminished the glory that
ought to liavi^ been su[)i'enie in Jerusalem ; ami, thereby
also prepared the way for division and confusion, and
every evil work, where only unity and harmony, antl the
fruits of righteousness, ought to have l)een found. No
wonder that God was angry with liim. Even as an indi-
vidual, apart from the res})onsil)ilities of his position, his
ceiiduct was unworthy and base ; but it becomes far
more reprehensible, and even ab()minal)le, when you con-
sid(n' his position, his privileges, and his distinctions.
Think yiVo>/, of his obligations as the favoured one of

TTTE DYXARTY OF DAVTD.

Gofl.

God had ap])pai'e(l to him twice." God had

. ;

departed in liis favour from His ordinai'V style of dealin<
"with men. Only eiKh-avour to iv^dise the fact : the
Aui;nst One who dwclh^th not in teinph's mach' M'ith
hands, and wliose over-flowin_ti; j^lory is such, that the
heavens of heavens cannot contani it, — this ^i^rcat and
August One liad actually deigned t(5 comnume with Solo-
mon individually, lie appeared to Solomon in Gihcon,
in a di'eam by ni.ijht, and said, " Ask what 1 shall <;'ive
id wlien Solomon asked wisdom to ru'(\ He said,

the-^

" Jjehold, I. have done accordin_ii; to thy words. Lo, I
have given thee a wis(> and an understandins; heart, so
that theix^ was nonc^ like thee liefore thee, neither after
thee shall any arise like unto thee : and 1 Irne also j^ivcu
thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches nnd
honour : so that there shall not be any amonti; the km(>;s
like unto thee all thy days." Such was (JimI's tirst ap-
pearin,^ to the favoured kin^ti; : and he ajipeannl a second
time to b.iui alter tlu^ dedication of the Temple, and
assured him of His continued regard : and the Lord said
unto him, " I have heard thy ))rayer and thy supplica-
tion, that thou hast made Ix'fore m(> : 1 have hallowed
this house wliich thou hast built, to put my name there
for ever : and mine eyes and my heart shall be there per-
petually."

iSow, what miij;ht be expected from Solomon after tliis ?
was it a meet rctui'n on ins ]iart that he should l)ecom^
indifferent to the Tem])le, where God had promised to
have His eyes and His heart continually 1 Still more,
was it a meet return to build opposing shrines in the
very presen-e (*f that Temple 1 Was it not rather in-
gratitude — shameful, indescribable ingi-atitude ? Though
God had bestoAved on him no such kindness, and no such
distinction, as that of appearing to jum personally, it had
been ungrateful ui him to have acted so, considei-ing what
God liad done foi- his nation and for his fath(>r's house;
but, wdien you add his peisfjual obligations to his national
and ancestral obligations, you cannot but perceive his
enormous ingratitude. A\'hy .should he of all men prove

SOLOMON.

rerroant and for2;ptfiil in relation to divine condoscen^sion
and kindness 1 Why shonld he, the most favonred man
of Old Testament tinu'S, he nnmindi'nl of his lieavenly
Benefactor 1 O, why should Solomon insult tiod I One
would have thou.^ht that such conduct would have been
impor;sil)h> in his case. Listening to him in his earlier
and better days, when he so gracefully and devoutly
dedicated the Temple in the midst of his hiyal and re-
joicing people, we would liave thought that tlu' absurdi-
ties and abominations of Idolatry could never have ap-
peared to him other than rej)ulsive and offensive I And
we would have ex])ected, and especially in view of God's
special kindness and condescension to himself, if tempted
to ])ati'onise the shrines of idols, he would have exclaim-
ed, in the language of Joseph, " 0, no ! Other men may
listen to you in this matter, but for me, so fully informed
of the truth, and so specially favoured and honoured 1)y
the Cod of Israel, the thing is impossible ! Wliilo
memory lasts, I can never forget the visions and the
promises of the Almighty : and, so long as these remem-
brances fill my consciousness, you ask in vain from me
any tiling that would dishonour His name. He is n)y
(lud, and I am His servant-king ; and no shiine shall
arise in my kingdom, so long as I rule, to dim the glory
of His Temple ! I can never honour Him enough for
His distinguishing goodness to me, and 1 would not be
found ungrateful for His mercies."

This, 1 say, we miglit have expected in the case of
Solomon : but what instead do we find I Why, base
and scMiseless defection, — shameful forgetfulness I — inex-
cusalde trifling I His heathen wives wish one thiuG;. and
his divine Benefactor wishes ant)ther : he yields to his
wives, and forgets his Benefactor I \\'ithout benefiting
his wives, he dishonours his matchless Friend, and lays
himself open to the charge of dark and inexcusal)le in-
gratitude. The heathen, who know Ood's eternal power
and glory only l\v creation, are said to have been vithmit
exrvse when they sought false divinities, what then can
be said in extenuation of Solomons Idolatry, who not

1:1,

1 ^

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

: ' '

only knew God as revealed to Moses, and in the history
of his nation, hut wlio also knew Ilim l)y personal inter-
course and iiit'\iiressil»l(! favours ? No lau^ua^c can ex-
press the turpitude of his (h'fcction, or ade(|uately repre-
sent all his ciiniinality. But thiid-c —

SecoinUij, of tiie chai'^^e committed to him as the king
of Clod's people. In tin. capacity (I mean as king in
Israel), he had two iiuportant things to care al)out ; —
the one was the honour of (Jod, who had chosen him to
the kingdom ; and the other was the peace and hannij.iy,
aud imi»ro\-enieiit of liis suhjects. In relation to the
tirst of these, viz — the honour of Clod, he nuist steadily
keep in view the ])eculiarity of the kingdom ovei' whicli
he }»resides. It is the kingdom of Clod as distinguishetl
fr(jni all tlu; kingdoms of nu n. It is a kingdom meant
hy Ilim who selected and located it, to he a i)rotest
against the Idolati-\ and unrii-hteousnessof all surrounding!;
and contem})oraiy kingdoms. It is a kingdom meant to
revi'al to men tin; supremacy, the holiness, and the mercy
of the true God. Nay, it is i kingdom meant to piepare
for the illumination of all nations and all times ! A
kingilom whose ultimate ]»ur[)oses were the incarnation
of the Son of God, as a di\'ini'. and com])etent Saviour,
and the utter and ahsolute abolition of Idolatry and un-
riiiliteousness fi'om all the continents and islands of the
earth ! All this Solomon knew, in a measure, from the
writings of Moses, and from the sacred compositit^ns of
his father — com})ositions in ]»er[)ctual use in the worship
at the Tem}>le ; and all this he ought to have kept before
his mind. And accordingly, knowing this, his first great
solicitude, as king of this kingdom, ought to have l)een
to kee]) his kingdom entirely and saci'edly free from
Idolati'}'. Then, his second great solicitude ought to
have been the ])eace, the harmony, and the religious im-
provement of his people. It was by these that the
imnu'diate i)urposes of the king<lom were to be brought
about. It was by these that the nations were to be
taught the beauty and the superiority of true rtdigion.
It was by the exemplification of unity and heavenly

SOLOMON.

virtue that blindod nations wore gradually to be -won
fi'(Mii the dc,<:;radation,s and miseries of Idolatry. These
Idinded and idolatrous nations could not themselves at-
tain to unity, tor they had loi'ds many, and gods many ;
but Isratd had one only, all-suflicient, almighty centre,
and therefore might be expected to furnish an illustra-
tion of religious and social unity, and so of virtue and
excellence. ; the bliiKh'd and idolatrous nations could
never attain to these, seeing that tluMr very gods were
the patrons of innnorality and defilement : but the peo-
ple i»f the true God might attain to no small degree of
excellence under the heavenly and quickening influences
to which, as the ]")eo)de of the one tiaie (Jod, they were
subjected. And it was for Solomon to see to this mat-
ter ; and that, not only in tlu; interests of Israel, but
also in the interests of the world. He must promote, as
far as he possibly could, that exemplification of true
I'eligion and righteousness which was meant to enlighten
the darkened, divided, and wandering ti'ibes of men.

You see thus the charge committed to Solomon as
king of (rod's people ; he nuist us(i his authority to keep
Idolatry out of the king<lom ; and he nuist usa his influ-
ence and resoui'ces as king to promote the unity and
religious progress of his people.

iS'ow, how did he dischai'ge those duties 1 Was lie
faithful or was he unfaithful in relation to them ? He
was unfaithful in the veiy highest degi'ee. Instead of
attending to th(^ honour of (lod, and maintaining (.iod's
exclusive rights in Isi-aid, he actually himself Ix'came an
idolator, as ah'eady stated ; and, not satisfied with going
after other gods, he used his royal resouices to build i'ov
these other gods shrines in the sacred territory. He
taxed the people of (lod to l.)uild altars for the en(>niies
of God. He used the resources of the sacred kingdom
in the interests of the very irreligion which that king-
dom was meant to op]>ose. His fault was no common
fault, you perceive. It was not sim])ly a case of unfaith-
fulness ; it was unfaithfulness doulded and comi)licated.
It was using the resources placed at his disposal as king,

! i

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

to sub\'i;rt the very ])urpose.s of his royalty. No wonder
that God was angry with him ! Any man would be
deeply angry with a fav(jured servant, who not only dis-
regarik^d his master's interests, l)ut actually stole his
master's money U) give to his mastcjr's enemies, that
these enemies mitilit l.»e the better able to subvert his
master's most cherished purposes I Any man would
frown upon a trusted subordiiuite who proved himself
not only indillerent to the peace and unity of the I'amily
of his superior, but who actually gave himsc^lf to pi'ac-
tices which necessitated the disunion and dishonour of
that household. And this ^^olomon did in relation to
Israel. He gave himself to Idolatry, and that on a scale
that is })erfectly astounding. It was not merely one
idolatry that he countenanced ; it was many. He built
shrines for the abomination of the Zidonians — for the
abomination of Amnion — for the abomination of ^Vloab
— and for other stranii't! urods. Wonder it is that he did
not, aniong all his saci'<;d en,'ctio .s, build an altar to
Dagon, the hsh-god of the Philistines. It was no want
of complaisance on his ])art if he did not. It only arose
from the fact that he luui not got a Philistine princess
among his wives. 0, but he was strangely and indescrib-
ably unfaithful to the charge committed to him in rela-
tion to God !

And he was not less unfaithful in relation to his sub-
jects. Instead of studying to promote their unity and
improvement, he took the most eifectual way to divide and
degrade tlu'in. Instead of i;athei'in'' them a;ouud the
Tem[)le, tluit they might exert an eidightening influence
on surrounding Idolatry, he actually brought Idolatry
into their midst — thus weakening their power of testi-
mony, and destroying their iulluence for good.

Besides, instead of using the resources of the kingdom,
which as king he was enabled to gather from all the
tribes, forthegt)od of Israel, he spent these resources on
himself He cared only for his own aggrandisement. He
gathered around him a disproportionate and extravagant
court. He multiplied to himself wives, and horses, and

SOLOMON.

all inanii(;r of luxurious equi])meiits. He acted as if
I^srael were nothiiiii;, and liiuiself everytliing, — or rather,
as if Israel had been made i'or him, and I'ur him ahjue.
Instead of endeavourin^i;; to till worthily the righteous
thr<.)ne of David, he became the sellishand oriental despot.
He laid heavy taxes on his |)eoi)le to maintain his extra-
Aagance. Instead of })ressing lit^hlly on his subjects, as
any wise ruler would do, and securing theii loyalty by
consideration and moderation, he liad them, at the period
of his death, at the very pcnnt of rebellion by his excessive
exactions. What think you of the wisdom of this wisest
of men I Surely you must acknowledge that his selfdove
had turned it into folly : and you cannot wonder that
God, who gave him that wisdom for the best of pui'poses,
should have been grieved and angry with him when He
saw His precious gift so shamefully perverted I But
think,

Thirdli/, of his privileges as to religious knowle<lge.
He was fully instructed, or, at least, he had the means of
being fully instructed, in tlu? mind and will of God —
wlio.-^e king he was. He had the writings of Moses, and
he was under obligation, as king, to make a copy of these
writings for himself, to read them continually, and to
regulat(; all his ways by their directions, and according to
their spirit. And lu^ was not uni'cminded of his duty in
this iesj)ect. His father David, when d\ing, urged him
to '' keej) the charge of the Lord, to walk in His ways, to
keep His statutes, and His commandments, and His judg-
ments, and His testimonies, as these were written in the
law of Moses," that he might make his way prosperous
and transuut a stable throne to his son : ancl God, the
great God Himself, had condescended to urge the same
course when He ap[)eared tt; him the s<'cond time — assur-
ing him l)esides, thac if he [)roved self-willed and disobe-
dient, he would even bring ab(jut the expulsion of Israel
from their pleasant inheritance, and the overthrow of the
beautiful Temple which he had been honoured to build.
Solomon was thus most impressivelv renunded of the
law which was to guide him, and of the unspeakable im-

' h

U.n

TlIK DYNASTY OF PAYIIJ.

portanrc of liis attending; to it. His (lyin^,' fallior ur^fd
it; and tlic coii(l(',s(.x'ii(liii<4- and unsearchable Ahiiit;hty did
so as WfU. W'liat more poweiful influences could have
Leen l)rou<^ht to hear upon him I And there was nothing
to ])i'event his converse with that written law : he was
neither uidtittei'ed nor nnintellectnal. He was, on the
contrary, a stud(;nt and a keen observer : and he had
ample leisure to attend to the sacred and ini]K)rtant
writings.

Now, he either read these writings or he did not. If he
did not, how inexcusable and uirked his indilference and
neglect. If he did read them, and yet flatly and habitually
disobey them, how monsti'ous ids presumi»tion ! W e may
almost surely assume; that he did read them, aiul yet
dai'ed to treat them as if they wei't' mere idle talk. In
some things, nay, in many things, he nnglit obey them,
because they crossed not his inclinati(jns or his jtride ; but
where his own humour was concerned, he violated theui
without sciup'e. lie acted as if he had a dispensing
power, or, as if the law had lieen made for others and not
for him. As king, he felt in his ])iiile that he was above
the law — that iu; was an exception to the connuon herd —
and that he might consult his own glory even in opposi-
tion to the divine directions. (!od had said exju'essly and
earnestly by Moses, that there was to be no intermarry-
ing between His covenante(l people and the worshippers
of idols : and yet Solomon, in the face of this interdiction,
loved many strange wives — women oi' the ^Lxiliites, Am-
monites, I'idomites, Zidonians, and Hittites ! lea, even
" of the nations concei-niiiii; which the Lord said unto the
chihlren of Israel, ye shall not go in to them, neither
shall they come in unto you ; for surely they will turn
away your heart after other gods. Solomon clave unto
these in love ! And he had seven hundred wives, princesses,
and three hundred conculnnes ! How thu-ed he, 1
wonder, in the face of such a prohibition, accumulate
such a harem, and of such materials i And how enor-
mous his egotism, as well as his presumption, in gather-
ing around liim such an establishment ! How blinded

SOLOMON,

l)y [)ii(lo and vain ostentation must liavc Ix'conio, in liis
latter years, this once wisest of men!

)Su('li was the exceeding unworthiness of SoloiiKin. I ft;
Avas ungrateful to a most condescending and unsearchable
Benefactor ! He was unfaithful in a position of loftiest
trust : and he was disohedieiit in relation to the very
highest authority ! No wondei', 1 i'e[)eat, that God was
augiy with him I Any one of tlies{^ faults was en(nigh to
justii'y (lisi)leasure ; hut when all were combined, an<l
that in the case of the most favoured of men, we can find
no words to express our conviction of his folly, or of th(!
anu)unt of dis|)leas\ire ' o which he laid himself open. And
that folly will yet more fully a[)pear as we notice its
effect on tlu; house of I)avi<i, and on the peo)>le of Israel.
(!od, indeed, tlireateued to dismendx'r the kingdom, and
to cast His ])eople out of His sight, and to overthrow the
Temple, if Sohuuon and his sons should act disobediently :
and it miiiht seem at iii'st si^ht that these things would
accrue fn nil iritliout, as it were, in the way of penalty and
jumishment ; but the ti'utli is, they arose from within,
that is, from the veiy folly of Solomon itself. And this
leads nu! to notice —

If. Tin' skjI ('(inffrqiicnccs of Solnuiiiiis CoHihirf..

See /7/-.v/, the case of liis peo[)le. They Avere in a state
of bitter dissatishiction at his (U-ath, and reaily for revolt,
as already observed. That dissatisfaction had been grow-
ing for years, and it cotdd no longer I)e I'epressed when
Ifehoboam ascended the throne. The tiui tribes esjx^ci-
ally deniaiuled, in unmistakable terms, a I'elaxation of
their l)ui'(h'us. The truth is, the old jealousy of i*4)hraim
against Jiulah had been thoroughly awakened by the self-
ish and extravagant administration of Solomon. It took
l)a\id seven years to harmonise the tribes, and to gather
them into one homogeneotis ])eopl(^ ; but Solomon undid
all the lal)oiu', and all the patience, and all the nuignani-
mity of his father in this matter. For the sake of his own
seltish aggrandisement, and for the gi-atitication of an
inordinate love of display, he overtaxed his subjects.

'iiii; itVNAsiv or i».\\ii).

<t])('iic(l ii[i old jealousies, and aroused resentful and reLel-
lioiis leeliii^^'s. It was the glory of David to gather the
trihes into one : it was the dishonour as Avell as theerinie
of Solomon to divide tluni into t\V(». I'y eonciliation
and (jon.sideration J)avid won upon the jealous ti'ilies and
left a consolidated enii»ire : hy pride and ojipression Solo-
mon dissolved the bonds that bound the tiilx'S into unity,
and left the kingdom in a st.ito of dislocation and dis-
mendieinient. David won his triumph in the face of
many hostile and obstructi\i' inlluences: Solomon bi-ought
about his dishonour in sj)ite of every conceivable intluence
in his favour. ^'es ; though his fathei's name Mas to
him a tower of strength — though his own surpassiiiLC
wisdom as a ruler in the iirst years of his adniinisti-ation
was the joy and boast of his subjects —though the mag-
nificent Tem]>le he had been enable(l to build surrounded
his name with glory, and furnislu'd a brilliant centres (»f
union for the tribes — though all these things were
in his favoui', he failed to leave a united and a satislied
people when he died. 1 lis exti'avagance and his sellish
ness had ruined all. 'i'lnis with his kingdom : 'J'hen
thiidc—

SccomUij, of his son. Instead of a spirit of conciliation,
liehoboam manifested a ^\nv\i of haughtiness and i)ride.
When asked to relax the burdens which his fatlier had
im])osed, he threatened to increase them. One might
have expected something like modesty, and a wise I'egard
to the voice of his subjects, in a young rulei- just taking
possession of his throne ; but there was no such thing
with Kehoboam. ][e treated his ])eople as if they hail
no riuhts ; ;ind he felt concerning himself as if he h 'd "a
riuht divine to govern wronsj;." He had no i ' a

right of judgment, or of interference with his .iiis-

tration, on the pait of his subjects : they had siu,^ v to
contribute toward his gi'audeur without complaint -no
matter how excessive the imposts ho might cause to
1)0 levied upon them. The possibility of any of the
tribes renouncing their allegiance never seemed to enter
his mind : and when ten of them deckirod themselves to

SOLOMON.

this cllrct, lie set liiiiiscll' to it'diici' them to siihjcctiini hy
i'dirt'. He was jUTcstcd in this, as yoii know, luit his
a(;tion,.so far as it went, only cniliittcivd the scccdt'd trihcs
tlir more, and fonfirnicd tiic disnicinlx'iincnt «.!" liis kin^,^-
(loin. What pity, we c-annt)t hi-Ij) cxchiiniini;, that lie did
not listen [o the counsel of the (»ld men, and nse •^entli;
words to the dissatislied tribes ! Jle niight thus have
l>i'eveiited tlio Schism ; and then, by a conciliatory and
economical adniinistration, he niiL;ht have undone the
mischief which his father's folly had occasi(jned, and
brought the tribes again into unity and loyalty.

JJut while wo grieve for his conduct, we can scarcidy
wonder at it when we think of his father's administration.
He had seen how Solomon treated and estimated his sub-
jects. Ht! had sec Injw the wealth of the nation had been
collected for }'ean to swell the i>oni[» of his father's estab-
lishment. He had learnt from his fitlier's example to
consider himself everything, and the nation nothing. It
had l)een strange if he had learnt moderation in the
ostentatious court in M'liich he had been brought up : and
still more strange had it been, if he had learnt t(j think
of the throne as established for the good of the commun-
ity. 0, no ! The community was out of the question
altogether — except as a means of sustaining the tlirom^
and pouring the results of its labour into the iup of him
who sat upon it. Solomon himself might have some lin-
gering notions of right in this matter — notions of
his better years not yet fully extinguished, but Ke-
liol)oam had none such. He accepted the practice
of his father as his rule, and not his i)recei)ts or
theoretic utterances. This, you know, is but tooconuuon
with young })eople. When their parents are partly wrong
and partly right, they adopt the wrong and drop the
right. Thus Solomon's folly and false estimate of his
po'iition rea})peared in Kehoboam Avithout any of the
lingering remains of those juster views which might still
cling to the ehler Sovereign. In one word, the style of
Solomon's court in the latter years of his reign almost
necessitated that haughty and unreasonable demeanour of

^\\

. . 'i i

■j

( ■ ■ ,.

w
^u

THE DYNASTY OF I)A\TD.

It('li()l)()am toward liis sul)jects Avliicli complctcil tlu; dis-
nu'inhennciit of tlie kingdom : tliat is to say, the dissatis-
faction of the tribes, and the lianghty sellislmess of tlie
your.p; king, are both to he traced to the same cause :
Soh)m()U was the fault in 1»oth cases. But the conse-
({uences of his folly (h) not terminate here : they extend
into sultsequent ages. Think —

Till nil 11, of his dynasty : or ratlier, of the dynasty of
David of which he was an im[)()rtant member. He de-
l)arted from the hiw of that dynasty. He introduced a
new style of action into the sacred and royal family : and
that, not only as to extravagance, but also as to worship,
— his h(Mrt went after other gods. David's mind was
single: Solomon's was not. What then might be ex})ected
in th.ci subse(|U(!nt occupants of the sacred throne 1 Kot
unifoi'in and consistent piety surely, after the (U'fection of
so im[)ortant a nu'udjer of the series. Evil you know is
more easily and more readily imitated than good ; and
what mor(! likely than that sul)se([uent and inferior kings
should imitate tlu; errors of Solomon rather than the pii'ty
of Davi('. ? Tiue, David was the proper type of the dy-
nasty, but Solomon's glory had in souk; measure eclipsed
the glory of his father : and their descendants, when
disposed to Idolatiy, would be very ready to take encour-
agement in their folly, and to excuse themselves for it, by
referring to the case of Solomon. Had that prince been
true to the David style of character, the joint inHuence of
father and son might have gone far to stamp the true
character on all the men^bers of the dynasty; but, l)y
being untrue and unfaithful, Solomon broke and weakened
the intluence for good, and gave encouragement to lax and
inconsistent courses in his succ(>ss(U's. And such was the
result in fact. JMost of his successors were tainted with
the evil of Idolatry, and some of tliem Avere fully
given to it : — Jehoram was so; and Aliax, and Anion,
and Zedekiah. Some one or two I'everted to the David
standard of piety, such as Hezekiah and Josiah ; but it
was only by s})ecial divine grace that it was so — grace
counteracting the natural intluence of Salomon's folly over

♦

SOLOJIOX.

tlic cli.iracter and history of his (IcsccniLints. Thus you
soe tliat Solomon injured l)y his inexcusahlo coniUv.t not
only his kin;j;(h>in and liis S(ni, l)ut aU'o his dynasty for
many ages after his <h'alh.

One more sad consequence of his defection "we may
just mention.

FdNiilili/.hc ]»repar(Ml the -way ftf the overtlirow of the
heantiful Tem})le wliieli ho had Iteen lionoured to rear.
His evil example in the matter of Idolatry not only per-
petuated itself from generation to generation among his
successors, l)ut the evil grew and extended itself among
the triVn's. With some hrief and decided cIkm^Ics, it still
contiiuied, and e\t'n advanced in de})th and in volume.
At first, only a few frequented the false sli!-in(^s, hut,
in the progress of rinu', the Avhole nation, with a few
exeepticnis, did so. In the days of fSolomon, the Tenq)le
of God still retain(>d its ascemlancy in Israel, hat in the
days of Zedekiah, the son (d" Josiah, that Ten!])le was
overshadowed and fiu'saken. The evil heart of hjolomon
had l»y that time hecome the evil heart of the nation,
and God was constraiiu'd to deal with it accordingly.
After four hundred nnd tweiitydour yeais from its erec-
tion, Cuxl summoned the avengers of lli.> injured honour
to (overthrow the sacred house which Solomon had huilt,
and to hui'ii it with fire. It had had various fortunes
hefore that, in conse(pU'nee of tlu; evil leaven of Idolatry
inti'oduced by its huildei-. Thii'ty years fVoni its comple-
tion, it had heen desjtoiled hy Sliishak, King of Egypt;
and it had heen pilhiged and profaned from time to time
because of, or by reason of, the growing evil ; l)Ut at last,
the (>vil had assumed such dimensions as to require more
decided demonstrations on tlie part of (iod. AcciU'dingly,
Xebuehadnezzar a})peared before Jerusalem with his
ruthless soldieiy : — the city was overthrown, the tenqde
destroviMl, and the inhabitants carried awav into can-
tivity I i\.nd all this was ])ut the consuinmatio:i of the
sin and folly of Solomou. I do not forget that thousands
besides SoL)mon concurred and helped on the devehq)-
nient, but Solomon nevertheless commenced the move.

■:„«

THE DYNASTY OF DAvlD.

mcnt that sj^rcad so widely, and terminated so fatally.
No Avonder that God was aii'^'v with liini !

I have now to notice, in the way of conclusion and im-
provement,

///. 7'Ac use of Siiloiiwits sforij fo u.-^.

AV(! have not thus gone over tlie faults of Solomon,
and the sad consequences of his folly, either to gratify a
malignant feeling or a self-com})laisant on(\ W^o do not
condemn him under the flatterina: thoudit that we are
better than he, or that we are incapable of such unworthy
conduct. No ; the very contrary is the fact. It is
because the folly of 8t)lomon abounds in our own day
that it is right to review his story as an apju'opriato
warning to ourselves. We can commit substantially
the same faults as he, and myriads do commit th(3 same
faults as he, even in this nineteenth century of the
Christian era. Only think again what his faults were: —
they were, ingratituch; toward the condescending Divin(\
nnfaitlifuliu\ss t(j the Kingdom and purjioses of God, and
inattention and disol)edience to the written directions of
heaven.

Now we affirm, in connection with his first great faidt,
ri:., ingratitude to the condescending Divine ; that Go A
hath been more condescen(lin2r to us than He was to
Solomon. Doi!S this seem an unwarranted statement ]
It is not so : oidy remember the lucnrnidkm. Here is a
stretch of condescension far beyond that shown to Solo-
mon. God appeared to Solomon twice for a few brief
moments : He hath appeared to us through all the years
of a human life. He appeared to Solomon in vision only:
He hath appeared to us in hum;ui personality — just as
men aj)pear to each otluu-. He appeared to Solomon as a
superior asking obedience : Ho hath appeared t(j us as a
companion and an example — taking us, as it were, l)y tlu;
hand, and olfering to lead us through tlui intricacies of
life with all tenderness and brotherly sympathy ! O, if
the condescension of God to Solomon in appearing to him
in a vision laid Solomon under obliiration — far more does

SULU.MUX.

;]0

the a[)i)oai'in<4 of God to us in human nature lay us under
ohlii,Mtion. The only (Ulleren(?.e in favour of Solomon is,
that the appearance to him was personal and immediate,
wliile the appearance to us is L,'en('ral and indirect. JJat
evtm this is in our favour if ri,i,ditly consitlered. It
eiiahles us b(!tter to understand the greatness o:' the kin<l-
ness shown to us. Did we, each of us, see tne Savi(jur
in His humanity, tlu; sight, l)y reason of our own litth;-
ness, Avould Ije-little the manifestation. Wi; would not,
and could not in that case, aoprehend the thousandth
part of the condescension. We couM not take in all the
truth. It is needful that the Divine manifestation
should l)e seen from a suitable distance to apprehend
something of its amplitude. Uesides, there is need of
time as well as distance to allow the great truth to settle
into our understandings, and to assume any thing like
suitable ])roportions in our thoughts. Even in this
respect, therefore, our obligations are gi'cater than those
of Solomon ; and if lu; was ungrateful to God Avho
appeared to him twice, in forgetting the condescension
and kindness shown to him, what shall we say of our in-
gratitude if we forget the condescension of the Incarna-
tion ] \\\ in the face of the fact that (rod, in the person
of His Son, hath identified Himself with us, Avitli a x'ww
to our emancipation from Satan, what shall bo said of our
ingratitude, or how shall it l)e characterised, if we still
continue the willing servants of Satan ? Why, then, we
are woi'se and more ungi'ateful than Solomon — wicktil
and ungrateful though Solomon Avas. O, it is grievous to
thiidv that it is even thus witli many professing Chris-
tians — they receive the grace of God in vain I Wt; would
warn all against the monstrous mistake. Do not hu'get,
we would say, that God hath a[»;)eai'ed unto you in the
person of His Son 1 1 father live in the light of the fact,
and endeavour to feel the ol)ligation which that fact lays
u[)on you to abide l)y the divine and holy ! Ktnnember
daily, that though no uian hath seen God at any time,
yet the oidy l)egotten Son Miiich is in the bo.^om of the
Father — He hath declared Him! Kemember further.

ii if

ii '

i 4

■1.

i 1

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

tliat to SCO the Son is to soo the Fatliev, and see that you
act on this conviction. CJazo in the direction of tlio
Divine, that is, in tlie direction of tlie Incarnate One !
Admire and h>ve tlie Divine, as it efful^es in the Incar-
nate One ! And tlie more so, because of tlie manner of
this revelation of the Divine. The Son of ( Jod appeared
in lowliness that lie might conciliate and bless, lie
shrouded His glory that lie might not terrify or consume.
Wc ought to love and admire llim for this ; and we
ought to yield ourselves to the constraining intiuencc of
this love and condescension !

l^ut to revert to Solomon, his second fault was unfaith-
fulness ; and I say, that God hath given to us, to every one
of us, a charge to keep as well as to Solomon. We may be
unfaithful in relation to that charge as he was to his ; and
many, very many, alas, are so. Godhathnotgivenus a king-
dom to control, nor the resources of a king lorn to ex;peiid ;
but lie has given to each of us our own nature to control,
our own history to regulate^ and a portion of His pro-
perty to employ or to disbursi^ And here we might say
that, thou<i;li tlie charge committed to each of us is small
as compared to that committed to S.)lom )n, yet it is
really not small in fact. Evi'u if our charge were small,
still fidelity can be shown iu small matters as well as in
great ; but 1 aflirm again, that our charge is not sm.dl.
We have, each of us, illimital)le capal)ilities to control in
our own mysterious naturt>. W^; have, each of us, reason
rightly to use. AVe have, each of us, mighty passions to
hold in check, and to regulate in their action. We have,
each of us, a half-creativi' power of imagination to wat(;h,
lest it become deliled and de'tiling. Wc, have, each of
us, a will to harmonis(> with the Will that is ai)solute and
infallible, xsay more, Ave have, besides, each of ns, a
temple to build for the inhabitation of God as well as
Solomon, — not, indeed, a material tem[)le in the midst of
an earthly kingdom, but a spiritual tem[)le in our own
spiritual nature. This work needs all our attention, and
all our solicitude — not for seven years alone, as in the
building of Solomon's Temple, but during all our earthly

.SOLOMON.

lives. And tlion, ^\■]nh tliis toin])lo is hiiilding, we have
our lives to rei,ail;ite socially in all the relations in which
we stand. "We must live for Ood, and not for ourselves.
'\^"e must attach ourselves to the faithful, and not to the
unfaithful, and that, spite of apparent interests tlicrehy
disreji;ar(h;d. And Me must he careful to exert only ;i
healthful influence, riy,ht and left, aim along the whohi
jiath of our earthly progress. Tliis fsr.rely is not a small
charge ; and no one lU'ed envv Solomon hecause his was
to appearance greatei-. Each will find his own enough,
especially if he add to his nu'utal responsibilities tlic
res})onsil)ility attaching to the use f)r dishursement of
that portion of (Jod's property ])laced at his disposal.
This each is under oMigatimi to use for Ilini wUo gave
it. Now, who can say that he hath been fiithful in all
these respects, and up to the measure of fidelity which
(Jod has a right to (>.\pect 1 AVho can trutidully say that
he is building a temple for the inhabitation of (rod in
his own unseen nature ? Or, that he is using his in-
fluence as a son, or as a father, or as a neighbour, truly,
consistently, and lo\-ingly f)r (Jod ? Or, that he is ex-
})euding his earthly resources with a view to the [)ur|)oses
and ai)probation of the Most High I I fear that many
will have to acknowledgi^, that tiny are not l)etter than
Solomon; — not better as to tin; consecration of tlieir own
heart to God — not better as to the use of their influence
— and not l)ett(!r as to the disbursement of their means.
We blame SoIoukju. We an^ indiiiiiant with Solomon.
Can Ave not learn to turn our blame and our indignation
upon oursi'lves ] Van we not take wai'iiing, widle there
is op])ortunity to re[)ent, and give ourselves to faithful-
ness under the throne of Ood — faithfulness as to our
affections, as to our influence, and as U) our })(jss(\ssioi!s 1
Ihit once moiv, Solomon was inattentive and dis-
obedient in I'elation to the ^\litten re\elations of (lod.
Auil I remind you, that that sanu' ctuidescending One hath
given written direc ions to us far more complete, and f ii'
more fully illuminated, than those given to Solomon, And
how are we walking in relation to these directions I Are

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

WO study in,i^ tliom daily ? Arc avo loving tlie law of tho
Lord, the coiiiiik'tcd, the luininou.s law of tlu^ Lord, us
David loved the ty'j)ieal and uiifiiiislu'd revelation given
to him ] Can we truly say, each of us, as he said — *'
lu)w 1 love Thy law ; it is my meditation nil tlu; day 1"
Or, M'e wo not rather like, Solomon, wlu) fancied himself
so wise as to render constant att'-'Ution to tho Divine
writings unnecossarv, and thereby allowe(l tlm truth to
slip from his memory^ or who fancied himself so important
a ])ersonage as that he might transgress tho Divine diroc-
tioiis with impunity ] Let us beware of such folly ! Let
us 1)0 reminde(l of our privileges in this respect. They
ar(3 more am})le than tlujso of Sohjmon himself ! And
let us assure ourselves, t))at we can make our way really
and ultimately prosperous, only by giving constant atten-
tion, earni'st faith, and willing and consistent obedience to
tho word of tho Lord ! Do not think ya:)ur own wisdom
or your own strength sufliciont, else you may, like Sohj-
mon, dishonour your profession, and injure the Kingdom
of (iod among nuMi. You need — wo all need — Divine
Avis(h)m to guide and sustain ! Sec that you seek those
daily ; and seek them, nc^t only l)y jirayor, but also by a
proper and constant attention to tho heaven-sent direc-
tions furnished in tho sacred volume. Had Solomon
attended to the dii'octions given to him ho could not have
erred so fatally. \\'ill you ro[)eat his folly I

QUESTIONS ON SOLOMOX.

Wliy was God angry with Solomon ?
JJecausc he encouraged and practised Idolatry : " lie wont
after Ashtoretli, tho goddess of the Zidonians, and
after INIikioin, tho goddess of tlie Aniniouites. "
IIow niav we suppose Solomon blinded himself to his folly in
tliis I
He would fancy himself liberal, and free from narrow
l)reindieeH and national exclusiveness.
Are there not many in our own time who act in a similar spirit
and comfort themselves with a similar self-tiattery I
YoK ; very many. They place truth and error on a com-

HOLOMON.

mon footing, and fancy tliemsclvcs eminently candid in
doing so.
What special faults did Solomon commit by thus lending him-
self to Idolatry ?
He showed himself to be ungrateful, unfaithful anJ dis-
obedient.
How does his ingratitude appear ?

By viewing his conduct in the light of God's special con-
descension to him : " God appeared to him twice."
How does his unfaithfulness appear ?

By his violation of the duties incumbent on him as king
of the sacred people : he neither guarded the honour of
the God of Israel, nor yet consulted the interests of the
people of Israel.
How does his disobedience appear ?

By his disregarding God's express prohibition of idolatrous
intermarriages : he had many strange -.vivc^.
How may avc suppose him excusing this violation of the
divine prohibition ?
By his ofticiid elevation probably : he had gradually Ci)mo
to think himself as above law — an idea wliioh is very
common with the socially elevated. Such individuals
think it all very right that the common people should
attend to the Ten Commandments, but they think that
these commandments may be liberally interpreted, or
even set aside altogether for their convenience.
Apart even from divine prohibition, what appears in S(j1o-
mon's accumulating so many wives, and keeping up so
extensive an. establishment I
Enormous and overgrown egotism.
Were the consecpiences of his presumption and ingratitude
inconsidei-able or limited ?
By no means : they were serious and fai'-spreading.
Mention some of the parties and interests aliected by his in-
consistency and folly.
His kingdom : his son : his dynasty : and the beautiful
Temple which he had been honoured to build.
How did his folly affect his kingdom I

His burdensome court created universal dissatisfaction,

awoke the old jealousy of Ephraim against Judah, aud

issued under Rehoboam in the disaiemberment of the

tribes.

How does Solomon stand contrasted with his father David in

this ?

David by prudcnco aud conciliation united the tribes ;

■

1 1

TIIH DYNASTY OF DA Nil).

Solomon 1»y extravagance and love of display tlivided
tluini.
IIow did Solomon's nnwise magnificence aflect his son ?

It cneonruu',e<l in him tlu' liiiii^lity and alisiu'd srltislmess
Avliich v^'Huctnally alienated the ten tril^es inmi the house
of David.
IIow did his Idolatry aflect the dynasty of wliicli he was so
important a mend)er i
He inti'odneed therehy a style of action into the saci-ed
and royal family wholly diverse from that of David, and
thus f , riiished his successors incitement and excuse for
de})arting from the covenant of («od.
And how did Solomon's folly allect the Temple ]

His evil example grew and extended itself through suc-
cessive generations initil the nation hecame ohstinately
idolatrous, and then the agencies of destruction were
sunnuoned to overthrow Jeiusalem and its sacred edi-
fice.
AVas Solomcm himself alone chargeahle with all this ev-il ?
Ko, indeed : many concurred with him to this end, hut
he it was who l)egan the mo'.'ement v/liich culminated
in the captivity. No Avonder that (Jod should be angry
with him.
Can S(domon's faults he repeated in our day ?

In substance they can : men can still he, and, alas, too
generally are, ungrateful to God, unfaithful to the charge
committed to them by Him, and disobedient to divine
directions.
How has (jod shown His condescension to us in these New
Testament times i
Eminently, by the Incai'nation.
If Solomon showid himself to be ungrateful by forgetting
that (lod ai)i)eared to him in vision twice, will Ave be
free of the charge of ingratitude if we forget that God
hath fippeared to ns in oixr own nature, and that
during a whole human life ?
It cannot be ! This is a far greater stretch of condcscen-
si«-)n than the appearance to Solomon, and lays us under
con'es})onding obligation.
God hath not made us kings among men, as he did Solomon,
but hath He not yiven to each of us a charire to keep I

o ox

Certainly : each hath his own nature to keep, and to
employ for (iod — and each has some possessions com-
mitted to him to be used as God would have them.
Arc men generally faithful— each to his particular charge ?

SOLOMOX.

No, iiult'cd , to(j many, like Si)lumi)n, Horve self and for-
get God.
Are wo not as hi,L,ddy privile^^od as Solomon was in rclatiou
to divine revelation i
Far more so: we iiave am[)ler comminiications than he,
and a fnller light tlu^nvn on those communications
What is the folly of many in modern times in relation to
these comunuiications ?
It is very much th;it of Solomon : they think that they
have outgrown these comnuniications, and hold thum-
solves too enlightened to need a perpetual recurrence to
them.
What should he our sentiment in relation to Cjod's oracles ?
That of David when he exclaimed, " () how 1 love Thy
law, it is my meditation all the day !"
Wluit will he the conse({uence if we adnpt the style of Solo-
mon in this respect instead of that of David /
Injury to ourselves, to our connexions, to our succes-
sors, aiul to all the interests with which we stand con-
nected.
What shotdd he the determinati(.)n of the youu^ in this mat-
ter /
That they will seek wisdom rather th;in wealth, and fol-
low David rather than Solomon.
What, in general, are the things which the story of Solomon
ought to suggest in relation to our own circumstances
and duties /
i^i/'«^, that the condescension of God in the Incarnation lays
ns under stronger ohligations to grateful ohi'dience than
even His appearance to Solouu)n laid u[)on that prince ;
and 8cco)idlij, that our only wisdom is to abide continu-
ally by the divine directions fui'nished to us in the Scrip-
tures, if. even Solomon, with all his wisdom, ern-il
when he overhxjked these Scriptures, we cannot wisely
assume that they are unnecessary for us. You know the
dillerence between the sun and the stars. The stars may
interest us, but we can prosecute the task of life
only inider the illuminatioi of the sun. A similar dif-
ference exists between the Book of Gud and all other
books. You may be interested and amused by the coiuit-
less volumes of man's productions that issue from the
press, but you can safely prosecute the pilgrimage of life
only under the ilhuninatiou of revelation.

f .

II]. Rl'llOliOAM.

•^ (^ And Solomon slept with liis fiitlnTw, and wan Imrifd in tlio
City of J)iLvid liis fiither ; and rkoholioam his son rt.'iL;ni'd in his
i-.Jj' stead.--!. Kings xi., 4;5.

().MI'] lacii (livaiii of (Icvelopment ii.s tlio
gi'eat secret of citation — of ever-advancing
excellence — of a necessary progress to per-
fection ; but the idea has small countenance
from the moral history of families and nations.
'I'rue, there is a providential advancement in the
history of mankind, hut that is, in spite of the
waywardness and Avilfulness of men, and by ag<;n-
cies which usually have to fight for footing in
human society. The improvement is from without,
and not from within. It comes by the interposi-
tions of God, not by the evolution of native virtue
fin man. This is strikingly seen in the history of
. the Jewish people. Selected from the nations, and
T favour((d with spcscial legislation and specual securi-
T ties, one might have expected in them, stability in
goodness, if not continual ascent toward a higher i)lat-
foiin. l>ut what do we lind ] Just perpetual decline
and demoralisation ! It matters not how often they are
lifted from the pit of bondage and sorrow, they siidc
continually into it again. It matters not what warnings
iu\\ given to them, or what judgments are poured out
n[)on them, so soon as they have opportunity they are
U-rovelling ai;ain in the mire.

And it is not otherwise in the covenanted house of
David than in the general history of Israel. So long as
the members of that house are merely human, so long

RKlIOIiOAM.

tlicy arc pcrpi'tually .siiikin.ti;. Now ;m»l llicii a ^ood
kiiij;' (Iocs arise by tin' .special ^]'at'('<it' llcaNcii, Imt ever
tilt' (lowiiwai'd ttiMlciicy rcasseits itst-lf. What is gaiiuMl
iiiidcr one \\\\\<j; is speedily lost under his successor, an<l
these lviii;j;s of thi' sacred house l;'o, in the \\\r(> of all ])ro-
prietv, from had to woise. Tliouudi favoured in their
foundei', though under special covenant with Heaven,
though honouivd to l)e the guardians of the hojie of the
world, aye, and though every possihle inducement to
fidelity is brought to hear uj)on them, it is all to no pur
})ose : — They give themselves to evi-r-increasing disobedi-
ence and f<jlly.

lla})pily, the dynasty tri'minates in tl;e (liviiit\ and
then stai)ility, and advancement, and ^■ictoI•y, without
overthrow, are secured : but until tlni di\ine is reached,
we find oidy altei'nati(»n and disappointment. Kelio-
boam, for exam})le, was but one i'emo\'e from David, iind
yet Jvehoboam departed I'rom the ways of David, and
utterly forgot or disregardt'd the conditions n\' the cove-
nant which made him king.

In noticing this uu'udjer of the roval house, we sliall
remind you, of tlie character of his I'eign, of the folly of
his choice, and of his utter uniiines> for the typical ollice
and honour of his dynasty.

/. T/ie clinrarfcr of ///.s i'i'Ii/h.

That was anything but pleasing. It was, on the eon-
trarv, darki-ned and irritated : and that from the beiiin-
iiing to the end of it. (Unless you exct-pt the first three
years, when the good people Hocked to derusalem from
tlie dissenting and inisiruided ti'ibes ; but even these
years can scarcely be excepted.) There was iu)t even an
(jccasional light, or an exceptional buist of glory, during
its continuance. From first t<j last, it was sombre and
unrelie\'ed. And this is the more noticeable when we
remember that it followed the most brilliant reign pnjba-
bly in the woild's history. Solomon's court was the re-
sort of kings and queens. They caaie from all quarters
to hear his wisilom,anil to gaze u[)on h"s gi'andeur. They

illL DYNASTY OF UAVIl).

caiiu! bocauso of his fiUiic, ami they rc-tunicil t<» tlicir i-i^-
siu'ctive jx'ujilr.s ami palacfs to coiilirm and to cxtcml lii.s

n^mnvii.

IIS p(M)[)l(' werc! ricli.

IS rci^M, cxtciKliii''

over toity years, was ])acific as it was biilli.iiit. His w-
lalitiiis wtTc amicablu in t-vtry direction, ami no lival
|)ow('r thoii^^ht to invade liis dominion, oi to (iiitail his
t<'nit()r\'. iJiu all this was chanm d in thi; ca-ie of liclio-

hoam. Instead of heim; a cenlrc of iiiorv, l)Ia/in'4 mi
tlu! eyes of admiring nations, lie snnk into fnr^fetfiiln- >s
and ohscnrity. Tlie lofty cavalcades, and ihie Ioiil;- irii-
inu's of tho Kinus of the East and of the Sonth, in* lonuer

■lindtetl the heiuhls of

soui;'iit the V ity ot -lei'iisalein, or cnniiuMi tiie nei;j,iiis oi
Zioii. One nii^lil ha\i' expected that some of the gloiy
of his father, ihoii^h diniinish»>d and declinin,^', ini.^ht
ha\e attached to the l•ei^^•n of K'eholioain ; hut it was not
so. Tlui cloud had ali'eady l>et;un to gather when S()lo-
nion died. They forthwith (»versj»read the heavens as
Jiehoboani stepped into the throne ; and they ne\-er
lifted again during tlu' st'Neiiteen years of his reign.
jMor(^ l)aiticnlaily,

Fiist, tho reign of kehoboani coininenced with dl-oivui-
hcrinciit. He was not dethronetl, hut t<'n pai'ts of his
subjects out of twi'iN'e renounced their allegiance. 1I<;
still held the inelropi litaii city, and the royal palaces of
David and Sohnuoii, Imi his subjects were gone, all hut a
fraction. A rival king now occupied a large part of tiie
.sacred territory, and he found liiinscdf shorn of the
greater })art of his royalty. This must have been veiy
galling to him. How could he recover or retain the
prestige of his house with so narrow a domain i Had he
lost two tiibi'S and retained ten, the evil, however disa-
greeable, might have l)eeii nioi'e eiidiiraljle ; but to lose
ten out of twidve, was almost next to extinction. And
then, he had calculated long on the wlioU; dominion.
For twi'iity years at least, that is, from the time of his
own majority, he had looked tbrward to the hour when
he Avuidd occu[)y the [)lace of his fath.-r. The thought
of losing a large part of what he considered his patri-
mony had never once crossed his thoughts ; and we may

llKlIonOAM.

!■. '•

well Ix'lievo, on tlin other hand, tliat liis flattorcrs had
filltMi liis iniai^Mnatioii with the ^t^lor-it's dF his ciiniiiii^
icinn. With cvi'iy ncu' niaMilVstation ot" the ^'raiuhiir
and inMiK'iico of his fatlicr, liis heart hail .swollen in its
]»ri(le and ex})eetati(>n, and he had admitted no liadow
(•!• niis^iving to darken tiu; jtrospcct. ilow contn'.nided
tlieii iiow ji,rie\-ed -how iiidi,^n;iiit e\'eii, he must ha\o
felt when he saw iiimsrlt' so hopelessly Weakened aiul rt-
duced as a kini,' ! The irlory of his father, which here-
tofore had nourished his pride, now only ein])ittered his
heart. Had he been Ixtrn in humhle eiicumstances, and
ele\ated like Jeroboam to royalty, even two tri!)es woidd
have seemed to him a not unworthy kiug<lom ; hut hoiii
the son of 8(domon, and the gi'andson of David, hi.s
dimiuished territory wa.s to him small and contcimptihie.
He felt shorn of his just ri^i;hts, as he thoui^ht, and tliat
to an unbearable degree ; aiid that too by one whom he had
known as the servant of his father, and his own inferior.
As heir-apparent to the throne, whih^ yet that throne
seeme(l unshaken and unclouded, llehohoam had fre-
quently bowed graciously to Jeroboam, in common with
many others, as he swei)t past them in royrJ state. Yes,
lie remembered the time when Jeroboam thought it
honour to receive a .smile of recognition from him, and
now Jerol)oam gathered around him ten of the twelve
tribes of Israel I The thing .seemed preposterous, out-
rageous, and unendurable ! Uut Ivehoboam could iu)t
help himself. His former servant was now more than hi.s
rival, his sul)jects had renounced him, his territory had
been torn away from him, and he was now left to make
the best he could of narrowed circumstances and di'.nin-
ished revenues, lie could no longer hold U[) his head
among contemporary sovereigns, nor congratulate himself
upon his distinguished inheritance. But

Scrnndli/, his people l)ecame loathsome by dcfilcmciif.
Here was another dishonour. lie miiiht not himself feel
it, bnt history hath recorded it against him. He wa.s
not only lessened as to his royalty, but his diminished
realm was also lessened as to its purity. Had he been

III J'

THE DYNASTY UF DA\ ID.

faillifiil to liis position, and used liis influence ari,i;Lt, lie
nii^^lit still have claimed the respect of mankind, and of
posterity. Jerusalem was still his capita). The mag-
nilicent Tem})le erected by his father, and the womler of
that n|L,c, Avas still the centre of religions wor.ship, and
the Shechinah dwelling place of the true God. These
■were distin('ti(»ns Avhicli Jeroboam could not shan; with
him, and they were gnsater and more important than
even the allegiance of the ten revidted tiibes. A\'ith
proper attention to these privileges, and a careful culture
of piety in himself and in his people, his kingdom, small
as it now was, might still have been the glory of king-
doms, and th(! centre of the world's admiration ; but he
Avas nnfaithl'ul, ungodly, and idolatrous. lie lent no
countenance to ]»iety among his people, and he put no
arrest on the heathenism and shocking immoralities that
had already begun to show themselves even befoi'e the
death of his father. ^\^' rather fear that he counten-
anced and encouraged his subj(;cts in their neglect of
Clod's worshi[), and in their devotedness to idols and ini-
moi'ality. Any way, here is the account given by the
sacred narrative of his government in the early years of
it, and we hear of no reformation under him iu hi ; late
years : —

"Ami .Tu(l;ih diil evil in tlu' si'/lit of tin; I/onl, ami thoy ]>ro-
voked Him to jealousy with tlu'ir sins Avliich they had cfnuiuittL'd
aliove all that tiieir fathers had done. For they also ])uilt them
high places and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under
every green tree. And there were also Sodoniitcs in tlu? land;
and they did aecordi ng to all tlie ahominations of tlie nations
which the Lord cast out before the children of Israel." — I.
Ivings xiv. , L'H-l'-t.

W'liat an abasement was here ] •' They did according to
all the alxuninations of the nations which the Lord cast
out before the children of Israel." These nations had
been sunk in the very lowest de})ths of immorality, so
low that they only detiled the land on which they dwelt ;
..nd yet, Israel, called to sui)ersede them because of their
-vileness, had actually sunk to the same al)ominations — to
ihe same low and dishonourable level — and that under

»i

llEIIOBUAM.

the grandson of David ! Surely there was small honour
to the king of such a ])eople, who resisted not, if he did
not countenance, sncli practices, grand- oi of David
thou'di he was ! A\']iat more t)f evil could the son of a
lieathen prince or savage have done or permitted I Ihit
a further dishonour overtook this sad reign : —

Tliirdhj, it became darkened by hmh^lori and iinpo/yr-
isliinciit. " And it came to ]iass in the fifth year of King
Kehohoam, that Shishak, King of Kgypt, came up against
Jerusalem : and he took away the tnnisures of the house
of tlie Lord, and the treasures of the king's house ; he
eN'cn toitk awa} all : and he took away all tlieshi<ddsof gold
Avhii'h Solomon had made."(l Kings, xi v., 2").2().) How this
invasion came alxMit does not appear. Kehohoam had made
no demonstrations against Egyi>t, so far as we know, and
had given no offence to thai court ; and yet Shishak
came with an overwhelming force, and h('lp('(l himself to
all the remaining wealth of Solon.ou. We can have no
doubt as to the true reason, thomi;h the i)roxim.it<i in-
duccnnents to the invader do not ap[)car. Kehohoam had
forsaken God, and (Jod left him to invasion and impov-
erishment. This is the true and short account of the
matti'r. Possibly, howevc^r, Jerol)oam had something to
do with it in the Avay of incitement. He had himself
dwelt at the Court of p]gypt, and ha<l agents ther(\ no
doubt. He mi'dit tliiidc to weaken tlu; hands of the
son of fc'olomon, as his own hostile neighbour, by hinting
to kihi .h.ik that the am[»le stores of g(jld now accumu-
lated iu the Tem[)l(^ at Jerusalem might be an easy prey
to one so powerful as he. And Shishak niight need sup-
})lies, as kings generally d ), and therefVire might be very
]'ea<ly and willing to relieve K''holi(;am of his surplus
riches. Any way. the ro])bery by Shishak must have
been very galling to the son of Solomon. It w.is taking,
if I may say so, the last gleam of s[)lendour out of his
fortunes. No doubt he renvmbered besides, in contrast
to the bearing of the Egyptian king, the days and rela-
tions of other years, and bitterly would he feel the
change. He had seen the time, when an Egyptian prin-

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

cess Wiis his .stcp-niothcr, and proud to Lc so, and when
tlic ambassa(h)rs of J^icypt bowed witli reverence before
tlie throne in wliicli his father sat, and into wliicli liini-
sclf was about to s[)rin^. He; li:ul felt tlu'ii almost more
than an ('(pial even for the; pi'oud Pharaohs ; and now
they approi)i'iat('(l without scruple the wealth of liis
kingdom, and treated him as a pouuMicss slave. I'ut he
ha<l no remedy : witli Jeroboam on the one si'k', an<l
Shishak on the other, he could only stand l)y wliile they
I'obbed him and feel his own bitter humiliation. \Vc can
fancy how his heart would boil with indignation as he
saw th(,' troops of the spoiler file a^vay li'om his impover-
ished and dishonoured ca[)ital. The dismemberment of
his kiu<.i;<lom only prei)ared the way for its impoverish-
ment ; and dishonour and contempt naturally fall to tiie
lot of the im[)Overished when they have nothing l)ut
their riches to eommeiul them. Such was the sad fortune
of |{ehob()am I

lint there is yet another element of distress to be men-
tioned : —

Foiirthli/, there was continued war between Rehoboam
and Jeroboam. 'I'heir ri\alry and enmity never s])ent
itself They ke))t up the contest all their days. The
invasicjn of , Shishak was onlvin the fifth vear of liehoboam,
and he reigned seventeen. Had h.e been at peace with
Jeroboam, and cultivate*! friendly relations with him, he
miuht have recovered from tht» I'rief of the loss of his
wealth, and enjoyed (puet, at any rate, in his humiliated
state. But no 1 His wounds could not bo permittevi to
heal. The constant irritation of war and contest kept
them open and sore ; and for this we Idame him rather
than Jeroboam. That sovereign sought only the stability
of his own ten shares of the kingdom. He had no tlxMight,
in the first instance, of invading Jiehoboam, or of wrest-
\\vr from him the two remaining tribes. He would have
been content with j)eace if oidy Jiehob(»am wouM have
allowed it ; but l.eliol)()am was not. He still yeai-ned
foi- the recovery of his lost tei'ritory. He still har-
assed Jeroboam, and compelled Jei'oboam to haras ■;

KEIIOI'.OAM.

liiiii. Ill llii.'! way lie fretted liimself Juriii.i,^ all liis nnixn,
and ^vasted liis resources, and einl»ittered the feelings of
the tribes toward each otlier. In this way, ton, he sliowed
liis obstinacy and un.sul)nii.s,siveness. lie knew that (Jod
had determined the curtailment of his kingdom, and he
ought to have bowed to the divine determination and the
divine judgment. lUit lie would not ; and he only irri-
tated and distressed himself in conse(|U(Mi('e. He could
not unseat Jeroboam, but he showed his spite and dissat-
isfaction by unneighbourliness and hostility. True, Jero-
boam's folly called for chastisem(Mit at the hands of God,
but Rehoboam did not need to have l)een the instrument
of that chastisem nt, unless it had suited his own insubor-
dinate humour to l)e so.

Such, then, is the character of this sad reign : it is
gloomy with a manifold gloom. Xeither at its commence-
ment, nor in its progress, is there anything to relieve the
shadows that I'est upon it. There was indeed a season
when, it is said, things went well at Jerusalem, but that
was only on the retirement of Shishak, and as compared
Avith the distresses of overthrow and the presence of ene-
mies. It was not the sunny Avell-going of piety and obed-
ience. It was merely the well-going of the smitten, made
somewhat less restive by the conviction of the liopel(>ss
ness of resistance. Foreign pressure was removed, but
sunshine did not return. Oh I but the experiences of
Kehol)oam wei'c gloomy and sad ! Victories cheei-ed the
toils of David, and uncommon honours shone u])on the
liead of Solomon, but neither victories nor honours cheered
the royal days of liehoboam. No sunshine rested on his
throne, and no flowers sprung in his path. He was con-
versant only with privation and bitter annoyance.

Now, it is M'ell to mark the I'eason of this as well as
the fact : and that reason, we think, will be found in his
mistaken choice, which we come ne.\t to notice: —

//. TJie Jolbj of his choice.

That choice is not set forth in words, as in the case of
his father, Solomon, but we think it is clearly implied in

THE DYNASTY OF DAVlD.

the account giv(.'n of liis ])areiitage in connexion "witli his
sad reiii;n. It is onipliatically said, and tM'icc witliin a
iew verses, tliat " his mother's name was Naamali, an
Ammonitess." Inow, this Naamali, tlie motlier of Keho-
l)oani, nii^lit be a proselyte, hut we fear that, if even it
Aveie so, her attachment to Isi'ael was only nominal, and
that she retained many of her superstitions and much of
the spirit of her idolatrous ancestry. Assuming this, the
choice of Keholjoam was between the faith of his father
and the superstitions of hismothcn- : and he seems to have
chosen the latter, lie certainly Avished the throne of
Solomon, but not in connexion with the faith and habits
of David. lie would have the throne of his Hebrew father,
with th(^ traditions and licence of his idolatrous motlier.
He would rule for himself, and not for the good of Israel.
He mi<2:ht <dve some external attention to the law of his
kingdom for a])pearance sake, but he would have himself
at liberty to follow the bent of his inclinations — recoiling
from the thought of a close and continuous observance of
the Mosaic rit\ial. It is expressly said in Chronicles, after
a repetition of his Aminonitish maternity, "that he did
evil because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord."
In other Avords, he did not choose the fear of the Lord,
but evil ratlier. And you must see the bearing of this on
his subjects. To do evil, in his royal position, and bo-
cause of alienation from God, was to encourage evil in his
dominions, and alienation from God among his people as
well. He ought to have been a pattern of piety to those
beneath him : and he ought, David-like, to liave useu his
])ower and influence for (lod. Instead of this, he was an
exani}de of evil-doing : and he used his infhience, if not
liis power, on the side of evil, and in opposition to the
Holy One of Israel.

Now this was inexcusable in Uehoboam. He had over
whelining reasons for making a different decision between
the faith of his father and the superstition of his mother.
He was favoured above many in tliis respect. For ex-
am jile : —

Firsf, he saw the Temple of God at Jerusalem in its

"^»a«Bi

REIIODOAM.

first beauty and iiiisoiled magiuficence. lie M'as a hoy
alxnit nine or ten years old at its dedication. We cannc^t
believe that ho was absent on that solemn and memorable
occasion. No doul)t he occnjiied at it a |»ositi'jn suitable
to his rank, and favourable tor observing.'; and seeing; all.
He might not then, at his tender age, understand all the
significance of the ceremonial ; but he saw enough to
arrest his thought and lay him under obligation to fur-
ther cn([uiry as he grew older, lie heard then the beauti-
ful and devout breathings of his father, in the dedicatoiy
prayer, and also the sublime songs of the sacred choristers.
He heard the acclamations of tlu; multitude, and witne.^setl,
in part at least, the multitudinous ofi'erings madi^ at the
altar. He saw the procession that bore the ark, the sym-
l)ol of the Divine presence, to its place ; and if he saw not
the mystic and supernatuial Shechinah cloud, he saw, at
h'ast, the crowding priests emerging in haste from the
cloud-filled tal)ernacle, and heard, no doubt, the reason of
their hasty exit. ^^'llat was there in the Ammonitish
Idolatry to compare with this ? There migiit bo songand
gorgeous ceremonial, but no sentiments like, thi>e of his
fither's ])rayei', and no token of power like that of thi^
ai'k deposit<'d in the most holy place, and no sujieruatural
or luminous cloud like that which filh-d the tahernacle !
Tliere were clearly here materials for thought and inquiry,
and solemn impression, on the part and on the mind of
tlu! youthful prince ; and this of itself was enough to
decide his ciioice, as he grew older and more fully ac(piaint-
ed with the exercises of the Temple, and the historical
past which that Teni]ile emljodied. But further, —

Sccondljj, he had heard the earnest and enlightened
instructions of his distinguishe(l father. Solonuin could
n(»t leave his son and heir untaught, and wo know the;
spirit of his teacliing. Hear a specimen of his tender and
urgent addresses : —

" My son, if tluni wilt riirivu luy words,

And incline thiiR' oiii' unto wisdmn,

And SL'ck for lici- iis thou f-'cekest for liid trcasui'o,

'riiL'u slialttlio.i under.stiind the fear of the Lord,

And find the kuu\vk,'d'-ro uf God."

TTTE DYNASTY OF DAVIT).

Again,-

" 'Sly son, f(irf,'(-'t not n>y law,
But U;t tliinu huart koep my cniniuandinents,
l''<ir k'n,L,'l;li i>f tlaj'S, ami loii:^' life, and peace,
thcu."

sliall tlit'v adil to

Airaiii,

" ITappy is the man that fin(h'th wisdnm,

And till' man that ^'etteth uniU'istanding."

"All th(j tliinys that thou can«t desire are not to l)e compared to

her."
" Tier ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are i)eaoe.
She is a tree of life to them that laj' hold npon her I''

Oiicc more, —

" M.y rjC.n, attend unto my wisdorti.
And how thine ear to my understanding,-
'I'liat thou mayt'st regard discretion,
And that thy lips may keep knowledge."

Surely such addresses, and sucli assurances, ought to have
heen irresistible in tlio way of (leterniiniug tli(; choice
and inquiries of Kelioboam : and the more so, as coming
from a fatlier so exalted, and so wise, and so devoted to
the God of Israel at the time of their utterance. It vas
during Sohjmon's Ix'st years, be it rememljei'cd, that these
instructions were tendered to Kehoboam ; and what could
Jiis mother, Naamah, say in opposition to them ? Or
what could she urge in favour of her idols at all to compare
Avith the representations of Solomon concerning the poAver
and holiness of the God of Israel ] What I Just nothing
at all ; or, what was worse than nothing at all, she could
only speak of cruel rites, or meaningh'S.s ceremonies, or
iiri worthy practices, or povverless objects of worship. But
further, —

T//irdli/, Iiehoboam must have heard of his grandfatliei'.
David. He had rot known him personally, as he was.
but an infant of a few mo.iths when I)avid died ; hut lie
must have heard of \:i~ e^M,ioits juid of his victories,
Avrought and achiev» u uuth-; iw guidance or in the name
of the God of Israel. He must liave beard of the oA'er-

REiionoA^r.

• \

tlirow of rioliath, and (tf David's forboaranco in relation to
Saul, and of his foilx'arauco, (^r [)atienco rather, in rela-
tion to the kinirdom — ruling for seven years in Hebron,

• 111

waiting God's time for liis enthronement over all the
tribes. And he nnist have known how God opened np
his way at last, and made a covenant Avith him and his
house for ever, and how he <;ave him Solomon to succeed
him, — investing him with unusual glory, and giving to
him unusual wisdom. Knowinii; all tliis, he ouijrhtto have
found oltligation resting on lum to inquire after, and to
abiih' l)y, the God of David hisgrandfatlier, and Solomon
his father. A\'hat ancestry could his mother point to as
compared to this ? And what divinity could she report
as compared with the God of Israel 1 She could only set
legends against facts, and small and absurd legends
against great and imjiressive facts. Once more : —

Fi)iirthhi, Kehoboam must have been acquainted with
tlie history of his country. He was under obligation to
copy and study the books of Atoses as heir to the throne
of Israel ; and Solomon no doubt directed him to this
duty. But, even though he neglected it, h ' must have
heard the story of Aliraluim, and the stories of Joseph,
and of jMoses, and of Joshua, and of Samuel. He cannot
bo supposed to have been ignorant of the wonders
in the land of Ham wrought l)y God in favour of Israel —
of the wonders t)f the wilderness — of the wonders of the
conquest and settlement of Canaan — or of the story of the
Judges. He would learn somewhat of those things, if
from no other source, from the sacred compositions of his
grandfather, as used continually in ])ublic worshi]). And
what story could his mother })rescnt as comparable to the
recoids of Israel ? Where would she find tokens of Om-
nipotence or of mercy in the history of the idols of Amnion
at all fit to be compared with tlu; interpositions of
Jeluivah ? She could not : the thing was impossible ; and
therefore Ilehoboam was under (jbbgation to prefer the
faith of his father and the knowdedge of the God of his
nation. He was under obligation, wc say, " to prepare
his heart to seek the Lord."

TllH DYNASTY OF DAVID.

T>ut this lio (lid not do. Ho yicldi'd liinisclf to the
iiilhioncc of his iiiothci', and {urL!;ot oi'(h'si)is('d the instnic-
tions of his fatlici'. l\v lidd hxjscly to tlic fasliions of
his 'ather's court for tho lirst three, years of his reii^n,
Lilt he ke])t himself aloof from tiio knowledge of the true
(Jod : and in this you see the secret of tl<o iinsiinny and
sombre character of his administration. IJy turning from
God he turned from tlie fountain of light and honour.
]>y leaving heavenly wisdom unsought, ami unapprii-
priattMl, h(3 failed to find the, tree of life and the paths
of pleasantness. ]jy failing to devote himself to the
service of the True, he faileil to lind the imp('rishal)le
and the satisfying,. "Them that honour me," says Clod,
" 1 will honour : wliile they that despise me shall be lightly
esteenie<l." Iveholioam disregarded, if he did not des-
pise, tlie God of Israel, and sunshine died out of his his-
toiy in conse(pience. Nay, he yielded himself to ct^hcr
worship, and he not oidy failcil in tlie matter of renown,
but actually incui'red cuvtailnu'iit, impoverishment, and
disgrace ! It Avas \ain, so far as llehoboam was eon_-
cerned, tliat God dwelt in the unrivalled Temple of Jeru-
salem : in vain that Solomon niiri'd and instruct* d : in
vain that David had leil the way to his descendant; in a
life of dependence and devotcidiKsss : and in vain that
Moses had recordetl the wondi-ous interpositions of the
Most High. l*ehol)oam treated all as of no consequence,
and regulated his administration, not as the vicegerent of
God, but as the self-centred and indei)endent ruler of his
people. He disclaimed, in effect, his subjection to Jeho-
vah, and Jehovah in righteousness left him to work out
his own dishonour and humiliation.

Some! may be disposed to blame Solomon for taking to
himself an Ammonitish princess, and thus preparing the
way for his son's defection and disgrace : and they do well
who do so. Solomon was deeply to be blamed in this.
He disobeyed God's express commandment in doing so :
nay, he set aside the dictates of ordinary ])rudence by
doing so. He ought to have known, with all his Avisdom,
how insidious and how powerful is the influence of a

nKifor.oAM.

fanatical or superstitious inothor over lici'diiMrt-n: and he
ou^ht to have known, that evil is of readier j^i'owtli in the
liiinian heart than 'Ji^ood. Let hlanie rest upon liini accoi'd-
inii;ly, hut not in extt-nuation of liehohoam's eoncUict. The
fault of tSolomon belongs to Solomon's history, not to
liehoboam's. True, we may pity the Prince, so likely to
he pervert(Ml hy his heathenish mother, but we cannot
exrul[)at(3 him. Many are more; unfavourably situatedthan
he for com n g to a right decision: nay, few compai'ately
are in so v ourable position. Without excusing Solomon,
we iiuist condemn J ieh(jboam for his choice, lie rejected
the true and the potent, and accepted the empty and the
debasing : and that in the presence of the am[)lest evi-
dence as to the value of that which he rejected and the
emptiness of that which he chose. Admitting that he
was more in his mother's society when young, that was
no reason why he should disreganl facts and conseii'uce,
when he grew to the years of di'^creti(jn, and wluin the
liulit of heaven was Ijrought so fullv to bear U])on his
nature. He should have prepared his heart to seek the
Lord, and he should have sought rather to draw his
mother to the right side tluui have allowed himself to be
di'awn by her to the wrong.

The truth is, the comparison of his father's earlier and
lati'r history alone ought to have decided him had thei'e
been nothing else. He had seen both. He had seen the
honour and the glory of Solomou's better days ei'e yet his
wives had drawn away his heart from (lod, and lu; had
seen the obscurations, and divisions, and heart-burnings,
of his idolatrous years. He had seen with his own eyes
the dedication of the Tem])le on the one hand, and als
the uprearing and consecration of the idolatrous shrines
which his father had been induced to set up on tin; other.
He had felt the dignity of the one occasion, and the de-
basement of the others. He; knew, or might have known,
the insi)iriting and uniting effect of the one ceremonial on
and throughout tin; nation, and he knew the divisive,
darkening and embittering effect of the others ! He
ought to have determined accordingly. He ought to have

THE DYNASTY 01' DAVID.

emulated liis fiitlicr in ilic days of liis staltility and sin,i,d(*-
vyvd loyalty, and not in tic ilays ot" his decay and ho-
wildeiinent. lie on^iit to liave dissented tVoni, and rc-
sisteil, tlie enncnt of e\il, iind not yielded liinisclf to its
s\v;iy : Imt, instead of (his, the proi);ihility is that ho
liel[ied it on, and i;avi' increasing!; ])()\ver to it l)y his in-
Ihience and exi-niph'. And the e\il oidy i;i"\v worse with
time. Solomon escaped away from it hy death, hut lie-
hohonm li\-ed to feel its disti'essinii; and dark( nin_!j; elFects.
I'ity for Kehohoam ! Hi' thicw himself, and tliat with his
eyes o])en, into the wake of Idolatry, and he fonnd even
in this world tlm impovi'rishment and dishon( ur which
Idolatry and nn^odJiness inevitably hring sooner or later.
\\'(^ might learn a lesson here : we too are calh'd on to
make our election between (lod and the world — ix'tween
Christ and fSatan. Let us not bo as foolish as liehoboani
was. There is only one ri^ht : let us embract^ it. Let
us ])!epare our heaits to seek (}od : and let us resi>jt the
inlhieiices which woi'.ld draw us away from them. If
Kehohoam had mighty inducements to choose right, wo
have still miiihtier inducements than he. If ho was in-
excusable for resisting the e\i(k'nco of di\'ine foithcoming,
we will be still more so if we tui'U away from Chiistian-
ity. Wo h;ivo not only all the i)reliminary histoiy and
manift'station which ought to have swayofl liehoboam, wo
have also actual manifestation of the divine in the human
to intluenco and sway us. Wehave evidence abounding and
beyond measui'c, that (Jod hath s]ioken to us by His Son —
that lie seeks to detach us from all false ivfuges — that Ho is
prepared to bless us by turning us away from our iniqui-
ties — that He seeks our confidence and labours for our
good — and shall we, or, to change the person, will you
refuse Him your attention, your faith, your gratitude, your
obedience 1 ^^'ill you rather abide by the delusive, the
debasing, and the destiuctivo, than give yourselves to
your Ivedeeming Creator ? 0, it will be infatuated and
ungrateful thus to act ! It will be to cast in your lot
with the dishonoured Rehoboam, and to renounce the for-
tunes and the companionship of the divine David. Be

llKHur-OAM.

sure tliiit }(m mulct' not thi.s mistake. Listen not to tlu^
Mandishmeiits of society, nor yet to the prejudices of
education : l»ut ^ive vonrsolve.s to tlie Tiutli, e\-en to the
iui,L,dity and merciful Saviour. Too many iiave mothers
like Kehohoam— fraULiht with sniiersl ition and i^noi-auce
of di\-iue thiu^^'s ; hut the inllueiice of such oUL;ht not to
stand in the way (»f the deuionsti'ations of Heaven. Let

niotlieis he holidUl'eil, hut Hot to tlli' disJlonoUl' of (!od I

Let mothers he hououreij, hut let the di\im' Savi(Uir he
jioiioured niiu'e. He can do for us what our niothi-rs
cannot. ile can save to the uttermost all them th;it
comt! unto (iod hy Him. If there he h,; who |»i'efer
father, or mother, oi- wife, or child to llim. tie)' tliereh)'
show that they are iiotwoithy of Him, and can have no
j>artici|»ation with llim. He leads to life and hoiioui', Init
they who keep aloof from llim will lind themselves in the
way of death, im])overishmeiit and dishonoui-. He is the
Light of the world, and they that follow after Him shall
not walk in darkness, l)ut shall hav(! the Iii.:;ht of life.
Let every on(( heware how he neglects so great a Saviour
and so great a salvation!

But to return to I'ehohoam, we notice:

///. Ills idler uiijilncss far the fi/j)ical oj/ires ai'd honour
(if hi.i house.

You will rememher that the royal house of David was
meant to he a ty^x; and h)resha(h)wment of the true and
divine King of Israel. It was the honour of the succes-
siM' kings of that house (that is, if oljedient and faith-
ful), not only to rule o\er their contemporaries, hut also
to prefigure the ghjrious and di\ ine. Th'^ excellences of
that "loiaous and divine One are manifold, and each king
in his day, might have, an<l ought to have, fort'shadowed
some one or more of these excellences. No one human
king could foreshadow them all, hut each mi^ht contri-
l)Ute U) the completeness of the type. I)a\id. the founder
of the house did so^ hy his name, and hy his victories.
Solomon also did so, l)y his name, and l)y his Temple-
huilding, and hy the pacific and ha[)i>y character of his

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TIIH DYNASTY OF DAVID.

r('i,i,'n. l>iit wiiat shall wc say of Rt-lioboam 1 Did ho
foreshadow in himself any of the excelltMiccs of ]\ressiah —
tho tluMi to b(^ revealed khig of the Israel of (Jod ] Or
ilid his gf)veriiineiit giv(^ any intimation of the peculiari-
ties of Clod's reij^n upon the earth? Not any as you
must clearly perceive. So fai' from this, he was in direct
antat^onisni to tin; ^i^i-eat anti-tyj)e of his house, and to the
peculiarities of the rule of that anti-type. Kehohoam was
])i'oud, o])pressive, and unpacific. Hi; met the reasonable
demands of his subjects with hani^hty refusal. Instead
of relieving or lessening their burdens, he proclaimed it
to be his ])urpose to augment these burdens : and instead
of studying the things tliat make for peace, he had con-
tituial wars with his neighbour Jeroboam. How unlike
in all this was he to the Prince Divine who was yet to
spring fi'om the royal family of Judah ! How uidike his
answer to his oppressed subjects to the invitation of
Messiah addressed to the estranged and tlie sorrowful !
"JMy father chastised you with whips," said Rehoboam in
his pride, "])ut I will chastise you with scorpions!"
" Come unto Me," says Messiah, " and I will give you
rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of mo : fori
am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto
your souls." Rehoboam would not redress unmerited
wrong : -lesus is prepared to relieve and to remove merit-
ed sorrows. Rehoboam fancies that he has "a rii^ht
divine to govern wrong," but Jesus walks righteously,
tenderly and sympathisingly. Rehoboam would lay and
increase heavy burdens upon his subjects ; Jesus removes
burdens from His, and that by taking them Iliniself.
Rehoboam irritates and disnu'mbt-rs : Jesus soothes,
heals, and re-harmonises. IIow unlike the one to the
other ! lIow little fitted was Rehoboam to foreshadow
the sentiments or the reign of the Just One ! His nanu)
was ai)i)roi>riate, and might have suggestetl to him a
hai)pier course. It means, as is said, "one who enlarges
or gives libel ty to the people." Had he listened to his
subjects, and relieved their burdens, he might have justi-
fied his name, and retained his i)lace among the royal

•^^

KKHOIJOAM.

typos of Ills lioiiso. JJut lio did not. Ileliad not cau^u;lit
tlio spirit of the coming,' cciitro of salvation, nnity and
poaco, wiiich was yet to ai-iso in his family. The h<j;Iit of
the illnsti ions was not upon hiin. lie sunk out of tlie
ranks of tlie representatives of Messiah, and <h»\va
among the nnilhiminatt'd and nnhonoured. No subso-
(jticnt generations turn to liini to note, or to watcli, or to
achiiire, tlie corruscations and ln'auties of the then nnre-
veali'd Luminary of Time. ILOia I o[)portunity to have
ranked with tiie. honoured onts who caught, in their s<'at
of eh'vation, the rays of the Sun of Righteousness ere yet
that Sun had ascended above the horizon, l)nt he chose
otherwise, and thus forfcitt'd the honour and the felicity
of the royal and typical house to whi<-li he Ixdonged.

And here again is a lesson for us. We cannot be of the
royal sons of David, who were meant to ty[»ify the com-
ing centre of excellence, but we may be of the royal family
of(!od who are meant to rei»roduc(! and })erpetuate in the
eyes of men the excellences of that centre. David and
Solomon were before ^lessiah as to His human manifesta-
tion ; we are after Ifiin. J>ut the light of Messiah shines
in all directions, and it is m(>ant to be reflected from all
His attendants in whatever position they occnp}'. If it
was right and necessary that friends and attendants pre-
ceding His inanifestalion should foreshadow His excel-
lences, it is equally right and necessary that His friends
and attendants following that manifestation should imi-
tate and reproduce them. If it was necessary that
David and Solomon should be lovers of righteousness and
lovers of peace, it is erpially necessary that we shouM be
hners of righteousness and lovers of ])eace ; and if Keho-
boam forfeited his honours and his jnivileges as a liar-
bingt-r of Messiah, l)ecanse of his want of conformity to
Messiah, so we in like manner ninst not be suri>rised to
be exclude(l from JNb'ssiah's retinu(% if we remain nnre-
nt ,'ed and unlike Him in s))iiit and ])urpose. He is the
first })orii among many brethren, and He is the standard
of character for them all. Every discii)le must be con-
formed to his chief — must be like his chief (modified in

Vv.

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VT_

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

each, of course, because of tlie fraguientary nature of
creature life, ami because that each has an a]t]U'()priate
jdaceto occupy in the one harmoniscMl and bcautitied mys-
tical body of Ciirist), and each nnist be wholly separated
fioiu evrry thiui,' opjiost'd to tin; charactci- and purposes of
his chief Look then to the Chief : lie is meek : lie re-
lieves the burdened : He makes jx'ace : and every one
who truly belongs to lliiiimuMt, in like maimer, be meek,
considerate and pacific. W we walk otherwise — if we
walk in [nide, if we refuse i-tdief to tlui burdened when
we liJive {\w power to lu'l[), if we selfishly perturb and
irritate when we ought to soothe ami to pacify, — then
we just repeat the folly of l{eh(»boam, siidc from the
di^nity and benignity of true disei[)leshi[), and show to
all enlightened ones that we do not belong to the
heavenly Kingdom. You would not wish to be excludeil
from heaven at last. You would not M'ish to have ad-
dressed to you the cutting words : " Depart from Me, ye
workers of iniipiity : 1 never knew you." You would
iu)t wish to be t(jld by the great Kedeemer, and at the
threshold of glory, " You never jfavc any evidence of love
to Me, or of sympathy with My purposes. You were self-
jtleasing and i)roud, when I wished you to take on my
yoke of meekness and lowliness. You were oppressive
and unkind to your fellows, when I wished you to undo
the heavy burdens, an<l to sympathise with the sorrowful.
Y'on were restless and dissatisfied besides, when 1 wished
you to be submissive and trusting. (lo ! I did not ask
you to work out a righteousness for yourself, but I did
expect some evidence of your professed fiith in Me. You
can furnish none. Your Jib', you know, Avith all your
professions to the contrary, was unmeek, inconsiib'iate,
and unpacitic, and you can have no ])art with Iv a !" Alas
for those who are preparing for such a sentence.

If it was bitter for lieho))oam to forfeit the honours and
the riches of the house of David, how nuich more the
grief of forb'iting the honours — the eternal honours — and
the riches, of the house and family of God !

IlEIIODOAM.

QUESTIONS ON KEIIOBOAM.

Wliat was tlie general character of this reign ?

Unsnnny and irritated.
Wliat made tliis the more bitter to T{ehi)])oani ?

His renieinhrances of liis fatlier's reign, wliich was pcr-
liaps tlie most brilliant in the world's histoiy.
Did no lingering beam of his father's glory remain to this
prince I
Not any : the clouds began to gather oven before Solo-
mon's death, and they never lifted again during all the
years of Uehoboam's royalty.
How did the reign conuuenee /

liy dismend)erment. Ten of the twelve tribes were lorn
away from the house and dynasty of David.
How inu-^t the dismemberment have been regarded by the
inflated mind of the son of Solomon I
As galling and humbling in no (ordinary degree.
What would make it the more grievous to Kehoboam ?

The thought of the time when Jeroboam, his successful
rival, was but an oflieer in his father's court, and eager
to receive recognition or attention from himself as heir
apparent to the throne.
What was the next step in his dish'^nour ?

His kingdom became increasingly defiled and darkened
by evil. Instead of recovering from the errors of Solo-
mon, it only grew worse aiul worse. "They built high
jilaces " (it is said) " in every high hill, and did accord-
ing to all the abominations of the nations which the Lord
cast out before them." (This might not disturl) Keho-
boam, but it was his dishonour notwithstanding.)
What next cmliittered the life of this prince i

Shishak, King of Egyi)t, invaded his territory, and took
away the treasures and golden shields of the Temple, as
well as the treasures of the king himself. (This might
be at the instigation of Jeroboam, which would make it
specially grievous : and it nnist have l)cen further griev-
ous as done by a power which had been in such friendly
relations with his father.)
liesides this indignity from Egyiit, was there no chrtmic grief
or irritation allecting the i)eaee of Kehoboam i
Yes ; there was continual war between him and Jeroboam.
(He could not unseat his rival, but he kept himself in
irritation by continually aiming at it.)

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Tin; DYNASTY (tF KAVID.

How liapiioiicd it tli.it all tliis disiicaoo, and liUiiiiliati(»n, and
olisniiiitidii, fell tdtlu' lot iif Kfliolioam {
Witlioiit enttriiig more iiartitidarly into the can.s(>s tlicre-
(if, \vc may say in <;tnfial that tho reason will liu found
in liis wroiiij clioici;.
Wliat wroii!^ flioici' did lio make ]

He jinfcrrcd llie sniicistitionH of his mofhcr to the faith
of his father. In otlier words, he preferred Amnion to
Israel.
TIow does tliat ajipear ?

It is expressly said in Chronicles, after a repi'tition of liis
Amnionitish maternity, that " he did evil" (or preftried
idolatry) " because he ]»repared not his heart to seek tho
Lord" (or Iteeause lie was a\t.'rse to, and did not ehoose,
the serviee of the (Jod of Israil.
What render.s his conduct in this respect incxcusahle ?

lie had am[ile opiioitunities of knowing the true from
the false.
What striking event occurred when he w;is ahor.t nine or ten
yeai's old /
The dedication of the heautifiil and golden Temple Imilt
by his father.
What snjiirnatural token was given on that occasion ?

The Sheehinah-cloud took jiossession of the most holy
jilaee, and the youthful prince must have lieard of tho
fact.
Had this prince any privilege beside, as to early instruc-
tion i
Yes ; the most ample. Solomon, while yet nnsulxlued
himself liy evil, urged on Ivehoboam the transcendant
importance of heavenly wisdom, saying, "My .son, get
Avisdom, and with all thy getting get understanding. "
He elsewhere defines the wisdom thus recommended,
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."
Had Rehoboam any ancestral reasons for choosing the fear
of the Lord I
Ccrtainl}' : he couhi not be ignorant of the character
and writings, and covenant distinctions, of his grand-
father, David.
And wfre there no national considerations binding him to
the same course /
Yes : very many, and veiy decided. The miraculous
history i/f his nation was something unique and com-
manding, and it ought to have secured his ;vcce[itance in
preference to the id:e stenies of superstition.

JIKIIOUOAM.

tho

tlMlC-

ilned
idaiit
get

idcil,

; foar

i-iicter
L-aiid-

corn-
ice in

IIow (lid Reliolioam respond to all thcs(3 advantages and ol)li-
gatioUH /
lie yavi' liiiiiself to itlolatr)' in tlio face of them all.
Anil hi>\v «lid this decision on liii part tell nn tjic conipUxioti
of his rci^n /
It neci'ssarily rfntltrt'd it L^loomy ami cheerless. (Jod is
tlie centre of light, ind they who turn fiom Jlim must
walk in (l.ukncss.
Dues the fault of his father giving liim an AmuiDnitisli mother
excuse liis fault /
l'>y no means : he was houml ti> pn-fer tlie true to the
false when he had tlie means of knowing the one from
the other. Many are in far worse circumstances than
he for making this choice, and yet they are hound to
make it.
r.ut did the defection of liis father in tin; latter jiart of jiis
reign not excuse in .some measure the conduct of Ke-
hohoam /
Xiit at all. It .should only have made him more circum-
spect, and more tenacious of the David-style of worship
anil government.
What does this mistaken choice of Rehohoam teach to tlie
young of all suhsefiuent generation.s i
T>. reject evil, and " to prepare their hearts to seek the
L.)rd."
What is the character of the ohligations resting on the yoting
who live inider g(jsi»el-testimoi'y in relation to thi.s
choice /
Overwhelming on the side of Christian piety ; and to dis-
regard them will only he to incur greater condemnation.
If the reign of Keliohoam was un.sunny because of his
wrong choice, the life anil fortunes of the unl)elieving
now must be dark, dark indeed.
l>ut w.'iat if maternal inllueiice be on the side of superstition
or worldliiiesH /
It must be set aside or disregardetl. Nothing can excuse
us for trifling with the communications and claims of
(iod in I'hrist.
What was the consequence of Relioboam's mistaken choice in
relation to the typical honour of his house ?
It neutralized for him that honour. He could not be
a type of tho true and the transcendant King of
Israel.
What was expected of the successive kings of tho liouso of
David /

Illy

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'WW. DWASTY 01'' DAVID.

Tliiit each hIiouM foreshadow' sojue oik? or more of tho
cxcclh'iicicH of the crowning' priiici) of that hotiso.
How far Difl Kchohoani iiicct tliis e,\)icctatioii /

^lot at all. So far from doiip^' so, ho was in direct antag-
oiiiHin to tlie u'reat aiiti-ty|>e of his lioiiso.
Mention some partieulars in which he dillcred from tho groat
andconiiiiijSoii of I)avi(l.
In hishanteiir, nnicason, and violence.
Do sul)se<(Ueiit a,L,'es evi'r tui'n t() IJeholxmni t(» iiotc^ the cor-
rnscations or l)oauties (tf the then nnrovoaled lumi-
nary of tim(^ \
No : the light of that luminary is not rellected from him.
\Vhat is t'X))ected of tho followers of Messiah now, sooini; that
l»y their position in rilation to His incai'nation they
cannot tyjtify His excellencies /
They are to imitate and reiiroduco those pxcollencios.
What an; tlu! excellencies which Christians must imitate and
rejiroduco as suirL^'csted by the story of Kehohoani /
Meekness, ready helpfidness in U'lation to tho hurdeiied,
and pejicefnlness with all aroiuid, as far as may bo, and
with a due reu-'ud to faithfulness of course.
What will he the Ititter end of jirofi'ssors who are found tube
unlike the great centre of light at last \
They must forfeit the honours of the family of CJod. oven as
Itehoboam forfeited thehononrs of the family of David.
What in geiua-al are tho lessons taught by tho story of Keho-
boam ]
Flr.sf. That young ixMiple should be incited to make a
right choice between Truth and Error. Both press for
attention, and every man nnist make a choice— not to
choose at all is in ellect to abide by the wrong side.
/SVcr»j/(//i/. That ])rofessors should remember the indispen-
sable i)roprieties of the house and family of (jod if thoy
woxdd not forfeit tho honours and prospect.-s of tho same.

IV. AIUJAll.

"And Ti»']i()]»nain slept witli liis fjitliirw, (iiul waslniriiMl in tin'
city iif I);i,vi(i; uiid Aliij.ili liis son ri'l^nnl in liis stead. " 11
I'liiun., xii., l(i.

*=^^'»"1rX ^^^^ Vv'wwo was srarccly soaU'il on liis tlinmo

P>y% wlicn he- IouikI liiriisclt' in (.'litical circmn-
'^ stances, lie inherited with liis i>alriiiii»ny
the enmity of JtM'ohoam. "There was war
/ 'between lieholtoani and .lerohoam all their days :"
and so soon as Ahijali oc('iii)ied the seat of his
father hi' liecanie a tii^nre in the politics and spe-
^ dilations of Samaria. Jeroboam by this time had
/|;^ become more audacious than M'lien lirst he jjained
his throne. His (!.\'[)erieiico had grown, and liis un-
godliness. He was now ])re]>ared for aggressive
iiioveiiients in relation to the house of Daviil. At
first, and while Kehoboam live<l, ho was content
to lesist any attempt on tlu^ part of that house
to regain the dissenting tribes. Now he was pre-
])arttl to attem[»t the subjugation of .Imlali itself, and of
its royal house as well. The aecession of Abijah furnish-
(mI, as he thought, a suitable opportunity, and Ik^ col-
lected a mighty army accordingly. He had much larger
resources than Abijah, and fraught with the conviction
that victory goes with the " heaviest battalions," he felt
coiiiideiit of success. ]>ut this was just a step too far,
and he was doomed to overthrinv and disa[>pointnient.
So long as he kept within his own domain, he was allowed
to shape his policy as he thought best ; but so soon as
he attempted to subjugate the house (jf David and the
tribes that still owned the sway of that house, he found
himself checkmated in a way which he did nut expect.

h I

, I

-^WTS^

Tin: DYNASTY OF DAVID.

TTcrciniiids lis in (jiis respect ofPIiilij) IT. of Spain. Tliat
j)iiiice \\as ]ieiinitte(l to woi k his own cruel ami \vick<Ml
vill within his own (htniinions tor ye.irs, and l»itter were
tlie e\|)erience.s of many of liis snhjects in conscMpience ;
l)iit when, fancying' himself ".ji-eat enon^h to control
nations beyond, he jirejiared Jiis In\incihle / iniada, as he
was pleased to call it, to ]>nt out the li,^dlt and joy of
truth and liberty in Uritain, lu; foinid nnlooked for
reverse. This was, as in the case of deroboani, just a
step too far.

Ahijah in tliis relation occupied the ])osition of Eliza-
beth of Eni;land. The interests of mankind werc! wra])pe(l
up in the safety of both these rulers — each in his and her
own a^'e. Neither tlu; one nor tln^ othi'r was fully aware
of the (pu'stion involved in their ]'esj)ective circumstances,
but both wer(! )>artially enli,iL,ditene(l. Both made memo-
rable and I'ecorded sj)eeches when the ci'isis overto(»k
tliem ; not indeed to tin? same ])aities, but both appiojtri-
ate, — the queiii, as we thiidc, the less faulty. Abijah's
address Avas to the enemy ; that of Klizabcth was to her
own suppoiters.

And this address of Abijah's Me have reason to belit'vu
is reliable. It is not the practice of the sacred historians,
as with the writers of ordinary history, to niamifacture
the speeclu's of the actors in their narrative. No, they
report what was ai-tually said ; and this makes it safe to
draw inferences from, tlu-ir reoided woi'ds. It is iui])ort-
ant to remember this in the present case, as it is chietiy
from his address that wo are enabled to understand what
Sort of pei'son Abijah was.

In noti(,'ing this rei<;n we shall turn your attention to
AV)ijali"s greatness— to his ti'ue character, and to his early
death.

/. Ills (jreaUicss.

It is said by the sacn^l historian that he "■ waxed
mighty," and one instance! is given of his success in arms.
lie broke the power of Jeroboam ; he s-cittered the war-
like array of that monarch \ he took cities fromliim ; and

AI'.I.IAII.

so rfTt'c'tUiilly liimi1»l«'il liini tliit lie iicviT «•• c ivcifil
stiTiijL^th aijaiii in tin- tiays of Al>i.i.!li.

\oi- was .It'i"ol»oaiii an iiisi;^niilii'aiit iMictiiy. TIhtc is
little i^loiy, you know, in coiniiiiTiii'^ tlic t't'cWlc ; Idit.Ici
oltoatii was not trcUU'. [[v liu I li;i(l Iku.^ cxix-iit-ncc in
wai'. For iicaily twiMity years lie Irul wifMcd the icsonr-
ces of ten out of tlu; twclvf tiiln-, in Israel; and now, wlitii
l»ron;;lit into collisinH with Al»ijali, ho could luiii:^ into
iii'M nearly a inillioii of nu'U. It was no small niattei- to
couteij!! with •^ui'h an anti.; mist. It was no small ,:^loiy,
speaUini; after the manner of ordinary history, toeoinjuer
so redoulital)le a ehii'f, and sustaine(l hy such a mimerous
following,'. No douht, the men of that time lool<<'d with
interest and astonishment on t'lis aehievemeiit of Ahijah.
The ol)senre and unillumin ited days of Isratd, which had
prevailed under Kehohoam, ceased tor tlie time l)ein,i;, and
a new era of gloiy seeniiMl to hav(! ilawned for the throne
of Jerusalem. The memory of i)avid's vietoiies was
revived, an 1 it ajtpeared as if the spirit antl powtT of
that illustrious kimr were a'Miii in the ascendant in the
son of Kehob<)am.

And yet it was not so. This greatness of Ahijah's was
meteoi'ic and ailveiititious ; it ha<l not the cli iraetei-istics

•f tru

e Lrreatness.

rue irreatness irrows, ami tills tlu

])at;e of history, and becomes the more ap[)reciated and
ailmii-ed the more it is .studied. l''ollow tlie steps of the
truly distin,L,'uished, and you will timl tlu^ excellence that
distiiiLCuishes them reappeariivj; tVum time to time, a.nd
even in amplei' manifestation. i hus with the faith of
Abraham, and thus with the wisdom of Jose[di, and thus
with the prowi'ss of David. Tlu' faith of Abi-aham carried
him from his nativi^ land, enabli'<l him to hope against
hope in I'tdation to the promised seed, and sustained him
as he journeyed to .Moriah to otl'er his beloved Isaac on
the altai'. So of the wisdom of Joseph. It shone in the
house of Poti[)har ; it reappeared in the ])rison ; and it
dis[)layed its unusual i)i'nfundity in the service of I'haroah.
Ami so of the )>rowess of David. It ditl not expire with
the conquest of Goliah, but marked all his subsequent

* 1

i 1

l^'l^

•I

^^K

^^^Hi

^^^

'fi:

.!!}

■'fi
4

•■ ' ■ i ■-

■''■S

i'_ ]

', 1

li^

TIIK DYNASTY ()F DAVID.

f f

career. It is ever tluis with true ;;reatiies.s ; it uiowsand
uii!ul<ls itscll"; and liistoiy «leli;.ilit.s in it. ami all fulldwiiiLj
ag('8 .study Mild admire it, ami im»re intimate kn<>\vledj.,'o
only enli.inecs its claims on admiration.

Hut it is not tluis with the ,i;i-eatness of .\l)ijah. That
j^reatness did not ^mow. nur re-manit'est itself. True, ho
had hut Uriel' opportunity to show what he was, as ho
was eaily cut down. Still, his victory over .lerohoani
was followed only by events which small men are e.jual
to. Jle increased tlie numliei" of his wives, and allected
j;i'eat state and imiMntaiice. His mightiness was not the
mightiness of a commanding; intellect —swayin;; Ids con-
temitoi'aries for good, and moulding the masses to har-
mony or to excellence ; hut it was tlu' mightiness of Ori-
ental luxury an<l unworthy pomp, if lie seemed to rival
iJavid in his achievenu-nt against .lernhoam. he forthwith
sunk into the ell'ennnacy and vain disjilay of Solomon, hy
the increase of his haiem and the expensive hahits of his
court. Instead of glowing in excellence, whether mili-
tary or administrative, he rather sunk into the niaguili-
cence of a self-cent reil and selt-pleasing «lespot, and his-
tory attaches small imi»ortance to his greatness. This
one unsustained achievement is indeetl recorded, hut his
name is unshriued in tlu; heart of the ages, and his mem-
ory is hai'ely preserxcd among men. Furthermore, the more
fully his one great victory is underst(»od, the more ch'aily
is it manifest that small renown attaches to liim because
of it. It was not ])ecause of superior generalshij) on his
part that victory declared in his favour. The superiority
in this particular was wholly on the side of Jerohoam.
The calculations and arrangements of that }>rince were
perfect, and must have resulted in triumph for his arms
had no unseen causes controlled the event. He had
brought an overwhelming force into the field, and he made
such disposition of his forces as to take the troops of
Abijah l)efore and bt'hind at the same time. According
to all ordinary calculations, Abijah's case was hopeless.
He was in the hands of a superior general, and his resour-
ces were only half of those of his greater antagonist. Only

AIUJAU.

us
'111-
i»rc

iin.

•iiis

liul

ido
of

Illy

u inir;ifl«' coMltl s;iv(( liiiii, ami »lial niiraili' wa> itnlffd
wnm^lit. The Itt-lca:,'!!' ml party pn'vaili'tl, the inrniui-
^.liiifd tlic ctdwn ; ami tlx- iiiiiilitin- Imst was scUtrnd
and dixM'inlitcd. And wliy / Not l»fcau>o of AMjah's
goodness, l>ut bi'cansc (}od saw nuct that it should he so;
and souH' ri-asons for (Jod's decision in tlic matter iiv not
far tost'(d\.

First, It w.is l)t'(';mst' of the cries of the piiMi-i in Ahi-
jah's army. Hear the naiiative : —

" And wli-'U .riiil;ili lidiki'd Icu'k, lu-buM, tlu" liiitllf w;is l)cf<in'
.111(1 lii'Iiiml ; Jiiid tlifV fiii'd uiiti» the Lord, and tlif jirii-sts
Konudfd with tlic triiinint-<. Tl^ i tin- tiumi nf ■ Kiiili ,t,MVt' n
nil. lilt, iind JH tilt' nn'U of .liidii! mitt'd, it fai .i- to piisH. tliivt
(lodsiiiotf .Icroliii;iMi .liul ;dl l-srai'l l»ct' ri- .'iiiijiili and .liidali.
And tilt' cliiMrrn of Israel tld ln-fni-c .l,i., Ii ; and (iod deli' fO'd
thfiii into tlii'ir h. iid. And Aliija'' iind his jn'oplt; hIcw tln-ni
with a ;,'n'at slaii.,'liti'r ; so thcrf f/ll I iwn slain i.r Israel five
hiindri'd thousand chosen men. 'i'lms the children of Israel wei-c
broiii,dit under at that time, uiid the i hillreii of .Indali prevaileil,
because they relied ii|M>n the liord (iod of their fatm.. ■..'" (II.
Chron. xiii., 1 1-1.').)

Voii will remeinher that the ^reat majoi'ity of the truly
good iu Israel at that time were under Ahijah.and many
of those, no dou^t, were in tiie army, i iu-re were not
only the pious helon,u;inj4 to the two tribes, hut also tlic
pious belonojiig to tlie ten ti'ihes. Tiui time-servinii in
Israel had gatlier(!d arijund den)h()aiu and his gojih'ii
calves; hut tiie pious and enh;;hteurd h;id i,Mthel'ed to
the Temple and to the liouse of David. 'I'hr two armies
represented, spcaiiinj^ in j^eiicral, the ehilf and the wheat
in Israel. Jeroljoam headed th(^ more numerous, ungodly
and self-seeking, while Ahijah led tlie less numerous
godly, who sought the honour of (Jod and the preserva-
tion of tlu; Temple. \\\ this liLcht vou will not wonder
that the victojy should be found with Ahij.ih — not for
his own sake, nor because of any generalship on his part,
but for the sake of the pious who crowded or followed
his standard. These had forsaken their homes (many of
them) to escape the golden calves, and it did not com-
port with G.: I's purpo.ses that these golden calves shoidd
prevail over the territory to which His servants had be-

L ■

1 1

I i :

■u^_

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

taken tliomsolvos. As for Al)iJ.ili liiinsclf it is to lie
noticed, th;it Ik; l»o;ist('(l of (lod to -Fcrolx);!!)! 1)('f)r(^ tlie
biittlc, l»iit it is not said that lie cried to the; Lord when
th(! crisis aiose. ]t was tlie men of Jiuhdi that cried.
Further, it is specially stated that he slew, Imt others
]>rayetl. He is inealioiied in connection with the slanuht-
er, l»iit not in connection with tlu? (le\'otions or the divine
r liance. (17, IS.)

Seroixlli/, It was for the sake of Jerusalem. God had
not for<i;otten David, nor his loval services. Solomon,
indeed, had been unwortliV, and therefore his kingdom
was rent and dismemhered under Rehohoam, hut the
Holy Oiu' of Isi'ael was not ])re[)are(l to extinguish, or to
alh»w to l)e extini2;uished, the tlnone of His honoured
servant altogether. Had Jei'ohoam gained this battle. Ik^
wouhl ])robal)ly have marclied to Jt-rusaleiu f »rlh\vlth, and
set aside the sacred dynasty at once. He had no ))ious
scru])les to check him. Policy was everything with him,
and llt'aveu's pui'poses would ha\'e received small consid-
eration at his liands. lUit God saw meet to secure His
own ])urposcs, in tlu:* ]n"esei vation of David's house and
David's throne, and therefore the mighty army of Jero-
boam was scattered, and all his skiltul arrangements lud-
lified. He was dri\-en back to Samaria, and Jerusalem
and the Temple, and the sacred housi; of David, were
savetl from his inroads, and from his undesirable domi-
nation. Then

jf'// //■(////, the interests of unborn generations required this
check on Jeroboam as well as the interests of the house and
city of David. The truth is, the eulightemuent and well-
being of untold millions in the latter day were l)oinid up
in the family of David, ami in the history of JerusaU'ni.
The time indeed would come, when the sacred city would
be trodden under foot of the Gentiles, but that would be
(at least as to its long obscuration) after the family of
David had merged in its pernninent and h(\iveidy repre-
sentative. In the mem time, that city nuist be pre-
served, and therefore the mighty army of Jeroboam falls
and melts away before the arms of the men of Judali.

AI5IJAII.

'III.
1)0

of
ire-

Jls

There were reasons then for Ahijali'.s victory apart al-
togetlier from cjenei'al.^hi}) on liis part, or even ;::(»< "hies.s
on hi.s ])art. The Tenii)le of (lod was behind liini, the
prayei's of the pious were; on liis si(h', and the [»iir])os(',s
of (Jod required his safety. These are reasons \vei^htier
far than tliosc; -whieli are material or ai>[>ai'eiit, ami yet
tliey are reasons wliich warriors in general apprehend
not. 'J'hest' warriors can count tlu'ir troojjs, and com-
pare their cannon with thost; of the enemy ; they can
make mathematical calculations concei'ning the weight of
their artillery, or the range of their weapons ; l)ut tiiey
compute not the force of prayer, nor the interests of
God's cause among men — -nor yet the bearings of events
on distant ages. No doubt Jeroboam was sur])rised at
his discomfiture, and well he might, considei'ing the eh;-
ments in his fa\our. I>iit ha I he seen and undiTstoo I
all, his sui'pi'ise would have abated, or, at least, have
taken a new shape. The truth is, he would havt' IxM-n
ama;u!d at his own temerity, in I'ushing agamst the thick
bosses of the Almighty's buckler. And so with many
warriors besides Jero])oam ; were their eyes but ojiened
to the tiue caus(\s of things, tlu'V would judge otherwise
than they do : they would learn that it is not by cliance
that battles ai'O deci<led, nor yet always by the material
forces employed, nor yet altogether by the genius of the
commanders engaged ; but, by the Ood of battles, antl
that with a view to interests often wholly invisible at the
time, esjjeeially to the pai'ties en j;aged ; and they would
thus learn to think more humbly of themstdves ami of
their achievements. In tlu; case before us, Abijah no
doubt thought himself a great hero, and yet how small a
place he occu[)ies in human annals — none in general his-
stojy — and only a small niche in Jewish story, and that
only in consecpu-nce of his connection with the house
of David. The reasons of his victory were entirely a]_)art
from himself But let us notice, —

//. ///,y true character.

At lirst sight, and as reported of in this chapter, he

T1[K DYNASTY OF DAVID.

seems pious ; at any rate, lie uses the. langua_2;(5 of ]>iety,
ami jjiolesses to chei'ish the expectations of tlie ])ious.
Jlear his liiiging sjieech t(j ierobuain and his army hefoi'c
joining l)attk3 : —

" An<l Al)ij;ili stood iipoii Mount ZiMiKir.'iiin, wliieli is in ^ronnt
T^plii'.iini, ;uiil s:ii(l, ' Hrar inc. thou •liToiinuni, and all Isnud ;
< tuijlit Vf not to know that tin/ Lord ( i<id of Israi.'! .Lfavu tlio kinic-
(loni over Israel to I)avid forever, even to him and to his sons
by .1 covenant of salt? Vet Jerohoani, the son of Xehat, tiie
servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath re-
lielled a/^ainst his lord. And thert; are u'athered unto him vain
nn'ii, the ehiidrrn of I'elial, ami have stri'ii-^thened themselves
a-'.iinst l.'eholioani the son of Solomon, when liehoboam ^\■as
yonnuc and triider-lirarted, and could not witlistand them. Ami
now ye thiidc to withstand the KiiiLcdom of the l^ord in the hand
(if the .sons of David ; and ye he a ;,'reat multituile, and tliero are
with you ^'ohU'U calves, which Jerohoam made you for i,'oils.
Have yv not cast out tli" jn-iests of the l>ord, tlie sons of Aaron,
and the licvites, and have made you priests after the m nmn' of
the nations of other lands ? So that whosoever cometh to conse-
crate himself with a youn,^' bullock ami seven rams, the same
may be a i)riest of them that are no i^ods. JJut as for us, the
]jord is our (Jod, and we have not f(n'saken Him ; and the i)riests
wliit-li minister unto the Lord, are the sons of Aaron, and the
JiCNites wait njiou their iiusiness; ami they burn luito the Lord
every niornini,'' and evi'ry eveniiiLf burnt sacrilices and sweet in-
cense ; the shewliread also set they in order upon the juire talile •
and the candlesticks of i,'old with the lanqis thereof, to burn
every eveniuLf ; for we keep the charife of the Lord our (.Jod, but
ye have foi'sakcn Him. And, behold, (iod lUmself is with us
for oiu' Captain, ;ind liis jiriests with siiundin,L;-trum])ets to cry
alarm .-I'.^'ainst you. () ehildven of Isiael, ti.^ht ye not •c.^'ainst the
Lord (Jod of your fathers, for ye shall not jirosper.' " (IL Chron.
xiii., 4-1 L'.)

Who \voul(l ex])i'ct anytliinghut goodness and holy obed
ience after such talk ? And yet it was far otherwise with
Ahijah. IJis piety is like his mightiness, it will not l)ear
e.xaniination. M\en though we knew no nu)re of him than
this speech of his I'eveals, \\a might well douht the genu-
ineness of hi.s goodness. ^Notice particularly : —

FivHt, There is a merging of imjxirtant facts in the
statements of this speech. Jle makes no mention of, or
reference to, the conditions attached to the occupancy of
the throne hy the sons of David in the course of it. Ac-
cording to him, it would seem as if fidelity on their ])art
was a matter of no consequence. They may do as they

*-4..

AiiiJAir.

will, — tlioy may l)c ctinsisteiit or inc()nsist(.'nt, tlicy may
be faithful or iiiifaitliful, — and still claim tlu; honours and
immunities of the throne of (licir ^^'eat ancestor, llo,
takes no notice of the unfaithfuhu'ss of liis grandfather
Solomon, and none of tlie i)ride and haui^litiness of his
fatlier Kehohoani. Ihul he been truly i»ious, he would
have grieved that his house; had given occasion for the
disarrang(Mnent and disnu'udx'i'ment that had arisen, and
his grief and penitence would ha\'e withheld him tVoni
every thing like presum]>tion and self-assertion, oi- funily
assertion. Jhit he had no such regrets. He was a de-
scendant of David, — that was enough, as ho thought, to
put down all oii[)osition to him. We seems t(j ha\'e hdt
just as Ivehoboam felt when asked to lessen the burdens
of the people, viz., that no one had a right to question
his rule — tliat indeed, he had "a right divine to govern
■wrong." This is not like tlie sentiment of the tridy
pious.

^'ou will notice besides, that Abijali takes no notice
of the riiiht of -Jeroboam to govern the ten tribes —
a right conferred by the same a\ithority as that by
which the family of David held the two ti'ibes. He
treats Jeroboam as a mere usui'p(,'r, and actually misrepre-
sents the case as between him and liehol)oam. He pre-
tends to say, that Jerobixim took adva'itage of the youth
and tenderness of his father — gaining his royal positi(»n
in Samaria when thei'e was no one in Jerusalem experi-
enced enough to cope A\ith him. Now, to us it seems
strange that he should talk so, Avhen we know that Ixeho-
boam was more than forty years old at the death of Sol-
omon. ]ielioboam was in his maturity when the ten
tribes gathered around Jerolxtain. There was neither
youth, nor tenderness, nor humility about Jit'h(»boam to
touch the sensil)ilities of his oppressed jteoplc, or to stay
the ambition or the determination of his lival. He was,
on the contraiy, haughty, oltstinatc . and bent on subju-
gating the disatl'ected, if only he had had the jiower ;
and that, Avithout listening to their reasonable demands.
In one word, the statement of the case, as between Jero.

■f '4

■»

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

l)().iin and tlie tliroiu; of JtM'Usalein, iiii])lios pridti and
luifairiios on tlui ])ai't of Aldjali ; and ]>rid(! and nnfair-
ness aro inconipatihhi M'ith true i)iety. i3ut furtlR'r, con-
corning this spcecli, tliere is,

Sccoiidlj/, An undno inipoi'tance attached to external
observances of it. He hoasts of *he Teni])le at .lerusa-
h-ni, and the olferings, and the h'gitiniate priests, and the
trunipet-hh)\vings, as if these ahjne constituted religion
and secured the presence and favour of God. He seem.s
to liave liail no misgivings as to th(; jiresence among Ins
jx'oph^ of the si)ii'it of true faith and (hivotioii ; or rather
th(.' truth seems to l)e, he liad littU; ith-a of the existence
or need of such a spirit at all The external rites weie
everything in his eye. These being observed at his ca})i-
tal, and not at the capital of Jeroboam, he felt confident
that God would intei"i)ose for hini and his people, and not
for Jeroboam and his peoi)le. Now, true piety is not
thus ; it sus[)ects its own short-comings, and has no con-
fidence in its own peiformances. It is Avell pleased to
observe the order of divine Avorship as to externals, but
it knows that the heart is not always true even when the
forms are unexcei)tionable. It is not, therefore, ready
to l)oast of its own observances, or to take encouraire-
nient from its own fidelity in externals. It rather looks
to the grace of G(k1, and C(nnmits itself, A'/hen any great
crisis arises, to the wisdom and determinations of Him
Avho knows how to temper his dispensations to the state
and circumstances of His people. Abijah, however, seems
to have had no such refined or spiritual ideas. He "was
familiar with the visible and the literal ; and he Avas con-
tent to know that the true priests officiated in Jerusalem,
Avithout concerning himself to inquire how far a spirit
of eidightenment or obedience prevailed among his peo-
ple. JS'ay further, avo fear avo must charge him, in this
vaunting speech of his, Avith,

T/tirilli/, Sheer hy[)ocrisy. He talked as if he Avere a
true son of David, and a loyal observer of Heaven's di-
rections, Avhile all the Avhilo he Avas a renegade and an
idolater. We have another brief notice of him in the

<-JL

ABI.IAJI.

fiftceiitli of Fir.^t Kiiii,'.^, and wliat do wo find rcjjortod of
liiiii there ? Wliy thus, " That he walktMl in all the sins
of his father, which he had done Ix-fore him ;'" and wo
know that his father, when estahlished in the kini^Mhrni,
forsook tho law of the Lord, and all Isi-ad with him;
and we know that Judah nnder his father's reii^ni pro-
voked tho Lord to joalonsy al>ove all that their fathers
had done. A\'as there not hy[ioeri.sy then in this speech
on the part of Abijah ? Jfe was no devijtee of the (Jod
of Israel, and yet he talked as if Im W(!re. lie walked
in the nnlioly and heathenish practices of tho time, and
yet ho claimed and expected tlu; protection of tho (Jod of
Israel. Ilt^ cast scorn on Jeroboam for his false priests
and his fjoldon cah'os, and yet ho know himself to bo tho ad-
herent of yet more heathenish priests and idols. In one
word, ho did evil in tho si^ht of tho Lord, and used all
liis royal infhionco on the side of evil, and yet ho talked
as if ho wore faithfnl to Isracd's God, and wholly devoted
to tho service of Israel's LJod. (10-12.)

Yon see then tho trne character and position of Abijah
as exhibited in this speech. Ho was unfair t(j Jeroboam,
he was overweening in his judgments concerning tho
house of fathers, ho was materialistic in his views of re-
ligion, and he was hypocritical in relation to God. In
one word, he knew the ri<dit but did the wroncr. Ho
claimed the advantages of the house of Da^dd, while he
was wholly estranged from the spirit and princii>les of
David. This was truly offensive. It was almost worse
th:in the total apostacy of lf<'hoboam. That })rinco,
when once established in J(!rusalem, forsook the God of
his fathers, and talked no more in tho lanii;ua!j;e of the
]»i{)us in Israel ; but Abijah retaiiu-d for special occasions
tho language of piety, while ho walked after tho manner
of tho surrounding heathen. That is to say, ho would
hold God to His covenant, as it were, but regarded him-
self at liberty to violate that covenant as his convenience
might dictate. Ho would be free to transgress, and yet
ho would claim the protection of Ilini Avhoso government
he rejected. You can understand how oifonsivc this

I't

■ \l

—r

THE DYNASTY OF DAMD.

AvouliI ])(' iK'twccn man and man. Siipjioso any one of you
had a(l<ipt('(l a younij; ]>oi'.son — promi.sinj^ to make him
yourlieir, on condition that lie sliould cont'onn himself to
your -wishes, and devote himself to your service. You
would fei'l very grieved if 3'ou found him, fiom day to
ilay, disrei^ardiiiii; y(jur wi.dies, lending' himself t(^ ])ur-
})oses or ^to i)art.i('.s whi( h wcrci Avliolly opjx'scd to your
honour and your life, and utterly indilfcreiit to your fetd-
iii,gs and remonstrances ; hut, if grieved for this con-
duct, how would your indignation he rous'jd if the same
party still claimccl the fullilmcnt of your engagement to
enrich or to emiohh! him. With the heart of an enemy,
how could he claim the privileges of a son ? And how
could he thiidv to hold vou to your eiiLra^ement when he
liad himself hi'oken tin; tie that ))ound his interests with
yours ] Better that he should hreak (.)if altorether, and
make no uni"easonal>le claims, than that he should hreak
off aud yet claim to possess the forfeited inheritance.
]>ut this was really the conduct of Al)ijah. True, God
did deliver him from Jerohoam, hut that was not for his
goodness, nor yet for his vaunting and hyjjocritical speech :
the Holy One of Israel had other reasons for His inter-
position on the occasion, as we have seen.

And this style of character very much prevails wher-
ever divine knowledge is enjoyed. And you ought to
note it especially as you youi'selves are in great danger of
adopting it — professing, as you do, the knowledge of
God's gospel. You will ohserve that Ahijah had know-
ledge, hut he was not under the influence of his know-
ledge. He had seen Solomon, his grandfather, and he
lit'ard of David, hut ha was not emancipated from the
evil social influences that surrounded him. He did evil
hecause evil was fashionahle, and his knowledge was in-
opeiative in ijractice. He could talk of David, hut he
fell in harmony with the irreligious })ortion of his contem-
poraries. Had his knowledge heen so commanding as to
tear him from the social ungodliness of his time, and to
constrain him to think ami feel as David thought and felt,
his character wouhl have heen single and consistent, hut,

AUIJAII.

a.> tilings wcro, his cli.irartcr was liypocriticiil and incon-
si.striit. He t'lainicil tin' iiiniiiinitit's of a sad'cd tliront;
while lio walked iu h:irninny with the uusacivd and idol-
ati'ous portion of the connnunity.

And how is it with many prot'ossors in onr own time ?
They have knowh'dge ; hnt does tliejr knoudedi^e nionld,
i'ei;idate, or enianeipate them? Tlie (lospel of (Jod'.s
i;iaee sliines over thein, hut a (Jod lui'^ettin;^' Avoi'ld sur-
rounds them ; anil where ai'e their sym])athies ? Tlio
irosiiel tliev know in a general wav: hut ai'e tliev delivered
hy it IVom this )»re.>ent e\il world ? Tliey have heard of
the di\ine David, hut does tlieir kiiowled^'e of Him so
])ossess them as to enahlo them to disrei^ard the vain
jtui'sni s a'^l mistaken prin<'iples of a ( Jod-forgetting
society ? Alas, no I They yield themselves to the evil in-
fluences of a self-seeking and self-serving generation. They
are the slaves of the visihle. They are hound hand and
foot hy the present, and have no thoughts for the august
future, or foi' the I'nsecn Divine, They are the servants
of the woild ; and yet, when a crisis in their liistory
arises, they would enjoy the immunities of the diviiu;
fimily. They harmonize with the idolatrous and the
Mtirld gi'as[)ing, and yet they would l)e saved with tlu;
pious and woild I'enouncing. The resti'aints and pecu-
liarities of th(i gos[)el they have ever disregarded, and
yet, Avhen di>ol)edience is no longer ])essihle, they would
have all tht^ lih'ssings that are assoeiatid with oi- tliat
arise from these resti'aints and peculiarities. Is this rea-
suiiahle 1 Is it likely that such expectations will he met
and realized ? (), no I Such conduct l)Ut insults (lod,
while it displays ignorance and inu'ratitutle. If any oiu;
Would enjoy the immunities of the tli\ine family, let him
yield himself to the principles and hahits of the divini^ •
tamily. If any om> would slmrc with the true David, he
must he delivered from this jucseiit evil world, and yield
himself to the commanding iiiihienc(> of h(\'ivenly know-
le(l^•e. If anv one W(»uld he a partaker with Christ, he
must be conformed to Christ. The eye must ht' single ;
the heart must be ore and imdividtxh There must be no

I I

TllK JA'NASIV OF DAVID.

ffi

alteinpt to serve coiitiary maslcis. All things must 1)0
accoiiiitcd loss for the <'Xc'fllciicy of the kuowlt'dgc of
.Irsiis Cliiist — the isvvdt Loiil and oiiI\' Saxioiir I

Von should each, look to himself in this respect. Tin;
knowledge that leaves a man in hondage to the woi'ld is
not saving knowledge, and will he of no avail in the end.
Christ gave Ilinisclf to deliver us fioni this ]>resent evil
woild, and it is only Avhen so di'liveicd that we have evi-
dence of heing His. It is not enough to be al)le to talk
fluentlyand piously, we nmst walk at lil)erty,kee]»ing God's
commandments. Abijah could talk, but Al)ijairs life was
not in harmony Avith his talk. AVe must not oidy talk
l)iously, we nmst feel, act, and breathe piously. " We
must deny ungodliness and Avorldly lusts : Ave must live
soberly, and I'ighteously, and godly, in this pi'csent world
— looking for that ble.-^sed hojie, and the glorious ai)[)ear-
ing of the irreat God and tiur Saviour Jesus Christ — who
gave fJimself for us, that he might redeem us from all
iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people
zealous of good works." Then, there, we shall know the
sweets of piety, and enjoy the serenities and glorious im-
munities that attach to it !

Jjut to return to Abijah, avc notice concerning him,

///. The hrcrifi/ of his reign.

He reigned Init three years in Jerusalem. This Avas
but a brief period to enjoy his royalty, his greatness, his
victory, and his dreams of aggrandizement. We say not
that brevity alone is either dishonour or punishment.
AVe know that some of the best and the fairest have
passed speedily aAvay from earth. Manifold considerations
and reasons circulate around each individual, and give
variety and m}stery to the stream of being as deve-
loping itself in each. AVe cannot judge by single ele-
ments, and as for the Avhole of the encompassing ele-
ments, Ave cannot comprehend these. God only knows
fully the reasons that determine the length of life, or of
otlicial distinction, in each man's case. Still, Ave are not
Avholly in the dark in this matter, and may not unprofit-

^.JU

ARM Alt.

8.1

give
deve-
! ele-
; elc-
nows
or of
e not
)rofit-

al)ly iT'st oil it fur a iiioinent. If a good man may ]h'
s]i('('<lily cut down, or removed from earth, a.s well as a
l>a(l one, M'e can imagine, or apincliend in some degree,
tlie reason of the (livei>ity. \\ hen a good man dies pre-
maturely (that is, ])i'ematurely in our view,) it is, either
there is evil iiui»endiiig, or because theie are felidlies
more exalted awaiting him. His early death is thus a
kin-lness to him. Wnv his life })rolo!iged, unlool<e(l-for
calamities or untoward comhinations might di.'^ti'ess him
he^ond Mhat his heavenly Father sci'S meet. His con-
nections might dishonour him, or social convulsions
might alfect him injuriously. Satan might gain advantage
aLjainst him, and he nd^ht himself dishonour his profes-
sion. True, his Lord could sustain him, hut it may
seem better in the eyes of his Omniscient friend to tako
him away from the evil to como. ]3esi(les, heaven is in
haste to introduce its loved ones to ulterior honours and
heavenly experiences. If, therefore, other considera-
tions re(juire not the prolongation of tin; earthly life of
its loved ones, it will hasten to sunnnon these loved ones
to itself Love is not slow to unveil its treasures or to
confer its kinibiesses. Lut for the well-being of the
world, therefore, and the upl)uihling in godliness of the
youthful and immature, we ndght expect all the good to
die young. True, their own meekness requiies time for its
advancement and completion, but that could be hastened
were there no considerations Ijeyond themselves to modify
or determine results. There is nothing wonderful then,
or inexplicable, in the early death of the good. It only
indicates their ri[);'ness for glory, and the loving haste of
their heavenly friend to introduce them to glory. The
truth is, God is not only eager to gather His jx'ople to
Himself, but He is also in haste to deli\'er them from
this uncoiiLrenial and darkened state of thinirs. It is
veiy different with the early removal of the ungodly.
'i hey are swept aside because they are offensive.
They abuse the divine mercies, and the power of doing
so is taken away from them. In nuiny cases, besides,
they arc removed to make way for the better men. lu

"T-T^

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

tlic r.'ii^o of Al>ij;\li Lcforo ns wc; may not unsafely pro-
nounce tliis as one of tlie causes of liis eaily removal.
His son Asa was a better ruler tlian he, and ho, was put
asi(l(! accoriliiii^dy. Asa was, indeed, far from the true
standard. His career, instead of giowini,' in lu-i^ditness,
became darkened towards the close. Still, it is said he
<lid liiat which is i'ii;ht, externally at least, and in ivlation
to the public W(n'ship of the (J<td of Israel, all the days
of his life ; and Abijah, who did that which was evil,
was early snpei-seded by his nutre dutifid son. Thus,
brevity of life on earth is a ttjken of displeasure and dis-
aj)probation to the uui^odly, Avhile it is u token of loviny
regard in the case of the t^odly.

iJut this brevity of Abijaii's reign, considering the
family to which he belonged, throws us forward on the
stream of history to an illustrious and coiitra?>ting reign.
If Abijah's removal made way for a Ix'tter king, the suc-
cessive deaths of all the merely human occupants of
I)avid's throne have made way for a permanent and per-
fect rulei'. There can be no altsoluti; perpetuity Avithout
absolute rightt'ousness. David and Solomon rei'^ied
long, l)Ut neither the one nor the other was fitted for per-
jx'tuity. There has, however, arisen in that family one
whose reign may not be measured by years nor yet by
centuries. His name sh;dl last as long as the sun and the
moon endure. You know to whom I i-efer. The angel
in announcing His birth said of Him, " He shall l)e great,
and shall be called the Son of the Highest ; and the Lord
God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David,
and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever ; and
of His kingdom there shall be no end." The royalty of
David teiniinates and abides on Him. He concentrates
in Himself, and intensiiies the glory both of David's and
Solomon's reigns. Nay, He rises to the spiritual and the
divine, and accumi»lishes that in the universe, and in the
si)irits of men, which David and Solomon accomplished
only locally and typically. Humanity finds its ultimatum
in Him. No higher development of human nature than
that secured in Him is either possible or desirable.

AIU.IAH.

Man's hi^'host t^lory is to be conformod to Him, and to
be ruled by Him. Tlific i.s ab.soUite safety umb^r His

trovci'imiciit, as well as absobite ex

Ct'lIrlKM^ lllK

b-r II

IS lll-

ibn'Mce : and tlii'n* is it'unioii and barniouy for the
nations undrr His secptie. lit; is not simply Kin_<^ of
tlie Jews, He is Kim; of saints ; and tliese are gathered
fioni all nations, and kindreds, and peojilcs, and toni^iies.
He is ;i lii^ht to lighten the (leiitiles, as well as tbc f^lnry
of Clod's people l.-rael, and lu; cannot be supei'seded or
set aside. Al)ijali must <;ive i>lace to Asa ; and Asa in
bis turn nuist yield the throne to Jeho.shaphat ; and so
of all the merely human sons of David— but Jesus, the
son of David, and the divine oe('uj>ant of David's thi'one,
yields to none ! He I'et.iius His dignity and authority
throned) all ag(\s. He has neither successor nor rival ; and
tlie nations will find rest and bope only as they yield
themselves to bis rule.

Tiiere is pleasure in ehan;^e, but there is also satisfn

tion in permanence

A succession of rulers has its

advantages, so long as tbese riders are imperfect and un
able to meet the wishes or the wants of their subjects ;
but let a ruler arise wbo is absolutely perfect, and who
is fully competent to meet all the claims and necessities
of his government, then there is no longer need for
change. There is nothing in that case to be gained by
change, and oidy the unwise would wish it. The
Perfect is necessarily permanent, even as the Imper-
fect is necessarily tem[)()rary. Ibuice the removal of
A])ijab and of all the sons of David until He came
wh(jse rule is righteous, and whose administration
is faultless. He can not \n', set aside : and it is not
desirable that He should. He must reign until all His
enemies are put under His feet. He can meet all the
necessities of His goveruuu'ut and all the wants of His
subjects. And these His subjects, enjoying even now all
the satisfaction of a permanent and jierfect reigii, have
no need to desire a change with view to governmental
improvement. They already jiosscss in tbcir permanent
King all that tliey can wish, or desire, or imagine of good,

rl]i

-I

w^m

TMK DYNASTY OF DAVID.

Ifc rail deliver tliein fioni their spiritual adversaries, and
sustain tliein ainiil tlnir carthlv trials, ile can defend
tliein absdlutel}' and .save th' in eternally. His i,'overn-
nient is all that suhjccts can wish — heini; lovini,', tender,
cuniin'teMt, and wiso. He draws His suhjects within the
circle of life and ])eace, presents theni to His Father with-
cut spot, or wrinkle, or any such thiuL,', and hinds them
to all that is hlissful, and pure, and rejoicini,', for ever.
Tlieic is neither di'fect, shortcoming.;, nor for^etfulness iu
His rule ; and His resources are inexhaustihle. There
are ever )>erniauent and inexhaustihle reasons why His
suhjects should j^doiy in Him, and C(»mfort themselves in
tilt! th()Ui,dit of the per})etiiity of His thi'oue, and the
ix'rfection of His character. The removal of such a
ruler, well! such a thini; po<sil)le, would he a calamity for
tli(i univei'sc ! iJul He cannot he set aside or superseded.
Death hath no inor(! dominion over Him. "Of the in-
crease of His government and peace there .shall he no end.
Upon the throne of ])avid, and up w his kingdom, to
order it, and to estal)lish it with juilLMiient and with jus-
tice from henceforth, even for ever. The zeal of the Ijord
of hosts Avill perforin this 1'' O, the joy that there is
such a King !

And then He confers per))etuity as well as enjoys it.
He gi\'es to His suhjects eternal life, and makes them
joint heirs with Himself. He hath hrought life and im-
mortality to light l)y His gospid, and He fashions those
■who receive that gospel to a divine similitude, H(! hath
gone to pre|)are a matchless Paradise for His believing
ones, and He undertakes to make them meet for its ever-
lasting enjoyment. They have already entered upon the
life that is undying, and by hope they embrace an inherit-
ance that is incoiTUptihlc, iimlefiled, and unfading. O,
but His people are a happy people ! Hap])y in their
chief, and hai)py in their prospects under Him ! Thty
can not only rejoice in His immutability and perpetuity,
but they can i-ejoice also in the immortality and per-
petuity in good Avhich He confers on and secures for
them "A perpetuity of bliss," it hath been said, "is

Alll.IAll.

l»li>s." Nay, It is lili>s npnii Miss — it is Miss in fact,
liliss in inosjK'ct. aiul Miss in assured st cui'it y and coii-
tiiinai.KM' I And this Miss tin? <;r<'at Sun of Havid ^ivcs
and ,i,'uaianti'('s to tlmsc who yi"ld to llini as tiicir Kin,^'.
lie leads tlieni, and nionlds then, to peitection, ami then
(.■lianj;e in relation to them Iteconie. tot- i-ver nndesirahlt^
and unnecessary.

Would you not \vi.>h to hcconn' tin' suhjeet of this
Kin;^', it' you are not alrea ly so i Would you not wish
to 1)L' in<lei)endent of this ileetin'' and unsatisfvin-' life ?
Would you not wish to Ix; heirs of ( lod and of I'tiMWial
_ul y / Then, you must seek ])erfretion of nature and
fitness for divine fellowship. If you walk in sin, you
havo neither part nor lot with Him who saves His people
from their sins ! ]f you walk in unhrokened worldlinoss,
you have not yd taken tin; lirst step to heaven. V'ou aro
not yet delivered fi'om th(> ju'eseni evil world, and cannot
mount up with win;.;s as eaL;lrs toward the Perfect and thi!
^n(lyin^. Your oidy \\()\h' is in the divine Son (»f Havid.
He is the livin;^ One, and His life is the Li.^ht of nnMi.
IJecanse He lives, they who embrace the truth eoiu'ernini;
Him shall live also, "(lodso loved the world, that He
crave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in
Him should not perish, but have everlasting life !" Ho
only hath made an end of sin ! He. only can transform
the nature ! He only hath opened th(^ gates of Pai'adiso
for humanity ! And He oidy can .secure that pei-ff^ction
of nature which fits for the enjoyments and e.\:ercis(.'s of
Paradise ! Look to Him : Seek emancipation from sin
through Him : Seek nnder Him to be perfect oven as
your Father in heaven is perft^ct ; and then you shall find
the perpetual ami inexhaustibh^ joys of divine love : and
early death in that case, should it be so ordered, will bo
early immortality.

. t

1- .

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

QUESTIONS ON ABIJAIT.

What brief expression describes, or cliaracterizes, the reigii (jf
tlie prince ]
ITe " waxed great," it is said.
What great achievement suggested this statement concerning
liim i
His victory over Jeroly.iam,
Wliat was there remarkable in tliis victory I

It was gained by an inferior general, with an inferior
force, over a superior general with a vastly superior
force.
What was the character of Abijah's greatness notwithstand-

Meteoric anil adventitious.
How does this api)ear i

By his subse(pient career, in which we find only what
small men are e([ual to, wilhout any indication of super-
ior [lower tn' superior wisdom,
How did he follow up his success ]

Just as the low-minded and self-centred would do : by
increasing the nuud>er of his wives, and all'ecting great
state and importance.
How then do y(»u account for the victory I

God had reasons for giving the victory to Abijah apart
altogether from Abijah himself.
Mention some of these reasons.
The prayers of tlie pious in Israel — most of whom were
in Abijah\s army : the safety of Jerusalem, which, for
David's sake, might not at that time be wliolly ecli!)sed
or subjugated : the interests of unborn generations —
which were wrapp-ediip in the fanuly of David.
Is it oouiinon for w.irriors to take considerations like these into
account Avhen calculating the chances of war I
Not at all, though these considerations substanHally
(viz., Prayer and God's covenant purposes) still play a
controlling part in human, and even in military, his-
tory.
If warriors were more fully enlightened as to the moral
and providential government of God, would they
attach as much importance to themselves as they
often do I
It is not bupposable that they would. Take Abijah us

ABIJAII.

•■?i

■k

an example ; and see how little ho really was while he
took (tn liim the airs of a ^roat conciueror. Had he
heun more enliL^ditened ho could not have boon so in-
flated.
But wliat of Ahijah's piety ?

We fear it will not bear examination. Like his great-
ness, it was more apparent than real.
What do you notice in tliis respect in his speech to Jero-
boam I
A want of honesty in relation to God's covenant with
Daviil : a want of candour in relation to Jerobijam ;
a want of spiritual perci![)tion in relation to divine W(n'-
ship — and a hy[)ocritical profes.sion entirely at variance
with his habits and character.
What was there pciculiarly offensive in his pious talk ?

It claimed for him as king of the sacred people the pro-
tection of (Jod while ho was wholly unmiiulfnl of the
claims of God on him as the occui)ant of that throne.
How cam } it tint hiskuinvledge and his practice were at vari-
ance ?
He j'ielded hiuiself to proximate and fashionable influ-
ences, and not to tho.se of Heaven. His knowledge of
the divine ought to have controlled him, whereas tho
idolatrous fashions of his contemporaries did so.
Is this style of character not prevalent in our owa day ?
Far too much so : many know the Gospel, but yield not
tliemselves to its commanding influence : they sail with
the world rather,
And what is the unreasonable expectation of such when
some crisis in their history arises I
Like Abijali, the}'' look for the deliverances and consola-
tions of that gospel which they have habitually disre-
gai'ded in i)ractice.
When is gospel-knowledge saving-knowledLre ?

\\ hen it connuands the character, and breaks the habits
of worldliness and sin.
What should the young be taught to remember on this
point ]
That Chi'ist gave Himself for us, not merely ta enable
us to talk ])i<»usly but to deliver us from the present evil
world : and that "ve have true i)articipation with Him,
only when divine knowledge controls ns and not the
imgodly fashions of tho men among whom we live.
How l(Mig did Abijah reign in Jerusalem I
Only three years.

1 *:

^^9^

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

Is early doath always dishonour or punishment ?

]Jy no means. Many of the best have been early removed.
Do we know any reason why the good should sometimes die
early /
Yes ; when calamity is impending; they are in many cases
taken away from the coming evil.
Can you mention another i-^ason /

Yes : the divine love toward tiiem. Their heavenly Father
is in haste to introduce them to the felicities of His
household Avlien important considerations prevent n(jt.
But h(^w is it when wicked men are early removed ?

They are removed in displeasure, and to make Avay in
some cases for better men — as in the case of Abijah and
Asa his son.
A\'hat great truth is suggested by this law of removal and
succession in the house of David i
Its perpetual arrest in the case of the cro.vning Prince of
that house : He hath neither successor nor rival.
What makes thejierpetuity of His throne a blessing ?
Its absolute righteousness and competency : The imper-
fect cannot be permanent, while the absolutely perfect
cannot be set aside.
And what distinguishing-blessing does this pei^fect and abid-
ing King of the Ikjusc of David confer upon His sub-
jects /
He confers perpetuity as well as onjoj's it. He gives
unto His sheep eternal life — nxaking them joint heirs
with Himself.
And what should be the desire and laboiir of those who have
such a faith and such a hope i
Entire freedom from sin in all its forms, and over-in-
creasing meekness for the inheritance that is immortal.
What in general are the lessons taught by the story of
Abijah I
That there are unseen reasons for the decisions of Provi-
dence, Avhich the proud and self-centred never dream
of — reasons arising from the house and dynasty of David;
in other words, from the cause of God in the earth : that
piety is something than mere talk ; and that early death
can be interpreted onij^ in connexion with character,
and not always even by that : many social and provi-
dential consideratioi\s alFect the (piestion in each case
which Ave, in the meantime, can not perceive.

■jI

V. ASA.

" So Aliijah flt'pt with his fatliers, ami they l)urietl him in
tli(> city of J)avi(l ; and Asa, his son, I'-.-iyned in his stead." II
C'hion. xiv. I.

HERE is a wide cirouinrcrencc of u^kno^vn
^^1^^ a.i;-(Micy l^'yoiid the hoi'izon of each iiulivi-
ISfj-^ dual, be he Imiuhle or exalted. From this
^^ uiiknoAvn circumference dangc^r or difficulty may
/ spring up at any time. Usually, there is enough
to perturl) and to exercise every man Avithin his
own limited horizon ; but though all should bo
serene and unthreatening within this line, Ave are
not, therefore, to think ourselves secure. The ex-
terior and unseen agencies may be pre])aring for,
or actually executing evolutions, which may
threaten or seriously com[>r()mise our safety or the
safety of our friends, or even our own life, before
another year has run its course.

This, King Asa found in the early part of his
reign. All within lus horizon seemed ])eaceful — was in-
deed peaceful. Samaina was not in a condition to annoy
him. Abijah, his father, had weakened the militaiy
power of that people but a f(nv years before, at the great
l)attle of Zemaraim. Jerol^oam, its warlike king, was
now broken in spirit, if not actually dead. Tiie other
neighbouring peoples were all quiescent. The political
sky seemed wholly untrou1)led and peaceful all around ;
and yet danger was near. A storm was gathering in the
south, not yet visible on the horizon of Jerusalem, but
destined ere long to break ovei' the saci'ed tei-ritory.
Zerah, an Ethiopian conquc^ror, had already gatln-red, or
was now gathering, a mighty army for aggressive pur-

I i »

' • ,i

^!^^^"

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

posos. Soon reports of his approach, -with a million of
soltliers and tlireo hundred chariots reach Kin,<( Asa,
There was alarm in Jerusalem then, no (l()ul>t. Hastily,
however, the youthful king collected his forces, and met
the invader in the valley of Zephalhah. TIk^ conflict
terminated in favour of the men of Judah, and the ti<le
of invasi(jn was thrown back. Tlu! joyful tidings Hew to
the ca})ital, and great was the rejcAcingof the people, that
the storm had been broken, and their national existence
preserved.

It is often thus in private as well as in national life.
When all is peaceful in the imuiediate neighl)ourhood of
an individual, there may be germinating, or taking shape
in the mind of another individual, far away it may be,
some thought or purpose, which may tell seriously and
disastrously on the history or the ha[»piness of the party
in question. The party himself sees nothing and suspects
nothing, but the crisis comes on apace, and, when least
ex})ected, some great catastrophe occurs, or looms witli
threatening asi)ect into view. It is important to those
who live such a life of exposure and possil)le overthrow,
to have a mighty Friend— omniscient and powerful — who
by his knowledge and skill may be al)le to turu aside, or
to neutialize these unexpected dangei's. It was because
Asa 1)etook himself to such a Friend tliat he escaped sub-
jugati(jn and impoverishment in the case before us. And
Ave all need the watchful care and mighty protection of
this all-seeing and all-competent One !

In furtlier noticing this king, Ave shall remind you : of
the excelk'uce of the gj'eatin- ])art of his reign, of the sad
incon
shortconun

tency that marked his closing years, and of hi,'

as a type of the true King of Israel.

7. Tlic Excd'enre of the greater part of his Reign.

lie Avas decidedly opposed to idolatry. He not only
renounced it for himself, but he used his royal power and
autiiority to put it down in Jerusalem, and throughout
his dominions. " He took away the altars of the strange
gods, and the high places, and brake down the images,

ASA.

of
ad
lis

ige

and cut down the groves." "He did tliat wliicli was good
and riglit in the eyes of his God." ]lc wouhl k'lid no
countenance to tlie fasliionahU' ahoniinations of the time.
His father, Ahijali, liad yi('l(h'(l to them ; Ins grand-father,
liclujboam, liad walked in them ; even his great-grand-
father, Soh)mon, had h'nt his mighty influence to the evil
and degrading rites of idohitiy. But Asa wouhl not follow
in their footsti'})s. He had a ch'ar and decided percep-
tion of the true interests of his kiuLcdom in this matter.
He would not have idol shrines in the metropolis of his
kingdom. Instead of yielding to the degeneracy and
defection of these recent years, he wished rather to bring
back the times of David, when no .strange god had
acknowle(lg('(l or recognized j)lace in the sacn-d territory.
This you must perceive was good and right. It was good
for his })(>o})le : and it was right in the eyes of the Holy
One of Israel. Then,

He sought to improve the peace which God had given
him to strengthen his kingdom, and pre})are for possible
contingencies : " He built fenced cities in Judah : for the
land had rest, and he had no war in those years, because
tlie Lord had given him rest. Therefore he said unto
Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them
walls and towers, and gates, and bais, while the land is
yet before us." He knew the hostility of the house of
Jeroboam, and he had not forgotten the eight hundred
tluusand warriors that had been led against his father
Abijah but a few years before. I'robably himself had
taken part in the engagement on that occasion. He would
provide as far as possible against the recurrence of such
an invasion, by building fortified placets where he thought
them likely to be most serviceable, for the protection of
his own territory, or for holding his adversaries in check.
He "Wouhl not wait for the tornado ; he would provide
against it M'hile all was yet serene. Some monarchs
■would have given themselves to present enjoyment and
display — leaving the future to take care f)f itself, but Asa
Avas wiser: he looked to possibilities, and wished to be
provided against them. Not only the ten tribes might

I \

^«»H|P

THE DYNASTY OF DA\'li).

a,i;ain invade Lis doniiiiioii, after a few more years had
repaired tlieir resources ; but there were other enemies to
Jeiusalem, and to tlie dynasty of David, r.ot very far
away. lie Icnew not uliat nii^lit arise, and lie did not
^vi!5ll to l)e un])i'ej)are(h ^^']lile, tlierefore, lie made an
end of idol-cdidces and idol-groves, Ik; ein])l()yed hi.aself
further in increasing the fortifications of his kingdom.
Xor was it long ere the Avisdom of this course was made
appi'rent, though the danger came from an unex})ecte<l
quarter. " Zerah, the Ethiopian, (as already noticed)
"with an host of a thousand thousand, and thiee hundred
chariots, came out against him, and came into Mareshah."
Now, if any of his fortified places were in the neigh-
boui'hood of Mareshah (which is scarcely likely), they
Avould help to check the invaders, and to shelter the
troops of King Asa. And if they "svere not, still they
would be useful in holding other enemies in check,
(the ten tri])es for exani})le,) who might have taken ad-
vantage of the })resence of Zerah's army to commit depre-
dations at some unguarded points. It was wise, then,
in Asa to prejiare for conting(Micies, Avith a view to the
safety and preservation of his kingdom. But we have
other evidence of the excellence of his reign in its earlier
yeais.

He betook himself to God in the day of his danger. He
did not trust to his own provisions and resources. He
had sjiared no pains in making his preparations, but he
did not rest in these preparations, lie availed himself,
no doul)t, of everything favourable in making his arrange-
ments for the contest forced upon him, but ho looked on
high for the victoiy. " He cried unto the Lord his God,
and sai<l : Lord, it is nothing with Thee to help, whether
Avith many, or with them that have no power : Help us,
Lord, our God, for we rest on Thee, and in Thy name

we go

against this multitude. O Lord, Thou art our God,

let not man prevail against Thee." This is very like true
piety and very unlike the talk of his father, Abijah, Avlien
Jeroboam came U]) against him with his overwhelming
army. On that occasion, Abijah manifested a spirit of

Af^A.

b(.asting and unfainu'ss, Lut on this occasion Asa mani-
fested a s})iiit of Iminility and heavenly ti'ust. Al>ij;di
cried not to God, hut left that to others, Avhile he ntteicd
vaiintiii<i; and selfdaudatory ■\vor<ls : hnt Asa cried him-
self to the Lord, and withlu'ld himself from everything
like boasting or bravado. And there is something very
beautiful in this brief prayer of King Asa's, He comforts
himself in, Avliile lie recognises the omnipotence of the
Clod of Israel : " Js is nothing ^vith Thee," says he, "to
help, whether with many, oi' with them that have no
power." He claims, too that jMighty One as h s own (Jod
and the God of his peojjle : and he hides himself, and his
kingdom, if I may speak so, behind the throne of the
Almighty ! O Lord, Thou art our God ; let not man
l)revaii (ujainst Thee I" As if he had said, "'riie contest
is thine, O Loi'd, and not ours. Our overthrow were thy

dish

•hiU

.•t(

I'otecti

ill be th

nonour

gloi'y. Let not man i)revail lujainsi Thct'." No Avond«'r
that God should 2,\\e the victory to such a kinti; ! No
wonder that God shouhl scatter the hosts which souijht
the injury of those who thus nestled under the shadow of
His almighty wing ! But even this is not all :

Asa listened to God by the pro])het Azariah, the S(m
of Oded, and " he gathered together at Jerusalem ail
Judah and Lenjamin and the strangers with them, out of
Ephraim, and Manasseh, and out of Simeon, and they
entered into a covenant, to seek the Lord God of their
lathers Avith all their heart, and with all their soul," —
presenting at the same time oxen and sheep in large num-
bers at the Temple-altar. He was not unduly elated by
his great victory over Zerah, the Ethiopian, as his father
Abijali had been by his victory over Jeroboam. He
sought not to make that victory subservient to his own
greatness and luxurious appointments as a self-centred
monarch, in the manner of Ahijah : he wished rather to
influence his subjects for good. Eecognizing God as the
giver of his mercies and di.-tinctions, he would have his
people turn more earnestly and more exclusively to the
service of Jehovali and to the peculiarities of their na-

! ]

•« ij

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

tional cxistonco. Accordiiii^ly, the temi)le sorvlcc was
re-o.st;i1)li.sh(! I on a more aiiipli; footlnii;, and all ojiposing
or rival .shrines wci'c n-niovcd. Tiie court, nnder Kch i-
boam and Ahijali, had encouiML^cd foreign rites, to tlie
neglect of their t)\vn divinely ai)})()inted ritual ; hut now,
under Asa, the whole influence of the court was given to
the true interests of Israel, and the maintenance of the
ritual of Moses. One other circumstance marks the
thorough nature of Asa's reformation. It is this :

He was ini])artial in his o})p(jsition to error and idol-
atiy. lie would not tolerate the rites of heathenism,
even in his grandmother, j\Iaachali. Princes will some-
times allow irregularities in their own connexions, or in
the case of some privileged persons, when they will not
allow them in the general community. Solomon, for
example, thought to please his heathen wives by building
shrines for their private use, without thereby intending
to uive general license to idolatry : but Asa was more
true to i)rinciple and to heaven, lie would not wink at
idolatry, even in the nuist venerated member of the royal
family. Maachah was the daughter of Absalom, the
grand-daughter of 1 \avid, and she had been the most
honoured wife of IJehoboam, as she was the grandmother
of Asa himself. One would have thought that she might
have been left free to follow her own inclin.ations in the
matter of worship. But no : venei'able although she was,
and honouied Ijecause of her antecedents and connexions,
she too, must yield to the new order of things ; she too,
must have her private sanctuaiy broken up, as opposed to
the true interests of Israel. What Solomon had permitted,
and what lichoboam and Abijah had sanctioned, Asa now
swee])s unhesitatingly aside. The i'act is thus recorded
by the sacred Avriter : " And also ci ncerning Maachah,
the mother of Asa, the king, he removed her from being
queen, because she made an idol in a grove : and x\sa cut
down her idol, ami stamped it, and burnt it at the brook
Kidron." We can well believe that Maachah Avas veiy
indignant at being thus interfered with in her latter days,
but Asa was true to his purpose, and would make no

ASA.

A)0,

U'(l,

()\V

UhI
all,
iiig
cut
o()k
cry
ays,
no

exception in favoiii' ut' liis ivj^vaX ivlativc. It is said, in-
deed, that ''the heart of Asa was perfect all his days," —
])erfeet in the matter of the national worshij). llcwas
opposed to idolatry and to all heathenish rites, from the
l)ei;inniii_^ of his rei^n to the end of it. Xothin<^ conhl
indnce him to- relax in this matter. The .sacred peoi)le, as
he thought, nuist abide by Ilim, who bron<,dit them out
of EL,'ypt, in preference to all other ,i;"ods, and they must
observe the rites institutecl by Moses, as 'he accredite(l
agent of that Mighty One I

SuclMvas the excellence and steadfastness t) j)rinci[)le
of this great-grandson of S(jlomon's. He was oj)pos(-'d to
idolatry ; he improved his days of peacf^ to prepai'e for
days of danger a;i(l trial; he betook himself hunil>ly to
God Avhen Zerah, the Ethiopian, invaded his territory
with an overwhelming force, lie listened to tJod^ by
his prophet Azariah, and renewed the covenant with
Heaven which his fathers had broken ; and he was imp;;r-
tial and persistent in his reforming administration. Here
is much to admire, and God looked on approvingly, and
God gave him peace round about. AVith the exception
of the invasion of Zerah, wdiich Avas permitted probably
to test the siiicerity of his professed adherence to the
good and the right, he had no wars for five and thirty
years of his reign. All that time he was left free to en-
gage in the pursuits of peace, to strengt-hen his kingdom;
and to cultivate and extend the knowledge of the holy.
It is wonderful, when we consider that these ages were
the ages of conflict, and when we renu-mber that the ele-
ments of conliict were numerous and active around him
and his people, it is wonderful, I say, that he should have
enjoyed so long a national repose. Eat God, the God of
Israel, can hold the elements of dispeace and confusion
in check when He sees meet, and so long as He sees meet.
He secured forty years of peace to Solomon, and He
almost repeated the same kindness to Asa. "When a man's
ways please the Lord, and when a king's policy is in ac-
cordance with the mind of the Most High, he can make
the very stones of the earth be at peace Avith the one, and

11^

it b

r : :

I-^IW

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

tlic tiubulont nations around to ho at peace with the
other. 'I'lic distresses of war have a dee])er cause than
t'le and)itions ot" men. God uses tiiese ainl)itions (without
in any way approving of them) to punish or to scourge
wlu're He sees need for punishment or for stripes. And
so witii peace. Its l)k'ssings have a deeper cause than
the poHcy or the ])0\ver of nations, (lo(l gives it when
He would hless, or wlien he would prepaie agencies or
imi)rovements for His ulterior purposes. It is well to
seek i)eace, hut it is also well to rememher, that only
(Jod can secure it. And it is well to escape from the
horrors of war, but it is also well to rememher, that they
have no right to ex])ect such escape whose ways are ])er-
verse or disobedient in the presence of the Most High.

So far our notice of Asa has been only pleasing, but
tliat which follows is of a diiferent characti'r. There was
inconsistency and serious faults, even with Asa. While
we cannot but admire his decision, and the })eacefulness
of the greater part of his reign, Ave are constrained to
wonder and grieve over his later history. L>ut l)efore
noticing this nuitter, we would remind you of the lesson
which his history thus far furnishes. ^Ve too should be
true to Heaven. If we live in days of unfaithfulness, we
should resolutely return to the good ohl ways. The writ-
ten woi'd is before us : and therein, the Living- Word is
set forth in all the glory of His divinity, and in all the
fulness of his grace. He is to us far more than David
was to Israel. He is the centic of life, and the true JBe-
1 )ved of the upright. If Asa sought to bring back the
days of David, we ought, in like mannei-, to fall back on
t'le principles and the })Ui-poses of David's son and David's
L )rd. We are not of the literal family of David, nor are
Ave kings among men ; but, if truly believeis in Jesus, Ave
belong to the family of God, and to the royalty of heaven.
It is meet that Ave should be faithful and grateful as Avell.
It is meet that Ave should repudiate all inferior and
o[)posing authorities, and give ourselves Avholly and
thoroughly to the obedience, and service, and imitation of
our true King.

It Avere as truly our honour to Avalk so,

ASA.

as it was the hoiKtiir uf Asa to do that wliieli was ;4-oo(l
and ri^dit in the eyes of the Lord. Society lias a perpe-
tnal tenih/ncy to diift away tViiin the holy and the
heavenly, and m'c slmnld ever he, (tnonr ^nard in relation
to this tenih'ncy. We should hold last our profession,
and the poculiai'ities thereof, without wavering, and that,
spite of the ridicule, or the contrary fashions of the un-
believing or the worldly. And it is thus that we may
look for Inng peace and o]>portunity f(^)r heavenly impro-
vement. In yielding to the fashions of the world, and
in forgetting the divine and the immortal, wv. are in the
way of di.speace, irritation, and disappointment ; but iii
dwelling habitually by the living Temi)le, and desiring to
sec and to be C(jnlbi'med to the beauty of the Lord, we
are in the way of peace, and solace, and hope, and inelfabhi
Joy. Trials we may have in this way, and in the mean-
time, but consolations shall not be awanting — consolations
apviroi)riatc, adecpiate, and sustaining ! What pity that
Christians ar(; not more thoi'(nighly Christianised ! There
cannot be I'ulnes's of divine consolation where there is not
fulness and entireness of consecration. Be persuaded
then, all ye who have caught a glimpse of the Truth, to
seek, and to abide by the Lord, with all }'(>nr heart an<l
with all your soul !

Lut I come now to notice concerning Asa,

//. I'lic sad iiicoiisi.^tenrij that inarkcd his doiiiiij i/i'nrs.

The particulars of this inconsistency are given in the
sixteenth cha[)ter.

First, when invaded by Baaslia, he l)et(jok himself to
worldly and unworthy policy :

'■ 111 tlie .six ami tliirtit'tli yav of tho rciL,'u of Asa, Baaslia,
King of Isnu'l, came up a,Miiist Jmlali, and built Kaniah, to the
intent that he niiL,'lit let none go out or come in to Asa, King of
.hulah. Then Asa lirouglit out silver ami gold out of the ti'easures
of the house of the Lord, and of the ivin^''s house, ;uid sent to lien-
hadad. King of .Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying ' There Is a
league l)et\veen me and tliee, as tln're was l)i.'t\vet;n my father and
thy father: behold, I have, sent thee silver and gold : go, break
thy league with Baasha, King of Israel, that he may depart from
me.' And Bendiadad Jiearkened unto King Asa, and .sent the
captains of his armies against the cities of Israel. And tiiey .smote

I . , .ill

''■ id

p: H

■;' iliil*

\ll

Hid

TIIK hVNASTV n|- KAMI).

TJon, niul l);m, uihI AIm'I niniin, ami nil tlit- st<in' citifs of Xaiili-
tiili. Ami it ("iiiic tn |iM>s. wlitii l'>;iasliii liciinl it, tliat lie left dtl"
liuiiiliii_,' (if llaiiiali. and let lii-i work ccast'. 'I'licii v\wa tin- Kill^'
toiiU all .Imiaii ; ami tiny canifd away thi' Htoiifs of |{.miah, ami
tlu' tiiiiliiT tlnrt'nf, wliiTiuith ISaasha was luiildiiiy : and liulmilt
tlu'i'L'witli (Iclia and Mi/pc-h."'— xvi. 1-0.

Jiistciid, y<m set', of callini; npoii i'uu\ wlini r>;i;i.slia
soll^lit t(» ilijlll'c liilii. MS lie (lid wlicli Zcl'iili. the I'lt liiopiaii,
ciiiiu' a;;aiii>t liini, he lirtnok liinisclt" to Lioii-hadad, \\'[u<^
of Syria, niid hrilx'd liini to invade tlio torritoi'ics of
I'aaslia. The inoNciiifiit was successful, and Asa was
relieved of liis advei'sary ; Imt what wuh tlie i'ev<'lation
as to the state of Asa's heart i Why this : that he had
foi'sakeii (1()<1 as his dejxndenceand })rotector. lie nii^ht
still maintain the tonus of tlie tnu; wor.sliip, but lie had
fallen lioni the life of jiiety. lie was no huij^cr strong' in
faith, i;i\inL;' i^h'ry to (hid, Imt a niei'e worldly [)olitician.
Jle no lon,i;er refericd himself and his kiiii;-dom to (lod,
but took the burden of his safety .and of that of his
kingdom upon himself. Jit; ])ut his own wisdom in the
l)lace of divine Providence, and Avithheld from God an
o|)])ortunity of shewing Himself .strong in the interests
of his })('(. j)le. This had 'oeen veiy bad and very i)i'e-
sum])tuous in any case, but it was six-cially so in tlu; case
of Asa. Asa had already proved the faithfulness and
the powered' (lod in the matter of the Ethiopian invasion.
AVliy should he a<lopt a different style of action noAv (
(J(jd had already shown favour to him, and given him
long years of peace, why tin \ sbould he turn his back
upon God now 1 Saul, iii l.is extremity, tliought himself
constrained to njiply to Uie witch of Endor, since (Jod
would not ailswer him ; but Asa bad no such jdea. (lod
bad answered him bcfoiv, and God was })repared to
answer him again : but Asa did not give bim the oppor-
tuiuty. Asa preferre(l the help of a heathen king to that
of the God of Isratd. It may be said, that I>aasha's in-
vasion was not so serious as that of Zerab's, that Asa I'elt
himself competent to deal with it without applying foi-
divine help, and that he meant no dishonour to God by
adopting appropriate means to checkmate the King of

ASA.

lOi

Siiiniiriii. IJiit CJod liiin^fllMitl iiot \ ii-w llic iiiitlrr tliiis;
Hciii his pi'opht't oil tlio occasion : '* AihI at that time
I Ian. mi, the seer, cam*- to Asa, K'lw^ of .Imlali, and said
nnto liini, Ix-causr tliou lia^t iclird on liic Kin;; of Syiia,
and not on tlic liord thy < Jod, thiTcloic is t lie host of the
Kinir of Sviia csciixmI ont of thine iiand. Were not tho
Ktliiopian.s and the Lnltiins a ini^'c ln)st, with very many
chai'iots and iiorscnicn i Vvt, Ix.'caust' tiiou didst icly on
th'.' Lord, 111' (h-livcriMl thcnt into tldnc haml. I-'or thf
ryes of th(! Lord iim to and IVo thinnudiont thf wlioh;
earth, to siiow himself sti'on;^ in the hehalf of tlieni ^vilose
lieart is perfect towai'd Him. Ileifin thou hast (h)ne
foolishly : therefore, from hencefoilh tliou sh;dt havcf
Avais." And what was the conduct of Asi under this
)'el)roof? it was simply outrageous. Instead ot aeknow-
ledging his error, and howing to tln^'eproof of Heaven,
he flew into a I'age, ordcrcil tlio ])ropliet to prison, ami
walke<l oppressively towai'd his people.

Ih'K! was his second fault ; he h;irdene(l himseH'agaiiist
the re})roof of the Holy, declared war in ell'ect against
Heaven, and acted the tyrant among his su1)jects. What
a sad spectacle, and how unlike his former stdf ! And how
unlike his great progenitor J)avid, when hroiight u[) hy
Nathan with the condemnatory declaration, " Thou art
the man '" David bowed to tin.' re[»roof, and wept for
his folly : but Asa stormed and raged under the rv;buke,
and instead of humbling himself for his folly, just repeat-
ed it, nay, d()ul)led and intensitie(l it I AN'liat matterecl it
that he maintained the forms of tin; true n-ligion in de-
rusalem, wIkmi he was really insubinissive in spirit ? What
mattered it that his heart was perfect in o[)p()sition to
idolatry all the days of his life, when there was lurking
hostility in his S(nd in relation to the (lod of Lsrael i
Xor can we c )mfort ourselves in the thought that this
rage of his was merely a temi)orary ebullition of pride
and bad feeling, for we hear nothing of repentance on
his part — nor yet of liberation of the re])roving proi)het.
He seems rather like a spoiled child. He had l)een fav-
oured and blessed for so many years, that he thought

l;'t

wmmm

102

THE DYNASTY OF DA\'1D.

himself injured or insulted by beinfr called to account :
and he had so long fancied that ho had laid God under
ol)ligat,i()n l)y his firnin(»ss in the matter of idolatry, that
anything like disapprobation from that quarter seemed
to him at once unreasonable and unjust. Nor does fur-
ther consideration seem to have improved or changed
him in this res])ect ; for, between two and three years
later, he repeated in relation to his own person the very
fault he committed in relation to his kingdom when
invaded l)y Baasha.

Yes : here was his third fault. " In the thirty-ninth
year of his reign he was diseased in his feet, until his
disease was exceeding iireat ; vet in his disease he sought
not to the Lord, but to the physician." Hear it: "he
sought not to the Lord, but to the physician." Li a sub-
se(juent age, Ahnziah, of Samaria, s(Mit in his aflliction to
.Laalzebul), and thereby incurred the displeasure of (lod,
declared through Elijah. Asa acted in like manner, in
his aflliction, and the fault Avas even greater in lihn. Asa,
I say, though still maintaining his consistency, so far as
idols were couf^erned, insulted CJud as the great and only
j)hysician : " He sought not to tlu; Loi'd." He trusted
to the skill of his medical attendants ; and thus he died !
There is no report of a change in his sentiments. He;
went down to the grave, so far as a])pears, witli a mis-
placed trust ; and darkness and dubiety rest up oi his
memory. Nothing could Ite more promising than his
early years, and yet he becomes unjileasing and repulsive
as he draws near to the verge of the unseen. Ti'ue, un-
connnon honours were paid by his content poraries to his
remains. They made a great burning of odours aiul
s])ioes at his funer;d. Aiul it was not unmeet that it
sbouM be so. His reign had l)een long and peaceful ori
the whole, and in the true interests of Israel : but still,
History veils his name so far as his latter years are con-
cerned, and Piety mourns rather than rejoices at his
tomb !

Wo would not willingly place him among the perverse,
and the rejected ; Vuit neither can we confidently num1)er

1^
ft

ASA.

103

him with the sanctified aiul the t riumphaut. If he entered
the kinizdom of b'glit and i..imortality (as we desire that
all should), his eiiti'ance ^\as not an abnndant entrance,
lie left cl')U(ls and dubiety behind him, and no subsequent
generation can sweep these clouds aside. There they must
rest until the lii;ht of the judL;;ment day clears up all.
His faults, it may be, were not greater than David s, but,
then, they weri' uncancelled by penit(>nce and by prayer,
so far as we know. David's piety shone Inight, as he
neared the sepulchi'c, but Asa's lamp had gone out ere he
I'eached the verge of the shadowy land. lie might find
his way through the darkness, guidiid by an unseen and
a a;(MU'rous hand, l)ut wv cannot sav that he did.

Here, then is a <{uestion which we would do well to
ponder. How came it that Asa, so distinguished for {)iety
ami for pi'iuciple in the eai-ly years of his reign, became
so self-wiUed and mistaken in the latter years of his reign '?
^Ve would be disposed to answer, that he sunk in character
umk'r the inliuence of a long-continued ])eace. He forgot
in some nieasure his de[)endence while Ood held back the
agencies of amioyance ind danger. He lost sight of God
as liis refuge because there was no enemy threatening him,
or pressing upon him. A child, or young pei'sou, who
ilees to his parent in danger, will sometimes forget that
parent for long hours, or even for days, while all is sunny
and un+hv.'itening around him. Thus we fancy it was
wit!:. /vs~ T!ie dilhcultii's of the fii'st years of his reigr.
]\vi)[, Ids spirit tender, nnpresuming, ami wilHng to avail
i'i;i.('lf of divine aid. Tht; invasion of Zerah, again was
so alarming, that he could not deal with, it himself He
mu.s;, seek the shelter of the Om..\,.-Lent Friend of Israel,
o; !v' ovei'wiielmed. So long as dangers ])ressed upon
hiui, he felt his need and acted accordingly ; but after
twenty year^ of unbroken |)eace, he felt altogether other-
wise. A great change had imperceptibly crepe over him
during the quiet and untNjubleu years of prosj)erity. Ho
iiad suidc into the rcgl<^n of ordinary and self regulating
life. He felt no »!<ed of <lod. I'he forms of piety satis-
fied him, and tue specij interpositions of Heaven seemed

! .1

.■ f

104

THE DYNASTY 01" DAVID.

110 longer necessary. ITo could be liis own Providence
now, and could secure his own safetj' by playing one am-
bitious neighbour against another, lie failed to see, that
liis peace was as much the result of God's comliinations,
as his deliverance from Zerali had been of (lod"s in! r-
l)osition. lie felt as if it were rather the result of his
own (skilful administration, and thought himself com-
])etent, after his long ex})erience as a ruler, to provide for
his own safety and that of his kingdom. Hence, instead
of seeking to God when Baasha invaded him, he betook
himself to diplomacy and bribery.

Prosperity seems to be far more dangerous to •' bfi if
faith than persecuti(jn ; and any one can understai. i it.
W'lu n the storm rages and the enemy threatens, the sen-
tinel watches ; but when all is peace around, and the
enemy is supposed to be far away, the sentinel ridaxes
his vigilance, or sleejis. iSo the goodness that gathers
strength when threatened, decays and becomes less vigor
ous when unthreatened and secure. Often you see this
in society, ^\'hen men become prosperous and enjoy I ng
peace, their seriousness evaporates. They may still keep
lip the forms of religion, and wait on the public services
of the sanctuary, but their hearts rest in tiieir comforts,
and go not out after (Jod. Tlu>y have sunk into the
ordinary style of thinking and feeling pr>n'alent in the
world around them, ^sot that i)rosperity is unl'avonrable
ta piety, if men were not so pi'one to self-dependence and
creature-satisfaction. Prosperity is calculated to strengthen
gratitude and animate piety, if only a sense of dependence
can be retained ; bu' the sense of dependence becomes
attenuated or overlaid Avhen peace and prosperity aliound,
and then the meicies that ouu;ht to stimulate and nou isli
piety only minister to self-conceit and self-dependence.

A\'e would do well to take the warning that this sub-
ject presents. Vse have had long peace and external
comfort. Have these very great mercies inci'< a>ed our
gratitude and devotedness to God] It ought to have
been so. It is not by skill of ours, if the so'„ial elenicnts
have been unperturbed around lis. It is not by power of

.iL

ASA.

lo;

ours, if tlieecarth luive Lroiiglit forth abiUKlantly for man and
for beast. God Himself hath been working for us ; have
we been grateful accordingly? Or have we not rather
l)een — like Asa — unmindful of our benefactor, and dis-
posed to take the credit of our cond'ort to ourselves, as
Avell as to take the burchni of our safety into our own
hands \ Beware of this mistake, ^^'e are all prone to it,
and our peaceful, prosperous circumstances, in connexion
with our disposition to forget God. have a powerful ten-
dency in tiiat direction. S(H'k to walk on the high places
of faith, and avoid the low-lying intricacies of mere human
jjolicy. liefer yourselves to God in sunshine as well as
in storm. If you call on him in danger, be not less sed-
ulous to praise Ilim in prosperity ; and never assume that
you are competent to manage your own atfairs without
reference to your heavenly Friend. "In all your ways
acknowledge Ilim, and lie will direct your steps !" In
this, Asa failed in the latter years of his life, and by his
failure we ought to be warned.

Rut concerniuLC this kinir we notice : —

HI. His shortconiinrj as a tijiie of l/ic true Kiu'j nf Jsrui'L

lie reversed the order of excellence, and therel)y failed
as a type of the excellent. He began well, but he ended
unworthily. There was much in his long reign that
miglit fitly foreshadow the Prince divine, but he marred
it all by the concluding cha[)ters of his history. Like
David, he was a victor in the eaiiy part of his reign, and
like Solomon, he was a Prince of Peace during the greater
part of his adnunistration. By the strength of (.Jod he
conquered, and by the grace of God he enjoyed peace,
but he yielded his hold of the strength of (rod in his latter
years, and forfeited the peace of the divinely-approved.
Instead of growing in faith and heavenly d(>i)ondence, he
sunk to the arena of ordinary policy and self-dependence,
as we ha\e seen. Instead of drawing nearer to God, he
fell away from God. Instead of holding on in his upward
path, he began toward the end of his i-eign to descend to
the common l(;v(d of the ungodly and the unbelieving.

'ff-f

\\\

t "

\}\

lOG

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

And how far he sunk from loyalty and submission in the
presonce of God appears by liis actually impiisonin^ii; the
Pioi)het who was conimissiontHl to remonstrate with him
for liis unwise course. His conscience must have told
liim that the woi'ds of TIanani were the words of God,
yet he dared to imprison the messenger of Heaven. Alas
for Asa ! His history was inconsis! ent ! And wliat is
worse, it ^nded in darkness ! He dishonoured himself,
and ''M'oud(;d his claims to be a ty))e of the Holy. As a
mem .• (.♦^"tVi*- royal and coni-en'ated house of David, he
on<4liu J . vc foreshadowed his j^r.-at descendant ; but,
like mauj ■ 'lers of that family, he walked unwisely, and
f(»rrt'ited this honour.

The true Prince of Israel and crowning sou of David
made no stej) liackward. He lieM on His way, — his up-
ward way — and was never found sinking to conformity
with the unbelieving and disobedient. His path was the
])ath of the just ; and the path of the just is as the shining
light wliich shineth more and mort; unto the perfect day.
Of Him his forerunner declare*!, " He must increase."
There is nothing without Himself that can effectually
arrest His ]irogress : and there is no weakness or iitfnl-
lU'ss in His own nature to turn Him aside, or to draw
Him downwards. He is firm to His ])urpose, and unde-
clining in his progress. Very unlike in this, not only to
His })rogenitor Asa, Init to very many of the sons of men,
and veiy many of the great ones of earth. They begin
well, but they end in gloom or despair. Th(\y mean to
hold an ascending course, but hindrances or tem]itations
arise, and they sink from their former selves. New cir-
cumstances present new prospects, and fornuu' pur]>oses
are forgotten. They are deflected from tludr course, and
they terminate their race of life far away from, or far be-
neath, their original goal. Adam in Paradise began W(dl,
and y()u know how he ended. KiugtSa'd l)egan well, and
you know how he ended. And so with myriads besides.
It is far otherwise with jMessiali, the son of David and
son of God. He never goes backward, as I have said,
and He Uijvergoes downward. He holds on His unhesita-

ASA.

107

11,

tiny and lUKlcik'cliiig way. See Him in His liiiinan his-
tory : His first roconled utterance is, " Wist ye not that
I must be a1)out my Fathei-'s bu.siness," and one of His
latest is, " Father, if thou wilt, let this eu[) j)ass from
me : nevertheless, not my -will hut Thine be done I"
Though straitened unutterably to meet His l)iiptism, He
set His face as a flint to go up to Jeiiistilcm whcrr II(>
nuist experience and fulfil it. Darkness indeed gathered
around His closing hours, but it was not the darkness of
unfaithfulness or merited disluuiour. His fidelity and
devotodness only became the more manifest and the more
illustrious by I'eason of tlie clouds that wrapped I lis
cross. He submitted to ignonuny and crucifixion, but
His path was still onward and u|)ward : and so faithful
and so unfaltering were His ascending ste))s that His
Father smiled on His progress, set Him at His own right
hand, and gave Him to be; Head over all things to His
Church. And His work is still onward. Hntlironed,
and honoured beyinid thought, and Avrapped in the peace
of the heavenly and unperturbed Paradise of ( Jod, and
that for long ages, He still seeks the honour of His
Father, the down-i)utting of rebellion, and the recovei-y of
the lost. Prosperity and peace have not vitiated Him,
nor caused llim to forget the consistencies or the; pro-
jirieties of His position. His excellence, as His glory, is
unclouded, aud He nuist reign till all His enemies are put
under His feet. Asa ouiiht to have foreshadoweil ami
symbolized tins persistent and alI-con((ueiiiig goodness ;
but he failed to do so ; and he thereby darkened his place
among the sacred ancestois of the great King. Thoiigha
better Prince than either his father, Abijah, or his gi'and-
father, — Pehoboam, he is still of little accou!it in the esti-
mation of the successive 'fenerations of th" children of
God. Had he filled his ty[)ical place ai'ight, he W(juld
have been honoured aud celebrated through long ages ;
but, because he proved unfaithful aad inconsistent, liis
name is barely remembered, and but little estcmed
among the loval ones of heaven !

Let Christians be reminded by this of an essentuu

B! )

I''

ft -T'

108

Tin; DVNASTV 01" I)A\TJ>.

cluiracterihitic of true faith. It is meant to Ije, and oiiL;lit
to Le, progressive and ascending. It Avas so in the
Head : it is meant to V)e so in tht; members. Tlic right-
eous hohls on his way, and he that hath clean hands grows
stronger and strong.;r. "We are made partakers with
Clirist, if we hohl fast the beginning of our confidence
firm unto the end." It will not do to stop half way in
the Christian ]Hlgrimage and still expect the crown of
fidelity. It will nut do to follow the divine Leader half
way through the wilderness and then return to Egypt.
AVe cannot in that case expect to reach the Inheritance.
Vio ''Hist abide by the tents of the pilgrim-people— we
11.11 -t continue to follow the divine Shepherd of Israel —
we must keep on the high ridges of faith and godliness —
(p. ' sir' 't g to the lowdying-region of human policy and
seU-deprndence) — if we would enjoy an abundant entrance
into the heavenly kingdom — nay, we must not only keep
by the footsteps of the flock, we must also add virtue to
virtue, as M'ell as grow stronger and stronger in every
virtue, if we would prove ourselves the heirs of glory, and
the children of God. It is not by indolence, nor yet by
inconsistency, that tlic heavenly prize is to be won. Paul
l)ressed toward the mark for the prize of the high calling
of God in Christ Jesus ; and he urges diligence and per-
sistency on the disciples ; " Be not slothful (says he) but
followers of them who through faith and patience inherit
tlu! promises." " Let us labour, (he says again) lest, a
l)r()misc being left us of entering into rest, any of us
should even seem to come short of it." We must not
only begin well, we must also end well. AVe must not
only begin in the spirit, but we must also Avalk in the
spirit: and we must aliide therein to the last. "On-
ward !" must be our motto continually, if we would not
be of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them
who believe to the saving of the soul.

And need I remind you that there is that in the divine
life which necessitates advancement and development.
The labour of the faithful, therefore, will not be in vain.
Life is not a stagnant thing in any case : eminently, the

"«sr

ASA.

100

it, a
us
not
not
the
On-
not
loni

(livinc! life is potent and progressive, lie who Ix'gins a
good work in any heart will carry it on unto tlie day of
Christ. Without relieving the ])arty from respousil)ility
and diligence, the divine life in the heart is essentially a
trunni)hant and controlling thing. It is not to Ik- pcr-
niaiu'utly quenched or overborne. licstrained — or
shrouded it may be for a tinu", but, when genuine, it wUl
conf|uer and subordinate all to itself at last. Be diligent
then, ye who have entered on this heavenly life, and
Aveary not. Your laljour shall not be in vain. You
hibour in a line with the operations of divinity. It is
(Jod who worketh in you both to will and to do of His
good })leasure. Oidy wait on the Lord, whether in peril
or in ])eac(% and, instead of making the mistake of Asa,
you shall renew your strength, and mount up with wings
as eagles. You sludl run, and not bo weary. You shall
walk, and not faint. jNIeantime, work and watch, and be
warned of tlie danger to spirituality in. lung-continued
peace and prosperity. If you feel drowsiness creeping
over you in relation to divine things, hasten to the throne
of glace, and seek power to shake yourselves free of the;
enchantment: or, if you feel a S})irit of self de))endence
stealing over you, pray that the spell may be broken, and
that you may not be left to a misplaced confidence,
^'imr help is in (lod, and you must seek it there. In oiii'
wold, you must seek to gr(j\\' in grace, and in the
knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, it is
by grtnvtii in the heavenly lite that the princi[)les of a
nu'icly earthly liie will be weakened or diminished with-
in \du. And it is bv enlarged knowledge of the divine
lledeenier that faith will be strengthened, and a return
to men; human policy or cieature-dt'pendence will be-
come with you less and less possible. If you can o ily
<lra\v nearer to the central life and glory, and ap))i"ehend
that life and gloiy yet more and more i'uUy and truly, you
will become less and less disposed to take the burtlen of
your history u})on yourself, or to trust to mere human
iiel])s. Had Asa not been in a great degree estranged jVom
(b)d, he would never lune a}tplied to Lenhadad.

TIIK DYNASTY OF l>AYID.

Like Asca, then, in tli(^ cai'ly part of his reign, see that
you fall back njion the divine standards, and let your hand
b>3 perfect in tiiis respect all the days of your life ! But,
unlike Asa, let not [jrosperity beguile you of your faith,
or cause you to forget y(Hir divine dependence. He fell
short as a Type of Messiah. See that you fall not short
as disciples of the great and divine Instructor and Chief.

yUKSTlOXS ON ASA.

Wliat was the character of the greater part of this roign i

Faithfulness and Peace.
How did Asa regard the fashionable idolatry of his time ?

AN'ith uncoinprounsing hostility.
How did lu. employ the peace vouchsafed him I

In diligent preparations f(jr possible invasion. Dwelling
amid tlie hostile and the unscrupulous, he knew not how
soon he might be summoned to conflict.
Did events speedily justify his preparations ?

Yes ; Zerah, the Ethiopian, came against him with a host
of a thousand thousand and three hundred chariots.
How did Asa conduct himself under this visitation {

He l<joked to, and trusted in, God alone. Tliongh he had
luadii all attainable pre[)arations for siich a cou'.ingency,
he did not trust to his towers, his fortihcations, or his
armies.
And how did he conduct himself after the invasion Avas suc-
cessfully rolled back /
He listened to the prophet Azariah, and renewed with his
peo[)le the covenant of the Lord.
And what is it that strikingly shows the thoroughness of his
opposition to idolatry (■
His conduct in the case of his grandmother ; he would not
tolerate it, even in ln'r.
How ditl God manifest His approval of this faithfulness on
the part of Asa ]
He gave him long peace round about. For five and thirty
years he was fi'ee to attend to the interests and improve-
ment of his kingdom.
What should this faithfulness on the part of Asa with its
happy results im[»rei^s upon us {

*Br*

ASA.

Ill

iti

The wisdom of unwavering adliei'onco to Christian law amid
all the contrary tendencies and inllnences of nngodly
Society.
What should be our .su[)remo aud persistent solicitude ?
To bo found by the Living Temple, inquiring after, and
seeking to beliold, the beauty of tlie Lord.
Were the closing years of Asa's reign in keeping with its early
years t
Far from it ; though ho still maintained the true woi'ship
in Jerusalem, his bearing was strikingly changed.
What was his reliance when invaded hy liaasha, King of
Israel /
His own skdful use of the King of Syria, and not the God
of Israel, as in the case of Zerah's invasion.
And how did he treat Hanani, tlnj seer, when remonstrated
with for his defection ^
He Hew into a rage at him, ordered him into confinement,
and resented the interference by an oppressive walk to-
Avard his subjects.
Aud how further did he show his insubmissive and God-
otlendmg spirit I
By seeking to the ])hysician rather than to God when
troubled with disease in his feet.
Did he manifest no return to a proper state of mind before
he died I
Wo hear of no sucli thing ; and charity, which presumes
not to penetrate the unseen, and which seeks to inter-
pret what is known as favourably as may be, is con-
strained to mourn at his tomb, rather than to rejoice.
How came it that Asa, so dutiful in his early years became
so perverse in his old age ?
We feai" that prosperity acted unfavourably on his heart.
Is pi'usperity less favourable generall}'' than persecution to a
life of faith /
It luith often been found so.
And why should peace and prosperity Ijc less favourable than
persecution to the life of faith I
It is only because the heart of man is \ 'Ue to self-depend-
ence and self-j)leasing. Ih'osperity furnishes opportu-
nity for the development of this tendency, whiic perse-
cution represses and contnjls it.
How then slujuld the prosperous aud the peace-enjoying feel
in the midst of tlieir comforts and privileges I
Very jealous over their spirits, lest they be found taking
the credit of their prosperity to themselves, and assuming

■i-. ^-

112

THE DYNASTY (>!•' 1>.V\II).

:li

at tlic sjuiie time the l)urclcu and the responsibility of
their own safety.
IIow docs Asa stand as a typo of the trne King of Israel I
He reversed the order of excellenee, and thereby full short
of the honour ; he began well, but ended unworthily;
■whereas true goodness grows better and butter.
"What is the truth concerning the crowning Son of David in
this res])ect ?
His path is that of the just ; it shone more and more unto
the i)crfect day. His crueitixion but gave occasion for its
richer and fuller display.
And what is the fact concerning His true disciiiles and follow-
ers, generally speaking (
They go from strength still onward unto strength.
]}ut does the divine life in the heart of the ()uliever not admit
of retrogression ?
Not permanent tjr final. He who begins this good work
will carry it on to the day of Christ.
AVhat then ought to be the appropriate desire and aim of
every true Christian ?
To grow in grace, and in. Christian knowledge and exper-
ience.
And how is it with those who thus grow in grace and Christian
exi^erience in relation to human policy or creature-
dependence ?
They become more and nu)re estranged from these, and
more and more fraught with the divine. Instead of des-
cending to the earth with Asa, they ascend to the heav-
enly with the triumphant and the immortal.
What, in few words, are the lessons Avhich the reign of Asa
teaches I
That prosperity is not the natural ally of piety. ■>

That continued prosperity is dangerous to natures that are
not yet perfect, — cud

That true excellence is necessarily progressive.

41;

.ll'O

IV. JEIIOSIIAPHAT.

And tlio'TiOnl was witli Ji'liosliapliat, because he walked In
I the first ways of his father, David, anil soni^dit not nnti> I'aa-
/ lim : hut .S(niL,'ht to the Lord (Jnd (if his father, and walked in
His eonmiandTnents, and Udt after the d<iinL,'s of Israel. There-
fore the Lord estahlished the kin^,'(loni in his liand ; and all
Judah hrou^rht to .lehosha]iliat jireseiits ; and he had riehes and
honour in aliundanee. And his heart was lifted up in the
way.s of the Lord. IT. Chronicles, xvii. 3-0.

SA sot.'^ ill trloom : Jt'lH)>^lia])lKit, his son, riso.^
ill splendour. There is no hesitiincy or un-
certainty in the. decisions of tiie youthful
He. has no afliiiity with Baalim : lie gives
himself wholly to the Lord Clod of his fatlu'is. IIo
walks in the first ways of David, and his heart is
lifted up ill the ways of the Lord. There is elasti-
city ill his })iety, and buoyant gladness. While
others grope in wrong ways, or go heavily in right
ones, Jehoshaphat .soars upward with wings as an
eagle, and hears rejoicingly onward toward the
faulth'ss and the true. We wonder at the sound of
his wings, and at the grace of Heaven bestowed
U])oii him. " The Lord established his kingdom :
All Judah brouglit him presents, he had riches and
^ honour in abundance, and his heart was lifted ii[) in
the ways of the Lord."

This was a noble beginnir.g : And 0, In -^ i. had been
well if his circumspi^ctioii had been erpial to his zeal.
Had he been as careful to shelter his family from evil iii-
tluences as he was anxious to have his sul)jects insti ucLcmI
in the divine law, the fortunes of his house and of his
kingdom would have been very ddFeinrnt from what they
were. He failed, as we shall see, in strict attention to
that very law which he was so earnest to have promul-
gated throughout his dominions, and thus allowed Sama-
ria to conquer Judah in a way that brought utter cou-
K

ItHt

! \

11 1

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

fusion on his family as \w\\ as on liis realm. What
Jorolioam cm mid not do uitli eight hnndrod thousand
men, that Ahab did uilh one fascinating daughter !

It is dilli<ult to hit tlu' mcflium between a' ^'\te es-
ti'angeuient from the ungodly ami a too groa .imacy
with them : and here it "was that Jehoshaj-hat's wisdom
failed him. Because lie had ceased to contend uith
Samaiia in arms, there was no need for his rushing into
the closest possible alliance with the idolatious house that
reigned there. He might have maintained iinhostile re-
lations with Ahab, without identifying himself with that
monarch. This he did not do; and bitter were the re-
sults. Had he atteiuled to divine direction it would have
been otherwise : ))U.t, like Solomon before him, ho over-
look<'d or disg\iarded the ex})ress command of God — in
the person of his soi. if not in his own.

How impressively we are taught by such instances the
importance of adheiing to the divine law. Pity * t men
will not learn wi>dom, noi abide by oiders. If men

as Jehoshaidiat and Solomon erred by such oAtisight,
what may be expected from less eidightened ami less
devoted men ?

In noticing more particularly the story of Jehoshajihat,
we shall call your attention to — his solicitude in peace —
his refuge in trouble — and his weakness and want of dis-
c.'imination in the matter of character and companion-
ship.

1. JU^ solicitude in -peace.

That was tbe enlightenment and piety of his subjects.
He did not neglect subordinate matters. He cared for
defence, and was active in matters of improvement and
larger social accommodations. " He strengthened himself
against Israel, and he })laced forces in all the fenced cities
of Judah, and set garrisons in the hand of Judah and in
the cities of Ephraim." Besides, " he built in Judah
castles, and cities of stone ; and he had much business in
the cities of Judah." He neglected nothing which a
prudent ruler generally attends to, with a view to the

JKlIOSH.'/rU'.

lin

iiccs the
t men

fisight,

ibjects.

red for

it and

limself

cities

nd in

iJudali

ess in

lich a

the

safety and Avell-heing of liis suhjects ; but lie did not re->t
in material good. He aimed at something iiigher ut the
same time. He wished, along with the safety of his sul)-
jects, for their enlightenment : and he songlit, together
with social improvement, the more general recognition
on the part of the people of the laws and claims of God.
With this view, he appointed a commission to perambu-
late the country under his 8way, and to teach every where
the people concerning and out of the law of the Lord : —

" It) the thinl year of liis reign lie sent to his princes, oven to
Ben-hail, and to Ohadiah, ami to Zechariaii, and to Xa-
thaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the citifs of .Indah.
And with tliem he sent Levite!<, even Shetnaiali, and Na-
thaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Sheiniramotli, and
.lehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tohijah, and Tob-adonijah,
Lcvites : and with them 'linham and ilehorani, priests,
Ard they taught in Judali, and had tlie book, of the liord
with them, and went alxuit throughout all the cities of
Judah, and taught the people." — 7-l>.

Now, this was at once, wise, becoming, and most season-
able at the time.

It was ivise — even though he sought nothing higher
than the unity and coherence of his kingdom. To teach
the people the law of the Lord was to teach them at the
same time their own miraculous history as a nation.
The law was given by IMoses, and given to them as the
descendants of Abraham. Moses brought their fathers
out of Egypt, and to Mount Sinai, that they might receive
it. Moses led them through the wilderness besides, and
l)y a pillar of cloud and tire, and preparod the way for
Joshua who settled them in Canaan. And Moses had
left a promise of another prophet to arise among them
like unto himself — only more potent and more glorious —
who should give a higher freedom, and conduct to a
})urer inheritance. Now, what more suited to inspire
patriotism and national sentiment than to be reminded
of these things 1 God had not dealt so with any other
people. Their history had been peculiar and illustrious,
and the knowledge and remembrance of this was fitted
to keep them true to their national institutions, and to

. u

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

I.'

prevent their mingling lliemselves np with the less hon-
oured nations around them. The more clearly they saw
the peculiarities of their law and theii- national history,
and the moi'e fully they apprehended the claims of Him
who had chosen and watched over them, the more likely
were they to abide l)y their national standards. In short,
to teach them the law was to bind them to the Temple
at Jerusalem ; and to bind them to the Temple at Jeru-
salem was to bind them to the throne of David, now oc-
cupied by Jehoshaphat himself It was wise then in him
to teach the people the law. And there was the more
need for it, since the ten neighbouring and revolted
tribes were now far gone in a})proximation to heathen-
ism. Already Ahab had brought Jezebel to Samaria,
and with her the wickedness of Baal-worship. AMiat
moi'e likely than that the errors of the conterminous
Israelites niii-ht infect the men of Judah 1 What more
likely than that the sultjects of Jehoshaphat might inter-
marry and have interconnnunion Avith the subjects of
Ahab, and thus the Temi)le-serviees would be forsaken,
and the throne of Jehoshaphat proj)ortionally weakened 1
We know how easy it is for the privileged to foiget their
})rivileges, and to yield themselves to the debasements of
the ungodly and idolatrous. Nay, we know, that this
l)rocess is inevitable if there be not watchfulness and ear-
nest adherence to the truth. Was it not wise then, even
on the score of policy, that Jehoshaphat should cause his
subj(>cts to be instructed in the law of the Lord. This
indeed was bettcu' far than all material defences. It was
his most potent weapon against the inroads of the ten
tribes. Had he neglected this, and allowed his people to
forget the law of the Lord, the errors of Israel under
Ahab Avould have suljdued Judah more effectually than
many armies. The possession of the law of the Lord was
the grand distinction of his government, andtheknowledge
of that law by his people, and their enlightened obe-
dience to it, was his l)est security for their unity, and loy-
alty, and fidelity. It Avas wise in Jehoshaphat therefore,
to send commissioners through all his territory to teach

•U

JEIIOSIIAniAT.

117

U>(^ 111!*

This
t was
ic ten
)le to
under

y than
cl was

wU'dgc
I ube-

a by-
Tc'fure,
teach

and to enforce their natural peculiarities. AVithout neglect-
ing tlie material defences of his kingdom, its best defence
Avas the general knowledge and reception of the law of
the Lord. But, even apart from policy —

It was hccoming in Jehoshaphat to cause the law of tl)(»
Lord to be taught to his subjects. His people were a
sacred people, and his throne was a sacred throne. His
people had been ])laced in Canaan that they might keep
tlie law of the Lord, and he had been placed on the throne
to see that they kept the same law ; or, at any rate, to
see that they had an opportunity to know and keep it.
It was his duty to banish and jjut down idolatrous
shrines from and in his territory : and, when he did so,
it was but meet that ho should attend to the claims of
God's law. It had l)een but imperfe(;t servic(; to :'^emove
the evil without l)ringing into i)i"ominence the good :
and it had 1)eeu to little purpos(! to do the one without
doing the other as well. A\'ithout the good, the evil
would have re-appeared forthwith ii: sonu; new shajie.
When, therefore he took away the high places and tlu^
groves (as it is reported he did), it was only carrying out
his ini})ortant undertaking to send commissioners forth
to testify concerningthe claims of God's law, and to sum-
nu»n the people to the worship of the true God.

Besides, ho thus became a true Kim; of the house of
David, and a ty[)e of the coming Prince in whom the
glory of that house was to centre and remain. The
divine Scui of David, seated on the throne of David,
and ruling over the house of Jacol) forever, sc-nds forth
messengers atvl commissioners ps it were f(n' the eidight-
enment of the world. From age to age he renews these
messengers, and, testifying by them of the grace of God,
tiu'us the attention of men anew and continually to tlu^
law of the Lord. lie would turn men from iuiipiity :
He Avould disenchant them of error ; He would draw
them around the tiue temple of the true God, and He
would thus deliver them from the evils of estiangement
from heaven, and secure for them the delights and the
stabilities of the Goddoved and the God-sheltered. And

(oitf

' \

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118

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID,

this is just what Jehoshaphat did in his day on the small
and typical arena on which he moved. He thns fore-
shadowed, in so far, the great Teacher of nations, and the
King of saints. He, like David and Solomon, was thus
the type of Messiah — David by his victories, Solomon by
his temple-building, and Jehoshaphat by his labours for
the enlightenment of the people ! It v"* becoming then,
on the part of Jehoshaphat, both as a ,ng of the sacred
people, and as a prince of the typical liouse of David, to
send forth, and throughout his kingdom, commissioners
and agents, to teach the people the law of the Lord, and
to enforce the claims of that law.

But it was seasonable as well :— Seasonable, I say, and
necessary even, in the light of the reigns that preceded
his. These preceding reigns had given great advantage
to error, and the people had fallen back from the habits
and usages of the times of David and the earlj' years of
Solomon. To say nothing of the latter years of Solomon,
we know that the reign of Rehoboam was almost wholly
in favour of idolatry. So Avith that of Abijah : and if
Asa's had been of a better complexion, it was rather ne-
gatively good than positively so. He took away the
Sodomites out of the land, and he brought dedicated
things into the temple, but we hear of no positive efforts
on his part at public instruction. The Levites, no doubt,
had fallen from their duties as public instructors during
the reigns of Reholioam and Abijah, and we know not
that Asa did anything to bring them up again to their
appropriate service. The probability is, that they had
become themselves unable to instruct the people in the
law of the Lord. They had allowed that law to fall into
forgetfulness — themselves had forgotten it — and Judah
was in effect without instructors. It was needful there-
fore, specially needful, that Jehoshaphat should adopt
some unusual means for the purpose of meeting the cir-
cumstances. Had the Levites, scattered through the ter-
ritory, been competent for the work, the King would
liave found it enough to issue orders to these parties ;
but because they were unable to meet the crisis, Jehosha-

<W ' ' ""' ■^'

JEIIOSHAPIIAT.

110

phat sent to his princes, or local governors, and ordered
them to see to the work ; and having found some few
Levites fitted for the undertaking, he sent tlieni to assist
in forwarding it. Had Rehoboam and Abijah, and Asa,
kept the arrangements of heaven for the enlightenment of
the people in working order, Jehoshaphat would not have
needed to send forth this special commission ; but in the
circumstances in which he found the people, this special
commission was wholly seasonable and greatly necessary.
Like Asa his father, he might have been content with
negative fidelity, but, more zealous and more enlightened
than he, he wished to bring his people up again to an
enlightened and intelligent service.

Thus truly did Jehoshaphat show his estimate and
understanding of his position, and manifest his zeal for
God, and for the good of his people. He adopted the
very best antidote against apostacy and idolatry — evils
now abounding among the ten tribes, and not unknown
we fear even in Judah. He exhibited also, wittingly or
unwittingly, a new phase of the coming Messiah's reign.
And further, he took the right method for repairing the
evils of the reigns that immediately preceded his own.
He wisely considered, not only that the law of the Lord
Avas what his kingdom needed, but that also a time of
peace was the time to bring the people of Judah to their
normal state as the depositaries of divine truth. Half-
hearted and thoughtless men often defer needed reforms
or necessary labours while all is cpiiet around them — re-
quiring the stimulus of danger to drive them to duty, and
then not unfrequently performing that duty imperfectly,
or falling from it altogether, because of increasing ditli-
culties. Not so with Jehosiiaphet : he set about the
needed instruction forthwith, and diligently employed
the years of peace afforded him in promoting the enlight-
enment of his subjects.

Jehoshaphat was right in this, and God gave tokens of
His approbation of the course pursued. The peace which
he so wisely improved was enlarged and prolonged. His
neighbours, instead of invading or distressing him, sent

♦ ';

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120

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

presents and tokens of good-will ; and he grew great and
esteemed. Thus it is said, immediately after t he notice of
liis arrangcmentsfor the enlightenment of hisj)eo])le, "the
fear of the Lord fell uj)on all the kingdoms of the lands
that Avere round about Judah, so that they made; no war
against Jchoshaphat. Also, some of tho Philistines
l)rt)Ught ])i'esfnts and trilmte silver. And the Arabians
brought him flocks — seven thousand and seven hundred
rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he-i^oats ;
and Jehoshajjliat waxed great exceedinglj'." You see
that, while seeking the eidightennient of his subjects, he
grew in honour and celebrity ; and while wisely using a
time of peace, that peace was extended and made ])leasant
V)y tokens of good will and friendship from liis neigh-
bours.

Then, we have further evidence of his wise devoted
ness to the true interests of Isi-ael in a subsequenr ]ior-
tion of his life and reign. Not content with sending
agents to instruct the people, he went himself througli
the land — using his influence as Kinii; wherever he went
in favour of the tine worship. It is said that " he Avent
through the people from Beei'sheba to Mount E})hraim,
and brouiiht them l)ack unto the Lord (iod of their
fathers." No doubt he had reports from the vaiious local-
ities, and was gi'ieved to uncU'rstand that, spite of the
mission of instiuction, many still wandered, and showed
l)refei'ence for the rites of heathenism. In these circum-
stances he dettimined to use his personal and royal influ-
ence in the matter : and, by the way, Avhat he had seen
in the kingdom of Isi'ael while visiting ar.d acting with
Ahab pioi)ably strengthened this determination. He
accordingly made a royal pi'ogress from South to North ;
not 10 dazzle his subjects, nor yet to enjoy the manifesta-
tions of their loyalty, but to bring them back to the true
God. There was something admirable in this. It was
so unlike kings generally : and it manifested so much
zeal and becoming devotedness !

But this was not all ; Jehosha])hat, knowing that the
influence of a royal [)rogress might only be temporaiy,

i'^

JEIIOSHAPIIAT.

121

and that the people, however ready to please him during
his sliort visit, might again fall back to foolish customs
after his dejjarture, made permanent arrangements for the
■well-being and eidightenment of the land. lie set judges
in each city, and gave them special injunctions as to their
administration, urging upon them the claims and the
liiihteousness of God. Hear his words: — "Take hoed"
(said he to them) " what ye do ; for ye judge not for
man, but for the Lord, who is with you in ihe judgment.
Wherefore now let the fear of the Loid be upon you ;
take heed and do it : for there is no inicpiity with the
Lord our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of
gifts." " Moreover, in Jerusalem did Jehosha])hat set of
the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the
fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the Lord, and for
controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem. And he
charged them, saying. Thus shall ye do in the fear of
the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart. And what
cause soever siiall come to you of your brethren that
dwell in the cities, between blood and blood, between
law and commandment, statutes and judgmeuts, ye shall
even warn them that they trespass not agaiust the Lord,
and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethi-en ;
this do, and ye shall not trespass." (xix. G-10.)

Thus you see the solicitudes and doings of Jehoshaphat
when at leisure, and unharassed by external presi-":ure or
internal dissension. He sought neither i^dat nor gratifi-
cation for himself His supreme solicitude and endeavour
was in the interests of piety ! And surely we ma}' learn
a lesson fnmi this. We are not kings, Init still we can
have ])lans and solicitudes, each in his own narrow sphere ;
and no doubt we have. What then is the complexion of
these plans and solicitudes 1 Are they for God ? Are
they in the interests of piety and enlightenment ? Or,
are they for our own aggrandizement, or worldly gratifi-
cation ? Let us be warned of mistake in this matter,
and not sow to the perishing. He that sowcth to the
llesh shall reap corruption, while they that sow to the sjtirit
shall reap life everlasting, ^^'e enjoy peace — we enjoy

TT*-

122

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

ample privileges as well : let us improve both. If we
cannot make royal progresses in the interests of piety, let
us attend to the means of personal progress therein. Let
us review and re-embrace the historical faith wliich we
profess. Let us review and reconsider tlie ways of God
towards His ancient people. While the world is eager
after the remains of Grecian art, or amuse themselves
with m(^re antiquities, let us earnestly remember the in-
terpositions of God on behalf of Israel, and learn His
supremacy and character as thereby displayed. And
let us give our best thoughts to Immanuel — to His utter-
ances, and promises, and benignant and miraculous works.
It is by the knowledge of Him that we are to find God.
Apart from Him, our studit ■. and discoveries will be but
refined trifling. We must follow on to know the Lord.
We must seek to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We cannot improve
our peace or leisure better. We cannot indeed improve
our peace and leisure aright in any other way. And in
this way we will find good. God will bless us in and for
the sake of His Son. Our peace will be prolonged and
extended. Our days, too, will become illuminated from
on high. And we will thus become more and more fitted
for the inevitable alternations of this changing life as
well as for the occupations and happy experiences of the
better land. It is foolish to neglect the opportunity
which peace and health furnish. It were foolish to put
off heavenly considerations and solicitudes until decay or
danger overtakes us. Our disinclination will but increase
by postponement; and our facilities for success will lessen
in the same proportion. The time of peace is the time
to prepare for danger. Besides, we should wish and en-
deavour to check surrounding and prevailing evil, and
also to promote the enlightenment of others. But these
ends can be best sought by improving, in the first in-
stance, our personal piety. A half-enlightened and half-
hearted disciple will have small influence either in check-
ing evil or promoting good. They must themselves be
enlightened, and decided, and devoted, who would eftect-

i li

JEIIOSHAniAT.

123

iially subserve the interests of heaven among men. Trifle
not then with your privileges and opportunities. Betake
yourselves to the law of the Lord. Give yourselves to
the glorious gospel of the blessed God. Employ your
quiet and opportunity in perfecting your discipleship.
And thus you may enjoy the smile of the Holy, and be
instrumental in checking and weakening the evil tenden-
cies of the uninformed around you, and in strengthening
the cause of the heavenly kingdom of your Lord, and in
preparing yourself for the vicissitudes and trials of life,
as well as for the exercises and enjoyments of the world
of glory and of purity beyond ! However humble your
sphere, you may still imitate Jehoshaphat in your solici-
tudes and labours ; you may employ your peace for
Heaven, and not for self or for earth.

But to return to Jehoshaphat; having noticed his so-
licitude in Peace, we would now remind you of —

//. His refuge hi Trouble.

And why should trouble arise to so excellent a prince ?
Because he had his weaknesses and inconsistencies, which
we will notice immediately. In the meantime, think of
his refuge, and dependence, and exercise, when evil arose
and threatened to overwhelm him. His trouble was, a
combination on the part of his enemies, and a hostile
demonstration of an alarming character. And the ques-
tion is, in what direction did he look, or how did he ex-
ercise himself in the appalling crisis ] Did he collect his
people, and boast to them of his mighty preparations and
resources 1 Or did he seek to stimulate their patriotism,
and to inspire them with confidence in his generalship and
arrangements ? Not at all. There is no mention on his
part of his fenced cities, nor yet of the state of efficiency
to which he had trained his warriors. What then ? Did
he hasten ambassadors to Syria, or to Samaria, to seek
alliances to help him in the impending strugide ? One
wonders that he did not apply to Samaria at least — see-
ing that, but the year before, he had helped Ahab in his
warlike operations, But there is no hint of any such

■I

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ill

124

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

inuvcmeiit. lie trusts neitlicr in liis own rL'sourcos nor
in tlio resources of human allies. Neither does he be-
take liim^elf to false divinities or superstitions rites. Ho
neither offers his children to IMoloch, nor asks aid or in-
fluence from th(! ))riests of Baal. The truth is, he looks
upward. He betakes himself to the God of Israel — even
to the God Avhos(? law he was so anxious to promulgate
whilt! yet in the eujoymentof peaceand leisure. He remem-
bers the mighty interpositions of that glorious One on be-
half of his fathers, and he earnestly and humbly seeks sym-
pathy and help in that direction. He engages his people to
concur in his exercises and entreaties. He not only "set
himself to seek the Lord," but "he proclaimed a fast
throughout all Judah: and Judah gathered themselves
together, to ask help of the Lord — even of all the cities
of Judah they came to seek the Lord." "And Jehosha-
])hat stood in the congi'egation of Judah and Jerusalem,
in the hous(^, of the Lord, before the new court." And
mark how huml>le, how enlightened, and how devout, his
prayer was. He said : —

" O Lord God of our father.^, ai'tnot Thou fJod in lioavcii? <ind
rulest not 'I'liou over all the kiii'^'doins of the heathen? and in
Thine liaml is there not power and nii!,'ht, so that none is able to
witlistand Tliee ? Art not Thou our God, who didst drive out
the inhabitants of this land l)efore Thy i)eople Israel, and gavest
it to the seed of Al)rahani 'I'hy friend forever? And they dwelt
therein, and have built Thee a sanetiiary therein for Thy name,
saying. If, when evil conieth upon us, as the sword, judgment, or
pestilence, or famine, we stand l)efore this house, and in 1'hy
presence, (for Thy name is in this liouse,) and cry unto Tliee in
oiu- atiiiction, then Tiiou wilt hear and help. And now, behold,
the children of Amnion and Moab and Mount 8eir, whom Thou
wouldst not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of
Egy])t, but they turned from tliem, and destroyed them not :
Beiiold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of
Thy possession, which Thou hast given us to inherit. O our
God, wilt 'I'hou not judge them ? For we have no might against
this great coni))any that cometh aganist us; neither know we
what to do : but our eyes are upon Thee."

Such was Jehoshaphat in the exigence that had now
arisen — as humble and devout in trouble as he had been
active and zealous in peace. He was a true son of

I 1^

JEIIOSII.VPIIAT.

125

r)avkl, ami a man of prayer. Xor did hi; pray in vain.
Till' Clod of Israi'l is llu.' licai-cr and answcror of prayer,
and Jeliosliaphat was promptly and favourably answered.
Upon Jaliazi(d, tlie son of Zacliariali, came the spirit of
the Lord in the midst of the con^a-egation, —

" And he s;ii(l, IK'arl<eu ye, all .Tiulali, and ye inhaMtaiits of
Jenisalem, and tli<>u Kiiii,' flehosliaiiliat, tliussaith tlie J.ord unto
yon, I'e not afraid nor disniayed liy reason of tin.s icreat nuilti-
tnde ; for the battle is not your's, but (rod's. 'I'o-nioi'row ^o ye
down a,:,'aiiist tliein : behold, they cfuue up by the elilf of Ziz :
and ye shnll find them at the end of the biook, before tlie wilder-
ness of Jaruel. Yo shall not need to ti.urht in this battle : set
yourselves, stand ye still, i'nd see the salvation of the L n'd with
you, O Judali and Jerusaletn : fear not, nor bi; disniayed ; to-
morrow go out against them : for the Lord will be with you."

And the deliverance occurred accordingly — Jeliosliaphat
and his jieoph; went out against their ^.nemies: they
went out in faith, and with the voice of song and grate-
I'ul worship. Weapons they needed none, for the advanc-
ing enemies became their own executioners. Amnion
and Moalj turned their swords against each other : and
Jeliosliaphat and the men of Judah, instead of sinking
before their numerous foes, had only to gather the spoil
of their slain enemies. And so great was the spoil to be
gathered, of jewels and i)recious things, that it took them
three days to gather it. '• On the fourth day they
assembled themselves in the valley of IJeraehah : for
there they blessed the Lord : therefore the name of the
same place was called the valley of Berachah unto this
day." " And they came to Jerusalem with psaltery, and
harps, and trum])ets, unto the house of the Tj(n'd." They
bad called on God in trouble : (iod had delivered them :
and they now gioriiied Him I

Here you Avill observe, that Jeliosliaphat and his
people, in this resort to God, Avere only acting out the
jiroprieties of their position as Israelites. Only think
how Jacob, the father of the tribes, came to be called
Israel : — It was because of his urgency and success in
prayer : " thy name (said the mysterious and divine visi-
tor) shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel : for, as a

1'^
)

12G

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

prince hast thou power with God, and with men, and
hast prevailed." And what is implied in the extension of
this name to the descendants of Jacob if it be not, that
they should all be men of prayer ? The tribes of Israel
means, the tribes of the prayerful — the tribes of the
powerful in prayer — the tribes of God, having their
strength and refuge with tlu; Eternal — the tribes to whom
God has drawn near, and whose privilege it is, to
wrestle with Him in their distresses, and to find the
deliverance or the shelter which they need! Thus Jeho-
shaphat and his subjects, as children of Israel, availed
themselves of their privilege, and found the value and
comfort of that privilege.

And still more particularly in the case of Jehoshaphat
Avas it becominn; in him to draw ni<i;h to God in his
trouble. He was a prince of the house of David, and
God was specially in covenant Avith that house. He had
undertaken to David, its founder, to have a special regard
to its interests, and to reveal His own glory and loving
resources in connexion with it. He had constituted
Himself the Friend, the Ally, the Helper, and the
Kefuge, of all the faithful members of that family : " I
have made a covenant with My chosen, (said the Holy
One of Israel,) I have sworn unto David, my servant, —
thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne
to all generations." What then could be more proper or
becoming in Jehoshaphat than to betake himself in his
distress to the Almighty and Covenant-Friend of his
house ? It was the duty as well as the privilege of his
family. David himself perpetually availed himself of the
privilege, and he sung of it as well .• " God is our
refuge and strength, (said he,) a very present help in
trouble !" Solomon again made a beautiful and compre-
hensive use of the privilege at the dedication of the
Temple. Asa, the father of Jehoshaphat, in his turn,
used the privilege to purpose. And Hezekiah, in subse-
quent years, found the privilege still available and un-
diminished in value. Rehoboam did not avail himself
of it when Shishak came up against him, and took away

JEHOSIIAPIIAT.

127

nil tlic treasuiL'S of the Temple ; and lielioboam failed to
find deliverance. And so "vith others of the sacred royal
family : l)ut they only ft.'ll from the pi-ivileges and duties
of the sacred dynasty, and found overthrow or captivity
in consequence. Jehoshaphat, on the other hand, availed
himself of the privilege, and enjoyed a signal and me-
morable deliveiance by the grace of the Hearer and An-
swerer of Prayer.

And need 1 remind you that it is still thus with the
spiritual Israel, and with the royal association of tln^
divine David. Gid is their rcftir/e. Go<l luith drawn nigh
to them in the form of humanity, and thus given them
an opportunity to wrestle with Him in their liours of
darkness and danger, as He did to Jacob of old. He
hath come as it were Avithin the sphere of their con-
sciousness and agency. He hath made it possible for
them to lay hold of His robe — to detain Him, if I may
speak so, until they pour all their plaints into His ear.
Had He remained in His own and original sphere of
spirituality and Infinitude, they could neither have
found Him, nor detained Him, nor refused to let Him
go until He blessed them : but, ]>y the incarnation of
His Son, He liath condescended to become cognizable,
acceptable, detainable, and impressible by urgency and
felt need. To the unbelieving, who by the way are not
of Israel, He is still hidden, inacccssil)le, and intangible ;
but to the believing, who constitute the spiritual Israel,
He is ever near and approachable. Holding by His
living robe, even by His incarnate Son, they can tell
their troubles, or their terrors, and find the sympathy or
the deliverance they need : " God is a refuge for them, a
very present help in trouble." Their enemies may be
mighty, but they have a mightier friend. Their weakr.ess
may be great, but they have an adequate support. Tlu^
floods may descend, and the winds may blow, but their
Kefuge can neither be invaded nor swept away. More
particularly still, they belong to the I'oyal house of the
divine David — the Beloved of the Eternal : and God
hath made a covenant with their great Kepresentative

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THE DYNASTY OF D.VVlD.

and Cliit'f: ami tiny arn indiidod in tliat covenant.
Tliat covciiMiit is ordt'i'cil in all things, an<l snro : and it
is their ])iivil('^e, on i\n' t'onndatioii of that covenant, to
draw niuh to (!od with acceptance, to shelter beneath
the ontstretclied wings of ()nur.|)otence, and to rejoic(i in
tluMuiehanging h)ve of thf.r Mtenial Father. If they
are suhjeeted to alarm or troul)Ie in the meaiitinie, it is
oidy to snl)serv(! important ends, not to j"op:U(lize their
safety, 'i'hey liave hnt to Itetake themselves to their
covenant-Ood and Father in Chi'ist, and their secnrity is
assure.], aye, and tlieir nltiniatf victory as well, (lod is
their Kefnge, the Invisihle, the Invuliierahle, is their
(h'fence : the All-possessing and All-condescending is their
portion and joy !

And pi'ayer is the exorcise by which they avail them-
selves of their divin(> privilege : and daily they giv(! them-
.selves to it. They canutjt live witlujut it, and their
standim;; orders arc in accordance with the necessities of
their being. They aio directed to pray without ceasing.
They are i)ermitted to ask what they will : and they are
assured that their prayers shall not go unregar<led or un
answered: "Ask in my name, (says their divine chief,)
and it shall be done unto you 1" if Jehoshaphat was
heard as a son of the covenanted house of David, far
more will the believer in Jesus be heard as a living
branch of the True \'ine— as a lovini' and loved mem-
her in the mystical boily of the lledeemer. And not in
trouble only, but in all things, these believing ones can
have and enjoy the sympathy and the grace <( the
divine, (lod takes pleasure in them that I ■■ ' Im, in
them that hope in llis mercy: and ilc \ ell with

them, and walk with them : and they shal mnnbered
with Ilis i)eo})le, and He will bt; their Ium, and their
perpetual deliglit. O, but they are honoured peop. who
belong to the s[)iritual Israel, whose* life and habit is
intercourse with Cb)d by prayer ! And O, but they are
a loved people who adhere to the covenant of the divim;
David, and plead the promises of that covenant contin-
ally !

JEHOSHAPHAT.

129

Aro yon suflRciently awuro of your privilofro and duty
herein (T speak to the New Testarneiit nieiril>ers of the
lioiise of David). Y.m see tlie liappiiies- of Jehosliajjhat
as a son of the prayerful. Vou see liis hai>piness too as
a member of the sacred, royal, covenanted hou.se of
David. God interj)o.ses for him. God hears his prayer,
scatters his enemies, fills him with joy, and enriches him
and his concurring' subjects witlisj)()il ! Are you, as thej)ro-
fesied members of tiie si)iritual Israel, and the followers
and represented ones of the Beloved Mediator, are you
using, improving, and enjoying your privilege of acce.ss
and communion with the Eternal I Are you laying hold
of His ''r.be daily, and nrging your want.s ujton His atten-
tion continw I'y 1 You need to do it. Your spiritual
adversaries ire mighty and subtle. You cannot yourself
conquer them. ^«^iy, you cannot stand before them.
Jchoshaphat could not have resisted th<! combined forces
of Amnion, and Moab, and Seir : far less will you be
able to resist the i)rincipalities and powers of evil — the
rulers of the darkness of this world. Without God, you
are certain to be overthrown ! Without Christ, you are
lost ! Kejoice then that God is accessible in Christ, and
be sure that you avail yourselves of His accessibility.
Be not slow to betake yourselves to the divine refuge,
nor infrequent in your resort to it. Pray without ceas-
ing ! You never know what combinations your spiritual
adversaries are forming against you. You never know
when, or how keenly, they may assail you. Pray always
then. And pray that God Himself may undertake for
you, and stand by you, that you may not be greatly
moved. The time ^vill Qome when the Israel of God
shall be able to lay aside its solicitude, and give itself to
unfearing and untroubled service : but in the meantime
it cannot afford to be unwakeful or unprepared. So long
as any number of its members are in the enemies' terri-
tory, so long as they tabernacle where the god of dark-
ness hath power and opportunity against them, — so long
they need to be circumspect, — so long they need to
watch against temptation, — so long they need to pray

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THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

with fill prnyer and porsi stent supplication, that God
would stand by them, defend ihem, and deliver them !

But to return to Jehosliojiliat, we find in him warning
as well as encouragement and instruction. If we are
taught hy his solicitude in peace, and incited by his
refuge in trouble, we are also wan ed of our danger by
his inconsistencies and mistakes. This leads me to
no'^ice, —

///. ///.s' vcfibiefs and vrinf. of discrimination in the matter
of character and companinnsliip.

lie joined aflinity with Ahab ! Only think of it —
Jehoshaphat joined affinity with Ahab! Flis ])rosperity
was such as to make an alliance with his family desirable
in the eyes of Jezel)el and hei' husband : tor he had
"riehesand honour in abundance." And they had no
scru])les to prevent. Neither it would seem had Jehosh-
aphat. at least, we hear of none. And Athaliah. the
daughter of idolatoi's, and trained herself in idolatiy,
was bi'ouuht to Jt'rnsalem (no (loul)t with all suitable
demonstrations and displiiy) to be the bosom C(»m[)anion
and counsellor of the son of Jehoshaphat, and the heir
to the sacred tiirone of David. How outrageous the
thought ! How it was brought about does not appear.
']"he fact howevt'r is certain. Jehoram married Athaliah.
As a mattei' of course, after this uidon, Jehoshaphat vis-
itfd Ahab at his eapital, and enjoyed his hosp"tality.
The idolati'oiis character of the court of Sanuiria, and
the idolatrous rites associated with its festivities and en-
tertainments, seem to \\\\\v given him no unt'asiness. He
was all smiles and ready compliance in the nudst of those
who had renonuced tln' (bid of Isi'ad. and yielded tliem-
selves to a ho>tile and deiiiading service. It is almost
incredible ; Jehoshaiihat, who had ])i('j)ared his heart to
sei'k the Lord, and who was so zealous foi' the instruction
and ])ietv of his peojile, this sjiUie Jt hosh;.ph;il miti<:rnig
in the I'cstn itit's of the eoiiit oi' Ahab and Jezebel with-
ctut bcniple and without piotest ' l!ut even this is not
al). Ahab is involved in war, and what does Jehosha-

JEHOSHAPHAT.

131

phat do but identify himself and his people with Ahab
and his people. When asked to assist in the war, his
immediate answer is, " I am as thou art ; and my people
as thy people ; and we will be with thee in the war."
Nay, still fai'ther, when Ahab's idolatrous prophets said
one thing, and a true prophet said the contrary, Jeliosha-
})hat actually yielded to the false and disregarded the
true ! Foolish and infatuated Jehoshaphat, we would

How are we to explain all this inconsistency 1 I can
see no other explanation of it but either extreme weakness
or uiiworfhtj polici/. It was not for Avant of zeal for God,
for he was zealou^' ; nor could it be for want of know-
ledge, for he knew the law. He who was so anxious for
the instruction of his people in the law of the Lord, no
doubt himself read that law. And he must have known
that idolatrous marriaL'es for the sons and (laughters of
the sacred people, and idolatrous conviviiilities, and
idolatrous alliances, were wholly against the mind and will
of God. Why then did he act so 1 It might be as a
matter of policy. He might fanc}- that thereby he would
brniir back to his family the ten revolted tribes. He
might sui)pose that the two houses of Samaria and Jeru
salem being once united in marriage, the chapter of ac-
cidents, or the providence of God, would remove any re-
maining obstacles to the reunion of the tribes. Aiul the
thought was good enough. It was desiraV)le, so far as
human views went, that the tribes should lie re-united,
l)ut how could he think to gain a right end by disolx'di-
ence, or by improper means 'I If he did, he was most
childish and mistaken in his views. The means must be
in harmony with the end, if a good end is to be truly and
satisfactorily gained. But we do not tlii.ik this is the
explanation of .Jehoshaphat's very foolish and inconsistent
conduct. "We ^Mther attribute that conduct to weakness,
and what the world would call '' amiable yielding." We
<lo not suppose that he himself made overtures for Atha-
liah for his son ; but that, pressed by the Prince, or by
some of his less scrupulous counsellors, or by circumstan-

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THE DYNASEY OF DAVID.

ces which are not explained, he yielrled a rehictant con-
sent. He did not like to say No: at least, not to persist
in saying it. And his visit to Samaria, we think, arose
from tht! same weakness. He knew that Aha))'s court
was idolatrous and heathenish, but being pressed by
friendly invitations, he did not like to refuse ; at least,
not to persist in doing so. Some years elapsed after
Jehoram's wedding before Jehoshapliat acce])ted the invi-
tations of Ahal) and Jezebel, (which sliows that ho was
not very cordial in the alliance,) but, once at Samaria, he
could nob find in his heart to dissent from, or absent iiim-
self irom, their festal rejoicings — especially when got up
for his entertainment. And finally, after all the attention
he had received from Ahab and his queen, he could not
refuse to help against Syria. At each onward step, he
felt that he could not gracefully or politely say, No ; and
thus he was drawn into full concurrence and apparent
identity with the ungodly and idolatrous. He knew the
right, but he was drawn step by step into a position which
he ought never to have occupied, by infiuences which he
could not, with his facile and friendly dis[)osition, find it
in his heart to resist. There was no reason why he should
have been unfriendly to Ahab, but there was just as little
reason why he should have identified himself with the
court and policy of that prince. If he avoided the fault
of lichoboam, who was at war with the ten tribes all the
Years of his reiii;n, he did not need to have i^one to the
other extreme, by throwing himself into the arms of Ahab,
but he had not courage to resist the human and proxim-
ate influences that drew him.

I need scarcely rouind you of the consequences of this
fatal Aveakness on the part of Jeliosha})liat. In the first
instance, he ahnnst lost his life at Kanu)th-(tilead, when
taken for the crafty and disguised Ahai). Then, lie met
with divine denunciation : for Jehu, the son of Hanani,
met him on hisretiun to Jerusalem, and said, " Shouldest
thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord?
Therefore is wrath ujion thee from before the Lord !"
And then followed the invasion by the Ammonites, the

JEHOSHAPHAT.

133

Moabites, and the men of IMount Seir. His national
peace was broken; and his domestic peace as well, no
doubt, by the presence and influence ot" Atlialiah in Jeru-
salem. And then, he was no sooner hi id in the grave,
thin his sons were slain by Jehorairi, and his kingdom
conformed to the heathenism of Samaria ; and eventually
his dynasty was all but ruined, by the daughter of Jeze-
bel. But for the Divine purpose in the House of David,
indeed, the sacred family had been utterly extinguished !
O, if Jehosha]ihat could have anticipated tiie consefpumces
of his disobedience and fatal weakness, he would have
been pained beyond utterance and beyond thought !

And why should we not learn wisdom by his mistakes'?
Let us beware how we yield to an aggressive and plau-
sible world. Let us beware how we " help the ungodly,
or love them that hate the Loi'd I" Let us beware how
we ally ourselves with the idolatrous and unchristian !
We need not be unfriendly, but we may decline uncon-
genial alliauces with the God-dishonouring. In all ages,
such alliances have been in favour of evil and not of good.
Let us I'emeiuber the sanctities of the spiritual Israel, to
which we ])rofess to belong, and let us abide in them !
Especially let us remember, that the people rf the divine
David are meant to be prayerful, consecrated and pure ;
and let us avoid all companionships and alliances inimi-
cal to such consecration !

QUESTIONS ON JEHOSHAPHAT.

What was the chief solicitude of this Prince while his king-
dom enjoyed peace ?
The euUghteunient and religious improveuient of his
people.
What step did he take with this view ?

He aj^poiuted a couuuis.sion to travel through the country,
teaching the people in its progress out of and conceruiug
tlie law of the Lord.
How must this commission he regarded ?

As wise, becoming, and seasonable — wise, because such a
proceeding was calculated to promote national unity, and

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THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

111

also national purity and preservation — becoming, because
the very object of the dynasty to which Jehoshaphat
belonged was to keep the people true to the law and
the W(n'sliip of God ; — rind scasotuOde, l)ecau9e during the
reigns innuediatoly preceding, the knowledge of Israel's
peculiar history and ritual had been allowed, to some
considerable extent, to fall out of sight.
Did this commission of Jehoshaphat's foreshadow anything
in the administration of the Divine Son of David ?
Yes, certainly ; it foreshad(jwed on a small scale the gospel
coinniission : "Go : teach all nations, baptising them in
the name of the divine."
Did God give any token of approbation of this labour and
solicitude on the part of Jehoshaphat \
Yes ; He conhrmed and extended the peace of the king-
dom, so that Philistines, Arabians, and all other neigh-
bouring peoples, looked with friendly eyes on his great-
ness.
What further step did Jehoshaphat take in the same direc-
tion /
He made, himself, a ro3'al progress through his kingdom,
to aid in bringing back the people to the God of their
fathers.
And wliat further did he do with a view to give permanence
and extension to the work ]
He set judges in each city, and gave them special injunc-
tions to act and to decide causes in righteousness and
truth.
How may we, as private individuals imitate Jehoshaphat in
this matter /
By using a time of peace, especially the season of untroubled
youth, in the interests of piety.
And how can we do that etiectually '?

By giving earnest and persistent attention to the utterances,
promises, operations, and mediatorial achievements of
Lnmanuel.
What favouring kindnesses may they expect who give them-
selves to this course ?
Peace, heavenly illumination, and strength for the task of
life.
And what social influence will they exert who walk so, and
are favoured so /
They will help in some degree to hold evil in check, and
they will contribute at the same time somewhat to the
enlightenment of others.

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JEHOSHAPHAT.

135

How did Jehnshaphat conduct himself when troubled by the
invasion of niunoroua eneniius ]
In a manner most exemplary and devout ; he trusted not
to his own defences, and he sou^dit no human alliances,
but turned earnestly to the iUtd of Israel.
Did he make any pnblio apueal to God ]

Yes : he proclaimed a fast, gathered his subjects together,
and professed in the midst of them, and in their name,
his utter helplessness and his earnest hoi)e in Clod.
Did God take any notice of his prayer, or send him any en-
couragement ?
Yes ; Jahaziul assure 1 him that God accepted th(! battle as
His own, and desired His trusting people to dismiss all
anxiety in the matter.
How did God then turn their trouble into trium[)h ?

By bringing it, about so that their I'uemies destroyed each
other, while Israel had l)ut to gather the spoil.
And how, <after three days employed in giithering the sp'dl,
did Jehoshaphat and liis ])ei)i)le exertiise tli'Mnselves /
In publie an 1 united thanksgiving in the valley of Ber-
eshah. This grateful duty diseliarged, they came to Je-
rusalem, and to the House of God.
In what manner did they come ?

With psaltery, and har[)s, and trumpets.
What was there approj)riate in the men of Judah betaking
themselves to God in prayer when their enemies
pressed I
They were then acting in character as " the children <jf
Israel." Jacob was called Israel because of his p.)Wt!rin
prayer, and they on whom the name descended justified
in this manner the designation as apidied to them.
What special [)ropi'ii!ty was there in Jelioshapliat s betaking
himsidf to God in troul)le /
He was a Prince of tlie House of David, and God was spe-
cially in covenant with that house.
What is the privilege of l)elievers now, in this respect /

G<jd hath placed Himself, if we m ly sj)eak so, wirliin rheir
reacli by the incarnation, and He hath also made a cove-
nant with them in f'eir great lie[)fesentative, so that
they can now find divine refuge, and sympathy in all
their per dexities.
And what is that exercise by which they avail themselves of
God's condescension and covenant /
Prayer.

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THE DVNASTY OF DAVID.

What renders prayer a constant necessity for the faithful in
this life ?
The number and vigilance of their spiritual enemies. Like
Jehosliai^hat, the believing are helpless in themselves :
and beriides they never know what subtle and dangerous
combinations their enemies may bo forming against tliem.
What, in these circumstances, is the direction of the Apostle
to his fellow believers ]
" Pray without ceasing."
What was the great and ruinous fault of this excellent prince i
He joined attinity with Ahab by marrying his son to Ahab's
daughter.
How was tliis brought about ?

Tt is not said : only the alliance was made.
Did Jelioshaphat identify himself in any other way with
Ahab t
Yes ; he joined him in war.
Can you suggest any way of accounting for this inconsis-
tency on the part of Jelioshaphat /
It might be weakness, or it might be policy.
What could policy purpose by it (

Tlie possible re-annexation of the ten tribes to the House
of David.
But wliat is the more probable account of the matter ?

Tlie inability of Jelioshaphat to say No, and to abide by it,
when pressed by apparently friendly and persistent in-
fluence.
Did God resent this unworthy weakness on the part of His
servant ?
Yes : a prophet met him on his return to Jerusalem from
the war, with this message, " Shouldst thou help the
ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord I Therefore
is wrath upon thee from the Lord !"
What warning does this furnish to us ?
We should hold firmly by divine directions, even in the
face of an aggressive and plausible world. Better offend
the human than incur the anger of the Divine.
What, in few words are the lessons to be learnt from this
reign I
The right way of improving a time of peace and leisure ;
The wisdom of trusting in the Lord alone when trouble

overtakes us ; and
The folly and danger of allowing ourselves to be turned
from the divine directions, either by policy or by per-
suasion.

I' Uy" I I' ll ll» l

VII. JEHORAM.

Ni vv Jehoduiphat slept with hia fathers, and was buried with
his fathers in the city of David : and Jehoraoi his son reigned in
his stead. — II. Chronicles xxi. 1.

HIS Prince reminds us of Charles I. of Eng-
^land. There is a remarkable similarity in
many points of their history. They both had
weak fathers ; they both made splendid marria-
ges ; they both came into collision with their sub-
jects; they both had undesirable ends ; and they both
forfeited in eft'ect their thrones, not only for them-
selves, but also for their descendants.

As to the first point of resemblance, we would not
for one moment put the father of Jehoram on a level
with the father of Charles, only they were both
weak. As to the second point, the analogy is strik-
ing, their respective brides were both of royal line-
age — both the daughters of kings greater than their
bridegrooms — both the daughters of Apostates, (the
one from Judaism, the other from Protestantism), — both
the disciples and advocates of a perverted religion —
and both in earnest sympathy with the centre of wealth
and power in their respective generations, (the one with
Tyre, a proud and idolatrous city, the other with Rome,
a nut less proudand a scarcely less idolatrous community.)
As to the third point, they were both worsted and disap-
pointed in their contests with their subjects. As to the
fourth point, their deaths were diverse, but both disas-
trous. Charles was beheaded by his sul)jects, who could
not trust him, while Jehoram died of terrible diseases,
and "departed without being desired." And as to the
last point, Charles' sons were certainly brought back to

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138

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

the throne, but only to be expelled again with greater
ignominy; while .Telioi'am's were, in eH'cct coinph'tdy cx-
tiiiguisluMl. 'riuc, an infant of his family was s])are(l,
but that was becaust? of David, and not because of its
immediate fatlier. That father had renounced the cove-
nant, and forfeited the throne for himself, and for all his
descendants so far as he lunl the power. If the family of
David revived, it was for reasons wh<»lly apart from
Jehoram.

Charles, we willingly admit, was a much better man
than .b'horam, even as Jehosjiapiiat was a much better man
than .James. Still, the foi'tunes of Charles and those of
Jehoram were singularly alike ; and the resemblance is
the more! to Ix; noted, when we perceive that the over-
throw of both may be traced in a very gre;it degree to the
same cause. To this cause, so far as Jelioram is concern-
ed, we will again advert. In the meantime we will
notice, First, — The favourable conditions of his youth for
a I'ighteous and happy history; Secmid, — His miserable
and wicked nngn : and tiien Third, — A word on that cause
of his ruin of which we have just hinted.

/. Tlie favonrahhi coiulUio/iH of /ii.'< ijonlli for a rU/JUeons
and happij history.

Many men have, what is called, a very unfavourable
start in life. They ai't; born under the reign of supersti-
tion, or in the midst of igiioi-ance. Their parents are
careless, immoral, or incompetent. Tht^y ai'e not taught
to attach importance to the I'ight, nor w'arned of the
dangers of the wrong. They mingle with unscrupulous
society, where false maxiujs anil falst; princii)les have
currency, and they often learn to hate and to sh ui, from
their very infancy, the persons and things that wt)uld be
most C(mducive to their well-bcinii. We cannot womler
if such persons go wrijug. We cannot wonder if they
continue to pursue a course of evil, tei'minating in de-
struction. We miy pity them, but we c.inuot judge them
harshly ; we must leave them to the judgmimt of (J-od.
He, the Omniscient, the Eighteous, the Merciful, will de-

JEHORAM.

139

termino rightly their demerits and their fortunes. Tt is
true, tliey ought, as re;isou gathers sLrciigtli within th<Mn,
and as conscience hegins to tt-stify against evil (;ourses —
esp'cially if the ligiit of revehition is accessible, they
ought, I say, to take heed, and to in([uii't! after tlie way
of righteousness and safety; hut then, evil i)rincii)lt's and
ruinous ])rcjudices have obtained such a hold of their
nature while they were yet young ami unsuspicious, that
we really cannot wonder that they do not cease to do

evil and learn to do wi

Tliev are the slaves of evil

circumstances, in coinuixion withinhei'ent evil tendencies,

and, so far as their fellow

are

concerned, tliev are entitled

to })ity as well as to l)laine. 0, how many of our fellow-
men are thus — the evil within them is fostered, ami devel-
oped, and iuttMisitied, by the evil without and around
them. Tlu.'i'e is evei^thing in their comi)aiiioiiships and
hal)its to mislead and bewilder them, and nothing to en-
lighten or guide them. Evil presses — gootl is unknown or
maligned-andthey seize or i)ursue that which only degrades
or ruins them. It is thus in all heathen nations ; and it is
thus even in professedly Christian nations, where the light
of God's word is systematically withheld from the pei)[>le.
Aye, and it is thus in fainilic'S, even where God's word is
accessible, when that word is habitually neglected or set
aside. Alas for the young, whose start in this important
life of earth is so shroudeil auil so inauspicious !

But it was n(jt thus with Jehoram, the son of Jehosha-
phat. The circumstances of his early life were not un
favourable to his making a right choice and i)ursuing a
wise course. The very contrary was the fact. ITe had
every external inducement aud assistance m the direction
of the right that any on^ could wish. He knew the
right, and his circumstances were not only favourable for
entering upon it, and pursuing it, but were all but irresis-
tible in pressing him unto it.

Notice some of the circumstances : —

First. — His father was a good man. Flis fiither not
only did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord,
but, it is said, the Lord was with him, aud his heart was

-i

;|i- i'..|i

■&

t f

140

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

lifted up in the ways of the Lord. And he lahoiired for
the enliti;liteMnu!iit of his j>e()))le. He setit commissioners
through l.is territory to teach tlie hiwcjfthe Lord. Nay,
he went liimself from lieersheba to Mount Kpliraim, to
brin<^ back the people to tlie CJod of their fathers. While
othei' kin^s mak(! royal })ro<^resses through thcii' kingdoms
to display their grandeui', or for political pnrposes,
Jehoshaphat went thi'ough his kingdom as a missionary
from Heaven — [)repared to use his royal influence in the
interests of the God of Israel. And the conduct on the
part of the king decidt'd, for the time being, the com-
plexion of society in Jmlah. Now, Jehoramwas a youth
then, and what more natural than that he should take
impression from the character of his father, and fj-oni the
fashion of his father's couit ? Was it anything oth(;r than
might l)e expected, if he gave attention to the law of the
Lord so (sarnestly urged upon the attention of the nation 1
The children of the contempoi'ary couit (^f Alial) and
Jezebel gave favourable attention to the lites and practices
countenanced by tlu'ir ])arents. ^^ hy then should not
Jehoram give favoural)le attention to the rites and
written laws countenanced by his father ? A youth's
course or convictions, we know, are not to be overborne
by th<^ faith of his parent ; but the faith of a parent is
entitled to examination because it is the faith of a parent;
and if, on examination, it l)e found in acct)r(lanc(^ with
right and righteousness, it beconu's only the more obliga-
tory for being the faith of a parent. The son of Ahab
might, with reason, have dissented from the religion of
his father had he been better informed ; but the son of
Jehoshaphat could not lightly dissent from the religion
of his father, because no information could make it false.
It was ani])ly authenticated, and had been over and over
again vindicatetl against all rival or opposing claims.
Jehoram, therefore, Avas not swayed in the right direction
by the faith of his father, and by the fashion of his
father's court, but he was also under obligation to adopt
a religion so recommended and so vindicated. But —
Secondly. — This Prince belonged to a sacred and fav-

JEHORAM.

141

oured nation. Tho ,'inopstors of liis people had been
specially cared tor, specially deliven-d, — specially watched
ovej-, and specially located. Tin' Mighty One that claim-
ed their allt'^iaucc, and that had intfiposed so etlectually
on their behalf, had shown and evidenced JJis divine and
sn])renie excellences over and over aj^ain in their history.
He had made it exidcnt, that there was no ])ower or an-
thority like to His power and authority — that, in short,
He was the tnu; and only living (lod, who made the
heavens and the earth, an(l wdio sustained and coiiti'olled
all things. And this JehoraTn knew. The knowledge of
the law which \w certairdy possesse(l involved the know-
ledge of (Jod's interpositions on behalf of His people : —
for that law was set, as it were, in a historic frame, and
could be stmlied and known only in connexion with the
miraculous and gracious history of which it formed a pai't.
Yes, Jelioram knew that there was no (iod like to the
God (^f Israel, and this knowledge ])ou)id him to the ser-
vice of that God. Oljedience is not a matter of fancy or
caprice. It is a matter of evidence. Reason must bow
to fact and eviilence, or, declining sulijection, it must
take the consequences. Jehoram theivfore was bonnd in
reason toacce})t the authority which had proved itself to
l)e snpreme. He was, in effect, constrained to walk in
the way of obedience and heavenly wisdom, though the
constraint was of such a nature as to admit of resistance
if he so determined. His father's character, and the fash-
ion of the times under his father's influence, and the
knowledge of the truth which he possessed, left him no
choice, but that of wilfulness in opposition to the claims
of the true God.

Then, still further to shoAv his obligations : —
T/iirdl)/. — He was a Prince of the house of David, and
a special covenant guaranteed per})etuity and glory to
that house ; in connexion, of course, with loyalty and
sul)ordination on the part of its members. Here then
was personal and dynastic inducement added to general
and national considerations. Hew could Jehoram bring
himself to disregard the honours c»f his house, as well as

'■'f

f, . .;

' PI!

■
1 *

■ ,t 1 !i;!iill

._!_. ^

I'l

142

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

the propriotios of his nation 1 "We cannot say, unloss it
wcw t,li;it, like .Vhijiih, iii> LTifat-i^fainU'ithiT, ht^ tnoiii^ht
to hoM (J(»'l to tilt' cMVcuiiiit Mi:ulf with D.ivitl, whilt^ ho
hiiii.st'lt' took tho lih.-rty of cli8i'('L^,u'<rnig it. Any way,
he \v;i> iiMilcr ohhj^.itiori to att^Mid to that covcJiant ; and
thi.s very ohhi^atior^ to;,'('riit'j' with tlie covenant from
Avdiich it s|niuiLC, fin iiishi'd t'lutlier favourahlc inrtr.-'iicos to
a ri,ii;ht coiii'sc in his cax-.

And thci't' were otht-r consideration'^ und circumstances
afFcftin^ iiim — all caloidate I to ilrterinine him to take
the right cniifsf as a I'ation il b(Miig and an accountahh'
and favonrcd Prince. This for fxainph' : Ifcdwclt under
the shadow nf ih.' magniticcnt 'rfUiplc of Solomon, and
he cannot he suppost'd to iiav«* been ignorant of the
character and career of that distinguished ruler. Ffo
must hav(3 lieartl of Solomon s glory, aiul of Solomon's
mistakes, and of Solomon's dishonour. He must liave
heard tiie reason of the dismendx-rment of Solomon's
kingdom. Had Sidomon onlv Ix^en faithful, and the in-
tervening kings also faithful, dehoram kiu'w that himself
would have i"igned over all the twt'lve tribes of Isi'ael,
and not l)een »■ udined to the government of two. But
SolonK)n was u'd'aitiiful, and lJehol)oam unwise, and
therefore the patrimony of the house of David was cur-
tailed. A\'as this not further reason, besides the reasons
ali'eady nu'Utioned, why d^'horam should have given him-
self tiuly to the service of God ? Fuither disobedience
might bring further curtailment; while attention and
obedience wt)uld bring stability to what of good and glory
remained, if not expansion of authority and retui'n to
happiiu- fortunes. One would think interest alone, ajiart
from gratitude and worshipful love, would have bound
Jeluuam to the throne of God, and kept him from the
unpr(»litable service of idols.

Sill fui'ther, he had seen the refuge and deliverance of
his father when imatled ))ythe eiunbined i'oi'ce of Anuuon,
and Moab, and Mount Seir. He knew how Jehoshaphat
set himself to seek the Lord when the danger was re-
ported to him, and how he proclaimed a fast, and how he

^r*

■p*

JEIIORAM.

143

prnyod in tho miil-;t of tho pooplo, jiirl how ho vrn.% cn-

C'MiiML;t'<l l»y 'Fci'iazicl ; ;ri<l he kiirw t'lii'thfi'. how sii^iial
th(.' (Iflivt'raiicc ihat the ( !n<l of Isiiu-l had w roii^^lit tor
his house ami poo|»l(^ on tliis occasion, when tlicir oncniics
tniiit'd tlu'ir weapons against eadi otliei-, and h-tl to
Jehosliapliat and his snhjects only tlielaUour cf gathering
tlie s|)oil. .lelioiain was alicady in the maturity of his

)oWt

rs, if not aeliiidK' a-sociated with his father in the

governnu-nt. when all this li;i|i|ti'ne(| ; uini nntlniiij, one
woiiM have tlioii'j;ht, coidd havt^ tempted him after this to
forsake tile nii,^iity (h'li\'erei' of his nation, lie eould not
in reason i;i\'e liiiiiself to aiiv other ser\ ice. when he had

luar and imnie(li;ite manifestations of the supremacy.

and

goodness, and acces>il)ility of .lelmvah.

One othei' fact may he mentioned — showing liow many

wove tlH> circumstances surroundm

u' hit

11, and constrainincr

liiin, to (h'termine right, and to at>i(h' hy his (h'termina-

tion.

No more were nee(h'd than those aireadv m

en-

tioned,hutmore were aihled. 1 fere is the one I speciall\' lo-
fer to ; he was contempojary with tiie pro[>liet.s Elijah

and Elisha, and he mii>t have heard tell of tii

em.

may allow that hewasuninfornie(l of much that transpired
under, oi" l»y, the agency of the.se distinguisjied men, hut
lie could not l»y pos>il)iJity he igncrant ot all. He could
not. for exann»l( , he ignorant of the denmnsti'at ion hy
Elijaii on Mount Cai-niel. Nor can ^ve lielieve tliat he
was ignorant of the translation of that proj)liet, Now, if
he knew of the demonst ration on Mount C'arniel, and of
the national coiniction then expressed l)y the ten trihes

that the Lord was God, and of

sia

uuht

er o

f tl

priests of ISaal, and ot the downjjonring of liie needed
and precious lain at the intercession of J']lijali, ^low could

he hut >ee, that it was his interest

as we

Irs diitv t

ahide hy the Mighty and the True, and to keep ah. of from
the powerless and the injuihais i And Elijah was taken
up to h(>aven 1 While the hones of the- idolatrous juiests
of Samaria were bleaching on Mount Carineh Elijah, the
repiesentative of the (!od (jf Israel, was walking on the
high place.s of the universe. Ilovv could Jehoraiu have

■

! !

144

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

any hesitation as to the course to be chosen 1 All things,
It is clear, pointed in the same dirc'ction :— the character
of his father, the history of his people, the peculiarities
of his dynasty, the events transpiriug under his own ob-
servation, and the reports of Propliet-action and Prophet-
denunciation in a neighbouring region. All things, I say,
pointed out to him the M-ay of safety and honour. Every
influence around him was favourable to his making a
right decision. Only perverseness and wicked-.short-
sigiitedness could enable him to choose wrong. If many
men are so placed in infancy and in youth that it is
scarcely possible for them to find the right, Jehoram was
so situated and encompassed while yet young that one
would have tliought that it was scarcely possible for him
to miss it. He must shut his eyes and close his ears ere
he can prefer the wrong. He must put aside what he
knew to be true ere he could possibly get hold of the un-
true. The right confronted him ; the right encompassed
him ; the riglit pressed itself upon his attention ; the
right held out every inducement for its own acceptance,
and he must actually break the cordon of right around
him ere he could attach himself to the wroi.g ! So favour-
able were the conditions of his youth for a righteous and
happy history ! Other men must press thiough encom-
passing evil if they would lay hold of good ; Jehoram had
to j)ress through encompassing good ere he could attach
himself to evil.

And Jehoram did burst through all the favourable
constraints that -were around him. Pity for the infatu-
ated Pi'ince ! He tore himself away from the cpiiet and
the desirable, and attached himself, and that wdth his
eyes open, to the degrading and destructive. He re-
nounced the ways of his father. He renounced the
peculiarities of his nation. He renounced the law of the
Lord — (the })recious law which enlightens the eyes and
enlarges the heart.) He renounced for himself the cove-
nant made with David, and all the honours aud consola-
tions thereof He renounced the h(ipe of the world and
the blessing-bearing seed of Abraham. He renounced all,

i
I

JEIIORAM.

145

11 things,
character
uliarities

own ob-
Prophet-
gs, I say,
r. Every
Halving a
ed-short-

If many
hat it is
)rani was
that one
; for him
1 ears ere
what he
f the un-
)m passed
ion ; the
3eptance,
aronnd
) favour-

ous and
encom-

am had

d attach

onrable

intatu-

uiet and

ith his

He re-

ced the

iv of the

yes and

(' cove-

consola-

)rld and

iced all,

and hcrnnio the devotee of idolatry, immorality, and un-
godliness. His yiosition. if he could liavo seen it, was
awful. H<» was witlunit (iod. without Chi'ist, wlio is the
help of the fallen, and without ho])e in this workl.
Nay further, he was the dupe, of ei'f(tr, the victim of
den)ons, and the heir of darkness and incalculable dis-
honour !

We may well pity Jehoi'atn, the son of Jehoshaj)hat,
while we cannot l)ut condemn him. And we would do
well to take Avarning by him. Our ]»rivileges ai'e even
irreater than his. l\' we attach (tui'selves to evil after all
the light, and truth, and love, which ha\-e been set befoi'e
us, and poui'ed around us, we u ill incur a manifold and
fearful condenination. " ow shall we escape if we
neglect" ;dl the revelations and demonstrations of New
Testament times 1

But we would notice concerniui.' Jehoram, —

11. lli.^ Ill /■•<«' I'dJJr ilinj ir'ii-L'cd iiiijii.

That is one of the saddest and darkest cha])ters of his-
tory. Its years were not long — only eight-bnt \ery
much daring crime was pressed into those years, and
very much intense annoyanci? was experienceil. K't-lio-
boam's ici.ai was nnilhiminated ami unsnimy. but deho-
ram's may oe .said to have been wholly in night oi- dee])
shado^v.',. I'lie daylight passeil from his horizon \\i;h
the death of his tathcr. ami thr night settled o\ci' him
as he commenced his independent reign. ( )ne of his
first acts was to slay his i'<tyal brethren — six men better
than himsidf, — (2-4.) His mind was already tilled with
dark suspicion, or Im- would not ha\"e done this : and the
doing ot it necessai'ily banished all [X'acrfid roiisciousuos
ii'om his subse(|nent history. Sleeping or wakinu', the
luetnory of this deeil would haunt him. His rviyal state
could not banish it. nor yet the unwiuthy and degrading
]ile, isures of iiis fd>t' r(diLi,ion. !l is true thai many
oriental jirinces beside,- delioram have si lin thi'ir l<indrc(l
on ascendin.u- the throne : but these oriental pnnce.> Uad
not the privilege.s of Jehoram in their youth. riieir

MSSSBSnOBCV

ik;

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

natures were not enlightened, nor their consciences
armed, by the hiw of the Lord, as in the case of the son
of Jehoshaphat. They stuml)led in darkness, and knew
not all the enormity of their deed. Even they could not
be easy under such a remembrance, but Jehoram must
have been agonized. The memory of his father must
mingle itself with his consciousness, and this memory,
uniting itself with the thoughts of his murdered breth-
ren, must have caused perpetual irritation in his nature.
No sweet hour of silent self-communion could he ever
enjoy : and no true peace could ever after brood over his
being. He might hide it under smiles or fair appear-
ances, but the bitter conviction was ever underneath, and
makini;; itself felt all the while.

Then, his subjects revolted, and he could not re-subject
them. He attempted it in the case of Edom, but failed.
They made good their independence. The truth is, he
had weakened himself by slaying his brethren, and the
))rinces whose <lisa))]jrobation of his idolatrous ways he
feared, and thus was unable to maintain his kingdom in its
integrity. (8-10.) How grievous this must have been to
Jehoram even in the case of the Edomites, but how much
so in the case of Libnah ! Edom was a foreign acquisi-
tion, if I may so describe it, but Libnah was a part of
Judah, and only a few miles from his ca})ital. Jiidom
too was a people ; and it might not seem very disgrace-
ful for a small kingdom like that of Jehoram's to be un-
able to reconquer, or to keep in subjection, a neighbour-
ing and numerous nation : but, for a city in his own
dominions to defy the ])o\s'er of King Jt^horam, that was
truly humbling ! If Ivehoboam was humbled by the loss
of ten out of the twelve tribes, what must have been the
chagrin of Jehoram to find the cities of his small terri-
toiy throwing off their allegiance, and maintaining their
nde])endence ! But lu; had violated the law of Israel,
and it was not to l)e wondered at if his subjects should
renounce their allegiance to him. He had introduced
the element of disintegration into Israel, and the men of
Lil»nah followed his example : " They revolted from under

•"S— •»«»»««PI"

JEHUKAM.

147

neiices
he son
I knew
lid not
n must
:■ must
emory,
. breth-
nature.
le ever
)Ver his
api)ear-
ith, and

'-suhjeci
t failed,
th is, he
and the
ways he
im in its
been to
w much
acquisi-
i part of
J!^(h)m
isijfrace-
l)e un-
ghbour-
lis own
that was
the hjss
ieen the
all ter ri-
ng their
)f Israel,
s should
troduced
men of
»ni under

his hand, because he had forsaken the Lord God of his
fathei'S." And their conduct was more excusable than
He renounced a righteous, and legitimate, and

ins.

benignant autlioi'ity, whereas they only renounced a per-
verted, a tyi'annous, and a wicke(l authority.

Possibly we have the exi)lauation (jf the revolt of
Libnah in the next fully rt'[)ortcd concerning the king.
''■ Moreover," says the sacred historian, " he made high
places in the mountains of Judidi, and caused the inhabi-
tants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled
Judah thereto." What could be move enormous ] He
coiiiprlb'il the inhabitants of Judah to observe the degrad-
ing and immoral rites of heath<;nism. It was bad enough,
that one so privileged and enlighteiKid as he should for-
sake the truth, and symbolize with the wicked ! It was
bad eiunigh, that one so elevated as he should use his in-
riuence as kini;- against the God of his nation ! But it
was W(U'se still, and that by many degrees, that he should
annpel his subjects to sin. He was entrusted with the
powers of the nation in the interests of [nirity and [»i«'ty,
and he used these i)owers in the interests of impurity
and impiety. No wondei' if the faithfid in Isi'ael should
revolt from his irovermnent and dictation. Honour to
th(,' men of Libnah if this was the ground of their revolt !
It was right and commendable in them to resist the
auth(U'itv that would dia<i' I hem into disobedience and
defilement. They are wise who obey God rather than
ni;in. Too many are ready to yield to fashionable wrong,
or to wicked dictation; but the nu'n of Libnah [ireferred
I'evolt in such a case to obedience or com-urrence. Whe-
ther, however, this were the cause of the revolt or not,
they raised the standard of opposition to dehoram, and
thus showed the weakness of his government, and gave
acute })ain to the haughty spirit of their wicke<l .sovereign.
A\ ilh the memory of his nmi'deretl brethren, and the dis-
uiembei'Uient of his small kingdom, you may well believe
that the consciousness of Jelioram was not a veiy plea-
.sant one. And the contrasting recollections of his
father's glory, in the days when his life was young and

-'—tWr-t-tir '«» ««» ■

"'""""^jTwr

I:'

148

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

comparatively unstained, would only add poignancy or
bitterness to his regrets and his distasteful experiences.

Then came the writing from Elijah, the prophet, to add
to his annoyance and irritation. Here it is :

" And there came a writing t(j liim from I'^lijah the proj^het,
saying, 'I'luis saitli the Lord God of David tliy father, Because
thou liast not walked in the vvnys of Jehosliaphat thy father, nor
in the way of Asa, King of Judah, Init hast walktid in tlie way
of tlie Kings of Israid, and hast made Judali and tlie inhabit-
ants of Jeru.ialem to go a whoring— hke the wlioredoms of the
house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father's
house, which were better than thyself : Behold, with a great
plague will the Ijord smite thy peo|ile, and thy children, and
thy wives, and all thy goods; and thou shalt have great sick-
ness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by rea-
son of sickness day by day." (xxi. J2-15.)

Now, to say nothing of the dilHculties connected with
this writing, — iliiiiculties arising from the fact that, ac-
cording to the received cliron()h)gy, Ehjah had been some
twel\e oi' tliirteen year.s dea<l when it reached Jeiioram,
you may see botli projjriety and trutlifulness in it. There
was propriety in it, seeing tliat Jehoram had, by marry-
ing Athahah and a(h)pting her religion, become, as it
were, indentihed witli tlie house of Ahab ; and Elijali's
commission was specially in relation to that house. Had
Jehoram married into a diti'erent fanuly, and abode by
the temple and the true I'eligion, he would probably
never have heard from Elijah ; i)ut the ^'-'ct of his mar-
riage to the daughter of Jezebel being known to the
prophet before his translation, or, at any rate, that mar-
riage Ijeing about to be consununated before that event,
and the prophet being aware of the consequences of the
alliance, nay, Ijeiug made fully cognizant of them by
divine revelation, what was to prevent iiic preparing
this brief announcement bef(»re his departure, and leaving
it to be handed to Jehoram after the death of Jehos-
liaphat : — after the death of Jehosliaphat, mark ! It was
only after the death of fJelinshapiiat that the true result
of Jelioram's alliance could ap[)ear : and before that
development the writing ,had been inappropriate. But,

JEHORAM.

149

jably
niar-
:o the
niar-
iveut,
»f the
in by

chos-
t was

•I'Sult

that
But,

after Jehoshaphat's fleatli, and after Jehoram had shown
the extent of his conformity to the house of ..Vhah, the
writing was wholly seasonable and admonitory. And it
was as truthful as it was admonitory, as the result made
apparent.

And now observe, this Avriting ouuht to have led to
repentance on tlu; ]);irt of Jehoram. E\en Ahal) reju-nted
to a certain extent nn<ler the denunciations of Elijah :
and why not Jehoram ? He knew that Elijah's words
were not idle words in the case of Aliab, and why should
he not lay them to heart in his own ca^e ? Why ? Just
because his heart was fully set in him to do evil. He had
yielded himst'lf to certain influences, which w(i shall
notice immediately ; and, either he did not wish to resist
these influences, or he did not feel himself at liberty to
resist them, — therefore he treated the message fnmi
Elijah with indilh^ieiice or scorn. Possibly he denied its
authenticity in the circumstances, though lie knew all the
while that it was authentic. An}^ way, he repudiated it
as a wai-ning, and pui'sued his wicked coui'se in sp te of it.
But think you that this warning, tliough disi'egarded,
was therefore witlutut influence I Vou mistake if you do.
It increased no doubt the uneasiness of Jehoram, if it did
not lead to his amendment. Even general denunciations
make men uneasy — much more personal aiul direct
denuiu'iations. The very name of Elijah was no doubt
a teri'or to him. What then Avould a message of this
character from the hated prophet be 1 It linked itself, we
may well believi', with the other causes of his mental
peiturltation, viz., his murder of his brethrcMi, and his
Avieked departure from (iod and conformity to Aliab;
and while it gave renewed vividtu'ss to his painful
remembrances, it added force and certainty to his fears
and forebodings. He would try and shake himself free
of the nnt'asiness, but the image of his brethren, and the
threatenings of Goil l)y Elijah would still pursue him.
His conscience might have bi'ctune, paitially and for a
time, deadened concerning his crimes, but the voice of
Elijah would awake it to renewed activity, and entirely

lf)0

'I'HK DYNASTY OF DAVTD.

prevent his finrling either rest or satisfaction in any thing
around liim.

Then came the jud^'inents denonnced, and the evils,
Avliich I'nr a time liad been mental oidy, became leal as
well.

" !M<ii"er>vi'r tlie Lord stirrcil iiji ;i;;aiiist Jclioriim tlic st>ii'it nf
the I'liilisMrics, ami of the ^\raliiaiis, tliat wvrv near the Mtliiop-
ians : And tlii'V caiuc up into .liidali, ami broke into it, and car-
ried awiy all the sul>staiice that was found ni tlie kin:,''s house,
and his sons also, and liis wives : So that there was never a son
loft him, save Jehoahaz, the youn;,'est of his sous." (10-17.)

How Athaliah escajx'd in this confusion does not ap])ear.
She may have been on a visit to her mother Jezeljel, or
otherwise out of the wa}'. However it was, she was
eithei' not carried away, or she recovered her freedom, for
she reappears on the stage after this, and acts a not in-
conspicuous part in Jerusalem foi' a time.

But think of Jelioram : how sad and how desolate his
position ! \\'ith a mind ill at inise — (h-nounced by heaven
— rejected by his own sid)j'ects — reft of his family and
royal })ossessions — solitary in his [lalace — and without
hope of a ha])py I'everse in his fortunes — is he not an
object of pity ? AVliere can he look for solace 1 — not to
the ])ast, that only repi'oves him : — not to the Unseen,
for Ik' hath no friend thei'e :— and nut tn the futui'e, for
that for him is l)i<' with terror I All is midnight dark-
ness Avithin him and around him. He eoniplains. but
his comjdaints aie unheeded. His very servants shun
him.

JJut his cup of tronlde is not yet complete. Disease
develops itself in his body. Painfully for two years he
laliours under it. Mitigations there arc n^ne to him.
His bodib. disteni]»t'r is dily added to h ; -riefs.

He has no coi. t'oits to !-*-t agfiinst his , ,. .vs. His
mind is wo.urwl^tl ; Uis d<*»ijr-sti( ati'ections are lilightrd :
his royal h nour . 'Ion i,-(,:.. and tramj)le<l in the diist :
and now hi" 1>««1\, :he la-t refuge of any thing like
health or weH being alxnit him, is racked with pain or
tossed \\ith lestlessne?.*-. 'Idie weary 'lays flow on. and

JEHORAM.

151

the weary nights. The weeks t,a'ow into months, and the
painful months extt'nd over two y(;ars, and then the sad
consummation comes. His physicians are foiled : his
last liopes are gone : his agonies increase : and death lays
him low !

Nor is this the end of his dishonour : '" He tlics with-
out being regretted." The most u/.nvorthy have generally
some to Tiiourn for them : Jehoram has none. Tin; most
unworti ' princes have generally a royal burial at last :
not so dehoram. He is not indeed buried beyond the
city walls, but he has no ])lace among the kings. Hear
the record of his last days : — " So he died of sore
diseases : and his people made no burning for him, like
the burning of his fathers. Thirty and two yeai's old
was he when he began to riMgn. and he reigned in Jei'u-
salem eight years, and departed without ])eing desired.
Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in
the sei)ulchre of the kings." (19-20.)

What an end for a ])rince, and a prince whose life
o|)ened under such favoura]>le auspices : — a son tA' Jeho-
shaphat, a prince of tin; house of David, an heir of divine
promises, and privileged with ample means for knowing
his distinguished obligations, and for finding the favour
of the Eternal, as well as for blessing the people over
whom he was set, and for leaving an honoured name
behind him ! What an end for one so favoured I He
dies without being regretted : his peo})le make no burn-
ing for him like the Inirning of his fathers : and his
remains are excluded from the sepulelire of tin; kings !
Whence this reverse 1 How came it that his fortunes
w're so dark 1 0, how came it that he lost his way
while light was shining all around him ? And how came
it that he refused warning when dangers and distresses
were crowding his steps and destroying his peace ? This
leads me to notice —

///. The great cause, or, at least one great muse of his
wickedness, his incorrigihility^ and his ruin.

That was his unwise and irreligious marriage. He

152

THF-: DYNASTY OF DAVID.

marri<^'il the clauti;liter of Alial) and Jezebel. How ever
such a miidu could he jtropo.scd or thought of hy the
hoi;se of .Icho^haphat we cannot iuianine. The hiw of
(lod was exphcit, that no marriaj^^e alliances should he
entered into by Israel with those wh(» served strange
gods. In this way, (Jod assured them, their hearts
■would he turned from Jfim, and His anger would l)e
kii'.dled against them. iS'ow, Ahah and .Jezehtd sei'X'ed
strange gods, even the gods of the heathen : and their
<lai!uliter was trained in this false sei'vice. Hei' intluence,
sui)])osing hei' married, e(»uld oidy he hostile to the
fididity of hei' hnsl)and in relation to the (irod of Israel :
and, supposing her a mother, her children would almost
certainly he won over to heathenism. This Jehoshaphat
and his son Jehoram might have seen even apart from
any divine commandineiit on the suliject. They might
fancy indeed that she, when married into the royal
family of Judah, would conform to the religion of her
husl)aiid and her new connexions : l)Ut such a thought is
Aveakness itself, when the matter lies between the true
and the false in religion. Tiie false is ever the more
tenacious and unscrupulous : and the ti'ue, when bi-ought
into collision with the I'alse in domestic aii'angements,
has to succumb in almost every case : and this, not be-
cause the truth is i'eehle, but because the Hesh is weak.
Jehoshaphat ought to have known this : and, if Jeho-
ram in his inexi)erience had urged otherwise, Jtdio-
shajthat should ha\e pointed him to the explicit law of
heaven on the sul)ject. Enlightened fidelity in this
matter might have prevtMitetl the fearful and criminal
fortunes of -jehoram, and saved incalculable sorrow to
th(»usauds in dudah. Ihit no, policy, or passion, or
wilfulness, ]»re\ailed o\'er ])rinciple in the court of Jeho-
shaphat. Jehoram led to the altafaii idolatrous princess,
and she le(l him to utter and irremediable ruin I Think
you. that he \\-oul(l liave slain his biethi'en hut hu' the
daugnter of -Jezehel ? Think yoii, that he would have
compelled Judah to sin hut for a domestic })ressure in
that direction I Thiidc you, that he would have incurred

A I

JEirORAM.

153

the unchookofl displeasure of his fathei-'.s God but for his
eutiie suhsfivicticy to his ini[>ious wife J Not at all.
Though he had tui'Ut'd aside from God, oi' bi'i'ii less
devot d than his father, lu? could never have f:;oiie the
Icuuth he did, cousidci-inti; his (Mhuation, if he had not
allit'(l himself to an idolatrous an<l uuscrupluous partner.
The fact would seem to be, that his wife ruined him.
His mai'rian'e was tlie turnin^i; point of his history. Up
to that time lie was at worst hut neutral ; and ht; mi:L^iit
still have been a I'espeetable if not a talented [)rinee and
ruler : i)Ut iVom the moment of his mai'ria,:^,*! he was a
ruiiu'd man. He passed by that allianct; from the camp
f»f Jndah into the cam]) of heatluMusni. Instead of di'aw-
ing his wife, as he mi^ht vainly Hitter himself before-
hand. fVom th(! camp of «n'ror and destruction to that of
truth and safety, he allowed himself, and his kingdom
too to a great extent, to l)e di-awn by her from tlu' camp
of truth and safety to that of error and destruction. No
sooner was his father dead, and himself sole king in
Jei'usalem, than he began to make manifest tlu; new and
evil inspiration under which he now existed. The law
ol tlie Lord was laid aside. The example of his father
was foi'gotten. Self swallowed up all righteous consider-
ations, and an idolati'ous tyranny took the place of a
I'ighteous and ])aternal rule. Infatuation [)resided in the
councils of the king, and unwilling vengeance began
forthwith to ])repare for the merited dishonour and the
certain overthrow incurred !

Such was the fact with Jehoram, the favoured son of
JeliDshaphat, — his mari'iage ruined him I llow littl he
thought of the sad end on which he was advancing when
he led to tlu^ altar his stately and idolatrous bride !

And this furnishes a lesson to the voiinu' in the matter
of matrimonial alliances. It speaks with trum])et
tongue to those who ha\e been brought uj) under gosjxd
influences. Such ought nexcr to form allianct!S with
those who yield no .subjection to gospel law. The unbe-
lieving will certaiidy injure tlu; bcdieving. It might be
thought rather that the Itelieving would benefit the unbe-

r i

,i^

154

THE DYNASTY O!" DAVID.

lievini; ; but this is not found to he tlie case. The ad-
vantage ill such unions is almost invariably found to be
on tlu^ side of the irrelij^ious, as already observed. A
distinguished evan,t:;elist of the ])resent day writes thus
on this (|Uestion : — " \ belicvr tlmt one of two iud<^tni'nts
has almost always fallen on i)rotessors of Christianity who
have been involved in unequal and uncongenial unions,
l^^ithcr they have lived to regret it through a lifetime of
misery, or they have made shipwreck of faith, and gone
back to the world. Examples ot" going back to the world,
(he i)roc('e(ls to say), surround us on every side ; and
though the examples of the more mercifid judgment may
not be so outwardly apparent (for many an aching heart
alone knoweth its own i)itterness), y<'t no one need secsk
vi'i'V fai' to find exan4)les of these also : but where shall
we look to Hud an example of a professing Christian,
male, or femah', who. having married one who made no
such profession, was afterwards made the instrument of
his or her conversion ?

Argue with a person who is about to contract such an
engagement, and they will tell you, Avliat Satan tells tliem,
that this is just what they are going to do, viz : convert
their idol after they are married. But do they ] Do
facts prove that this often happens? 1 do not say that it
never happens. I tliink it [)r(^ba1)le that it does ; for
God is a Sovereign, and converts who and how he pleases.
But I do tell you that, after much diligent inquiry, I have
never been able to find one case of such conversion. In
London, in Edinburgh, in Dublin, and many other large
places. I have preached to masses of people in every rank
and grade of society, and I have earnestly requested, and
that again and again, that any one would write and tell
me, if they knew an instance of a professing Christian
marrying a man or woman of the world, and being after-
wards made the instrument of their conversion. 1 have
at the same time explained my reason for asking this, —
that I was anxious to ascertain if it ever was the case ;
and if it was, what proportion these conversions bore to
the number of such marriages, I have received but one

-^\

.rKH(tH.\>r.

160

answer, anrl thnf was to tell mo, that St. Au,mistine'H
motlici' mtu'iicil licf hnshaml hcfurc liis cojivn'sioii and
aftrrwaiMls cotivcrtid liini. Surrly, if tlii^ is the excep-
tion, that eKee])ti(»ii |ti'uve,s tlie rule.'' — (Bivn'ii/oiv JVoiih, in
Fdini/i/ Tmi.^ini/.)

^^)ll see, then, that tile hope of eon vert Jul:; tlie irreli-
gious alter niarria;j,'e is a slender one indeed, and you see
that the advant!i'j;e of these ill-assorteil niarriai^'es is ever
on tlie side ot' irrelii^ion. 'I'hey injure the parti(;s t'orm-
iiii;' them, and lliev streni'then the canst; of evil anion*'
men. It was so amonu; the Antediluvians. It was so

tlirou,i;li all the history of the de

ws.

id it is s(j still. No

oiider if the Apostle warns a.sijainst them, sayii

ye not une(|ii;illy y

.k.Ml

with nn

hel

le\-ers

The truth

is, iiiarria';,-e re((uires eompiomise ; and, if the parties ho
not one in religion, the ('omproiiiise will ever Ix; found
t(t the detrimeiic of relitiion, and to the injury of the re-
ligious )>arty inakini;' the concession. They, therefore
who, iieiuL; themselves religious, care any tliiniL; for their
own safetv, or for the interests of the heaveiilv kinu;dom,
Avill not enter into ;dliance with tl

\o irreIi.:(ious.

matter for wealth, or status, oi- hi'illiant heautv, or de

led

alt

lit, they will ])i'efer fidelity to the kiii,i:;(lom to

their own personal or temporary j^ratification. And they
will thei'el)y avoi<l a fate like that of Jehoram's — dark,
ti'ouhled, iniserahle, and re])ulsive !

There is a pailicular foiin of this evil which is espec-
ially analo.gous to the cases of Jehoram and Athaliah : — I

refer to the union of Protestants with Cathol

ic:

The

Protestants hold Ity the Pihle and he one ^lediator,—
the Catholics hold hy tradition and the Vir<;,in Mary,
M'ith many mediators. The Protestants are, as it were,
the men of Jerusalem, while the Catholics occupy the
place of Ahah {ind dezehel in Samaria. And the union
of these parties is found to be all in favour of Samaria,
and a<;ainst J(»i'usaleni, and especially calamitous to the
Jerusalem individuals concerned. On this subject a
writer (in the Famihj Trcamry) who resided among a
people devoted to the Papacy, with a mixture of Protest-

iitil

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150

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

ants in their midst, thus tostifios : — " Mixed marriages
are a cU'.ar ujain to the Papcy. The children, in almost
every instance I have known, are Itroniiht np Tapists. In
no household is the power of the i)i'iest tlirough penance
and the confessional so intensely felt. *****
No incident esca])es liini. Me knows every visitor. He
is acfjuainted with the secnits of the chanilxT, anil I'eii^Mis
acc<irdin,uly. I havesecn linsl)an<ls lapsiiiir into inli 'elity,
living- in blasphemy and drink, and dyin'Li; in despair,
because, too intelligent to attend mass, they could not
maintain a constant fiirht with wives and dauijhters who
wer(! the slaves of the priests ; and they j)nrchased an iti-
glorious domestic peace by a life of al)andonment and a
death of perdition !" Ibn-e you se(! Jehoram over again.
The same writer further observes : —

" TIk^ venom of these marriages is .so deadly that,
whatever it touches, even th(»ugh endowed with the
strength of natural alh'ction, it |>(iisons, — time, nature,
hjve, HullViing, will not cur(! it — nothing l>ut a miracle of
grace ! I have .seen it alienate daughters from their par-
ents, brother Irom brother, friend from fi-iend — disrupt-
ing the holiest ties, and l-ii dling fires of hate <»tdy to be
extinguishe(l in the grave. The rancoui' pioceeding from
this suui'ce is singularly bitter. The malevolent tempers
which it evokes are implacable !"

'• 0, (say.s he in another jdace) if I could descri'ie the
misery which I have seen in hous(;liolds whei'e the Romish
intluence began to be felt I 1 have stoo(l at the death-
beds of nuMi whose wives imp<'lled them in the last mo-
ments to ap<»statize, and have watched, with melting pity,
their sun setting in P(t])eiy ami despair. 1 have called on
servants wh.t were cajoled, bribed, and coerc<'d into the
I'apacy, by families of i-ank and intluence. who seemed to
thiidv that their glory in a future life dependecl on changing
their poor maid into an idolatrous devotee of the Virgin
Mary. And 1 have seen young brides dragged into the
Church of Kometi'om the very altars, whei'e th* ir misery
liegan, by a system of tei'rorism which it would have re
quired the spirit of a martyr to withstand '"

t i

JEHOKAM.

157

There is surely sometliiiifi; in this which claims the
especial attention of youn^' jx'ople. An«l I would o ly
say in conclusion, if the youui; have themselves caught a
j^limjjse of the truth in any (le^'rce, let them heware
how tlu'y ally themselves witli those who wouhl ])Ut su-
perstition in th(! plac(! of it, and who would drai; them
therehy into ajiostacy and woe I Let them thiidv of
Jehoiam and Athaliah, and let them ])refer sin<i;le life
rather, if need l)e, to association with the friends and
supporters of soul-destroying error!

:■<

grKSTiONS ON .ii:iioiiAM.

How is it witli very many yoinig people in tlie matter of a
start in hfe /
They are most uiifavoui-ably situated, seoin«,' that they
bruatlie an atmosphere of worldliness and ungodliness
from tiieir earliest years.
Can we wonder when such individuals go from bad to
worse i
Certainly not : they are entitled to pity as well as to
blame.
How was Jelioram situated in this respect I

Most favoural)ly.
What were the favourable conditions which surrounded Jelio-
ram during his early years /
His father was a godly man : his people were a sacred
people : the dynasty to which he belonged was a eove-
nanteil dynasty : the Temple of Solo uou oveishadowed his
youthful consciousness : he had seen the deliverance en-
joj'ed l>y his father and his people from the cond»ined
forces of Amnion, Moab, and Seir, ami he nuist have been
ac([uainted with the demonstrations of Elijali in the
neighboiu'ing territory.
How did these favi)urable conditions alfect his ccmrse of dis-
obedience I
They aggravated his criminality, and rendered him vitterly
inexcusal)le.
Are the privileges of young i)eoi)le brought up under Chris-
tian parents, and in connexion witli C'lristian ordi-
nances and Christian literature greater than tho.se of
Jehoraiii /

1 ,' 1

lit

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KEft Ik

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158

THE DYNASTY OF I>AVT1).

Yes : and that V)y many dc^'rees.
What tluMi must, he stiid <>f .such if, in tlip fai-n of all their i>ri-
viiu^es, tht-y chooso the service of the world in j)re-
ference to the service of (iod I
Tliat their folly and danger are heyoud all titterance :
" How can they escape wIkj neglect so great a salva-
tion I"
Was Jc'horam's reign a hapjiy one /

The very contrary : Scarcely anything can he conctMved
more distrt'ssiiig.
What hlcjody deed darkened its connuencement i

The murder of his six hrethreii.
How did this atl'eet his peace as a man /

It renden^d calm self-consciuiisness and pleasing memories
imi>ossil)lc for hiui.
What annoyed him as a King /

The loss of Kdom. and the revolt of the men of Lihnah —
a city almost within sight of his capital.
Had .Jehoram any right to complain of the revolt of the men
of Jjilinah I
No, surely, when liimself had revolted against the <!od of
Israel.
What ]>ossihIy explains the revolt of tlu- men of LiWiiah /
His (the Knig's^ despotic 'ev<ition to idolatry. He was
not content to leatl the way as an Idolater, hut he eii-
deavoinvd to force idolati-y even on those who wished to
avoid it.
Snjjposing that it were so, how are we to regard the conduct
of the men of J^ilmaii '.
With approl)ation certainly : tlioy are wise who oht'y (ii»d
rather than men — -exalted and powerful though these
men may he.
And how must Jehoram have felt under this successfid rev(dt
at Lilinah i
IVIitst humiliated and grii-vi-d.
What next came to perturli him .'

The writing from Elijah — denouncing all inanner of evil
upon him on account of hi.s wickedness.
Why was this writing withheld while .Jehoshaphat lived i
Because the full e;;tent of .lehorani's wickedness could not
he made manifest until he became sole iSovereign.
Did Jehoram repent on the receipt of the threatenings by
Elijah i
Not at all : it made no change in his course, but it must
have added to his mental misery. Personal denuncia-

J Km » HAM.

159

tions from such a quarter could not be treated with in-
diHt-rence.
What follows ut'xt in the exiK-rieiice of Jehurain i

The waHtiiij,' away of his suhstaiice hy tlie Philistiiies and
Arabians, — and the cai)tivity of his suns and liis wives.
Does this complete his misery /

No • bodily disease of the most distressiny character is
added, and that for two painful years.
And what is his final dishonour so far as this life is con-
cerned ?
He died witlnnit being regretted.
What was the chief cause of Jehoram's miserable reiyn and
miserable end /
His irreligious and idolatrous marriage with the daughter
of Jezebel.
But was there no excuse for his forming such a union i
Not any : God had specially prohibited axwAi alliances, and
liis father ought to have remendiered the prohibition if
he did not.
What is the lesson which this furnishes to young people
brought u() under Christianity i
That they should avoid irreligious alliances : "Be not
unecjually yoked with unbelievers."
What is the usual result of such marriages I

The defection or the distrcbS of the enlightened l)arty, and
the trium]ih of the erroneous.
Does history furnish any proofs or illustrations to this
ellect /
Yes : the Antediluvians ; and also the .lev - tlinnigii a
large nund)er of their generations.
What is that particular form of this evil in these times which
ought to be avoided /
The union of Protestants with Boman Catholics.
And why should such unions be avoided ?

Jiecause they iisually, nay, almost luiiforndy, bring misery
and bondage, if not rum and despair, on thti misallied
I'rotestants.
What in general are we taught by the story <jf Jehoram /
That misery and dishonour are the certain results of dis-
obedience to God, and that matrimonial alliances ought
to be f(jrmed in accordance with divine directitjus, and
not merely by human cajtrice or yoiithful fancy. It is
not meant to limit tastes or preferences further than (iod
limits them ; but beyond the limits set by Him no one
can venture with impunity. Jehoram did not !

1 '

VIII. AIIAZIAH.

(A,

" So Ahaziah, the son of .Tfliornm, Vm\i of .Tmlah, rfit,'no(l

lie also '.valKcd in tlic wavs of tlu' house of Alial) :
for hin TnotluT was his couiisi'llor to do wickedly. WlnTffort'
luMlid evil ill the si^'lit of tliu lionl. like tin- house of Ahali ;
for they wt'K' his couusfUois after tin' deatli of liis fatlier, to
liis (h'struetiou. He walked also after their eounsel, and went
with .lehoiam tlie son of .\li;d),of Israel, to war a','aiiist lla-
zael, Kiii;,'<if Syria, at lJanicitli-( iili'ad- . . . Ami ihe des-
truetioii (pf Ahaziah was of (Jod. liy eoniiii;.' to .lorani. . . .
And wlun they had slain him, they huried him . liecause, said
they, he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who souj,dit the Lord with
all his heart. So the house of .\ha/.iah had no power to keep
Htill the kingdom."— 2 Chronicles xxii. 1-11.

S^^rf IIKKK is often imicli of inystery when tlic
^^r P\^''*""t^ are preniaturely cut otf. It .seems as
if all the j)i'e|»aiati(»ns fm- their lirt'-juurney
hail i>i()\"'(l ahi'itivc, and as if all the sulicit-
nde and Idve w Inch liad heen e.vereiscd (•(niccnnni;
them an<l la\islied upon tlum had heen in \;un.
Friends cainiot hut wonder at while they weep, he-
cause of their unlooked for depjuture. All the
Jf^ hri^ht j)ossihilities and j;i'eat felicities of unfolding
life are rendered impossihle for them, and then-
power of ministeiino; to the comfort ard well-hcin^i^
of othei's is forever ended. How sad the thoni;ht !
And how inexplicahlc their fate ! It is as if a
bright mornini:, instead of urowinn' to a hrilliant
day, were suddeidy tui'ned into darkest i\iuht. Many
— alas how many — have wei)t over these unlinished,
or rather, scarcely commenced lives I It is one of the
mysteries of the hroken, disjointed, and disarranged his-
tory of fallen humanity that it shouM he so.

The early and violent death of the l*rince now Ixd'ore
us had aboat it all the sadness and abruptness of such
events, lie had reigned but one year, and he was little

AHAZIAH.

161

more than twenty years old, wlion he fell under the orders
of Jehu. How it would startle his stiKjccts and coiitein-
porarii'S wIumi they heard of it. Possibly they looked
for a return of prosjxM'ity under the yuuthful Kins; after
all the niai-adininisti'ations and nii>fortunes of .Ichorani's
rei<;n. Any way, th' v ini,i,dit reasonaldy anticij)ale a long
reiyii in the case of a Sovei-eii^n so yoiuig. But no : the
ax<i was already laid at the root of the tree ere he left
Jeriisulem, though he suspected it not, and, forthwith the
fatal weai)on was put in motion against him — youthful
and graceful though he was.

It was a sad anfl mouinful tragedy, but not so wholly
mysterious as many early deatlis are, as we shall see in our
further rcmai'ks cnncerninLf him. There are three thinirs
note-worthy in the brief n'cord we have of him, vi/ : —
His counsellors : his choice as to his destiny ; and his
memory.

/. His Counsellors.

These were his connections in and of the house of Ahab.
First and pre-eminently Athaliah, his motlier, and the
daughttT of Jezebel, who was ever at his side, and after
her, and in entire harmony with her, his cousins and re-
lations at the court of Samaria. To these he listened,
and to their intluence he yielded himself Pity that he
had been so related and so beset ! His father and grand-
fatlier were deeply to blame fortius. And pity for him-
self, as w«'ll as for his people, that he broke not away
from such advisers ! For they were his counsellors to
his destruction, as we are informed by the sacred nara-
tive. He could not possibly have worse advisers. They
were not only ignorant of the true interests of Judah ;
they were bitterly ojijiosed to these interests. They
kiu'W not God, and they were the determined ui»holders
of that idolatry which dislu)noured God, and brought
ruin on those who walked in it. We can well understand
the C(»unsel they would tender to the youtid'ul Ahaziah.
They would advise him to abide l>y the high i)laces in
the mountains of Judah made b}' his father, and to su-

11^

162

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

pprsfde pvorv '>ffiff»r of tlie Govprnment who had anj'
.sym|);ttliy with the d.ivs of ,7ch()>liai)liiit. He WdiiM,
pr(tl>,il»ly, iu»t tliiiik of llic Tt'inplr and its a|»|)r<>i>riate
st'r\ic'S. tlioii.iih lie had \n'vu horn undrr its .sha(h»w ; hut,
ifhf did, his coiiiist'Uors would tell liim that that was now
out of the (|U('sti()ii. Tlic iv^c, tht'V wouhl say, liiid (tut-
prown that hiiidt'iisoiuc aud i('stii(;tiv«^ ccfciiioiiial. It
lui^ht ht* tolcrat'-il auioiiif a rudr aud isulatfd pcoph',
thry sviiuld aduiit, ]»iit it was wholly uusuitcd to lsia<d
in tht'ir days. They wci-c now in cotnumuication with
tilt* ('uliiihtcncd nations of tn»' earth, and they ou^ht to
Conform ihcuisi'lvi's to the tdcgancics and tlu' frct'donis cd"
rnon' advanced nations. The ten tril)es, they would
urge, the larger portion of the descendants of Abraham,
had thrown (tjf th(> narrowui'sses and restrictions of tlie
])ast, and why shouhl not the remaining fracti(Ui of the
natiiMi enti'r ui)on tlu^ sanu; career of liberty and j)ro-
gress ? Samaria was now in harmony with 'I'yre and
Sidon, and Tyrc^ and Sidon were now in cotunninieation
with all the woild, and why should -lerusaleiu he a peojile
by herself --sin ill, despise I, unfashionable, and auti((iiat-
0,(1 I Why not put asidi' her pcculiaiitics, which only
made h<'r i-itlicidous, anil become a ))art of tlu^ wide-
spread family of humanity i Jerusalem, they would
urtce, would thus become more honoure(l, and more Ire-
quented, and her inhabitants would enji>y more fre(dy
the |)leasures of life. Comnu'rce would grow ; riches
Would increase, and luxurious gratifications would be
multipli«'d. "Look, "they would say, ''at Tyre — goi-ged with
riches — the em[>orium of tin; world's resources — the mis-
tress of beauty and boundless enjoynuuit ! Wcuild you
not wish to ])articipate in her riches, and have a share
in her enjoyments. Then, <h) as Samaria has done : —
conform to her style of worship ; encourage her mer-
chants to settle theii' agents among you ; become part of
the commi'reial and happy world, and forget that narrow
system of yours, which would keep you isolated, poor,
gloomy and miserable!"

Such, in effect, was the counsel tendered to the youth-

AIIAZIAH.

ir)3

ful moji.'irch Aliaziali, by lii.s mother and his kinsmen.
And soint' may siiitjin>t' that lit' was cxvusaith' tor liston-
itii,' to it. It is ditlifiih, they will rt'iniiid you. tor a
yitiuij; man to set liimsclt' in o|»|>(»siii(iM t<» his seniors and
his relatives, ('s|)ei-ially when these si'iiiois and relatives
0('en|)y K)t"ty places in society. We admit the dillicnlty,
hnt still we hold that Aha/.iah was iiii'.irKsuhlc {'ov yieldinu;
to sucli advice. It was not with him as it is with many in
lieathen nations, wiio aie trained in id((latr\ , and kept in
ignoiance, and who have no means of asc( rtainini^ or
knowint; the truth. We dare not jnd^^' hai'dly of such,
but Aiiaziah was not such. lie had known the more- e.v-
cellent wav. lie had s<'en the davs of .bliosliaidiat. lie
must have been about fourteen years old when .lehosha-
pliat died; and ho must have kn(»wn how eai'uest his
grandfather was to have the people taui^ht the law of the
Loid, and to have them ivl)ide in the service of (Jod, and
in the peculiarities of their national life He had known
too, how great and how prosperous his grandrath<-r had
been wdiile walking in the ways of the L<»rd. And he had
seen, as iie grew into manhood, how ditfeient the fortunes
of his father while (levoting himsell to the sei\ice of liaal.
Instead of piesents and fru-ndly eml»assies from the east
an(i from the west, from Arabia and fioin IMiilist'a, as in
the times of his grandfathei', his father had been sid»ject-
ed to invasion, spoliation, and dishonour. The Arabians
and the IMiiiistiiies had come into dudah, and broken
into it, and carii<Ml auMyalltlu^ sul)stance that was found
in his tathers palace, aiul his wives also, and slain all his
sons, save this same Ahaziah, or Jehoahaz liimsclt'. Here
was ocular demonstration of the results of the two ser-
vices ; — honour, and riches, and peace, to delioslia|)hat
the servant of (ic^d; and di.^honour, and impoveri^hineiit,
and distress, to Jelioram the servant of Jiaal ! He might
well have doubteil the counstd of his mother, when he
saw the eflects of following it in the case of his father.
And he might wisely have determined ratlurtofall back on
the faith and fashions of J eho&haphat than abide by those

i 1 1

'i ' \M

^V Mi

f i

■, is:l

llli; hVNASTY OF DAVID.

1 I

<»t' .Iflioiaiii. ^^'lly fi'llow tlu' counsel lliat li.itl I'luucl liis
1

»rc(|('r»'ss(>

r (

lint >n|i|)()si!);^ that tlioso ,i1»oiit liim attciiiptccl to ac-

count loi- tilt' t'ortuiH's (if" liis latlifr in souk- otii

way —

1.1;

lUHJiii Ins siihonlniatfs, nr Jii.>o\\n want o| ^cnciaNliii),

(»!■ Ins lashiios as a statesman —how nm

l.l A

la/iali listen

to tliein when he liail the writin;^' sent hy I-ilijah the pro-
|iiiet to his latlier^ lie could scaicely he ij^iioianl of this
(jocnnient hein^ a Prince in his teens when it was de-
livered, and can>-inLr. as it iiodnuht uid. no little sen>atioii
or specidat inn in the ('nuit circle at the tinn'. Anil how
]»lainly the ddcunient s|tal<e I Hear it aijain,— (we have
already quoted it under the reii,Mi of Jehorain. )

Ami tlifpc caiin' Ji writiii',' to liini fiipiii I'llijali tin- prnplict, Hay-

ing,'

'II

111.-

iiith the l,(.i(l (Inil i.f l>a\i(l tliv fiitlnT,

M'l'illlSt'

tlloU

liast not ualkt (1 in llir \\a\s of .lt'linslia|iliat thy fatlnT, nor in
tlic \va\s of Asa. \\\\\,.' of .hidali. Imt liast walked in tlii' way of
tiit' kin-^s of Isiat'l, ami liast niailr .fmlali ami tin' inlialiitants of
.Iciusalt in to i,'o a wlioi in;..', lik<' tlic u lioiidnnis of tlif lioiisc of
Ahali, ami also hast slain thy Idcthrcn of thy father's house which
were lietlei' than thyself : lieholil. with a ;,'ieat j.lau'ue will the
l<oi(l smite thy iieople, ami thy cliildicn. and thy wives, and all
tli\ ^'oods : iind thou shalt have ;,'ie:(t .-ickness hy ilisease of thy
lioueLs, until tliy liowels fall out hy ivasou of sickiif.ss day iiy

(lav,

xxi.

1-J-

Now, lio\\ could Atlialiali explain away this account of
her hiisltand's niisldituiies / And why should Aliaziali
listen to cdunsel whichwould in\i>l\t' him in like tionlile ]

Even tliouuh

^^1|•^

Iv 1

le was niexcusalde III dollii:; so

inued l»y his own mother, he ouoht t(t have rejected it.
The will of Heaven is somethin,^' hi.uher and ni(»re aiitho-
rilati\(' than e\-en the \i\'\vr of a niothor ; and Ahaziah
t lia\(' known that the will of Heaven was in opposi-

mus

tion to the counsel of Athaliah.

Hut evt n tliouuh kejit in ioiioianc(> of the writinir of
Elijah sent to his failier, he must ha\'e known something

history of his nation ; and, conse-

.f t:

le miraculous

quently. he must have heard of the sujucnie power and
supreme claims of Jelio\ah. A C(»niem|i(irai"y of Joho-
shr.phat, ami in communication with that Piince, he must

AllAZIAH.

1 c>r>

have liciird t»t' tlic law of the Lord ; a I'rincf ot" the liuiisf
of I'aviil. lit' iiiu^t li:i\(' licaitl aci(»iiiits of iln- >^Wd\ ami
distiimiiislu'd foiiiidri' of his lioiisc ; a witness of tlic
{^fiamlciir of Soloiiion's 'rcm|»li'. lit- iiiii>t liavr IhmkI of
the wisiloiii ami inistakrs of that Piiiiff. Nay. iicontriii
jKtiaiv of Mlij.ih's. he tiiiist have hcanl of tht; (Ifiiioiist ra-
tion on Moiiiii Caiiiicl, aMil of llic iiiiri- pown Icssmcss of
tht' |ific.Nts of liaal ! Nay, furthi'i. a contriiiiioiaiy of
Elisha'>, wh<»s(' inthirnc«; was frh cmii in Sainai'ia. ami to
whom ai>o the Kin^s of Syiia listrncd, and wlio.x- tidt-iity
to Isiarl's (Jod, and o|)|io>ition to tin' Had worship of his
kin<lic(|. ninst have Ik-cii knownto Aha/iah. thfrc can hf
no <^\cn>»' for ids listciuni; to th>' connx'I ot' his nioihcr
ami his idolatr<ins kindrrd. TIk' imlnf-nifnts and con
sicicratioiis which oni^iit to havf miitralizrd with him the
advice of his niotlu-r weic neithrr few nor small : his
early edneation in the oonrt of .Iehosha|ihat, his father's
fortunes as an idolatrous kin^-. his knowlednc of his na-
tion's hi>toiy, liis interest in the joundi'r of the dynasty
to which he itelon^cd, his knowledLte of Elijah's (h'mon-
8trations, and denunciations, ami translation, an<l his
further km>wledi,'e of tin' character ami niiraele sustained
authority of Mlisha, — all, all ou.i;ht to have hound him to
the(!od of his people, and to the services of His temple
in deiusalein I I le could not |ilead ii,'norance as an excuse
for his departure tVoiu <lo(l. lie knew the li^ht as well
as the wron^i;'. Adndt that the domestic and relational in-
tlneuces Were stroULf, still, the ihtifcsls at stake were too
noiuentoUs to he sacrificed to these ilitlueUces : and. had it
heen a matter unconnected with his own pa>si(»nsand |)re-
fereii'cs, no doid)t h'' would have judged more wisidy ;
hut he w, s hims(df at heart an i<lolator. lie had no wi-h
to ictain (Jod in his knowledm-. He prefeiacd the fash-
ion.-, of Samaria, anil the i-iches of Tyri', to the riches of
Heaven ; and he wouM rather ha\e the license and the
liberty of idolatiy than the restrictions and limitations
of the true wor>hii). He was willing theicfor*' to \u- mis-
led. H(» listened to the counsellors that suit«'d his own
■wishes— not because he knew them to he li^ht and safe,

f.<i

' >:

II i

i'i^

i ■

166

THE DYNASTY UF DAVID.

but l)t'<,*aiisi' tlu'ir views harmonized willi his own. They
C(»un'iflle<l liiin to ji caicer of selt'-pleasinu' in •»|»|iusitiuii
til the seivice (»!' the tliie < to(l ; ami, hi-caiise he |)l ct't'iretl
the ways of self ideaxini; to (liitse of piety, he ii>.telie(i,

an<l sliaiied his I'onr.si; aeconlinLjIy. He i<new hetter, Imt
wa> content to yiehl hinist'lf to proximate inllnences ami
advice, l)ecau>e tho>e infhiences and that advice wefe in
accordance with his own nnworthv preferences ; and he
was iii(.r('iis(ih/r in vieMini; himself so. Me was to l)e
pitie(l ji.s the son of an nnworthy niotin-r and couns»dlor,
hut he was also to hi' l)lamed and con(h'mne(| for walking;
in the connsel of that nnworliiy mother, wiien he had
th«' me.ins of knowing; tlial lier counsel was wronj^ and

ruinous

'rims with Ahaziah : hut d

oes

.Miaziali stand alone in

th s respect / Are there no Ahaziahs in our own time /
Alas, theic are \-ery manv, ai'tim; just as .\ha/iali acted.
Theii- immediate surroundings are all in favour of woild-
liness ar.d self pleasin<^r. Theii" parents and cousins, it
may he, ai'e all, as in the case of the youthful Ahaziah,
for jtresent enjoyment, ])resent j)rolit, or Wiuldly honour,

md tl

lev take these in i

ll'ect

lis their

miiih

es and (;ouns(

•1-

lois. Any way, they i'ollow tlieai in thi-ir own stdf
])leasing ways thou<^h they know that there is a hetter
course. They have heai'tl of the Bible, and they know
Somewhat vi' its demamls. They know too, that there is
a minority who yield tlnMiiselves to its influence ; and
they are called on to join that minority — evt-n the fiurch
and people of (rod — and to adopt their faith ami counsel
if they Would lind safety, eiili^litciimetit, and immortal
hope, jhit this minority is not fashionable, and the
pi'actice of its membei's seems riicid and Ibrltidden. Be-
sides, th(! fashionable world ridicules ijiis minority and its
h.ibits, and accounts association with it as low and disro-
1)11 table. The glories of Tyre are not found there, nor is
tlu' license of the world admissible there. What is the
conse(pience ? Why, that very many, unpr«'pared for
s«*lf-deiiial, and loving the ways of license and self-pleas-
ing, decide, like Ahaziah, to abide by the counsels and

AHAZIAH.

167

tho rrnidanco of tlioir worldly and faslilttnal)!*- r«'lativ»»8
mid tViciid.s. TIm'V cariimt iciioiiium' the « uiniiit'jc*' or the
coiii|iaiiiuii.s|ii|) ot Tyiv. 'I'licv (•.iiiimt t'oit'i;(i ilic lirciisj^
otX'l.-pli-asiiig. Tln-y cannot alddt* l»y ihe oUarinc and
tilt' dfspist'd. Tlify d»'cid«' tliercCon' to j^o willi the
tit ream, to cast in tliiir lot with tli»' niajoiiiy, and to fol-
low lilt' conn.^t'l or the condui-t of t lif irrt'liL;ious. Ahaziah-
likf, they |>it'ffr thr ait|>ai'<'nt and dflii>ivf to tin- siil»>t,in-
tial iind ciiiioMiiij^, And Ali.' ' lilikf, tlit-y will yrt Ijnj
how foolish the) have hcen in tin ir iircfcrt'iice !

Be snr«', we would say to those win* are willing to
listen, that you make not his Mustake IJe sure that
you yield not to proxirnaLe or worlllv intlnenoes unfav-
uural)l(! to .Jesus and ..alvation. No malter for earthly
ad\anta;^es or disadvantages. Seek the coini»anionship
and the counsels of the believiiii,' an<l the heuveidy.
Ahide by Jerusalem and its peculiarities. In other
Words, ahiile hy the Church of Ood, sm ill and les|»isetl
thouL,'h it may seem in the eyes of tin; world ! Altach
sniall iiiiportanct! to the .i^litter of this pasjin^ lif(>.
Ixeinemher, oiii'. th'iiKi is need/ til ! And that one needful
thin;.,' is. the divine favour and friendship) ; and know as-
suretlly, that the divine favour and friendship are not to
be had in the self-pleasin.i^ ways of the world. It is lo be
hatl only in connection with faith and self-denial. It is to
be had only in and through the crucitied and e.xaltcd
Son of ( iod I

Ihit this will appear more clearly as we attend further
to Ahaziah. And we notice : —

//. ///'.■; choice as to hi^ destiny.

That destiny was suffioieiitly sad, .is already noticf'(l in
GUI- inLi'odiictory rem u'k. We cannot but hunent for it :
and the more so, that he seems t<» havt; l)een an ami iMe
and friendly prin >■ within his earthly and chosen circle.
But for his kin Iness and frieii lliness in lee. I, he had not
met with so early a death. He had gone to visit his
cousin iwt .Jezreid liecaiise that cousin wis sick, and while
there bccauie alarmed for liis own safety by reason of the

I :'M...

\ \

1G8

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

movements of Jehu. He fled to Samaria, and hid him-
self in that city, supposing, or liopiiii;, that the storm
wouhl l)l()\v ovei-, or that lie would liud some way of
reaching his own capital in the course of a few days.
But lie was f<jund in Samaiia, carried to Jehu, and luth-
lessly slain. The rude conqueror had no pity for his
youth, nor hesitated a monieiit hcfore this Prince of Jeru-
salem. He crushed out his young life, and hurried on
his destructive career. It seems sad, we repeat. Oh,
how sad, that this young man, the King of Jerusalem,
and the only I'cinainiug grandson of Jeh(jsha]>hat. should
thus fall in the l)rii(ht morniiiuof his lifi; ! 15ut it was of
God that it should be so : we can see reason for it, and
it is easy to point that reason out. It lay with Ahaziah
himself, and is to be found in the choice which he made
as to his destiny. Noti(;e, —

By his parentage he was the heir of two very different
fortunes. As the son of David, by Jehoram, Jeho-
shai)hat, and Solomon, he w\as heir to the richest pro-
mises ; wlnle as the son of Ahab by Athaliah, he was
heir to the most overwhelming denunciati(*ns. Hear the
words of God concerning these two houses : first, cou-
cernint; tin; house of David :

" I have made a covenant with my chosen,

I have sworn unto David my servant, —

Thy seed wid I estahiish for ever.

And build up thy throne to all generations." * * * *
" My covenant will I not break,

Nor alter the thing tliat is gone out of my lips :—

Once have I sworn by my hoUness, that 1 will not lie unto
David :

His seed shall endure for ever.

And liis tlu'one as the sun before Me.

It shall be estaltlislied for over as the moon.

And as a faithful witness in heaven.'" (i's. Ix.xxix. 3, 4, and

;m-;}7.)

Then, secondly, hear the words of God by Elijah in rela-
tion to the house of Ahab :

" Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, (Ahab,)
And will take away thy posterity.

-i

ni-:i

AHAZIAH.

1G9

And will cast off from Ahab every male,

And liiiii tliiit ir: sliut up iuiil k'ft in Israel-

And will make thy him.-ie like the house of .lerohoam the

sou of Xalu't,
And like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah,
For the i)rov<>e ition wl.erewith thou liast pnunked me to

anger, and made Israel to sin." (I. lviiii,'.s xxi. •_'!, "J'J.)

See then the position of Aliaziah, — he w.is Itoth of the
seed of David ami of thu posterity of Aliil). lie was
heir to tlie covenant of p('r|)i*tiiity on the (Jiie haml. and
heir al ;o to the sentence of exteriniii.itioii on the other.
Which shall pre\ail I lie cantiot inherit hoth. lie must
either be |)reserved with Daviil. or desti'oyed with Aliah.
Which shall it Ije l Why, that niii^t depend on his own
choice and })roce(liire. li' he choose the fortunes of
David's h(juse, he must ke«^p aloof fi'om the doonu-tl
house of Ahal) : but if lu' choose to abide by the house
of Ahab, he thereby loses or forfeits his fortunes in
David. Ami you know what his choice was. He had
Athaliah and his relatives of Samaria for his counsellors.
He in elfect renounced I *avid and took the side (jf Ahab.
Havii g made his election, he was to all inU'iits and pur-
poses a part of the doomed posterity of Ahal>, and he
perished accordingly when that house perishecl. He was
young to die, but he had ventured within the ranges of
the storm that iiad aiisen against the idolati'(jus and
wicked court of Samaria, and he fell beneath its sweep.
N(jr was he unapi)rized. He might have known, if he
did not, that the stoiin might arise any day ;dter the
death of Ahab. It was only deferreil because of tlie
humiliation of that king. It had to ai'ise in tht; d.ays of
Alial)'s son, and Allah's son was now sick in Je/.reel : and
what more lik(dy than that the agents of vengeance,
beimi' human and wakeful, would avail themsel\-es of this
Nickness for the overthrow of the doomeil house ? And
what was Ahaziah to ex[)ect if he threw hiinsidf into the
arena of the storm 1 If a man will attach himstdf to,
and identify himself with, a doomed and ih-miumtd riice,
even though not a member of that race, he may e.\i>ect
to share in the desti action when it coines. Still more so,

I I

i ;f

ti!

170

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

if he be really of the denounced race, ind if he volunta-
rily astjuciate himself with tlu; denounced race, what can
he "xpect but to share tlicir fate ? Ahaziah thfrcfore
had no right to complain of his early death, nor may we
comi)lain concerning it. His fall was certainly swift, am',
sad, and a{)j)arently uncalled for at the time, but we can-
not object to it. We can only pity and lament. What
briglit, and hapi)y, and useful day.s he might have had iti
Jerusalem had he but chosen to abide by the house of
David instead of identifving himself with the house of
Ahab I Had he but kept at Jerusalem, and not gone to
Jezreel, he would have been safe for the time being at
least. He would not then ha\e l)een in the way of the
hurricane that arose against the royal house of Samaiia.
But his sympathies were with the doomed : his presence
was determined by his sympathies, and his eai'ly death
was the inevitable conseipienci'. How different had it
been, had he oidy preferred the dynasty (»f David instead
of that of Ahab ! He was heir, as we ha\(! seen, to the
fortunes of both. At Samaria, as a symjiathizing branch
of the idolatrous house, he was certain to incur destruc-
tion : but at Jerusalem, as a sympathizing branch of the
covetuinted and the loved, he would lia\e enjoyed secu-
rity and honour. Instead of perishing in his youth, he
wouhl have lived, and waxed great like his grandfather,
and transmitted his crown in due time to a mature and
com[>etent prince and succi'ssor. But he torsot)k Jeru-
salem, and hastened to S.imaria, just as the thun(lerl)olt
fell that was to overwhelm all the posterity of Ahal). He
thus forfeited life and honour, and incurred death and
overthrow with the condenuied.

While we lament for his intatuation, let us be remind-
ed ot our own circumstances. These are strikingly ana-
logous to those of Ahaziah. Like that prince, we are
the heirs of two very dilfereiit styles of ftjrtune. Human-
ity, you know, hath two very ditferent re[)resentative3.
The one is condemned and death-doomed : the other is
acct'.])ted, beloved, and em[)owered to confer eternal life
on His followers. The one is earthly : the other is

,.. -I

AHAZIAH.

171

heavenly. The one is powerless, though pretentious : the
other is able to save utito the uttermost, though shroud-
ed and undazziiiig to the worMly eye. We are called
on to make our el(;('tiou between these two represfuta-
tive.s'. We grieve tor the mistaken decision of Ahaziah,
as between David and Ahab : h't us beware how we
repeat the mistake as b(!twt!en the first .Vdam and the
secoiui. We are the heii-s of the hrst Adam, and also of
the second : but W(^ cannot iidierit with both. The in-
heritaucos are so diverse that we must abide by the one
or the other. With th(> one is comlemnatiou : with the
other is justification and ])eace. We must make our
choice. If we abide by the first Adam, and give our-
selves to disol)('dience and woi'ldliness, we nuist sink
beneath tin; waves of wrath which ai't; ev 'U now sweep-
ing the unforgiven to perdition, antl which will m.uiifest
them.selves yet more fearfiUlv in the world to come. If,
on the (jther hand, we ))refer the second Adam, the Lord
from heaven, we shall finl shelter, acceptance, and love.
The matter is as plain to us, as we can now see it was
plain to Ahaziah. It was S.imiria or Jerusalem with
him: it is the world or the Saviour with us. It was
with him, renouuc<^ Samaria and its idolatiy, and give
yourself to the i)iety and the principles of the dynasty
of David, antl live; or, renounce David and Jemsalem,
and die I And it is now with us, the world w'lh its un-
lawful and uusauctifiiid enjoymetits, or the Saviour wntli
His immoi'tal purities and [)leasures. In otht.!r words, it
is tile world or the ('liurch — the self-pleasing worll, or
the Christ filled and Christ-controlled (Jhurch ! Every
man nmst abide by the one or by the other. No man
can iidierit with both. Prefer tlu' world, and you will
perish with the world : but abide by the Christ-filled
Chui'ch, and ycni live with Christ, and Ix'coiiie partakers
with llim — or, in other words still, abide by the Cod-
forgetting and self-pleasing witrhl, and be swept away l)y
the deluge of wrath that is about to rise agiiust the un-
gollv ; or, enter the ark of heiven an 1 survivti the
storm ! The unhoused and unsheltered world must suc-

■!;-lf

172

TIIH DYNASTY 01" DAVID.

ciiiub to the tfiiipcst, but tlu- CliiMsl-l)uilt ark will ridf it
out, and all who are within it will he uiiharnKMl, The
w«»il(l-liniiii<l will (lie and be disiidi('rit('(l ; the aik-
slwltcrcd will be icinstaltMl in tlit-ir inlnMilancc, and be
made yet inor<' free and more secuic than before !

You nur-t make your choice, ye who hear the ,u^os))fl.
The alteiiiative is before (!very one; of you. On the one
side is the s(df-d(;nyin,i^ Christ of (Jod : on the other, the
self-})l(,'asinij: world. l>etake yourselves, each of you, to
the one hand or the other. Vou nnist move in one direc-
tion. To stand still is ecjuivaleut to niovin:;' wroiiir : —
to stand still is to share with the condemne(l. Pity if,
like Ahaziah. you choose Samaria in prefficnce to .'eru-
salem, and Aliali latlu-i' than l)a\id ! I'ity if you jucfer
a covenant that is broken and condemnatoiy to the cove-
nant that i.s ratified, and oi'deied in all thiui^s, and suri; !
Oh, ])ity if you prefer the brief and cloud}' present to

le unendin<; an<

d unci

jioudet

1 fut

ure

And thi'it! is danger that you will make a wrong
choice. You ought to be warned, ami aroused to con-
sideration. Myriad-s have made the mistake, atid so may
you. The truth is, pio.ximate and congenial influences
ai'e against vou. Seinors and friends have in manv ca.^e.s

alreadv dfcH

h'd

wron

uul Vou are ai>

.t, Al

lazia

hlik(

to take them for vour counsellois and guides, it le-cds
efl'oit and selt'-sarrifice to prefer the light I But you
ought not to hesitate. ]\Iake the eflbr' and the sacrilices
forthwith. The interests at stake are too impoitant to
be tiilled with. If the world pi'esses, so does the divine I
If the world iiiviti'S, so does tlie heavenly I 11 the W(trl<l
seem th,' more imposing l»y reasoii of nearness ami
visibility, ycjur expeiience ought to enable you to I'ectify
the illusion, ^'ou cannot but kn.jw how Hceting and
how unsubstantial eaithly ])i'offssions and eaithly plea-
sures are! Then uhy for the sake <ff them, deny youi'-
self to the divine and the imperishal)le i O, be nol like
A/nazi.di. who jii'eferreil the bri"f license and a[»parent
f'VA// of fashionalile idolatry, t(> the i)erinaiUMit lustre and
satisfying evolutions of thi^ throne of David as the

1 1!

fide it
The
■ aik

mil Ix'

AIIAZIAH.

173

anointpfl one of Gorl ! If, however, you -will not he
warned, you nui><t not complain v( the ruin that will
overtake you. Vnur ovnthiow may not Ix' exactly .so
swift a.s that of Ahaziah, but it will not be le^is over-
whelming- itv tciiitic.

Noi' will it be long deferred even thongli you are
si)aied to the utmost limit of human life. Seventy
earthly years bear a far less ])ro])orti(jn to «'ternity than
did the one year's reign of Ahaziah to the forty years'
reign of lJavi<l : so that, if you be disinherited by leason
of a wrong choice, it will ^till l»e comj)aratively in your
early years. This life is but " the bud of lieing," and to
])erish at the end of it, even though one hundred year.s
old, is to lose all the treasuies and ex[)eiiences of im-
mortality. If we himent for Ahaziah's early death, as a
f(irfeitnit' of forty years of royal life among men. oh. how
sliall Ave grieve for the foi'feiture of those who are cut off
from the inetfaljle an<l uneiidini; dcli;;hts of the blessed
eteiidty !

But this leads me to notice, concerning ^Uiaziah, —

///. II/s iiti inorij.

And that is both uuhhf^t and unlmoijant. An early death
is not always an iml)lest memory,— nor yet an unbuoyant
one. ^'ou nnist have heard of many who ha\(' died
young and yet left behind them a memory both fragrant
and esteemed. It was not so with Ahaziah. There
were few to weep for him. and there were non(^ who coidd
truly bless him. Even his mother Athaliah who had
misguided him seems to have l)een unsoftened by his
death, else she could not have acted as she did towards
liis chihlren. She caused them all to be slain, at least
the male portion of them, .-o far as she knew. Instead of
blessing his memory, and guarding lovingly those he had
left behind him, tihe lierself became tlu' coadjutor of .Ichu
in the work of destruction. \\ hile Jehu slew, or caused
to })(! slain, at Samaria, .^he slew, or caused to be slain, at
Jerusalem. Instead of nujui Jiing for the ruin that had
fallen on her son, she her.self became the willing instru-

5 ,.' ^

'ir!'

i I.

174

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

inont of carryinfj: forward and coinplotinpj that ruin. It
V'ould seem u.s if slic wislicd to suiiplcnicnt the Wdik of
the rutiilcss cxfCMitionci', ;ind c(inij)l('t(' the liloody tra-
gedy wliicli he iiad hc^iin. 'i'licrc was ncitiirr tcndctiic.s.s
nor bi'iH'dictioii in Iht licart in iclation to the iiidiaiipy
Aiiaziali ! And it" liis own niotlicr and counscdlor was
thus uidx'iiii^iiant and nnsoftcncd toward him, what
coiihl w«' cxix'ct fi'ojii others 1 His cousins and rchitivcs
at Saniaiia a^^iain could not bh-ss liis memory, tbi' tiny
perislied witii him, or I'atiici- lie piiislifd with them :
and, thouudi it liad not het-n so, tiiev niiuiit have iiioved
as cruel and unnatural as his niothrr. Any way, their
benedit'tions, bein^ the benedictions of the ungodly,
could h ve had no benign import in relation to him.
His counsellors theicfore could not bless him : and the
pious in Jerusaleu! could not bless him. Pity him the
pious ini<^ht, and no doubt did, but for blessings on his
memory, — tlu se they could not give. Heaven frowned :
how then could the servants of Heaven smile 1 He had
perished under displeasure, and the cloud must rest upon
his nanu'. He had forsaken (lod : and the benedictions
of fJod cannot rest on the rebellious! His name is but
a blot on the page of histoiy, and i>iety can find no com-
fort in rei)eating it. Not only heaven, I'Ut all on earth
in subse(]Uent ages — all at least whose blessing is of any
value — icgard his memory with displacency. The un-
godly caie not for it. and though they did, their benedic-
tions would go for nothing : and the godly cai'. oidy dis-
approve and reject it. Who of all the struggling and
sorrowing sons of nu'U, I sluaild like to know, renu-m-
bers Ahaziah with esteem 1 \\ ho linds cond'ort or in-
citement to good by recurring to his history 1 The
memoiy of David hath been a bh^ssing to many, and
many have blessed his name as they read his })salms, or
thought of his pious disinterestedness ; but who hath
blessed, or been blessed by, the memoiw of Ahaziah 1
The faith of Abraham again hath instructed thousands,
and elicited benedictions on his name ; but the defection
of Ahaziah hath neither blessed nor awakened blessings

"r>

AHAZIAII.

175

among his siiccpssors on ratth. Tho early rloath of Ahel,
too, ttiuchcs with tt'iidt I'lit ss till' lifarts of men oven to
our own time and awakens hlcssinLjs on his nicnioiy ;
hnt the early deatli of Ahaziah awaheiis hut a tjansicnt,
though deep. ]uty, with no hcuidic tion or sympathizing
love, 'lilt' tiutli is, thf iianif of this youthful victim to
Jehu's zeal is now ncdhiiig anioiig men. Jt ni; y Ix^ said
to he a iilauk as well as a hlot on the ])age of history,
and the woihl rcmrnihers it not. It stands as a link in
the posterity of David, hut without any of the sanctity
attaching to it winch helongs to that sacrt-d house. It is
a name unsaci'ed and a memory uid»lessed :-- that is, no
one hlesses it, and no oue is hlessed hy it.

And it is a nieniory uiilitioi/K/if as well. A t''m]>orary
cloud may fill upon a worthy luemoiT, and its claims
may f'l- a time Ik- forgotten, hut time ami ciicumstances
KWcej) aside the chjud, and the nienioiy ic-appeai's with
its claims and recommendations undiiiiitiished : or, a name
nuiy he suhmerged and dishonoured for a time, and yet
come again to the surface, and c(»mmand tlu' attention
and oteem of thousands, oi- of ag«'s. ^^'e could point
to names in modern history tliat have heen hecloudcd
and i'alsitied for long yeais, and yet have now emerged
agai into daylight, and enjoy the high esteem of the
enlightened and the candid. But, alas, for Ahaziah !
His name hath no huoyancy. It hath " suidc like lead
in the mighty waters," and there is no ])r()spect (»f its re-
appearance at the surface. He detached himself from the
huoyant, and he saidv without hope of recovery. Had
he ahode hy .Jerusalem, and David, ami the covenant of
perjietuity, he would have heen hoiiie up and sustained.
Had he enil)raced the hope that cheered the heart of his
great ancestor, and foreshadowed liy lidvlity, and right
eousness, the coming iVIessiah and King, he too would have
become immortal. He woidd have hecome buoyant
"with the buoyancy of the divine ! He might have sunk
for a time, like David hims(df, amid the ()hscurities of
death, but he wouhl have reajipeared in the retinue of
the Triumphant at last, when the pageant of earth shall

Iff

' I

I i

II' i

176

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

havfi passod away. But, by (lotacliinfif himsolf from
I)avi(l in favour of Ahal), he det.iclK'd liiinsclf from
])a\i<rs mystic Son, the divine Kiii^ of Isi-acl, and con-
s<'(|ii('ntly fri»in the triunipliant and buoyanl foi'tuncs of
that kiw'j;. Nay more, hy attafhing lumsclf to tlic house
of Allah, he attaclicd himself to the sinkini,^ and uii-
hiioyant, and he can never reappeai' in hriuhtiifss. Ho
may c(tme a^ain at the last day, hiit not with the for-
given and the faithful. He may be ]jr(.tnght again from
the dti)tlis for a moment, but it will t)nly be to receive
his sentence, and to sink again to the undesirable
regions of dishonour and rejection with his condemned
associates.

Such is the brief and sorrowful story of this youthful
Prince. He took for his counsellors, the ungodly and
idolatrous ; though he had access to the fountains of di-
vine wisdom, he attached himself t(j the doomed and
the deiKJunceij, and fell in the tempest that overwhelmed
them. And his memory is unbh st in the earth and un-
biioyant in the universe. We cannot but lament his in-
fatuation and bis fate ; but we ought not to rest with
lamentation. AVe ought to take warning and endeavour
to pursue a wiser course, AVe ought not to walk in the
counsel of the ungodly, but we ought to listen to the
words of God ! \\'e ought not to abide by the first
Adam, but we ought to betake ourselves to the second !
x\nd we ought so to walk in the iaith of the Son of God,
and Son of Dasid, as to leave a blessed and a buoyant
memory behind us.

A hU'sscd mcmorii, you will remember, is just the echo of
a gentle and a loving life. That is, a life of faith upon
the Son of Ciod, who lo\ed us, and gave Himself for us.
You understand this matter so far as human society is
concerned. You know how you feid, and you have an
idea how others feel, when any one of your friends or
neighboiu's dies. Suitposing the departed to haxe been
gentle, humble, and devout, you think of them with ten-
derness, iind liless, in ilfect, their memory ; and as far as
opportunity permits, you express that kindness toward

AHAZIAH.

177

their memory, especially to those they have left behind
them. Instead of destroying their children as Athaliah
did those of Ahiziah, you would rather benefit, protect,
or favdur them. On the other hand, if the departed had
walked rudely, selfishly, or wickedly, you could only pity;
you could not bless. The echo from your nature could be
only disappiobation or regret ! And so of others, so far
as the life of the departed hath been felt. Where that
life had been unfelt, of course, there could be no echo.
Mow, that which takes place in the immediate circle of
the dead takes place also on a larger scale in the universe.
Every man's life creates an echo in the material and ange-
lic world, as well as in his own immediate circle. You
may not hear the response of nature to the character of
departed, but it sounds in the ears of the divine Ruler
notwithstanding. You may not understand the senti-
ments of angels concerning the life and aims of him over
whose grave you stand, but they have formed their esti-
mation of them nevertheless. Nay, more, the life and
character of each man awakens an echo from the throne
of God itself; and that echo is ever faithful and true. It
is neither distorted by prejudice nor by partial informa-
tion, as is often the case with human echoes. It is on the
contrary, both just and discriminating. The result in
each man's case after death is, either a blessed or an un-
blessed memory. The ungodly and the unwise are unblest,
at best — to say nothing of malediction ; but the godly and
the pure are blessed and approved — blessed and iippiovt'd
by God — blessed and approved by angels — blessed and
approved by the holy universe. " The memory of the
wicked shall rot, but the memory of the just shall be
blessed." And I need only remind you, that a blessed
memory, being the echo of a blessed life, is also the har-
binger of a blessed immortality. In other words a bless^
ed memory is also a buoyant memory.

And a buoi/ant memory is a memoiy that will not die, a
memory that cannot be permanently submerged. It may
seem to be so for a time, but it will reappear spite of
every hinderance. It cannot sink to forgetfulness. It

■ 'lli:

17H

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

cannot be lost. The crowdin^c; candidates for attention
ever sprin^dng up with new generations may seem to
sweep it aside, but it will reappear in due time. D»'ath
may drag it b neath the waves, and the grave may set its
leaden toot upon it at the bottom of the great (hn-p, but it
cannot be held there. It will tind tjie surface again. It
will shine yet under the smile of Deity.

And you know very well how it is so. He that hath
the Son hath life. And he that hath life hath his name
written in the Lamb's book of life. And think you that
they whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life
can be held under peiinanent obscuration ? They are
idenlitied with the buoyant ; they are one with the trium-
phant. They are the living meml)ei's of a living and
reigning Head; and will they l)t; left, think, you on the
low-lying and daik places of the universe ? Their Head
hath ascended ai>ove all height. He hath bi'oken the
6])ell and the i)ower of the grave. He hath emerged from
the dark waves of ol)li\ion, which roll over the toml^s of
the ages. He hath ascended above the changing and
mortal atmos])here of earth. Nay, He hath ascended
above the regions of all change and vicissitude. And
He hath ])ledged Himself concerning His believing people.
As He lives, they shall live also. As He hath been
brought again from the dead, they too shall be raised at
the last day. As He hath taken His seat at the right
hand of the Majesty on high, they too shall he. pi'esented
to the Father without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.
His will is, that where He is there they shall be also, —
that they may behold His glory and be made partakers of
His divine life. And He hath power to make good His
determination in this, as in all othej n^spects. He is not
done with our world, though He hath retired from the
visible inhabitation of it in the meantime. He is coming
again. He is coming in glory. And when He who is
the life of His people shall appear, then shall they also
appear with Him in glory. Then the buoyancy of their
memory "and of their being shall be made manifest.
Bound to the Triumphant, they too shall be triumphant

; i

AIIAZIAII.

179

Abiding by the beloved, they too sliall bu beloved !
And lii'ing pai't and parcel of the retiimrot the Jlhistriniis,
they too shall be ilhistrions ! And their honour shall be
eternal I And their grateful joy shall be niialloyed with
any grief! 0, liow ha[»i)y to bt; buoyant in memory
through the buoyancy of the divine .Nlessiah ! And to
be blessed in memory with the blessings wjiich fall upon
Him ! Jjut only they who live by the faith of Him, and
in imitation (,f Him, can rightly expect tlu; telicity. If,
like Ahaziah, you jjieter Aliab to JJavid, you forfeit all.
You can then be neither blessed nor buoyant in memoiy
when you die. In other words, if you prefer the world,
with its duiilicities and delusive prizes, to the loyal, and
loving, and self-denying lunleemer, you nnist make up
your minds to dishonour and overthrtnv ! Without Him,
you can neither have the blesshigs of Heaven, uor the
ljuo}ancy of immortality !

' QUESTIONS OX AIIAZIAH.

Wlio were Ahaziah'.s counsellors ?

His niotlior, Athaliah, and his kindred of Samaria.
Were these friends his safe ct>unsellors (

The very contrary. They were the worst advisers ho could
have listened to.
What may we suppose was the burden of their advice /

To renounce the peculiarities of his nation, as narrow and
antiipjated, and to place himself and his (Jovermiieut in
sympathy with Tyi'e and the (jutlying nations.
Was it excusable in him to listen to such advisers ]

Not at all. There were weighty reasons to the contrary,
and he knew them.
Mention some of these reasons /

1. He hail known his grandfather, Jehr>Hhaphat and seen
something of the happy fortunes of that kiwj; as a servant
of Israels God ; and he had known the contrary expe-
rience of his father as a devotee of the idolatry recom-
mended by his relations.

2. He had heard too of the denunciations of Heaven by the
writing of Elijah delivered to his father, and seen their
fultilment in his father's history.

3. And he nmst have heard in the court of his grandfather
much of the miraculous history of hia nation — as well as

[J sill
:( 'fit

180

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

il<

«>f ilie utterances uiid deiaunatrutiuns uf Elijuh and
Elislm.
Why (lid Aliii/iiili disroj:,'ard tlieso considcratioDH ?

lieoause lie preferred the present and the fashinnablo to tlio
unseen and the true. Hi.s heart was earthly, and his
chnice was accordingly unwise and foolish.
Are there not many in our time actinj; the jtait of Ahaziah /
Veiy many. 'J'lieir chosen companions and counsellors are
Worldly and their desires are worldly. 1 hey have heard
indeed of the Hook of CJod and of the Church of (iod, but
these been unfashionable and opj)osed to the pride uf
life, they silently evade or openly reject them.
What should young people remember as a protection against
this mistake /
That "one thing is needful." What if a nuvu "gain the
whole \v(jrld and lose his own soul."
How l(»ng did Ahaziah live and reign /

He lived forty-three years, reigned but one.
Is theie not something sad in his early death I

Inexpressibly m) :— Early death is ever sad, but more par-
ticularly so in the case of the royal and exalted.
Can you account for his early fall ?

To a certain extent.
Tell how it was I

He was the heir of good as a descendant of David, but the
lieir of evil as the descendant of Ahab. His own choice
must determine the party with which he must partici-
pate. He chose Samaria and therefore perished with
the royal family of Samaria.
Having associated himself with Ahab and idolatry, could he
reasonably expect to escajje the destruction denounced
against that party ?
By no means : he must share the fortunes of his chosen
associates.
Is there any analogy between our circumstances and those of
Ahaziah respecting heirship ?
Certainly : we too are the heirs of two covenants — the
one broken and wrathful — the other established and re-
plete with blessings
What then is demanded from us in these circumstances ?
To choose aright between the first Adam and the second.
To refuse the counsel of our Samaria of this world, and
to abide by the Christ of God, who is the wonderful
counsellor and an infallible guide. To disregard the
contumely of the unbelieving and to cast in our lot with
the spiritual Israel.

AHAZTAH.

l«l

But does this matter holont? to na ?
*Yt'.s : to every one who hears the gospel. No ono can bo
ne\itral. To aV)iilo hy the first Adiini is, in effect, t(»
choose wrath ; and to ])i)sti)ono a ri^lit (U>cision is, in
efft.'ct, t<» make a wron;; i loiee.
Is there danger for each of na, — that wo will make a wron^,'
choice t
Yes : proximate and congeninl inflm iices are in favour of
the wroni;, and we are all imlisposed to the self-sacrihco
which a ri'^'ht choice rcijuiri's.
What do they forfeit who make a wroni,' choiee I

The treasures of heaven and the experifuce of immortality.
What have you to remark concerniiiLj the u»emory of
Ahaziah i
That it, is unhlest and unhuoyant. There was none to bless
his memory, and then* is no possibility of his name «!ver
ai^aiii rising tf) the surface.
But his njime has survived the lapse of ages ?

Yes : but not with benedictions. It survives as a link in
the posterity of David, but no ono blesses it, ami none
are blessed by it.
What do you call a blessed memory ?

The echo of a gentle and loving life. And tins cannot ho
when the life hath been rude, selfish, and wicked.
Is the echo of a gentle and a loving life confined to earth ?
No. It is reverV)erated in blessings h'om the angelic world
and from the divine throne.
And have these blessings on the memory any significance as
to the future ?
Yes. They are the harbingers of a bright and blessed
innnortality.
But what do you mean by a buoyant memory /

A n\emory that cannot be permanently sulimcrged.
What is the only security for a V)uoyant memory i

The same as for a blessed memory : —even union to the
divine. Without this we nnist sink hopelessly, but with
this a triumphant reappearance is certain. " When
Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall we also
appear with Him in glory !"
What then is the general lesson taught us by the story of
Ahaziah ?
To prefer Jerusalem to Samaria — the second Adani to the
first — and the consolations of Christianity to the pleasures
of the world.

i' ,i;il

}iM(

Vim

I ]

tmmmsgsmiBaa

IX. JOASH.

" Then they brought out the king's son, and put upon him
the crown, and giivc liini thi' testimony and niud'^ him king.
And .lehoiada and liis sons anointed him and said : God save
the king."— II. (hron. xxiii. 11. • "

^T was sad to see a cliaracter like that of
Athaliah, trained under evil influences, and
determined to abide by tlie wronji; at all haz-
ards. She was brought within the range of
happier influences, and but for her pride and preju-
(*i dices might have attained to the knowledge of tlie
ptrue God, but she scorned and hated when she
ougiit to have inquired and prayed. Nay, she sought
in lier seU'-will to disarrange the puiposes of Heaven,
and she was cast aside a wretched and ruined thing,
It is sad, I say, to contemi)late such a character and
sad history. -

Ihit it is almost sadder still to follow the story of
Joasli ; nxue h.appily trained than Athaliah, and
more favonrably situated for attaining to true know-
le(lg(! and true excellence tlian she. His end was
not better tlian hers. With greater privileges he must
incur yet deeper condemnation. No doubt she had access
to the fountain of divine knowledge as well as he, but her
nature was pre-occupied with error before she became a
queen in Jerusalem : when as his nature was, as it were
pre-occupied with good ere he had opportunity to come
in contact with evil. — And so nmch the more criminal
was lie in his infatuated and inexcusable choice of vanity
and idt)Iatry.

But if Joash was worse than Athaliah, the unfaithful
members of Christian families are worse still. The light
they enjoy or have enjoyed, is greater by far than that

JOASH.

183

enjoyed by Joash. The manifestation of divinity, and
of tlie way of safety in Clirist J^-sus, places all former re
vclations in s^liadow ; and tliey who disre^inrd those mani-
festations, and give themselves to worldliness and st-lf-
pleasing in spite of tlie-^i, incur a criminality beyond all
description great. " How shall sve escape if we neglect
so great a salvation 1" If it was unsafe to despise the
servant Moses, wliat shall be thought of those who reject
the Son of God himself ] We are ready to condemn
Athaliah, and to lift our hands in horror at the infatua-
tion of Joash, but we would do well to look to ourselves,
and see if we are not more monstrously unwise than even
they. That we may be aided, or stimulated, or warned
aright in this matter, we shall remind you of his pre-
servation in infancy, his prime minister and adviser and
his unworthy and disastrous end.

/. His Preservation in Infancy.

That was very remarkable as you must at once per
ceive. He was completely in the hands of his grand'
mother and her agents. And there were no tendernesses
nor scruples about her heart to y)lead for the helpless in-
fant. She was determined to make a full end of the house
of David, not only of those of them who stood innrediately
in her way co the throne, but of those, also, who might
arise to question her right to rule. There might be some-
thing like revenge in the way, as Avell as ambition. She
miglit think thus to cast defiance at the God of Israel, by
whose prophets her father's house had been doomed and
denounced. While Jehu slew her children at Samaria,
she would give blow for blow, as she might think, by
slaying all the sacred family at Jerusalem. Jehu had
spared none, and she would spare none. She would
maintain the contest so bitterly prosecuted by her motiier
Jezebel against Elijah, and against Elijah's God — even
the God of the Jewish people. " If (we can conceive her
saying, when the news reached her of the bloody tragedy
in which her mother, and her son, and all her kindred
perished) — if the house of Ahab has become extinct, — so

Vin

ill

184

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

shall the house of David. I can issue cruel orders as well
as the flustering Jehu, and it shall not he said that my
mother Jezebel died unrevenged." Under this firm deter-
mination she ordered tiie immediate destruction of every
male member of the royal family ; and there were plenty
of ready instrument.^ to execute the order. How then
could Joash esca])e 1 Who could be expected to have
courage to attempt his rescue ? Still less, who could
have power or resources to effect his deliverance in the
face of one so powerful, so ruthless, and so unscrupulous ?
We could not have anticipated for him any human inter-
vention in the circumstances. Yet such was found. His
aunt Jehoshabeth, and her husband Jehoiada, both dared
and succeeded in the attempt. They withdrew him from
the palace, ere the sword had reached him, and secreted
him and his nurse in the temple ; and they kept him
there, and nourished him, and watched over him for six
years without any one ever suspecting the fact of his pre-
sence in the sacred edifice. Had they hastened him away
in the midst of the confusion, and hid him in some dis-
tant hamlet or fortress, his safety would have seemed less
wonderful ; but they kept him in the immediate neigh-
bourhood of the palace of Athaliah. He was never be-
yond her reach for these six years. She could have slain
him at any moment during the progress of these years, if
only she had known of his existence. There were neither
scruples, nor distance, nor want of power to prevent,
Only the screen of the temple wall was between her and
her victim ; but that slender sceenwas found sufficient in
the providence of God to ])rotect the j^nuthful Joash until
the hour of retribution arrived, and then the sword of
destruction fell u))on the proud and defiant queen, and
not on the powerless boy. Nay more, then the defiant
queen was swept out of life, and the powerless boy estab-
lished on the throne of his father David.

This was remarkable — but it becomes still more inter-
esting when we remember how much hung on the life of
this child. He was now the only representative of the
house of David, and the hope of the world was wrapped

JOASH.

185

up in that house. Destroy that child's life, and (miracle
apart) the li^dit of prophecy expireii, and the hope of the
future is no more ; kill loash and the channel of " the
seed of woman " promised in Paradise is cut off, and all
the quickening influences to spring from the incarnation
will be looked for in vain. Only think of it, the forth-
coming and invaluable blessing, intended for the nations
checked and turned back on tiieir soui-ce, and the subse-
quent ages left to the unrestrained action of the cruel
god of the darkness of this world ! What a triumph for
Satan, if it could have been achieved ! And what a mis-
fortune for the world ! One wonders that the dark enemy
of goodness did not find some way of indicating to Atha-
liah, the important secret that a Prince of the house of
David was still untouched by her sword. No doubt he
tried it ; but his subtilty failed in the attempt. A
higher and a benignant power counteracted his machina-
tions, and shielded the precious life. God was not to be
foiled in his gracious purposes ! Nor was the world to be
left permanently in the grasp of the usurper. Even as
Joash supplanted Athaliah, so will the Illustrious one on
whose account Joash was preserved, supplant in due time
the power that prom])ted her, and used her for its dark
jiurposes. The promises of God must be made good, and
therefore Joash lived and triumphed. True, God could
still have made good His promises, even though the last of
the sons of David hadfallen, for He couid have raised this
same one, or some i.ther member of that house, to life
again ; but His wisdom and all-embracing providence are
more fully dlnstrated and honoured l)y His preserving
the links of His mighty and benignant purpose through
the most threatening dangers.

And not on this occasion only has God preserved His
cause in the earth when it was all but extinct. Think
of the Antediluvians, when Noah alone, of all the crowd-
i.ig myriads that then filled the earth, feared God, and
testified of His righteousness. How easy then, one
would have thought, for Satan to complete his triumphs
and forever arrest the progress of good in human history!

i ■

■, ' f

•

y-;

f
'isiU

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

I-

A dagger planted in Noah's breast would have finished
the strife between light and darkness on earth, and
banished heaven from the abodes of men. And there
were ])lenty f>f unsciiipulous agents of evil then avail-
able, when violence at'tually covered the earth. Hut
Noali was preserved spite of all, and in the midst of all.
He was as safe amiil the sweeping waves of violence,
as afterwards amid the sweeping waves of the
deluge. Amid the violence, the favour of God com-
passed him about as a shield : and amid the waves, he
was sheltered and borne aloft in safety by the buoyant
ark where God had shut him in I Thou<i;h Satan had
conquered all beside, he was foiled, and thrown back in
the case of Xoah. Satan could neither beguile Noah to
disloyalty, nor destroy his life. With inuumerable
agents at his bidding, he could not prevail against one
loyal servant of the Most High.

Nor was it otherwise with David himself, the progeni-
tor of Joash, and the chosen chaimel of mercy to man-
kind. He was encom])a.ssed with dangers. The power-
ful sought his life with persistency and determination.
King Saul himself attempted with his own javelin more
than once to end his career, and to make his reign and
his dynasty an impossiliility. But it was to no purpose.
David sui'vived all, David sujiplanted the house of his
would-be murderer in the throne of Israel, transmitted
his crown, and left a precious influence behind him.

And so with the New Testament Church : it has been
all but extinct, so far as ap])earances went, on more
occasions than one. Before the appearance of Luther
for example, darkness covered the earth, and gross dark-
ness the peojde. For a thousand years, the progress of
evil had been unchecked and the kingdoin of worldli-
ness seemed to be completely and universally estal)lished.
The cruel Church of h'ome, Athaliahdike, had destroyed
apparently all the seed royal, and there seemed to be
none to secrete or care for the smallest member of the
heavenly family. All was gloom : the hope of the world
seemed to be cut off, and the heavenly kingdom could no

1l^

JOASH.

187

<l
.1

■e

lon<2:er put forth blossom or bud. The cruel agents of
darkness ever ready at any point to destroy the faintest
appearance of the heavenly life. There was neither
hope nor ])rospect of a happy chans^e ! Yet from the
midst of this ^loom, and contiary to all probabilities, the
truth of God, Joashdike, emt-rged, and raised again the
standard of heaven upon the earth. The Popes, and
their agents, cried, like the usurping daughter of Jezebel
in Jerusalem " Treason ! treason I" But the cry brought
only confusion and overtlirow to the Papacy in many
countries. The cause of God is not to be permanently
put down. Tt survived the usurpation of Athaliah in
Jerusalem, and it will survive the usurpation of the
Mother of Hai'lots in the earth. And it is well for our-
selves that it is so. But for the grace of God, and His
shelteriuii love in relation to His Church and kiuii;dom
among men, we had been the slaves of superstition to-
day, and the besotted victims of a selfish and unscrupul-
ous priesthood.

And there is comfort here for the true believer as well
as joy for the Church. The humblest saint is not for-
gotten in the presence of God. If he is not now the
one channel of good to the world, as in the case of Joash,
he is still a part of that precious kingdom which abides
under the siiadow of the Almighty, and ministers to
the enlightenment of the world. His adversaries may
be mighty and determined. His great enemy may seek
like a roaring lion to devour him, and myriad agencies of
evil may be ready to lift a hostile hand against him ; and
himself may actually aid his enemies by his occasional
unbelief or inconsistency: still, the great divine High
Priest watches over such. He is mightier than Jehoiada:
He will find agents of mercy or guidance as the case
may require : and He will certainly secure the safety and
ultimate triumph of His humble and helpless ones.
They may be as infants in the presence of those who
seek their life, but they shall be protected and saved
notwithstanding. Nothing can separate them from the
love of God wiuch is in Christ Jesus. Not life, nor^

■in

f m

Ill i

188

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

I ■

« I

death, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present,
nor things to come. Their shielding High Priest is able
to save to the uttermost, because He ever liveth to make
intercession for them. And as for the power of their
enemies, He can effectually curb that. All power in
heaven and in earth is His. And he cannot fad nor be
discouraged ! Oh the comfort of this for the lf)wly, and
exposed, and confiding ones ! If their shielding Lord
and High Priest cannot be discouraged, no more ought
they. They should strengthen themselves in the grace
and might that are in Him, and that therefore envelope
them ! An eloquent preacher of our own day when
speaking of the preservation of Joash, thus apostrophises
the believing : —

" However deeply < '.isguised thou may'st wander, my
brother in the Lord, however scanty thou may'st seem
to thyself with resi)ect to spiritual gifts, let nothing pre-
vent thee (0 thou that feelest thy poverty, but hopest
in Jesus), let nothing prevent thee from perceiving in
Joash, thy image, — in his history, their own ! Continue
unknown to the world. Be even to thy brethren par-
tially disguised. Yet in the gloomy chrysalis state of thy
infirmity thou art a King's son, who hast found an
asylum, though it be in a hidden back room, instead of
before the altar, yet nevertheless in His Temple, and art
attended to by the hands of a great High Priest ! I
know not what may have been ordained concerning thee,
but the hour will at length arrive, though it may be the
last of thy earthly existence, when the gate of thy tear-
ful cell shall open, and thou shalt hear the voice of Him
whom thou dost not trust in vain, blissfully exclaiming,
' Come forth! ' and messengers, in dazzling robes of light
shall apv»roach to invest thee with the attire and crown of
that Knig David whose dominion is infinite. And the host
of tho.se who have overcome which no man can number,
shall shout a thousand times,' welcome !' It will then be
Satan's turn to hold down his head, and a hostile world's to
start and be silent with confusion, whilst thou ascendestto
the heights of unfading and celestial joy, and with loud and

JOASH.

189

lent,
able
lake

leir
in

be
and

.i-d

■ace

unrestrained accents praises to Him, of whom it is justly
■written, 'They looked unto Him, and weie lightened, and
their faces were not ashamed !' And as with thoe, so
with all thy fellow-believers — even with the whole Church
— the ' worm Jacob,' the tossed with tempest, and not
comforted." The youthful King Joash is a prediction
of what awaits her, crown and ro}'al robes lie ready for
her, though at pres.ent, a beggar's garment scarcely covers
her nakedness. Content thyself until the day of thy
investituie with the glory of faith beforehand. The time
is at hand when it shall b;' said to thee, " cry out and
shout, thou inhabitant of Zion, for great is the Holy one
of Israel in the midht of thee !" In that day sliall the
Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And he that
is feeble among them at that day shall be as David ; and
the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the
Lord before them." — Kiiwimachefs EUsha, 205-6.

See then your security, ye who emi)race the truth, and
nestle under the wing of the great High Priest, and belong
to the spiritual household of God. No weapon formed
against you then can piosper, and no malignity can per-
manently obscure your heavenly and holy fortunes. You
are made kings and priests unto God, and you shall not
only be preserved from those who would destroy you, and
usurp your patrimony, but you shall lie preserved for
manifestation as the sons of God, and for the full and un-
clouded enjoymentof your royal and heavenly inhtnitance.
Joash, alas ! was preserved and established in his king-
dom merely as a human link in the chain of Messiah's
progenitors, but you shall Ix' preserved as a vital jiart of
the precious mystical body of the living and exalted Re-
deemer. Joash lived to prove that, he was not in heart
of the house of David, as we shall see immediately, nor yet
in vital connexion with the great Prince, who was per-
manently to occupy David's throne, yet his preservation
in ihe midst of enemies, and his own successful enthrone-
ment in the face of overwhelming difficulties is not the
less an instructive illustration of the spiritual preservation
and ultimate enthronement of the children of God, spite

190

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

of {ill that their determined and disobedient adversaries
can do to the contrary.

But this leads me to notice concerning Joash — ■

11. His Prime Minister and Adviser.

So far the youthful Joash has been passive in the
hands of Jehoiiida and a watchful pro\idencu ; but he giew
to maturity, and became himself the artificer of his own
fortunes to a certain extent. As he grew into manhood,
he conld choose for himself, and determine the complexion
of his government.

And mark how favourable his position was for adopt-
ing a right course. He had for his prime-minister and
adviser, his jjresi^rver and tutor. Jthoiada abode by his
thnjne during a large part of his reign. Though nearly
one hundred years old when Joash was born, his life was
piolopged far into the life of Joash. His life was con-
timied into its second century, we might almostsay, for
the sake of the youthful Prince, whom he had so singu-
larly saved. Had Jehoiada died at the usual limit, the
training of Joash might have fallen to some time-serving
or idolatry-fawning official. His nature would thus have
been j)erveited fioni the bt^ginning, and he had not been
materially better as to opportunity for good, than his
innnediate predecessor. But Jehoiada wafei)reserved, old
though he was, and Joash had the benefit of his counsels
and experience until he had ample time to form good
habits hiuLself, and to become fixed in good principles.
Jehoiada had special claims on his gratitude, and the ad-
vice of Jehoiada could not be gracefully rejected. Joash
had grown out of a state of puj)ilage and dependence into
a state of enlightment and self-control under the vener-
able High Priest, and he was thus drawn imperceptibly
into the right course. Jehoiada ordered the repairs of
the temple, and Joash fell in with the advice. Nay, he
seems on one occasion to have outrun Jehoiada himself
in his zeal for the work. Jehoiada would undo what
Athaliah had so wickedly done in Jerusalem, and
Joash was willing that it should be so. Jehoiada ler'

JOASH.

191

bly
of
he

the way in rectitude and piety, and Joash under his
guidance did that which was riglit in the sight of tlie
Lord. Tlie supreme rights of Jehovah wcsre again ack-
nowledged in Jerusalem, and tiiey offei'ed burnt otlerings
in the house of the Lord continually.

Thus Joash was drawn to the right while his characti^r
w.as being tbrnied, and by the inihience of one whom he
could not becomingly oppose. And there was no counter-
acting influence from ungodly relatives. They were all
slain, all taken out of the way eie he was yet capable of
receiving any evil Ijias from them. The house uf Ahab
•was extinguished. His own innnediate relations, who
had been drawn into conformitv with that wicked house,
were also shun. There was nothing to prevent his ado^it-
ing the sentiments and jxjlicy of his guardian and prime
minister. There was everything to aid him, and nothing
to di-aw him aside. One could almost fancy that all his
kindred had been slain, not oidy for their idolatry and
wickedness, but also to give the family of David a new
start. E\en as Noah was preserved at the deluge, to
commence a hajjpier order of things, so Joash was pre-
served amid general massacre as to his kindred, to re-
connnence the dynasty of David on its original footing.
That dynasty had been thoro:^ghly corrupted and turned
aside, and it was needful that something extraordinary
should be done, if it was not to be entirely ruined ; and
you see how fitting the arrangements weie to bring })ack
the sacred family to its projx'r and l)enignant position.
All are destroyed but one infant. That infant is [)laced
undei' pious tuition, and the young king hath preserved
to him, almost against the ordinary course of things the
faithful HighPi-iest who had saved and educated him, to
be his prime minister and adviser in the kingdom. Evil
influences are removed ; good influences are furnished
early and continued late. Every thing is done that wis-
dom could dictate, or power secure, to enable the royal
family to reco\er itself How favour«^d was Joash ! And
"what obligations were laid on him to abide by the right
into which he had been so marvellously brought ! How

f i

Iji

192

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

differont his position from that of his father Abijah. That
Prince was two and twenty wlien lie began to reign, and
he did that wliich was evil in the sight of the Lord, for
he had his mother Athaliah as his counsellor to ilo wick-
edly. He walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for
they were his counsellors after the death of his father to
his destruction. But Joash was under holier influences.
He had been placed in the hands of the faithful, and ef-
fectually separated from all his corrupted and corrupting
connexions. He ought to have been faithful surely.
Even those whose circumstances are tar less favourable
are under obligation to seek the Lord ; how great then
the obligation of Joash ! He ought to have been consist-
ently devoted to God ! And he ought to have done that
whichis rightin the sight of the Lord, and heought to have
done so to the end-only gi'owing more and more devoted as
his years grew upon him ! Never any man had a better op-
portunity fordoing well, and for leaving a name of excel-
lence and honour behind him ! Not only was a pious
tutor provided for him in his youth, but also a faithful
prime minister for his ripe and royal years ! But it was
all to no purpose. No sooner was Joash left to the free-
dom of his own determinations than he undid all that
Jehoiada had done for him — aye, and all that God had
done for him. Listead of bringing again the days of
David into Jerusalem, he fell back into the wicked ways
of thi^- house of Ahab ! Listead of becoming illustrious
in connexion with his distinguished prime minister, he
fell into permanent disgrace. The name of Jehoiada,
now for ever illustrious in the annals of Israel, instead of
increasing the lustre of Joash's reign, only reminds us of
the singular and uncommon turpitude of tlie later years
of that reign. But before noticing the unwortliy end of
this sovereign, we would remind you of the instructive
analogy which it suggests.

We are favour d, even as Joash was, and in a far more
glorious manner. I mean as to advice and guidance. We
are not kings among men as he was, but we equally need
counsel and advice, obscure though we are. We have

JOASH.

i!.i;}

•oacli a royal history to i)ro,seciit(\ and iiaiiioi tal interests
interweave tiiemselves witli our lowly ami passing duties.
l]y nature, too, we ai-e allied to tlie ri>rru[it, even as Joash
was, and if left to the counsel and _u;nidance of our natuial
relations we will hcconu! involveil with the evil and dis-
obedient, and he made particii)ators in tht? judgment
Avhich must sooner or later ovt-rwhelm them. We need
hel[) and effective sympathy. We need to he tnni froiu
our erring connections, and to Ix; brought under happier
ausj»ices. And what has the great High Tricst of New
Testament times done in the circumstances ( lie hath
not slain our earthly connexions, jind thus freed us from
evil counsel and influence, hut He hath Himself died for
sin, that we might die to it. He hath sought to hind us
to Himself by a contrt)lliug bond, and thus to separate
us from our misleading associations, lie hath devoted
Himself to our recovery and well being. He is ready to
hecome the attendant an<l helper of every one willing to
listen to Him, an<l willing to be guided l)y His advice.

And need I remind you of his competency. He is the
Wonderful Counsellor, the Condescending Friend, the In-
fiilliblc Guide. Human counsellors, however wis(>, may
mistake or misunderstand circumstances, but there is no
mistake -with the New Testament High Priest. Oidy
consult Him, and be guided by Him, and }ou will cer-
tainly find safety and peace. True, He hath withdrawn
Himself from luiman cognition, but He hath not theiv-
fore lost sight of those who look to Him for counsel. On
the contrary, He hath gone into the inner sliriuo of tho
temple in the interests of such ; and He can hear their
cry even there, and Ho can send thence light and response
as His waiting ones require. " Ask what ye Avill," said
He ere he left for heaven, " and it shall 1)0 done unto
you," ask in my name, and ye shall not ask in vain ! Nay
more, though at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
He is with his disciples, even to the end of the world,
and He is the guide and counsellor of each of them as
fully and satisfactorily as though there were only one in
existence. Let it not be thought that Joash had the ad-

I . •. '

DYNASTY OF DAVID.

v;iiita,f;i' ill tliis, tliat lie liad Jrlioiada rsoldy to liinisclf as
coiimmIIoI' and guide, while ihr di.scijdes of tlie New Tes-
taineiiL \\\'j,\\ Vr'u'Ht ]ia\e each oidy ;i IVactiotial share in
tlio lej^ards of their ('oiiiisejlor. O no! the peifeetioiis
of tliis New 'restaineiil Ili^h Priest ai'esiich that He can
give, as it wefe, uiidivi<h'd attention uiid consiih'iation to
each. And He is far more fully acquainted with the nt;-
ct'ssities and intcrest.s of His dependent ones than any
merely human counsellor can ever possihly he. Then,
while e\"er near in reality, if not aj»i)arently, ami ever
ready to a<lvise and direct, as sjjecial cases may arise. Ho
hath also left ])ernianent directions for the guidaiic(^ of
his wards. In the sermon on the mount particularly, as
■well as in tlu; Holy Scriptures in general, H(! hath shown
us the piinci[)les l)y which W(! ought to he guided, and
pointed out the matters of supreme coucernnient and
}»uisuit. He hath shown us that humility and not pride
is the hasis of excellence ; th.at the law of the Lord ex-
tends to tiie thoughts of the heart as well as to the actions
of the life ; that all religious and other duties should t)0
attemled to, as in the presence of CJod, and not for human
ap[)iol)ation ; and that candour and inagnaiiiniity ought
to characterise us socially. And he urges all to enter the
strait gat(^ ; to seek first the kingdom of Goil and His
)-ighteousness, and to listen to Himself as the only com-
petent and disintere.sced Teacher ! Thus there can be no
duhiety on the niinds o ' His wards as to the course they
ought to pursue, vv> n iidiile He is shrouded in the inner
and heavenly sanctuary ; and there need be no undue
anxiety concerning His stay l.)ehind the veil ; for He hath
promised to come forth in due time to bless his waiting,
trusting, and obedient ones, and to conduct them into the
pi'esence of the Father !

Is it nijt a privilege to have such a counsellor and ad-
viser, and guide 1 \Ve think Joash favoured in Jehoiada,
and so he was ; but are we not yet more highly favoured
in the New Testament Hiirh Priest ] Joash had but to
avail himself of Jehoiadah's wisdom and piety to secure
good I Joash had but to abide by the policy of Jehoiada

I '1

JOAsir.

105

to U-avt a natno (tf honour licliiiid liiin, as well as to Mess
his ;,'('ii' latioii. In hki; manner, wr ha\'»' l)iit to avail
ourselves of thn wisdom and symi)athy of oiii- Ili^h
Priest to secure immortal joy. Wo liave l)ut to abide l)y
the policy and i)uri)oses of .lesus, to secure unendinj^
honour, and to beiietit our contemporaiies as well. We
are the wai'ds of a divine I^'.^h I'riest, ami may enjoy
infalUhle counsel in any exiL^ence of oiii' important his
tory ! Incalculahle conse(iuenees lian,!,' on our decisions.
It is important that \vv shouhl have competent and un-
sinister advice. Jesus is prepared to furnisli it, and to
lead us .safely throuiL,di tiiis dark ttirritory of sin and mor-
tality, to a fair and unch)uded region, where disarrange-
ment hath no longer any place I

Hhall we turn from sucli a counsellor ? Shall we listen
to those who would se(luce us into courses other tlum
these which He approves] There are many such i)ressing
around us, and plausil)le oftentimes are their representa-
tion.s. Shall we yield to tiiem ? In other words, shall
wc repeat tlie folly of doash ? Shall we withdi'aw our
attention from the pole star of our safety ? Shall we
view the grace of God in vain ? That grace hatli aj)-
peared unto all men, "Teaching us to deny ungodliness
and to live sol)erly and and righteously m this pi-esent
world ; looking for the blessed hoi)e and the glorious
api)earing of th'' great Clod, and our Sa\iour, Jesus
Chri.st :" — Shall we refuse that grace ? Shall we i)Ut
away from us eternal lifi; ? Then do not let us blame
Joash 1 Many are disposed to feel indignant at Joash for
his stupidity in i'orsaking the ways of Jehoiada for the
empty and degrading rites of idolatry, but tliey who turn
from the New Te.stament High Priest at the call (d"
worldly interests or jdeasures, have no right to cherish
such imlignation, vnless if beat or (iijainst themxdvc^^. They
renounce a veritable, a divine, an all competent adviser,
in favour of the delusive and deirrading I They re-estab-
lisli the connexion with the condemned world, and forego
for a mess of pottage an immortal inheritance I They
give their aftcctions to the things which cannot satisfy,

I. •

• ,1

19G

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

and thorel)y lose all right of participation Avith the chil-
dred of God in the things whicli cannot disappoint. They
lose, O the incalculable loss ! they lose their inheritance
in tluit divine love which will prove to those who enjoy
it ra[)ture, and sunshine, and safety, to eternal ages ! Are
you prepared, any of you to make such a mistake 1 O,
no, you exclaim ! we Avould not be the imitators of Joash!
Then, you must al)ide by the divine High Priest, and
refuse the seductions of those who would draw you from
the Rock, and induce you to build upon unstable sand in
preference ! But to return to the story of Joash, we
notice — •

III. His umcorthy and disastrous end.

Of his unwoHhiness, we have a note in the 2-l:th chapter,
from the 17th to the 22nd verses: — "Now after the
death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made
obeisance to the king ! Then the king barkened unto
them, and they left tlie house of the Lord God of tlieir
fathers, and served groves and idols : and Avrath came
upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass. Yet
he sent prophets to them to luring them again unto the
Lord ; and they testified against them : but they would
not give ear. And the spirit of God came upon Zacha-
riah, the son of Jehoiada, the priest which stood above
the pco])le, and said unto them, " Thus saith God, Why
transgress ye th.e commandments of the Lord, that j'e
cannot prosper I Because ye have forsaken the Lord, he
hath also forsaken yon." And they conspired against him,
and stontid him with stones at the commandment of the
king in the court of the house of the Lord. Thus Joash

the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada
his father bad done to him, but slew his son. And
wdien ho died, he said, " The Lord look upon it, and re-
quire it,"

And heie you Avill notice three faults — the first bad In
any case, but specially bad in the case of Joash — the
second w^orse than the first — and the third a complicated
and daring wickedness beyond all description bad.

JO ASH.

197

1st. II>., in company Avitli ]:is obsr-quious and nnwise
princes, " left the hoitsi' of the Lord God of /;;> fathers, and
served groves and idols." Xow, to say notliini^ of the
obligations resting on liini as a Jew, and nothing of th(!
obligations arising iVoni his ])ositi<»n as a Prince of the
honse of David, was this a meet I'eturn for his jireserva-
tion in his infancy from the votaries of groves and i(h)ls ?
"Was it for thus tiiat he had been spared when all his
kindi'ed were slain ? They perishf.'d because of groves
and idols, while he liad been drawn into a loftier and
safer si-rvice ; where then was his grititude for Ix-ing thus
fiivoured ] And even ai)art from (lod. whose providences
had so wonderfully and tenderly sheltered and favoured
him, how could he rememb-T Jehoiada, his counsellor
and adviser, and yet yield lumself to the com]xinionship
of id(dators 1 where the pleasant remembrances of
his youth, and where the thoughts of his venerable
instructor and guide 1 Ingratitude, it is said, is the
blackest of delinquencies, and Joash was ungrateful, —
with a double ingratitude, lie was ungrateful to God,
and he was ungrateful to Jehoiada, the instrument of God
in his preservation and privih\ges ! One excuse there
might have been for his departure from the policy of
Jehoiada, if that had been ])ossi1)le. If he had discovered
that Jeho'i'.u.- liad been misleading him, and that truth
and i.iui'^ m-. vo to be found Avith the devotees of the
idolatrous groves, then he miglit have been excused for
i:h iiange — but no such discovery was ])ossible. Every
ihin. 5 jj'ound him, on the eontrar3% testified for (iod, and
agai.ist id.ols : — the Temple iii . ' di lie had been i)re-
serviid — the books of Moses in which he had been in-
structed — the history of his f'U'efathers, both of the
house of iJiivid. and of th(» house of Ahab which he must
have known, the ciiaractci of t'le idol worship of which
he could not be igncM'ant, au'l the expectations of the
devout in Isr.ijl, repi evented by Jehoiada, with whom ho
had been so long- familiar, ail, all testifieil with trumi)et
tongue, that in 'orsakir-.g i:he Lord CJod of his fathers for
groves and id(.ris--d e was ' jrsaking the rightful and the

(^*

198

TUE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

true, and attaching liimself to the empty and degrading !
Still he persisted, and tlien

2ndly. He desinscd reproof. " God sent prophets to
him (and to his new advisers) to bring them again unto
the Lord; and they testified against them, but they would
not uive ear." This was an aurjirravation of the first fault.

•^oo'

Nay, it Avas a second and great(,'r fault. It is bad enough
to forsake the right, but it is clearly worse to resist and
disregard remonstrances and entreaties intended to
bring the wandering back to the right. A man may
■wander from inattention, or from the power of some pve-
sent inducement, and yet be wiUing, when his mi. ^. ■;._. is
pointed out to him, to retrace his stei)S. In that case ho
is blame-worthy, but not contumacious. It is otherwise
when a man has not only gone wrong, but also refuses
to be set right. He thus resists the authority which
befon; he had only overlooked or forgotten, and declares
his determination to abide by the error which he hath
•committed ! And thus Joash treated the Lord God of
his fathers, when that august One sent prophets to warn
liim of his error, and to recall him to the ways of
obedience and righteousness. He treated God's agents
with scorn, and pursued his mistaken and ungrateful way
spite of all their remonstrances ! Nor die', his folly stop
liere ; but

3rdly. He commanded to destroy hy stonhuj the projyJiet of
ihe Lord, Zcdiarinh, vJio iras also the son of Jehoiada, and
that in the house of the Lord. What a complication of in-
gratitude and enormous daring in this one command !
Mark, Zechariah Avas a prophet of the Lord, sent to
remonstrate with the peo[)le against tlieir unfaithfulness.
He was the representative of heaven, and entitled tt/ the
res[)ectfui regards of the king as such. Instead of this,
Joash commanded them to slay him — commanded them
to declare war to the death against the Spirit of God
that s[)ake by him, Joash was worse than ids aricestor,
Asa, by many degrees. That prince was angry with
Hanani, you will remember, and comman'^.cd to casi hini
into prison, but Joash commanded to '.Lone Zechariah

H m^-

J CASH.

199

with stones. How daring thus to rush airainst the thick
bosses of the Almighty's buckler ! Then, this ])rophet
of the Lord was also the son of Jehoiada : and yet
Joash commanded his destruction. How could Ik; i One
would have thni2;ht that this alone would have been
enough to interest Joash in his protection. If Jehoiada
had risked the rage of Athaliah, and laboured an<l
watched for years for the safety of Joash, surely Joash
should have cared for the safety of the sou of Jehoiada !
Even though Zechariah had bei'ii walking perversely,
Joash ought to have done what he could for his preserva-
tion — far more so when he was walking ])atrioticallv and
devoutly ! How awful the combined im[)i('.ty ami iu-
gratitude that could give such a commandment, and
against such a person ! David would not give consent
to the destruction of Saul, though Saul was seekiuir his
life, because Said was the anointed of the Lord ; but
Joash commanded the destruction of Zechariah, when
Zechariah was only seeking the reformation of Israel,
and though that same Zechariah was at once, the prophet
of the Lord, and the son of his benefactor ! And the
very place where the stoning took place is a further
aggravation of this wicked command. It was in the
C(nirt of the house of the Lord. In the court of that
very house where Joash himself had experienced so
much care and tenderness from J'hoiada, and the
tliou<i;ht of which ouirht to have reminded him of his
venerable friend and adviser ! Unworthy Joash ! No
words can declare the height or the turpitudt; of thy
ingratitude and ungodly daring. Preeminent in })rivdege,
thou art not less })reeminent in folly. Specitil were tlie
solicitudes that circled around thy cradle and faithful
the hearts that sought to mould thee to piety I Hut
dark and unworthy were thy returns ! Thou didst
receive the grace both of heaven and of earth in vain !

And now, it were not to be womlered at, if such a
prince should find misfortune and sorrow ! And what
■was the fact ? We have it brlelly recorded in three
verses of the twenty-fourth chapter. " And it came to

i'4 i

1 II

!|U

Til ^^S^S^gp****

n. '

'200

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

pass at tlie end of tlio year, that the hosts of Syria came
up against liim : and they came to Judah and Jerusah;m,
and destroyed all the ])rinces of the people from among
the people, and sent all the spoil of them unto the King
of Damascus. For the army of the Syrians came with a
small company of men, and the Lord delivered a very
great host into their hands, because they had forsaken
tlie I>ord God of tlicir fathers. So they executed judg
ment |^^^inst Joash. And when they were departed
from 'r tliey left him in gre^.t diseases), his own

servants ■■ i ;pired against him for die blood of the sons
of Jehoiada, ihe priest, and slew him in his bed, and he
died : and they buried him in the city of David, but
they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings."

Can you conceive anything more disastrous or more
lamentable ] He uas dlsairpointed in his army ! He
trusted in its numbers and in its equipments. When the
Syrians came against him he felt no need of divine aid,
and sought none. He thought himself competent to deal
with any power likely to assail him, and yet, when the
hour of trial came, his mighty host was scattered before
a comparatively small company of Syrians. He had in
effect despised God, and God in his righteous Providence
delivered him into the hands of his enemies ; and his
princes were slain, and all the spoil of these unwise
counsellors, who had assured him of safety and conquest
by their prowess, was sent to the king of Damascus.
Then, lie icas d/'acdscdin his hodj/, and that with no common
or manageable diseases. When his enemies departed
from him, they left him in great diseases. Kor did his
diseases awaken sym})athy on the part of his servants.
His hel})lessncss under them rather furnished opportunity
which tliey Avere not slow to use : for they conspired
against him, and slew him on his bed. He died in the
flower of his jcara I Ho died by assassination too, for
the blood of the sons of Jehoiada, his own protector and
counsellor for good. His ingratitude returned upon his
own head in the conduct of Zabad and Jehozabad. His
servants, who ought to have sheltered and served him,

joAsir.

201

arose and .slew liim I And lie was buried without
lionour. He had nt) place in the 8c])ulclires of the kin':^;;.
How sad a termination for a royal life, a royal life so sin-
gularly ])rcserved, and so luLihlv favoured I

And it is os|iefially adnionitoiy to those who enjoy a
religious education in youth, and have religious counsel
and example in mature life. Let such hewaie how they
depart from the truth I Let them beware of all itisidious
ap})roaches on the ])art of the worldly and ungoilly who
would di-aw them from the ways of heaven ! Let them
al)ide by the gi'cat New Testament High Priest ! And
let them labour to grow in grace, and in the knowledge
of their Lord, and divine Counsellor and Guide, and thus
render defection less and less possible I And let them
assure themselves, that the calamities of apostasy, of in-
gratitude, and of impiety, are not less alai'ming or less
awful now than they were in the days of Joash I

QUESTIONS ON JOASH.

What special danj^er \v;is lliis Priuco exposed to in his in-
fancy /
Of being massacred with liia brethren and relationa by hiiS
grandmother Atiialiali.
Why should liis granduKjther seek his dcstrnctiuu ?

In revenge fn- the death of her friend.s at Samaria by Jehu.
She wuuhl not be outd(jne in cruelty by that warrior.
As all her father's house had perished, she determined
that a like complete destruction should f.dl on the house
of David.
How was./oash saved when all his kindred perished i

By the intervention of liis aunt Jeho.shabeth and her hus-
band, Jehoiada, the Hii;h Priest.
WHiat interests hung upoji his life /

The continuation of David s throne, and the enlightiunnent
of the world involved in the preservation of thrt throne.
Has the piu'i)ose of God hung on a single thread, (r- it were,
on other occasions, as well as on this i

202

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

I I'

■ i

Yes, Avlien tlie life of Noah was the only link that bound
heaven Avith earth ; and wlien the life of David seemed
certainly in the hands of Saul ; and also immediately be-
fore the Reformation, when darkness seemed to have
gained universal conquest.
What is the thought Avhich the pi'eservation of Joash suggests
to the feeble and the helpless I
That God can always help or save, as tlie interests of His
people may require, no matter for their own weakness.
Where are the faithful secreted in the day of their enemies'
power ?
In the unseen temple of divine love, and under the watch-
f ' care of the divine High Priest.
What IS the assurance that cheers such ?

That they will be preserved, and preserved to a happy
juanif ('station and enthronement. " They are kept by
ii,e power of God through faith unto salvation."
Who had Joash for prime minister and adviser, after he be-
came king ?
Jehoiada, the pious High Priest, who had sheltered and
educated him. hi this you see his happy fortune, as
compared with those of his father Ahaziah, whose coun-
sellors were idolatrous and evil.
Had this favoured prince no id(jlatrous kindred to counteract
the influence of Jehoiada on his mind ?
No, they had been all slain, and he was free to follow the
counsel that was good.
Can you see anything favourable to Joash in the entire des-
truction of his kindred ?
Yes ; it gave him an opportunity of commencing afresh on
a right foundation, and of recovering the David type of
character ap[)ropriate to his dynasty.
Did he avail himself of this opportunity ?

Alas, no ! so soon as Jehoiada was removed, he returned
to the wicked and idolati'ous ways of the house of Ahab.
Can we. in our humble circles have a High Priest and adviser,
amid the dillicidties of this our eartlily life /
Certainly, we can have the Divine High Priest, who hath
passed into the heavens, and who in efl'ect invites each
of us thus : "Follow me."
Is this High Priest more competent and more exalted than
Jehoiada I
Inflnitely so. He is the " Wunderful Counsellor, and the
mighty God."
And where may we find His advice and directions ?

JOASJi.

!>03

In His " Testament," Tlie principles of safety and peace
are tliere fully set fcn-tli.
What may be said of those who disre^'ard this advice I

They are unspeakably foolisli.
Have they wlio do so any right to blame Joash /

No, indeed. Themselves are worse tlian he; i. «., meas-
uring tlie criminality by the dignity and worth of the
counsellor rejected. Joash turned fi'onx the human and
excellent. They who disregard Inunannel turn fvom the
divine and excellent ; they put away from them eter..al
life.
Repeat in few words the leading faults of Joash, from the
time of the death of Jehoiada, unto iiis own death.
He forsook the Lord, and served groves.
He despised reproof.
He commanded to stone Zechariah.
Why should the stoning of Zechariah be especially men-
tioned /
Because it shows at once his daring imj)iety, and his enor-
mous ingratitude. Zechariah Avas a prophet of the Lord,
which ought to have sheltered him, and he was a son of
Jehoiada, which ought, even apart from his sacred office,
to have secured his safety in the presence of Joash.
Was it anything like a meet return t(j Jehoiada for the tender
care exercised by him over his infancy to c(nnmand
the stoning of the son of his preserver and benefactor i
The very contrary. It seems one of the most outrageous
acts that history records.
And what punishments overtook this ungrateful and infa-
tuated king /
His army disai>i)ointed him ; his body was wasted by dis-
ease, and his servants, instead of .sympathizing witli him
in his trorble, conspired against hiui and slew him ; his
army was his trust and it failed him ; his body (and the
interests connected with it) were his supreme solicitude,
it became the instrument of his misery ; his servants,
who were meant to minister to his convenieuce, became
the avengers of the murdered son of his benefactcr.
But w^as he not honoiu'ed in his burial /

No ; he had no place in the sepulchre of the kings.
Is it not sad to see a life commenced under such favourable
auspices terminate so disastrously i
More sad than any one can tell, iiis privileges, which
ought to have led him to glory, only increased the gloom
of his latter end.

y-^".

^ < ill

i'^m

i':\

■i}*:

/.'

204

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

Is tliore not something admonitory in this history for tlioae
■who have enjoyed religious culture and religious advice
when young I
Certainly ; such ought to remember that their privileges
for improvement will not only render them no service in
the day of calamity, but will actually aggravate their
condemnation. It is the imfaithful and privileged that
niust l(j(jk for defeat, darkness and woe.
What then ought to be the solicitude of the Bible-taught
3'oung /
To keej) by the counsels, and to walk in the influences of the
great ai'd saving High Priest therein revealed, seeing
that the calamities oi apostasy are not less distressing
now tlian they were in the days of Joash.

hose
Ivice

leges

ice in

their

that

,ught

f the
tseing
ssinji

X. AMAZIAH.

AMAZIAII was twenty and five years old when he hep:an to

•I' reign, and he rei^'tied twenty and nine years in .Terusaleni.

And his mother's name was jehoachlan of Jerusalem. And

he did that which was ri-^lit in the siyht of the Lord, Imt not

with a perfect lieart. -II Chron., i, 'J.

E liavc soon much to grieve over in the an-

^•estijr.s of this Prince, — in Soh:)inoii, Relio-

boani, Abijali, Asa, and even Jehoshaphat, and

especially in tlu- history of Jehorani, Aha-

ziah, and Joash. And things are not better with

Amaziah, the son of Joash. lie "was in connexion

^ with right, and yet he chose wrong. He listent'd

to Jehoiada in his youth, and yet never discovered

the secret of excellence. He began apparently

well, and yet ended in dishonour. We should

be roused to watchfulness when we see such serious

mistakes on the jtart of those Avho have gone

before us. Things Avritten aforetime were so for

T our warning, we are compassed with temptation

^ as otlujrs, and liable to fall even as others. We

* would do well to takf, heed lest we too fall after

the same example. In turning your attention on Amaziah

we notice : —

I. The character of his rhjld doing.

It was right in him to punish i murderers of his
father. It was right in him also to spare their children,

according to the direction of Moses.

And it was right in

A\'arning him against asso-

him to listen to the prophet

ciating his army with the idolatrous and mercenary sol
diers of Ephraim (verses 3-10). Now this was all right
enough, but it would seem that he was not animated with

200

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

!i i^

jiU! 1

a riglit niotivo, or actuatod by a rif^lit fipirit, tliongli ho
(lid the thiii^L^s that were suljstaiitially rl^^ht. We are not
informed particuhu'ly in these matters, l)iit we can con-
ceive that he sh.'W the munh-rers of liis father, not from
a sense of justice, noi* Ix'canse (Jod had ])rohihited the
takiiiLi; away of human life, l)ut in a s|)irit of revenge j
or, it may be, because to ovei'look their crime, was to
endanger his own life at the hands of others. He
might thiidv it his interest to render regicide a crime from
which all W(»uld recoil. If it were thus with him, he had
manifestly more regard for himself than for God's law ;
and such a state of the affections vitiates action, however
right the action may be in itself. ^\'e nuist not only do
that which is right, but we must do it out of regard to
Ood's authority. Jiut this, it would seem, was not the
way with Amaziah ; " he did that which was right in the
sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart,"

Then, he did right in sparing the children of those
v.'ho had slain his father. God had so commanded by
Moses ; but we are led to suppose that he did it from
other motives than those of piety. It might be policy,
or it might be strong influences brought to bear on him
on behalf of the young people, or children, by powerful
friends, who might plead the merciful law of Aloses in
the case, — or it might bo from some local or temporary
reason of which we are not informed. Any way, it was
not from a full and lo\ing regard to God's authority, for
it was not with a perfect heart.

And then, as to his dismissing the Ephraimites at the
bidding of the prophet, he feared the threat of defeat,
rather than cared for the honour of (j!od. Had he had an
intelligent appreciation of the state of matters between
God and the ten tribes, he would never have hired these
men at all. And when he sent them away, it was not
from love to God, but from love of self. lie had some
idea that the words of the prophet might prove true, and
he would rather avoid defeat. He obeyed therefore, but
not with a perfect heart.

Now, this matter of a perfect heart is something we

i»tHBW mm--

AMAZIAIl.

207

ou^'lit to study and attond to. \Vo -would define a ])or'
feci licait to he — a heart tVan^i;lit with tht; h)\(> (if (lod —
a lieart that locognizcs the righteousness of (lod's au-
thority—a heart that consents to God's law; that it i.s
goo(l, and that yields loving ohedieiiee thereto. There
may he nuieh inipeit'eetion in connexion with such a heai't ;
but then the foundation of its action is light. The man
who has it will giieve for his mistakes or inconsistencies,
and strive agninst them, and will still honour (Jod even
in cruinexion with his very faults. His repentance recog-
nizes the divine claims and the divine excellences. N'ery
different it is with the man whose heart is not perfect
before God — that is, whose heart is not fraught with
divine love, lie may do that which is right externally,
and society may he heiu'lited by his action, but God is
not honouicil. His works are, in the sight of God dead
wcrh, and he needs to l)c purgful h\m\ such dea<l works.
Many inferior motives may induce him to do that which
is substantially right, but the grand and vital motive is
wanting. Love and heavenly loyalty alone can stamp
value and vitality ujjon action.

And then mark, Mhen the heart is perfect, the liistory
will become so also ; or rather, thtire will be an ever ad-
vancing approximation to ])t'rfectit)n. Imperfection will
lessen and d.sappear from tlu' man. His |)redominating
principle, (ever love to God,) will burst torth and prevail.
He will go from strength to strength in the pursuit of
good, and hii will contend mightily against evil. It was
so with the apostle Paul. H(! had, y<ju ; 'meinher, a law
in his membei's wari'ing against the h.-' 'f his mind —
that is, he had hahits and incitements to evil within him
warring against a perfect heart — warring against a lieart
that loved God, and consented to the law of (iod that it
was good — and you know his history : — He kept under
his body lest he should Ijecome a cast-away. He curbed
and sought to weaken the law in his members. He la-
boured to conform himself to the; will of God — whose; will
he approved and loved. He lalxnired to put off the old
man with his deeds, and to put on the new man, which,

liii;

' u

•\ ;'

208

TIIK DVNASTV OK DAVID.

■HH^i

aftor God, is renewed in knowledge and in true holiness:
and hr pressed to the inai'k lor the i)rize of the hi,i,'li eall-
ing of (Jod in Christ Jesns, He yearned after |^ t

confoniiity to God. lie hungered and thir-^ted alter
righte()usness, and ho rested nut in the conlli't until he
could say, — " 1 am now ready to be offered, and the time
of my dei)arture is at hand. I have fought a good light.
I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for
me a erown of righteousness, which the fiord, tlie right-
eous Judge, shall give nie at that day.''

Thus with Taul, and not with Paul alone. It is ever
thus when the heart is perfect ; that is, Avhen the love of
(}od and of His law finds place therein. That love seeks
to fill the whoh; l)eiug. ±t seeks to master eveiy contrary
and every unworthy rentiment. It seeks to rule, and
control, and reduce the whole man to a heavenly u 'ty.
Aiul it must conquer, for it ."s God in the heart ! 'y

(lifi'erent it is Avith the; man whoso heart is notp_ >o.
The contest with evil, in his case, is a very easy-going
contest, and it ends certaiidy, if divine grace prevent not,
in the victory of evil. AVhih; the perfect heart, /, c, the
loving heart expels evil, the heart that is not i)erfect,that
is not animated by love, retains evil, and allows it to
grow to the expulsion of good. The right doing which
springs from inferior motives is readily put aside as occa-
sion arises, and the law of self or self-pleasing becomes
more and more potent. The external good has small
power against the perverted heart, and the man yields
himself to the pressure, or to the fascinations of congenial
evil, and he becomes all the while ever loss and less dis-
posed to make sacrifices in the interest of that which is
right. This, alas ! as we shall see, was the case with
Amaziah. His right doing was speedily put aside in
favour of Avrong doing. The right which his heart had
never loved readily yielded place to the wrong, which his
heart really endjraced, even while externally doing that
which was right.

You must often have known such characters in society.
You must often have met with people who do that which

AMAZIAH.

20U

is sulistantially riglit, but not from ii li^-bt motivo, tliat
is, not with ii pi-rl'i'd heart : ami y(»n niii^t know that
manysncli arc sd ic.^traiiicd hy extciiial and i»rnviilt'Mtial
circiinistan(H's, that tlu'y continue on throUL;h lile incMhi'-
ately useful and rcspcctal)h' nieniljcrs of society, .Still,
they are not in connexion, or coininunioii, witli the un-
seen, and are really dishonoring (Jixl liy acting' e\'er as
if lie had no existence, or as if lie had no moral sympa-
thies or preferences, or no ))o\ver to vindicate His own
laws. It is for the interest of society tha' men shoidd he
so restrain«Ml, hut the tiino will come when their trni;
character will he made ap[)arent. jMeantime, we see many
cases, besides thac of /Vmaziah where the external re-
straints are broken through, and the heart tiiat is not
jx^rfect, asserts its supreme .tttachmeiit to evil, and makes
manifest its enthralment thereby. Yon see it weekly in
the puhlie ])iints, which furnish notices of great crimi-
nals — murderers — counterfeiters — gand)lers, and men-
stealers. These for a time, in their early y<'ars, might do
that which was right, but not with a perfect heart — not
fnmi love to God, or apprehension of His authority — not
from any ai)probation of the right, or the ti'ui', oi- the divine
- — but only trom secondary or sulx rdinate moli\'es. And
what was the consequence 1 Why tem})tations arose and
they yielded. Their I'egard for right had no true hasis,
and they easily put it aside for the ])romisiiig wrong.
They had no fear of God l)efoi'e their eyes, and no idea of
the lofty and sti'ingent claimsof the moral law ; and their
affections, clinging to evil, and swee[)ing the uncongenial
and oljstiuctive right out of view, hastened them fuither
and fartluu' on in the way of transgression, until they
made shipwreck of all character and of all ho[)e!

We would do well then to be jealous over the state of
our heart. It is so far good if we do that which is right
externally, but we should not be content with this. We
should seek after a perfect heart. We should pi'ay that
God would create within us a clean heart, and rcmew in
us a right spirit. If we remain unqnickt3ned of God, our
external goodness Avill speedily passaway under the potent

■r

210

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

i!!l

influences of evil. If, for example, we wait upon God in
His ordinances Avith a divided heart, we do that which is
right externally, but there is no security for the continu-
ance of the habit. Other more congenial occupations will
present themselves, and we may gradually slacken off
from the sanctuary, or some personal defect in the office-
bearers, or members, may furnish excuse for non-attend-
ance, and we shall gradually sink away from the holy, and
become, in the same proportion, absorbed in or conformed
to the unthinking and ungodly mass who care for none of
these things. We may still retain so much of our church-
going im})ressions, as to keep us externally decent, but
the tire of piety is being^lessened or extinguished, and
the world is taking more and more decidedly the place of
God within us ! It will not be thus, however, if we truly
love God. If we wait on God with a perfect heart, we
will do so persistently. ^Ye will not be tempted or driven
from the sanctuary. We will rathei- become more anJ
more attached to it. We will press forward instead of
going backward. We will ever become more earnest in
our attendance, and more anxious to dwell in the house
of the Lord, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to
inrpiire in his holy temple ! Seek that it may be thus with
you, and be warned of the danger of a merely external
obedience, like that of Amaziali. Be reminded of the
alternative in every man, in relation to the divine, and
look to yourselves. Either there is a heart of lore to contend
irith the sedaetions to evil, or there is a heart of alienation to
resist the inducements to good : and the heart in each case
conquers : the heart of love resists and scatters in the
long run the temptation to evd ; Avhile the heart of alie-
nation resists and sets aside the inducements to good.
As is the heart, such will be the history. The heart of
love will cut itself fi'ee of all evil, and become fully con-
formed to God ; Avhile the heart of alienation will cut it-
self free of all that would draw it to heaven, and rush
desperately on to the blackness of darkness forever. O,
be persuaded and seek that God would take possession
of your heart, by the faith of His Son, and by the pres-

■1:.

AM-A^IAH.

211

eiice of His condescending spirit, that you mny not be
left to work out your own ruin and dislioucnir. You
would not wish surely to follow in the same footsteps as
Aniaziah.

And this leads me to notice : —

//. TJie progress of Ids hislori/.

That is not very fully or distinctly marked, as the re-
cord is brief, l)ut it is sufficiently so to indicate his rapid
progress in evil, and the sad and decided lengths to
which he Avent in the miserable path. One of his first
thoughts, after he was established in the kingdom, and
had slain the murderers of his father, seems to have been
aggressive warfare. He proposed to re-subject Edoni.
And, Avith this view, he collected the fighting men of his
kingdom, organized them, and aj)pointed olnccrs over
them. He found himself at the head of an imposing
host, no less than three hundred thousand fi'ditiuL!; men.
Not content with this, and as if to make assurance doul)ly
sure, he hiriid an additional hundred thousand out of
Israel. Now, mark how his heart, which was not perfect,
(f, e., which was not fully or truly God's) began to show
its preference for evil. He had nothing to do with ag-
gressive AVaifare. He was king of a nation that had as-
signed to it a given territory, and the ol>ject of whoso
national life was — to preserve truth, not to invade or
conquer their neighbours. Worldly kings may place
their glory in con(iuest, but the kings of Israel had a
higher calling. They must keep alive the flame of piety
in the earth, and work for a <dorious future. As for ter-
ritory, it was enough if they ke[)t their own free of inva-
sion and oppression, they were not called on to subjugate
or harass neigh))ouring people. It was a characteristic of
David's wars that the enemies of Israel forced them upon
him. He was ever for peace — while they were for war ;
and he mourned that lu; dwult auionL? the warlike and
unpeaceful. He was usually conqueror in the quarrel,
but it was not because he delighted in war, or sought it
with ambitious view,* for himself. He only humbled or

! .l\

01 o

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

-I r

; 1 \

LIL

suhjugated those who sought to oppress Israel, or to
thwart thn pur})ose of Israel's national existence. Now,
Amaziali was not thus challen^!;ed to engage in bloody
strife. Edoni was quiet and unthreatening so far as ap-
pears. Aniaziah was not called on to invade or oppress
that people. Had they invaded or threatened the sacred
territory, he might, for the sake of future security have
reduced them to subjection or tribute Jut he had rio
such excuse for nuistering his armies now. It was only
that his heart — iu)t being perfect in the divine service,
began to form schemes of ambition and warlike glory.
AVith a heart devoted to God, he would never have
thought of such an enterprise. He would only have been
too ghid if the Edomites left him free to ])romote the
interests of his kingdom. True, Edom had been in sub-
jection to the throne of Jerusalem in tiie days of his
grandfather, Jehoram, hut that was fifty years before the
time of Amaziah. There was no projiriety in his reviving
claims, which had been so lonii au;o extin<j;uished— not at

' COO

least, while Edom was peaceful and untroublesome as a
nei<J!:hl)our.

But, supposing that there was excuse for this purposed
invasion, in the original announcement of Isaac, that
Edom should serve his brother, or even in some un-
recorded mauife.stati(jns of hostility on the part of Edom,
we still have evidence of his imperfect heart in the fiict
of his JtiriiKj the men of Israel to aid him. Had he under-
taken the enterprise as a servant of (ioil, he would have
been content with his own army, and trusted in God to
give him the victory by its agency. The Almighty has
no need of assistance at the hands of strangers, and the
man who acts in the Almighty's quai'rel has only to
shelter himself und«'r the wing of hi-^ principal. For a
Kini^ of Jerusalem to hire foreiii'u aid, was to doubt God's
power ; or rather, it was to trust in an arm of llesh.
This was to cast dishonour upon the God of Israel, as if
He were unable to defend His own cause, or to confound
the opposers of His kingdom ! And Amaziah only made
matters worse by the character of the aid hired. He

■

AMAZIAII.

213

lias

hired the fightinpj men of apostate Israel. He called to
his sid(.i [)arties whose arms (Jod would not bless, lie
thus showed, not only that his trust was in what modern
conquerors call " the heaviest hattalions," hut also, tliat
lie had no suitable aii})reciation of the true stale of the
ten tribes as the enemies of Clo 1, and no dilliculty in
entering into an alliance, for his own pur})oses, with the
haters of Jerusalem. Had his heart been [x^rfect before
God, he would never have taken the apostate Israelites into
his ]iay ! And had he had any patriotic or pious regard
for the interests of Judah, he would lujver ha\e brought
his own warriors into familiar companionship Avith the
idolatrous and unprincipled soldiers of F.pliraim. But
the truth is, he neither cared for the honour of God, no)"
for the purity or religious integrity of his own kingdom.
H(.' was simply bent on conquest and personal aggrandize-
ment, and was willing to sacrilice every divine and
national interest to his own su})[)0sed glory !

Then, he was cruel in vidori/. Ten thousand of Edom
were captives, after ten thousand had been slain. These
ten tliousand captives did the men of Judah, under the
guidance or by the permission of Amaziah, take to the
top of a rock, and cast them down — so that they were
all l)roken in pieces. How shocking I Had Amaziah
feared God, he could scarcely hav«^ treated the in\'adcrs
and oppressors of his country so : then, how very bad to
use men who had only defended their own liberty so. It
is true that the same style of treating captives taken in
war has prevailed among other jieople — among Greeks,
liomans, and Turks ; still, we cannot but si'C in this
cruelty of Amaziah fmlher evidence of his (l(q)arture
from God. He might have subjecteil these unfortunate
ones to servitude, if he couhl not safely semi tluan bai.'k
to their homes, but his heart was hard and crutd. Ac-
cf)rding to our view, his enti'i'[)iize against Hdom was un-
called for and ambitious — his jturposed means objection-
able and unworthy — and now the us(^ he makes of his
victory is cruel and reprehensil)le ! Every step is just a
further departure from that perfect heart which ought to

lik

; !

214

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

have characterized him, and a further development of the
evil which works in tlic heart that is not perft!ct, and
wliich enharges and intensifies itself there.

Ihit if there be any dubiety about tliese steps in his
evil pro^i^ress, there can l)e none about the next : viz.,
this, he bcraine an open find unhlusldng idnhifur. The fact
is thus recorded by the sacred writer : " Now it came to
pass after Amaziah Avas come from tlie slaughter of the
Edomites, tliat he ]>rought the gods of the children of
Seir, and set them up to l)e his g(^tds, and bowed down
himself before them, and burned incense unto them."
Mark it ! Folly and infatuation have now gained entire
ascendancy over Amaziah. Formerly, he served God, but
not with a perfect heart — now, he serves Him not at all.
Formerly, he rendered an apparent obedience — now, he
is decidedly and flagitiously disobedient. lie is not
content merely to forget God, but actually transfers the
worship due to Him to other gods. In the face of the
miraculous history of his nation, and in defiance of Avhat
himself had known of the true God, under the ministra-
tions of the venerable Jehoiada, he set up the idols of
Edom in Jerusalem, and bowed himself in Avorship
before them. No language can characterize adequately
this conduct. It was monstrous and perverse in the
highest degree ! A]kI Ave f'cl this the more Avhen we
think of the gratuitousness of this folly. There Avas not
even an excuse for it. There Avas excuse for his grand-
father Jehoram, adopting the idolatry of Samai'ia, though
the excuse Avas flimsy and invalid, still, there Avas a
colourable V)lea ; seeing that he adopted the religion
of the fashionable majority, and left that of the un-
fashionable minority. The ten tril)es Avere more numer-
ous than the two tril)es, and the ten tribes Avere in sub-
stantial harmony with i yre and Sidon, and their far
spread colonies. Jehoram seemed to join the outlying
nations to the neglect of the narrow prejudices of his
oAvn small people. But no snch plea, flimsy though it is,
can be urged in favour of Amaziah's conduct on the pre-
sent occasion. Edom Avas neither numerous nor impor-

AMAZIAH.

215

far

tant as a people. To aflopt the gods of this people was
not joining the fashionable majority. It was rather the
voluntary debasement of succumbing to a fee])le minority,
whose only claim to attention was its very insigniticance.
A minority we know may be in possession of the; trutii,
as with the Christian Church, and this may give import-
ance beyond any majority however great ; l)ut it was
not thus with Edom. Its gods had no conceivable clahn
on the attention or worship of Amaziah. These gods
had not even the semblance of power in the protection
or success of their votaries. Amaziah himself had con-
quered them in conquering their worshippers. And why
should he bow down to gods who had not been able to
protect their servants from his own hostile inroads and
warlike array ] Why shouhl he worship those who
could not resist himself ? Why worship those whom
himself had enslaved, and brouglit as captives to his own
capital ? Even though he had known nothing of the true
God, one would scarcely have expected to find him bow-
ing down to his own prisoners ; but Avhen we remember
that he knew somewhat of the true God, we really arc
at a loss to understand how, if in his senses at all, he
could renounce the powerful and the true in favour of
the powerless and the false. Here is an extreme of silli-
ness and perverseness in it that is altogether inexplical)le
and indescribable I Any way, he was now entirely
separated in heart as well as in practice from the God of
Israel. And possibly, he felt a brief relief in the fact.
He felt free of that ever-present restraint whicli the ser-
vice of the God of Israel imposed I He now served gods
whom he could not control, and not a God who asserted
imwelcome claims on his obedience ! He now bowed
before gods avIio would reprove neither his ambition, nor
his unholy alliances. He could now carve out his own
fortune, and work his unhampered Avill among the sur-
rounding people ! And no doubt he determined to listen
no more to the remonstrances or the rebukes of the
prophets of Israel ! He soon had an opportunity to
show his purpose herein : for God's anger being kindled

i I
1 )

lIM

v|>

i t

21G

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

ap;<iinst Amaziali, Tie sent a prophet to him, wlio
said, " Why hast thmi souglit after the gods of the
pe<)])l(\ Avliicli could not deliver their own ])eople out of
their hand]" And liow fared it with this prophet in tlie
presence of tlio king] Why, his reception was as rongli
and determined as an unwelcome messenger miglit ex-
pect : " It came to pass, as he talked with him, that the
king said nnto him, ' Art thou made of the king's coun-
sel i Forbear ! Why should'st thou be smitt(Mi ]' " And
this was but a cutting Avay of saying, " I will have none
of your interference : and I will not 1»e slow to punish
your insolence if you persist ! You know the fate that
Zechai'iah, the sou of Jehoiada, met Avith, when he per-
sumed to interfere with uiy father. Bear it in remeni-
lu'ance, and begone ! And tem[)t not my displeasure
further if you would not incur a similar fate." Here
then, at last, we have Amaziah in full-orbed rebellion.
He has no longer ary hesitation or timid anxieties.
Formerly, Avhile yet in but mid-career of his self-glorious
and ungodly ))rogress he list.iu'd to the prophet of the
Lord, and even yielded to his influence : but matters are
all chanwd now. His own divided heart is divided no
longer. The evil hath expelle;! the good : and he scorns
the divine messenger, and casts from him the divine re-
proof He even threatens the life of the prophet, and rushes
thus in effv'ct against the thick bosses of the Almighty's
buckler. He is now his own master, and refuses all con-
trol : nay, even declares war to the knife with the Lord
of Israel, and the King of the Ihiiverse ! After this, if
he repent not, his overthrow may be looked for at any
moment. It may be deferred, or it may be partial for a
time, but it is inevitable ! The potsherds of the earth
may contend with the potsherds of the earth, but they
can have small success in conflict Avitli Omnipotence !
Only confusion and ruin can overtake them then !

Here then we have the sad consummation in the case of
Amaziah : and we may well lament over it I He sei'ved
God with a divided heart, but his divided heart was not
of long duration. It speedily yielded its hold of good,

AMAZIAIT.

217

and liocamo fully and willin^dy fiUod Avitli ovil. Instead
of t'(>ll()\vin_ii; in tlu; footsteps of liis pi(»us proucnitors,
Jt'hosliapliat and David, he ^^avc liiinsclf to the \Aildi st
folly. Not content with forsakiiifi; CJod, he set uj) ^i;ods
for liinisclf ! And instead of yielding; a i,M'atel'ul ohe-
dienco to the condescendin,!;- renionstiances of heaven, lie
resisted and defied the llolv ! Js there no ■wai'nini.'; f)r
us in the manifest aljsnrdity and recklessness of his con-
duct ? It suiely warns against a divided heait in mat-
ters of I'cligion : and too many as already noticed seem
t^ have this divided heart even in our own day. They
may not in the meantime opeidy ai)ostatize from (Jod, or
daringly threaten the life ot llis messengers; hut they
occupy the position that leads to these enormities. Ere
h)ng their andntions or tem]itations may di'ive them to
these exti'eme results. Nothing can prevent it indeed
but a comiilete revcdution in their hearts. If evil and
self-will have an admitted i)lace within them (even
though they do that \\hich is right extermdly and sub-
stantially), that same evil ami self-will will ew long
occupy their whole being, and will issue in time in the
o})en renunciation and defiance of the divine ! Aye, even
though the gulf (jf darkness Avere yawning "\'i.;;l»Iy to
receive them, they will hate and defy to the last ! Our
only safety is to give our hearts/////// to God in the faith
of His Son, and then we shall go from strength to
strength, and from excellence to exc(dlence, and not like
Amaziah from folly to folly—or from covert impiety to
confirmed rebellion !

But, we would njw I'emind you concerning this king, of

///. The occasio)! of his ovurHirow.

That was his own excessive and monstrous pride. I](^-
cause he had prevailed against Kdom, he thought himself
equal to any thing. lie therefore challenged Joash,
King of Samaria, to a warlike strugiile. Joash sought
to dissuade liim by rennnding him of his comparative
nothingness, l)ut this oidy influenced his desire to show
off his generalship and to humiliate his neighbours, Hu

^ll

V(- i

(

218

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

forced Joasli to the battle ; and he received what was to
be expected, a thorough beating. He thought to re-enact
the conqueror, as in the case of Edom, but ibund only the
humiliations of defeat. " Pride cometh l:»efore destruc-
tion, and a liauglity spirit before a fall." AVhat a dis-
appointment for the impious and uuAvorthy Amaziah !
His dreams of ambition and conquest were rudely scat-
tered, and his jiower for aggression broken. Instead of
dictating terms to Joash at Samaria, as he expected, he
was carried to his own capital in the train of his con-
queror : and instead of enriching himself at the expense
of Joash and his people, he had the defences of his
throne cast down, and the riches of his kingdom torn
aAvay ! Amaziah made no further attempts at conquest
after this, and that, not because his desire had ceased,
but because his means were annihilated. No doubt he
had chalked out for himself a splendid career. Having
tried his hand on Edom, he thought first to resubject
the ten tribes of Israel, and then with his augmented
resources, he Avould carry his arms against Syria, and all
surrounding peoples. He would bring back the days of
David — not as to piety, but as to conquest. He would
lift again his nation to the proud preeminence it occupied
in the days of Solomon, hy his military genius and warlike
successes. He had thrown himself loose of the Temple
services, which only cramped his genius, as he thought,
and limited his enterprizos : and he had set up for himself
gods who would be more accommodating to his wishes,
and he now felt himself free to make for himself a name
in the earth, and to Avork his unchecked will in the
regions around. He had no fear of any further interrup-
tion from the prophets of Jerusalem. He had effectually
arrested, as he supposed, any remaining wish on their
part to interfere : and he determined to make short work
with them if they did !

Such was the dream from which Amaziah was awaken-
ed by the result of his campaign against Joash, King of
Samaria. You may well believe that his thoughts were
bitter when left in his helplessness and humiliation a^

AMAZIAII.

219

Jerusalem. Never again, during the remaining days of
the life of his conriutTor, did ju' tliink of renewing the
challenge, or of engaging again in the sti'ife. Often, in
history, we find the vanquished renewing the contest,
and even snatching the laurel fnun the hrow of their
victors: hut not so Amaziah. He was crushed once and
for all. Even after the death of Joash, he remained
quiescent. lie survived his conqueror fifteen years, yet
never atteni])t(Hl during all that time to retrieve his for-
tunes as a militaiy leader. Nor was this heeause he had
grown wise, but because he had been so effectually dis-
armed.

Nor did these long years of forced retirement and
reflection lead to any im]irovement in his nature as a
man. It would seem that he remained proud and offen-
sive still although so far reduced. This is indicated by
the manner of his death. His subjects conspired against
him, and slew him. This they would scarcely have done
had he walked gently and wisely. Subjects will not
generally rise against their rulers for small injuries.
There must be a succession of wrongs, and these wrongs
felt to be grievous, ere the thought of regicide can take
deep hold of the mind of the })eople. No doul)t Ama-
ziah had walked haughtily toward his attendants, and
roused against himself their deep anger. Pi'obably his
temper was soured by his Innniliation, and he vented his
anger against his broken fortunes on the parties who
came within his reach. Any way, there must have been
those who had a deep and bitter hatred of his person,
else they Avould not have conspired against his life, nor
pursued him to Lachish when he fled from his fate.
The truth is he had forsaken God, and God left him in
the hands of his enemies. He had renounced the service
that mipht have controlled and comforted him, and he
provoked by his querulousness, or by his oppressive
administration, tlie instruments of his downfall and dis-
honour ! How sad the fate of the ungodly ! How little
the gods of Edom would be able to do for Amaziah in
the hour of his extremity !

Hll

i (

fi!.

j! PI

l-l;.

220

THE DYNASTY OP DAVID.

1^ 1 1 1

Tlic proud, my friciKls, work out tlioir own ruin. Tu
their li;iui[:5litin('S.s they rush iqxin the rocks that wreck
theni. Then! is no uccmI tliat God shouhl interpose hy
any dii'ect visitation to ]>iinish or to overwhelni those who
forsake Him. It is enough to h-avc; them to themselves !
They will iulallihly awaken sooner or later to tlie reaction
that lays them low. Not hut that (Jod may overwhelm
them when lie sees meet liy direct jndi^nients, hut there is
no need for it to secure for them their deserts. Their own
agency will hnnii; it ahout. Ania/iah's is a strikin,t^ case
to this effect, lie was uiithreatened in his canital, and
victorious over Edom. There was nothing; apparently to
alarm or to injure him. Had he heen l)ut quiet himself, and
allowed his neii^hhours to enjoy the (|uiet they did not
wish disturhed, he miuht have reiL!;ned uidnnnhled and
nnimpoverished ! ]5ut he had incurred the divine dis-
pleasure by setting up the gods of Edom in Jerusalem.
And God, instead of reigning fire upon him from heaven,
or dashing his ])alaces to the; groun(tfl>y a rtisistless hurri-
cane or whirlwind, just left him to his ju'ide ami aml)l-
tion, and hesj.eedily brought u])on himself the retiibution
•which he merit(id. Amaziah, it is said, wouhl not listen
to Joash, Avho sought to airest him in his warlike way
" for, it came of God, that he might deliver (him and his
peo})le) into the hand ot their enemies, because they sought
after the gods of Edom." And so probably, with his
death, as we have said, himself provoked the stroke that
slew him.

And it has ever been thus through all the ages. The
wicked and the audacious have wrought out their own
ruin — directly or indirectly. There was a striking illus-
tration of tliis during the last age in the old world.
The grivatest captain of that time, or as S(nne would have
it, of any other time, had reached the summit of earthly
greatness— all Europe was at his feet. No one thought
to measure swords Avith him, or to cpu'stion his right to
reign. He had but to stand still himself — to receive the
homage of millions, and to I'etain his glory. But no !
He must needs humble a mighty northern empire : and

A^LLZIAH.

221

for this, lie nin>it cliallenije tlie riLTours of nature. No
miittor ! All thii t^s lie fancii'd woiiM j^'ive way before
liini. Like Ania/.iali, lu^ had tastccl the eup of success,
and he thought to diiidc of uuthiiii; else. On he rushed.
Into the midst of the liussian winter he poured his hitln'r-
to triumphant legions. He dashed his forces against the
fi'ostdving, and recoile(l ])rokt'n and liumili.-itcd. His num-
erous enemies (made his enemies hy pi'ide and oppression
on liis pait,) took advantage of the reveise, and, as in the
case of Joash and Ainaziali, sjx'edily occupied his capital,
and gave him his fii'st exi)erience of retril)ution and re-
vei'se. His own pride, you ]>erceive, hi'ouglit his down-
fall ; but it was of God, that he might di'liver him into
the hands of his enemies, because he renounced all ndi-
gious subjection, and acted as if himself were omni[>otent
and unaccountable.

It is, my fVien.Is, with the proud and ungodly as with
a vessel that has parted from its nioorings with none on
board to steer it. Such a vessel, if nnl)oarded by the
competent, and if unrecovered, must drift to ruin. It may
seem to sail gaily for a time, ])ut it is really the sport of
the waves, and the certain prey of the yawning deep. It
may escape many dangers, and it may drift on for many
bright and sun-lit da\s. But it cannot escaiie. The storms
"will arise ; the winds will bh)w ; the rocks will not remove
from its reckless and ungnided way. Sooner or later it
must rush upon its fate. The very velocity of its move-
ments must intensify the shock which sli; L.ters it ! And
so with the ])roud and ungodly, who have broken tVoiu
their heavenly moorings, and are nnguided by divine piety,
they can reasonal)ly expect nothing Ijut destruction.

But very different it is with those wdio abide by the
meek and lowly Teacher and Saviour, and who are guided
in their voyage by Mis W(jrd and spirit ! They navi-
gate the sea of life in siifety. They dash not in pride
on the immoveable rocks, l.»ut they thread their way
by patience and by prayer, into the harbour of divine
peace and eternal life. They renounce not, like Ama-
ziah, the covenant made with the house of David, but re-

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222

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

joice in it rather, and wait for its realization. They clothe
themselves with liiiniih'ty, and they enil)race the right-
eonsness of (Jod which is hy faith of .lesus Christ, rind wait
for his fni tiler and fuller manifestation — assured that
\\hen He shall appear in glory, th<'}' shall be like Ilim,
for they shall see llini as Jfo is. j\Iay the wisdom and
faith of these lowly and glory-expecting ones be ours.
May we b(> enabled to renounce the i>ride that ruins and
to walk in tlie meekness of Him who saves !

QUESTIONS OX AMAZIAH.

How did Ainaziidi conduct himself on ascending the throne 1

He difl tliat which was riglit in tlio eyes of the Lord.
IMentiou some of the right things lie did i

Ho slew the nnirdereis of his father. He limited his ven-
geance to the actual murderers, — and left their children
unharmed. And lie obeyed the pi'opliet who remon-
strated against his empluymuut of the Ephraimite war-
riors.
What draw-l)ack was there on his ri'dit doin-' I

It was not with a perfect heart.
How would you describe a perfect heart ?

A heart fraught witli love to God and to his righteous laws.
(Wanting this, the conduct of Amaziah, though exter-
nally right, was yet essentially defective.)
What is the tendency on the history of a man of a perfect
heart, or a non-perfect heart respectively /
The perfect heart being a heart of love to Gioil, \>r ^ic-
aud strengthens itself as the life advances -sues in

heavenly perfection. Whereas the inij ic.irt, be-

ing without love divine, becouies in its , , ess less and
less careful, even of external right doin^ ud issues in
utter dopravitj' in the world of darkness.
Can you mention an instance of an individual with a perfect
heart ?
Yes. The apostle Paid in his Cliristian life. This servant
of the truth loved God, and consented to His law, that
it was good, but acknowledged at the same time, that
evil was powerful within him.
And what was the result of the contest in his nature ?

AMAZIAir.

223

The entire ascoiidaiicy of lovo. In otlior Words, the entire
victory of tlie perfect lieai-t. llavinL,' f<in.,'lit a <,'ooil tii,'ht
lie finished his course in holy conlidence, and with hea-
venly expectations.

Are there n(;t many in Ininian society even tiuw, who do that
which is right, and yet not with a perfect heart I
It is to he feared so. True, many such are kept by provi-
dential resti-aint, from j^'oing all tlie lenLjths of wickcdui-ss
in this world, but then there are even some who l)reak
through these restraints, and by their murders or mons-
trous crimes show the natural tendency of a heart of un-
godliness.
^Vllat should be the prayer of each of us in relation to this
matter i
Thft of David, " create a clean heart within me, and renew
> light spirit."
Wjii': is the impressive truth which ought to incite us thus
to pray ?
The tendency of love or alienation to intensify or extend
each its own existence and dominion. He that hath
clean hands will grow .stronger, while evil men and se-
ducers grow worse and W(jrse.
What was the character of Amaziah's pn)gress and history /
From bad to worse — as might be expected from one wlmse
heart was not i)erfect— /. c, not fraught with divine,
love.
What was the first step that manifested the true state of his
heart ?
Ambition and aggressive warfare. He proposed to re-sub-
ject Edom. This was not the true spirit of the David
dynasty.
What was the next manifestation /

His hiring of the men of Israel to aid him. This was in
suiting God, and associating himself and his people with
the idolatrous.
What was the next manifestation I

His cruelty to the con(piered Edomites. He cast ten
thousand of them from the rocks without necessity or
reason.
Was there any further exhibition of the state of his heart ?
Yes. An exhibition at once silly and wicked. He adopted
the gods of Edom, and liowed to them in service.
Was there any excuse for this folly ?

Not any. Not even the shadow of an excuse. To adopt
the goda of Tyre, was to adopt the j^oda of the powerful

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THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

and rich — to adopt those of Edom, was to adopt the gods
of the insignilicaiit and the conc^uercd.
What then may we conceive was hi^j reason for adopting these
gods as his ?
He wisht'il to be free from restraint, and to have gods that
himself conld control.
And how did Amaziah conduct himself wlien reproved for his
folly (
In a manner of haughty defiance. His once divided heart
was now divided no loiigin'. He was wholly given over
to rebellion and self-pleasing.
What must they avoid who would not follow Amaziah to full-
blown I'cbellion ?
They must cease from a divided heart. The heart that is
not wholly God's is ijj. the way of becoming wholly
Satan's.
What was the occasion of Amaziah's overthrow ?

His inordinate pride, liecause he had conquered Edom,
he thought to conquer Joash of Samaria, and challenged
him acc(jrdiugly.
How did he fare in the contest himself provoked ?

He was entirely overthrown. Instead of dictating terms of
peace in Samaria, he had to submit to every indignity as
a conquered kiui; in his own capital.
Did he ever recover from this blow i

Never, so far as aggressive warfare was concerned. IIo
miifht still dream of con(|nest, but he was never again in
a position for attempting it.
Did he improve \inder his humiliation 1

We have no reason to think so.
What was the manner of his death 1

His servants conspired against him and slew him.
What may we infer from this I

That he walked ])roudly and offensively towards tlioso
around him. Had the dagger come from a distance, it
might have come from prejudicial and unmerited hatred,
but coming from his own attendants it implies an insult-
ing or unjust demeanour on his i)art. Where a Prince
walks wisely i)i his own palace, his attendants will defend
him to the last. It is only the opi)i'essed, or the injured,
or those wIk; think themselves t)[)pressed orinjureJ, that
lift their hands against tlie chief on whom they wait.
How does God often deal with the arrogant ungodly ?
Ho leaves them to provoke their own overthrow — a» Ama-

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AMAZIAII.

ziah did in ancient times, and Napoleon the gi'eat in
recent times.
How may we describe the proud vand ungodly ?

They are as vessels parting fi*om their moorings — with none
on board to steer them. They must dash on the rocks
sooner or later.
But how is it with those who abide by the meek and lowly
Teacher and Saviour, or rather who navigat . the sea
of life with the Lord as their pilot \
They sail through storms and tempests in safety, and reach
the harbour of heaven in due time. They renounce, not
like Amaziah, the covenant made with the house of
David, but rejoice in it rather, and wait for its wondrous
developments.

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y.i

Then all tlio people of Judali took Uzziah, wlio was Kixteeii
years old, and made him Kiu^' iu the room of his father
Amaziah. — II Chrouieles, xxvi. 1.

i^^-,Q q ' man, it hath been said, can be (h'clared
j\|i ..liappy until he has tinishetl liis eaithly history.
i^J^yf And this is true, as far as earthly prosperity
y!^( i« concei'ued.

/ There is instability on all human things ; and the
1 'r^i^ man who is ricii to-day may be poor to-morrow. It
• •^'. is not unusual even for kino-s to taste the bitterness
of reverse. Cra'sus, the Kin: of Lydia— as ancient
story tells, was rich beyond most of his contempor-
^ aries, and fancied himself happy beyond (.)thers in
cinisequence. On ojie occasion he exhibited his
tieasures and his resources to a Grecian sage, expect-
ing only congratulations and tiatteries from the ad-
-.- miring guest, but what his surprise! when he found.
T that his grandeui' ^^'as looked on with distrustful
f eyes, and that the piyor and the virtuous were pre-
ferred before him, so far as happiness was concerned. On
incpiiring the reason, he was reminded that he had not
completed his histoiy, and that a few years might change
the colour of that history altogether. And so he found
it. Cyrus coiupiered him — Cyrus stripped liim of his
vast ])ossessions ; and he was taught thereby to estimate
earthly riches more in accordance! \vith their true value.
So with I'zziah betbre us. lie was distinguished for his
pros[)erily, but he did not complete his histoiy in [)r()s-
perity. lie too found the instability of human things,
and had oi)portunity in his latter days to mourn over the
departed glories of his early life. And, alas, how many

UZZIAII.

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besides Uzziah have finished tlieir lil'e in Ladness, uho
fancied in the days of their pnjspei'ity that tlicy wouM
die in tlieir nest. The buoyant and thci confith'iit would
(hj well to learn, from such (!xani[)les, distrust in relation
to the <ditterini!' things of tin? earth.

But in turning your thoughts (jn the things of U/ziah,
■we shall notice : —

/. Tin; SLiDiti/ skk (if his Ittslunj.

That was long and unclouded, lie lU'.'t with all man-
ner of success in his undertakings, and Avas not thrown
back by any striking or unusual reverse. For nearly lit'ty
years he grew in resources, and his name and glory were
spread far and wide. lie broke the power of the Philis-
tines — the hereditary enemies of Israel. On the west he
made his borders secure — ikh' less so on the east. Clod
helped him, it is said, " against the Philistines, and also
against the Arabians that dwelt in Gurdjaal, and the
Mehunims." As for the Ammonites, so far were they
from giving him any disturbance, that they brought him
presents. E.Kternally, there; was no power to alarm him,
and no gathering storm visiljli? in any part of the horizon
to cause him uneasiness. And he was not unprei)ared for
exigences, supposing any unlooked for enemy were unex-
pectedly to ai)pear. Small as his territory was, \w. had as
many available fighting men as some of the mightiest of
modern kingdoms, France even now, though lier ai'my
list may be much greater, could not bring into the field,
at short notice, after all necessary detluctu)ns are made,
three hundred thousand fighting men, yet Uzziah could
endjody more than that nund)er, almost at any mon.ent.
iS(jr was he inattentive to the ])r(»per e(pii[)nu'nt of his
legions, '* He prepared for them, (it is said,) throughout
all the host, shields, and si»ears, and helmets, and haber-
geons, (or breast-plates,) and ]>ows, and slings to cast
stones," Nay more, he encouragetl inventors and skillud
mechanics ; and they made military engirics, (l<»ng hefore
the tinie of Archimedes, 500 years) to l)e on the towers
and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows anrl great stones

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228

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID

witluil. So great indeed, was liis military power, and so
sncces.sfnl his oi'ganizacion and his administration, that
the s;icred writer has no terms to express his achniration,
" liis name (lie says,) spreads far abroad, for he was
UKcrrelloUf;/ 1/ ]ni\[)Ml till he was strong." Jf Solomon, in
liis day, stood at the head of the nations as the Prince of
of Peace ; Uzziah in liis day, stood at the head of all the
])eople in his more immediate neighlxjnrhood, as th(3
I'rince, who, though enjoying peace, was mo.-t thoroughly
prepared for war.

Nor was he inattentive to domestic matters. Some
rulers have a genius for Avar, but, M'hile they shine on

their own chosen field, they neglect or treat superficially
more important interests, or even exhaust their c(nintry
as to resources by their injudicious undertakings. Put it
was not so with Uzziali, He attended at the same time
to all necessary matters as to internal economy and arrange-
ment, He fortihed his capital. "He built towers in Jeru-
salem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the
turningof the wall, and fortified thein." Nay, more,''lie built
towers in the desert, 'for watchingand guarding cattle, "and
digged many walls." He not only enc(jur;iged agriculture,
but gave his attention especially to it, as a pastoral farm-
er, and vine-dresser. It is said that, ''116 loved hashaadrij."
Like Prince Albert of England, of honoured memory, he
set an exanijile in this resj)ect to his subjects. " He had
much cattle, it is said, both in the low country, and in the
plains; husbandmen also, and vine-dressers in the moun-
tains, and in Carmel." His prosperity therefore, was not
a prosperity that dazzles for a moment, and leaves dark-
ness behind it. It was founded in industry, and sustained
and fed by the hicrease of the flock and of the field. He
was not merely a warrior that wastes, or that grows rich
by rapine, but a worker that accumulates and grows rich
in a legitimate way. Of his domestic life we are not inform-
ed, but his government and administration were for long
years unperturljed, enteri)rising, sunny, and commend-
able.

How different it has been with many other occupants

UZZIAH.

229

(

of tlu'onos, to say notliing of private men. Tliey liave
been (listvossod by nn^olt among their subjects, oi by the
lawlessness of turbulent nobles, or by the aml)ition of ag-
gressive neighbours. Turn to any part of history, and
you will find perpetual i^histrations of that which has
passed into a saying : " Uneasy lies the head that wears
a crown." JBut while other kings, both in ancient and
modern times, have been harassed, invaded, overthrown,
or curtailed as to territory, Uzziah dwelt for many years
in peace, prosperity, glory, and unshrouded success.

He had every advantage and ])rivilpge in relation to
the Unseen also. He had ])ermanently the oracles of
God to enlighten and to guide him. While other con-
temporary kings were wandering and stumbling in dai'k-
ness, under tlie sway of superstition and ignoiance. In;
dwelt, religiously speaking, in the valley of vi.-^ion I A
light from the higher world was upon his throne and upon
his people. Nay, more, there was among his subjects for
some years, a mau who had "understanding in the visions
of God." And Uzziah, felt the inHiuMice of this man, even
as his grandfather Joash felt and yielded in his early
years, to the influence of Jcihoiada. Yes, Uzziah souglil
God while Zechariah lived, and " so long as he scniiiht
the Lord, God made him to prosper."

In one word, all advantages were his — an unflispute<l
throne — a prosperous and an obedient people — am[>le re-
sources — success in all his enterprises — wide-spread re-
nown - heavenly oracles — a!id an accessible prophet who
was hims(df in communication with the Unseen. There
was nothing he could wish foi' in reason, that he did not
possi'ss. He had heard of troubles in the history of his
ancestors, but he knew them not in his own experienc(\
The dynasty to which he belonged had l)een seriously de-
flected from its proper course by its connection with the
house of Ahab, but it had so far recovered itself, that it
[ attention and ii " "'

dy re qui

'ty

back tlie spirit of David into his house, and to secure for
its m.nnbers the inestimal)le blessings of the covenant
made with that illustrious k'uvj:.

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THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

Now, Avliat was tlic cffi^ct of all this pro.'^perity on the
heart ofV/Cziali ? Did hohecoiiiemore o;ratet\il and more
Avorsliipt'iii because of it 1 Did he walk more tenderly or
more ol)ediently 1 Was his excellence as a man promoted
by his glory anil prosjx'rity as a king- 1 Alas, no ! He oidy
be 'anie nioi'e heady and high-minded. lie began to feel
himself so gi'catthat he might disregard laws 'ind arrange-
ments which were landing on other men. This, y(ni
know, is usually th(! way wdth the exalted in human
society. The higlier they ascend, the more they fancy
themselves at lil)erty from ordi)iary rules. Conventionally,
and in relatiori to their fellow-men, th'dr greatness limits
them, but morally, and in relation to Heaven's laws, they
su[)j)os(! it libei'ates them, and eidai'ges tludr sj)here of en-
joyment. Tlu!y feel as if they moved on a platform above
the ordinaiy raug(! of moral obligations ; and they silently
assume that the Governor of the universe will not look
"With such scrutinizing eyes on their transgressions as on
those of inferior men. Uzziah seems to have been lai'gely
animated with this idea. He thought himself so good
that h(> miglit set aside the laws of Heaven with im])u-
nity. His heart was lifted up to his destruction. Ilad
he been less prosperous, Ik; would have been less pre-
sumptuous. Had h(! had more dilHculties to curl) and to
exercise him, he would have been less disposed to the
wanton, uncalled for, and unreasonable violation of the
di\iue arrangements, Is it not a pity to think of it, that
the very mercies which ought to have made him huml)le
and circumspect thi'ew him entirely 'jff his guard ? Is it
not a pity to tind that one who had professed to seek the
Jjord, had sought Him to so little ])ur[)ose I The truth
is, he became inllated and i)resumptu(jus in no ordinary
degree. The atmosphere of prosperity which had so long
s.irrounded him only ministered to his vanity, and the
sunnv season which had so long brighteneil his existence
only l)rought about the greater deterioration of his being.
Instead of becoming more excellent under sunshine, he
only became less and less so. As his prosperity increased,

UZZIAIJ.

231

liis worth flecreased. As his inflatiDU grew, his stability
l)ecaine Uissand h'ss assured.

And the true reason of this was, that Ids heart was not
riglit. Like his tath(>r Aniaziah, whili^ he ii;av(> extern il
coimtenanoi! to the sei'vice of the ti'ue (Jol, his afh'otions
were really centred in self. He did that which was ri^ht
in the sight of the I^ord, hut not with a perfect heart.
He thought to make his goodness subsei'vieut to his glory,
when he ought to have made his glory subservient to his
goodness. Had ids h(>art been right with (!od a very
different result would have arisen from his prosperity.
In that c;ise, his sunny fortunes woul 1 havi; nourished
piety within him, and not impiety, — Humility ami not
Pride.

And this shows us, what ought to be our elnef solici-
tude;. We should concern ourselves far more about heait
rectification than about external prosperity. If the heart
l)e right, all circumstances, whether sunny or cloudy, will
minister to its u,ri!ater excellence. Whereas, if the heart
be wrong, all things will but make the wrou''- the grt^ater.
Even mercies will then be misinterjjreted an I abused.
" All thimrs work toijether for sjrood to them that love
God," whil(! jirst as certainly, all things woi-k together
for the deterioration and ultimite dishonour of those
who do not love Him. Our Lord [)ointed out tin; e(Mirse
of wisdom whtjn IL; said, " ISeek first tlu; kingdom of
God and His riLrhteousness, and all else shall be added
unto you." TIk; kingilom of God, you will I'emember, is
not meat and drink, but righteousne-;ss, and [)eace, and
joy ill the Holy Ghost. Seek then, with persevering de-
termination, righteousness, au<l peace, and joy in the
Holy (Jliost. Care rather that y(jui' nature be reiunved,
than that your fortuiu's should be enlarged. With a new
heart, y>>ur im[>rov<Mnent and exaltation are secureil,
while without it, tin; amplest fortune will lead ultinritely
to overthnnv,— and the ampler the fortune, the nnjre
signal will be the reverse.

Y^oung pt!oi)le are very apt to uiistake in this uiatter.
They judge by aj)pearances, and after the sight of liieir

IH'iii!

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232

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

eyes. They take not into consideration all the elements
of cliaracter and hai)piness. If a man be rich and pros-
perous, they are ready to think him happy, and sure to
envy him. O, they \vish so much for ampler means.
They would have no fear of (heir hearts, if only they had
riches and wealth in abundance. But they mightily mis-
take in this. Happiness is not the result of external
circumstances — no more is excellence. " A man's life
consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he
])ossesseth — not only so ; if the heart be misplaced as to
its affections ; — or misdirected as to its aspirations, it
only grows worse under sunshine, and departs further
and further away from true hap[)iuess by reason of pros-
l)erous circumstances. The prosperity of a fool, (that is,
of one who fears not God,) destroys him." Straitened
circumstances check evil. True, the effect of straitened
circumstances is not better in the long run than the effect
of suimy circumstances if the heart be wrong. Still,
they who are straitened have less opportunity to indulge
in fantastic and foolish ways, and are more held down to
the ordinary and external proprieties of being tlian they
Avho are more abundant in resources.

True happiness, and true excellence, are to be found in
the knowledge and fear of God, and that can be sought
and enjoyed as well in lowly circumstances as in lofty.
Not only so. Lowly circumstances are more favourable
than lofty ones for the acquisition of that knowledge and
fear. Nay further, lofty circumstances have a tendency
to blind and mislead the feeble mind of humanity, and
to render true Avisdom and true excellence difficult of
attainment. '* How hardly," said our Saviour, " shall a
rich man enter into the kingdom."

Let us then be reminded, by the story of Uzziah's
greatness and pride, of the danger of external prosperity
in connection Avith an unrectified heart. And let us not
attach an undue importance to the sunshine that is
merely external. The sunshine of divine love and
favour (even Avith external poverty,) is Jjetter far than
the sunshine oi earthly greatness. You Avill groAv excel-

VZZIAH.

233

lent under the one, while you will grow inflated and un-
worthy under the other. But, to return to Uzziah, we
notice,—

//. The presumptioii in ichich his fulli/ and pride culmi-
nated.

The step which ])ride takes varies, according to the cir-
cumstances or peculiar tcniptM'atnents wliich encompass or
cliaracterize the parties under its influence. Thus David,
in tlie hour of his elation, ordered the people to ))e num-
bered. Aiul Solomon, in the day of his glory, presumed
to build idol shrines for his idolatrous wives in Jeru-
salem. And Amaziah, in tiui day of his supi)os('d great-
ness, when at lil)crty, as he thought, to disregard the
laws of his country, set up m his capital tlie gods of the
children of Seir, wiiose worsliippers himself had over-
thrown. Eacli, you see, followed the bent of his inclina-
tion, hnt they agreed in this, that they all presumed to set
aside the authority of God. They thought themselves so
great, that they might exceed the rule of duty without
l)eing called to account for it. Other less and distin-
guished men might not take such liberties, but they, they
fancied, could i)resume with safety. ]3avid, who had
headed tlie armies of Israel so successfully, might surely
wish to know the nuuiber of his fiirhtiiiL!; men withovvt in-
curring serious blame, as he thought. And Solomon, wIkj
had so recently built the Temple, might surely add a few
ornamental structures to his cajjitul — even though their
object was not strictly in harmony with the })urposes of
Israel, without awakening very decided disapprobation
on the part of God. And Amaziah, who had coufpiered
the Edomites, and proved himself so signal a leader
of the armies of Isiael, might surely set up the gods he
had conquered without oftence. So fancies pride in the
human heart. It would take liberties even with God,
and it expects exceptional action on the part of the divine
government in its own favour. But pride is mistaken.
David found it so — Solomon found it so — and Amaziah
found it so. A i)estilence brought David to his senses, and

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THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

f !

IiUI'KmI liini from llio licii^^hts of lii>; |)ri(l'\ A rent kiiii^-
(loiii ill ♦^'ic casii of Si)l(»iU'»ii taii'^ht .siil).s('(|ii('iit a^ji's, if it
(lid not teach Suhtinoii himself, that the wisest au<l the
most honoured will siiller eclipse if they presume, to dis-
r<'<rard the will and th(; })urposes of (lod. And (jver
thi'itw and ini|)overishment, in the case of Amaziah,
tauL^ht him the tolly of tiilling with, or contravening, the
commands of (utd ! Pride may transgress, and may
fancy itsidf safe in doing so : hut the. laws of the universe
will not long leave the divine honour and government
unvindicated !

But Uzziah — what was tin; form whicli liis [)resump-
tion took 1 Did he numher the |)eople — or set u\) idol-
shrines in -Jerusalem — or do honour to strange gods
thei'c ? No. His fault was not so nui(di in setting np
lival altai's as in taking liberties with (Jod's ;iltar. " He
went into tlu; rempit! of the Lord, to burn incense upon
the altar of incense.'' lie Nvas not a priest : he was not
of the family of Aaron : he had not been consecrated to
the service of the Temph?: he had no authority to act the
part he proposed. Nay, hv. must vi(jlate the ex[)ress
orders of God if he enter into the holy ])lace at all, and
still more so, if he burn incense on the golden altar.
This he ought to have known, and iiuist have known,
after so many years of Jerusalem life and 'rem[)le inti
maey ! And tlu; priests rcunindful him of the fact: for they
" withstood the king, and said unto him: It appertaineth
not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the Loril,
but to the priests, the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated
to burn incense."' Ihit Uzziah was not to be thus
deterre(l. What, he, the King — the successful and all-
]iowerful ruler of -lei'usalem, the ivpresentative of the
lu)use of David too — was lu; to have his will interfered
with by a set of priests ! The thing was outrageous. It
only roused his ire ! Inste:id of jdehling to their rc;-
inonstrances, he grew angry at their presumption. The
pr iSumi)tion, it is true, was all on his side. But pride
blinds or distorts the vision, and Uzziah, all unaware,
for the time being, of the true state of the case, was

uzziAir.

235

it
is-

I',

lit

re.'uly to l)iir.st with iiuligiiatiou ;it the supposed ])r('-
sumption of ihcM) ])ri('Sts. Why sliouM they tliiiik to
(liK'stioii his royal will 1 lie would teach them who was
inasti'i* iu Jcrusalcui ; and he would let thciii know that
lie would not hei prevented IVoiu showing' honour co
heaven, l)y their nai'iow j)rejuiliees or (ttlicial taiu-ies !
Honour to heaven, did 1 say I Yes. It is jiossihle — nay,
it is more than possihle. It is prohahle, that Uzziah per-
suach'd himself, that he was ahout to lionour the (loil of
Israel, hv Imrninii; incense at His altar, lie thouiih*. him-
self fai" al)ov(! the priests, and lu^ felt as if he would
honour the Tem[)lo service liy himself olHciatin^ in the
way he proposed. IJut (jlod asked no such honour at his
hands, and (Jod saw meet Himself to interixtse in a way
which LT/ziah could, not misunderst ind, when the re-
monstrances of the i)ri(!Sts ]U"oved vain. The boiling
an^irer at the priest was forthwith transnnited into a
loathsome leprosy. His brow, l)ut a moment before
flushed with tierce dis])leasure, became pale with the fear-
ful distemp(!r, even while he stood beside the altar of
incense. The priests became immediat(dy aware of the
visitation, and so Uzziah himself They had small
need to hasten his exit after that, thou;j;li it is said they
did do so : for the kinij; himseU' was then in haste to l>e
gone.

No doubt the scales now fell from IJzziah's eyes, ami
he saw in its true light the folly In; had been guilty of
Ihit he ought to have set-n it before. Had he been as
conversant with the divine oracles as he ought to havt^
been as king of the sacred })eople, he nuist have known
that the high ])riest alone was authorized to perform
this service. He must have read the appointment over
and over again. If Ik; did not, he was guilty of neglect-
ing a most iui[)()rtaiit j)art of his royal fuiK.'tions. Here
is the law : " And thou shalt make an altar to burn
incense upon — (said the divine lawgiver to Moses) — of
shittini wood shalt tln.u make it. -'^ * '* '"^ And
Aaron shall burn thereon, sweet incense every morning.
When he dresseth the laraps he shall burn incense u[)on

1«3>

i! W

■'4

i'3G

TIIL DYNASTY (»F DAVID.

it. And when Aai<>H li;.;litetli tlio hiini>.s ut oven, lie
sl'all l)iirii iiiconse upon it — a jn'ipctiial inc<.'nse Ix'funi
tho Lord throii-ihoiit your ^cin'ratioiis. Vc shall offer no
stran,^•(! incciiso tluTfon. •*■ ^ * ■''' And y/a/v;/( sliall
make an atoiicnT'tit npoii tin- lioi-ns of it once in a year
"\\ itli tlic blood ol tlu' siii-ollVriii^- of atoucnit-nts. Once
in a year shall he make atonciiicnt upon ii tlirouj^hout
your gcnrratioTis. It is niit.st holy unto tlio Lord !" Now,
why .should Vzziah interfere with this sacred ai)jioint
Tueiit ! Why shouM lie set his will above \\w will of
(Jod in this niatler 1 'riiou^ii he were kin,<^, ho was only
thereby thn nioic bound to see that the law of God was
fully attended to. Tiansj^avssion on his pait, instead of
beinii; atluiissible, as lie fancied, because of his j^q-t-atness,
was only the n;ure ollensi\ e and inexcusable for that very
reason. (Jieatnes-s on the part of the disobedient may
aggravate the guilt of disobedience, but it eainiot excuses
it. And it was not in ignorance that Uzziah acted.
J'iVen T^evites might not inteifere with the sacred duty of
burning in<-ens(\ And L'zziah nuist have known it. lie
could not be ignt»rant of the story of the terrible fate of
Korah and his com]>any. How then could he presunu^
to act the p^l^ he did 1 Oidy the infatuation of i)ride
can account for it ! lie fanciecl that eveiything became
him, or that any thing Avould l)e excused at his hands.
He had clearly an overwecuiing idea of his own im|>ort-
ance, and a vastly inadecjuate idea of the divine Majesty,
as Avell as of the saci-ediiess of the divine arrangements.
Strange, that he could have lived so long in the neigh
liourhood of (lod's Temple, ami reigned so long over the
people Avho Avorshii>ped at that Temple, and yet could
have so faint an idea of the awe and the reverence
attaching to the saci-ed coui'ts. and to the i)resence of
Him who dwelt in the iuner shrine I

And how wanton, and how gratuitous, his disobe-
dience ! He could ])rop()se no benefit to himself, and no
advantage to his kingdom, by such conduct. Trangres-
sion usually has some plea of pleasure, of profit, but
there was neither pleasure nor profit to be had by

UZZIAII.

237

liiwlcssncs.s ill tilt! case licfi trc us. It avjis tho very
essence of |)resiuii[)ti()ii on the put of Uzziali. It was
tlie very waiitoiiiicss of srlf-uill. It was disobedience
for its own sulcc. It had not even the excuse of a fancied
necessity. To our eyes, it was l»y many d(\L;rees more
]»r('snin[)tuous ;iii<l iii('X(U.-';il)l(' tli;in tlie conduct of Saul,
when, Ijy reason of Saniucrs ioni^ dchiy, lie forced iiun-
self to olfer a l)urnt olh'iing. Anil yet Saul lost his
kingdom for his folly ! Voii reineinl>er the address of
Samuel \v\wn he reached the scene of Saul's inistalveii
ministration: '-And Sainiud said to Saul, Thou hast
done ibolishly. Tiiou has not ke[)t the couiiuandnient
of the Lord thy (}od, wiiich He commandeth thee.
•'•' '■' '•'■ And now thy kingdom shall not continue,"
How offensive then was i\w conduct of Uzziah ! No
necessity pressed on him I No feasible reason j^resented
itself to him ! (July a capricious and childish fancy pos-
sessed him — and for the gratitication of that childish
fancy, he would break through the fences, and trample
upon the sanctities, of the Temple of (}t»d. David, in his
day, said of the God of Israel —

" I'lit' Lord is great, and greatly to be praiHfil,
Jle i.s to be feared above all gods.
Kor all the gods of tlie nations are idols :
Jjut the Jjord made thi; heavi'ns,
Jlononr and majesty are before llim —
Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary."

But Uzziah, so far from synqiathizing with these reveren-
tial sentiments, presumed to take liberties with this
auiirust One — intruded himself uubidden into His sacred
dwelling place — and had the audacity to become augiy
with His priests when remonstrated with for his tolly !

And how nndignitied the position into which the
vanity and presumption of Uzziah brought him I He
must be expelled from the Temple as an intruder. King
though he was, and accustomed to the respect and obe-
dience thousands, he must accept the indignity of
being turned out of the Holy place. You would not like
to be turned out of the house of a neighbour. You

^lil=

^■SWej."'

23>s

lllE DVNA.STY OF DAVID.

would 1»lii.sh to find yourself treated without ceremony,
and expelled as an unwelcome intruder. And yet Uzziah,
till* lord of such niiL;;hty armies, and the proud head of a
distiiiL^uishi-d comtnuHity, must h(! content to accept this
indiguity. ilis vanity had sought a capricious and intru-
sive gratification, and his self-love must now accept the
bitter rehuH" which such conduct Ijrings. Azariah, the
])riest, and fours'-ore of his suljordinates withstood
Uzziah, the King, and said unto him : " It appertaineth
not unto thee, Uzziah, to l)urn incense unto the Lord.
'^ '^ ■''' '•" Go oat of tiic. siuidaarii : (oidy thinlv of this
as addressed to the king I) for thou hast trespassed :
neither shall it be for thine honour from the Lord (lijd."
This indignity, you may well Ixdieve, was l)itter to the
proud mind of the king. And yet this was but a small
part of the re[>roui' and sornnv incuri'ed l)y his ])re-
sunjptuous intrusion. And this leads me to notice : —

///. Tlie, sad term huilion of his brilliant life.

lie was cut oft' from all his royal splendour, and all his
royal employments. Uy reason of his lep'*osy, ho might
no longer mingle in society — nor preside, on occasions of
festivity and rejoicing, over the grandees of Jerusalem.
He had been Avont to be the centre of all eyes : now, he
was removed from all observation. He had been wont
to be admired and praised : now, no words of admiration
or praise saluted his ears. He Avas conversant oidy with
his own loneliness, and his own loathsome disease. How
sad such a position for any man ! How indescribably sad
for Uzziah ! Had lu; been unused to company, and sub-
ject to disease all his life, as many alas are, he could
scarcely have felt it so keenly. They who have never
known the sunny side of life, feed tlie shadows of the
shady side less bitterly. But Uzziah had basked in sun-
shine for many years. His experience of Inightness had
been more intense than usually falls to the lot of man.
He had gone from one sunny eminence to another, until
there was scarcely anything loftier to aspire after. When
lo ! from the very loftiest pinnacle of society, and sur-

UZZIAIl.

239

])ri'-

roiiiulod by admirinp; thousands, he is precipitated into
tin; very d('])tli of (h'tilcnient, and h)wlin('ss and ui'it'f.
Even lioiie tails to liulit \\\> ulooniv eliandicr ; tht'ic ht-iiiii'

iisu

ally n(j recovery tor the leprous.

urnn,

alter

inornin<r he awoke to the most hitter consciousn*

lis

past grandeur was now to hiiu hut a dream. His [)i'eseut
circumstances, a tear':'! reality. And he could not escape
away from the detileuierit that op^tressed liini. Ni»r was
his case tin; better by remendx'rinu' the manner in which
liis trouble overtook him. It was only the worse and the
more bitter. It was incurred by wanton and uncalled for
l)resunii)tion ! J5y senseless pride and foolish anger I It
Avas incurred gratuitously as well as Avickedly. " U 1" he
Avould excLo.m, and that many times a day, '* had I l)ut
Avithheld nsy foolish feet from the sacred teiu])le — had 1
but been content with my loyal honours, and left the
pi'iests to attend to their sacred dutiis, 1 liad notlx'en thus
imnuired, dishonoured, and ag<tnized '. Trouble incurreil
in tlie way (jf duty is not Avithout some solace, but rii}^
grief is without solace. 1 had no call to the service I
undertook. I have no excuse for my tenu'rity 1 (), this
regret, this unsoothed and persistent regret !"

And then, he miglit not nungle with the comrreLcation
avj, en they kept holy day. " lit> Avas cut otf from the
house of the Lor(h" When ex[)elled by Azariah and the
prit!Sts, he was not only ex[)elled for the tinu' ijeing ; he
Avas ex[)elled for all time — so far as his earthly lite was
concerned. It was bad enough to hear the priests ex-
claiming : "do out from the sanctuary !" but it Avas far
woi'se U) feel that thei'e was for hini no return to the
sacred C(jui'ts. David himself was (h'iven from the ark
by the rebellion of .Vbsalnui, but he was brought back
again to the -sacred symbol. >iot so Uzziah, he was
thrust from tin sacred edilice, ne\-er to return ; not even
to its accessil)le courts. He thought to take liberties in
the sacred estabhshmeiit, and he was not periiiitte(l again
to visit it ! lb)W sjtd this reverse and exclusion ! Ami
how gloomy the life that must be passed in exile' from
the centre of beauty, and from the fountain of joy !

:- ii

2tO

THE DYNASTY OF DAMD.

Surely this stoiy of Uzziali ought not to be allowed to
])as.s without leaving a lesson behinil it. And what is
the lesson it teaches to us 1 Why, it illustrates to us ihf
nature ((ml duniji'r of prcsnmption. All sin is }>resuniptioaI
All wilful sin is a daring tritling with divine authority I
All persistent sin is an attempt, on the part of the sinner,
to grasp what God would withhold. And the conse([uence
is rebutf and e\'})ulsion I — expulsion, not only from the
inner recesses of happiness, but even from the outer and
superficial enjoyments already possessed. The incorrigibly
presumptuous shall be banished even from the illumina-
tions of earth, and they can ne\'er enter the })alace of
beauty beyond. They are unfit for the companionship of
angels, or for the employments of the children of light.
Their prospect is outer darkness and endless regret'-.
Uzziah's exile and l('i)ro.sy during the remainder of \\\>,
earthly life, shadinv forth the exile and the leprosy of
the siidul and impenitent throughout eternity. Only in
one thing his earthly reverse fails to set forth all the sad-
ness of the fate of the finally banished. It is this —
Though he was cut off from the assembly of God's wor-
ship})ers, he was not thrown into the society of the
reprobate. Now, the finally impenitent will not only
lose all elevating converse, but they will also be con-
demned to the most ofYensive companionship. They
will have to dwell with the devil and his angels ; that is
with the serpents and the sn ikes of darkne-s ! 0, how
sad the prospcctl Surely we ought to take warning
from the experience of Uzziali, and fear and forsake
that sin and self-pleasing which Avill force on the Holy,
if we do not, the necessity of expelling us from all that
is fair, and sweeping us into the gulf of degradation and
endless woe I

Further, this story of Uzziali teaches us the danger of
Kcr/kcfiur/, or atteiiipt'uKj to supersede, the New Testament
Ili'jh Priest. Too immy are content to leave Him to His
niiaistrations without seekinii" to share in their results —
and too many are ready in their presumption to arrogate
some of His duties, while they decry that which is the

UZZIAH.

241

>iy,

foundation of tliera all — oven the atonomont which Tie
hath made for sin. ^Viid tliink you tiiat (Jod, who liatji
niaile such a wonderful {jrovisioii for huinanitv, will
smile on those who r<'fu.se that ])rovision, and say in
effect, that it was alto<j:;ciher unnecessary ] 0, no ! my
friends ! It is impossible. To neglect, or to attemjit to
supersede the one Mediator and High Priest, is to insult
sujtreme wisdom, as well as to reject inetfalde mercy ;
and none such, abiding in their impenitence, can rightly
expect other than Uz5;iah'.s treatnuMit. 'J hey shall be
driven out of the sanctuary — not oidy out of the typical
sanctuary, but alsfj out of the ])rei)aratory sanctuary of
earth. They shall never enter the Holy })lac(\s not made
witli hands ; and they shall never know aught of the
felicities of the divine friendship ! We would do well
therefore to '• c insider the Apostle aiid High Priest of
our profession." We would do well to connnit our cause
solely into His hands — trusting in I lis atonement and
intercession — and waiting for His forthcoming fi-om the
Unseen, to conduct us into the presence of His divine
Father I How haiipy to be j rized by Him — to b<; pre-
sented by Him befoi'e the throne supreme, without sj)ot
or wrinkle — to be acceptetl in Him — and to i e blessed
with Him for evermore ! They who neglect Him, and
they who will burn incense for themselves imlependently
of His Sacrifice and Priesthood, can have neither part
nor lot in His felicity !

We fear there are fiir too many, even in these enlight-
ened Jays of ours, whose piety reaches no higher than
that of Uzziah, and we would fain have you to examine
yourselves in the light of his history. He sought the
Lord, but it was not with a perfect heart. He thought
to })Ut Heaven off with ap[)earances. His affections were
not with God — neither did his desires go out after that
glorious One. He coidd not say, " As the iiart panteth
for the water brooks, so yearns my soul for the living
God." He could not commune with ttie Holy Supreme,
thus : — " Whom have I in Heaven but Thee, and there is
none in all the earth that 1 desire beSid(;sThee /' Ho could

'■ si

'■''-*» T^r

242

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

not exclaim with iinpassiuiied earnestness, " My heart
and my flesh cry out for tlie hving God ! " 0, no ! He
liad no sucli experiences, and he was content to want
them ! A superficial and unlovin,f,' service was enough for
him. If he appeared occasionally at the temple among
the worshippei'S, he felt as if he had discharged all his re-
ligious obligations, and was at liberty to forget God — and
to pursue his own independent ends. He felt no need of
special or abiding grace ! Thus, from year to year, and
from day to day, until at last a tit of more decided devo-
tion seized him, and then, instead of remembering the
atonement made by the High Priest, the blood of which
was anmially npplied to the horns of the altar of incense,
he seized a censer — passed into the Holy Place — and
would have burnt incense without respect to sacrifice at
all. In the fii'st instance, you perceive, he was content
with a nondnal and superficial worship, and then, when
roused to something more real, he Avould rush unsheltered
and uiduimhled into the divine j'resence. "Without the
shedding of blood there is no remission." Uzziah cared
not for that. He would press to the altar of incense,
where it stood close by the veil of the most Holy Place —
without blood — without burnt-ofVering — and with incense
alone! He had not offered, and could not offer, the in-
dispensable preliminary offering as the l»asis of his in-
cense-burning, lie was not only presumptuous in enter-
ing into the Holy Place at all ; ])ut he was specially ])re
sumptuous in attempting to burn incens* without respect
to the great annual atonement, which Avas the foundation
of the service he affected, and without regard to which
even Aaron himself would have found no acceptance for
liis incense-burning !

See then in Uzziah the image of too maiiy in our own
day, and be sure that it is otherwise Avith you. In the
first instance, be not content with a merely external
service, like that which Uzziah oftered for many years,
for that is of small value in the eyes of Ilim who search
eth the heart, a!id who knoweth Himself to be entitled to
all love. And in the second place, if desirous of something

UZZIAII.

243

and

more, beware how 3'uu attempt to worsliip (Jod without
respect had to tlie <j;reat ott'eruig and propitiatory sac-
ritice of Clirist. That offering alone hiys tlie foundation
of acceptance before God, It matters not liow much in-
cense you may burn, if it have no respect to thi; atone-
ment of Calvary it is of no avail. It is the atonement of
Calvary that gives to the Avorship of the unworthy Jra-
(jrance and arreptuhUllii. A\'ilhout respect to this, we are
l)ut intiuders in the sacred temple ; but with faith in this —
with bi'lie\ing regard to this, we need not fear extrusion or
displeasuic, nor need we doul)t of full and loving accei)t-
ance in the presence of the Holy. The apostle understood
this well when la; wrote : — " Having therefore^ brethren,
boldiu'ss to enter into the holiest hii /he hhiotl of Jesit:^ — And
havinti; an Hiiih l*riest over tlu; house of God. Let vs dniir
near trifh a true heart, and infii/l. ((.ssnrance of faith." Y'es:
In the full assurance of faith. For then the Gracious
will receive us, our incensednirning will not bt> hindered
or rejected, and our comforts and hea\'enly experiences
Avill mightly al)oun(L

(QUESTIONS OX CZZIAI7.

What was tlio character of tlio greater part of this reigii i

iSunuy and successful.
How mauy warriors could lie bring into the held i

300,01)0.
What was the estimation in which he was held ?

His name spread far abroad, for hewasniarvellously helped
till he was strong.
Were liis solicitudes and his glory solely military /

No ; he built towers in Jerusalem, and in the desert, and
gave his attention to husbandry as well.
Was he troubled by invasion from without or revolt from
within ?
No ; he enjoyed h)ng and uninterrupted peace.
And were his advantages solely external .«'

No indeed. He enjoyed also the revelation of God. And
he seemed even to seek to improve this privilege, for it

V^^S^i

244

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

e souglit the

Lord so lone: as Zechariah

is said,
lived."

What miyht 1)0 looked for from a son of David so happily
situated ?
Gratitude surely, and pr(ij,a'OS3ivo excellence.
IJutAvhat really was the result on his moral nature ?

Pride and inflation. He fancied himself so <,M'eat as to be
above all law, and at liberty to do as he liked.
How comes it that such shoidd l)e the effect of pros2)erity /
It arises from the deranged state of tlie allections in rela-
tion to God. Let the heart be truly devout, and pros-
perity Avill minister to its excellence, but let the heart be
misi)laced, self-centered, and undevout, and prosperity
Avill only intensify its mistakes.
What then shoidd be the leading desire of yoimg people ?
Heart rectiiication rather than external pro,s])ei'ity. Nay,
more, heart rectification as a necessary preliminary to
the right use and enjoyment of external prosperity. The
mistake among men, both of yoxuig people, and of par-
ents in relation to their j^oung jjcople, is, they desire
external pros])erity y?;-*/, or external prosperity alone. In
either case they are wrong. They should desire heart
rectiiication lirst ; and external prosperity only so far as
it can be made subservient to triie inoral and religious
excellence.
What was the particular sliape Avhicli the presumption of
Uzziali took /
He went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon
the altar of the Lord.
What did he propose to himself thereby ]

We cannot exactly see. It was certainly to please his own
fancy in the tirst instancr. but possil)lylie might persuade
himself that he would thereV>y honour God.
How could he possibly think to humour God in this way ?
^^'hy, he thought so much of liia royalty and greatness as
to fancy tliat he could confer honour <*it the temple by
burning incense in it.
Did the priests accede to his humour in this, • r taink the
ii iiiple ' onoured by the .st-rvice on tlic part of the
king \
Not at all. T]»»»T resistfi him. and I'emonstrated against
his purpose, iss'irin;; Liiu ihat it would not be foi his
h(jnour :f he persisted .
How did he receive their remonstrances ?

L'ZZIAII.

245

Juat as the proud are wont to receive reinonstrauces — with

fiatniui^ and iudi.Ljnant anger.
lie conld not brook that the priests, whom he looked (hiwn
npoii, and even considered as his snhjects and servants,
shoidd thwart his purpose, or stand in his way.
And liow was tlie contest between them settk'd /

(jiod interfered, and smote the i)ioud king with k>p)rosy.
Did he then persist in Ids purpose i

No : lie liasted to leave ';he temple, in conformity with the
Avishes of the j»riests.
Was it for his honour that he thus dared to interfere witli the
temple service /
The A'ery contrary. He was covered with shame as an ex-
pelled intruder, even apart from the terrific disease
wh.ch had fallen upon him.
And what was the end of his Ijrilliant life ?

Seclusion and hunuliation— regret and self-reproach.
Was there no S(dace for his wretched state ?

None : so far as this life was concerned. Tf jienitent and
hiuuble — he might have hope for the unseen, but none
on the liither side of time. He min'jjled no more in hu-
man society, and he visited never again the sacred tempde,
which he had so foolishly invaded.
What is the general lesson which Uzziah's folly teaches us I
The danger of presuu)ption and si'lf-will. No matter how
high a man's station may be, he cannot safely disregard
the divine laws, or the divine arrangements concerning
Avorship.
What is the particular lesson Ave learn from it ?

To beware how we neglect, or attempt to supersede the
NcAV Testament 7//(//i Fritd. If it Avas thus dangerous
and otlensi\'e to interfere Avith the duties oi the Old
Testament High Priest, it nnist be still more so to inter-
fere Avith those of th^* NeAV Testament.
Are there any in moderM times Avho may be said to do so ?
Far too many. All do so who attempt to ai)proach Uod
Avithout His mediation, or Avithout regard to His propi-
tiatory sacrifice. And there is reason to believe that
there are many thus.
But Avill scientitic attainments on the part of worshippers not
Avarrant an approach to Hod Avithout sacritice or
mediation ?
Not any more tiian the proud prosperity of Uzziah. They
Avho Avonld approach Avith acceptance must have respect

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TIIK DYNASTY OF DAVID.

to tlio constituted and consecrated mediation of the Son
of (iod.
Tell nie again, in conclusion, tlie errors to be a;(iided, as
suggested hy the life of Uzziali /
Mere external service, which furnishes no adetjuato break-
water against piide or inflation ; and worship that is
independent of the great Mediator, and of His great oll'-
ering and propitiatory sacritico.

XII. JOTIIAM.

And li(j dill that wliicli was rit,dit in tlit' si'^dit df tlic Lord,
accordini,' to all that his fatlier U/ziah did : howlx-it ho fiituriMl
not in the tuniplu of the Lord. And the peoi)le did yet cor-
ruptly. —11. Chron. xxvii. 2.

mA<

IIHRE is something very quiet and un()l)ti'u-
sive in this king's reign. He is neither in-
vaded from Avitnout nor agitated from
Avithin. No potentate from tlie l)anks of tlie
/''Nile comes against him to (h'.s])oil him. No Assy-
riaii monarcli makes l)oastful denKHistration Ijcforc
his capital. Nor does any ]]al)ylonish conqueror

f carry captive any portion of his subjects, lie is
allowed quietly to develop his character as a man
and as a ruler.

And he had much to aid him in choosing his
course. To say nothing of the 1)ooks of Moses,
which may have fallen into forgetfulness dui-ing
his time, ho had the history and experimcrs of the
kings of the house of David to warn and to guide
Especially he had the experiences o" his father
Uzziah, before his eyes. Then he was a contemporary
with Isaiah and with Micah. He miglit have known
the way of wisdom (and that in its plenitude) if he had
really wished it, by means of these agents of heaven.
And he had time t(j show what his })rinciples really were.
His reign, indeed, was short as compared with that of
his father, but it was long enough to show what ho
really was. For sixteen years he had, if I may say so,
the fortunes of Israel in his hands, and yet he made no

him.

248

THE DYNASTY OV DAVID.

l\m

visiblo iiiiprovoinont of the kin,L!;(l(»in all that time. He
li't't it as III' IuiukI it, and jtasscd away witliout ('slal)lisli-
iii^ any claim on ii'mcmljrancc, or leaving any iriati'riul
for ciiloiry.

]5uL we will notice more particnlarly : — the style of his
goodness, the icli^ions state of his kingdom, and the in-
adicjuacy of his administration.

/. The ."ifi/Ic of A/n f/oodness.

That lie was a ;.n)od piince is generally assnmcd or con-
ce le(l. Commentators s])eak of him in a tone of com-
m-ndation and say that his example was holy. The
sa u'ed writer says, that he did that which was right in
the sight of tlu; Lord, and assigns as a reason for his
might and ])iosp(!rity, that he ])ici)ared his ways Ix'fore
the Lord his (Jod. And one thing seems decideilly to
favonr this view of his chai'acter, viz., there is no glaring
ineonsisteiicy recorded of hiin. Li veiy niany cases the
goodness that is oidy apparent is s >en in its trne charac-
ter in the i)rogress of events. Tiie heart that is nn-
linml)le(l and nnriMiewed cannot pass throngh tlu^ trials
or sednctions of life without showing its ])ride or .'elf-
will. Thus the father and the grandfather of Jotham,
though it is .said of both of them tliat they did that
which was right in the eyes of the Lord, manifested
great presumption a:.d infatuation l)efore they had com-
})leted their histoiy — the one in setting up the idols of
ISeir at Jenisalem, and the other by entering into the
temi)le contrary to the e.xpress arra'-gements of heaven.
Time and circumstances brought out, as it were, and
made manifest thoir trne char.acter. Eut no such dis-
closure is made in the case of Jotham. He continued as
he began, and died without any glaring faults attaching
to his name. There is little said about him, but that
little is more commendatory than condemnatory. His
name, too, A\-ould seem to favour the idea of his goodness,
if we assnm(^ its fitness and relation to him who bore it
(as many of the llebi-ew names are found to be). It
means " the perfection of God,'' or " God's perfection,'' How

Z i If

JOTIIA^r.

249

liappy to l»oar sncli a iiaiiic, o>;])ociiilly if doscriptivo of
him who bears it ! Tlie .si<^iiirR'iiti()ii even of Diivid's
name is not luftier (ir nioic lionouiahle !

Still, my fi'iends, we have our douhts concerning
Jotham's pxxliiess. W'v fear that it w;'.,>^ external rather
than spiritual — and ncL^^ative rather than positive. He
certainly does not laidv with great sinners, but neither
does he raidc with great saints. Mark well the rejiort of
Ins right <loing. It is not sinij)ly said in our text, "that
he did that which was light in the sight of the Tjord,"
but it is added, " according to all that his father Uz/iah
did." And then if we turn hack to the account given of
Uzziah's right-tloing, we tind it to l)e of a rather suspi-
cious character. In the fourth xcrse of the foinier chapter,
We tind it recorded " that U/ziah did that which was
right in the sight of the Lord, accoiding to all that his
father Amaziah did." And if we turn still further back
to the account of Aniaziah's goodness, we find it stated
(in tlu! second verse of the twenty-litth chapter,) "that
he did that .vhich was right in the sight of the Lord,
hut not with a perfect heart." Here then I fear we have the
type of Jotham's goodness. If so, it was not whole
hearted. It was not loving. It was not li\ing and
potent. He did that which was right externally, but not
because he knew and loved ijod with suprenu', and
absorbing love. He maintained the forms of religion,
but felt neither its powers, nor its preeminent import-
ance.

Nor ]"t it be thought that we attach too much imi)ort-
ance to this account of his g'(.tdness, as of the same type
with that of his aiher and grandfather. The sacred
writer is specially careful in this very matter. Wh.en he
wishes to indicate a loftier i)iery, he is careful to do so.
Tlius in the case of Hezekiah it is said, in the twenty-
ninth chai)ter and second verse, " he did that which was
right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David
his father had done," and so of Josiah, in the second
verse of the thirty-fourth chai)ter, " he did that which
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THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

ways of David his fatlier, and doclined neither to the
right hand nor to tlie left." Here, you see, is a difterent
type of goodness from that of Amaziah. David was a
man after God's own lieart — filled with love and true
faith, though his history was darkened disgracefully ;
but Amaziah was a man of (liridcd mind and history —
having his affections misplaced while his exterior conduct
was that of a worshipper of the true God — and Jotham's
goodness was after the standard or type of that of Ama-
ziah — not after the standard or type of that of David.
Had Jotham's goodness been of the true David type, the
sacred writers, I have no doubt, would only have l)een
too glad to say so. And even the statement in the sixth
verse of this chapter may seem to favour this view of
Jotham's goodness. Thus it said, " that he prejiared his
ways before the Lord his God." This style of expression
is perfectly consistent with the merely external obe~
dience. When a loftier or more searching goodness is
spoken of, it is the heart that is mentioned. Thus con-
cerning Jehoshaphat it is said (19-3) by Hanani, the
seer, when reproving him for joining Ahab in his wars,
*' nevertheless there are good things f(Mind in thee, in
that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land,
and hast i)reparetl thine heart to seek God." Tliis is
sometliing searching and true. The heart is the centre
of the being. If it is prepared to seek the Lord, the
ways, or the history, will tak(! complexion accordingly,
but the converse is not necessarily true. The wai/s maybe
prepared before God, and yet the heart remain estranged
from God. That is to say, inferior and earthly consider-
ations may induce a man to give external attention to
the divine ordinances, while his heart is neither submis-
sive nor riglitly directed : and we almost fear concerning
Jotham that tliis was the type of his goodness — we
would l)e glad to believe it was otherwise, but we cannot,
with the brief notices before us, be confident that it was
so. We think there is room for doubt in the case. We
go no further than this : — there is room for doubt as to
his j'oodncss in the right and high sense. There is no

»' -

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JOTnA.M.

251

'Hi

■Hi

room for (loiil)t as to his cxtornal walk. Tlioro is no
doubt tliat he atteiKh'd to tlie 'IVinpU'! servicp, and walked
not in the ways of l»aaliin. Theru^ is no doubt, further,
that <^ood arose to himself and to his kin,i;d<»ui from this
external re;^ard to the |>roprieties of Israel life. But we
think there is doubt as to the spiritual eharacter of
Ills obedience. A\'e cannot positively say that he was a
true son of David, enliijhtened, lovin<,', and devotetl.

Now, it is desirable that the servants of (Jod siiould
leave a clearer record than this behind them. It is a pity
when survivors are left to weigh proba])ilities, and merely
to hope ai^ainst hojje. And too many, you know, die
thus. They leave such a r"Cord behind them, that, while
hojie concerning them is not wholly e.xeluded, it is yet not
wholly pervading and satisfactory. They were not cei'-
tainly indiH'erent to the divine .service, but they were not
wholly or resolutely devoted to it. Dubiety rests upon
their destiny, and oidy (Jod can determine how far tluiy
were the true servants of that which is impeiishable, or
whether they were the servants of the imperishable at
all ! How ha])py when survivors can commit the remains
of their esteemed relatives to the dust in sure and artain
hope of a blessed resurrectirMi ! How hapjiy when they
know and feel that the life; of heaven was ali'eady l)egun
in th<^ hearts of those that have gone ! And when they
could as soon doubt of their own existence as doidit
concerning the hapi)y fortunes of the departed ones they
loved !

And every one of us ought to labour to leave such a
conviction behind him. It is not enough to have a name
and a place among the loyal externally merely. It is not
enough to have so nuich of the semblances of piety as that
the judgiuent of charity must beinvoked on our behalf, er<'
we can be reckoned among the good. Wi; should endea-
vour to put the matter beyond dis])ute. AVe slutuld give
ourselves wholly and unreservedly to the Iletleenier.
We should listen to llim in all things, and keep stedfastly
clear of every thing that is inconsistent with His character
and purposes. In the words of scripture wo should en-

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252

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

(leavour " to make our calling and election sure." That is,
we should make it plain to all who know us, tliat our
loyalty to Him who is " the 1 ruth " is neither half-hearted
nor fitful. We should let the friends of the Redeemer
have power to say of each of us, " we can cahjulate upon
him — we know his sympathies are wholly with us." And
we should let the worldly and the self-pleasing be equally
sure that, though they may look for kindness at our
hands, they are not to expect from us any unworthy com-
pliances, in favour of questionable or disobedient ways.

Peter, in his second epistle speaks of an " Entrance l)e-
ing ministered abundantly unto tlie everlasting kingdom
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." And tliis, we
have been in the habit of fancying, relates to the sentiments
of survivors on earth, rather than to the action of angels
in heaven. It is very pleasant to think of briglit and be-
nignant angels attending to, and ministering to, the dis-
embodied believer as he enters into the kingdom tliat
never declines, and this may be, and probably is, the
privilege and libertj '^nd the felicity of the true and living
disciples of the Lord ; but we think the apostle is lather
thinking of the ministering saints around the dying couch
than the unseen angels around the disembodied spirits.
And these, as they close the eyes of a departing brotlur,
rejoice for his victory and emancipation, and congratulate
each other, that another has been added to the general
assembly and Church of the first-born which are written
in heaven. It is not merely a matter of hope with them,
that he hath gone to the triumphant side of the universe.
It is a matter of certainty. Yes ; wiiere the history hath
been a history of faith and patience and consistency, the
comfortand the assurance concerning the departed, is great
and cheering. Survivors can smile through their tears as
thc^y talk of the last struggle, and wish that themselves were
ashappily shrouded by the luminous though unseen cloud
of love — and then as the report of the death goes forth,
all who have known the humility and spirituality of the
departed, minister in effect by their sentiments and com-
placency to the abundant entrance of the same into the

f^ (

JOTHAM.

253

That is,
that our
f-hcarteJ
edeeiiier
lite upon
s." And
! equally
J at our
thy corn-
ways,
ranee be-
kingdom
this, we
itiineuts
f angels
:and he-
the dis-
[)m that

is, the
id living
s I'ather
g couch

spirits.

)r()tlur,
ratulate
general
written
h them,
niverse.
ry hath
ncy, the
is great
tears as
.'es were

n cloud
s f(^rth,

of the
id com-
iito the

everlasting kingdom of the Lord. We have had an in-
stance of this very lately in the case of James Hamilton
of London, of sainted memory; Ministers and Christians of
all denominations wept and rejoiced around his tomb.
Ko doubt crossed the minds of any as to his happy for-
tunes. His course had been so decided, and so consist-
ent, that Jill were satisfied as to the result. So unanimous
and clear were they that, had that mourning assembly
had the keeping of the gate of Paradise, they would have
opened it with one consent to the spirit of him around
whose remains they were gathered. And myriads who
were not present on the occasion, when they heard of the
death, sympathized with the sentiments of those who
buried him. They had not seen him in the flesh, but
they had felt the fragrance of his heavenly spirit breath-
ing through his writings, and they too ministered, though
more remctely, to hi;; entrance into glory, by their glad
consent and approval ! An«l this is an illustration of
what we regard as an abundant entrance into the ever-
lasting kingdom. The party in question lived in the
Lord, and died in the Lord, and the benedictions of
Heaven rest upon his memory, while the Church below
pronounces over his remains the inspired words appropri-
ate to such an occasion. "Blessed are the dead that die in
the Lord from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit, that
they may rest from their labours : and their works do fol-
low them." We admit that this is a peculiar case. There
are not many men so gifted, or so advanced in Christian
character and graces, as the party just named, but the
same result substantially may be expicted in the case of
every humble and consistent believer. Everyone cannot
occupy prominent positions, nor be extensiv«'ly or uni^' »*-
sally known to the reading Church, but, every faithful
one may expect an abundant entrance into glory, accord-
ing to the extent of the circle in which he moves, and the
clearness of the record which he leaves behind him.

And here it is, that Jotham came short. His record is
not clear and satisfictory. His goodness is after anin-
ferior type, and he prepared only his ways, not his heart,

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254

THE DYNASTY OK DAVID.

before tlie Lord. He followed in the wake of Aiiiaziah,
and not in the wake of David. Worldly policy, or earthly
influences may account f(jr all the jL^oodness he displayed,
and therefoie the j^ates oi' Paradise cannot be opened to
him on the part of survivors, without somethinj^ like hesi-
tation or uncertainty. Let it not be so with any of you.
Let your devoted ncss be so decided, and yt)ur character
so consistent, that survivors shall have no doubt concern-
in_i; you when you are siimmoned to the unseen. na])i)ily,
you have a moi'e ^doiious leader to fijUow and to imitate
than .lotham had. J)avid was his highest pattern of
kingly excellence, but David's Lord is yours. You must
not only not rest in any halfway, or Amaziahdike excel-
lence. You nnist go beyond David himself in consistency
and })urity. Your guide and example is ]»erfection itself.
His excellence is unclouded ] his love perfect; his meek-
ness, without a shadow of presumi)tion or self-will, and
His purity without stain. Only do that which is right
in the siglit of the Lord, according to all that your divine
Leader did, and then your connexion with him will be
apparent, ]je faithful, loving, meek, and pure, after His
standard, and in the faith of His mediation, and you too
shall have administei'ed unto you, at your departure from
time, when the destined hour arrives, an abundant en-
trance into the everlasting kingdom of your Lord and
►Saviour.

We have now to notice concerning Jotham : —

H. Tim rc/i(jious staie of liifi hingdom.

That was very corrupt and very sail. The truth is
told in a single sentence in our text, viz : — " And the
people did yet corruptly." They had been walking un-
worthily in the days of Uzziah, and there Avas no change
for the better on the accession, or during the reign of
Jotham. At Jerusalem, the forms of worship were main-
tained, but the spirit of worship had, to a great extent,
died out. And, in outlying and runl places, idolatrous
practices were freely and very generally observed. The

i. \

JOTIIAM.

255

people, indeed, took their tone from Samaria, and the
standard of Samaria was heatliendom.

And we can see how it shouhl be so. During tlie lunu;
reign of Uzziah, prosperity had rehixed the b(»nds of
piety, and gi^'en occasion to a spirit of license and world-
liness among the people. Filled with good things, and
free from alarm, they were content, so far as Heaven was
concerned, with a nominal subjection. Tlicy lost siglit of
the peculiarities of their nation, and of the purposes fur
which they had been called out from among the ])eo|)le.
Instead of being witnesses for God, and against all false
gods, they weie ready to indorse, nay themselves to prac-
tise, the idolatry of the surrounding jjeople. And the
evil was of longer standing than tlw: days of Uzziah,
though that reign had greatly ft)stt'red it. For one hun-
dred and forty years, even from the <lays of .b'hoshaphat,
with the exception of the limited inlluence of Jt'hoia<la,
there had been no positive intluenoe for good exerted
from the throne. In the days of .lehoram, Ahaziah, and
Athaliah, all was heathenism and folly. And aUhough a
check was put upon this folly during tin; minority of
Joash, it was but partial and superficial. And the evil
was ready to burst fort]- again so soon as opportunity
was furnished. Accordingly Jehoiada was no sooner re-
moved, than all things in Jerusalem reverted to their
former evil condition. Uzziah, as king, had not lent his
influence in favour of the evil, but he had done nothing
to check it, and the spirit tf heathenism had only grown
among his subjects during his long reign. Jotham, on his
accession, still withheld the countenance of tin; throni! fi-om
the false and debasing rites of idolatry, but the people did
yet corruptly. The high i)laces were not removed, " the
people sacriticed and burnt incense in th(! high })laces."
And with these practices, we know, immoralities were
ever associated, defiling the people and the kingdom.
And of this sad state of things, we have the most ample
evidence from the testimony of then living witnesses.
Isaiah was contemporary with Jotham. In the very
year King Uzziah died and Jotham became sole monarch,

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THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

that prophet saw a vision of the Lord in tlie temple, and
was constrained to cry out, " Woe is me ! For I am un-
done ; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell
in thenii<lst of a people of nnclean lips, for mine eyes have
seen the King, the Lor<l of Hosts !" And if this seems
but a small ground of condemnation — seeing that all
(even Isaiaii himself,) are unholy in such a contrast, and
under such ilhunination, we have but to turn to the tirst
chapter of Isaiah's j)rophecies to see the true state of
things in Judah during the reign of Jotham. The first
six verses of that chapter run thus : — " Tiie vision of
Isaiah's the son of Amoy, wliich he saw concerning Judah
and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziali, Jotham, Ahaz, and
Hezukiah, Kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and give
ear. Dearth, for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished
and broug'it up children, and they have rebelled against
me. The ox knowetli his owner, and the ass his master's
crib ; but Israel doth not know, my people doth not con-
sider. Ah, sinful nation, a peojde huh'U with initiuity, a
seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters, they have
forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of
Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. Why
should ye be stricken any more 1 Ye will revolt more
and more, the whole head is sick, and the whole heart
faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head
there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and braises, and
putrifying sores, they have not been closed, neither molli-
fied with ointment." Another sad testimony to the de-
generate state of the Jewish Church and kingdom we find
in the fifth chapter, ver.'^es 1-7, and Micah testifies in the
same strain (or rather the Holy one by Mieah,) Micah I.
1-7-9.

Nor do these witnesses confine themselves to general
statements or criminations. They tell us of the prevailing
faults in detail. Of the women, fur example, it is said,
that they were " haughty, and walked witii stretched out
necks, and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they went,
and making a tinkling with their feet." And God, by the
prophets, threatens, becauseof their vanity and immodesty

.lOTHAM.

lTiT

to take away their silly oniaments, aiul to clothe them in
sackcloth and sorrow instead. The catalogue of tliese
ornaments and vanities is given in the third chapter of
Isaiah, verses 18-24. You can easily imagine how children
would be trained under such mothers and such fashions.
Instead of modesty, and humility, and patience, and do-
mestic virtues, and piety among young j)eople there woidd
be vanity, envy, rivalry, extravagance, impiety and crime.
Remaining restraints would be swept aside, and univeisal
license and self-will would hold sway.

Then the men were no better than the womeji. They
are described as avaricious, drunken, impious, and un-
scrupulous. Hear the woes denounced against them and
their crimes : Isaiah, r)th chapter, " Woe unto them that
rise up early in the morning that they may follow strong
drink, that continue until night, till wine inflame them !
And the harp and the viol, the tabret and pipe, and wine
are in their feasts ; but they iigard not the work of the
Lord ; neither consider the operation of his hands. Woe
unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and
sin as it were with a cart rope : that say. Let him make
speed and hasten his work, tliat we may see it ; and let
the counsel of the Holy One of Israel jlraw nigh and
come, that we may know it I Woe unto them that call
evil good, and good evil ; that put darkness for light,
and light for darkness ; that jiut bitter for sweet and
sweet for bitter ! Woe unto them that are wise in their
own eyes, and prudent in their sight ! Woe unto them
that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to
mingle strong drink ; which justify the wicked for reward
and take away the righteousness of the right(^ous from
him !"

And what of the princes or chief men/ Hear tliese
as described by Micah : They were cruel as they were
ignorant and ungodly ; see Micah iii. I -.'3. And tin; pro-
I)hets : were they no 1 tetter < Not at all I Micah iii. o-G.

And how should such guides lead the wandering peo-
pli! back from their wanderings 1 If the blind h'ad tlie
blind, you kn«nv what must be the result.

258

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

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To complotc the picture : If a truo prophet appeared
amon^ tlieni, instead of liHteiiin^ and obeying, they h.ated,
rejected, [)ersecnted, or slew him. They had no ears for
the words of (Jod, as theiy had no (U;sire for the know-
h'dge of the holy. They were hent on folly, and were
ripening, accordingly, for captivity and overthrow.

Vou se(! the catalogue : the women were vain, the men
were scdfish and i)leasure-loving ; the princes, or chief
men, were cruel ; the prophets had no light, and the true
servants of heaven were unacknowledged or spurned !
How sad that it should be so with any people ! How
sad when all the agencies of good become the agencies of
evil ! when the females influence, and the princely influ-
ence, and the prophetic influence, are all on the side of
disarrangement and ungodliness. And if sad in the case
of any people, how much more s.ad when such a state of
things pn^vails among a sacied and privileged people !
And the Jews, you know, wt^re a sacred and privileged
people. They had been separated from the nations that
they might serve God, and testify against evil, and pre-
pare the world for better things. Instead of this, we
find them, in the days of Jotham, wholly unconscious of
their high duties, and far more ready to imitate the idol-
atrous than to testify against idolatry. Like an army
which forsakes its own standards, and joins the usurper it
was intended to put down, the Jewish subjects of Jotham
joined the insurgents against heaven, and only con-
firmed the rebellion which they were expected to confront
and contend against. We may well grieve for their in-
sensibility, their unfaithfulness and their folly.

And further, by the way, we have reason to grieve that
this state of things hath not been confined to Old Testa-
ment times. It continues, to a great extent, even to the
present <lay, though the privileges of the nations have
been mightily extended. The Scriptures have been com-
pleted, printed, and circulated, and " the people do yet
corruptly." The Son of God hath been revealed as the
Saviour and centre of the nations, and the various tribes
of humanity remain yet scattered and uuharmonized.

ippeared
!y hated,
carH for
\i know-
lul were
w.

the men
or chief
the true
ipurned !
! How
encies of
i\y influ-
B side of
the case
I state of
people !
rivileged
ions that
iiid pre-
this, we
scious of
tlie idol-
an army
surper it
Jotham
Illy con-
confront
their in-

lieve that
1 Testa-
n to the
ns have
sen corn-
do yet
d as the
IS tribes
Qouized.

.lOTHAM.

259

The darkness is past, and the true lifJjht now shineth, and
yet it may he said of (Miristendoni, " The ox kuuwcth
liis owner, and tlie ass iiis master's cril)," hut the {icoph's
who have been favoured with diviiu; revelation, mitlier
know nor consider. They will not come to the liedccmer,
that they may have life ; iu>r will they learn tin- pntprir-
ties of a heavenly discipleship. Women still prefer j'xtmial
display to tiie meek and (iuiets))irit whicii is al>idin<^ love-
liness. Men still give themselves to worldliuess, iutoxi-
cation and duplicity. Princes or chief men are still srlf-
ish and cruel. Prophets are still false and uneidightenrd,
and the true, humble, devoted, truth telling servants of
heaven are still overlooked and disregarded, if not s[>urn-
ed or persecuted. No doubt, there are faithful men now,
as there were faithful men in the times of Jotham, btjt
the state of Christendom, as a whoh', is not l)etter than
the state of Judea in the times in qu«!stion. Look to the
state of any nation in Europe or America, and you will
find but too ample evidence ot general alienation from
God, and general unconsciousness or indifference to the
great privileges which revelation and Christianity have
brought within their reach. We of these times have
nothing to boast of ov(U' the men of the times of Jotham.
This, however, as we have said, only by the way. Having
seen the state of Judah under this king, we hav»! now to
notice —

///. The inadcquari/ of hi.s Adininistititioii.

See how he employed himself, — " He l)uilt the high
gate of the house of the Lord, and on the wall of ( )[ilu'l
(a fort on the city wall) he built much. He built Cities
in the mountains of Judah, and in thr^ forests he built
castles and towers. He fought also with the king of l\\{'
Ammonites, and prevailed against him."

And this was all. Fox sixteen years he occupied him-
self with building, or war, and made no etlort after refor-
mation. *' The people did yet corruptly," and he mad<
no attempt to prevent them. Vanity, avarice, drunken-
ness and profanity prevailed all around him, and lu^ had

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200

THE DYNASTY OF DAVm.

noithor cyrs to sco it, nor wish to have it otlicrwisc. O,
how truly uiiHkc tlu^ pious kin«^'s ot'tlio <iyiijisty to wliich
hv })('longs ! Jrliosliii|thiit, when lie found liis kin^'(h»m
wrapiH'd in ip,noranc(' and s))iritual daikncss, hihourrd to
dispel the darkiM'ss. lie scut conjinissionrrs thrctUji^h the
land to trach the law, aiul niadr a tour hinisrit' throui^h
his kin<,'doni to hrinj^ the iicoplc hack to (Jod. If*' <lid
not occupy his attention merely with huildin^. Hezckiah
a^^'ain, after the sad reij^n of Ahaz, ^athere«l the ju'oplo
to^^ether to a special passover, and then sent them forth
to hieak down the imaj;;es, and cut down the f^roves, and
throw down the hii,'h jdaees and thealtais throu<j;h .ludah
an<l lienjaniin — in Mphraim also an<l Manasseh. IHh first
and great anxiety was to recall his peo]»le to the true
(Jod. Aiul so of .Fosiah : aft«'r the apostate days of Man
asseh and Amoii, he caused to he hroken and (h'stroyed
all the symhols of idolatiy, and hound the pojde in a
covenant to walk after the Lord, and to keej) His com-
mandments and His testimonies, and His statutes with
with all the heart, and with all the soul. He thought of
.something other than merely ornamental huilding. Alas
for .lotham ! He sent foith no commissioners to teach
the law. Though his kingdom was corru}»t and far
astray, he did notliing to rectify what was wrong. He
sunnnoneil no special passover. He sent forth no agents
to destroy the idolatrous groves or to overturn the idol-
atrous altars. 'J'he i)eople did yet conuptly ; but the fact
made no [)r:ictical impression on the mind of .lotham.

It is clear that he had no eulighteiu'd view of the posi-
tion and j)ur})oses of his kingdom. He felt not the
obligations that ivsted on himself and on his people to
testify for (Sod, and against eveiy thing debasing and
erroneous. Holy zeal formed no j»ait of his character.
He was content sim])ly to live and to r«'ign. He was
content to allow to evil all the advantages it had gained,
through ye'ars of formality and indilfeivnce to divine
Though in a position to rectify, he put forth no
t in that direction. He just left the moral and
ions state of his kingdom to )irovide for itself, and

things

is.'. O,
o which
iiiigdom
)un'(l to
»uj<h the
thn)ii<;h

Ilr (lid
h'zckiali
(' people
'111 foith
ves, and
li •ludah
His tirst
Aw true
of Man
I'stroyed
])le in a
lis com-
tes v'ith
)ii<fht of
J. Alas
to teach
md far
ig. He
» iiiicnts
he idol-
the fact
lam.
he posi-
not the

ople to
ing and
laractei'.

He was
gained,

divine
"orth n(->
lal an<l
ielf, and

lOTIIAM.

2<U

gave hin^^elf to infrrioi- pursiiits. True, Im- ♦'ntfi«'d not
into the tempi*' presumptuously aftei' the luaiuier *A' his
father Uzziah, hut that wa« small meiit. Tiie conse-
(jiu-nces of his father's pn-suniption in tiiat particular
wen' too iinmediate and too manifest to permit of imita
tion on his part, lie had no faiu-y for the lejuosy, and
therefore he withheld himself from profane intinsion.
]>Ut if he left the pliests to hum iuceuse, he left also the
p«'ople to do corruptly. "•• reigned in Isiael iudfM'd, Itut
without any appreciation d he peculiarities of his kiug-
<lom, or of the course whi« h the religious state of that
kingdom called him t<> /ursi e. Ho" then shall w<' esti-
mate this Prince in illation to tlie sacred dynasty to
which he helonged ( N( t ' gh hy any means. Not in-
d«'ed among the worst o^' \v • hou;)e. Xot with .lehoiam,
or Ahaziah, or Joash. l>ut yet not among the truest ;
not with Jehoshaphat, llezekiali, and -losiah. He he-
longed to the house of David, hut he \v!^< 'tot animatetl
with th(! lofty zeal of that house. He was n :)t a true
representative of the founder of that dynasty, nor an un-
questioned tyi)e of that great Princes that was yi t to
carry tiie honours of that dyn.i.sty to its destined and
heavenly elevation. His tiame indeed pointed to the
heavenly glory, but not his administration. His name
means, as we have said, the pirfcrfinii nf G'tx/, hut he bore
that name imidequately, if not unworthily. Had In-
walked in lofty and dtivoted loyalty, and given himself
to the needed work of refjrmation and enliglitennient,
he might have justified (in a human sense) his trails .en-
dent name, and shone as a brilliant tyj)e of the divinely
perfect One ; but he left the work of reformation un-
touched, and lost the opportunity presented to him of
attaining undying honours. How dilferently David
himself would have administered the kingdom had he
been in the place of Jotham I The piety which in him
showed itself in the removal of the ark would have seen
to the overthrow of the high places in the times of
Jot'iam. The zeal which prompted to arrange; the
courses of the priests in the one case, would have

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262

THE DYNASTY OF DAVlTi.

prompted attention to the enlightenment of the people
in tlie other. And the energy which was spent in .var,
in tlie one time, wouhl hav«! been availabh; for, and would
certainly have been employed in, promoting the piety
and good order of the sacred people in the other. You
'•annot believe that the man who prei)ared to ])uild the
temi)le, and who, when not permitted, prepared and laid
aside \iutold riches for another to do it, would have l)een
content in .Jotham's circumstances, when id(»latry and
corruj)tion so much abounded, simply to build some orna-
mental gates in the city, and some few towns or castles
in the mountains, or in the forests ! No, no. David
would have yearned after, and given himself to higher
service, and more appropriate labours.

If, however, we cannot admire the administration of
Jotliam in the light of David's zeal, or in relation to the
covx'uant which God had made with his house, we can-
not say that he compares unfavourably with many
leaders of society in subsecjuent ages. In other words
the would-be wise men of modern times cannot justly
condemn Jothara for his inadequate administration.
AVhat is it that characterises all the systems of human
phihjsophy, and all the schemes and theories of worldly
reformers : What but inadequacy and trifling in relation
to those disarrangements of earth which we have alreaily
a<lmitted ] These reformers but build gates or towers of
small beauty, or mansions seen by few in rural or
remote places, while the great and weltering sea of hu-
man corruption remains untouched or unimproved.
They have no adequate idea of the evils to be met, and
their small appliances make no visible impression for the
btitter on the world's progress. Their hope is in secular
education, or political economy, or in the diffusion of
scientific or philosophic discoveries. They see not that
these are all superficial and inadequate in relation to the
moral and religious state of the world. Nay, in too
many cases, their concern is not the improvement of the
world at all, further than as that may minister to their
own renown. If they can only build some little pavilion

='l

JOTIIAM.

2G3

to perpetuate their own naint^, they are not concerned
whetlier tlie race of luinianity is to l)e tliereliy improved
or not. Likt! Jothani, too many kings, and phih)sopliers,
and leading men, are content to build little things for
their own gratification, and to have the great interests of
humanity unthought of and unimproved. Tiue, they
have n«)t the .special obligations resting on them to
attend to the moral state of the world which Jotham
had to attend to the religious state of Judah, but still,
with the book of revelation in their han<ls, and tln^
trouble of misguided thousands of humanity around
them, they are not at liberty to trifle away their time
and talents on small ornamental or mere personal gratifi-
cations.

Happily, the great son of David, the true Jotham, the
prophet of God hath been revealed, and He under-
stands the state of the world, and He is animate«l with
an adequate zeal in relation to it. Happily He is wise
in heart, and excellent in working. He has made the
necessary arrangements for transforming the world — for
banishing Satan from his usurped dominion — and for
bringing men back to God. He works, however, on a
large scale, and we are not always aware of the extent
and beauty of His operations. This we know, at least,
that seeing what the exigency required, He hesitated not
to descen(l from His throne, to lay aside His glory, and
to offer Himself for the sins of the Avorld. There was
earnestness and zeal in this surely ! This also we know
that He, being now made head over all things, is using
and will continue to use, His royal and divine resources,
with a view to the enlightenment and rectification of
mankind. He will not content Himself with any thing
short of a true and wide reformation. He will set justice
and judgment in the earth. He hath sent forth His
servants to lead the nations to God, and He hath promis-
ed to be with them, even to the end of the world. The
work may seem to stand still, or to advance slowly, but
that is not for want of zeal or competency on His part.
That arises from the nature of the contest, and from the

I.H-

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264

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

resistance of humanity to His pui poses, but nothing will
be permitted to arrest His work in the long run. He
may permit hindrances for wise and suitable ends, but
He will not fail to overcome these hindrances in His own
time and way. He hath already conquered SattiU, the
ruler of the darkness of this world, and He will yet fully
subvert tlie kingdom of Satan among men !

Only let His servants be faithful ! only let them hold
on, and lal)our on in His name ! Only let them trust
His wisdom, and His zeal, and His power, and they will
yet have to sing of gladsome victory. They will yet
have glorious evidences of the competency and the benig-
nity of their King.

Be sure, my friends, that you enlist under His banner.
Endeavour to understand the purposes of His kingdom,
and be sure that you walk faithfully, and courageously,
and hopefully accordingly. He will not, like Jotham,
leave things as He finds them. He will not trifle away
His resources on things unimportant or unessential. Nor
will He fail to grapple Avith the evil that is in the world,
colossal and countless in shape although that is. H e will
go to the root of the matter : and He will not fail nor be
discouraged until He hath righted what is wrong, until
lie hath set justice and judgment on the earth ! He will
not cease to contend for the right until His Father's name
is honoured in all lands, and until errors are for ever
abolished !

See that you are loyal to Him ! See that you lend
your countenance and energies to His purposes, and re-
joice meantime in his power, and in the certainty of His
success. He will teach the nations to do that which is
right, and that with a perfect heart, and the people under
His adequate government, will do no more corruptly !

.lOTHAM.

'J«>o

QUESTIONS ON .TOTHAM.

What was the character of tliis Prince /

It is thought to liave been good. Ho did that which was
right in the sight (jf th»> Lord,
Is tliere no dubiety resting on liis character /

We think there is. The standard of his right doing was nt»t
first-chiss. Besides it is said, lie prepared his n'dij before
the Lord — not his lu'dti.
NVhat was tlie true standard for tlie kings of the house of
David ?
David certaiidy. His piety was neither half-hearted nor
doubtful. But .lothani's goodness was not after this
standard — it was only according to the goodness of his
father and grandfather.
What was the dirterence between the goodness of his father,
and grandfather, and that of David 1
That of his father and grandfather, seems to have been
merely external, while that of David was heartfelt and
spiritual.
What then is the perplexity in attempting to classify this
Prince ?
We are unwilling to reckon him amongst the bad, and we
cannot heartily place him among the good.
Is it not too often thus even in our time ?

Alas ! Yes ; fiiends hope concerning the departed often,
but their confidence is not cei'tain. How can it be, when
those they deplore were thought not wholly estranged
from the ways (.«f (Jod, yet not whollj' devoted to them.
They did that which was right according to the standard
of their fathers, but not according to the standard of the
divine standard.
Wliat is their duty in this respect urged by the apostle
Peter ?
That Christians should make their " calling and election
sure." That is, that they should give themselves deci-
dedly to the truth, while yet in health, that their friends
when gathered around their mortal remains, may be en-
abled to cherish the most as.sured confidence as to their
happy state.
Is it not cruel to survivors to leave tliem in uncertainty and
suspense in this respect {
Certainly ; the loss of friends is distressing enough, with-

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566

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

out having the added distress of uncertainty concerning
their life beyond.
Wliat case of happy certainty is mentioned in this notice of
Jotliani I
That of James Hamilton of London, whose remains were
acconipanied to the to il) hy Christians of evjry denomi-
nation, and that with a holy confidence and hope.
The standard for Jotham was David, what is the higher stan-
dard for Christians now?
The divine David, the incarnate Redeemer. He hath set
us an example that we .should follow his steps : and that
example is perfect.
What was the state of the kingdom of Judah under Jotham ?
Very sad. It is said by the sacred historian that, " the
people did yet corruptly."
Have we any witnesses to this corrupt state of Judah under
Jotham i
Yes : Isaiah and Micah.
What does Isaiah say about it /

That " the whole head was sick, and the whole heart faint,
tand the whole body full of putrifying soi'es."
What is the testimony of Micah /

That the wcmnds of Jacob were incurable or desperate, see-
ing that corruption had come into Judah, as to Samaria.
What particidar evils do these prophets deplore /

Vanity among females, drunkenness among men, and cruelty
and unbelief among Princes. Now this had been sad
among any people, it was especially so among a favoured
and consecrated people.
Are the favoured and consecrated of New Testament times
free from these faults i
Alas ! No : vanity in the one-half of society, and inebriety
in the other, together with infatuation among professing
Christian Princes, are rather the rule than the excep-
tion.
Is the new world no more free from these faults than the
old ?
We dare not say so, there is much goodness in America,
but there is also mTich pride, intoxication, and cruelty
as well ; and this is the more inexcusable seeing that the
enlightment and privileges of America are so great.
How did Jotham employ himself in the midst of his degene-
rate subjects ?
Chiefly in building.
Did he make no efforts at reformation i

.rOTHAM.

2()7

None, so far as appears. He was content simply to reign,
and took no care about tiie moral oi' religions state of his
kingdom — 'v'ery unlike in this t(» Jehoshaphat, Hezokiah,
and Isaiah,
is there not too much of this inadeipiacy, and culpable indif-
ference in relati(»n to divine purposes in modern
times ?
Yes, men occupy themselves in 1>uilding, or other unim-
portant mattt;rs, while the world needs rectihcation, and
too many indulge them.selves in inade<iuate theories of
improvement, to the neglect of Heaven's remedy for
human sorrows.
What in these circumstances is the comfort of the enlight-
ened ?
That the true Son of David hath been revealed — that He
understands and is animated with an ade<[uate zeal in
relation to it.
What is the purpose of His reign to efi'ect !

The full rectification of the nations. He will set justice
and judgment in the earth.
Does the work advance as rapidly as we would desire .'

No ; the work is of such a nature as to recpiire time ; but it
certainly will be triumphant in the long run.
Has He achieved any preliminary victory by which to giye
assurance of idtimate victory i
Yes ; in His personal contest with evil and death.
What ought each of us to do forthwith in rolati(jn to this
Prince, if we have not already done so (
To enlist under His banner, and to promote in every way
His benignant and wonderful purpt)ses in the earth.
For the world's sake we ought, as well as for our own.

III

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XIII. AHAZ.

^ ^ " Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reif^i, and he
reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, but he did not that which
was right in the sight of the JiOrd, like David his fathei'." -II.
Chron. xxviii. 1. ; Isaiah vii. 1-14.

HAZ has small claims on attention, and none

on esteem.

He did nothing

entitlins: him to

res))cct or remembrance. He was no blessing to
his own time, and he awakened no influence of good
for future generations. He contributed nothing to
human progress or to human weal ; but the con
trary. He might, therefore, be safely passed over
or forgotten, so far as himself is concerned. But he
was of the dynasty of David, that is something im-
portant ; lie was king too, for a time, of the sacred
people, and he was the occasion besides of divine
utterance. On these grounds, if on no others, it
were proper to give his history our attention in our
progress through the brief notices of the Kings of
Judah. But there is a further reason for this atten-
tion. Ahaz shows us what a man may become when
decidedly alienated from God. Ahaz was unamiable,
unfortunate, and unblest, by reason of his impiety.
We ought to be warned accordingly to avoid impiety,
and on the contrary to yield ourselves willingly and un
reservedly to the influence of Heaven.

In remarking on his history, we shall notice his wick-
edness, his incorrigibility, and the sign that illuminated
his reign.

His u'ickedness.

He seems to have been
We can scarcely wonder

That was unusual and great
worse than Jehoram himself.

AHAZ.

2R0

con

at the course of the son of Jehoshaphat, after he niarri^nl
into the house of Ahab and Jezebel, but we may well
wonder at the conduct of Ahaz. The leaven of Samaria
ought to have been banished from the court of Jerusalem,
now that several generations had passed since its intro-
duction, and after the wicked and cruel usurpation of
Athaliah. But no ; Ahaz had learnt nothing by the ex-
perience of his ancestors, an<l cared not even to save
appearances, by continuing the state of things as left by
his father Jotham. He gave himself at once and un-
blushingly to the ways of the kings of Samaria. Isaiah
was then prophesying — mourning over the deadness and
ingratitude of the sacred people — denouncing the judg-
ments of God against all pride and ungodliness, and un-
folding the visions of the holy : but it mattered not to
Ahaz. He had no symi)athy with Isaiah, nor yet, with
Isaiah's God. He turned from the prophet as he turned
from the temple, and gave himself to th«' service and to
the degradations of idolatry more particidarly.

First — He roiounccd ami disrlahiud all llic. proprieties and
expectations of his house. He was a son of David, but as
unlike David as it was possible for him t(j be. *' He did
not that which was right in the sight of the Lord, like
David his father." David S(jught to intensify and ad-
vance the piety of his people, by bringing the ark t(» Je-
rusalem, and leading the way in th<^ exercises of d<!Votion,
but Ahaz sought to turn his people aAvay from ( Jod, and
himself led the way to the shrines of idols. David th(jught
to build a temple for God's worship), ]»ut Ahaz treated
the temple with scorn and indiffoence, now that it
was actually built. (Jod entered into covenant with
David, promising to give perjjetuity to iiis tiirone, and
expecting obedience on the ])art of the fav(»ui'('d family,
but Ahaz cared nothing for the counsel, nor for the miiz;htv
and mystic Prince that was to arise among his descend-
ants to rule over the house of Jacob t'oi e\rr. lie care<|
rather for the momentaiy and delusive gi'atilications of
disobedience and foreign fashions. Alas, for iVliaz ! lie
belonged indeed to the family from which Messiah was

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270

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

to spring, and he might himself have been a type of some
of the innunii'ral)l(! excellences that characterize the Hea-
venly beloved ; bnt he willingly forfeited all the honours
of his paternity, and all the delightful anticipations of a
wondrous future. He was a link in the human descent
of the second Adam, the Lord from heaven, but he hath
neither part nor lot in the immortal kingdom and inalien-
al)le paradise of that Divine representative. Though a
prince of the house of David, and king of God's chosen
people, he cared no more for the peculiarities of Israel
than he wt)uld have done had he been born in the darkest
heathenism !

But this is only one half of the charge again bt Ahaz.
He not only renounced the covenant made with David,
he actually outdid the wicked in their loickedness. Not con-
tent with following in the ways of Ahab, of Samaria, he
sunk to a yet lower level — he did, it is said, after the
abomination of the heathen whom the Lord had cast out
before the children of Israel ! There were three stages
of disobedience and vileness marked in the history of the
Kings of Israel and Judah, and Ahaz sunk to the lowest.
The three were — 1st, the sins of Jeroboam, 2nd, the
gods of Jezebel, as introduced by Aliab, and 3rd, the
wicked practices of the disinherited Canaanites. Ahab,
you remember, not content with the calves of Bethel,
threw himself into the service of Sidonian Baal. And
Ahaz, yet more perverse than Ahab himself, devoted
himself to the service and abominations of Moloch. Of
Ahab it is said, " That he did evil in the sight of the
Lord above all that were before hira, and it came to
pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in
the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, that he took to
wife Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, King of the
Zidonians, and went and served Baal and worshipped
him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of
Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made
a grove — and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God
of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were
before him."

AHAZ.

271

Observe the bad preeminence of Aliab up to his time !
And notice the account j^ivcn of Aliaz, a son of David,
in comparison, " He walke<l," it is said, " in tlu' ways of
tlie Kings (»f Israel, and made aI,'<o molten imai^es for
Baalim. Moreover (that is, over and beyond his con-
formity to the l\.ini;s of Israel,) he burnt incense in the
valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in
the tire, after the abomination of the lu^athen whom the
Lord had cast out before the childr«'n of Israel !"

How awful and cruel was this to burn his children in
the fire ! How could a parent ever think to do such a
deed ? If the heathen, who knew not the mercy of llod,
and who yeariu>d for some ade(juate proi)itiation, thought
to give the fruit of their body for the sin of their soul,
how could an Israelite sink so low as to adojit this j)rac-
tice 1 He nuist trample out the instincts of his nature
before he could treat his children so, and he must utterly
ignore the revelations of God, and the character of the
merciful, ere he could entertain the thought. It was
wholly alien to the mind of God, and God condescends
to assure us over and over again, that it never came into
His mind to make: such a requirement.

Nay, we are well assured that nothing rouses the
anger and the indignation of the Gracious more than
this cruel and unnatural abomination. Here is the
manner of it, and you can judge for yourselves," The rab-
bins tell us that the image of Moloch was made of brass,
and placed on a brazen throne, and that the head was that
of a calf with a crown upon it. The throne and image
were made hollow, and a furif»us fire was kindled within
it. The flames jtcneti-ated into the body and limits of
the idol, and when the arms were red hot the victim
was thrown into them, an<l was almost immeMliately
burned to death. Its cries were drowned hy drums and
other noisy instruments." Now, judge of Ahaz by this,
and you will set; the heart lessness, and the cruelty, and
the degradation of his character. And remember, Ik?
had the revelation of (Jod within reach, and the Temple
of God before his eyes, and the animal sacrifices to offer

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THE DYNASTY OK DAVIF).

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which (Jorl's worsliip ilomaiuh'd, in token of penitenc«%
and in liopc of briglit«'r and nioni availahlc tilings, —
rrmenihcr these things, and you will understaiul the
perverseness and exceeding wickedness of this man. lie
was wicked with aboniinahle wickedness, and spite of
mighty restraints to the eonti-ary. He must violate^ at
once, the ixMjuirements of (lod, which were befoie him,
and the instincts of his nature, which were witliin him,
i\n(] the dictates of common humanit}, which are p(!r-
manent as our nature, he nnist violate all ere he could
act as he did, and he did violate all. Instead of sustain-
ing the cause of truth, ami righteousness, and mercy,
against the [x'rversions and cruelties of heathenism
(which he wa.s bound to do), he yielded himself to the
abominations of heathenism, even to the abominations of
those expelled ami vile (,'auaanit<'s who had preceded
the Israelites in the occupation of the land ! Add to
this—

III' used /</,s injliu'iur for irif us iridtlij nsJu- j^xiss'iltlii vinild.

It was not (Miough to desecrate his capital, and to wor-
ship cruel idols in tlu; valley of llinnom, he must needs
<'xtend his royal wickeilness into every })art of his terri-
tory. "He sacrificed," it is said, "and burnt incense in
the high places, and on the hills, and under every green
tree." Wherev«'r a suitable site, or elevation, was found,
there he performed, or caused to lie performed, the rites
of his idolati'ous worship. He was a zealot for evil. He
was not simply its captain, he was its eager sujjporter
and apostle. No one in all his dominions was left in
doubt concerniiig his creed or his [)references. The
tokens and the agents of liis ap(»stacy svere every where.
The land groantsd under the dehlenient, and 1 leaven look-
ed on in sacred indignation !

What was to be expected under such a l<ing, and in
sKjh circumstances / What but jiulgmeiit, reverse, and
troubles ! The blessings and cursings juonounced at
E))al and CJerizim in the days of Joshua were still valid
ami in force. According to these, obedience was to

; I

ATIAZ.

27 •^

bring all good, wliilo (lisobodiciicc was to bring all t'vil.
Ahaz was not under the reign of benediction, then, lie
had placed himself in the way of nialediiition and wrath
rather, and accordingly we find that his tlays were passed
amid the mutterings and reverberations of Heaven's
righteous displeasure. Enemies assailed him, first from
one side, and then from another. All aroiind him were
hostile. If a man's ways phuisc the Lonl, He mak(!<;h
the very stones of the field to be at ix-act; witii
him. But Ahaz's ways did not please; the Lord,
and enmity was allowed scope against him. The
Syrians assailed him ; and Samaria assailed him ;
and Edom assailed him ; and the Philistines assaileil
him ; and all with success, lie was unif(»rndy worsted
or defeated. No gleam of victory cheered him, and no
power effectually helped him. Syria smote him, and
tarried away a great multitude of his sul)jects captives,
and brought them to Damascus. Pekah, the son of
Remaliah, slew of his warriors one hundred and twenty
thousand in one day. And his own son was slain on the
occasion, and the governor of his palace, and Elkanah,
his own particular friend and attendant. And, besides
the slain, Israel carried away captive two hundred thou-
sand men, women, and children, and they toow. much
spoil as well, and brought it to Samaria. Then tin;
Edomites came, and smote Judah, and carried away cap-
tives. And the Philistines also invaded the cities of the
low countries, and of the south — possessed themselves of
the same and dwelt there. Thus from every direction,
from the north and south, and east and west, his enemies
made successful inroads upon his dominion — and further,
when he was brought low by his immediate neighbours,
he looked beyond, and sought aid from Assyria : but ho
sought it in vain. Though he robbed the temple to buy
the assistance of Tiglath-Pileser, that monarch but dis-
tressed him, and helped him not.

0, how sad were the experiences of this wicked
king. Every post, as it were, brought him news of some
disaster, and every new disaster reduced his resources the

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THK DYNASTY (>F DAVID.

nioiv, i>'ii(l«'iiii«^ it still less an<l l«'ss likt'ly that ho slinulrl
Itc al)lt' to rt'covcr hiniKelf. Trim, (Jorl for Hi.s own
j^Macioiis ])iir|)os«'s checked and overthrew .some of Ahaz's
ailversaries, hut not hefore Ahaz hiinself had lieeii
hroii<.;ht low. (tod would not have Judah wholly extin-
gui.shed, l)Ut lie still allowed His desolating judgments
to fall on the ajiostate land. Ahaz had thought U) place
hiniself in harmony with the outlying nations, aiul to
tV e himself from the restrictions of the sacred Temith%
hut he found oidy disapixtintment ami overthrow. Wv
found the world to he at once an uiu'ertain friend, and a
l)owerless ally a<;ainst the retrihutions of Heaven. He
meant t(> hv j.?reat, and he hecame small. He meant to
he fre«^, and he h<'came fettered hy misfortune. He meant
to l)e ha|)i»y, in a way of self-will and disohcdience, and
ho found only misery and dishonour ! Alas, for Ahaz !
How admonitory against a career of self-pleasing.
Hut this lealo me to notice —

His iimyrriyihUitff.

It is difficult to set forth all his stubhornness and
desperation. Nothing seemed to move him. Reverse
followed reverse, and trouble followed trouble, as we
have just seen, yet still he held on his disobedient way.
To take tin; mildest view of his conduct—

He u'a.< mihiDiihU'd inidcr (lisripVmc. Though over-
whelmed by defeat, he gave no sign of penitence. Though
his own son was slain in his contest with Samaria, he
remained insensiblt^ to the correction. Though his cap-
tive people were sent back to Jericho, und(?r the re-
monstrances of a prophet, his heart was not touched.
Though the Philistines dwelt in his cities, he made no
movement toward a return to God. Though Tiglath-
Pileser (his last earthly hope,) disappointed and distress-
ed him, he remained incorrigible still. He seems, indeed,
to have been more hardened than the wicked Ahab even,
and that by many degrees. The mere announcement of
the divine judgments to Ahab of Samaria, caused him to
put on sackcloth and to go sorrowfully ; but the experi-

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275

fncp of t\\o diviiH' iiiil^iiiriit iiiiidr no iinprrssion (»n
Ahaz. (Jo<l sought to loiisc liim to u st'iisc of liis folly,
))Ut lie wouM not ]>o roused. ({»»(! sou.^lit to soften antl
Hubdue liim, iii't lu; wonld not l>e softened and sulxlned.
Like a stnlilioin boy, Avlioni no eliastiseinent ean make
sul)niissive, Alia/ retaine«l liis spirit of iiisidioidination
and self will inider all and in spite of all. Nay

He grew voi'se iimhr </isiip/liir. Hear tlie testimony
concerning him : " In tlic time of his disticss did he
tres})ass yet more against llu' lionl." Instead of aecept
ing the chastisements of llea\«'n, and >eeking to improNc
them, he only became more determined in his nnyodly
ways. Instead of api)earing betore tlie temple as a sup-
pliant and penitent, " he gathered together the vessels of
the lious(^ of (rod, an<l cut in pieces the vessels oi' the
house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the
Lord, and he math: him altars in every conu'r of Jeru-
salem. And in every several city of Judah he made hi«,di
places to Inirn incense unto other j;ods, and provoked to
anger the T^ord (lod of his fathers.'" Vou see, lie was
not sunply indifferent to God, he was positiv(dy and
actively hostile to Him. He was not sijni)ly swe})t away
by the currents of evil, he was a determined and bitter
opponent of goo<l. As his reverses increased, his s[)ite
against the temi)le increased, as his resources ])ecame hiss,
his hostile demonstrations ))ecame more decided. At
first, he had left the tenqde open to the i'vw in derusalem
who cared for its services. For a time he thought it in
dignity enough to neglect its si>rvices, and to speak
slightingly of its ritual, but now, as his misfortunes grew,
he would revenge himself for these misfortunes on the
temple of his nation, and he destroye<l its furniture
closed its doors, and made an end of its services. In-
stinctively he felt that his misfortunes were fi'om ( lod,
and, instead of humbling himself, and acknowledging,
and renouncing his error, he determined to injiuc the
temple and the cause of God to the fullest extent of his
power. If you translate his conduct into words, it would
be something like this, " Well, if the God of Israel will

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THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

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not allow me to Avorship whom I like, but must needs
fr(jwn on my arms and cnterprizes because I will not
yit;ld to His service, I, on my part, will not permit the
continuance of flis service in Jerusalem, but will patron-
ize and multiply the rival shrines of other gods in all my
capital and in all my remaining territory." Is this not
fearful 1 He actually declarecl war against the God of
his fathers, spite of all the demonstrations that God
had given of His supremacy and might. But this is not
all—

He refused even, the condescending advances of the Most
Il/f/h, God, pitying his infatuation, and determined to
save Jerusalem for David's sake, sent Isaiah to him, when
" his heart was moved with fear, and the heart of his
people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the
wind." Here was the state of things : Rezin, the king
of Syria, and Pekah, the son of Kemaliah, had determined
to subvert his throne and dynasty, and he had no power
to resist them ; but God, by Isaiah, assured him that
these confederates should be overthrown in a few brief
years, and otfered to give him a sign to that eifect. " More-
over the Lord spake against Ahaz, saying, " Ask thee a
sign of the Lord thy God : Ask it either in the depths or
in the height above !" One would think this would have
softened him. One would expect that, after thus being
reminded of his true defence, and of the care of God over
him, and of God's willingness to be described still as his
God, he would have changed his course, renouncing his
idols, and yielding himself again to the ser%'ice of the
divine sovereign of Israel ! Not at all, Ahaz had no such
relentings, and no such thoughts. Hear his answer to
the condescending One, " I will not ask a sign, neither
will I tempt the Lord." What obstinacy ! And what a
HiiHsy covering for his obstinacy ! He would not ask a
sign, because he would thereby confess hisbelief in God and
connnit himself to further obedience. And his declaration
that he would not tempt the Lord, just means that he did
not wish to recognise the authority of God in any degree.
He Wf.nted nothing to do with Isaiah, or with Isaiah's

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AHAZ.

277

God. Though he feared his enemies, he did not wisli a
deliverance that would require penitence or submission on
his part. Not content with shutting u}) God's temple, he
rejected all overtures at the hands of God's i)ro})het. It
mattered not that his enemies encircled him, he would
have nothing to do with the only power that could really
help him. And further, he crowned his folly by one of the
mo.4 jjerverse and humlthuj declarations on record : " Because
(said he,) the gods of the kings of Syria help them, there-
fore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help mc."'
How wicked and uncandid this declaration ! And how
gratuitous and unblushing the wickedness ! He would
have us believe, that, though he had been serving the
God of Israel, the God of Israel had been una])le to de-
fend him against the gods of Syria. He would throw the
blame of the misfortunes on the God of his nation, and
not upon his own disobedience. He takes no blame tt*
himself, but wantoidy throws all the blame on the pre-
tended powerlessness of his defender. He knew well
that this was slanderous and untrue. He had am])le
means of knowing the supremacy of the God of Israel,
and the powerlessness of the gods of Syria. He could
not be ignorant of the frequent defeats of Syria under
Benhadad and others, by the armies of Tsi-ael and that
against all odds, and against all human prubaltilities. He
knew too that God was, even in his own time, pre-
pared to control Syria, and Samaria also ; if only he
would have renounced his disobedience. He knew full
well that it was his own wickedness, .vnd not tlie power
of the gods of Syria, that brought defeat on his arms.
And he knew further that, because God would not have
Joiusalem entirely overthrown at that time, the revolu-
tionary purposes of Syria and Samaria would be checked,
even in spite of his own perverseiu'ss. And yet, in the
face of all this knowledge, he would have us l)elieve that
his idolatry was the result of enlightened conviction, and
not the dogged determination of incorrigible obstinacy !
He talks as if the God of Israel nuist be regarded as
powerless, because He Avould not protect the per\'erse and

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278

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

II: HI

the disobedient, and, as if the gods of Damascus were to
be esteemed powerful because their votaries had been used
to punisli refractoriness and obstinate disobedience ! llovr
transparent his folly ! And how ungrateful and audacious
his conduct ! O, but he was determined in Ids evil way !

You will not v.'onder that a special stigma should
attach to the name of this kins;-. Other kinii;s liad shown
themselves to be unworthy, but Ahaz exceeded them all.
And God points him out with emphasis to the special
attention of posterity. In the twenty-second verse it is
said: "In the time of his distress, did he trespass more
and more. This is that king Ahaz !" This is the king
distinguished above all others for obstinacy and wilful,
persistent disobedience ! It is as though God intended
to point him out to the whole world as a prodigy of folly
and wickedness ; as if the Holy one had said, " This is
that Infiifimti'd man, who presumed to strive with his
maker, like the clay quarreling with the potter ; or, like
briars and tliorns setting themselves in battle array
against tlie devouring fire. Tliis is that ungrateful man
who, when I cliastened him with parental tenderness, in
order to prevent the necessity of executing my everlasting
judgments u})on liim, only multiplied his transgressions
against Me — breaking through every hedge Avhich I made
to restrain him, and throwing down every wall which I
erected to impede his course. Tliis is that iiupious man,
who, in the madness of his heart, detc.'rmined to banish
me from the wt)rld, and to blot out the remembrance of
my name from the earth."

Such is the bad pre-eminence of Ahaz ; and thus he
became the type or foreshadowment of the great Apostasy
of the latter days. He ought, as a son of David, and
an occupant of the throne of Israel, to have been a type
or foreshowing of his illustrious descendant. Instead of
this, he is a type of Antichrist. You know there are no
relentings witli tlie falsi' cluirch. Plagues and punish-
ments go for nething in her liistory- Instead of renoun-
cing her errors in the day of chastisement, she only in-
creases her devotion to tiiem. She nniltiplies her mis-

AHAZ.

271»

taken rites and practices to ward off' calamity, and only
increases then^by her criminality. True penitence is no
part of her religion, and true reformation enters not into
her policy. We have a glimpse of her obstinacy in the
account of the sounding of the sixth angel. Then, you
remember, the four angels bound in the Kiver Euphrates
were loosed, and the number of the array of the horsemen
were two hundred thousand thousand, and by them was
the third part of men killed, by the fire and by the smoke
and by the brimstone which issued out of their mouths.
And mark the testimony of prophecy concerning the
survivors of these judgments: "The rest uf the men
which were not killed by these plagues, yet repcnfi'd nut
of the work of their hands, that they should not worship
devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone,
and of wood — which neither see, nor hear, nor walk, —
neitNcr re/jented they of their murders, nor of their sorce-
ries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts." They
are on a large scale what Ahaz was on a small scale.
Like him they are obstinate and irreclainia])le. It matters
not what judgments and plague; (>^'ertake them, they
abide in their disobedience, and only beconn' more and
moi-e devoted to their wicked ways, God would hedge
up their path against destruction, but they will not have
it so. They disregard His fences, an<l plunge on to their
ruin. And Ahaz })receded them in their infatuated
cours . Instead of shining in the light of the jx-rfect, he
carried the standard of the apostasy. Instead of herald-
ing the sun from the world of brightness (which he ought
to have done) he foreshadowed the ob.stinatt; atul the
proud, who should yet arise, shroud the sun in clouds,
and immerse mankind in gloom I

0, but we should beware how we walk in his steps !
We should humble ourselves under the mighty hand of
God — especially so in the day of reverse and darkness,
(jrod is then seeking our good, and we should lend our
willing attention and concurrence. We^hould neither be
indiiferent nor dissatisfied under His chastisements ! On
the contrary we should accept these chastisements in peni-

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THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

tence, and endeavour to improve them. We can gain
nothing by obstinacy and incorrigibility. Especially let
us attend to God's forthcoming and announcements, and
if he condescend to give us a sign, as he did to Ahaz, let
us not decline it, as that wicked king did, but let us care-
fully and j)ersistently give to it our best attention ! This
leads me to notice concerning Ahaz : —

The sign thai illuminated his reign.

This we find in Isaiah vii. 10-14, There is a difficulty
connected with this sign, as applied to the times of Ahaz.
It seems to stand out from the then course of events and
to be greater than the occasion demanded. The explana-
tion is to be found in the ordinary style of the prophet
Isaiah. He announces and takes cognizance of events
connected with Jewish history, but his mind is so replete
with a loftier order of things, and the analogies between
the Jewish history and that loftier order of things are so
striking, that he cannot help speaking, as it were, of the
two things in the same breath. Now the two things be-
fore his mind are, First, speedy deliverance from the
machinations of liezin, king of Syria, and Pekah, son of
Rcmaliah, who meant to subvert the throne of David,
and secondly the emancipation of the true Israel of God,
from the machinations of the powers of darkness, who
meant to subvert, or to render impossible the reign of
rigliteousness upon the earth. These two things are both
before his mind, and the larger subject, of course, predo-
minates in his language. It is the grand sign of the in-
carnation in the interests of the Isi'ael of God that shapes
his expression, but he means to say, at the same time, in
relation to then existing things, that by the time an un-
married female can have a son capable of distinguishing
between the pleasant and the unpleasant, that is, within
three or four years, the conspiracy of Rezin and Pekah
shall be utterly broken. And such indeed was the fact :
for the King of Assyria slew Kezin of Damascus, and
H<jshea, the son of Elah, slew Pekah, the son of Rema-
liah. These parties meant to put another king on the
throne of Jerusalem, but God meant to preserve the

AHAZ.

281

family and the dynasty of David, and that spite of the
wickedness of Aha/ !

And tliore was special propriety in giving this sign at
the time. The; few hidihMi and faitliful ones of God
needed encouragement. Matters with them were all but
desperate. 'J'lie conduct of the king was so outrageous,
and the subserviency of the court and the country was so
complete, that to the eye of sense, limited to the })assing
years, it seemed as if the cause of heaven was about to be
entirely subverted. The adversaries of Israel were strong,
and Ahaz was powerless against them ; nay, Ahaz him-
self was so corrupted and unfaithful, that only overwhelm-
ing judgments could be looked for, as the consequence of
his conduct. There was nothing but ruin before them, so
far as men could see, or do anything to prevent. Only a
word from lieaven could reassure them. And that word
Isaiah was commissioned to pronounce. It was not for
the sake of Ahaz, who had declined all intercourse with
heaven, and insulted the ]VIost High, but for God's true
and exercised })eople that this sign was given. We know
not the names of these faithful ones, but doubtless there
were some few of them in Jerusalem. Isaiah would not
be alone loyal in these degenerate times. There might
be seven thousand scattered throughout Judea, as in tlie
days of Pilijah, for anything we can tell to the contrary.
True, Isaiah himselfmourned the general unbelief, crying,
" Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm
of the Lord revealed V But no doubt there were some
who had not l)o\ved the knee to Baal ; and for their sakes
the assurance was given that the throne of David should
not l)e utterly subverted, notwithstanding the wickedness
of the present incund)ent.

But we need not rest on the Jewish analogue, seeing
that the higher order of tilings hath now l)een unveiled.
The sign in all its ph'uitude hath been made manifest, and
manifest for the world. " Behold, a virgin hath borne a
son, and his name is liinnnnuel T And His name but in-
dicates the great, glorious, wonderful truth concerning
Hipi, He is? that Eternal Wyrd, who was with God, and

282

THE DYNASTY OF DAVm.

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Avho was God ; that Plternal Word which was made Hesh
and dwelt for a time among men, permitting them to
catch glimpses of his gh^ry, the glory as of the only
begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. And
the virgin who bore Him was of the house and lineag > of
David, so that he was the son of David, as well as the
Son of (iod.

And this, my friends, is a sign for all nations, and for
all parties in all nations, and for all indeed, engaged in or
interested in the moral contest going on in the world.
For example —

It is a sign to the powers of darkness— ^the great ene-
mies of goodness and righteousness. Tt is a sign that
they will not b^ permitted to rule unchecked over the
deluded tribes of men. They are too sul)tle for unaided
humanity. And they have mighty adA-antages in their
own invisibility, and in the moral Aveakness of their dupes
and victims. So long as they had only men to deal with,
or so long as the liel[) sent was confined to angels, the
dark and cruel demons expected nothing but success, aye,
and they had a long career of success during the ages
prt^paratory to the incarnation. But the incarnation^ —
the advent of Immanuel put a new face on the contest.
Then, m}'riads were enabled to l.)reak away ft'om the dark
tyranny ; and then Satan saw that Heaven was in earnest,
and that his reign among men must come to an end. He
uiight still have long ages of paitial dominion, but he
co\dd not mistake the sign (lotl with humanity was an
element in the contest which he was not prepared to
overcome. He might still show his bitterness and his
spite : nay, he might still ruin many l)y flatteries and l)y
false pleasures, and esjiecially by dehisive stinudants, but
his ])ermanent and final success became inqiossible. Once
God had shown himself nmnistakeably on the side of
humanity by the advent of Liimatmel, the result was clear
and certain. God nmst coiu^uer, and they on whose side
he stands must have the victory. Men might fail to see
it, but the dark enemies of humanity knew it well. They
acknowledged the divine origin, and the holiness of Jesus,

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AHAZ.

283

when he confronted them. They begged his forbearance,
and they obeyed His behests, thougli rehictantly, when
ordered by Him to come out from the possessed. The
truth is, they were not slow to read the sign, or to calcu-
late the effects of the miraculous appearances of luDininncl.
It was a sign to them of ultimate and certain defeat.
But further, this virgin-l)oru one

IFas a sign to the hosts of light as tvell.

The angels of heaven were not less alivt; to the great
event than tlie powers of darkness ; nor were they less
prompt to perceive or to calculate the effect of it on the
history of our fallen world. They were familiar Avith
the mighty processes of the Almighty One. And they
knew so well that so unusual a step on the part of the
Omnipotent, as that before us, could haxo only the most
profound significance. Here, they saw at once, was the
liiding of the Divine power, and the forthbudding at the
same time of unthought of manifestations of Divine
wisdom and mercy. It was to them the sign of glorious
evolutions and glorious results. They desired to look
into it, and they eagerly and reverently watched the suf-
ferings of Immanuel, and antici})ated the glory that must
follow ! It is interesting to know, is it not, that the
powers of light were not less wakeful in this matter than
were the powers of darkness. But it is of more conse-
quence to us to notice, that the advent of Immanuel was,
and is—

A sign to the sons of nwit.

It is a sign to the sons of men of eternal counsels on
their l)ehalf. The incarnation was not the result of im-
pulse. It Avas not an uiuuinuunced wonder. It had been
determined on in the counsels of eternity, even before the
foundation of the world. It was the expression of a long-
hidden and cherished love to humanity on the part of
God. How precious such a sign, and it is a sign of ulte-
rior achievements as well. It cannot be that such an
identification of interests as that made in Immanuel will

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he friiitloss. God cannot take injury by allying Himself
with men, but men must derive good from being hrouaht
into alliance with God. It was strange if God could ally
himself with humanity, and yet humanity remain unblest !
It was impossible. The contrary must be true. By this
alliance all the nations of the earth must be blessed. Even
apart from promise, we might assure ourselves of it.
There may he many unreclaimable ones likr Ahaz ; but
there must be many also who will not receive this grace
of God in vain. Besides, the very fact of God's allying
himself with humanity in the person of His Son, (apart
from the special application of it), gives a sunny light to
human histoiy. Hope springs anew in human hearts in
conse(]uence. The tide of evil is now seen to be under
control. The voice of mercy is now heard echoing among
human hal)itations ; and the most desponding know that
there is a hojje for the fallen, even though themselves
have not yet attained to its realization. This itself is a
nKucy. It beats down despair, and lends preliminary
encouragements to those who seek escape from delusion,
remorse, and fear ! But more particularly and empha-
tically, tliis advent of Immanuel —

Is a sifjn to the faithful and loving ones of our own day.

It is a sign indeed to us, (individually and collectively,)
if we be indeed true disciples. True believers have much
to try them in this ungodly and reckless age. They have
to grieve not only for the darkness and ignorance of the
outlying world, but also for the inconsistency and un-
faithfulness of many who belong externally lo the sacred
jx'ople. As in the days of Ahaz, Isaiah, and the faith-
fid few, \\lio sympathized with him, had to grieve, not
only for tlu* idolatiies of the heathen nations, but also for
the infatuation of the Kings of Judah, and of the time
serving who sustained or imitated him in his folly : so
now, the faithful among the spiritual tribes, have to
deplore the state of the Church as well as the state of
the world. i^]very where division and worldiness pre-
vail. The true principles of the gospel are merged or

AHAZ.

285

forgotten, and subordinate considerations mould the his-
tory of whole communities as well as tliat of individuals.
With much profession and activity among discijdes,
there is yet much of worldliness mingled. The case is
not so desperate as in the days of Ahaz, but still it is
discouraging in the light of the interests at stake Mil-
lions remain under the power of darkness ; thousands
are misled by plausible errors ; thousands perish by in-
toxication; thousands more are left untaught in heavenly
truths by their parents ; theatres and balls and extra-
vagances abound ; while the ways of Zion do mourn.
Morally and spiritually-speaking, there is confusion every
where, and no power in human society to rectify it.
Nay, mighty and ever-uprising elements increase it.
There is therefore much to grieve and little to encourage
the faithful, who long for the triumph of truth and the
reign of righteousness ! What is to be done 1 And
whither shall these loyal ones look for a ray of light amid
the darkness ? Whither, my friends, but to the great
sign of Heaven — the virgin-horn Immanuel ? His advent is
an abiding pledge and earnest to the faithful few. He
is u'ith them, and He will yet ride forth conquering and
to conquer. His apparent progress may not be so rapid
as they could wish, but He hath His own ways of action,
and His own reasons for the rate of His progress !
Enough that He is icith them, with them even to the end
of the world ! With them, to secure their safety and
ultimate victory. Let them comfort themselves and be
patient ! The darker the hour passing over them, the
more need to look to the great sign and pledge of heaven.
I repeat, things are not so dark now for the fiiithful finv
as they were in the days of Ahaz : and if Isaiah could
find comfort in the virgin-born Immanuel (the only ])ro-
mised,) much more may the faithful of our own time find
comfort in the virgin-born Immanuel after His actual
coming. And other signs have been added to the great
sign of the Incarnation. There is the sign of the prophet
Jonas, which is an index of the power of the Incarnate
One, as well as evidence of His truthfulness ; and there

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THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

is the sign of Pentecost, whidi is a pledge of a new order
of things ; and there is the sign of the ingatliering of the
first fniits, whicli is an earnest of the coming liarvest !
A\'ith these great and unefjnivocal signs, tliere can be no
donbt as to resnlts ! Only let the faithful al)id(; in their
ficUdity, and all will l»e, all must be, well. Behold, He
conies quickly, He, the virgin-born Inimamiel, comes to
con]))lete His works, and tlu; .saints shall reign ; and the
dead shall rise ; and the halls of immortality shall ojjcn to
the rejoicing redeemed, who have waited for their King !
Comfort yourselves moin iiing believers with these words.
And let those who would share with the redeemed and
hoi)e fraught, join them in the discii)leshii) of Immanuel
now. Let them renounces all symjjathy with every incor-
rigible Ahaz of our time, and seek the companionship
of the heavenly-minded Israelites.

QUESTIONS ON AHAZ.

What was the character of this Prince i

Very wicked.
Was his wickedness of an ordinary type ?

No, it was nim.siial and great.
What distinguished prophet exercised liis proplietical office
during this reign ?
Isaiah.
Did Aliaz listen to Isaiah 1

No indeed. He renounced both Isaiah, and Isaiali's God.
Mention some of the evidences of his great wickedness ?
His disregard of all the proprieties and expectations of his
house, he gave himself to the worst abomination of
heathenism, and he used his royal influence as widely as
he pussibly could in support of idolatry.
Wliat are the three stages of idolatrous folly noticed of these
times I
The sin of Jeroboam, the abomination of Zidonia-Baal in-
troduced by Ahab, and the awful cruelties and pollution
of the Canaanites who were thrust out before Israel.
Did Ahaz rest with the first or second of these ?

No ; he gave himself to the worst practices of the third.
What particular crime is specified as perpetrated by him under
tliis corrupt superstition ?

AFIAZ.

28<

He burnt his children in tlie fire.
Tell the manner of this cruelty i

The iiii!i<^eof ISloloch was of lirass and hollow, a raE;in<; tire
was kindled inside of it, and when the arms of the image
were red hot, the children were thrown into them.
What was to be expected under so impious and ci'uel a kinjj; '.

(3nly misfortune and Divine jud<,'ment.
And what was the actual experience of himself and people /
Tliey were assailed by invasion from all sides, and beaten
by all their enemies. Even the kinj,' whom .\haz bribed
to hel[» him, helped him not.
How did the experience of Ahab difl'er from his expectation (
He meant to be <freat, and found himself small, he '".eant
to be free, and found himself entangled and fettered by
misfortiuie.
Is there any lesson for us in his disappointment ?

Certainly, we ought to bewai'u of the illusion which associ-
ates prosi)erity with disobedience.
Was there no yielding or softening of heart in Ah.'iz iinder his
misfortunes ?
None at all, he remained wholly unmoved.
Mention some ]»articulars of his conduct and chastisement ?
He not only remained inihundded under discipline, but he
grew worse and worse. " In the time of his distress, he
trespassed yet moi'e against the Lord !" He refused the
condescending advances of the ^[ost High, he crowned
his folly by one of the nujst perverse and insulting decla-
rations on record. "Because," said he, "the gods of
the kings of Syria helped them, therefore will I sacrifice
to them that they may help me.
How did he show his increasing spite at God /

Instead of mere neglect he connnenced actual hostilities
against God's house and worship. He cut the vessels of
the house of the Lord — he closed the dftors of the temple,
and he made opposing altars in every corner of Jeru-
salem.
Had he any right t(» insinuate, or reason for insinuating that
God had been inditlerent or powerless in relatit)n to
His worshippers I
None at all ; himself alone was to blame if God left him in
the hands of his enemies.
Was any special stigma attached to the name of this wicked
Prince ?
Yes ; he is spoken of as ' ' that king Ahaz, "
Of whom was he, in his incorrigibility a type i

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THE DYNASTY OV DAVID.

ilH

>',\\\

Of antichriHt surely. Ho txij^lit to hiive boon a tyi>o<)f tho
illiLstrioUH kiiijL^ <>f tho hoii.so of Diivid, iiistoatl of which
lio wa.s a typo of tho j^roat oiioiiiy of that houso.
How shouUl wo coiuluct ourHolvo.s iiiidof rovorso or cliastiso-
moiit I
Not liko Aliaz, in iiiii)ouitonco, but like David in ponitoiico
and liuniiliation.
What was tho sign givou to him by fJod s[)ito of hi.s rufu.sinjjf
ono i
Tho birtli of a chiUl of a virgin, wht>80 name wa.s to bo Ini-
manuol.
VVhoro ariso.s tho ditHculty concorning tlii.s anuounconiont (
From tlio iniion in tho propliot'.s mind of tw<j dolivorauces,
the hitter and greater of wliicli give.s shape to his hin-
gnage, while tho proximate and smaller, is that which
obtrudes itself upon tho attention.
Was there any special propriety in giving this sign at tho
time i
Yea ; for tho encouragement of the faithful few.
And was this sign for tho times of Ahaz merely ?

No ; in its greatest and ultimate sense, it was a sign for all
snbseipient ages, and for many parties.
Mention some of these pivrtios /

It, the virgin-birth of Immauuel, was a sign to tho powers
of darkness that their reign must cease — it was a sign to
tho hosts of light that glorious revelations were yet to be
made — it was a sign to tho sons of men that happier and
purer days wonld arise — it is a sign t(j the faithful and
loving in our own day, that the rule of evil will not be
eternal.
Is there any spec'al r ^ed for this sign now i

Yes, very spct'ijil need for it — for evil is rampant, and that
in nuiny sliauf i.
Have other signs been added to this sign of tho Incarnation ?
Yes, tlxe Resurrection of Jesns, Pentecost, and tho ingather-
ing of the first fruits.
And what is now required of the adherents of the true house
David ?
Only to be faithful and confiding, and they shall have the
victory in due time.
What in general is the lesson taixght by this reign ?

That impiety is only otien 've when developed and unfor-
saken, and that the signs and purposes of God in and by
Immanuel will be accomplished spite of the unbelief of
the unbelieving, or the opposition of the wicked.

XIV. iik7.i:kiaii.

" Hozt'kiah li('i,'aii to rri^Mi wlicii In- was five iiml twenty
years old, and he rci^'iifil iiiiir and twenty years in .leiiisaleni.
And liis niiitliei's name was Al>ijali, llie dau-rliter of /eehar'iali,
And lie did that wliicli was ri',dit in thi' si:,dit of tlie liOid. ue-
cordiuj,' to all tliat David his futlier had done. II. riiion."

( ^^'f^l^V''''^'"''^^''^^^ ^^'^^ "• n^-*'"' I'l'incc— one ot" (lie

vory best incU'cd in tlic line and lincau;*' of

])avi(l. This is wonderful, considfrini; his

iinnH'diate })at('rinty. His father, Ahaz,

was iterliajjs the most wicked of all the jMinees of

the house of David. Only the soverei^^nty of (u)d

can account for this ])henornonon — that s^uch a son

should si)rin<.,' from sucli a father.

Hut soyei'eionty woi'ks hy means (thouiih not
always traceahk' hy us), and here we fancy we can
see the means employed in the enlightenment and
j)iety of flezekiah. I lis mother, it is said, was
the daughtei' of Zechaiiah. Now in tin; days of
Uzziah, nearly one hundied years before the time
of Hezekiah, theie was om^ of this name of whom
it is said, that he had understanding in the visions
of God. Abijah, the mother of Hezekiah, was probably
the granthlaughter or descetidant of this good man, and
she is described as his daughter, not merely because of
her descent from him, but rather because she was ol like
character with him.

Under her pious influence, TIezekiah acquired very dif-
ferent views from those of his father, and was enabled to
prefer the service of God to the follies (jf idolatry, (heat
is the contrast presented by the father and son.

In turning your attention on this son of David, we

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290

TFIK DYNASTY OF I>\VII>.

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(III

iff 111

shall notices him as a Prince in ant-hoiitv ; as a Min-or of
the great Unseen : and as a Man nnder discipline.

T. jU a Prince in, (idfhnrifi/.

As such, he used his influence in the interests of the
true religion, iind he was uidiesitating and ])rom[)t in
taking his sid(\ lie Avas no sooner seated on tlu^ throne
than he began tlie work of reformation. He found mat-
ters in a sad state ; — the temi)le clouch'd, idolatry ramj-ant,
every kind of immorality unldushingly ])ractised. Keli-
giously speaking, the p(M)ple had wandered fr(»m their rest,
and all manner of confusion and disti'ess was the I'csult.
AVrath vras upon .ru<lah an<l Jerusalem ; but l!a))pily Ileze-
kiahknew the cause and understood the case, lie hastened
to bring back the peo])le to the worshiji of the true God.
With this view he had the tcMuple re-o])eiU'd. His father
Ahaz had closed it, and left it to dila])i(lation and decay.
That wicked prince was not content to forsake the tem])h'
himself, but he made an end of its sei'vices e\-eu foi' the
.small minority in Jerusalem who still wished to wait
before it. Hexekiah was one of that minoi-ity, but he
dare<l not interfere. If he <li<l i'enu>nstrate at all, his
remonstraiu'es were vain. So long as .Vhaz liv(>d there
was no relaxation in favoui- of the faithful and th<' ])ious:
but he was )io soom-r laid in the dust than lleze-
kiah comm<'nc(Ml a new oi'der of things. "He, in the
first year of his reign and in the fiist month, o])ene(l the
doors of the luMise of the liOi'd, and re]»aired them."

Next, he summoned the priests and Levites (whom his
father had scattered an<l ovei'looked), with a view to the
purgation of the sacred edifice, and thtM-e-establishment
of the Mosaic ordinances. Hear his address to the as-
sembled temple otlicials. It is bi'ief, clear, and decidecl
(v. 5-11).

The priests and the Levites set to work forthwith, and
in the course of eight days had everything in oj-dei" for
the rosum})tion of the temph^ siM'vices. Tlu^ king was
inlormed of the fact, and he was not slow to act upon it.

UF.ZRKr.MT.

2!»1

lie ordoivd an iniinc/'iatc couDiioicciumt ol" flic snorctl
rites, and attended himself, and took part in the worship.
He did not open the [)ro('ee(lings l)y cominission ; nor did
he worship hy pioxy ; nor d'd he manifest eithei' cold
ness, or indilier^-nce, or foimality, in the ser\'ice. On the
contrary, ho manifested all jn-omptitiide, all aidour, and
all devotion. 1 1.- rose eai'ly in the niorninu', like a man
thoi'ontildy in eaiMiest, and :L:;athere(l the I'nlei's of the city,
and went up to the house of the Lord. When there, he
was as reverential as the lunnhlest, and far more deei(le(l
than many that took part on the occasion. Wdien the
otfei"in;;s were complet«Ml, "tlie kini^;. and all that M'ore
present wit'i him, bowed their heads an<l woiship])ed.
M(n*eover, Jle/ekiah tlie kini;' and the ])rinces ('onimaiide(l
till' Levites to sin,n' ])raises unto the Lord, with the words
of David and .Vsaph the seer : And they sanii; ])raises
with gladness, and they l>owed their heads and worship-
l)ed." This was heautiful and Ix'comiiiL;', and was some-
thin*:; very dillereiit from the state of things which pre-
vailed under Ahaz hut a few weeks hefoic.

Then^ are one or two tliinL!;s in this inaugural srrxiceat
the tem[)le worthy of notice, as showing still further the
decision and devotion of this distinguished ])iiiu'e. Mark,
for example, the nnmher of huUot-ks, i-anis, hunhs, and
he gloats offered foi- a sin olfering. (2l-'Jf.) l''oi'
th i;i of a priest oi' of the whole congr(\gation, one ]»ul
lock only was prescribed, in Lcnificns, to he oll'ered. hut
hei'e there are seven, y(tu pe ceive. And why this se\'en-
fold olfering I Why, my friends, (he iinp'ieties of tlu'
nation under Aha/ had i •■ .'xcessive, and of long con-
tiiinaiice, an<l llezekiah would mark his sense of the fact
l)y the numl»er of hulloclvs olfeicil. lie did not alter the
l)ivin" ;ipi)ointmont in this, he only gave seven-fold ex-
pression to his peniLence and worship, lie had secMi and
deplored the enorrnitie:', of the late reign, and hi' felt con-
strain' I thus lo shov.' his ,-:ense of them and his sorrow
for them, liis giiet md humiliation were something
uiiusuai, iU;d hij off 'ring ex[)ressed the faet. Then, mark
his empiiuvii J.esiic that the burnt olfering should he for

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'(// Israel. He was not content to make atonement for
his own immediate subjects. His heart embraced the
ten apostate triljes as well. True, they were still alien-
ated from the temple of God, and had exp'X!3i:ed no
desii'e to return, but they were, notwithstanding, in his
patriotic heait, a part of the sacred people. He could
not wii)e out their sin by any atonement he could make
for them, while they themselves continued impenitent,
but he could show his sense of their needs, as well as his
desire for their recovery and reconciliation. And nuirk
once more, his scru])ulous attention to all the \k- . "s of the
prescribed worship. He had not forgotten n- .- ntghcled
the arrangement concerning praise any more thjin those
concerning sacrifice. " He set the Levites in the house
of the Lord with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps,
accordinu' to the connnandment of David, and of (lad the
king's seer, and ^Nathan the prophet. * * *"
And when the burnt offering began, the song of the Lord
began also, with the trumpets, and with the instruments
ordained by David, King of Israel. And all the congre-
gation worshi[)[)ed, and the singers sang, and the trum-
pets S(junded : and all this continued until the l)urntotier-
ing was tinished." And then the peoj-le, ])y the direction
of the king, came near witli their thank olferings in great
aljundance. And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people.
W'e woiuler not at their joy after such a change antl iii
coinie.\ion with sucl a denu)nstration.

By the way, it nuiy seem as if the change effected wr ■
easy, and tliatit recjuired no great courage on the part of
Hezekiah to In'uig italjout; but this is annstake. It was
easy only because of the iletermination ot the ki"g, in con-
nexion with the grace of Cod. 2so iloubt the majt)rity
of the people were still idolaters at heart; and these
would have been well pleased if left free to worship
their idols, but they cared not to contend with so resolucv
a reformer as Hezekiah showed himself to be. iiesides,
the very excesses of xVliaz may have cre.aeil a salutary re-
action among the less fanatical devotees of Baal, and they
migjit feel disposed to yield to t!ie extreme course of

HEZEKTAH.

29.'^

Hpzekiah (as tliey vie^ved it) on tlie one side rather than
contiinie to countenance tlie nltra-idolaters on tlie other.
Any way, it required courage and determination on tlie
part of H<'zekiah, and we cannot but admire his (hM.'i(h'(l
and unliesitaling course. jNIany men in liis circumstan-
ces wouhl have temporized or tritlt^d, even though not
tlieraselves animated by idohitrous preferences. P'rom
indifference, or from in(h>lence, or from timidity, they
wouhl have allowed matters to remain in very much the
state in which the former sovereign left them, l/i'efcri'iug
poj)ularitytoprincii)le, they would havt^ allo\ved th<^ priests
of Baal, or of M(doch, to retain their ])lace and their
influ(Mice in society, and if pressed by petitions from the
faithful minority, they would have put them off with
promises, if they did not put them aside with insults.
But Hezekiah ])ursued the independent and futht'ul
course. He braved the dis]»leasure of the i(h)latrous, and
more numerous ami more influential party, lie was wil-
ling to take the unpopularity coniu'cted with a leturn to
what Avas sneeringly described as the anti(iuated ritt'S of
the past. He did not ask even whether it would be safe
to revolutionize th(^ worshi}) of the kingdom so .suddenly.
He Avas determined t(t use his authoiity for the God of
lisrael. even thouiiii a ooliticnl )'e\'olution .should be the
consequence. He went sti-aight to his object. And his
very boldness o\(M'awed his opponents. The faithfid
rejoiced : the moderates concuri'ed : and the resolute i<lol-
aters withheld o])[)osition — oidy denouncing in secret, or
with bate(l breath, the zeal of the king, and the re-open-
ing of the temple. So faithful and determined was Heze-
kiah !

And this was not all. Not content with re-opening
tlie tem])le in Jerusalem, and re-establishing the ancient
Avorshi[> in the midst of .Ju<lah alone, the piinee formed
the daring ])ui'])ose of inviting all the ti'ihes from Dan
even to J)eersheba, to a Passover celebration at his cai)i-
tal. It was much to reform the religion of his own sub-
jects, but it was far more to seek the re-union of all tlii'
tribes in worship. No sucli attempt had l)een made for

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more than two hundred years. From the times of Jero-
boam, the ten tiilje.s liad Ijeen wliolly cut off from the
feasts at Jerusah^m. Tliouiihts of rocoveriui!' (h)Uiiiiion
over tlu'in, by concjuest, or by intermarriagi! with their
rulers, had incU-ed occupied the minds of the lvinj;s of
Ju(hUi; but the thought of leaving them free politically,
and yet seeking their religious unity, had not l^efore en-
"""red into the counsels of the court of Jerusalem. It was
. I •/tl<'ah that conceived the patriotic aud pious pui'])(»se,
u. >. , ..^ zeal was ade(juat(; to the out-carrying of that
pur} v^ He sent messengers in every direction, inviting
all the tribes to the solemnity. He sent also encouraging
words with the invitation, and said nothing of past dif-
ferences or heart-l)urnings, said nothing that might annoy
the nuMi of Israel, or hinder their retuin.

And he acted with wonderful promptitude in this
matter. He would have no delay, though he might
very ])lausildy have put oH" this invitation and solem-
nity for some months. The time of the year at his
accession was such that he could not have all the prelimi
nary purgations, as to the temi)le and the priests, and yet
hohl the Passover in the first month, according to ap-
pointment. He might therefore have postpon<'d the
invitation to the tribes until the next Passovei'. But this
did not suit tlu! ardour of Hezekiah. He wished innne-
diate attention to what seemed to him a desirable: ])roject.
And true zeal will not easily be disconcerted. He dis-
covered that tlier<! was a latitude as to tlu; observance
of the Passover. Though ap[>ointed for tlu' first month,
it might, in the case of those who were involuntarily
disqualified for its observance, bc^ observed on the
secoiul nuuith. He determined to avail himself of
this pi-rniissiiMi, and issued his invitation accordingly.
Ilai)i>ily, lloshea, the king of the ten tribes, did not
ol)ject, and, though many scoffed aud sneered at the
proposal, there were not a few who availed themselves
of the invitation — I'ejiairing to Jerusalem, and re-unit-
ing with their brethrt'U of Judali, in the solemnities
of the olivine worship ! Vou see then how worthily

HEZHKIAH.

295

ami how wisely llezekiah used his kingly jiuthority.
He was at once patriotic and liljeral. He made no
attempt at subjuijjating the ten tribes l)y force, like
Uehoboam: nor did lie attempt to recover autliority over
them by marryiny,' into theii' royal house, like Jehoram,
the son of Jehosha[)hat. He was content to leave
them at liberty politically, if only he could bring them
back religiously. It was not for the sake (jf the tribute
that he invited them to Jerusalem. It was not for his
own aiiurandizement that he sought tlu;ir fellowship. It
was s(dely for the honour of Ood and the well-ljeing of
the invited themselves.

How few kings are there who use their tiiithority thus I
Too many are anxious for tlie extension of tluur terri-
tory, without much regard to moial considerations. Still
less are they swayed by religious considerations. Tliey
use their autliority tar nicjre for their own honour than
for the honour of Go<l. Lo(jk through history, and you
will find that the royal authority hath been far oftener
perverted and abused than ustid conscientiously, and for
tlu! advancement of tine religion ! Even in the family of
David you will find few men like Hezekiah. Some of
that family are outrageously wicked. Some are indiffer-
ent or unenthusiastic for good. Only -lehosaphat and
Josiah a[)proach the '^^andard of David and Hezekiah.
And Hezekiah is therc.'ore specially to be renicmbered
and specially honoured. He used liis authority tem[)er-
ately and without tyranny, and yet resolutely and with-
out faltering. NVe usually hon<tur the man who uses irea/fh
for worthy and disinterested ends. Wc; should not be
less dispostid to estt'em tlu! king who uses his authority
for w(»rthy and disinterested ends. And when we know
how much evil arises to mankind by the abuse of author-
ity on the part of the ruling, we should In; ready to hail
th(! faithful and the true in this resjiect with unmeasured
approbation.

But we ought to do more than admire

AN^i ought to

nitate. We are not kings, like Hezekiah; but every
head of a family is in authority as well as Hezekiah.

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THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

(Hear it, ye fathers and mothers.) Our authority, in-
deed, is limited, as compared with his, but it can be
abused or rightly used as truly as his. Many parents
like th(! father .)f llezekiah close, in elfect, the temple of
truth and piety to their childnui, by the education they
give them, and the exam[)le the}' set before them, and
actually, though not intentionally, sacritiee them to Mol-
och. Others, again, are indiifeient in matters of truth
and error, if only external things are prospeious, and
they leave the highest interests ot' their chil Iren to take
v'hat shape a self-])leasing and ungodly woi-ld may give
them. While a tV,w, Hezekiah like, make it their first
care to leail their little ones to the tenij)l(; and to the
kn- ' I dgi! of God. And the question foi' each of us
being at the head of a family, to answer is, to which of
these classes do I belong ] And I using my authority,
and my pai'tmtal influence, for God, or for the idol-serving
and S(df-pleasing woi-hH Am I true to the divine, or am
I devoted rather to the material ? Am I careful concern-
ing my responsibilities as a parent, or am T unmindful
that any res[)onsibilities rest upon me as such I Oh be-
think you, my friends— authority is no unim[)ortant
talent ! And it is only rightly used when used in the
interests of true religion ! Happy, if like Abraham, yon
are faithful in that matter, and enjoy like him the testi-
mony of heaven, — you remember that testimony : '• And
the Lord said, shall I hide from Abraham that thing
which I do. For [ know him, that he will coiaiiKiivl his
children and his household after him, and they shall keep
the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment : that the
Lord may bring upon Abraham that which Ht; hath
spoken of him!" Happy, again, if like Joshua, we can
say, each of us, without hesitation or misgiving, " .As for
me and my house, we will serve the Lord !" And happy
further, if, like Hezekiah, our first and permanent con-
cern shall be to gather together our household, to go up
with them to the temple of God, and to bow there be-
lievingly, reverentially, lovingly, and worshii)fully ! Only
the family that is trained for God hath any true aim in

IIEZEKIAII.

297

existenco! And only the antliority that is used in the
service of Clod can a\vak<'n an echo of cheer or approha-
tion in the s]>irit l^niveisc !

Bnt tu return to Hczekiali. We regard liini

//. As a Mirror of th' Great Unseen.

By til'' Great Uns'-en we mean, on the present occasion,
that dhistrious Piince of the House of David in whom the
glories of that dynasty were to (iuhninate and so abide.
This prince, you know, was to l)e the Son of David and
the Son of God ; ami His maiufold and matchless excel-
lences were meant to Ix; foreshadowed in the lives and
reigns of his royal and sacred ancestors. Many of these
ancestors failed to apprehend theirtrueposition, whilesome
of them set themselves in direct op[)osition to the covmant
nnder Avhich they reigned. Xot so llezekiah. lie wulk('(l
in the ways of David, and ga\(^ himself tridy and heartily
to the duties of his house. We find, in consecpuMice, im-
portant traces or foreshadowments of the i-eign of Messiah
in his adnniustration. E\en as we find such in the reigns
of David, Solomon and dchoshaphat. In David, for
example, we find a, xivid glim[)se of the Beloved and the
con{pU'ring. In Solomon again, we catch an imperfect
and l)lurr«Ml image of the Prince of Peace — the fountain of
wisdom and the huildtu' ot the spiiitual temple of (Jod.
Then Jchoshaphat in his dav I'oi'eshadowcd the iireat
Teaclu'i- of the World — sending forth a commission f>f
instruction to every part of his dominions : and llezekiah
was not behind any of these as a .Mirror of the great Un-
seen, then yet to come. The representation was, in his
case of course, small and feeble, but it w;'..^ true and sti'ik-
ing so far as it went. The niertdy human can act only
on a limited scale, and in a limited s[)liere, yet it may
represent, in miiuature, the boundless and the divine.
Thus we find three things in the administration of Ileze-
kiah speciall}' significant of the work of the gi'eat Media-
tor. We might not have ap[)relien<led them so clearly be-
fore the Incarnation, but iiow,inthe light (d'that great event,
we cannot but reco-iiiize and admire. The three tliin<;s

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298

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

we mean are : 1, tlic re-opcuiiig of the temple ; 2, the un-
trainuu'llcd invitation to all Israel to observe the Pass-
over ; and 3, the successful intercession of the king for
the humble hut censmouially unsanctitied. Of the first
and second of these ^\'v have already spoken, and the
thii'd is r(!Corded in the .'50th chapter, IS, ID, 20 verses,
thus : — " A multitudes of the people, even many of
K[)hraini, and Manassali, and Issach tr, and Zel)ulun, had
not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat tlu; Passover
otherwise than it was written. Hut llezekiah praytid for
them, saying. The good Lord jiardon (ivery one that pre-
pai'eth his heart to seek (Jod, thcs Lord God of ins fathers,
though he be not cleanscMl according to the purification of
the sanctuary. And the Lord hearkeiu'd to Hezekiah,
and 1 'ahnl the ptsople." Now, who does not see in these
things a true type, though small and imperfect, (jf the
i-reat work of the Kedeemer — th(> divine; s(Hi of David]

First, the divine son of David hath re-opened the Tem-
ple of (Jod to humanity. He is like Hezekiah in this,
though on a more magnilicent scale. Vou need not be
told how entirely hunumity had turned its back on truth
and [)urity when Messiah appeannl. The nations had, as
it were, closed the Temple of (lod. They had left it, so
far as they were; concerned, to desolation and decay.
They had turned eveiy one to his own way —each differing
from the others, but all eepially estranged from (lod.
Even the Jews, the chosen peopU^, who ought to have
kept the temple oj)en, had suidv into superstition, jnide
and esti'angt'nient : and as for the (Jentiles, they were
wholly lost in the mazi's of ^ ain speculation, or the degra-
(hitions of vile atfections. l^ut the great reformer ap-
peared — the divine Hezekiah — tlu; strength of Jehovah
appeared, appeared full of zeal, and single-eyed loyalty to
tlu! true (Jod. He was not to be deteri'ed by the threat-
ening attitude or nu'uacing h^oks of the myriad sup-
porters of established EiTor. H(! nu'ant a thorough refor-
mation — he meant to lead tlu; nations back to (lod ; not
the Jews alone, but also the Gentiles. And he re-opened
the temple of divine truth to humanity with fearless and

IIEZEKIAH.

209

unhesit.itinp; hand. He did so at the risk of his life. Nay,
he sacrificed his life in (h>iiig so. Still, he reopened tlie
temple and re-established the true worship of the true Clod
in human society. And this work He hath prosecuted
through centuries, and lu; is prosecuting it still. He
means to subvert every form of false worshi]). and to make
the name of his Father great anu)ng the ( Jciitiles — even
from tlie rising to the setting sun. Many of his servants,
in the prosecution of this work, have tallen by the hands
of Idolaters and op[)osers, but still the work goes on.
Ahaz-like, Satan hath everywhere established false shrines
and polluted groves, luit Hezekiah, like Messiah, will over-
throw, or cause to be overthrown, these shrines, and cut down
or cause to be cut down, these groves. The earth is the
Lord's, and his divine son, of tlie House of David, will
not leave any part of it under the dominion of the enemy.
The completeness of Hezekiah's reformation of Judea is a
clear foreshadowment of the completeness of M(\ssiah's
reformation in the world. " The earth shall be filled with
the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."
Is there not iiladness in the thouurht, as well as ixivdt en-
couragement l The estrangement of the world, you
know is awful: the power of evil is apparently beyond
rectification or eradication. But the Divine Prince of the
House of David is adeipiate to the work : and Ikj will Ix; not
less successful in rt^latioii to tlu; world than was Heze-
kiah in relation to Judah and Jerusalem. Meantime,
mark the second suggestion.

I mean, that founded on the Unicersal Invitation, of llv.zt-
kitxh to all tlia tribes, including the. a/mstate ten, to come to
Jerusalem to the I'td^sorer — G-0. Who df)es not hom a fore-
shadowment of the gos])el vitation and message here 1
"Go" (said Jesus, after He had by His death opened the
temple and mercy seat of God for all the world) — " Go,
preach the gospel to every creature ; go, teach and dis-
cii)le all nations !" Go tell mankind all the world over
that the Temple of God is re-opened. Assure them, too,
that Passover has been pre])ared under the auspices of an
adequate prince for all sinful and exposed ones. Invite

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300

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

thorn to como and find shelter from Avrath — from the sword
of tlie destroying angel. Tell them that reconciliation
hath been madt^ ! Tt'll them that God is accessible to
the unworthy, and tell them that the way to immortality
and gh>ry hath been thi'own open to all. Oh, tell them
that (iod is gracious and merciiid, and that he will not
tnin away from them, if they but listen to this invitation
and return to 11 im ! "

Such, in elfect, was tlu^ commission of Jesus, the re-
opcner of the temi)le of heaven : and gieat hath been the
company of them that liave published it. Ilunilredsand
tiiousands are even now entreating the nations, each in
its own language, to come to the great Passover. Many,
as in the case of Hexekiah's messcngei's, scoff aud dci'ide,
but many also, as in the typical case, listen and come —
churches are Ix'ing foi-mecl or built up on axevy c(»ntineut
and also on many islands. The message hath not been
wholly in vain up to the present time, and we have reason
to expect, that it will yet l)e more generally regarded and
iespon(U!d to in time to come. The mountain of the
liord's house, aiul the re-o],ened tem})le, ha\e already
been exalted above the top of the mountaiii.s, and we are
assured that all nations will yet How to it, and you are
invited to come to this ])assover, my friends, if you have
not already come. O, that you may a])prehend and obey
the summons. If Hezekiah rejoiced for the partial re-
union of the tribes around the tem])le of Jerusalem: far
more shall the Shiloh centre of humanity, and all His en-
lightened people, rejoice for the recovered unity of the
nations around the gospel temple of love ! The un.huly
diversities of mankind shall then be ended. The days of
division and hate shall then cease. There shall be one
fold and one shepherd, and all the l)right things of
pro})hecy concerning the peace and unity of mankind
around the one divine centre and king, shall yet l)e fully
realized ! How happy to know amid the conflicting
claims of human religions, that there is one religion di-
vine, and that that one divine religion is fitted and des-
tined to set aside all that is false and delusive, and to fill

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HEZEKIAII.

301

the world with li,L,dit, and with love, and with social
purity anil social haiiuony I

But there is a thii'd notieeahlc fact in the reformation
of Hezekiah, which 1 mention, viz: —

Jlis siirrc>isful iiiJcrccs.siiiit for the liiunhh ones who U.-tfrrwd
to his iiirifitfion, hiif irho ii'rrc rercinniiinl/}/ Hiisant l/ficd.
Have we iu)t in this a strikin.u type of the inteieession of
the great and divine King of Israel .' You know He is
ut once the passover and the intercession for sinful hu-
manity. Yes, he who died to shelter us hath goiK! to
lieaven to pleail for ns. He who hath heen set at the
right hand of the Majesty on high is a Priest upon His
throne, and makes continual intercession for u.?. Nor
does He plead merely for the ceremonially unclean. H(!
pleads for all, even for the vilest, who comi; to (iodl)y llim.
Nor does he plead in vain. " His blood cleanseth from all
.sin, and His voice of intercession is never disregarded.
Hhn the Father heareth always " I " If any man sin, we
have an a<lvocate with the Father — an advocate far more
influential than Hezekiah— even Jesus Christ, the right-
eous — who is the i)iopitiati(jn for our sins . and not tor
ours only, l)Ut also for the sinsof the whole world." Hear it
— " for the sinsof the whole world." i\o nationality is ex-
cluded, and no hindi'ance lies before any awakened one.
If there be an individual [)resent conscious of guilt, let
him make known his case and his fears to the great advo-
cate, and he need not doubt the result. Jesus will plead
for him, and God will heal him. He who listened to the
prayer of Hezekiah will not di^'i ?';ard the pleadings of
His son ! He who listened to ' ■ intercession presented
on the foundation of a typical sacritice and passover, will
most assuredly accept the intercession which is founded
on the great })ropitiation for the world, and oll'ered by the
great Pro[>itiator Himself? 0, there is everything to
encourage those who would draw nigh to God ! His tem-
ple hath been re-o})iMied for the world — an adequate [)ass-
over hath been prepared — all nations are invited to come
and keep that passover. And He who is Himself the
passover and the propitiation is ready to intercede, and

i i f

302

rilK DYNASTY OF OAVID.

; i

111

;; *

ili;it with siH'coss, for all who desire to outer tlic i('-o|)ene(l
temple, .'MkI to heliujd the heiiiity (»!" tile Lo' '' TJe ])er-
suiuled, my tViemls, ev<'iy one of you, to ;iv;; iirselves
of the iiivit;ition .'iiul the :in'!in,i;ements, if you li.'uc not
ahciuly (lone so, lienounce your false conlidenee, and
your disobedient ways. Hasten to the .h^rusalem |)asa-
ovei"— and employ and trust to the interci'ssion of the
New 'I'estament lli!;;h Tiiest. 'rhou,i;h Ivingin Jerusalem,
He is also I'i'iest of the Most IIiL;h (lotl ; ;U!d heisahleto
save to the uttermost all them that <'ome unto («od hy
Him — seeiiii!; lie <'ver livi^th to malct' intercession for
them. He hath not only opened tlu^ temjde ; he hath
also furnished the saeiitice. and He is Himself the lli,u;h-
J*iiest that })resents the hlood of that sa(a'iHc(^ Ix^fori! the
mercy seat, and secures, hy means of it, forgiveness and
grace for all penitent and believingop.es who < 'ow Him.
In one word. His obedient aiul trusting ])e( \re com-

plete in Him— seeing that in Him dwt^lleth m. iiduess —
even all the fulness of the (rodhead bodily! Why then
should any remain estranged from Him? Why should any
be so untrue to tlunnselves as to stand aloof from Him 1
They were wise who listened to the invitat ion of lli'zekiah,
and who availed themselves of his [)rayer, but unsjx'ak-
ably wise they who listen to the invitation of Messiah,
and avail themselves of j^lis intercession ! Be sure that
their wisdom is yours.

Having thus seen Hezekiah as a prince in authority,
and also as a mirroi- .)f the great Unseen, we have now to
notice him

III. As a man under if/ficiplhie.

It is not to be supposed, that a man so devoted and so
energetic for good as Hezekiah was, would go untried.
He who tried Abraham, by asking of him the sacrifice of
his son, even after that patriarch had shown his faith by
leaving his native country at the divine command, may
well seek a further proof of Hezekiah's devotedness, even
after the reformation he had wrought. A man who is
strong in cue direction may be weak in another : and it

■I

IIKZKKI All.

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(1 so
litried.
iftco of
Lth by
|l, may
even
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i,s seen |)ri»|»er liy (JtMl to lest, the (h.-iiNictei nl" liis scrvaiifs
at various points. Mezekiali was clearly al>ie to tjiec the
o|)|)(tsiti<»n and the scorn of idolaters, and to take the
odiinn of a i-etnrii to tlic ordin.'inccs of M(»scs, Imt would
lie ])(• aide to trust in (Jod in the face of an o\t'rwliclniin<;
demonstration of hostile powci' ? That is now to he
teste<l. The Kini; of Assyiia tui'iis, under the peiniission
of (Jod, his all coiKjiierinL:; annies against the Jvef<Miiier o|'
.Jerusalem. Already the proud and Itoastfid lieiitenaiif
of the advancing Seiuiacherih is hefore the walls of the
city. Ilezekiaii is hemmed in. He has no power to
contend with the swai'inin^' and warlike Assyiians. He
hath no allies, and he is not at lilterty to seek them.
The position of his caijital alone, with its sti'oni;' walls,
furnishes him a temporaiy respite, by aricstin^- the sui-
coss of the invaders. What is to ho done ? \\ hy. speak-
ing; aftei' the dictates of si-;ht, without enterin<.,M)n the
domain of faith, thei-e are only two couises open to him :
and, if his zeal Tor (J-mI he eithei' superticial or nu'rcdy
political, he will feel himself constrained to adopt the one
of thes(^ two coui'ses, aecordiu,n' to his temperament.
Either h(* will tiL;ht to the last, a-ainst all odds, and die
in des|)(>ration, or he will submit to the coiKpu'roi", and
yield hisne(dv to bondai^e. Ilistoiy furnishes illustrations
of both coui'ses. Ijconidas, foi- example, with his three
Imndred S[)artans at Thermojtyhe, disdained to yield to
the Persian invaders, and died in tin; unecpial strife ;
"while many cities have ojx'neil their urates and acceptcMl
bondage or ti'ibitte when they lound that thei'e was no
liope of successful resistance. But nez(d<iah adoj»te(l
neither the one course nor the other. Neither despera-
tion nor submission, llis de\'otedness to (Jod was not a
mattei' of policy, noi' yet the result (»f impulse. It was a
settled princii)le in his nature, and it dictated a coursi^ of
its own. He betook himself to the (Jod for whose hontmr
he had contended in the reformation he ellected. He
sent to Isaiah, the ])ro])het of (Jod, imploriiiL; his i)iayers.
Himself took the l)oastful letter sent to Him by the
invaders, and spread it before God in the temple: and

W. 'I

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304

T}rE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

Ilff^

III

then he acknowkMlged the power of Sennaclierib over the
])eoi)k! whose gods were no gods, and hegged that tlie
God of Israel, who was the ti'ue (lod, W(jnld show His
might ami su[)reinacy, in the (h'fence or (h-livfiance of
His hel[)U'ss serv^ant. And his prayers wwa not in vain.
The arm of (lod was nia(h' bare in his l)elialf — a lireath
from the desert, or an angel of vengeance swe[)t <n'er the
hosts of Sennacheril), and the strength and the flower of
his army withenMl in death. Senmnheiil) was diseon-
certed ;uid made })owerless, and liezekiah ami Jerusalem
were saved.

Nor was Hezekiah only saved. His integrity and his
faith were vindicated. He came out of the trial streiigth-
enedand tilled with gi'atefnl |)raise. As Abraham retnrn-
ed from Monnt ]\loriali after the trial of his faith, with
an overflowing heart, so Hezekiah saw the remains of the
threatening hosts of Assyria tile away fnjm the heights of
Zion, with profound and woi"shi])ful emotion. Tiie trial
had 1)een severe, but it l)oth vindicated and strengthened
the loyalty and the faith of this reforming king.

But one trial was not enouiih. Hezekiah must be
further tested. The next trial was in his pei'son. His
iK'alth gave way. and an. early death seemed imminent.
This trial, by the way. served a double pini)<)se. It both
checked a tendency to elation, arising from his great
deliverance, and furnished another test of the depth and
character of his faith. And how did he stand the test ?
Did he yield under it either to unbelief or to in)[)cnit-
ence l Not at all. He bowed to (Jod and committed
himself to tlu; disposal of the Supreme arltitcr, with
niany penitential tears. He grieved to think that his
days should be cut off ere half <if iiis woi'k for God was
accom])lished, and oidy asked to ))e remembered gracious-
ly by his divine Friend. And God did lemember him,
and God atlded hi'ti-en years to his life, and God caused
the shadow of the degrees to return ten degives on the
dial of Ahaz in token of his purpose. Hezekiah re-
covered from his sickness in c(Jiise<[uence by the prescrip-
tion of Isaiah, and beautiful and touching was the song

)vei'th('
hilt tho
low His
unci' of
in vain.

l)r<'ath
)\\'V the
lower of

(liscon-
rusaleni

and his
trength-
1 retnrn-
ith, with

lis of the
eights of
The trial
i^thened

must 1)0
»n. Itis
iniinent.
It both
lis great
cpth and
the test 1
impenit-
tmuiitted
cr, with
that his
(Jod was
gracious-
hrr him,
I caused
s on the
kiah re-
prescrip-
the song

«;'i I?

TIEZElvlAII.

305

he sung on his recovery ! Again, he came out of the trial,
vindicated and inii)rovt!d.

But a third trial awaited hhu, and from that he took
damage ; or rather, in that he showed his weakness. Tlie
ruler of Bal)ylon, Merodach-harladan, sent an embas-
sage to his court with a pi'esent and with flattering
words. Hezekiah drank in the seductive poison, lie
forgot, for the moment, his dej)endence on God. He
took to himself the eredit of his prosperity, and showed
all his riches and his treasures, just as a man who knew
not God, Avould sli<>w his. He was flattered by the
friendship of a l>ai»ylonian potentate, and he wished to
show his new ally that he was not unworthy of his
regards. He forgot, or merged his position as the head
of a God-cared people, and acted a,, if he were the
brother and tlu^ e(pial of op[)ressors and ungodly tyrants.
He thus lost an opportunity for honouring God and
testifying for righteousness in the pres(;nce of the aggres-
sive and self-seeking. (<od disapproved of his conduct of
course, and sent Isaiah to infoim him of His disapproba-
tion. Nay, God saw nu^et, in the circumstances to lift the
veil of the future for a moment, causing His unworthy
servant to know that all his vaunted treasures would be
reft away by the very power which had tlattenal and
beguiled him, and that liis own sons should yet be cap-
tives and eunuchs in the palaces of Babylon. How
bitter the thought, and how undesirable the knowled.;e
this vouchsafetl him! His piety, however, did not for-
sake him. Though his weakness had b(!en made mani-
fest, he was still in heart loyal to God. H(! bowed to
the divine announcement in all humility, saying, "(}ood
is the word of the Loi'd." He could not but mourn the
prospect, but he had no right, as he felt, to complain
of it. He was thankful I'or the respite granted for his
own day, and no doultt laid earnest su})[tlications before
the thione of (Jod tor t!i<' mitigation or reversal of the
sad pros])ect in relation to his descendants.

Thus, th(^ discipline by which Hezekiah was exercised
and tried promoted at once his faith, his humility, and

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3ft6

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

his devotional liabits. Had his piety bec-n superficial,
such trials would have w^iped it out, but being real and
heart-entrenched, these trials only deepened its hold on
his being. He learnt more fully and ini))ressively by
personal experience the faithfulness of God, and the
weakness of his own heart : a'' ^ such knowledge neces-
sarily increased his adniiratioi .>f God, and his distrust
of himself. Besides, the painful knowledge of the future,
given to him in judgment, actually proved a mercy in
connexion with his giacious habits. It Avas like Paul's
thorn in the flesh. That was a messenger of Satan to
buffet the Apostle, and yet it was useful to balance the
Apostle's nature after his heavenly visions and experi-
ences. But for this Paul might have become inflated
and darkened in mind and history ; whereas by this he
was kejtt humbled and dependent. So of Hezekiah's
undesirable knowledge of the future. Without it, he
might, with unwonted honour and experience in the
matter of Sennacherib, and also in that of his miracu-
lous recovery from sickness, have become vain and un-
stable ; but with it, he was kept humble and prayer-
ful ! Thus we see the wisdom and the goodness of God
to His faithful ones in the very judgments which He
executes. He is even in advance of the subtle enemies
of His servants, and far beyond them — so that He can
always check, or overrule, or render subservient to good,
the evil which they seek to bring about. Their machi-
nations are not only frustrated, they are made the means
of higher refinement and more exalted fortunes for the
lovers of the true and the divine. Thus the weakness
of the faithful nuiy be made aj)parent, but the discovery
or the manifestation of these weaknesses only quickens
and gives ardour to their approaches to God. Their sor-
rows may, for the moment, abound, but those sorrows
only tend to soften their hearts — to darken to them
things that might beguile and to mature them for the
higher life.

Oh, my friends, be sure that you love God as mani-
fested in Christ Jesus, and then your mercies will be

HEZEKUH.

307

^rficial,
'ill and
lold on
rely by
nd the
t neces-
listrust
future,
lercy in
3 Paul's
atan to
,nce the
experi-
inflated
this he
zekiah's
; it, he
in the
miracu-
and un-
prayer-
of God
ich He
enemies
He can
o good,
niachi-
means
for the
eakness
iscoveiy
uickens
leir sor-
sorrows
them
for the

sweet indeed, and your very trials, like those of TTeze-
kiali, will prove blessings in disguise. They will deepen
your love, and intensify your humility, and furnish yiai
with occasion for penitential supplications and for divine
fellowshii). Every cliaracter nnist be tested, simietimes
by Hatti'iies and sometimes by fears, but ha{)pily the
result will ever be in the exi)erienee of the genuine
children of Gol. Their graces will, by nu'ans of these
trials, shine the brighter — their safeguards will l)y the
same means ije increased — and their wings will by the
same means gr w for that heavenly Hight, which is to
land them in the world where trial and discipline,
and sorrow and tears are for ever unnecessary and u n-
known.

O, that God by 11 is Son Jesus may take possession of
your hearts, and make you all by His indwelling spirit
His children indeed I And, O, that being His children,
you may be able to use, Hezekiah-like, such authority as
you are intrusted with for the advancement of His
honour. May you be able besides to keep the Christian
Passover with joy — not for seven days only, nor for
twice seven days even, but all your lives long ! An<l
may you grow only more excellent and more humble by
means of the trials through which you may be made to
pass !

mam-
will be

QUESTIONS ON HEZEKIAH.

How did this prince use his aiithority /
Proui[)tly and decidudlyfor Heaven.
What ste[)S did he take on his accession to the throne i

He had the temple, which liis father closed, iuuuecUately
re-opened. He sunuuoned the Priests and tlie Levites
to the work of piu-yation and preparation with a view to
the recouuuenceiiieut of the temple worship, and he
joined devoutly in tlie worship so soon as the necessary
arrangements had been made.
Mention some thinj^s^that in tliis intiugural seemed worthy
of uutictt ?

I Hi

1 i

ii ■

308

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

He oftered a seven-fold sin-otfering, expressive of his deep
sense of the evil of the national apostacy. He earnestly
doairod that the offering should be for all Israel — for the
ten tribes as well as for the two. And he niadu all ne-
cessary arrangements ft)r triumphal praise as well as for
deep and penitential sacrifice.
How do you explain the ap[)arent ease with which ho carried
his reformation ?
The decidedly opposed weru (jverawed by his determination.
Had he been less decided, his course would have been
less easy. Besides, we may suppose a disgust had been
created in the mind of the unconcerned by the excess of
idolatry, practised under Ahaz, which made them more
tolerant of the change than they would otlicrwise have
been.
What daring purpose did Hezekiah, in his zeal next form ?
He proposed to invite all of the ten tribes who might be
willing to attend to a great passover, while leaving them
all free politically, he wished to see them all united reli-
giously. This was something new in Israel.
And did he carry liis purpose into immediate ell'ect i

Yes, and that though the time was scarcely suitable ; -
seeing that the preparations could not all be made, and
yet hold tlic passover in the nnnith appointed for that
ordinance.
How then, did he avoid this difticulty ?

He availed himself of a latitude allowed in the divine law
on the subject— allowing the observance to those who
were unintentionally disijualitied, t(j observe it on the
second month.
Is it usual for kings to be prompt and decided in using their
authority for God (
Alas, no ! The divine honour is too often the last thing
thought of by those in authority ; and Hezekiah is en-
titled to esteem accordingly.
Who ought especially to imitate Hezekiah in this matter of
authority ?
Parents certainly, l^lie parental authority is less extensive
than the royal, l)ut still it ought to be used promptly
and decidedly for Cod.
Is it conuuon for parents to use it so i

We fear not. Too many are content to leave the things of
(Jod luicarcd for. Their chief anxiety in relation to their
'•hildren is their worldly prosperity or advancement.

A his deep
e earnestly
el — fur the
Liido all ne-
v/ell as for

, he carried

jrmination.
have been
it had been
le excess of
them more
irwise have

*it form i
) might be
aving them
luited reli-

I'l

iuitable ; -
made, and
1 for that

divine law

those who

it on the

ising their

last thing
<iah is en-
matter of

extensive
promptly

) things of
onto their
luent.

HRZKKIAir.

3()'J

Should christian parents be content with this inade»iuate use
of parental autliority?
No indeed. We ouglit, Hezekiah like, to use our authority
as well as all our inlluenco, to keep these young people
within the heaven assigned Hunts of safety and [tcace.
May Hezekiah be accounted as a type of the divine [)riuco (if
the house of David in any special sense I
We think so. There are three things in which ho seems to
foreshadow that illustrious one.
Menti(m the first of these three things (

His re-opening the temple of Uod after its having been closed
by his father. This the great and divine son of the house
of David hath done spiritually.
What was the second suggestive act of Ilezekiah i

His untrammelled invitation to all Israel to come to a great
passover at Jerusalem. This seems to foreshadow the
commission of the apostles to all nations to come to the
gospel passover.
And what was the third !

His successful intercession for the unsanctilied. This
cleai'ly suggests the availing intercession of .lesus for his
believing peopic who !<ti> all in themselves unsanctilied
and unlit for divine intercession and fell(jwshi[).
Repeat the three great truths foreshadowed by the conduct of
Hezekiah (
The temple of Crod is now open for the world — all, of any
nation are invited to come to thegreat and available pass-
over, and the divine prince of the house of David, who is
Himself the passover, is prepared to intercede lor all who
truly and humbly come : so that none need fear rejec-
tion or disappointment.
Have these ti'uths any bearing upon our views or interests ?
Most assuredly. They furnish opportunity and encourage-
ment for all who wish to enjoy the divine forgiveness
and the divine favour.
What then should be our unhesitating course ?
To renounce all other dependence, to hasten to the pass -
over, and to trust in the intercession of the New Testa-
ment High Priest.
Was this ::ealous prince, Hezekiah, subject to any particular
trials ?
Certainly. It is the manner of God to test and discipline
his people.
What was the first great trial to which ho was subject ?
The invasion of Sennacherib.

hi'

i t

..» t,

■A

;1lM

.-^lo

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

How fliil he come out of this trial ?

Uninjured and rejoicing.
Wliat was his next trial ?

Prostration .as to his hody, and threatened death.
What was the result in this case ?

Deliverance and gratitude.
What was the third ?

Flattery from Babylon.
Did he take any injury from this ?

Yes, he fi^rgot his dependence and liis glory — and acted in
a vain-gl(»rifjus and self-reliant spirit.
And did (iod express any disapprobation for this ?

Yes : and annoiniced judgments in consequence.
What was the effect upon him of (Jod's displeasure ?
It humbled him, and kept him humble for the rest of his
life.
Was this not bringing good out of evil ?
Certainly, and this is the manner of God with His true
petjple. Hezukiah might have been unduly elated by
his miraculous deliverance and by his miraculous recov-
ery from sickness — this threatening on the p:irt of God
held his vai'-ity in check — It was to him what Paul's
thorn in the flesh was to Paul.
What is it that transmutes every dispensation into blessing ?
The loving God in the heart ; all things work together for
good to the Living and confiding.
Repeat the great lesson to be learnt f I'om the life of Hezekiah^
To use promptly authority for God. T<i hasten to, and to
keep the christian passover, and to exercise ourselves in
humility and trust amid the discipline and trial of this
our preparatoi-y life.

m I

I acted in

eat of his

His true
ilated by-
US I'ecov-
t of God
xt Paul's

essing ?
ether for

[ezekiah?
o, and to
•selves in
il of this

XV. MANASSEH.

And the Lord spake to Manasseh, and his people ; but they
/ would not hearken.— II Chrou. xxxiii. 10.

E turned your attention recently to tlie story
of Hezokiah. He was a strikino; type of liis
great descendant, as to zeal, enlightened de-
sire for the unity of Israel, and intercessory
ce. No such typical intimations are seen in
^the story of Manasseh, his son; and yet the story of
t^-Manasseh is worthy of attention. It brings out very
vividly a transcendent and precious excellence of the
divine character. In noticing this story we shall
remind you of his early and excessive wickedness,
his wonderful recovery, and the suggestive character
of the story of Manasseh— still further illustrating
the divine mercy.

1. His early and excessive, wickedness.

This was something to be wondered at-considering his
parentage, his knowledge, and his circumstances. There
have been monsters of wickedness in other nations, and
on other thrones, but they have not had the advantages
whicli Manasseh had, nor yet the inducements to i)iety
and obedience which were set l)efore him. Many of tlie
Roman emperors, for example, were vile, and cruel, and
wicked beyond ex]H-ession, but they had not l)een trained
under the influence of such men as Hezckiah and Tsaiah,
neither had they enjoyed such a demonstration of God's
supremacy, and care for his own, as that which the father

! -i

1 1 .

1 iii

M-1

TIIF, DVNASTY OK DAVID.

of Maiiiisscli lijul rnjoyed, and with which Manassch must
have l)eeu thorou^lily acc|iiaint(Ml. 1 ret'tT to the ovei*
throw of Scnnacherilj's army hefore .Icriisah-m. The trntli
is, IVIanasscli prefui'i-ed darkness to li.i:;lit, and tlic^ service
of Satan to the service of Clod -not ip,noiantly, as too
many have done, but witli his eyes open. And he ex-
ceeded in wi('lce(hiess, if tliat were possildc, even his
grandfather Aha/ ; and that is saying nnich

It may hv said in cxtciniation, tliat he came caily to
the throne- -heing oidy tw»;l\(> ^cars old when 1 Tezckiali
died, andnuich of tlie l)kme attaclnng to his early admin-
istration maybe [)ut therefore to the credit of his advisers.
But how came he to have such aihisers? His father
would not leave- him in the hands of idoUitrous and wick-
ed counselloi's. Nor would his father leave him unad-
vised concerning the course he ought to i)ursue. Heze-
kiah Avould not be less solicitous than David, concerning
his successors, and we know how earnestly David urged
fidelity an<l piety \\\Km Solomon. " Ivee])," said he, Avlien
about to die, " kec^p the charge of the Lord thy (Jod, to
walk in His ways, to k(>e]) His statutes, and His com-
mandments, and His judgments, and His testimonies, as
it is written in the law of JMoses — that thou mayest pros-
per in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest
thyself." Thus David ; and think you tliat Hezekiah
would leave Manasseh uncounselled ? W^^ cannot sup-
pose so ; and Ave fear that Manasseh must have dismissed
the good counsellors a])[)ointed l)y his father, as Avell as
disregard(Ml the advice of his father, in choosing for him
self counsellors more suited to his evil dispositions and
evil desires. No <loubt, unworthy men gained his ear,
and his confidence, but this had not been, if he had not
been Avilliug to lie misled -if lu> had not wished to be
free of the ivstraints of righteousness, and eager to pursue
a course of self-pleasing and unworthy gratihcation. His
course may be indicated thus :

First, lie undid fhcvork oj his father — fhe good Hezekiah.
Ho reared again what his father had pulled down, and
pulled down what his father had built up. He renewed

'. I

MANASREH.

313

I'll as

liim

> and

the high pL'UM's and the fijiovp'^ of Baal, and scattered on
the other hand tlie jn-iests of Hod's teni|)le, Tlie faitlitui
liad to hi(h' away, wliilc; the men of ill-onu'n, an<l ill-pre-
ference enjoyed tlie smiles and the favours of his court.
Oh, but tiiere was soirow in Jerusalem anddudah, on the
part of the few eidii^ditened, when this undesirahle change
M^as estahlisheil, and tlien was seen the truth of that say-
ing of David, "The wicke(l walk on every side when vile
men are exalted !'' And this change was presumptuous
on the i)art of Manasseh in no common degree ! Why
should he, a youth in his minority, presume to undo the,
work of his father 1 Had his father de])arted from tlie
sacred wi-itings of his country, or set aside the covenant
on which tlie throne f-i' David was founded, we could not
have found fault with him for hastening to retrace his
steps, and to i)lace hin)self and his people in harmony
again with the sanctities atid antecedents of his nation,
but his father had but done what every true-hearted
Israelite was bound to do in the circumstances, an<l why
should this stripling king subvert the work so wisely done
and seek to set aside the peculiarities of his dynasty 1
He might have taken time to considerwhat he was about
to do, and to investigate the claims of his father's God.
He might have yiehled himself to the guidance of the
counsellors ap})ointed by his father, until, at least, he liad
attained to his majority. But no. He seems to have
been impatient to break away from the salutary restraints
of Heaven, and to fiei; liimself from all the moral pro-
prieties of his ])osition. Then

Secondly, He gave, hhm^elf to the very worst forms of ido-
latry. He not only worshipped the sun and the moon,
and the heavenly hiTninaries,l)ut he gave himself also to the
vile, and cruel and del»asing practices of the Canaanites,
whom God had cast out of the land for their wickedness.
He actually, like Ahaz, burnt his children in the fire to
propitiate the cruel Moloch. The image of this monster
god, you will remend)er, was made of metal, and heated
red hot, and, while in this state, the little ones were
thrown into its fearful arms. Who would not be indig-

i' I

1 1
I
I

tl I

MS'

314

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

nant at a parent for using his lulpless cliildren so ? And
wiio endorses not the indignation of the Holy Jehovah
against such practices ] It had been bad enougli to luive
forsakcni the true God for th*' false, even though the false
had l)een refined and gentle ; but how aboiiiiiial)l(! to for-
sake the worship of the mighty and the merciful i'or that
of the powerless and the cruel. Surely Manasseh must
have rated the service of the Holy at a low rate indeed
when he could prefer to it the admonitions and the
cruelties of heathendom! But no. This is not the way
to view his conduct. It was not a preference of what he
deemed best that guided him, l)Ut a preference of that most
congenial to his own depraved heart and nature.

Tliirdly, He whh'jl to kis idohifr// thi; ItisuJf, to hravcn
of the practising of iritrjicnift — that is to say, he would
penetrate the secrets of the unseen, spite of all hind-
rance. He would intrude upon God in Flis own reserved
domain. Not content to renounce and forsake God as
the God of his nation, whose temple rose within sight of
his palace, he must needs break the Imrriers of the Invis-
ible, and, by the helj) of the designing or the (hjvilish,
find out for himself the hidden and the future. This
was, in effect, joining the rebels of darkness, defying
God, discrediting His revelation, and seeking to suV)vert
His throne. The attempt, of course, was vain : he could
neither penetrate the unseen nor formally transact with
the spirits of darkness, but it showed his desire. Rather
than listen to the divine and the competent, he would
const)rt with witches and necromancers, to find out, by
underhand and disobedient ways, the things that God had
hidden from human view. lie preferred the dark cave,
and the senseless jargon of the ungodly or immoral wiz-
ard, to the living and holy oracles of God — written in
His word, or uttered in his beautiful temple by Urim and
Thummim. Was this not insulting to the most High 1
Why, to say nothing of the criminality of it, what could
be more ungrateful or disparaging in relation to God 1 It
■was condescension unspeakable on the part of God to
utter His oracles in the ears of men. What then could

MANASSEH.

315

he more nn^^rateful on thoir part than to rlisrepjard TTis
condescttiisioi; ? And what more disparatfini^ to (lod than
to have his (hicti'ines sot aside in favour of tiiose ij^ntnaiit
and (hnnon-l)liii(U'(l intMi ? It were a si^i^n of f<»lly and
dcihasemcnt surely, and not of wisdom, for an indivi(h»al
to pi'cfer the in(;olierent utterances of a drunken man as
a gui(hMn any matter of importance, to tlie ch'ar and
trutli-(lictated utterances of a heaven-sent anujel ! lieason
and common sense woukl cry out ajj^ainst sucli a prefer-
ence! Atid yet even worse than this was the folly of
Manasseh in preferrin^^ the words of the necromancers to
the words and the oracles of God, which an; as silver
seven times puritied. Jiiit evon this is not all.

Fourthly, Mdnassch hisidfed God in Ili.'i Vfi'i/ fcmph.
He was not content to forsake the House of (lod, and to
go and build for himself idolatrous shrines elsewhere : he
must needs defy (xod, as it were, to His very face. He
actually huilt altars to Baalim in the courts of the tem-
ple, and introduced a carved image into the sacred edifice
itself. He carried his presum))tion and his daring into
tlu! very presence of the most High. Sinners often seek
to hid(^ away from God, and are willing to leave his courts
undefiled if only they may be permitted to practise their
follies in secret and away from the divine restraint ; but
this would not satisfy the insensate spirit of Manasseh.
He was not content to worship his strange gods in some
secluded, or remote, or at least, S(^[)arat(? hjcality. no,
he must jiractise his abominations in ihe very temple it-
self. It is as if a neighbour, determined to annoy and
distress you, should come into your very house for the
purpose. Ordinary enmity would content itself with calum-
niating or injuring you at a distance, and extraordin-
ary and ruthless must that enmity be, whicli would seek
your very presence, and that in your own dwelling place,
that it might show its spite, its opposition, or its con-
tempt. But such was the conduct of Manasseh in rela-
tion to the God of Israel. He not oidy gave himself to
other gods, but he also, so far as he could, dethroned the
true God, dispossessed Him of His temple, and installed

. -p;

i^ -i-

3ir>

THK DYNASTY OK M.WFD.

anotlicr divinity ()rothrr<livinitit's llinr. One would liiivr
oApcctrd tiiat this at least wouM liav<» aroused the divine
iTidi«^nj»tioii, and that a thmidorliolt IVitin tlu' hand of the
Ahnii^hty uonld havr shattered the intruded image, and
laid the intrusive and daring; Manasseh low ! lint it was
not so. (}od withheld Mis hand. Nay, moic, (Jod sent
I'cnionstrances by His oroithets, il' ha|>i)ly he iniyht turn
the foolish heing fioni his folly. IJul here a.i^ain the hos-
tility ami disobedience of Manasseh a]>i)earod. For, tifthly,
lie rcfiisrd f/icir (u/inonl/ion mid rniKiiisfrniiccs. Nay, he
tni'ned upon the messenii;eis and slew them. He who
dai'ed to defile the tempUt, was not slow to remove; the
prophet reprovers. If (}od was patient and foibearing
with him, ho was far from acting so iu relation to (rod's
messengi^rs : lu; overwliebned them, so far as his })ower
■went, with swift destruction. Kven Isaiah, now vener-
able with years, and yet far more venoiMble by his con-
verse with the vision of God — even Tsaiah must be pun-
ished for daring to remonstrate. And how punished ?
Listen ; tradition says he was, by thcMirder of Manasseh,
sawn asunder. IIow enormous tlu; wickedness and tlu;
cruelty of such an order ! How we wonder, when we
read the beautiful utterances of the evangelical prophet,
at the audacity and the hc^artlessness of the man who
could order his execution, and calndy see such a life ex-
tinguished, .and in such a manner. We cannot forget
that Isaiah had been the friend and the comforter of
Hezekiah, Manasseh's father, as well as the honoured ex-
ponent of the divine will and the divine counsels, and we
wonder with great astonishment how Mnnas- ' ould
treat him so. But it is only a traditi' m. ;' ,d may not be
true. Admitted, still the traditio' > the est 'mate

of posterity as to his character. S a tradition juld
never attach itself to the name of Jc . diaph t or Josiah.
The very acceptance of such a tradition in >Iies the con-
viction of those who receive or transmit it, that Manas-
seh was capable of the deed — and that, indeed, it was in
keeping with his character.

til*'

MANASSKH.

317

It is not needful to £^0 further. You have now })oforu
you enouj;;li to enal)l(' you to estimate tliis prince. He re-
versed the reformiii,i<arraii;;«'nn'Utsc)t his father — heopndy
GHtahlished and praetisrd i(h)latry, and tliat in its vilest
forms — he |)ractised witchcraft hesidcs, and consoited
witli diviners. He insulted CJod in His very temple ; and
further, instead of listening' to the l'roj)h('t-ni<'s.-;ri;Li;i'rs of
HeavtMi, seeking to turn him from his folly, ln' rejected
and slew them. The truth is, lu; exceeded all honntls in
his wickedness and i»resumi»tion. Thi^ ordiiui'y crowd (►f
wicked and reckless men he left far hehini. and fiercely
rushed in relation to the divine, where even the ahan-
doned fear to tn^ad. So bad, ind«'ed is Im «'steenied to
have been, during his early a<lministration, that a very
sober and sedate \vrit«!r on his character says, " that he
was, perhaps, the most wicked man of all the human race."
Mark his territic pre-eminence. Perhnps the most ir'tdi'd
man of all the human race/ There have been crowds of
daring, wicked, tyrannical, and cruel men in eveiy gener-
ation. We shudder to hear or to read of tlieir infatua-
tion, and their doings ! And can it be that th<'! son (jf
llezekiah should exceed them all in wicktnlness? But
suppose that this is a mistaki^n judgment : he was clearly
and confesse(lly among the worst. If not wicked above
them all, he was at least among the lirst three, or, at any
rate, among the next thirty. His temerity and impiety
were enormous, and with scarcely any palliating circum-
stances. We can only stand amazed and horror-stricken
while W(^ thiidvof his early history.

What then was his subse([uent history 1 Did he, like
most reckless and wicked nn'ii, go from bad to worse 1 Did
he madly rush upon his fate and bring upon himself swift
destruction 1 Did he fall, like his son after him, and
like some of his ancestors before him by assassination ?
Or did he die of fearful diseases, like Jehorani, the son of
Jehoshaphat ? Did the lightning of Heaven scathe or
blast him and leave him rent and ruined, and a beacon-
monument for all subsequent generations ? This, we cer-
tainly would have expected : but it was not so. This

i i

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' ;«"'fl

;:|

:,j[l

318

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

«liit

vilest of men actually found mercy at the hands of God,
and this leads me to notice : —

//. His wonderful recocery.

The first step toward this was penal, and might not
have resulted favourably. He was dashed frojn the
throne which he had so dishonoured — taken alive, car-
ried to Bal)ylon, which his conquei'or, Esarhaddon of
Assyria, had then recently conquered, and placed in con-
finement there. It was thus, stripped of all his power,
and separated from all his corrupt courtiers, and tools,
unsustained and unimpelled by their presence and prompt-
ings, he had opportunity for reviewing his career, and he
could not hide from himself its real character. The men-
tal process which now commenced within him is not re-
corded, only the result ; but we can imagine its outline.
At first he could t>nly execrate his own folly. As he
l)aced his apartment in prison, and realized his captive,
and dishonoured, and forlorn condition, no doubt he
often burst out with denunciations against himself and
his chief advisers. " 0, my stupidity," he would cry, " my
inexcusable stupidity, to listen to such and such counsel-
lors, and to pursue such and such a course ! 1 deserve to
be tram[)led for ever iri the mire, and to have my name
execrated in all coming time ! That I, a son of the
saintly Hezekiah, and a descendant of David, should have
torn down from the battlements of Jerusilem the banner
of Heaven ! That I, so privileged, and so favoured,
should have defied and insulted Jehovah, who had proved
so irrefragably His power and supremacy in the history
of my nation ! And that I should have burnt my own
children, and slain the people and prophets of the Lord
as well ! Oh, it is agony. O, it was madness, unutter-
able madness ! Where shall I hide my uuAvorthy, my
execrable head ? O, that I had died among the briars,
on the day of my capture, rather than be reserved to
such remembrances and such regrets!" He was now,
you understand, fully :dive to the folly of his career.

MANASSEH.

319

And lie could not Init remember the character and the
counsels ot" his father, so different from the course he had
pursued ; hut the remembrance only agonized him the
more. He had as yet no thought of mercy ! It did not
seem possible that mercy could reach him. He had sin-
ned, as he thouuht, beyond recovery or forgiveness ; and
his thoughts and I'cflections, and an icipations, were only
remoi'seful and painful. He had precipitated himself in-
to a gulf, as he felt, from which there was no escape. He
had fallen so deep and so low that he never could recover
the heights of holiness and of hope where his father walk-
ed in his early recollections, with him, as a boy, by his
side. No wonder if despair — black and dread despair,
settled down upon his spirit. How long it settled there,
we cainint tell ; but we kuow that it was not forever (as
it often is in the case of wicked men when brought faco
to face with their ov/n outrageous impiety) ; I say it w,'i,s
not forever. In the progress of days or months of self-
reproach, and dread expectation, a faint ray of light began
to steal over his nature — a very faint at first, but gi'adu-
ally becoming more and more decided. His rage became
penitence : his execrations and self-reproaches b 'came
sorrow: his rebellion became submission ; his submission
became prayer : and his prayer rose to ardent and strong
crying and supplication. The superincumbent mass of
folly aud delusion, iiccumulated during yeai's of disobedi-
ence and rebellion, being swept aside by his adversity,
the small seed of truth deposited by his father in his
youthfid heart, began to develop itself. Faith grew as
the truth gained p</wer within him. His spirit became
calmer, but not le;^s intense in its exercises. Prayer and
self humiliation now foi'ined his daily occupation. The
mercy of God unveiled itself to his wondering eyes. The
forbearance of (lod toward him, in that he was not slain
outright, encouraged him. Hope budded, though feebly
and blush' ngly at first, under the shadow of Ids faith.
He was enabled to hold on and to press forward. And,
wonderful to be tt)ld, even Manasseh, the daring, the im-
pious, the cruel Manasseh, was enabled in some meaiiure

.i *

i|!i

^ililit

320

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

to apprehend to Lay hold of and to trust on the mercy of
God!

Are you not amazed ? Why, the fact almost sta<>gers
for the moment our convictions of the righteousness or
the vigour of the divine administi'ation ! If any man
ever sinned away his day of grace, and rendered mercy in
relation to him impossible and unadvisal)le, it was, as we
would have supposed, Manasscli. ]>ut, happily, God's
thoughts are not as our tlioughts — nor His ways as our
ways. At a liuman bar, Manasseh might have cried for
mercy in vain ! But at the throne of grace, he found for-
giveness and peace !

It is interesting to think whih' I'uminating on this
wonderful change in Manasseh, of the prol)able intermed-
iary causes of it. It must be referi'ed ultimately, of course,
to the sovereign gi'ace oi ( }od: but then God acts mediately
and by second and subordinatt^ agencies and intiuence.
What then were the second and sul)ordinate agencies and
influences of this happy re[)entance of Manasseh 1 We
are greatly disposed to thiidv that these ai'e to be found
in the prayers and ])iety of Ids father, lleze]<iah. To that
monarch it was reveaUid, because o\' his vanity, as you
know, that some of his descendants should be })risoners
and eunuchs in Babylon. Hezekiah bowed to the tlireaten-
ed calamity saying, " Good is the word of the Lord ! "
But thiidv you that His affectionate and parental heart
would rest tliere l O no ! He would plead with all
earnestness, we have no doubt, for the expatriated Princes.
He would ]>ray tliat tlieir reverses might be shortened
and sanctified to tliem, and that God would bring good
out of the undesirable evil. At tlui same time, wliile
secretly pleading with God, his pious solieitude would
make him earnest in talking with his youthful son, Manas-
seh. May we not su})[)ose that he told him of the conung
captivity, and urged him if the calanuty sliould come in
his day to humble himself before; (}od in the hour of his
luunilation— seeking delivt'rance from Him who alone
could secure it. And may not the words of Hezekiah
have come forcibly to the mind of his captive and bumbled

mercj of

. staf»gers
usiiess or
any man
mercy in
as, as we
ly, God's
ys as our
cried for
bund for-

;■ on this
ntermod-
of course,
iiediately
ntiuence.
iicies and
h ? We
be found
To tliat
Y, as you
nisuners
ueaten-
].ord ! "
al heart
with all
Princes,
loitened
It:' liood
, while
' would
Manas-
coming
come in
ir of his
() alone
czekiah
uinhU'd

MANASSEH.

321

son when reproaching himself for his folly ? We think
it probable : but anyway the prayers of Hezekiah were
still before the throne of God, and his character and ex-
ample were brought anew to the remembrance of Man-
asseh in the day of his sorrow . And the prayers were an-
swered by the softening influence of the remembered ex-
ample. If so, it was through his pious father that the
grace of God reached Manasseli, and pious parents should
take encouragement from the probable fact. Let them
not cease to pray for their young people, while they have
life and opportunity. Their prayers may be answered
when they themselves have gone to the unseen. They
may have no intimation of coming reverse for their chil-
dren, as Hezekiah had, they may not be impelled to pray
as he was, by conscious delinquency in connection with the
sad fort'^nes of their children ; but they may well assure
themselves that difficulties and trials Avill meet or over-
take every one of their loved ones ; their characters will
be tested ; their hearts will probably be wrung with grief;
and they will need the sympathy, and the grace, and the
support of God ! Let the pious parent think of this, and
plead for support and deliverance for his children when
these children have only God to look to.

It is also interesting to notice, in relation to penitent
Manasseh, how speedily remedial influences came into
play, after his repentance and reconciliation with God,
with a view to his restoration to his throne. What these
were, we are not informed, but it has been supposed that
political considerations moved the heart of his captor, if
generous sentiments did not. Esarhaddon cared nothing
for the humiliation of Manasseh but he fancied that he
might attach the Jewish monarch to his interests by deal-
ing generously with him. Manasseh might be a sort of
royal lieutenant on the confines of his empire towards
Egypt — the only power from whom Assyria exjtocted any
annoyance. He might be mistaken in this, and Manasseh
might be able to lentl him but small assistance in the day
of his extremity. Still the thought prompted him to set
the captive free, and even to restore him tc» his capital,

R ■

'#H;

1 !f »

^ni

lUl

i ■

-
1

322

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

with a soiriewhat enlarged territory — for Samaria seems
then to have been added to his original domain. Thus
Esarhaddon, all unconsciously, and moved only by politi-
cal and selfish considerations, reversed on the repentance
of Manasseli, the judgment which himself (with like un-
consciousness) had executed against the same Prince,
while yet in his impurity. We are reminded by this how
wonderfully God overrules the policy of nations and Em-
perors for the accomplishment of His gracious purposes
concerning His people. The world suspects not how com-
pletely its movements are made contributary to the exer-
cise, or to the improvement, or the deliverance of the
penitent, the believing, and the God-revering. The hearts
of kings are in the hands of God, and He turneth them,
like the rivers of waters, withersoever He will. And you
may rest assured that He will not turn them to the det-
riment of His own, but rather make them subservient to
the best interests of them He loves. It was clearly so in
the case of Esarhaddon and Manasseh. Further,

We are pleased to find that the restored king set him-
self about the work of ratification and reformation on his
return, but he acted at great disadvantage in the work.
His former folly could not be forgotten either by him-
self or his people. His sad and painful remembrances
weakened his power for action. He could not go about
the work of reform with the same buoyancy, and freedom,
and power, with which Hezekiah went about it.

And then, he found that it is easier to mislead a peo-
ple than to recall them when misled. The corrupt will
willingly follow the lead of those who rer ounce Heaven,
but they prove little tractable when it is sought to lead
them back to the Holy. So Manasseh discovered. His
influence, which had been all controlling in the days of his
Idolatory, he found to be but partial and limited in the
days of his refirmation and piety, still, he laboured on in
the good cause ; and though he made no brilliant change
in the aspect of Judah and Jerusalem, he yet proved
the sincerity of his repentance, and arrested for a time,
the downward progress of his kingdom. His later years

MAXASSEH.

323

ria seems
n. Thus
by politi-
epentance
h like un-
e Prince,
/■ this how
3 and Era-
i purposes
how com-

the exer-
ice of the
rhe hearts
eth them,

And you
,o the det-
ervient to
;arly so in

g set him-
ion on his
the work.
■ by him-
mbrances
go about
I freedom,

ad a peo-
rrupt will
Heaven,
t to lead
ed. His
ays of his
ed in the
red on in
it change
proved
)r a time,
ter years

we fancy, were ])ut sad and regretful. His memories
were not cheering or invigourating — his small success in
th{? matter of reform would keep him humble — and pos-
sibly the maiiift'st irreligion of his son, Anion, would
depress and grieve his lieait : And the more so when he
remembered that hy^iself had deposittnl the seeds of ira-
])iety in that youthful heart. Even as Hezc^kiah had pre-
pared the way for his repentance, so he had prepared the
way for his son's overthrow. Anion was a reproduction
of his former self; ])ut his hapjiy change did not bring a
like change to his son. He saw him ready on his c n
demise to head the idolatrous and influential portion of
the community against the (rod of Israel, as himself had
done after the death of Hezekiah. Altogether, his latter
days were shaded and unbrilliant, and he is remembered
now, not as a distinguished, or loyal, or successful Re-
former ; but as a monument of the dli'ine merey !

And this my friends is the grand lesson of his history
— viz. ,t]ie extent and (jreainess of the divine mercy. Who could
have imagined that even Manasseh, the idolater, the necrom-
ancer — the defiler of the Temple — the destroyer of his
own children, and tlie executioner of the Prophets of the
Lord; who, I say, could have imagined that he would have
found mercy '? His daring and impiety were unusual,
and he had not the excuse of ignorance or impious up-
bringing, and yet God pitied him — gave him softening
grace— and actually ree«'ived him, when penitent, again
into favour! There must l>ea depth and a boundlessness
of compassion with God, of which we have no conception !
It is so with H is wisdom, it is so with His righteous-
ness, it is so with his faithfulness, and so with His mercy!
The truth is, all God's attributes are infinite, and His
mercy not less so than the rest. And there is iiiell'able
encouragenu'nt in the fact to every penitent one. It is
impenitence on the part of men— not implacability on the
part of God that stands in the way of forgiveness. It is
not the greatness of the sin that bars reconciliation. It is
the hardness of the heart of the sinner. Accordingly the
sinful penitent need never despair. The mercy of God

\% U

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'T'r

I 1 I

IJV

iHI

iiifiii

■ t

ihl!

^1 i • '-

' ! • ■'

f I

1 '.^

t. '■

1 ■:

I i

324

TTIK DYNASTY OF r>AYID.

is infinitely hoyond his demerits, great althougli tliesearo.
Let liini play and liope ; let him niouin and entreat.
The dawn of love, and lli(^ forthshining thereofwill aston-
ish and cheer him in due time. His very penitence
itself is an earnest of his acceptance^ — not the cause of it,
but an earnest of it. Tmi)eniten(;e alone raises an impas-
sable harrier between the sinner and the throne of love !
Only think of it: "There is no limit to the mercy of
God. No mountains of transgit-ssion rise so high that
this flood cannot cov(>i' them. Sinners, th<' chief, are wel-
come to complete forgiveness. Although llu; I'l'odigal
son has wasted all in riotous living, let him but arise and
go to his Fathei', and he will be received without n])braid-
ings.. Ingosjx'l times this blessed truth hasbccnmm-h more
fully made known. The blood of Jesus Christ, God's
son, cleanseth fr<»ni all sin. Whosoever will let him come,
the same blood of the ],amb that is needed to wash away
the sin of Ji little child is sufficient to free the hoariest
sinner on earth from every spot and Avrinkle. No human
beiuii; of anv aLi'c (»r any character needs to liesitat<' and
holdback, from a lear lest his sins should prove too great,
or too deeply engrained by time; Christ saves to the utter-
most. Not oiu' of all the human race, through all the
generations of time, Avho come to the mercy seat Avith his
sins, will be sent away with the burden on his back be-
cause that bui'den Mas too gieat to be removed. If
through the window of Scripture, Ave could see only such
holy men as S.nnuel, and Daniel, and John going in at
the gate of heaven, Ave Avould be cast d(twn-- Ave Avould not
dare to hope that such as Ave are could be admitted there.
If oidy great saints got it, we Avho ai'c great siuneis Avonld
lose hope. lUitAvhen Ave see ]\Ianasseh and men like him
going in and getting Avelcome, there is hope for ns. If,
Ave folloAv their steps in repentance, Ave shall be per-
mitted to join their company in rest. If, like them,
Ave arise and go to the Father, like them Ave shall be per-
mitted to lean on His bosom, and thvell in His house !"
We noAv notice :—

^] wAssiijf.

:\2:

those aro.

<'iitroat.

■il] ;iston-

[X'uitcnce

-U80 of it,

in impas-

! of love !

mercy of

ligh that

are wel-

Pi'odigal

I rise and

iip])rai(l-

leh nioi'e

St, God's

im come,

sh away

lioariest

human

tate and

)0 i^reat,

ic utter-

1 all the

with his

lack be-

(m1. If

ily such

11' in at

Duld not

d there.

s Avonid

ike him

ns. If,

l)e ])er-

3 them,

1)(' per-

louse ! "

///. Thr .'iiii/(/r.'>firi clKiriidcr of the .<f"ri/ nj Miindnsch
dill fiirthi'f /llusfndlii'i I In ilir'iiic vierri/.

He oUi;ht to have Ix-cn a typr of tlie i^rcat [)rincc in

til

Whom th<i .!4'loiy or ins nousc ami dynasty \vas lo
culminate. As an aiu.'cstnr of Messiah, he ouL;ht to have
foreshadowed some one of the many e\celleiu,'es or eha
racteristics of that <.;'i'eat [)ersonaL;'e ; and had he walked
ohediinitly lU) (h)ul»t lie would have done so. 'J'o say
nothing of i)avid and Jehi)sha[»liat, his own father Ilezc-
kiah had, as wo have already noticed, ioicshadowed the
burning zeal and successful interc^ession of the prince of
peace ; and Manasseh, according to his temperament and
circumstances, ought to have continued tlu; anti('i[)ative
repres(Uitatioii. I]ut this he did not do. On tlu; con-
trary he phiced himself entirely out of the line of the
coining glory, He threw himself into the ways of dis-
obedience, and thereliy foifeited the honour of fore-
sliadowment during his early years, and untitti'd himself
for regaining it, even in the da3s t)f his repentance and
reformation during his later years.

If, h(jwever, he failed as a ty}»e of Messiah, he may bo
regarded as an embodiment of the peo[)le over whom he
ruled so long. His history suggests theii- history. His
impiety, as an individual, was their ini[)iety as a nation.
As he forsook God, so did they. As he went from bad to
worse, so did they. As he insulted (Jod so did they. As
he refused remonstrance and entreaty on tlie part of the
projihets, so didtlmy. As he incurred dethronement and
captivity because of his hardene(l and irreligious ways, so
they incur" mI disinheritance and captivity for the same
reason. ■ 'tli some brief arrests under good kings, tlu^y,
as a nation vent fiom bad to woise, all tin,' way, iVoni the
days of D.ivid to thost; of Zedekiah. J'^very means was
taken to keep them true to God, and separate fi'om idol-
atry, and yet to idols they would go. Witchcraft was
denounced as rebellious, and yet to witches they would
seek. Wine and wickedness of every form were pro-
hibited, yet to wine and wickedness they would give

'TV

.'iL'('>

IMF, DYNASI'V o|- l>AVII».

1^ 1 ' :

1 i.

!-)

themselves. All that iiij^'eniious and powerful h)V(' could
do to keep them faitlif'ul to heav(!ii and to lighteousnciss
God did, and yet tliey ^nvv themselves to uurightcsous-
ness and iingodUness. Through long centuries the Holy
One laboured to r(!claim and to enlighten them, l)ut they
would neither Ixi r(!claime(l nor enlightcTied: and He; was
constrained at last to give power to Nebuchadnezzar to
burn their city, to overthrow their temple, and to carry
them away into cajttivity and exih^ ! Jt fared at best
with them just as it faied with IManasseh !

And this, one would have thought, would have been
the end of so perverse and nngrateful a jjcople. They
had exhausted apj)arently the patience and the meicy of
Him who sought their good. They must be content, now
and henceforth, as we Avould have supposed, to wear the
chains of servitude and to w(^f ]) for tlui good they had
for ever forfeited. And yet what was the fact 1 Why,
just as in the case of Ivianasseh, their captivity led many
to penitence and justcr \'ieAvs, and the mercy that re-
stored that once impious, but subsequently ])enitent,
monarch, reappeared and reasserted its ])owei' in tlu^ case
of the captive peojjle. God in His ineffable, inexhaust-
ible grace, raised up for them a deliverer, (^yrus did
for the nation what Esar had done for Manasseh, and
Cyrus was but the agent of the divine mercy. God led
that conqueror to victory and dominion with a view to
this service, and so arranged matters, by the prophecies
of Isaiah, and by the presence of Daniel at court, as to
dispose the heart of the conqueror to liberate the hum-
bled and penitent people. After seventy years of bitter
and captive experiences on the part of the expatriated
Jews, the freedom-giving edict went forth, and the long-
estranged people returned to their sacred city — the won-
dering witnesses and the wonderful illustrations of tran-
scendent and divine mercy. they might well take up
the song of their nation on that great occasion concern-
ing their God : — saying " He is indeed good, and His
mercy endureth fur ever ! " Nor is His mercy only endur-
ing. It is profound and illimitable as well. It has a

MANASSEH.

S27

length, a breadth, a height and a depth which passeth
knowledge. It extends to nations as well as to indivi-
duals. It turns not away from the mostflagitious, when
once penitence sways the being. Nor will it turn away
from an entire peo]de though tliat people have carried
their ingratitude asd their insults to the highest
possible point, if only that people can be brought to a
proper state of mind. Behold its extent in the accept-
ance and restoration of Manasseh ! And l)ehold its
amplitude and infinitude in the restoration of the cap-
tive Jews ! Had God's ways been as ours, no such facts
as these would ever have marked the annals of time
after all the wilfulness and ingratitude of the parties in
question.

And a further illustration of this inexhaustible mercy
in the history of the Jewish people awaits, we believe,
the coining ages of humanity. That people are even now
enduring a second and yet longer expatriation than that
of Babylon from the sacred teiritory. Though restored
to their homes by Cyrus, they turned again to wicked-
ness as you know — not exactly in the oLl form, but in
the old si)irit, and so insensate were they, that, when
God sent His Son to them they rejected and slew Him.
Not content with killing the prophets, they slew the
heavenly heir Himself, and threw from them the grace of
God. For this they were again cast from their inherit-
ance, and given up to all indignity and grief. And now,
one would suppose they would be li^'t't to the conse-
quences of this own persistent rebellion and folly. Not
so. God's mercy in relation to tj.icm is not exhausted
yet. They will in coming years be led to discern their
error. They ^ ill mourn for Him whom they have
pierced : and the world will be startled by their second
return, after centuries of exile to their own God-given
land. Mercy, in relation to them, is, in the meantime, in
abeyance, but it is neither dead nor exhausted. It will
yet burst from its obscurity and shine in the eyes of all
nations by the return of the long-estranged children of
Abraham to their pleasant and long-forfeited home !

'Ml

M\\\

I) .

It
I'

328

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

Nor only in the caso of the Jews is God's mercj made
manifest. It is so in tiie case of all the Gentile nations.
Though these nations have renounced Him, and insulted
Ilim, and trampled, Manasseh-like, on every one of His
laws, still mercy is not clean taken away from them.
The voice of the Gospel-messengers is even now heard in
all lands. The vilest is invited to retiu'n. God Himself
hath furnisluMl the means of forgiveness and acceptance.
The oiiered amnesty is universal : " Whosoever will, let
him take of the water of life freely !" " Ho ! every one
that thirsteth, come to the waters ! Come, buy wine and
milk witlK>ut money and without price !" " Let the
labouring and heavy-laden but come, and they shall find
rest to their souls !" Such is the voice and spirit of the
divine ! And this in the face of every indignity and
every disobedience. God's compassion is not a compas-
sion that has only the sorrow to r-itimulate it. It is a
compassion that must be exercised in the face of unmer-
ited enmity and insult ! 0, how innumerable are the
rebels ! and how infinite the offences ! and how bitter
the hate ! And how persistent and renewed, and long-
continued the disobedience ! And yet mercy still pleads
and warns, and ofl^ers full and everlasting forgiveness !
What a spectacle to angels ! A world in rebellion — ven-
geance withheld for ages — and mercy with her angel
wings and fragrant presence, flying in every direction,
seeking to induce the rebels to accept of pardon and
shelter, ere the irresistible retribution descends !

O, hasten, every one of you, to accept of this mercy
and salvation while yet there is opportunity. If you
disregard the voice of love, you must perish at last with
the incorrigible ! But if you accept of the amnesty
offered in Christ Jesus, you will, like the penitent Man-
asseh, in relation to His crown, and like the chastened
captives of Israel, in relation to Palestine, be restored to
your original inheritance in the favour of God, and be
fitted for participation with His children in light for
evermore. Better this, infinitely better than all the
wealth of earth ! Be persuaded of the error and wicked-

"cj made
nations,
insulted
e of His
til them,
heard in
Himself
eptance.
will, let
»^ery one
dim and
Let the
lall find
t of the
ity and
comj^as-
It is a
unmer-
are the
V bitter
d long-
jileads
veness !
-ven-
angel
■ection,
)n and

mercy
If you
t with
nnesty
Man-
stened
red to
nd be
it for
II the
icked-

MANASSEH.

329

ness of your ways wliilr estranged from God, and scrk
His fac(! with unslimilti'riiig carncstMoss ; you will not
seek in vain. " Let the wicked forsake his way and the
unrighteous man iiis tliought, and let him return to the
Lord, ir/in trill, have nicrt'y on him, and to our (ind, irJio
//.•///abundantly ])ard()n ! All things are ready in the
great Mediation !

And let the returned take up the song of the ancient
church, accomuKjdating it if they will, to theirown inorci
advanced circumstances (Psalm cxxxvi.)

QUESTIONS ON MANASSEH.

What was the character of Mauaasoh's early reign '\

Excessive wickedness.
What is it that makes this remarkable ?

His parentage and advantages.
He was but twelve years old when his fatlior died. Is it to
be supp(jsed that so g(jod a man as Hezekiah would
leave tlie youthful king in the hands of evil coun-
sellors ]
No surely. Wo may reasonably believe that some of the
best men about the court were appointed to aid him.
How then had he got into such wicked ways \

Some of the desi<'nin<c and idolatrous must have had access

to him and he, by reason of corrupt inclinations, must

have preferred their advice to that of the hcaiourable and

the pious.

Mention some particulars of his administration and folly ?

1st. He undid the work of his father by renewing the high

places, itc.
2nd. He gave liimself to the very worst forms of idolatry.
3rd. He practised and encouraged witchcraft.
4th. He insulted God in His very temple.
5th. He refused admonition and remonstrance.
Why, by the way, s}iould witchcraft be reckoned a crime ?
It is an attempt lo discover, by imderhand means, what
God has reserved, and a disparagement of His revelations
— as if they were "nsuflicient or xxnnecessarily restricted.

lilt

330

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

II (

! I

Pii|i

Wliat clooR tradition say about tlio vcniTablo Isaiah in con-
nexion with ManasHuh ?
That lio was saw a asnudiT by order of that princo. This,
if true, was a crowning enormity in the history of Man-
asseli an.l even if not tvu(\ it shows what his successor
tlioughf him ca|>abh' of.
Wliat has bcvn said of tliis Manasscdi by a sober and sedate

writei- i
That he was probably "the most wicked luan of all the hinnan

race."
And what is tl)e wonderful fuct concerning this most wicked
of men i
That he aotiuilly found nun'cy. We would have thought
this impossible apart from the fact.
What Avas the first step towiiids this result ?

The judgment whicli his crimes brought upon liim. He
was dashed from liis throne and carried away to Babylon
as a captive.
How did this pi'omoto his recovery ?

It separated him from his corrupt advisei's, and forced re-
flection on his past history.
What was the first ellect of this reflection ?

Despair, we presume. He must have felt himself utterly
beyond the range of hope.
Did not faith and hope ultimately find a place in his heart
. notwithstanding I
Yes . He became a true penitent.
What does this result emphatically teach us ?

That God's thoughts are not as ours, and especially that
God's mercy is unbounded. Tlie prime cause of this re-
sult was of course God's sovereign grace.
What may we suppose were the secondary and subordinate
causes of it i
The prayers and example of Hrzekiah.
How could tliis tell upon the mind of Manasseh 1

Through early memories and heavenly associations — memo-
ries and associations made potent by special divine influ-
ence.
But why should special and divine influence make the memo-
ries and associations of Manasseh potent for his re-crea-
tion ]
We cannot explain it ; Gnly this we have reason to believe,
that God hath attached such influence to believing and
earnest prayer, and Hezekiah's prayers were not forgotten
before God. Himself was long since dead, yet the influ-

MANASSKll.

rnco wliioli Imh prayors liad i^vokod was fi>rtliri»min^( ami
ufi'ectvial.
Is thoro no eiuiouragciiu'iit in tlii.s fur jiimis and |iray»'rfiil
jtllrtMits (
Certainly: Tlu-ir prayt-rs, tliDn^li nanHwiMvtl now, may
beconio intluontial longaftttr tlK'niHt'lven liavo gono to the
nnst'en.
lint had not JJu/ekiah wpi'cial roason to jn'ay for \m cliihl-'
run {
Yes ; Tlieir coming ri'Vi'rHcs had been annonnccd to him,
and tliis mn.st liavi' stimulated his KympathieH ([lareiital)
and liis (Ujvotions.
Have parents no x-eason to fear and to pray in relation to
their cliiUlien- wlien no personal vcmilation hath l)een
made to them !
(), yes. 'I'liey may eertaiidy calculate on dillicnlties and
trials for theii' loved ones. The character of their young
people nnist beteste<l, and their hearts will probably bo
wrung with grief in the process.
Was Manasstdi speedily restored to his throne on his repent-
ance /
Yea. Esarhiuldon, for political reasons, saw meet to restore
lum to his throne, and (iod's purpose of mercy was ac-
complished in this matter.
Did Manasseh give Iximself to the work of i-eformation on his
return ?
Yes, but not with great results.
How is he now remembered ?

Sim])ly as a memorial of mercy and not as a great reformer.
What is the truth which his history imi)resses on our ndnds /

The extent and greatness of the tlivine mercy.
If Manasseh failed as a typeof the coming Son of David, may
he not be regarded as an embodiment of Israel /
We think he may : His ii'divitlual follies were all repeated
and amplitied in the history of his nation, and his capti-
vity was but a precursor of theirs.
But did they find deliverance and return like him (

Yes indeed : Cyrus did for them under God, what Esar-
haddon had done for Manasseh.
What was the song appropriate to their return from Babylon /
The national and ever recurring chorus — "The Lord is
God: His mercy endureth forever."
Is there not a yet larger illustration still of the divine mercy
yet to be given in the history of unbelieving and ap(js-
tate Israel /

332

THE DYNASTY OF' DAVTD,

Yes. When they shall be brought into the chnrch with the
fulness of the gentile nations.
And can it really bo tliat tlie (ientile nations, who have so
long insulted God by their idolatries, and debased
themselves by their imnKjralities, can it be, I say, that
they shall yet find mercy — and that on a world-wide
scale I
So we expect as though by God's promises and [jrovisions.
Elia mercy is from everlasting to everlasting as to dtira-
tion. It is above the heavcjis as to altitude, aud it is
wholly inconceivable as to tenderness and power.
Is there not encouragement in this for the awakened and the
trembling ]
Certainly: None need despair if only willing to accept of
God's mercy in His own rightet)\is and wonderful way.
What is the imperative duty and great interest of each of
us ?
To avail ourselves of this mercy if we have not already done
Bo, and to give ourselves to the grateful acknowledgement
of tho same.

fji'Siil,

'•I

1 11 11

XVI. AMON.

" Amon was two and twenty years old when he bef,'an to

reign, a .;'. reigned two years in Jerusalem. But he did that

which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as did Manasseh his

fathei , for Amon sacrificed unto all tlie CMrved images which

Manasseh his father had made and served them. And Inim-

j. bled not himself before the liord, as Manasseh his father had

V luunbled himself ; but Anion trespassed more and more. And

'i^his servants consp'red against him, and slew him in his own

\r house. Jiut the ])eople of the land slew all them that had con-

^ sjjired against King Anion> and the people of the land made

"w Josiah his son king in his stead." II. C.'hron. xx.xiii. 21-25.

N AMON, we tome again to a wicked prince,

I. S yf ^^ ^^ grievous to see how constantly these
^r""^ wicked piinces rec;ir in the family of David.
Nay, htnv they jtreponderate even in tlu^
^^ annals of the sacred royal family. A good one
v^ arises occasionally, but the niajoiity are bad. Could
^ David have witnessed or anticipated their history
how his heart would have bled.

This Amon now before us, is not in himself
worthy of remark. There is nothing respectidde or
' amiable al)ont him so far as ap])ears. His brief
rj reign is not iliumined by any military achievement
j[ or daring e\[)loit. He reigns, and that 's all ; and
j^ there is really nothing about him on which admira-
{ ; tion can fix

Still we may tind warning against evil, if not
inciteuient to good in his brief story : and it is as im-
portant that we should be warned against the one as
invited to the othei'. We are encompassed with tempta-
tion, anil our own hearts are <le(eitful. We are all liable
to the \'ery taults which marked the life of Amon, and it
is well that we should Ix- ivminded occasionally of . the

•'T

iili

,•^31

TTIF, DYNASTA' OI' MAVID.

evil and destructive tendency of these faults, and also that
we should be warned against tolerating them in our-
selves.

Notice then, eoncernini^ this unworthy ]irince. his im-
penitence, his assassination, and the dishonour that
rests upon his memory.

Ills Impenitence.

Here is the brief account of his character and reign —
" He did that whicii was evil in the sight of the Lord, as
did Manasseh his fath(!i', for Amon sacrificed unto all the
carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and
served them ; and he huml)led not himself ]>efore ^he
Lord, as JNfanasseh his father ha<l humbled himself: but
Amon trespassed more and more."

We wonder how, in his brief reign, he could have
gone so far astray, considering the state of thing.- from
whicli he must have started. His father, Manasseh,
must have left the worshij) of tin; trut^ (lod in the ascen-
dant in Jerusalem wlien he died. We know tiiat, on his
return from Babyloi}, " JNIanasseh took away the strange
gods, and the idol out of the house of the Lord, and all
the altars that he had built in the mount of the iiouse of
th(} Lord, and in deiusalem, and cast them out of the
city," and we know " that he repaired the altars of the
Lord, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings, and thank
offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the Lord God
of Israel." And this mu.st have been the state of things
when Amon mounted the throne. How then could
Amon so su(hleidy giv(^ himself, and his royal influence,
to the overthrown idols? We would have supposed
that, even though his leading were to idolatry, it would
have taken morc^ than the entire period of his reign to
wear the ship of state into a new course ! We would
scarcely have expected him to ])e as prompt and decided
in the seivice of error as his grandfather Hezekiah had
been in the service of truth. Error and corrui)tion
usually creeji or steal over the comnuuiity. They cannot
have the bold and uncompiomising front of the heaven

AxMOJf.

335

also that
ill our-

, his im-
our that

1 rei<^n —
Lord, as
.0 all the
ade, and
ifore t'.ie
ielf: but

lid have
1,-;. from
auasseh,
le ascen-
-t, on his
strange
, and all
louse of
of the
s of the
1 thank
d God
■ thinGTS
couhl
luence,
)pose(i
would
eign to
would
lecided
ah had
■iH)tioii
ciinnut
leuveu-

sustained. But the fact would seem to be that IManas-
seh's reforms were forced by the royal authority on an
unwilling community, and that that monaivji was no
sooner numbered with the dea<l than the repressed idol-
atries revived, and Amon willingly placed himself at the
head of the unwise and un-Israelitish movement. Be this
as it may, Amon gave himself forthwith to the service of
false gods and to all manner of wickedness. And he did
so without any relentings of heart, or aught of peniten-
tial regrets. In many cases bitter thoughts and com-
punctions mingle with the false pleasures of the young
who forsake God, but none such seem to have trou])led
Amon. His heart was fully set in him to do evil.
Though he had heard of the piety of his grandfather
Hezekiah, and though he had seen and known the peni-
tence of his fivther Manasseh, he acted as if no such
things had ever crossed the line of his mental vision.
He unhesitatingly renounced the ways of Hezekiah, and
" he humbled not himself as his father Manasseh had
humbled himself" In one word, he was at once im-
pious and idolatrous, im])enitent and unhumbled !

Now, mark what is implied in this state of mind in
the case of Amon. It is implied, in the first instance,
that he was wholly unmindful (U', and unconcerned about,
the great things that God had done for his nation. He
thought not of the deliverance from Egypt imder Moses,
not of the mighty demonstration given on that occasion
of the supremacy of Israel's God as compared with the
idols of Egypt. He thought nothing of the won<lers of
the wilderness, nothing of the pillar of cloud and of fire,
nothing of the majesty of Sinai, nothing of the two
tables of stone, nor of the laws inscribed thereon, nothing
of the manna, nor of the marvellous {(reservation of*
so large a multitude in a desolate territory for so many
years. He thought nothing of the story of Joshua, noi-
of the settlenu'Ut of Israel in Canaan in spite of the
wicked and warrior possessors of that region, and no
thing of the truth connected with the building of the
Temple of Solomon, which still remained in his time as

336

'J'HK DYNASTY (JF DAVID.

i' i

a monument of more glorious years. All these things he
ought to have known, all these things he ought to have
remembered Avitli grateful joy : and if he had done so, it
would have been impossible for him to be, or to remain,
unhumbled or perverse in relation to the true God. But
he remembered them not. He treated the history of his
people as a fabfe, or as a series of fables, or, at any rate,
as of no account. He had ears for the unfounded and
empty declamation of idolatrous priests, but none for
the verital)le records or announcements of heaven. As
king of the sacred people he was under ol)ligation to
study the writings of Moses, but these he seems entirely
to have overlooked. It is possil)le that these writings
may have been lost siglit of in his day, by reason of the
general ignorance and ungodliiu-ss, but had Anion been
as earnest afcer the true and the good as his son Josiah
was, he would have anticipated the discovery of that
prince, and brought the .sacred oracles again to light
under his own reign. Tliis, hoAvevei', Avas no concern of
Anion's. His affections were elsewhere than in l:he
truths and claims of God.

Then in the second place, Anion was wholly indiffer-
ent to the purposes of God in his dynasty. It mattered
not to him that God had made a covenant with David,
and his sons afti-r him. It mattered not to him that a
prince was to arise in the line of his ftimily who was to
rule over the house of Israel for ever, and be a light to
lighten the Gentiles as well as tlie glory of the sacred
people. The hopes of the world and the magnificent
outcomings of the divine benignity weie nothing to
Anion as C()nii)ared with his own numientary and wicked
enjoyments. Though a son of David, he was wholly
alien in spirit from his great progenitor. Though an
ancestor of Messiah, hv IkuI neither pi'rrcption nor desire
in relation to the world's inetfabh' and transcendent
benefactor ! Hencr his uidinmbh-d a.i-l impenitent state
of mind. How different, had he entered into the pur-
poses and gract' of God, and clu'rished tlu^ iu>i)es of his
distiniijuished ancestoj-.s. He would then have hund)led

AMON.

ns;

light

the

aviu

vas to
j;lit to
jacred
ificent
11:4 to
ickcd
.holly
gh an
(lesh'e
Hulent
state
(> pur
t his
ihle.l

himself as his father Manasseh had hiini})led liinisclf !
Instead of joining the idolatrous and increasing tlieir
influence hy his authority, he would have wept for their
perverseness and used his royal influence to arrest them
in their mistaken course. But his sympatliies were not
with the believing and the pious ! He delighted rather
in the companionshi}) of thosi; wlio overlooked ihc opera-
tion of the divine hand in human affairs; and liis heart
was un humbled and impenitent accordingly ! He eared
neither for the past nor for the future as connected with
God.

But though thus unmindful of God's interpositions in
the history of His people and itidiflereut to God's pur-
poses in the dynasty of David, it is just possible that he
might mean to become a differt'nt man at some future
period. His father, he knew, had run a &elf-})l('asing
course for many years, and then gave iiimself to peni-
tence ; and he might fancy that he wouhl do the same.
Besides, he might consider, as very many do, that youth
is a time for gaiety and gi-atification, and that it would
be soon enough some twenty or thirty years after his
accession to turn to serious thoughts and uninviting aus-
terities. If he thought so, ho was entirely disappointed ;
the remote opjxjrtunity to which he looked forward was
never his ! The more favourable conditions for sol)er
thoughts whieli he expected to arise never surrounded
him. He was swept away without w'urning, aiid with-
out respite. The; timt; for repentance he failed to im-
prove, and the retribution of eternity confronted him
with a most undesirable sudd(!nness. Probably, he never
would have repented though he had lived or reigned as
lo.ig as his father. It is much more likely that he would
have gone on from bad to worse. So long as he did live
he only grew more and more hardened against God and
true goodness. But we need not speculate about pos-
sibilities. We know certainly that he lived wickedly,
and died in the flower of his years, unhumbled and iui-
penitent, and estranged from all that was peculiar and
heavenly among the people over whom he reigned.

ri.ss

nil: hV.NASI'V (M |»\\||).

|||:(^h

Tliiuk llicii, tliis iiiiliimil»l<'(l and iin])('iiiU'nt stuU^ (»f
iiiind is a most imdcsiiaUlr state in wldch to Vwv, and a
most uiisalV' state in which to die. Ai)a)t tVom the in
i/iratitiuh' of it, it is hotli niisatisfactoiy and (hmgerous.
To he thns, is to he ostian^ed from the ti lie and the good !
To he tlius, is to he unenlightened and inditl'eicnt as to
the grand ])ur])oses of lieaven in luiman history I T(j he
lluis, is to he liiind to the o[>eration of (lod in the spirit
Avorhl, and to stand exposed t(» (h)d's iri'esistihh^ dis-
ph\isure ! (!od resisteth the [)i'oud and tlie nnhumh'.ed ;
and no Avomh'i'. A\ liy sliouhl He, tlie supreme autlio-
rity, he defied liy tlie de])endent ami the ohligated I AVhy
should tlu! Avays of (hxl he disi'egarded or contravened
l»y the impotent and insignilicant, oi- uhy should the
impeidtent or unsiihmissive expect impunity in their
presumption ( if (Jod has spoken, surely men are hound
to listen I If (lod has communicated IJis purposes,
surely men ought to considei- them, and to concur in
them ! If they do not ; if on the contrary, they harden
themselves against God, \\\v unmindful of liis words,
conti'avene His purpos(\s, defy his ])o\ver, defame his jus-
tice, oi' im])each his Avisdom ; surely then, tlu^y need not
wonder if he whet His glittering sword, or awaken
against them the agencies of destruction ! O, would it
not he a matter of regret if any of oui- contempoi-aries
were thus, like Anion, impenitent and hardened against
(lod '( And yet, alas ! it is e\er thus with very many,—
and you know it — liundrecls and hundreds more despise
in effect, the words of the Most High fJod, and are con-
tent to live for other purpose- than His ; and they will
not helieve that (lod is angry with them, or that they
have any need t<» <ilr»' i.d His displeasure, and if any
attempt to convince them of th#*ir danger, they account
such as no hettrr than gloomy euthnsiasrs. But, whether
they will helieve it or not, (jxl'^eye is upon tluMU for
evil. an<] if they turn not to liiu^ in penitence and faith,
tljey mu-* ere V>*g ftr*-! the weight of His avenging arm.
W ho t\rAX sh«»«l«i .see a multitude of jjersons enclosed,
li '• 1 . uil's pri«i>1>- and iinconsrious of their impendii.g

AMoN.

■A-y.i

fate, woiiM not pity tlicm / Vet, hvrv arc niillions of
imiuoital souls soon to be siinnn()n('<l into tlir picscnct! of
their Jiul^m', and setting' at defiance tiie doom that ho
certainly awaits thciu. Should not rivers of tears run
down our cy(;s ibr them ? Ves, verily, as our Lord wept
over Jerusalem in the vi«!W of the destruction that
awaited it ; and as the Apostle I'aid had <:;reat heaviness
and continue(l sorrow in his hcait, on account of his un-
believinii; brethren, so should we mourn bitterly for those
who are, like Anion, uidunulded towards God, and who
will not mourn or be in bitterness tor themselves !

And we should, each of us, be careful that it is not so
with us. We should be jealous over ourselves in this
matter. Though not soo})enly impenitent as Amon, we
may still be self-pleasing and God-foisaki^n in heart.
Even })rofessing Christians ought t') look to themselves,
lest theie be in any of them an evil heart of unbelief in
departing from the living (Jod. 'riieic is danger that it
may be so, aiul proles.sors should bring tlu-iuselves to the
test from time to time. '' Examine yourselves, says the
apostle, whether ye be in the faith." MxanniU' youi'selves
each of you, with such (juestions as these : Am L unmindful
of what (irod hath wrought in the history of His church 1

Am I inditterent to Gotl's purposes as uidblded and
prosecuted in andl)y Christ Jesus — ^the 8on of David aiul
Saviour of the world? Can T live for days and weeks
without nu'ditation and prayer? And am I solicitous
rather for worldly pleasure, or worldly })rotit than for
divine grace and divine fellowship ? If you nuist answer
such questions in the affirmative, then you an; in a state
of im})enitenc(; and hardness in relation to God, and cul-
pably insensible to His chiims. It is the humble heart
that God delights in. It is the broken heart that is
the best sacrifice on God's altar I And the In-okendiearted
necessarily live in the light of God's throne, and under
the influence of his love, while the unhun)l>led and im-
l)enitent are estranged and ungrateful, and wholly un-
awakc to the glories and the obligations of the divine !
Be sure that it is not so with you. O, fear an unhumbled

\,'A

^40

I I IK DVNASrV (IF KAVID.

niid uiisoftciicd state of iiiiiid in I'clatioii to (lod I Jf you
Jibidi! in iiiipciiitciicc all the hri^iit issues and possibilities
of existeiia^ are closed a^^ainst you! And dark judgments
are on your ti-ack, yes, dark jndtjjments I

IMany, we know, doubt of these judgnu'nts. They
could not tie so indillerent and nneoneerned as they are,
if they did not. They cannot see how these Judgments
can fall ui>on the disliiH/iiislict/, and they cannot under-
stand how they can fall on so (jrcal a in iilfitiide : and
they cannot believe that any judgments from tluf merciful
heaven can be as icrrih/e as represented. JUit we can ap
peal to facts. As to the distinguished, angels confessedly
are a far more exalted I'ace of beings than men. Yet not
even angds were spared, Avhen once tliey had sinned
against (Jod, but wei'c cast headlong from heaven into
the bottondess abyss of hell ! But will (}od proceed
against so many 1 Look to the old world, where not one
human being, except Noah aiul his family, was saved !
But shall it indeed be so terrible ? Look at the cities of
the plain, and see what overwhchuing destruction was
brought upon them ! And beai' in nund that these very
judgments were intended "for an exam})le (and warning)
unto them that should thereafter live nngodly." Look,
1 say, at these things, and then doubt whetluir the judg-
ment which is threatened shall be executed 1 " God will
rain down upon the wicked snares, fire and brimstone,
storm and tempest ; this shall be their jiortion. If, after
seeing such proof of the divine indignation — we will not
believe, we shall be constrained to believ(! when our own
bitter exjieriences shall leave no room for a possibility of
doubt. The judgments may be delayed, even as the de-
luge was, but, at the apjiointed season, the vengeance
will come, and will iu)t tarry !" It came speedily, you
see, in the case of Anion, even in relation to human mea-
suiements, and it will not be very long deferred in the
cabe of any persistently impenitent ones ! But this leads
me to notice concerning the unwise and unhumbled young
kin

^ii-

AMUN.

341

II. His nssiififiiiiaaoH.

•niiig)
Look,

od will
istone,
', Jifter
11 not
r own
ity of
le de-
mean cc

, you
nioa-

in the
leads

young

That may !)»' regarded as the judgnu'iit ot the lf<'ly
against him, and bt'cause of his pi'csuniiituoiis wickedness.
His op[)ortunity was brief, and his punishment signal.
We cannot explain how it is, that some wicked men have
long ies[»ite, while others are taken short U[), and driven
suddenly from the stage of oppoi'tunity and hope. No
douht, there are good and sullicient reasons in every case
in th(! presence of (lod. Any way, we can see that
Amouhad no reason to complain. He was of sulficiently
mature faculties when he came to the throne, and he was not
unac(piainted with the story of his father, to say nothing
of his graiidfathei". He had aniph; materials for a light
decision, and, if dis[tosed to he faithful, he hail only to
continue the administration as he found it. If, in these
circumstances, lie threw himself, heart and soul into the
ways of disijhedience, and had two years allowed him to
reconsider his foolish decision, he had no right to com-
plain, that the thundcrholt fell without warning and be-
yond recall. Sup})osing that he promised amendment to
himself at some fiitui'e period, (aiul too many of the young
and })leasure seeking do, as you know,) what a terrible
discovery lu awoke to,on the further side of death, when
he found himself in the handsof justice, without a chance
of reversing his course, and without a ])ossibility of es-
cape I Pity that the young and God-foi'gcttiiig will not
take warning, ])ut will persist in calculating on a future
that may never come for them, and that though it should
come, will only find them more indispc ,ed than ever to
repentanc(i and reformation ! " We know not what a day
may bring forth!" TIk^ youngest among us maybe with
th(! unseen before another year, or before anothei' month,
or even another hour ! How silly then to go out of the
Avay of safety when the agencies of destruction are so
mimerous and so active around us ! Let the young keep
by tli(! true, by the divii.e, by the retleeming, and then,
if early death should overtake them, heaven-born hope
will ^itau'l sinu on their silent tond», but, if thev wander

l-^i

f ; i:

'Tw

312

rilK DVNAS'IY OK |»A\II>.

■I

into devious and unwortliy ways, and death overtakes
tliciii ei'c tlicy liavc liad opportunity to return, then
darkness and ^•i'i(^t* is tlii; only le<^acy tlicy can leaver to
survivors. (), liow many licarts are even now lu'caking
for tliose wlio are gone beyond recall, and who were over
taken like AnKUi, by the dark enemy while yet in eager
pursuit ot* the delusive and tlu^ destructive; ! If there
be who have ears to hear let them hear ! Q "^

But the assassination and fall of Anion was not oidy a
sudden and admonitory judgment ; it also furnishes in-
struction when view<!d in relation to its agents. Who
were thesis agents '\ Were tlu\y of the idolatrous party
into whose ranks the king had thi'own himself, and at
the head of whom he stoo I ? Probably they \vt!re, Init
they act(Ml not as tln^ agiMits of that i)arty. Their de(;d
was recognized, not a[>i)roved by that party. Instead
of this, the pe()])l(; of the land (who constituted that
party) slew the assassins of their king and leader. Were
these assassins then the agents of the small and uninfiu-
ential party of the pious i Not at all. Assassination is
not the manner (»f the good. Flowevcn" much they disap-
proved of the administration of Anion, th(\y would never
have thought to mend matters in this way. The truth
seems to be, the assassins aet(Ml not for either party.
They acted of and from themselves. And who were
they ? They w(^re the servants of the king, tlit? inmates
of his palace— the recipients of his Itounty, and the wit-
nesses of his private life ! And why should they slay
their master and king ? Not from a ftniling of ambition
apparently. It was not that any of them wished to oc-
cupy his throne. Tt must have been from a scuise of pri-
vate and very great wrong. A slight matter wcndd not
lead to such a catastrophe. What the particular wrong
or wrongs might be we cannot say, but the general prin-
ciple from which they sprang we may easily imagine. It
Avas pride in Anion, we well believe, Avhieh led to his
speedy destruction : piide of station — piide fostered by
the flattery of the: idolatrous — and pride that was little
si'ru'Miloits (■..iiici'riiin '■ fli' viL^hts or tlie fe-liim'-; o!" (]r>S(;

^11 III

AMON.

;m;;

wlio wore ill contact witli liiin. I'lidc, y<m know, is ;ui-
othcf word tor scllislmcss and liiwlcssncss. 'Vlw. ])ri»ud
and si'll-ocntrcd care not vvliat injniT they inflict. lln-y
scrupU* not to do tln^ most cnicl tliin,i,'s if only tlu'y can
tliorchy advance tlicir own wishes or pleasnrcs. it never
seems to entei' into their thoii,;j;hts tliat others liave I'i'^hts
and feelings which onglit to l)e resju'cteil. All mnst
yield to them. J'lsjx'cially it" socially e.valted, if I'oyal or
imperial in station, they tliink every thing becomes tliem.
It matters not whether it ije siiameless jn-ofligacy, or ty-
rannical e.vaetion or crmd toi'tnres, tliey alh>w nothing to
stand in their way, and they resent every opposition to
their will.

Now this, we feai", was the case with Amon. He was
wicked, impenitent, and nnluimhleil in I'cdation to (Jod ;
Ami pride aiul haughtiness toward men we know also
naturally ally themselves with such a state of mind. He
might l)e popular enough with such of his idolatrous suh-
subjocts as wen; not in immediate contact with him.
They felt not his caprice, his nnreasonableness, or his
spirit of exaction and seltishness. Ihit it was otherwises
Avith his servants. Tluy were ti'oubled and exasperated
by his dail}^ dijings. They kept down their indignation
for a time, hoi)ing improvement on his part, and not dar-
inir to remonstrate ov resist. But matters iirew no bettei- ;
as he grew worse and worse in relation to I leaven, his
conduct l)ecame more and more intoleral)le in relation to
his servants. They first scorned himself and his conduct
in secret. They then complained to each other, and de-
nounced their tormentor, but were slow to bivathe ought
of vengeance oi' of de, th. Not that they disap[)ro\'<'d of
their master's ungodliness. They were almost certaiidy
ungodly themselves, but they could not b(>ar Jus proud
and laudess ways. For two years this smouldering re-
sentment was kept under, but at the end of that time
they could restrain it no longer. At tlu; risk of theii-
own lives, and in the face of every inducement to a dif-
ferent course of action, they arose against him and slew
him in his own house ! Hoav intolerable his pride must

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344

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

have been, and how offensive his conduct to have prompt-
ed such a deed by such parties. Why domestics usually
stand by their master and chief. If there be not some
deadly cause of displeasure against him, they will defend
his life, and not assail it ; but the servants of Amon were
so disgusted with him, and so bitterly exercised under
liis capricious and proud conduct, that th(;y actually com-
bined for his destruction !

Oh, how sad to think of it — that one so young (only
twenty-four) .and so exalted in station, and so privileged
as to ancestry and relationship, should have brought
upon himself such a fate ! " Wearied with one day's sin,
and intending to rise afresh to begin another, he lay
down that night in fancied security." But the hand of
vengeance was near ! "He lay down in time and awoke
in eternity 1"' It is well that our eyes cannot follow the
guilty soul to the judgment seat of God. The sight
would be too dreadful. It would overwhelm us. A vail
hath been thrown over that awful scene. God has kept
its secrets to Himself " The wicked are like chaff which
the wind driveth away I"

If, liowev(.'r, we cannot follow Amon to the unseen,
we can be avimonished, not only of the impenitence
wluch chalKiiiges judgment, but also of tlie pride which
louses the agents of destruction. We would do well to
walk humbly. We cannot walk safely otherwise ! Every
step of pride awakens an echo of retribution. Every look
of pride awakens a reaction of evil toward the proud one.
" Gud, the ever present, and the irresistible, resisteth the
l)roud !" And how think you, will the proud and self-
willed gain any true advantage or lasting good with such
resistance to be overcome ? It is impossible. The proud
but act to their own undoing, and awaken, l>y their pre
sumption influences or agencies to react, with over-
whelming effect, against themselves !

And need 1 remind you that this evil principle of

pride hath place in every human bosom. It develops

itself in earliest youth, and it clings to the heart even to

the latest hours of life. Under the most favourable cou-

; I

AMON.

34:

ditions, it needs perpetual watching, and repression.
Even the believing and the hoavi'iily-mindcd hav<' to
grieve for its presence, and inflating influence witliin
them. The humblest are scarcely irve from it. Were, it
not unwise, then, to give this evil principle any advan-
tage 1 Were it not unwise to remove necessarv resti'aints
from it and to give it free and unobstructivc; scope for de-
velopment 1 Most assuredly ! Tlicn what do they d»),
who, like jSmon, turn away from God, and from tin*
great redeeming Son of David ? What, my friends, but
this 1 They withdraw themselves from the indispensable
restraints on pride, and leave that evil })rinci{)le free to
enlarge itself in the heart, atid to dominate in the char-
acter. Assure yourselves of the fact, you cannot balance
your own nature, and no influence known among men
can supply the place of true piety in this mattei- of mental
equilibrium. Withdraw yourselves from (rod, as Anion
did, and from the knowledges of llis goodness, and re-
nounce all hopes from the Son of }Iis love, who is also
the Son of David, and youi- mental equilil>riuni, or mental
well-being becomes an absolute impossibility. You can-
not be ungodly and truly humble at the same time.
Pride will take advantage of your alienation from God,
and distort and disfigure youi- character, and challenge
or awaken at the sanu^ time tiie agencies of your ruin. I
need not tell you what calamities pride, unchecked and un-
restrained by the fear of God, hath brought ui)on families
and localities, even where it had not gone the length of
provoking to assassination. You must know yourselvcjs.
(if indeed you consider your mental states, and ol)servo
the mental habits of others). You must know yourselves
how pride embitters and tumultuates the heart in which
it reigns, or in which it gains temi)orary ascendency !
And you must know how it divides those whose interest
it is to bo fast fri(Mids — how it inflames society — how it
irritate^;, enrages, rouses to resistance and reprisals, an<l
often leads to fatal quarrels and revenges! The truth is,
wt; cannot be peaceful in histoiy, or serene in spiiit, or

> I I

'^ ISMP^"

a4fi

TIIK UYNASTY or DAVII*.

liarmonious in association, or stable in habits, if prido
liave a commanding position in onr liearts !

Our wisdom then is, to turn from evorv tiling favour-
able to pride, and to cultivate every thing favourable to
hmiiility. (3ur wisdom especially is to turn from all in-
ferior and false gods, and to give ourselves fully to the
knowledge of the true. The service; of the false inflates
and debases, furnishing no a<le(juate pressure of superi
ority and goodness to repress inflation, wiiile the know-
ledge and the service of the true elevates and refines and
represses vanity at the same time. No creature can feel
otherwise tha!i insignificant in the presence of the Infi-
nite and the Unsearchable. Had Anion served the God
of Israel a,s fully as he served idols, he would have walk-
ed less i)roudly, and the unchallenged indignation of his
servants would have left him free to livi; and leign during
the term of his natural life ! It is not essentially other-
wise with ourselves, we must know (iod, if we are to be
rightly adjusted in character antl sentiments. More espe-
cially, we must give ourselves to the discipleship and the
guidance of His Incarnate Son, if we are: to be truly
humble, truly ecindized in spirit, and truly happy in the
divine friendship. Jesus, you know, was meek and lowly
in heart, and He promises rest, and mental erjuilibrium
to those who take upon them His yoke of meekness, and
follow Him in lowliness and truth ! ff only consistently
His, we shall be saved frcmi nnieh mental agitation and
suspense ! If only consistently His, W(! may incur the
hatred of the wicked because of our fidelity and unbend-
ing rectitude ; but we shall never incur the hatred or the
domestic revenges of injured and irritated servants. We
shall conciliate their love and confidence rather. If only
consistently and humbly His, w» may in the world have
tribulations, but in Him, and in the meekness and humi-
lity which He teaches, we shall have peace ! Under Him,
pride will lose its power over us, and all the misery which
pride occasions will <lisappear from our i)ersonal experi
ence !

We come now to notice con»;erning Amon

AMON.

» '^' pride

g favour-
nrable to
)m all in-
ly to the
inflates
f superi
e know-
ines and
can feel
the Infi-
the Ood
^c walk-
n of his
I during
y other-
re to be
i*e espe-
!Uid the
•e truly
Y in the
d lowly
librium
'ss, and
stently
)ii and
cur the
iibend-
or the
. We
f only
I have
humi-
Him,
which
xperi

at'

///. The dishonour that rests upon his mtmory.

And first here. He hath small place in the history of
the royal family to whicli he belongs. While every king
that preceded him from David downward, has at least a
chapter of many verses assigned to him (some having two
or three chapters). Amon is dismissed with five verses.
The truth is, there is nothing worthy to record of him —
no worthy deed — no noble aspiration — no effort, however
feeble in the right direction. His existence is recognised
as a link in the sacred family, but that is almost all. His
character and his fate are touched, but with as brief a
hand as possible. He is regarded as of no account, and
passed with the smallest possible notice.

Now, this itself is dishonour. A king has an oppor-
tunity of making his mark in history, and, if he fail to
do so, he is in so far dishonoured. A poor man may die
unknown to fai.ie, and ujinotioed by the historian, and
yet not incur dishonour th-.'reby. Not so a king ; he is
the repn'sentative of the nation over which he rules ; and
if the history of that nation is written, his name ought
to fill an important s[)ace in the record. If it does not,
he hath failed to fill his office worthily, and to illuminate
his age. His namti may survive, but it survives without
honour. And thus it is with Amon, he prove<l himself
to be unworthy of his high office ! Nay, he abused and
misused his trust, and was indeed a l>light \\\\o\\ his peo-
ple instead of a blessing. He can be nmiembered only
as a vain, presumptuous aiid unfaithful occupant of the
most illustrious throne in the wijrld's history ! Thus,
while he occupies the smallest possibh^ space, in the gallery
of the kings of Judah :

He hath, seomilli/, no place trhati'ver aiaoiKj th' worthies
whose lives illuniine the stream of time. He ranks not with
Abraham, and Moses, and David, and Jehoshaphat, and
Hezekiah. The light of heaven rested on the heads and
flashed from the history of th"se ; but no such light rests
on the name or flashes from the history of Amon. These
holy men itulicipatt'il or roi.'sliudowcd, less or more, the

:||

n.i

3i8

TflK I>Y NASTY OF DAVFI).

great Princc! of the house of David, who was then to
arise to enlighten the worhl, and to fill the ages with
holines.^ ami joy ; but Anion neither anticij)ated nor fore-
shadowed Him. Anion ougiit to have don*': so, as a
member of the hous(^ of David, and king of the saci'ed
])eo|)le, Imt he failed to n alize the honour. He sunk
instead, out of the brilliant Wno. of tyi»es and hop*^ en-
kindled e.vjtectants. He descended to a far inferi(»r lev(d,
where the light of heaven was unknown, and when; only
the passing and delusive sparks of selHsh enjoynuMit
relieved the deep and i)ainfid darkness ! Heludongs not
to the eatalo«rU(! of those who throu'di faith subdued
kingdoms, wrought righteousness and con(|uered Satan,
and whtt shull yet shine as the sun in tlie kingdom that
is immortal. He belongs rather to the Satan-et.n([nered
and shame eoveied ! iMore particularly.

Thirdly, Ifc heloin/s fn flic idolitfnnis, f/ir (/islnmoinrd, (he
(h'linsn/, (111(1 f/ic (■((s/(iir,(i/. He takes i-ank with Jehoram,
the wicked and ill-fated son of dehoshanliat, and husband
of Athidiah- and with doash, the ujiworthy and ungrate-
ful niurdeicr of Zedekiah, ihe son of Jehoiada, his bene-
factor I — and with Aliaz, the ju'e-emineiitly wicketl and
presumptuous s<»n of .bttliam, who relused the sign of
Heaven oHi'red by Isaiah ! Nay, more, he ranks with
the Canaanites who wen.' cast out bef(Ue the children of
Israel because of tlu^ir abominations ! And with the
debased I'henicians and Carthatrinians, who might not
stand before the Romans because of their sanguinary
.•r^uperstition I And with all the modern pagan nations,
who even now walk in darknes.s, an<l wallow in innno-
rality ! For a ])rince thus associateil and that l>y his own
foolish choice, when he had the oi)})()rtunity of a higher
companionship, there can bi^ no tiue honoui'. HeaNcn
will not honour such, and men though they wei'e trying
it, would fail in the attein[)t. The truth is, dislioiioui-
instead nmst rest on tin' head of such — the dishonour of
self-chosen degradation — tin; dishonour of rejection by
the holy and the exalted, and the dishonour of the vilest
companionship ! Nor will tin' future r«'move the cloud of

t '
i ■

AMoN.

3iO

<lisli(tiu)Ur from tlio Maine ol' Anion. Many of tlif ^ood
sink in apparent dislionour anion;; men, Imt tiw future
will reverse the derision and [>our liglit and glory around
their name ! Hut small hope there <an he tiiat thus it
will he with Anion. Kather w«' have reason to fear, he
will rise at the last t.> shame and everlasting eontenijit I

And .ul this com(!s hy his iinpeuitenee. lie humhled
not himself hei'ore tlu! Lonl. There were two ways open
to him, (as theic is to all of us). Kither he must humhlc
himself hefore God, or turning away from (lod st'ive self
and idols. Had he taken the tirst way, (iod would have
lifted him up, and made his nanu^ illu.strious in the next
world, if not in this ; but he took tlu; second, and he was
left accordingly to sink with his idols, to the unilluminat-
ed courses of (linhonoiir an<l disju-ace !

And thus he furnislies my iritnds a le.sson and an
incitement to you. The lesson is ; — See that you choose
the service of (Jod, and not of self or i<lols : Se(, that you
humhle yonr.selves umh'r the mighty hand of (lod, and
wait for such u[)liftiiig and honour as (Jod may see meet
to voiich.safe. Anion thought to secure honour as well
as pleasure?, by coidbrming to the fashions of the idola-
trous nations around him, but he found dishonour and
sudden (h'ath instea'^ You will not fare better by con-
forming to the ungodly fashions ot the age in which you
live. O, be persuaded and ehocjse the knowledg«! and
service of God before all the honours and })rizes of time !
More i)aiticularly give your best alfections and persever-
ing thought to the great Son of David, who was only pro
misid in the days of Anion, but who is now long since
revealed ! He is the great medium of divine knowledge,
and the great dejiository for the sons of men, of wis(b>ni,
righteousness, saiictiJication and redemption I had Anion
lived in the ho])eof the coming of this great and announc-
ed One, he would not have made the mistakes and the
shipwreck he did ! And .so, if we live in the light of the
advent and incarnation of this .same great One, and under
the infiueuce of His mediatorial throne, we shall escape
the errors and the fate of Anion, and «'njoy participation

f .

I ;

■ f

I I

I \

350

THK hVNASTY OK l>AVll>.

witli all t\u' rsiUHoine*!, and all the siinctiKcd of all the
aj^es ! Ves, " Belicvt^ in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou
shalt l)e saved !" H«! that hath the Son hath lite — he
that hatli not tlu'! Son hath not life : and " The gift of
Uod is «iternal life, and that life is in Ills son /"

The holiever in .lesus may he injured among men, but
he cannot he dishonoured in eteinity ! Tin; believer in
Jesus may be maligned to posterity, but he eannot be
misrepres(!nted in the presence of angels. The believer in
Jesus may even be, assassinated by his fellows, but he
eannot be permanently ol)scuied or overlooked, or scorned
in the world to come !

QITESTIONS ON AMON.

Did this princtj carry forward tlio reform of liis father Man-
asseh ?
Not at all. Hi 8 father was no sooner dead than he and
the majority of his subjects gave themselves again to
idolatry.
How came it that he found so ready a concurrence on the part
of his people ?
Because, it is to be feared, they had never been truly de-
voted to good. They had given a constrained attention
to the divine service, because Manasseh, the king, wished
it ; but they were still in lieart idolators, and ready like
a bent bow when the force is removed to spring back
again to their normal position so soon as opportunity
ofiered.
What two things were implied in the idolatrous and impious
conduct of Anion ?
First — That he was wholly unmindful of the great things
God had done for his nation, and secondly — That he was
wholly indifterent to the purpose of God in his dynasty.
But were those things Avorthy of his attention I

Indesci'ibably so : and besides there were obligations resting
on him to attend to them : further still, his own hap-
piness and the happiness of his people required such .at-
tention.

1 -

A.MdN.

;^5 1

' <»*■ all the
■■^t ami tlion
ath life — ho

'''•(' </\fi of

'g '|i«'n, but

l)«'Ii('ver in

cannot he

iM'lirviT in

\vs, but lie

, or scorned

atlur Mnn-

an he and
es again to

on the part

II truly de-
1 attention
iug, wished
ready like
ring back
jportunity

d impious

oat things
^at he was
I dynasty.

lis resting
own hap-
l such at-

Is it puHrtibU' that his non-attention wji.h Hinii)ly poHtponenient,
and that he pin-pnHi'd to repent as his father had done
at Home futiu'e day /
We think it is. We can scarcely think that, with his know-
ledge of llezokiah and Manasseh, he was wholly insen-
sible to the claims of Heaven.
Is it a safe or satisfactory state for a man to live in — to be
inditlerent concerning the operations of (Jod in the
past, or to His p»u"p<»HeH in the futnre- -or even with
a secret [nU'j)ose of fnture amendment i
No. Itcannot. There is in such a state criminal ingratitude
and insulting neglect, and liability t<» sudden and iiTe-
parable evil as well.
Are there not tot» many thus i

We fear there are.
Should we be content that it should he so with us ?

No, we sliould examine oiu-selves whether we be in the faith
— in the faith of the divine of the past — and ia the faith
of the divine of the future.
But what if we sh(»vdd c(»ntinue inditi'erent /

Why, the bright issues and jtossibilities of existence must
then be closed against us, and dark judgments must be on
our track.
Are there not many who disbelieve as to these judgments I
Yes : they willingly forget the deluge, and other calami-
tons dispensations, and they i)ersuade themselves that a
vague mercy will still be exercised to them.
What sudden and irremediable judgment overtook Anion
while yet young in histoiy, and unrepentant in senti-
ment ]
He fell by assassination.
Wliy should he have been taken s(t short while many wicked
men have long years of opportiniity allowed them I
We cainiot tell ; but we can see that he had no reason to
complain.
Supposing that he had a secret thought of future repentance,
Avhat would he think of his postponement on the further
side of death, when he found his opportunity for ever
gone ?
That it was the most consummate folly certainly.
Should young people take warning by his case /

One Would think so. They shoitld postpone the unim-
portant to the eternally important, and not the eternally
important to the passing frivolities of time.
Who slew Anion ?

nr)2

Tin. I»YNAMY OK HAVTP.

f . '

V .

. i

IliH own HorvfiiitH.

What is iiuplit'd in this fiict (

That ho lia<l hoen ltau<{hty and iinjiiHt in his dunicstic ad-

niinistrati<inH. It wa.s not as i»artizans, or as prejndiced

Btrani^ers tliat they slew liini, }»ut })t'can8c of personal

wrongs. The idolaters, as stich would have no quarrel

with him, and the pious, as siich, would not slay him,

however much they disapproved of his conduct. His

death, therefore, was probably but the reaction of his

own pride and unreasonabli'uess.

How shoidd we rej,'ard such a death ?

Witli sadness and deep commiseration.
Is that all /

No. It should [>ut us »»n our guard against prido— pride
which springs so readily in evijry Imman heart, and
wliicli awakens as certainly resistance and revengo in
those who feel themselves aggrieved by it.
How is it that we are to attain to true liumility ?

Only in the .service of CJodand discipleshipof His Son. The
yoke of Jesus is meekness and h»wliness.
What will be the eltect of uniform meekness and lowliness in
relation to our safety /
There will then be awakened ntj domestic revenge against us,
and assassination, if it overtakes us, will come from some
outside and prejudiced hand — not froui those who know
us.
What dishonour rests on the memory of Anion (

First — He hatli a small place in the history of the David

Dynasty.
Secondly — He hath no place whatevever among the wor-
thies whose lives illumine the stream of time.
Thirdly — He ranks with the dishonoured and the casta way.
Tell the reason of his dishonour I

He renounced (iod who lifts His people, and he chose
idols, which drag their adherents down in their own
downfall.
Does this furnish a lesson to young people on the subject of
decision ?
Certainly. There are still tw^o positions in society, even in
these Christian times — the godly and the ungodly — and
every one who would Vje wise should cast in his lot with
the godly and not with the inigodly.
Say who is the leader and the hope of the godly i
The Incarnate One already referred to.

vrn.

AMON.

363

'. in liis (luiuostic ud-
tns, or iw ])rojudicod
bocnuse of porHcmal
"Id have no qtuirrel
voiild not slay hjin,
Ins conduct. His
tluj reaction of his

What flhall be the fortunes of those who boliovo and follow
this Incarnate One ?
They may bo injured, iniHrepresented, or oven assassinated
among men, but shall find lutnour, complacency and
gladness in the realms of beauty to which they are
going.
What is the imperative duty and the eternal interest of every
one who hears the gospel \
To believe on the Son of David who is also the Son of
God.

^^'

^'ainst pride- pride

liuman heart, and

ice and revenge in

>y it.

nility /

l»ip t»f His Son. The

JSS.

!8s and lowliness in

revenge against us,
■ill come from some
m those who know

nion /

itoryof the David

r among the wor-

f time.

1 and the casta way.

)le, and he chose
>wn in their own

on tlie subject of

n society, even in
he ungodly— and
vst in his lot with

odly \

, i t

t , f

\\\m

XVII. JOSIAH.

Jn«inh waK eight yean ()](\ when hn began to reign, and he
reitai"''! in .lerusaleni one anil thirty yearn. And lie did that
wiiicli waH right in th« night of the Lord, and wallted in the
wayM of l)avid his fatlier, and declined neither to the right
haml nor to the left. -II. Chron. xxxiv. 1, 2.

MON, to whom in the lino of David we last
turned attention, was a man hardened in heart,
d ky w and unhuinhhHl in spirit as you will rem«'mber.
% He cared nothinjj; for the demonstrations of Heuvcu
^^ in the former history of his nation. He w-^'^ unmov-
J^ ed hy the repentance and representations of his
father Manassch, and he spurned *.'.je remonstrances
of the faithful few among his courtiers who would
have led him into wiser ways. Instead of listening
9 to the Heaven-taught, and reining himself in that
A career of id(datry and folly on whicli he had entered,
fl he tresj)assed yet more and more. Every effort to
* bring him to reason and righteousness only confirm-
ed him in his self-willed and unworthy ways.

And he was proud and lawless in relation to his
servants and dependents, as well as disobedient be-
fore God. Some ungodly men conciliate for a time the
good will of their domestics at any rate, but not so
Amon. His immediate attendants were embittered against
him, and that in no ordinary degree. So far indeed did
their hatred carry them, that they rose against him and
slew him in his own house.

It was sad, that ouo so young, and one so sacredly con-
nected should die in such a way. He was king in Jeru-
salem, of the line of David, and grandson ot the good and
honoured Hezekiah. Yet he died by violence in his
twenty-fourth year. Two years of royal life and license,
and then — the silent grave. How sad, I say, and yet

.loSIAH.

355

what could ho oxpcrt, iuilminliI«Ml, |irnii(l, nnrl solfwillrd
RH \ui WJ18 1 And is it not ;i tact, jilas, tliat too many arc
liko hiiM still ? Yes, too many arc uiiniovcd hy the written
communications of (lod. rnhuiuhlcd under the j)rovi-
denc(!S of (lod — undismayed l>y tiic sad cxpcrirnccs of
ancestors, and unaffected l»y the remonstrances and repre
sentations of the loving servants of the truth. What can
such expect] They hartlen themselves a;;ainst Heaven !
They refuse to he instructed- -they rush in effe«t a^'ainst
the thick hosses i '' '^u? Almighty's huckler ! And how is
it possible that tlu; .should escape rebuke and destruc-
tion ] O, beware how you become hardeneil lil<(( Amon

through the d< • itful.ie.ssof

Rather imitate Josiah,

to whom w^ now tu'n j\mr attention, and who was a
person ^A' u very utlV^ 'ont spirit from Anion his fatlier.

"Josiah was tiuh . years old when hv be^'au to rei^'u,
and he reigned in .ieru.salem one atid thirty years. And
he did that which m as right in the sight of the L(»rd, and
walked in tlu ways of David hi^ lather, and d(!clin<'d
neither to the right hind nor to the left."

Concerning this prince we shall notice hi^ early and
sincere piety ; his concUict under the testimonyof the dis-
covered books of the law; and his premature death.

/. Ills early and sincere piety.

That was very remarkable ; so much so that it hath
been a theme of interest to .all sultsecpient generations,
even to the present time. Yov more than two thousan<l
years the early piety of Josiah hath been an ever-recurri'ig
and an ever-pluasiug theme with sacred teachers and
faithful parents. And that piety is the more remarkable,
that he was the son of a very wicked father, and still
more so, that he was early left to the seductions of a lofty
place in society, as well as to the flatteries of an idola-
trous court and people. Is it not wonderful that a young
king, ! etween the years of eight and sixteen should be
able to avoid the dangers of such a position, and should
be found at the latter age (tliat is sixteen) prepared openly
to take the unpopular and self-denying course of obedi-

! I

:;!

ill

ill!

( i

35G

TITF-: nVNASTV ( r I)AVFT>.

ence iiml piety ? It is somctliini:; siirprisiiirf aiul unuRual.
How different witli lii.s grand tut Ik -i', Maiias.s< li, wlicn he
becaino k\u'j^ at twelve ! And how <liHcrent even with
his own father Anion ! Tlie fact ran he aeoonnted for
only hy tlie special f^ra(.'(! of (Jod! At the same time
there were no doul)t pioximate a^gencies contrihuting to
the resnlt, but we are not informed what these agencies
were. l'ossil)ly, liis gi-andl'ather ]Manasseh, may have
been instrnmeiital in giving this diicction to his heart
and history. We may easily sni)])ose that the great
penitent, grieved for the confii'med nngodliness of his
son Anion, was careful to instruct, or to have instructed,
his youthful grandson dosiali, in tin; sacred ])eculiarities
of his ])eople. We may e\'en suppose, that he sadly re-
counted to the little listener (and witii a view of fortify-
ing the opening mind against error and idolatry) his
own sad story. He would tell him of the inexcusable
folly of the early part of his reign, of his dethronement
and exile in J}al)ylon, of his distressing convictions and
experiences there — of the mercyof (rod in his unexpected
restoration. And no doubt, he would urge his little
grandson when his time to reign arrived, t(» avoid idola-
try and to abide by the temi)le of (Jod. He niiglit tell
him, too of David, and of Moses, and of the wanderings
in the wilderness, and of the giving of the law. If so,
you can very well understand liow the mind of the youth-
ful Josiah might be preoccupied Avith truth, and tluis be
fortified against the influence of idolaters even in his im-
mature years, and then, the blessing of (lod on these in-
structions will amply account for the Avonderful results.
Any way, Josiah early learned to fear (Jod, and to desire
the re-establishment of His worship in derusaltMu.

Accordingly at sixteen he began to be known as an
earnest inquirer after (lod. At an age when very many
young people think only of fashion and self-gratification,
Josiah was exercised about th(^ favours of God and the
interests of religion. He had thought seriously long lie-
fore, but then he began to seek out and to consort with
those in Jerusalem, who truly feared the most High.

JOSIAH.

357

<^l unusual.
, when lie
fvcn with
iiiitt'd for
■^iuiic time
i 1)11 ting to
>c a^^encies
may have
lis heart
the great
ss of his
istnicted,
L'liliarities
sadly re-
>1" foitify-
latry) lus
^vcusable
I'onenieiit
ions and
(^xjx'cted
his little
•id idola-
light tell
'liderings
If so,
le youtli-
1 ill us be
1 his im-
these in-
results.
'O desire
1.

n as an
y many
Hcation,
and the
ong be-
lt with
' High.

Many influential individuals around him sought, no
doubt, to draw liim into fa.shi<>nal»h' and evil ass(K'iations,
and earnestly the i>rie>ts (d' idolatry would seek his royal
countenance, but in vain, liike Abuses, he would rather
cast in his lot with the |>eo[tle of (iod than enjoy the
pleasures of sin foi' a seasou. Many of his coiiteniijor-
aries, W(! may well l)elieve, wcjiideied at the royal youth,
but the loyal youth held on his way notwithstanding.
He became more mid more attaelied to the few faithiul —
mori! and more satislicd that idolatry wa.i the bane of
his kingdom — and that he ought it) list.- his royal authority
to ]»ut an end to it.

Four years of thought and carej'ul consideration con-
tirnied his views, and nerved him for action. When
tweiit)', he became openly a reformer ; and it is ditlicult
to sav, how \-erv decided and sweenini:; hi.s icformaticjii
became. The matter is briefly rej)orted in the verses fol-
lowing our text thus : " For in the eighth year of his reign,
Avhile he was yet young, he Ixgan to seek after the (Jod
of David his father ; and in the twelfth year he began to
I)urge .ludah and Jerusalem fr(»m the higli ]ilaces, and the
groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.
And they broke down the altars of ]>aalini in his }»res-
ence, and the images that were on high above them he cut
down ; and the groves and tln^ carved images and the
molten images he brake in pieces, and made dustofthein,
and strewed it ui)on the graves of them that had
sacrificed unto them. And he burnt the bones of the
priests upon their .iltars, and chMUsed Judah and Jeru-
salem. And so (lid he in the cities of" Manasseh, and
Ephraim, and Simeon, evt'ii unto Najditali, with tlieir
mattocks round abdiit. And when he had broken down
the altars and the i:idves, and had beaten tlu^ graven im-
ages into powder, and cut down all the; idols throughout
all the lan<l of Isiael, he returned to Jerusalem."

But his operations are more fully reported in II Kings
xxiii. There we see how thorough his procedure was.
He was not like too nianv reformers wl.o are .d'raid to go
all lengths, and who rest in half measures. He spared

358

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

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k s

1 i '

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1

fi'

nothing connected with evil, or that was calculated to
lead his people to evil, leither elegance in altar, nor anti-
quity in buildings, arrested his destructive hand. The
bones of the priests of idolatry of former years he burned
and sought thus to purge the very atmosphere, and
the very memory of the people from the pollutions of the
past. But read II. Kings xxiii, 4-20.

So far, he might seem to be animated only with a spirit
of destructiveness. Some men have a pleasure in pulling
down, but are unable or disinclined to build up any thing
in the place of the things they demolish. It was not so
with Josiah. Having completed the preparatory work of
demolition, he was now ])repared to advance upon the
work of reconstruction and rectification. In his twenty-
sixth year he began to repair the temple, and to prepare
for the re-establishment of the worship of the God of
Israel in Jerusalem. In the prosecution of this work, his
servants discovered a copy of the law of Moses — whether
the autograph co})y of Closes, as some suppose, or the
only complete copy then known in Jerusalem, as others
suppose, it is not necessary for us to determine. Enough
that we know (and this is the point of special interest in
the matter) that the discovery was most opportune for
Josiah, and that it gave a new impulse to his reforming
zeal. Heretofore his knowledge of divine thinirs was im-
perfect, now he saw the truth in its length and breadth,
so far as it was then given to believers to know it. Here-
tofore, he hated idolatry as opposed to the purposes and
interests of his nation — now he saw the evil case into
which idolatry had brought his nation — exposing it to the
righteous and overwhelming judgments of Almighty God.
No wonder that his spirit was moved by the reading of
the authoritative book. The insincere and the hardened
can listen to words of terror without alarm, but not so
Josiah. He was too honest in his convictions, and too
sincere in his desires to treat the word of God with indif
ference, or meet its threatenings with unconcern. But
we shall notice this more particularly immediately. In
the meantime we would wish you to observe, that the

.lOSlAH.

359

!ulated to

nor anti-

d. The

le burned

'lere, and

uns of the

;'i a spirit
in imlling
my thing
■as not so
y work of
upon the
s twenty-
pi'epare
God of
^ork, his
-whether
", or the
■s others
Enough
iterest in
tune for
-forming
was im-
breadth,
''• Here-
>ses and
ise into
t to the
ty God.
ling of
rdened
not so
md too
1 indif
But
y. In
at the

piety of Josiah suggests two things which it is important
for us to recognize and toconsider.

The first of these is, the pm/ress-ive character cf the piety
that is true and sincere — True piety canno'. be stationary.
It is a life, and life grows and advances, artificial rose-
buds remain for ever rose-buds. They cannot expan<l or
develope into full grown flowers. But let the njsobuds
be living and true, and they will ere long spread forth
their leaves, and drink the sun-shine, as well as fill the
surrounding space with fragrance. You exi)ect no fra-
grance from the artificial flower ; but the living must
shed forth its pleasing perfume. It is thus with the true
child of God. He goes from step to step in his advancing
and beautiful life. He acquires strength and confirmation
amid the agitations that surround him. He resists temp-
tation with ever increasing ease, and becomes luminous
in the heavenly atmosphere which he habitually breathes.
From a seeker after God he becomes a reformer among
men. From a timid disciple of truth, he advances until
he is known as a fearless advocate of truth ; and if he
have power or authority in society, he makes that })ower
and authority felt on the side of Heaven, and in opposi
tion to the ungodly fashions and customs of society.

You see this progress distinctly in the cas(3 of Josiah.
Up to his sixteenth year, as Ave have seen, he but yearn-
ed for the right in his own heart. He tlared not yet
make any outward demonstration. The divine life with-
in him, was only then in its incipient stage. At sixteen,
however, he began openly to seek after (iod, and to con-
sort, as we have also seen with the truly i)ious. At
twenty he came out as a reformer, and he advanced in
his career as a reformer, from that tinn; overturning
idolatry in Jerusalem, in Judah, and in Samaria. And
then at twenty-six, he began to repair the temple, and
to prepare for the national celebration of the temple
worship.

It is not thus I repeat, with mere formalists — men
whose piety is merely apparent or assumed. They are
stationary, if not retrograde. They may keep up ap-

\\'

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1 1

360

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

pearances before men for years, while in heart and
reality they are really going backward. But say they
are simply stationary, that itself proves they have no true
life in them, if they go the round of apparent piety from
week to week, for a year, or for five years, or for ten, and
remain at the end of any of these terms merely where they
were at the btginning, they have reason to doubt the sin-
cerity and reality of their profession. It is not in the
nature of things that a man can be in living converse with
the divine, and yet not acquire greater appetency for the
divine — and more robust loyalty in relation to the divine
— and more earnest and more intelligent regard for the
purposes of the divine. "The path of the just is as the
shilling light which shineth more and more unto the
perfect day," and " he that hath clean hands will certainly
grow stronger and stronger."

Here then is a test by which you may try your own
profession. Endeavour to compare your life and senti-
ments as professing Christians now with your life and
sentiments as professing Christians nine or ten years ago,
and ascertain whether, during that period, you have
made any progress in enlightened conviction, in courage,
in disinterestedness, in devotedness, in love for God, or
in love for his saints ? Have you gone, like Josiah, from
one degree of strength to another 1 Or are you
just where you were 1 If you find that you have
made any advance, however small, take courage and
press forward ; but if you are conscious of no improve-
ment, then hasten to the throne of grace, and seek a new
heart, and the divine adoption to which, you have reason
to fear, you have heretofore been strangers !

But the second thing suggested by the early piety and
experience of Josiah which you would do well to consider
is this ; — The divine Friend of humanity is ever ready to
step in tcith new facilities for those who honestly use and im-
prove the facilities which they have, or, in other words, who
honestly act up to the light which they possess. It was while
acting up to his knowledge that Josiah was brought into
contact with the records of Heaven. Had he, conscious,

.JUSLUI.

361

in somo df^reo, of the claims of the temple, left the
saci'ed edifice as he found it, he would never have met
with the hook of the law. Had he het'ii indolent or in-
diilerent in relation to the elainis of (Io<l, he would never
have walUcMl in the hii;lu'r and more pt-rft'ct ilhnnination
into which he was introihiccd by this diseovi-ry. But,
because he acted up to his knowledi^e, itiid hi/ wfi/itj up to
his kii(Uvli:il(ji\\\K}. foun<1 the sacred directions which reveal-
ed to him his trut; ])osition, and the true position of his
peo})le, and which i-nablcd him to tletfrinin(.' wisely and
jiccurately as to his future course. And thus it is, and
thus it hath l)een, with many besides dosiah. The wise
men from the East, for exani|)le, seeking,' the new born
Saviour found unexpected facilities and aids in their way,
and wt'ie led to the presence of Him they sought ; and
the Pkhiopian Kumudi, who, according to the best of liis
knowledge, had gone to .leiiisalem to worship and, who,
returning still unenlightened, read the prophecy of Isaiah,
found, in his l)e\vilderment, a teacher in the wilderness,
and was by that teachei- usjiere(l into the light of i)eace
and salvation. And so Luther, when nu)urning and
yearning after (iod, and following that which is good so
far as he knew, was Km), lik*; Josiah, to the discoveiy of
a Bible, and by it to the further discovery of the true
way to salvation.

Here then is encouragement for those who honestly
walk up to the light tiu-y have. Their ease is not un-
known in tin; courts of l[ea\'en. 'i'hey will jiot be left
unsatisfied or unassiste(l while they follow on to know
the Lord, they shall find new facilities or helps in their
way A pious friend or a b(jok .suited to their case, or a
new light thrown by the spirit of truth on some apj^'o-
priate passage <jf scripture, will lead them into higher
illuminati<jn oi" h<'i)e. '• Unto the iijn i<//ii light shall
arise in the <laikness:"- an angel was sent to (Cornelius,
directing him to IV'ter, the disci[)le »jf, and tlnMvitness for
Jesus, and angels are still ministering spirits tor them
whoshall bcr ''heirs of salvation." 'i'hey will not leave the
honest and hund»le in()uirci unaidetl. They will lead

i <

.Blil

lit!

362

THE DYiNASTY OF DAVID.

him (though himself all unconscious of their guidance)
to some discovery or to some divine oraclo, which shall
testify to him of the great and divine Saviour, and vvhich
shall be to him, it may he, the occasion of his receiving the
Holy Ghost, or preparing him fur that blessing !

Be reminded then, my friends, of the early piety of
Josiah, and of those two suggestions furnished by the first
years of his life, viz : — First, That true piety is progres-
sive, and secondly, that they Avho rightly use the know-
ledge they have, will be led, in the Providence of God, to
higher, and yet higher, and more satisfying illumination
still ! " To him that hath shall be given, and he shall
have abundance." That is, if he rightly use and improve
that which he hath.

But we come now to notice concernini' Josiah.

! i

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[
i

[

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't' §.

IlL

*«

III. His cundiict under the tedhnoiiy of the discovered
looks of the Law.

It was not that of the antiquary who is chiefly con-
cerned about the relies and memorial of the past. Such
parties too frequently deal with the material rather than
the spiritual, and in the case of a recovered manuscript
of the book of God, they would be far more interested in
the antiquity of the manuscript than impressed with the
solemn import of its contents.

Neither was the conduct of Josiah, when he heard the
denunciation of the book of God, that of the critic, who is
ready to explain away the direct meaning of the writing
rather than submit to humiliation and penitence under
it. We have too many such in our own day. You need
not be told, that critics abound now as well as anticpiaries
and so powerful is their critical acumen that they can
weaken, for themselves, and for those who are willing to
be misled by them, the force of the most direct and un-
equivocal langurge. Many thus neutralize the whole
volume of revelation, while others, not quite so daring,
are content to explain away such portions of the book of
God as are unpalatable to themselves, or to the party to

JOSIAH.

3(5S

guidance)
lich shall
n<I vvhich
Jiving the

piety of
' the first
progres-
H' know-
God, to
nination
he shall
improve

iscovered

efly con-
'• Such
ler than
nuscript
ested in
viih the

iard the
who is
writing
3 under
)u need
quaries
ley can
lling to
md un-
whole
daring,
)ook of
arty to

which tliey belong. There was, however, no such dis-
honesty with Josiali.

Neither did he attempt to weaken tlie force of the
divine testimony by considering it as inapplicable to the
ideas of his age. He did not think, as so many do, that
himself, or his generation, had outgrown the legislation
and authority of Heaven. He had among his contempor-
aries and subjects, many advocates of the more liberal
order of things, as they supjwsed, many who could not
see the propriety of the men of Israel binding themselves
up to their own national peculiarities, and thus cutting
themselves off from free and easy communication with
surrounding nations. They considered such conduct as
unworthy of a liberal age, and were prepared, accordingly
to set Moses aside, that they might mingle upon more
equal terms with the fashion of contemporaneous and more
powerful states. Like too many of our own time, they
preferred conformity to the fashions of the many in error,
to sympathy with the few in fidelity to the truth. But
Josiah was not of that number. He held himself ready
to receive the word of God in all its integrity. He nei-
ther sought to evade it by criticisms, nor to neutralize it
by referring it to a previous age. He was prepared at-
tentively to hear, and honestly to interpret, the words of
the most High. And what was the result when the book
was read before him 1 It was penitence and fear and
earnest further inquiry — a renewal of the covenant with
Heaven, ami a great national passover.

First, penitence and fear. His heart was made tender,
and he humbled himself before God. Nay, he rent his
clothes and wept before the most High. He saw that
evil was determined against the sacred city, and the
sacred people, because of contumacy and long continued
disobedience. He knew well the state of the public
mind, and he felt well assured that, though there were
some faithful, and though many were content to conform
externally to the true worship, yet the nation, as a whole,
was idolatrous at heart. He saw perfectly well, that the
true God was not really the God of Israel, and that the

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S f S

All

364

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

immoral fashions of the idolatrous nations had more
clianns for the pt'ople over ^v Ikjui lie ruled, than tlie holy
law of (Jod. He could not but dread the consequences.
He believed the dennneiations of God, \m\v^ fidly as-
sured of the ])ower and faithfulness of Him whose de-
nunciation!, they Were. Heretofore he had been ti'ving
to rectify what vvas wrong, but now he saw the gathering
cloud of judgment about to descend and oveiwhelni the
chosen people. No wctnder tliat he shotdd weep, and
rend his clothes. It was altogethei- in keeping with the
sincerity and earnestness of the former part of his history.

But secondly, — He hastened to in([uiie of the Lord con-
cerning this dread prospect. Not content with weeping,
he nuist needs have directions or encouragement from
God in tlie circumstances. Accordingly he sent some of
his servants to Huldah, the pro[)hetess. Hi- could not eti-
cpiire at the temple by Hrim and Thummim for the
house was out of repair, and the High Priests had been
long unused to this part of their ottice. But he sent to
one who was known and recoginzed in that day, as an
exi)onent of the will t)f Heaven. Even as Hezekiah had
sent in his |)erj)le.\ity to Isaiah, so Josiah sent to Huldah,
and he received in anwer, fiom tiiis pi'ophetess, some per-
sonalacknowledgments and encouragcsments, tt)gethei' with
the assurance that the dreaded judgments wouhl certainly
overtake the community. Accei)ting tins assurance, as
he must, Josiali did not lie down in ^indolence or des-
pair, but set himself about confirming the few faithful,
and also linuting oi- postponing the coming judgments, as
far as might be, l)y a return to God. For

Thirdly, He renewed the covenant with God, which
his peoi)le ought ne\'er to have broken or forsaken. He
gathered together the elders of Judah and Jerusalem,
hiid before them the l)0(jk that had alarmed himself, read
to them the threatenings o( the Holy, and engaged them
anew in the covenant of the Most High. Then still act-
ing under the testimony of the law,

Fourthly, He summoned his peoj>le to a national pass-
over, and then he ren»'wed on that occasion with all e.\-

/OsrAH.

365

actness, the onler of tlio toinplc-wor.sliii), miinifested
princely munificence in the matter of sacrifices, set the
musicians in their places, according: to the coniniandnient
of David, and Asafdi, and llenian, and re-estahlislu'd the
songs as well as the sacrifice, in honour of tlu; trut^ (lod
— the God of Israel. Hy this ordinance, he drew the
pe()i)le again under the wing of Omnipotence, revived the
memory of their national history, and increased the
power of piety in the land, and of this solemnity we find
it said : " There was no passover like to that kej)t in
Israel, from the days of Samuel the prophet, neither did
all the kings of Isra(d keep such a ])assover as Josi;di
kept !" And such was the spirit of his administration
during the years of his reign. The people, it is said,
*' departed not during all his days from following the
Lord, the God of their fathers !"

Such was the effect of tlu; words of God, honestly
heard on the part of ffosiah. It filled him with peniten-
tial sentiment, it prompted him to enquire of the Lord
by an accredited pro})hetess, it i)rompted him further to
renew the covenant which bound his nation to God, and
it incited him to seek to draw his people under the wing
of the Almighty l)y obedient and humble passover cele-
bration !

Thus, I say, it was with Josiah ; and thus it was in a
long subsequent age, in the same city of Jerusalem, at the
commencement of the Christian dispensation. The spirit
being given at Pentecost, Peter preached, as you remem-
ber, to the assembled multitude and that with demonstra-
tion and with power. Like the recovered book of the
law to the heart of Josiah, were the words of the Spirit-
taught Apostle. In the light of these words sin and
danger became apparent to thousands : — the awakened
and enlightened ones were cut to the heart. They, in
effort, rent their clothes, like Josiah, and wept before
God. Then they applied to the accredited messengers
of Heaven, demanding of the Apostles. " Men and
brethren, what shall we do ?" and the analogy advances.
Instructed by the Apostles, (if they did not renew the

In'

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THE PYNASrV' OF DAVTH.

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covenant of Sinai) they gladly embraced the covenant of
grace, ratified by the blood of Christ, and forthwith gave
themselves to a life of passover celebration. They recog-
nized the great truth, tiiat Christ, the passover for
humanity, had been sacrificed, and they brake bread in
rememlirance of the fact, from house to house, and ate
their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.

Nor let it seem a peculiarity of Pentecostal days, that
men were thus exercised in mind under the words of God.
The same result is known even up to our own days, not
indeed, in the case of the many, who hear the words with
preoccupied or prejudiced hearts, but ever with some.
Now one, and then another, is known to recognize the
dangers of a sinful and God-forgetting state. They are
smitten with sorrow in consequence — a sorrow deeper
and more painful than the sorrows of the world ; and, if
within reach of an accredited agent of Heaven, they in-
quire concerning the judgments of God, and whether
there may not be a way of escape. If rigiitly instructed,
they forthwith embrace the covenant of God's grace in
Christ Jesus, and thenceforth rejoice to live under the over-
shadowing and permanent passover of New Testament
times. There, they find shelter against merited and
dreaded condemnation (there being no condemnation to
them that are in Christ Jesus), and there they find con-
solation and hope that associate them with the divine and
immortal ! Be reminded of this fact, my friends, the
permanent elements of the Christian character are tiiose now
before us, and exemplified in the history of Josiah, as well
as in the converts at Pentecost, viz : Penitence, prayerful
inquiry, and supplicatioji before God ; Faith in the covenant
of grace, and Passover exercises ! Associated as we are
■with the sinful, and ourselves sinful, we cannot live in
the light of God's law and God's throne without penitence !
Exposed to dangers and dread liabilities, we cannot,
when awake to our circumstances, live without prayer !
Without merit, and without strength, we can find no
resting place but in divine grace ! And when the divine
provisions of that grace are once apprehended, we can

.TOSIAH.

367

havo no grratrr privilfgc, no f^rrater desire than to accept
of and to enjoy these provisions! How gladly the heart
recognizes the mighty and availing passover, provided of
God ! How perfect the seeurity that passover affords !
And how (jiiickening and purifying the sentiments which
it awakens ! If dosiah's passover was distingnished, how
much greater the ilistinction of the New Testament pass-
over. That (the New Testament passover) spread through
the ages, needs no repetition, acconi[)lishes really what the
Old Testament passover only did ceremonially, tills the
heart with peace and love, separates those who keep it
from evil, and hinds up their energies for the heavenly
pilgrimage ! See that your life and experiences are
passover life and passover experiences. Or more
fully see that you walk uinler the divine teatimony, like
Josiali of old, in penitence, in tenderness of heart, in
humility, in prayerful in<{uiry, in unquestioning faith,
and in passover exercises and excellences ! Or more
briefly and more memorably, in Pcnitmce Prayer, and
Passover Itememhrances. We come now to the notice con-
cerning Josiah.

///. His Premature death.

This seems wonderful at first sight, that one so devoted
and so useful should be so suddenly and so prematurely
cut off! Yet it is explicable to a certain extent. We
cannot of course understand all the reasons and influences
that brought it about, but we can see enough to satisfy
us in relation to its fitness.

See it first, in relation to his people, they were unworthy
of such a king, They had not improved under his ad-
ministration. Some few were like minded with himself,
but the people, as a whole, were still idolaters. Many
had conformed externally to the wishes and arrangements
of the king, but they had not become thereby any better
subjects of their true and heavenly king, the God of
Israel, I mean. The readiness with which the nations
returned to idolatrous ways under the successors of
Josiah, and immediately after his death, shows clearly

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that Ills idlliiciin' Ii.kI only Ix'fii MipnliciMl. The .sti-on^
(Miirciit ot" tlic national iniml was still away tVoni (io(l.
Josiali stcnnnrd it for ;i time, l»ut lie <'((iilil not really
tJirn it, sonic snil'acc \\a\<'s sccnit'il, nmlri- liis intliicncc
to roll towartl iln' 'l\'ni|ilc, l>nt tin- dcptlis of tlic national
hvAvl umlcrnfjitli lia<l no sn»li tt-niitncy. l''or twenty
years .Fosiali lalxuired in tlie work of id'orniatioii. I»nt lu'
laboured with small result : and (!od, who li;id judven
luni to the nati<»n in kindness, .saw meet, (after this
len,i;thene(l and nn.^neces^fnl etiort to hrini;- His jx'opln
back to Himself) saw meet, 1 say, to remove the devot-
ed aj^eiit. In jnd.i:;nient he took him away (/.r.,so far as
tho nation was concerinul/ sayin,i,% in elfect, by doin;^' so
" tliey are i(»inr(l to their idols, let them alone ! ' And
acoordinj:;ly, once the I'aithful kin^L; was removed, matters
went on in .Indah and dernsalem as the idolaters would
liave tluMu, without fiiither national check from (lod,
tho remonstrances of .Jeremiah alone excepted. The re-
sult was that, in less than thirty years aftei', the sacred
city Avas burnt, the temple was overthrown, and the in-
fatuated inhabitants were M'eeping captives by tim rivers
of Baliylon. All dudah and .Jerusalem, it is said, mourn-
ed for Josiah, but their lamentations in relation to him
were rather for a fallen kini;, than for an unsuccessful
reformer ! Had they mourned for their own want of im-
provement under his administration, thiuL's would have
looked more hojx'ful. I>ut it was not r;o. They were con-
tent to commit his remains to the tomb with some burning
tears, and then to ,i;'o on in their chostMi way of self-[)leas-
ing and folly. They dreamt not that their stul)boriiness
and pervei'seness had been the occasion of his removal,
and if any one had assured them of the fact, it would not
have altered their d(»wnwaitl piogicss. They had taken
their place definitively on the side of idolatry. The ap-
proaching judgment could not now be much longer arrest-
ed, and Josiali must be removed to make way for it. Had
the people as a whole been willing to yield to holy in-
fluences, the life of the faithful k'nvj: mit'ht have been
prolonged, but since their preferences were wholly ungod-

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ly, even after all that .losiah had «lojit', Uo<l saw meet to
cut short the ex|»eriim'iit, and to remove His servant
from the thankless ser\ ice ! I'ity for those who improve
not the presence ot the faithful servants of Heaven ! (Jod
is constrained, after a time, to remove them, and their
removal only opens the way for tli<> comin;^' retribution !

But see flie preiuiduie death of JosinJi, sccoiitlli/ in n/dfion
to himsi'ff. He was taken away from evil to come. Had
his years been i)rolon^ed to tlie oidinaiy term of human
life, he would haveseen the ruthless h'gions of N.-huchad-
nezzar encamped lieiore his wipital ; lie would have heard
the wild shouts of the enemy while the cit}' was in flames,
and seen the miseries of his people in the ])resence of
sword and cai»tivity. God saw meet to spare him the
agony. As a mother, forseeing a storm, draws her little
one under shelter l)efore the storm falls, so the gi'acious
and mighty one who watched over his servant Josiah,
saw meet to deal with him. The manner of hisdeath we
shall notice immediately, but the fact of his death was to
him a l)lessing in disguise. lie was removed from a ])osi-
tion of honour and usefulness indeed, but that ]K)sition
was irritating and disappointing in no small ch'gree, and
he was taj^en away from it to a more congenial associa-
tion, where irritation and disappointment are forever un-
known. For a premature death, in the case of the un-
godly, there is no con»pensation, but for a premature
death in the case of the godly, there is ample compensa-
tion in Heaven. Better live in harmony and gladness
before the throne on high, then contend unsuccessfully
with the disloyal and disobedient upon a throne on
earth !

Thirdly — God's faithfulness too 'teas nuuJe r/ood by this
premattire death of Josiah. " Behold (said God) by Huldah,
the prophetess (when consulted by Josiah,) I will gather
thee to thy Withers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy
grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil
that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabi-
tants of the same." God had not forgotten his promise ;
and, when the proper moment arrived, Josiah was caught

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370

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

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away from the confusion and annoyance of an unprofitable
contest. His death might seem to his contemporaries
fortuitous, or mistimed, but there was neither cliance nor
mistake about it. The eye that takes in all conditions
and all circumstances decided the eventful moment, and
brought about tlie combination that secured it. The
actors each and all acted on their own responsibility, and
according to their own views, bnt God determined the re-
sult, and made good His assurance to His servant by
doing so !

You see then, that this death, apparently premature,
was really significant and seasonable ; it was a judicial
punishment to an indocile and disobedient people ! It
was kindness to a faithful servant ! And it made good a
divine announcement, indicating the care and watchful-
ness of the Supreme over his faithful and humble worship-
pers !

And now a word about the manner of his death. It
reminds us somewhat of the death of Abraham Lincoln ;
he met it where he ought not to have been. He ought
not to have mingled himself up with the contest between
Egypt and the Medes and Babylonians. The king of
Egypt himself dissuaded him from meddling in the mat-
ter ; and, as king of the sacred people, he ought to have
held himself aloof from the quarrels of the rulers of those
idolatrous nations. We grieve that the amiable president
just mentioned, should have met his death in a theatre, anc.
in like manner we grieve that the devoted Josiah should
have met his death on the battle field, and in the quarrel of
the ambitious and tyrannical. The fact reminds us of
another deplored death in circumstances not very dissimi-
lar from those of Josiah. I refer to Zwingle, the great
Swiss reformer. He, too, fell in battle, where he ought
not to have been, but he mistook the path of duty — not
in a spirit of disobedience, but amid the confusion of
clashing elements. He mingled up his faith and career as
a preacher with worldly politics, (he could scarcely avoid
doing so) and his heavenly Father overruled his very
mistake for unmoving him from the confusion and mis-

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371

rule of the times. So Josiah mistook, and so he fonnd
liis d«^ath by his mistake ; and so God overruled his mis-
take for the accumplishment of his own gracious pur|Kises
concerning him. (iod was not taken by surprise in the
aft'air. The combination of circumstances was indeed
from Him, and Josiah disappeared fi'oni the stage of hu-
man history just at the right thne, though not in a way
honourable to his own wisdom. There might be reasons
for his course which we do not see, Imt still we tliink it
was clearly a mistake in him to join any of the contend-
ing parties, and further, it was eminently unwise in him
to join battle with the party opposed, without waiting
for tlie support of the party joined

What then is the lesson which we may learn from the
early removal of this devoted servant of HeaviMi ? Just
this, that the faithful may fearlessly commit their way to
God — assured tliat he will not overlook or forget them —
assured further, that their times are in His hands — and
that His purposes of love concerning them shall not be
disappointed. Let them, like J(jsiah, be earnest in the
service of God, and earnest in the. support of His cause
in human society. And let them avoid the error of
Josiah, viz : that of mingling tiiemselves up in the con-
tests of the aml)itious, the corru])t, or the selHsli. Let them
remember whose they are, and whom alone they ought
to serve ; and fearlessly connnit their fortune^ to the
wisdom and v,'atchful lov(! of their Heavenly Father.
His purpose shall stand and He will do all His pleasure.
Though His peo})le mistake in judgment, while faithful
in heart, He will overrule their very mistakes to tlu; ac-
complishment of His own })ur[)oses conceriung them.
Betkr tint! then ^Inmld /tat ntlsld/:)' ; but where views are
confused, and when uiu^ongenial elements are mixed up
together, mistakes cannot always be avoided. Nor need
this discourage the conscientious, for their Heaveidy
Friend is able to clieck, to overrule, or to unravel, what
may seem oidy inextricable or irnmic-diable. in their eyes.
Old// Ivt fhoii. (i.hii)iiiil ill. jHiiitcncc and ^ifui/tr, and in- jxidii'
ooer reiueiid/raitces, and all s/i(il/ ijct /ir urll! Only let them

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372

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

walk in the divine Redeemer, whose death constitutes
the great passover for humanity, and //o fatal evil shall
touch them ! They may die unexpectedly in early youth
or in early manhood, but their death will prove a blessing to
themselves at any rate. They may leave their circle in
sorrow and darkness, but they tliemselves shall find only
sweeter and higher illumination and joy ! Their death
may even be in judgment to others, who have failed to
improve their life and example, but it will be a relief and
a reward to themselves ! Their removal may seem mys-
terious to survivors, as Josiah's was, but they themselves
will have no difficulty concerning it as they emerge from
the dark rapids of death into the light and stable beauties
of a holier world !

0, for grace to follow the example of Josiah ! for
enlightenment to embrace and abide in the New Testament
passover all the days of our lives ! And for faith to
sing with the rejoicing apostle. '* I am persuaded that
nothing shall be able to separate me from the love of
God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord ! Not faithless
contemporaries — not untoward combinations, nor mis-
taken decision on our part, nor even early and apparently
premature death ! Happy, happy they who have such a
conviction, and who, in the strength of it can add : —

(jroodness and mercy all my life,

Shall surely follow me,
And in God's house for evermore,

My dwelling place shall be.

Let every one look to himself in this matter ! Let each
ask himself, is it thus with me ?

(QUESTIONS ON JOSIAH.

What waB remarkable in the youthful sou of Anion i

Rib early and decided piety. Every thing in the courts of
his father was favourable to a contrary result, yet h©
gave himself heart and soul to the ways of wisdom.

.lOSIAH.

373

Who may we suppose to have been instrumental in giving
this bias to his character ?
We hope and fancy it might bo his grandfather Manasseh,
but cannot tell.
How old was he when first known as an earnest inquirer after
God ?
About sixteen.
Did he rest with inquiries ?

No, when twenty he became an open and decided reformer
— breaking and destroying all the symbols of idolatry.
Did he content himself with breaking down the idol altars (

No, at twenty six ho began to repair the temple of God.
What happened in the course of these repairs ?

The workmen found a copy of the writings of Moses.
What was the effect of the reading of these writings on the
raind of Josiah ?
A deep conviction of the danger of his nation in conse-
quence of the prevalent idolatry.
What two important truths does the history of Josiah thus far
illustrate ?
1st. The progressive character of true and sincere piety. He
was first an inquirer, then a reformer destroying the
altars of idolatry — then a repairer of the temple, and an
obedient servant of divine ordinances.
2nd. His story illustrates the further facilities for good that
will be found to lie in the way of the truthful while liv-
ing up to the light ; we refer to his obtaining possession
of the writings of Moses while repairing the temple.
Is there any encouragement for inquirers of our own day in
this ?
Certainly. They have but to press on so far as they know
the right, and they will find guidance and direction by
the finger-post of revelation or by means of unseen minis-
trations when their way becomes dark or uncertain.
Did Josiah regard the recovered writings of Moses as an
antiquarian or as a critic ?
O, no ! He had them read before him as an inquirer —
ready to bow to the authority of the God of Israel.
How did he feel as the sacred writings were being read ?

Deeply penitent and alarmed.
Did he make any inquiry at the living and recognized ser-
vants of Heaven concerning the dark prosi^ect before
his kingdom ?
Yes, he sent to the prophetess Huldah, who gave him ap-
propriate encouragement and assurance.

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374

THK r>VNASTV <)l' nAVID.

What his next step i

He convoned the elders of Jiididi and Jerusalem — laid be-
fore them tlie book that had alarmed liim — read to them
tlie threatenings of the Holy— and engaged them anew
in the covenant of the Moat Higli.
Did this content him /
No, hesunnnoned the people to a national passover, desir-
ing thus to draw the i)eo[>le again under the wi'^'' of
Omnipotence.
Was there anything auah>g'.u,s to this at the commencement
of the Christian dispensation ?
Yes, many were aroused to address themselves to the
A})ostle of the Lord, crying " men and brethren what
shall we do ?" And three thousand of these awakened
ones, when instructed by the Apostle, accepted of the new
covenant of God, and gave themselves to a life of pass-
ov^er celebration.
Were such things peculiar to the apostt>lic age ?

Notatall. They occur freijuently though less obtrusively
in our f)wn day. Now one, and then another is awaken-
ed by the words of God to the dangers of a sinful and
God-forgetting state, and is led to embrace the divine co-
venant, and to live under the overshadowing and perma-
nent passover of tlie New Testament times.
What by the way are the permanent elements of the devout
character as illustrated in Josiah as well as in the
Pentecostal covenant ?
Penitence, })rayer, and passover exercises.
What should be our desire in the light of this conduct of
Josiah and the Pentecostal covenant I
That we may be enabled to receive the W^ord of God as they
they received it, and to follow it out to covenant and
passover experience as they followed it out.
Was this noble prince, Josiah, a long liver I

No, as he was early called to reign, so he was cai'ly relieved
of the cares of Government.
How are we to regard his premature death in relation to his
people ?
As a sign of God's displeasure at them. They had not
improved the blessing of his pious example and influ-
ence, and God saw meet to withdraw the blessing.
And how are we to regard his early death in relation to him-
self ?
As a paternal kindness. He was taken away from evil to
come.

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375

nmencement

Was there any divine promise f nlfiUed by his early death ?
Yea. God had promised by Hiildah that his eyes should
not see the evil that was about to fall on his idolatroua
capital and kingdom.
But what about the manner of his death ?

Why, he met it where he ought not to have been. He
should not have interfered in the quarrels of the ungodly
and the tyrannical. This as wo think was his mistake,
but God overruled his mistake for bringing about His
own purposes.
What are we to be reminded of by this early removal of
Josiah ?
The perfection of God's promises, and the unfailing love
that encompasses the faithful in life and in death.
What should be the grand solicitude of the believing amid the
dangers and fluctuations of life as suggested by the
story of Josiah 1
To be found in the way of penitence, prayer, and pasaover
remembrances.

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conduct of

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XVIII. ZEDEKIAH.

Zeriekiah was one and twenty years old whtn Y.e began to
reign, and reijjned eleven years iw Jerusalem, i nd he did
that which was evil in the sight of the Lord his God, and hum-
bled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet, spea'ang from
the mouth of the Lord. And he also rebelled sura'nat Nebu-
chadnezzar, who had made him swear by God ; but he stiffen-
ed his neck and hardened his heart from turning unto the
Lord God of Israel. Moreover all the chiefs of the priests,
and the people transgressed very much after all the abomina-
tions of the heathen ; and polluted the house of the Lord which
he had hallowed in Jerusalem. And the Lord God of their
fathers sent to them by his mehsengers, rising up betimes and
sending ; because he had compassion on his people, and on his
dwelling place : But they mocked the messengers of Gocl, and
despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath
of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
— II. Chron. xxxvi. 11, 16.

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E have now turned your attention to all the
kings of the line of David up to Josiali, there
remain yet the four successors of Josiah :
three of them the sons, and one the grandson
of th^t prince. It shall not be necessary to rest on
these four individually. There is no striking or
^ noticeable dissimilarity among them. They are all
only too much alike. They all did evil in the sight
of the Lord and in similar circumstances, and with
similar privileges. Then, two of these occupied the
throne only three months each, while the remaining
two reigned each about eleven years. We may there-
fore, without detriment pass over the reign of Jehoa-
haz, the first of the four, and Jehoiachin, the third
^ of the four, because of the brevity of their rule, to
say nothing of theii wickedness, and we may also
leave out Jehoiakim, as being so similar in character to
his brother Zedekiah, that they scarcely admit of separate
remark. They differed only in two particulars — First,

ZEDEKIAH.

377

Jehoiakim was made king by the sovereign of Egypt,
while Zedekiah was the creature of Nebuchadnezzar ; and
secondly, Jehoiakim cut with a penknife, and burnt in
the fire, the roll of Jeremiah's denunciations, while Zede-
kiah only refused to listen to the Heaven-sent prophet.
Jehoiakim was tluis even more daringly impious than Zede-
kiah himself. Wc shall pass therefore from Josiah to
Zedekiah, and notice concerning this prince his unim-
proved privileges, his undesirable distinction, his un-
happy fate.

/. The ummjn'oved 2>rivilege.

He was contemporary with a distinguished and inspired
servant of Heaven. Jeremiah was a prophet of establish-
ed reputation when Zedekiah ascended the throne. It
was not as if there had been dubiety as to the inspiration
or authority of the prophet ; then Zedekiah might have
had excuse for disregarding him — but there was none
such. Before Zedekiah was born, Jeremiah had opened
his commission, and been recognized by Josiah ! Nay,
before Zedekiah was born, Jeremiah had caused the strik-
ing remonstrance of the God of Israel to sound through
Jerusalem : " Be astonished, O ye heavens at this, and
be horribly afraid. Be ye very desolate, saith the Lord :
For my people have committed two evils, they have for-
saken me — the fountain of living waters, and hewed them
out cisterns, — broken cisterns, that can hold no water."
About the time of the accession of Zedekiah to the throne,
again Jeremiah uttered forth his soul thus : — that I
had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men,
that I might leave my people and go from them; for
they are all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men !"
* * * " Why have they provoked me to

anger with their graven images, and with strange vani-
ties 1 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we
are not saved. For the hurt of the daughter of my people
am I hurt. I am black : Astonishment hath taken hold
on me. Is there no balm in Gilead 1 Is there no physi-
cian there ? * * * * Oh that my head

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378

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, th.at 1
niif,'lit wvop (lay and ni«,dit for the slain of the daughter
of my people." Thus at tin; accession of Zedekiah — and
then, during all the years of Zedekiah's reign, Jeremiah
put forth his plaints, and remonstrances, and denuncia-
tions and warnings. Not content with words merely,
he em])loyed im})ressive types and r<!pi'esentations,to show
the ditierence Itetween the good and the had, and to indi
cate the coming captivity of idolatrous dudah. So per-
sistent and so fully felt were his ministrations and re-
l)ukes, that he incui'i'eil the«'nniity and persecution of the
influential and the ])owerful, both at Anathoth and Jeru-
salem. But this mattered not to Jeremiah. His zeal was
not abated, nor was his voice hushed, lie still sought to
keep alive the public conscience, and to awaken the slum-
bering and misguided inhabitants of Jerusalem. He even
approached Zedekiah himself personally — assuring him
from God, that the city would be given into the hands of
the king of Bal)y Ion— that it would be bui-nt with fire —
and that he, the king himself, would certainly be taken
by the mighty invader. He denounced the princes also,
under wliose influence the king usually acted, for their
cruelties to the defenceless, as well as for their unfaithful-
ness to God — assuring them that they should all be given
into the hand of their enemies, and that their dead bodies
should be meat to the fowls of heaven, and to the beasts
of the earth. Zedekiali .vas not left to grope his way in
the dark you perceive. He had a ready monitor ever at
hand.

Here then was a privilege and an opportunity for Zede-
kiah. He had near him one who could inform him of the
wishes and purposes of the most High. True, he had
around him prophets and princes of a diff'erent stamp, but
he might have known the true from the counterfeit, and
he ought to easily have known the true from the counter-
feit, if only he had been honestly desirous of walking in
the right way. He ought to have attached himself tv
Jeremiah. 0, he ought to have felicitated himself on the
presence of such a man, a man whom he knew to be the

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.^70

Hgi'iit of (lie Holy and the All knowing, lie nt'»'<ltMl not to
send expi'ii8ive (Miihassios to distant and doubtful oracles,
as heathen kings were wont to do, lie had but to listen to
the unambiguous teachings of tlu^ prophet of Heaven, and
his way would have 1)e(Mi made clear befoni him. If
Urim and Thummim was now unusual as a means of as-
certaining the divine mind, Zedekiah might w«'ll rejoice
to have so easy and suflicient a substitutes in the ready
responses of the pro])het. With such a privilege, he had
no excuse for misjudgment or mistaken action. How
ha[)])y a traveller is when uncertain of his way, he finds
an ade(piate and trust-worthy guide ! Not so Zedekiah.
It was to no purpose that God had granted him such
a privilege: for "neither he, nor his servants, nor the
])e(jple of tlu- land, did hearken unto the words of the
Lord, which he spake by the i)rophet Jercsmiah."

Zedekiah, however, was not wholly without some lean-
ings toward the pro]thet. He even consulted him in pri-
vate at the crisis of his fate— as to whether he should
submit to the Chaldeans, or maintain the contest to the
last] Jeremiah gave him a clear answer, and unmistak-
able advice ; but lie could not bring his mind to act upon
it. He wished the safety of the city, and he wished the
safety of his own person, but he could not submit to the
conditions. He could not and would not lay down his
arms to tin; Chaldeans, while God would not grant him
deliverance on any other terms. He wished a deliverance
like that enjoyed by Hezekiah, when the hosts of Sen-
nachei'ib were smitten before Jerusalem, but (Jod would
not vouchsafe such a deliverance to an idolatrous prince.
Hadhebeen of like character with Hezekiah, his experience
and mercies might have been similar to those of that prince ;
but his heart was not with God. He would willingly have
had the miraculous deliverance of a true son of David,
but he wished it in connection with the liberty and license
of a lover of idols ; and this, God Avould not grant.
Still, because he was a son of David, God would secure
his life and his metropolis if he would submit himself and
follow the divine directions. But he would not. He

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380

THE DYNASTY OF DAVFD.

persisted in the way of evil and disobedience, and " hum-
bled not himself before Jeremiah, speaking from the
mouth of the Lord." Here is an account of liis last inter-
view with the prophet. — Jeremiah, xxviii, 14-24.

See the folly of Zedekiah : — He was ashamed even to
have consulted Jeremiah. And he would not be guided
by Jeremiah, that is to say, he would not bo guided by
God, speaking by Jeremiah. His princes held one style
of language, and God, by Jeremiah, held another. Zede-
kiah must attach himself to the one side or to the other.
That of the princes was more in harmony with his own
heart, and it prevailed accordingly. He would not humble
himself either to God or to Nebuchadnezzar, but resisted
to the last, and thus brought about the mournful catas-
trophe which Jeremiah was so anxious to avert.

This catastrophe, as it affected both Jerusalem and
himself, we r-hall notice immediately. In the meantime,
let us notice the lesson which his conduct teaches to us.
And what is that lesson 1 It is, the folly of turning from
a divine messenger, and rejecting divinely-fixed conditions
of safety. Stated in words, you admit this at once, and as
seen in the conduct of Zedekiah, it is irresistibly evident.
Had he but listened to Jeremiah, and followed Jeremiah's
directions his life and capital would have been preserved,
but he preferred the counsel of those who hated Jeremiah
(for this counsel was in harmony with his own blind
pride) he preferred I say, the counsel of those who hated
the prophet, and he lost all in consequence. You see
his error. Then, mark, it is for us to be warned of a
like error.

"We too are in danger. If not besieged in a material
fortress by human and ruthless soldiery, if not liable to
the vengeance of a fierce and powerful tyrant at the head
of a resistless army — we are still in danger — and the
danger is more serious and more awful than any merely
earthly exposure can be. The powers of darkness are
around us — the snares of evil are spread thick in our path,
besides the officers of a righteous and all powerful govern-
have, if I may speak so, a warrant against us. We may,

ill

ZKDEKIAH.

381

if still nnforgiven, be caught and cast into prison at any
morarnt, and it' once there, execution and eternal disgrace
will surely follow. The rebellion of Zedekiah against
Babylon, brought the hosts of Nebuchadnezzar around
Jerusalem ; so, our rebellion against Heaven hath laid
us open to the judgments of the Holy. Besides, by our
rebellion and estrangement from Heaven, we have as-
sociated ourselves with, and are greatly in the power of,
the god of darkness of this world, who seeks more and
more to blind our minds, and to confirm us in our rebel-
lion. We are really in an evil case by nature although
very many of us are little aware of this danger. Events
press upon us, even as the Chaldeans pressed Zedekiah.
The days fly ; the catastrophe may be near. Death
may overtake us at any moment, and we may then, and
thenceforth be overwhelmed with righteous indignation
on the part of Heaven, or with unrelieved remorse by
the testimony and terroi's of our own conscience.

In these circumstances it is important to know that
there is a great Prophet near, greater by far than Jere-
miah. This great prophet is prepared to counsel us in
our pressing exigence : nay, He is prepared to shelter us
from the consequences of our own rebellion ; He is
able to deliver us from our dark spiritual adver-
saries, — to secure our acceptance at the court of
Heaven — and to compass us about with songs of
deliverance, you know to whom I refer — Jesus, the
prophet like unto Moses, and like also unto Jere-
miah in some respects, and the Saviour of sinners. Far
beyond Jeremiah in qualifications and competency. He
is the prophet of the ages. He is the same yesterday,
to-day, and forever : He is able to save to the uttermost
all them that come unto God by Him. We have but to
seek to Him, obeying Him and confiding in Him — and
all shall be well. Himself hath made reparation to
Heaven on our behalf: *' He is the propitiation for the
sins of the world," and He is at once the Wonderful
Counsellor and the Prince of Peace. And His directions
to those who seek His guidance, and are willing to trust

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382

TIIK hVXASTY (>K KAVID.

if. I
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in Him are similar t(» those of Jcivmiali to Zcdckiah.
We must ^o forth to Him aj^ainst vvliom we liax'c it-hcllcd.
We must (•( asc resistance to the <:;oveninient \v(( iiave
(h^fied, (lislioMoured and nveilooked. We must acUiiow-
ledj^^e the (.'laims of our divine kiu<,^ and that king will
forthwith forgive all. The great Prophet assures us of it
and pledges llimself that it shall he so. There may he
those around us, (as in the case? of Zedekiah.) who would
discredit the teaching of the great Proj)het, and who
woidd have us contiinie in our rel)ellion and self-will, hut
we will only hasten and render inevitahle the catastrophe
by listening to them. It is submission or ruin WMth us
(just as it was in the case of Zedekiah) sul)mission under
the directions and mediation of the great New Testament
Proi)het— or ruin in connection with those who counsel
a contrary course !

The choice then, befin^e each of you is, tlu^ righteous
Mediator, or the rebelliousand ungodly world- -submission
to God under the Saviour Ti'oidiet, or e'Verlasting ruin
in connection with Satan and his followers ! And will
any of you repeat the folly of Zedekiah i Will you dis-
claim the Redeemer, and abide in your rebellion? Will
you really be so foolish I You cannot a])[)rove of Zede-
kiah's course in the crisis of his fate, and will you, in
effect, repeat it in a crisis of far more tremendous signi-
ficance in your own '? Many, it is true, do so, and they
Avill have long repentenc(; for their choice ; but you can-
not surely «ie ;ide so. see that you disregard the dic-
tates of pride, and. the counsels of the hardened, and the
appareril advantages of a course of self-pleasing, and
listen to the grejit New Testament Prophet, and go forth
in penitance, and nnder His guidance, to the righteous
and merciful throne M'hicli you have dishonoured by sin,
and accept (before tbe thunderbolt descends) of the grace
and forgiveness that Clod is ready to extcTid to you in
Him. This, then, is the lesson we ought to learn from
the story of Zedekiah, — we must neither overlook nor
disregard the advice of the great Saviour Prophet ! We
must listen to, and obey Jesus, if we would not perish !

n |i

ZKDKKIAIf.

383

Romombf'rin'i tins lesson, viz., tluit Josns is fo us what
Jcrciiiiali was t(t /fdrkiuh (iiml tUr morr), jukI th.it our
eternal siifcty r('(|nirs us to al)itlc V)y tln» instruoti<in of
Jesus, wliile lit tlie same time we trust in His merits an<l
good oflices, let us attend now, concerning this unworthy
Zedekiah, to.

//. IJis nndesiruhle distincfiim.

And that is — that his name is foivvor associated
with the overthrow of the city and temple of (iod,
and that the ty[)ical throne of the dynasty of David
disappeared from amoni; men with him. It was the
honour of David to found that throne. It was the
dishonour of Zedekiah to niakt; an end of it— so
far, at least, as it was ])re[)aratory and typical. David
loved the Lord, and the Lord madi^ a covenant of
loyalty with him and his liouse ; Zedekiah turned from
the Lord, and his royal honours, and the royal honours of
his house, were abrogated and])Ut aside, so far as natural
descent was concerned. The tin-one which descended to
him from a long line of kings, fell with him and was not
again restored. His descendants h»!nceforth mingled
with the mass of tlu! people, and were undistinguished
and unhonoured. True, the symbols of government were
still preserved in Mudah for hundreds of years after the
captivity, but in very inferioi" guise, and only by High
Priests or patriotic warriors, or sul)ordinate governors.
The throne of David in its independence and earthly
glory became permanently obscured ; and Zedekiah was
the last of the kini;s. lit; received a throne from his
ancestors, but failed to transmit the same to successors!

Inferior calamities had fallen out in the reigns of other
kings Judahjbut thiscrowning calamity fell out in the days
of Zedekiah. Rehoboamsaw five-sixths of his subjects turn
away from him, but his capital and his throne remained
to him still ; Zedekiah lost capital, and throne, and lib-
erty, all at once. Asa saw his kingdom invaded by
"Zerah, the Ethiopian, with an host of a thousand thou-
sands and three hundred chariots," but " the Lord smcjte

384

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

ifW

111!

the Ethiopians before Asa, and Jiulah," and Asa s reigu
was not seriously interrupted ; Zedekiah had no such de-
liverance from the hosts of Nebucha Inezzar, nor did his
throne survive the invasion of that monarcli. Amaziah
saw the conquering hosts -f Joash of Samaria enter Jeru-
salem and break down the wall of his capital, but Judah
retired and left him though humbled and despirited,
still in possession of his royalty. Not so with Zedekiah.
His conquerer having destroyed his capital, carried him,
or sent him, into an unreturning captivity. Hezekiah
too saw his capital surrounded by the armies of the proud
Sennacherib, and had no power in himself to resist, but
God laid low the invaders and Hezekiah and Jerusalem
^vere safe ! Zedekiah had no such relief; the storm burst
ever him, and over his capital, without restraint, and
with overwhelming effect. Even Manasseh dethroned
and carried into captivity for his wickedness, was in the
wonderful providence and grace of God liberated r\nd
restored to his government, but no such liberation or re-
storation occurred in the fortunes of Zedekiah. In one
word, other kings of the sacred line had met with calami-
ties and disasters, but these were checked, or limited, or
put aside, while Zedekiah fell from his throne without
help, and without recovery ! In the history of his ances-
tors, the succession, though intei'rupted or darkened for a
time, had still been maintained, but v/itli Zedekiah, the
royal succession ceased and the eorihlij throne of David was
permanently shrouded and overborn ! Besides sufferings
great and unspeakable accompanied this overthrow. You
may well believe that a city besieged for nearly two years,
and taken by storm at last and burnt by its conquerors,
as to its leading and public buildings — you may well be-
lieve, I say, that this city was a scene of much suffering.
To say nothing of the personal experiences of Zedekiah
in the meantime, you can imagine, though but feebly,
what the people endured from famine, from violence, and
from cruelty.

The cruelties suffered by the inhabitants, (it hath been
said,) especially during this last siege, were frightful^

¥\

ZEDEKTAII.

385

the

The Ijaini'iitiitioiiH of Joivmiah pivsciit us with vivid
pictures of tlu'so. Eurai^od by tlioir ivl)('llioii jitid vigour-
ous o])position, Nebuchadnezzar, wlieu he took the city,
" liad no compassion on youn<i; man or maiih^i, old man
or liim that stooped for age." Famine had <k)ne its work
before the conijueror entered ; and chihh-en swooning in
the streets from hunger, princes raking dunghills for a
morsel, and other hideous and affecting sights, showed
the extremities to which the people were driven. When
the Chaldeans rushed through the bieach, the usual
l>rntalities were perpetrated by the licentious soldiery.
Thefani'ished fugitives were pursued with relentless fury.
The Chaldeans were hounded on l)y tlu^ I'Momites and
other neigheours of the Jews, who knew the country
well, and, like blood hounds, tracked to the holes and caves
such as had escaped from the city. Dead bodies lay
piled in heaps upon the streets. Multitudes of these
were mere boys and girls. Princes were hanged by their
hand— enduring the slow horrors of crucifixion. 8omn
seem to have been consigned to subterraneous dungeons
— perhaps on the shores of the dead sea where " water
flowed over their heads."

Never had so terrible a proof been given of Gods hatred
'H -y'lv). " For the sins of her iJrophets, and for the in-
.'[•titles of her priests, that shed the blood of tlu^ just in
the midst of her," the daughter of Zion lay covered in a
very cloud of wrath !"

And all this for the pride and self-will of Zedekiali, as
the imnu'diate and m , • nate cause. Had he listened to
God bv Jeremiah, the evil would have been postpon'.^d, if
not turned aside. How painful the jtosition for him !
To have completed the rebellion of many generations — to
have finished tlio last and crowning nnison for such an
overthrow and to h:i.ve been the immediate occasion of so
mi ch misery to his people! And how undesirable the
disuinc'rion, which links his charactm- and his name with
the hafviesT disaster that had then fallen on the house of
his nvthi r or o-i the subjects oi' his kingdom !

And '..i'- w'A-id had reason to mourn the disaster, (if

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386

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

V i

•*iii

I hi

had l)een enlightened enough,) as well as the people of
Israel. Remember the overthrown temple was the only
temple of the true God on earth, and th<^ city of Jerusa-
lem was the only centre of peace and iiopc for mankind
in all the world. The light of truth, and coming good,
had been kindled, by a gracious God, on the heights of
Mariali and Zion. All the nations besides were in dark-
ness. To extinguish the one light was to injure the
whole of mankind. Evil became thus more oppressive
and more irresistible, while the mear-' of good became
less influential for the recovery, Ox l' . ■uAj) of the bewil-
dered and the wandering sons of men. True, the embers
of the Zion fire of purity and enlightenment were scattered
in the region of the captivity, and were not unuseful in
preparing the world for brighter and better days, but the
central fire and beacon blaze were extinguished. It was
as when a party of travellers are treading their way
through an intricate country amid the darkness of night, and
their one single light is extinguished. The condition of such
is pitiable, as you may well conceive. They must then
grope their way amid unknown dangers, and they can

Y-

find only disaster at last if ;io help or guidance \
nished to them. How grieve«I the party would be i'S .,h-
individual who had extinguished their one light. < r vrh..
was the immediate occasion of its extinction ! x\xiii t\. s
it was with Zedekiah and humanity. He by his oDstn ; 7
and pride, caused the overthrow of the only light-house
of mankind. For seventy following years the darkness
was complete. At the end of that period, tlie liberated
captives from Babylon endeavoured to rekindle the light
on Mount Zion; but they succeeded only very partially, and
for nearly six hundred years from the time of Zedekiah, the
power of truth was all but unknown among men, while
the demons of darkness and defilement revelled in every
region and hurried generation after generation L > the
shades of hopeless woe. 0, if tlie world had luf seen
the matter in the true liglu hov they would biive de-
nounced the folly of Zedekiah, and mounicd his wicked

obstinacy ! But fo; the

of God, (who kindled

? I

ZEDEKIAH.

387

^^7,

again, in a subsequent ago, and on tlic same Mount Zion
the lire of truth and rigliteousness, and that on a tar
granih^r scak^ than heforo) but for the grace of (Jod, I
say, this Avorkl couhl never have recovered the overthrow
of Jerusalem and the l)urning of the one true tempK'. It
must have yiekled itself wholly and hopelessly to
the tyranny and to the cruelty of Satan. Every suc-
ceeding generation nuist have seen the degradation of
mankind increased, and the possibility of recovery made
more and more hopeless. 0, but Zedekiah thought not
how much depended on his decision when called on
by Jeremiah to suljmit to the conqueror ! Had he guessed
the thousandth part of the evil he was al)out to briiig
upon mankind by his refusal to submit, he would certain-
tahdy have been appalled. True, he had not himself
alone brought matters to such a crisis with Jerusalem
and the temple, but he held the balance at the moment
of fate, as it were. He might, by a ditFerent decision, have
saved the sacred city, and the sacred temple for the time
being, at least. He might have broken the fierce deter-
mination of the conqueror, and secured the power of Om-
nipotence for the preservation of his capital and its tem-
ple, hut he would not. He preferred to disobey God, and
to defy and enfuriate ♦^he earthly power which lie could
not resist, and which only wanted his vain aiid foolish
resistance to wreck itself on the sacred city and tenq)le
with which his royalty was associated. Sad and undesir-
able distinction! — to furnish occasion, and tluit by unexcus-
able obstinacy, for an incalculable evil to all the nations
of the earth. Sampson destroyed the idol temple of the
Philistines, to the injury of some thousands of that [)eople,
but Zedekiah, in effect, destroyed the temple of the true
God, to the injury of millions of mankind ! Sampson's
name must have been held as execrable among the people
he so deeply injured, and so Zedckiah's name (if the
world were eidiglitened enough) would certainly be held
in perpetual disesteem by all the populations of subse-
quent times ! And no thanks to him, that Heaven hath
rekindled the light of truth on Mount Zion, his conduct

■ ,.

388

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

I (

I' ' '

i i

(lid notIiiii,£5 to bring that blessing about. On tlie con-
trary, he did all Ik; could to prevent it. In fine, Zedekiali
plunged the world in darkness, and for anything he
could do, or desire to do, it would have been in darkness
even to the present hour ! I should fancy that such dis-
tinction is any thing but desirable !
But notice concerning this Prince : —

///. His unhappy fate.

Tiiat was remarkable and mournful, and as announced
,^t;forehand by the prophets, apparently contradictory.
That apparent contradiction was, that he was to be taken
to l)al)ylon, and yet, that he was not to s(h; Babylon,
Jeremiah said the one and Ezekiel the other. It is ex-
plained, as you well know, or will perceive, l)y the fact of
his blindness — by the fact that Nebuchadnezzar, who
took or sent him to Babylon, deprived him beforehand
of the power of seeing Babylon. His sufferings were both
great and manifold. He suffered as a king ; he suffered
as a father ; and suffered as a man.

1st. He suffered as a king. He was constrained to leave
his throne and his capital, and to seek safety in flight ;
and his flight was both hopeless and useless. He could
not possibly escape the agents of Nebuchadnezzar, aided
by the vigilance and enmity of the surrounding people;
whither could he flee % His enemies were everywhere,
and his friends, if he had any, powerless. There was no
neighbouring people able to protect him even if they had
been so disposed ; and he had no means of supplying his
necessities if he had betaken himself to some hidden and
unknown cavern. He was taken in the plain of Jericho,
and if he had not been taken then, he must have been
taken soon in spite of all disguises, and in spite of all
expedition. The truth is, tJiere was no escape for him.
The very royalty which he had abused and lost necessi-
tated his capture. Nebuchadnezzar was not the man to
allow him either time or advantage. And this of itself
was grievous even though there had been nothing to distress
him. He was dethroned and captured, and carried into

ZEDEKIAIt.

389

the presence of his incensed conqueror. 0, but this was
bitterness to the proud and ri'bellious Zedekiah, who
would gladly have escaped an interview with Nebuchad-
nezzar. ]]ut no, he must meet the stern and haughty
monarch, and bear as best he might, the scorn, the re-
l>roaches, and the l)itter taunts which that monarch was
pi'epared to heap upon him. Already wounded by the
burningof his palace, and tlie loss of all his royal accommo-
dations, and alsor'disappointed and grieved l)y the loss of
his liberty, he must have felt the wrath of the king most
keenly. Nothing more was needed, one would think, to
make him wretched and miserable in the highest degree.
His crown trampled in the dust — his capital overthrown —
and himself a helpless captive, and that in the presence of
one who knew nought, either of pity or of moderation,
he m.ay well excite our compassion as we think of him
standing before his conqueror at Ril)lah. But other,
and even deeper griefs, awaited him, for

2nd. He suffered m a father. His sons were slain
by command of Nebuchadnezzar, and that before his
eyes. An ordinary conqueror, if he wished to exe-
cute his vengeance on the children of a rebellious
vassal, would have spared the agonized parent the
sight of sufferings which he could do nothing to re-
lieve. He would think it punishment enough for
the parent to know that his children had been slain,
without adding to the distress the sight of the ex-
ecution. Not so with Nebuchadnezzar ! His vengeance
and displeasure could not be satisfied with half measures.
His rebellious vassal must be wounded in liis paternal
feelings by the death of his children, and the wound
must be intensified by the execution taking place in his
own presence. Unworthy as Zedekiah was in relation
to God, you cannot conceive him indifferent to the safety
or to the sufferini^s of his children. What then must his
feelings have been when he saw these butchered in their
bloom, and laid lifeless and mangled at his feet ! And
they born to rule too, and brought up in elegance and in
ease ! Any father would have wept at such a sight, but

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390

THE DYNASTY OF DAVIB.

especially a royal fatlier ! Zedekiah had been wont to
see his children treated with honour j but now he must
look upon them in the hands of the ruthless, and see
them treated with indignity, with revolting cruelty, and
with unusual barbarity. Pity for Zedekiah. Had his
sons died as heroes, and been buried with honour, he
would have ijrrieved for their fate ; but to see them slain
in cold l)lood, and treated as dogs ; O, this was terrible
for a fatlier's heart ! No doubt he tli ought of their tender
and hai)py infancy, and bitterly reproached himself for
tlioir unhappy fate, wliile he internally wept because of
it ! Tliis then, might have sufficed surely — himself
dethroned, and captive, and his children slain before his
eyes — but no ; his conqueror must have fnrther vengeance
still.

3rd. lie suffered as a man and in his own person. The
eyes, whicli liad gazed upon the execution and sufferings
of his cliildren, were forcibly put out. He was subjected
to pain of the most excruciating kind, and deprived at
the same time of theprecious capalnlity of vision. Already
driven from his home and de))rived of his children, he
must now be shut out from the visil:>le and beautiful
world. Long accustomed to royal gardens and exquisite
sights, he must now look on loveliness no more. He is
thrust into darkness, and rendered incapable of ever
again revisiting or enjoying the day. It had been humi-
liation enough to his proud spirit simply to have been
led captive in the train of the conqueror ; but 0, to be so
led, childless, sightless, and hopeless, who may imagine
the grief? Or who may imagine the gloom and the
misery of his thoughts and memories, while his busy
brain, driven in upon itself, reviewed or ruminated upon
the past. Jeremiah, we may well believe, occupied no
small space in the dark chamber of his remembrances.
He thought, no doubt of the treatment which the prophet
had received under his government ; of the advice and
assurances which the prophet had given, and of the ter-
rific consequences of disregarding that advice and these
assurances, and his remorse was keen and bitter beyond

''II

IIEZEKIAII.

391

description. His heart was a scene of disorder and
tumult. As he awoke every day to a dark world, ho
woukl grope in vain for anything ftiir or pleasing tu re«t
upon : but nothing of such could he find. His idols
could not help him, and his flatterers were far away from
him ! A good man can fintl comfort even in captivity,
aye, even in blindness ; but an ungodly man, when
reverse hath overtaken him, can find nothing comforting
or satisfactory to rest upon. His heart is like the trouljled
sea ; it cannot rest. How long Zedekiah lived in blind-
ness and captivity, we cannot tell ; he is left by the Iiis-
torian in the obscurity to which his folly reduced him.
He would not listen to God by Jeremiah, and he is cast
away, as it were, into the wilderness or into the lumber-
room, to be forgotten, uncared for and unsung. When a
worthless rag is put aside, no one inquires further about
it ; and such, at best, is the fate of Zedekiah ! Pity,
O pity for Zedekiah ! He shall never return to Jerusalem !
He shall see the sacred land no more.

We have already reminded you of the analogy between
our circumstances and those of Zedekiah. We have a
prophet-teacher as well as he ; and our Prophet- Teacher
is far more exalted than his. See then in his fate the
prospect of those who disregard the divine and Prophet
Guide of these New Testament times ! Zedekiah, because
he would not listen to God by Jeremiah, was driven from
his capital — driven in effect from his domestic comforts
and family endearments (by the destruction of his sons)
— driven again, in effect out of the illuminated world (by
the loss of his eyes), and finally cast into darkness and
forgetfuiness. And it shall ])e so, in like manner, with
the ungodly and unforgiven who refuse the instruction of
Jesus, and in a yet higher and more awful sense. They
shall be driven away in their unbelief; driven away
from their possessions, driven from their family display
and family plans ; driven from the bright world, and
cast into darkness and woe ! Hear the words of the
Saviour Himself : " Whosoever heareth these sayings of
mine and doeth them, I will liken him to a wise man

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392

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

which built his house upon a rock ; and the rain des-
cended and the Hoods came, and tlie winds blew and beat
upon that houso and it tell not, for it was founded upon
a rock. I>ut every one that henrclli IheM' stii/iin/s of nunc
and (loif/i /Iif'iii not, shall Ix; lik(^ne<l unto a loolish man,
wiiicli built his house upon tlu^ sand ; and the I'ain des-
cended, and tlu! floods came and the winds ble.w, ;md
beat 11} on that house, and il fell : and yreat was tin' fall
of it!"

V'es, t/rrd/ inis iJic full oj il ; an<l whither, I should like
to know, shall the ruineil nian llee ! n(^ cannot remain
in his overthrown house — he is cbiven thence;. The
agencies of death have; ])r(n'ailed a.L^ainst him. \\c must
pass into the spiiitual atid the unsecMi : but in what
direction shall be his Hit^ht ! lie has failed to iind
sheltei' with the Itedeemer ; and who else is there to pro-
tect and receive; him '] Like Ztidekiah <lriven from deru-
salenj, hci has no refuiije to whioh to betake himself! And
as foi- escape from tlu; a^^encies of vengeance, the thought
is absurd. All thci laws of the univei'se are against him
as unlxilieving and unforgiven. As surely as that the
agents of Nebuchadnezzar airested the; fugitive Ziidekiah
(and far moi-e surely), the agents of reti'ibution will
arrest the disobedient wduMi once disembodied. Earth
r(;j(;cts them. Heaven disowns them. Every holy planet
and system in thi; wide miiveise bars its portals against
them. There is nothing for tlunn but the gulf of dark-
iiess, and th'; atlinities of their nature will draw them
thither, lleavciu having had no admission into their
affections (they having rejected or disregarded the words
of the great Proph(;t-Teacher), their hearts are hard and
heavy, and incai)able either of floating or ascending and
they necessarily sink to their own unpleasing and awful
place ! And there they shall be forgotten, and left to
their own remorseful memories. Like the captive and
blind Zedekiah in Babylon, their record shall cease. The
historian of the universe will no longer burden the page
of history with their names. Their blasphemies and
bitter execrations, if recorded, would contribute nothing

11^ \\

ZEDEKIAII.

393

to the edification or the comfort of the holy, and tlierefore
the pall of forgetful ness shall he spread for ever over
them. Tliey liave no longer inheritance in the halls of
light and happy cognition, hut pass their weary and
wretclu'd existence in the dariv duniieons of nniniagined
grief Are yon prei)ared to meet such a fate 1 Aw. you
willing to hazard such a condenniatimi 1 Then <lo not
ahuse the mercies of God, nor leave, Zedekiah-like your
privileges unimproved. Do not turn away from llini
that s[)eaketh fi'om Heaven. Do not allow the Saviour-
l*ro})het to connsel yon in vain ! (), do not allow the
chariot of salvation to i)ass by yoii, without your attach-
ing yourself to it, (U" to the throng that fcdlows it. Be
not like Zedekiah, of a jjroud and disobedient tem))er,
bnt ol)ey the: heavenly Piophet, and humhle yourself
under the mighty hand of God, accepting Flis grace and
Mis saving an'ang(!ments in llis Son Jesus, and fearing
the forfeitun^ of all. Remember God, who at sundry
times and in divers manncirs spoke in times past, spake
to the fatluirs by the prophets (to Zedekiah, for example,
by Jeremiah) hath in these last dayss})oken to us l)y His
Son ; and if we prove disobedi(!nt (as Zedekiah), tln^ last
of the merely hnman kings of the House of David did,
we Vy'IU lind, like him, that there is for us, that indeed
there can be for us, ')io escape ! .

QUESTIONS ON ZEDEKIAII.

Wliat privilege did this prince enjoy ?

He was contemporary with Jeremiah, an inspired servant
of God.
How shouki he liave conducted himself in relation to this
servant of Hea^ \
He shovdd have listened to him surely, and conformed
himself to his advice.
Have other princes shewn a desire to enjoy the guidance or
advice of supposed superior beings ?
Yes. In the case of heathen oracles. They sent on special
occasicms, expensive presents and embassies to these

I 1!.

394

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

oraclos. Zedekiah had no need to apply to such oracles,
when the accredited servant of Heaven was ever ready to
point out to him, and that with unambiguous words, the
way of duty or of safety.
Did Zedekiah manifest any disposition to listen to the
prophet ?
Yes. He consulted him privately in the crisis of his
fate.
And why did Zedekiah not guide himself by the advice of the
prophet ?
Because tliat advice was distasteful to himself and to his
ungodly counsellors.
What was his mistaken wish and expectation ?

A deliverance from Nebuchadnezzar, similar to that enjoy-
ed by Hezekiah from Sennacherib.
And why did God withhold such a demonstration in the pre-
sent case ?
Because Zedekiah, his princes, and his people had neither
wish nor intention to walk in the covenant of God. They
wished to enjoy the privileges of Israel without submit-
ting to the laAvs of Israel — a wish which was wholly in-
admissible and unreasonable.
What is the great lesson taught us by his conduct on the
occasion ?
The folly of turning from a divine messenger and rejecting
divinely fixed conditions of safety. Had he (Zedekiah)
but listened to Jeremiah, his life and capital would have
been preserved.
Are we like Zedekiah, in danger, and do we need both advice
and assistance ?
Certainly we are, as moral and accountable creatures. The
agencies of darkness and condemnation are pressing
around us, as the Chaldeans around Jerusalem, and
death may determine for us a sad fate at any moment.
Is there any heavenly prophet to whom we may ajDply for
direction and help in these critical circumstances ?
Yes. A mightier Prophet who is also the propitiation for
the sins of the wolrd, and who is able to direct infallibly,
and to save absolutely all who listen to and trust in
Him.
And what are His directions to the condemned and death-
doomed ?
To cease opposition to God, and to cast themselves on the
divine mercy. It was submission or ruin with Zedekiah.
It is in effect the same with us.

J5EDEKIAIT.

305

And shall we allow pride and disaftoction to ruin ua as they
ruined Zedekiah ?
I trust not. We can see the folly of this son of Josiah in
rejecting the counsel of Jeremiah, and we cannot b\it
determine, if in any degree wise with heavenly wisdom,
that we will not repeat the folly. ** Believe in the Lord
Jesus Christ and thou sh alt be saved."
What was the undesirable distinction of Zedekiah I

His name is forever associated with the overthrow of the
city and teniplo of God,
Had any calamity equal to this in magnitude overtaken the
dynasty of David before the time of Zedekiah i
No. Other kings of this sacred lino had mot with calami-
ties and disasters, but none so great as this. Other
calamities had loft the throne and the temple untouched,
but this obscured the temple and made an end of the
typical royalty of the house of David.
And did the people of Jerusalem suffer when Zedekiah
fell ?
Yes. To a frightful and indescribable extent. " The
daughter of Zion lay covered in a very cloud of wrath "
— and all for the pride of Zedekiah as the proximate
cause.
Had the outlying nations any reason to mourn the downfall
of the temple ?
Certainly. It was the out-putting of the only light of the
world. The nations were indifferent indeed, but it was
because they knew not the importance of the suspended
ritual.
To what were the nations indebted for the re-kindling of the
light of Zion.
To the grace and interposition of God.
What would have been the consequence if Zion had remained
unvisited and unrenewed ?
The reign of Satan and of ' l~ery must have remained un-
broken in all generatioi; :
How must these subsequent generations regard the name of
Zedekiah ?
With unqualified disesteem. He plunged the world in
darkness, and for any thing he could do or desire to do,
it would be in darkness even to the present moment.
What was the experience of Zedekiah on the taking of Jeru-
salem by Nebuchadnezzar ?
Mournfvd and sad.

iUi

il'llii

390

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

"What was the apparent contradiction of Jeremiah and Ezokiol
in relation to him and Habylon ?
Tlio one said ho woukl be carried to IJahylon, while the
otlier said lie wonld never see tl ' "ty.
How were these prophecies fnltilled

By haviii*,' his eyc^s put out before coming; to Fiabyloii, so
that thoU!j;h in it he could not see it.
How did this unj^odly jtriiice uufFeras a kiii<,' ?
J>y the lo.ss of his crown, and by his humiliation in lln-
presence of his auLcry conijueror.
flow did he suU'er as a father i
iJy being constrained to see his children slain in his pre
sence.
How did ho suffer as a man ?

Hy having his eyes put out and himself thus thrust into
permanent darkness.
And what of his subsoipient life ?
There is no report concerning it, he was unworthy of further
notice.
All tliis evil luai)pened to him bccauao
(»od by .Jeremiah. How then i
those who persistently turn aw.-^
nient and divine Prophet /
Tlu^y shall bo driven away in their unbelief. Thoy shall be
driven from their family-displays and sordid pursuits.
Tliey shall be driven fronx the bright world and cast into
darkness and woe.
And what of their history in that dark world ?

It will probably be uni'ocorded. It were not meet to bnrden
the page of history with their story. Their blasphemies
and bitter execrations would contribute nothing to good,
and therefore the pall of forgetfulnoss may 1)0 thrown
over them.
Are you jireparod to incur s\ich a fate ?

I sliouh'. suppose not. Then you mnst renounce pride and
yield yourselves to the guidance and mediation of the
heavenly Pn^phet and Saviour. See in Zedekiah a ty])e
of the tori'itic fate of those who act otherwise.

would not listen to

you will it be with

jo\u the Now Testa-

ro-

XIX. IMMANUl'L-Jl'SUS.

^l^ And, Id'liold, thoii Hhiilt poiu-i'ivt! in tliy winil), junl luins'
^, "forth a son, and sliiilt c'.-ill liis nanu- .rtstiH. And lie slmll rci^'n
^^ over tlu' lionsi- of .iacoli for over; and of his kingdom tlioie
Hhall bo no t-nd. J^nke i. .'U-."{3.

|E li;ive rocontly tiiniod your attention to tlui

kiii,i;S()t' the dynasty of David in snccessioii.

Of Zedekiali, tlie last of tlie jturely earthly

meuihers of the dynasty, we spoke reeently.

AVe mij^ht now leave them, but we thiid< that the

list will not be complete without a notice of liim

who is the glory and the end of tin; dynasty. Wo

have had frequent occasion to refer to llini in our

.. remarks on the. successive kings, but we would now

ask your attention more fully and exclusively to Him.

And wo shall remind you, as guich'd by these verses

from Luke, of IJis characteristics, of His subjects,

and of the perpetuity of His kingdom.

I. His characteristics.

The first of these is His name. That was determiiu'd
in Heaven, and was meant to be significant. It is often
a matter of perplexity with parents to nanu! a child, and
it would bo still more so, if they had to find a name
descriptive of the child's future career or distinguishing
character. This difficulty was obviated in theca-eof the
wonderful Jjarty before us. The angel announcing His
birth said, "thou shalt call His nunm J esns :" And as
reported by Matthew it is added, "for He sludl save His
people from their sins."

And I need only remind you that He justifies His

\;* 1

398

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

tijiii

Miili

!'Ii

I! I'

name. He docs save his true disciples from their sins.
He hatli saved myriads, and He still conducts His sav-
ing operations among men. All the ki'igs of the dynasty
to which he belongs had significant names, as you know,
but many of them failed to be, or to do, what their names
indicated. Mot so did this most interesting of David's
sons. He is indeed a Saviora", as many a ransomed one
in heaven can tell, as well as many a humble and grate-
ful one on earth. Would that every one of us might
know, in his own experience, the power of Jesus to save,
and the preciousness of the salvation which He secures !
We seem familiar with the expression, *' He shall save
His people from their sins," but we often attach compara-
tively small importance to the statement. This however
is our mistake. Sin is a malady affecting the soul, and f;ir
more intractable than any disease that can affect or
afflict the body. It poisons all the springs of thought
and volition, and all the outHowings of affection. No
human skill can arrest or rectify it. Only He; who made
the being can effectually deal with it. Aiid even He
must deal with it in a way of skill and complicated ar-
rangement. It requires special preparations to allay the
fever which sin produces, and preparations which only
God can make. And it requires special influences to
apply the remedy provided, and expel the su1)tle poison
from the system of the patient altogether. The truth is,
to achieve a perfect cure from this disease of sin, in a
single instance, is one of the greatest and most gladden-
ing wonders in the history of intelligence. How great
then the slcill of the Saviour-Physician who secures the
result in millions of cases ! The light of eternity alone will
enable us to judge worthily of this matter, David though
honoured to free the sacred territory of intruders, still
left the people under the power of this disease of sin; and
Solomon, though honoured to build the temple, still did
nothing effective in th*^ way of subduing or removing the
malady of sin from his subjects; and Hezekiah, though
honoured as an intercessor for the unprepared who kept
the passover, still left sin unsubdued in Israel; and Josiah,

heir sins.
) His s;iv-
\i dynasty
oil know,
eir names
f David's
)med one
tid grate-
US might
> to save,
secures !
hall save
compara-
however
1, and for
effect or
thought
on. No
10 made
:n-en He
ated ar-
llay the
ich only
nces to
3 poison
-ruth is,
lin, in a
ladden-
w great
ires the
>ne will
thouuh
rs, still
in ; and
till did
ing the
though
o kei)t
Tosiah,

IMiMANUEL— JESUS.

399

though distinguished for his zeal and passover ohservancc
still h.'ft the ftxtal disease rankling in the national mind ;
but Jesus, more penetrating in thought, and more
thorough-going in purpose, and more ample in resources
than any of His predecessors in the sacred dynasty, effect-
ually saves his people from their sins. He saves them
from the power of sin, and from the defilement of sin, and
from the eternal condemnation and consequences of sin.
The achievement is wonderful, and wholly beyond the
sphere of liuinan action and human accomplishment. Ho
who truly bears the name of " the Saviour from sin," is
something more than a mere human physician, and must
be entitled to universal consideration and attention on
the part of men ! And this. His claims on attention
more distinctly appears when you think of His second
characteristic, as announced by the angel : — and that is,
His (jnatiiess.

" He shall he nrcaf,^' says that heavenly messenger.
And who may declare, or who may imagine His greatness,
or the thousandth part of it ? He h great, as we have
just seen, as a Physician and Saviour. He achieves a
work which nothing short of divine power can accom-
plish. He is great too, as compared with all the other
kings of the dynasty to which He belongs. David, with
all his distinctions, is but a small forth-showing of the
transcendent excellences of Jesus ; Solomon wi^L all his
glory, as compared with Jesus, is lost in the blaze of a
finer and more magnificent effulgence ; a greater than
Solomon is here. And all the subsequent kings of the
dynasty but prepare the way for the manifestation of Jesus.
It was indeed with a view to the coming of Jesus that
the dynasty of David was set up ; and Jesus fulfils all
its purposes, and gives meaning and beauty to all its
peculiarities. He is, by way of eminence, the son of
David ; nay. He is more truly David than David him-
self — seeing that He is tiie beloved in the presence of the
great Unseen (/>(mc^, you know, means the beloved) in a far
higher sense and in a tar purer and more perfect sense,
than even David was, or ever could be ! He is also great,

Uii

i '

t ■

''•■

400

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

as compared with all that is i^roat in hiiinaii history.
Emperors, and conquerors, and legislators, all dwindle
into insignificance before Him. His advent was tlu? cen-
tre and the fulness of time — shedding light retrospectivyon
all that went before, and pouring light divine and beauti-
fying through all the age'? that follow after ! Nay, He is
great compared Avith tl, iiierarchies of heaven. He is
even now set down on the right hand of the Majesty on
high — far above all principalities, and powers — His name
is above every name — and His authority is supreme.
All power in heaven and on earth hath been committed to
to Him, and for good reason. " The Father loveth the
Son, and hath given (dl thin<js into His hands." And
His greatness will yet eifulge on all humanity when He
comes in the glory of His Father, and of the holy angels,
to judge mankind, and to determine the eternal destiny
of all. 0, how great the greatness, and how unrivalled
the greatness, of Him, who, through all time, is ever
supreme, and ever the same, and of whom it is said, that
the very angels of heaven are the ministering spirits ot
His gracious government !

But the third characteristic of this wonderful one is
His double Sonsliip. That is distinctly set forth in the
announcement of the angels. " He shall be called," said
that heavenly messenger, " the son of the Highest, i.e.,
He shall be known to be the son of the Highest," and
then, the angel adds, " the Lord God shall give unto Him
the thi'one of His Father David. Mark, He is the son
of the Highest and also the son of David ) or in the
language of Paul, at the l>eginning of Eomans, " He was
made of the seed of David, according to the flesh, and de-
clared to be the Son of Hod according to the spirit of
holiness, by His resurrection from the dead."

Here, then, we have a characteristic in Jesus that is
wholly unique, and wonderful beyond thought. There
is nothing like it in any other member of the dynasty
to which he belongs. There is nothing like it indeed in
all human liistoiy. True, His disciples receive from Him
power to become the sons of God, and they therefore

.- 1

IMMANUEL— JESUS.

401

may be said to have a doul)lc sonsliip as well as Ho, —
they are at once the children of men and the children of
God. But their sonship in the divine laniily is very dif-
ferent from His, as you may well bclievt'. ''He is the
only begotten of the father." Their sun«hip is by adop-
tion ; His is by right ! Their sonship is acquired by
connection with liini ; His is eternal and iiidei)endent of
them ! Their sonship is the distinction of many ; His
the distinction of himself alone !

In this we have a mystery that is beyond all .su.'itiou.
It is in vain that men attempt an ex})lauation of it And
it were wise in us to accept it as a gloriinis ti'uth,
though wholly inexplicable and irresohable. Only the
Father knoweth the Hon truly and .ideipuitely and in
all the mystery of his mediatorial i»ei.son. C'dy tiie
Father knows Him, if 1 may sjteak so, i"r*;iu the
diviiu! side, and He nnist be kmtwn fi'oiu the divine
side to l»e known fully. J\Ien know Him fi'om tlie
human side, but the human side i.s unfitted I'or acomph-lc
revelation of His glory. The divine light i.s tliere, and
the divine lii-ht shines thi'ough the human, and the divines
liijht glorifies and transtiiiures the luiman, but still the
manifestation is limited, and walled in, as it were, by the
limits that a})pertain to the human. The truth is, the
manifestation was ai'ranged in this way, to suit tlu; limited
faculties of men. The unclouded and unbounded foith-
bursting of luminous deity had been unsuited by its
splendimr, and even destructi\e by its intensity to our
faculties and capabilities. We have reason therefore to
be glad and grateful for the very mystery in the person
of Jesus which challengers our wonder and curiosity.
An<l the more so when we remember that this double
sonship, which we cannot understand, (its Him for the
mighty work and government wiiich He has undertaken.
Hut for His human descent, He could m)t have saved His
l)eo})le from their sin.s. (It was in His human nature
thatHenmst l)ear in their room and stead the penalty of
the broken law.) And but for His divine sonship. His
Bubstitutionary death had been of no avail. His divine

•ftf

Ir'

\ 1

Jil

l;!"

ittiil

402

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

nature was, as it were, the altar which sanctified, ennobled,
and rendered available the offering. His humanity
again, is the point of knowledge and concentration for
the ransomed, while His divine power enables Him to
make good all that they desire and expect from Him as a
Saviour. But for His humanity we could not have
known God, nor have been reconciled to God, and but for
His divinity, we could never have been brought again
into character harmony with the Holy one.

Here then we see meaning in His double son ship, if
we cannot explain it ; and we may well leave the mystery
unexplained, if only we may realize the salvation in-
tended. O, but we may rejoice, and that daily, in the
combined divinity and humanity which secures such a
salvation, though we are wholly unable to understand
how the divine can inhere in the human, or how tlie hu-
man can fitly work the works of the divine ! Enough
that this union of natures enables Him to save His
people from their sins, and amply explains His unequalled
greatness.

But a fourth characteristic of this wonderful prince of
the dynasty of David is : —

The manner of his enthronenunt. This is announ'^ed by
the angel thus : The Lord God shall give unto H im the
throne of his father David. It was not by force of arms
you perceive, nor yet by ambition on His part, nor yet
by what the world calls happy accident, or a fortunate
combination of circumstances, that he mounted the tlironc,
but by the determination and interposition of the su-
preme authority in the universe. As Solomon in his day
was placed upon the throne of David by anterior and un-
recognized authority, so Jesus was in due time placed
upon the same throne of David by anterior and supreme
authority. There was no want of opposition to tlie en-
thronement of Jesus, as in the case of Solomon, but the
opposition was vain and poweiless. Spite of it all the
Lord God hath set His Son, who is also the son of L>avid,
on His holy hill Zion !

And there was every propriety in this elevation. It

lij

I]MM ANUEL— JiiSUS.

403

ennobled,
humanity
ration for
s Him to
Him as a
not have
id but for
jht again

Dnship, if
s mystery
ation in-
ly, in the
s such a
derstand
\^ tlie hu-
Enough
save His
lequalled

)rince of

n?ed by
Jim tlie
of arms
nor yet
)rtunate
tlirone,
the su-
liis day
!ind un-
placed
npreme
the en-
jut the
all the
David,

was the right of Jesus hij descent. True, the family of
David had fallen into poverty and obscurity, but this
destroyed not the right of that family to royalty when
the Lord God saw meet to reinstate it in the i)erson of
any one of its meml)ei's. And then, it was the right of
Jesus hy merit. For He so subserved the pur])oses of the
divine government by self-sacrifice and magnanimous
service, that the Lord God saw meet to restore in Him
the fidlen throne of his father David : and further, it
was proper that Jesus should l)e so exalted, becausi^ of
His combined competency and willingness to accomplish
the purposes for which the throne of His great ancestor
was set up. Why did God choose David, and take him
from the shepherd's fold 1 Was it not to feed Jacob,
His people, aiul Israel, His inheritance ? Was it not to
lead them in the pastures of heaven, and to strengthen
their attachment to the Holy ? Was it not to guanl them
against the inroads of error and unrighteousness, and to
keep them near to the temple of truth and divine inter-
course ? And who so fit for this service as He, wlio being
the son of David, and also the Son of God, is the good
shepherd — the righteous one — and the zeal-consumed
servant of the divine government ? It was right then,
that the Lord God should give unto Jesus the throne of
His father David, and we can see that it was so. God's
ways are not unfrequently inscrutable to us, and wholly
inexplicable, but the enlightened cannot but understand
and approve of His counsel and His gift, when lie gives
unto Jesus the throne of His father I)avid !

One other remark we think it desirable to add as
characteristic of this great son of David, altliough there
is no foundation for it in our text, and that is as to the
seat of His (jorcriimcnt. He is set indeed on tlu' holy hill
Zion, but it is in the heavenly form, or devclopniei.t of
that hill. The earthly Mount Zion were unsuited at
once to the spiritual nature of His rule, and to the in
tended extent of His kingdom. It was nei'dful that Hi;
should occupy a more commanding position than any
earthly centre could furnish ; and tlierefor(i, the Lord

i^tl:

404

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

God liatli sot ITim at His own right liaiid, fai- a1)()Vo all
principality, and i)Ow»^r, and might, and dominion, and
given Him a name al)ovo every name. Tliough wearing
the form of luimanity. He is not (on His throne in the
the lieavens,) subject to the decay and vicissitudes of
liuman tilings. Kings on earth die, an*! give place to
their ;nccessors, and empires lise and fall among men,
but King Jesus dieth no more — death hath no more
dominion over Him. His empire is as lasting as time,
and it is all-controlling as well. He is made head over
all things to His church, and " He is the same yesterday,
to-day and forever !" The change of capital of the Roman
empire under Constantine, from Rome to Constantinoi)le,
was a step toward the downfall of the empire itself ; but
the ch.anges of capital on the part of Jesus, from the earthly
Jerusalem to the heaveidy, was but apart of an extended
plan, nouiered necessary by theamph? operations contem-
plated, aiid it will certainly prove conducive in the end
to the c'stablishment and success of tlu; mediatorial and
restorati 7e kingdom of the house and dynasty of David in
all the eaith !

See then, in brief the characteristics of Tmmainiel
Jesus, IJis iKiinc is si(f)iijicinif—an>l He makes (jood its si(/ni-
fu'.anrc.. — His greatness is unrivalhul — His desciMit is
gloriously mysterious — His enthronemcMit is honoui-able
— and the seat of His government is heaverdy — all un-
touched by decay, and all unhanii)ered by the limitations
of earthly rule !

Now is it possible that we, or that any people made
acquainted with the facts,can be inattentive or indifl'enuit,
to such a potentate ? Why, even though we had no per-
sonal interest in ]Iim at all. He is supremely woithy of
attention — and tJiat on the part of all nations,and through
all time. There is no one to compare with Him among
th(^ kings of the earth as avc have already observed.
Theie is no one to apiu'oach as to dignity ami glory
— no not by thousands of degrees! And then, His is
just as suitable to our circumstances, and as necessary to
our safety and happiness, as He is transcendent and un-

IMMANUEL — .lESUS.

405

nl)()vo all
iiion, and
li wearing
)ne in tlie
situdes of
e place to
long men,

no more
I as time,
lead over
esterday,
e Roman
ntinoplo,
self; but
e earthly
:ixtende(l

contem-

the end
)rial and
L)avid in

nnianncl

>ceiit is
ioni';d)le
-all nn-
litations

e made
ifferent,
no pei'-
iithy of
lirongli
among

sei-ved.
1 glory

His is

sary to
nd un-

rivalled in Himself ! Are we not oppressed by sin \
And is it not He, and He alone wlio saves from sin 1 Ai'e
we not formed to admire greatness, and to liav(? pleasure
in admiring it] And where will you find greatness like
the greatness of Him whose name is above every name ?
Are we not formed to wonder in the presence of the
gloriously inexplical)le 1 And where will you find mys-
tery more glorious, or more inexplicable than the double
sonship of Immamiel Jesus ? Have we not been gifted
too with moral sensil)ilities — enabling us to rejoice in the
honours of the meritorious and self-sacrificing '\ Ami
where will you find merit and self-sacrifice like that of
Jesus, or rewards more exalted or more inconceivable
than His 1 And further, are we not formt;d for the
Immortal ? Are we not restive under the limitations
of tliis earthly and decaying life % And is not the
throne of this King heaveidy ? And is He not prepar-
ing His true subjects for an inheritance that is incorrup-
tible and unfading '? O, where will you not find a king
or a friend like Immanuel Jesus 1 And will any of you
be so untrue to the necessities and the inten^sts of his
being as to withhold his attention from this divine
Saviour, or willingly remain outside His kingdom and
unanimated by the hope of His subjects '\
Uut this leads me to notice : —

//. His subjects.

These arc briefly described in our text as " tlu; house
(or household) of Jacob." IJut this ex[)ression we know
does not mean merely the natural descendants of Jacob.
If it did so, then the subjects of Immanuel Jesus, would
be simply the Jews, and all of that nation of course.
But what says Paul concerning this matter? Why this,
"that they are not all Israel which are of Israel." And
again " they Avhicli are the children of the fiesh, these arc
not the children of God, but the children of the promise
are counted for the seed." And as, on the one hand, thej
aye not all of Jacob who belong to the tribe of Jacob, so

iOG

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

I' ' '

neither on the other hand, are they all excluilecl from this
honour who are sprung of another lineage. To the
Gentiles of Ephesus, Paul writes : " Now, ye are no more
strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the
saints, and of the household of God." Eemember " the
house of Jacob," and " the household of God " are con-
vertible terms, and the privilege of belonging to this as-
sociation is as open to the Gentiles as it is to the Jews.
In other words, the circumcised in heart may belong to
any people. And so of faith, Abraham is the father of all
them that believe, whether they be Jews or Gentiles. In
one word, the spirit of love, which is the spirit of God,
is confined to no nationality ; and the house of Jacob is
co-extensive with the reign of love among man. More
particularly, Jacob was a child or son of God ; and all of
like characteristics with him, as such, belonged to his
sacred and God-loved, and God-animated house. And
these constitute the subjects of that special kingdom over
which the Immanuel son of David reigns. " He shall
reign over the house of Jacob for ever !"

Now, by paying attention to the characteristics of Jacob,
as a son and servant of God, we shall learn to know who
they are that belong to his house, or household. You
are familiar with his story, and you will readily recognize
the following traits in his character, or facts in his his-
tory :-

First. He was loved and chosen of God : " Jacob have
I loved, and Esau have I hated."

Secondly. He set store by the hirth-riyht, that is, by
the right and privilege of transmitting the promises of
God to coming ages. He seized the first opportunity of
obtaining the relinquishment of it from Esau in his own
favour. We do not say he acted generously in this ; but
wc see, in the transaction, at once his desire for the dis-
tinction, and Esau's indifference to it, or slight estimation
of it.

Thirdly. He humbly and gratefully accepted the divine
covenant at Bethel. When God declared His gracious
purposes concerning him and his, he devoutly devoted

IMMANUEL — JESUS.

407

from this
To the
no more
ntli the
Jer " the
are con-
this as-
le Jews.
>eIong to
ler of all
'iles. In
of God,
^acob is
More
id all of
to his
• And
)m over
ie shall

■ Jacob,
)w who
. You
cognize
liis his-

b have

is, by
ises of
lity of
s own
i; but
le dis-
lation

livine
icious
voted

himself to the service of God, and consecrated a tenth of
his increase to the divine service.

Fourthly. He was a man of earnest prayer. Sec how
he agonized and wrestled with the Divine through the
night at Penuel, when in danger from the approach of
Esau. Then, his hope was in the great and coming
Shiloh-centre for the nations. You remember his lan-
guage concerning Judah on his death bed : " The sceptre
shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between
his feet until Shiloh come, and unto him shall the gather-
ing of the people be !" And to crown all, he died in the
faith of the promised inhtsritance — taking an oath from
Joseph in his last hours, that he would bury him in the
sacred territory.

Such were the characteristics of Jacob, and such
are the characteristic^ of all the true members of
Jacob's house. The association with which Jacob's
name is so strikingly linked is not heterogeneous,
you will observe, but homogeneous. The same spirit
and the same sentiments belong to them all. They
breathe, if I may so say it, a common atmosphere ;
nay, like the sons of Adam among themselves, they have
common features — modified indeed as to proportion, and
ranging pretty widely from each other in particular cases,
but all radically and essentially alike ; and by that like-
ness they may all be knovvn, to tiie enlightened an<l iu-
terested, as belonging to the house of Jacob, and to the
kingdom of Immanuel Jesus. '< For He shall rule over
the house of Jacol) tor ever." Let us think for a moment
of these characteristics • as found among the members of
Christ's kingdom.

First. The subjects of Immanuel Jems are all loved of
God. They have all ])een chosen in their glorious king
from before the foundation of the world, with a view to
their being holy, and without blame before God in lovci.
They have all been predestinated to the adoption of
children by Jesus Christ unto the Father himself, according
to the good pleasure of His will. They are all elect, accord-
ng to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through

I I!

I'T ni :

ii 1

■ i

tOS

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

sanctificatiou ot'tlu' spirit, unto obedience and spriidtling
of the l)lood of Jesus Christ. As with Jacol), so with all
who are of his house — they are loved cd" (lod, and chosen
by God to their iiietl'ahle t'elicity an<l very great honour.
1 am aware tiiat the un.sulxlued heait of humanity objects
to this as unjust in relation to tlie luichosen, and ininucal
to the interests (jf morality in the Church ; but this is
their mistake. I cannot explain the matter to the satis-
faction of objectors, and it is noticeable that Paul himself,
in the ninth chapter of Romans, does not attempt to ex-
plain it. The ditKculty is founded on the divine sover-
eignty, and must l)e acceded to in the meantime without
explanation. God Himself affirms it by His servant, and
remonstrates with the objector thus : — Nay, but, man,
who art thou that repliest against God !" There then,
the matter must rest, but with this observation : — The
divine election is known only to God Himself, until the
appearance of the other characteristics of the Jacob house-
hold in the heart and history of any given individual
reveals it. The election, therefore, cannot be a ground
of action or of non-action, in the first instance, but only a
fact for subsequent and grateful recognition on the part
of the believing. The other characteristics of the house
of Jacob are more within the range of human recognition
and observation. Let us notice them then and com-
mence the enumeration from this point.

First. The suhjcds of Inimamid Jesus are all desirous of
the birthrifjht in relation to a brighter life. They are not,
like Esau, chieiiy concerned about present gratification.
They are not willing to sell the future for a mess of pot-
tage as he did. And they are not willing, like him, to
cast in their lot wdtli the ungodly and the idolatrous
world around them. They have heard of brighter things,
an<l they yearn after these brighter things ! They are
willing to sacrifice the little and defiling present for the
glorious and undefiled future, Like Jacob, they prefer
the prospects which God hath opened up to humanity to
all the pottage and privileges of earth. While the ungodly
are indilfereut to the divine announcements and purposes

IMMANUEL — .TESUH.

400

the men of tlu' house of Jacob dwell apart, and ruminate
n])()n iliese announcements and pui'i^ises. While the un-
t;odly, Esau-like, have no .scru[)le in .sacrificing' theii' hea-
venly prospects to their ear'thly gratitication, the suhji-cts
of Immainiel Jesus, Jacob-like, readily sacrifice their
■earthly gratification to their heavenly prospects. By this
alone you may very well know who are the s\il)jects of
the great king ; and whether you yourselves are so : But
further

Secondly. The subjects of Iiaiaaniid Jesus williiKjli/ and
;/r(d('fulli/ accept the covenant of (j race in Christ Jesus, as pro-
posed in the sacred volume. What the vision of Bethel
was to the birth-right loving Jacob, that the coiniuunica-
tions of the New Testament are to the heaven-preparing
souls of our own time. Reading and ai)prt!liending the
truth — the salvation-(lesiring are filled with wonder and
with awe. For a time the condescension, and provisions,
and promises of God may seem to such like a dream, but
ere long they are seen to be all reality ; and the awe-
stricken and the awe-filled soul rises, as it were, exclaim-
ing, " this, this indeed is the house of God — this is the
gate of heaven !" Forthwith the entranced one raises,
if I may say so, a stone of remembrance, and, pouring
forth the oil of its grateful worship thereon, it responds
to the gracious Eternal, saying, " since God will be my
God, in Christ I will be His servant, and I hereby dedi-
cate myself and my possessions — whatever He in
His love and wisdom gives to His honour and service."
Then having thus accepted and entered into the covenant
of heavenly grace the believer iroes on his way rejoicing.
But

Thirdly. TJie sidyccts (f Iinmanuel Jesus are all men of
Prayer. Their safety and their peace is with Him into
whose covenant they have entered, and they seek Him
daily for supplies or encouragements as tlu!y need. In special
duties they seek special aid : and when appalling dangers
threaten, they seek shelter or deliverance, as the case may
require, from Him who hath revealed Himself to them,
and enabled them to accept of His friendship. Jacob's

410

THE DYNASTY OK DAVID.

!'. >

fl!

4 f ,

wrestling with tho angel of the Lord at Penucl is but tho
typo of the haliit of the men of his houses Tiiey arc all
of them men of prayer. They pray daily ; they pray
in all languages ; they pray in all circumstances ; they
pray in the ppirit ; they pray for themselves each of
them ; and tl.ey pray for the church ; and they pray
for the world, and for the fulfilment of the divine purj)o.ses
in relation to it, the world. They are clearly distinguish-
ed l)y tliis habit from the ungodly and sense-wrap})ed
world. They cannot but pray, ami they seek fellowship
and sympathy with the unseen by means of the exercise,
while the unilluminated and unquickened around them
cannot rise to such exercises and such intercourse. Of this
jiabit of theirs it hath been said : — " All good men from
the beginning of time have practised it. Not one of them
now in a better world but did. On every spot where
there has ever been a good man, there has been prayer.
With all good uKiu it has been the primary expedient in
seeking to be happy. It has been the grand recourse in
seeking truth — in performing duty — in resisting tempta-
tion — in bearing atllictions — in preparing to meet death.
What a delightful and solemn, and magnificent vision,
back in thought, is that of all who ever ptayed habit-
ually on earth ! "

And these are the subjects of Immanuel Jesus. It is
through Him that they have the spirit of prayer ; and it
is because of His mediation that their prayers are heard
and answered. They are of the house of Jacob, (who was
a prince in prayer,) because of tins h ' •* ainl they are
known to be the subjects of Tm^ anuel (wlio is the sole
centre and medium of acci ^i layer) b- means of the

same habit. But

Fourthly. The subjects (;, Tmma ml Jesus all gather
around Him as the Shiloh-centn of t ■ nations. He is, with
them, the worthy Ruler of the nations, and the adeq'^ato
centre of union and authority. Human-built thrones may
serve local and temporary purposes, but Jesus, they know,
is a divine king, and able to meet the requirements of a
vmiversal dominion. The pray erful rejoice in His compet-

IMMANUKIi— JESUS.

411

cncy, and are happy to know and to oboy tlio laws of
His kingdom. Wiiilo thn unbelieving and the self-seek-
ing are running in every direction — seeking eacli some
U!isatisfying oi* injurious vanity, tiie j)rayerful men of tho
house of Jacob crowd the ))anners of Messiah — wait the
evolutions of His providence — glory in His yokeof meek-
ness and patience — and look rejoicingly forward to His
second coming. Meantime, they willingly lend themselves
to His purposes, so far as they have ability or opportunity
to serve them. 0, but they congrnt' l-ite themselves con-
tinually, to have found, in finding Him, the true and
blissful centre of excellence, and they account all things
but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Him.
And

Finally. The subjects of Immanucl Jesus live and die in
the hope of a heavenly inheritance. They have been begotten
tothis hope by the resurrection of their Lord from the dead,
and by His ascension to heaven, and His enthronement
there. The seat of His government is on high, as we
have seen, and they hope to join Him in that blissful
region. He is set down at the right hand of the divine
majesty, and their life is hid with Him in God. Jacob
thought much of the earthly and typical inheritaiice. ntvl
gave orders that his bones should repose there with those
of his honoured ancestors ; but the prospects of his house
have been enlarged and exalted since then, and the m(;m-
bers of it look for a higher inheritance — an inheritance)
no longer typical, but heavenly — no longer corruptible,
but incorruptible — no longer decaying or alienable, but
undecaying and inalienable ! They hope that, when
their Lord and king re-appears, they will appear with
Him in glory : — They hope that, instead of causing their
bones to be carried to the heavenly Canaan, He will
change their vile bodies, and fashion them like to His
own glorious body, and introduce them, in their renovat-
ed and com])leted being, into the companionship of the
living and immortal. Jacob in dying, would sleep with
Abraham and Isaac in Machpelah, but the men of his
bouse uow, wheu summoi^ed fyom earth, think chiefly of

!| ? {

' • i!^

i'i!

1
I 1

• i

; i

■if!

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

joining Abraluam and Isaac, and all tlie believing and
prayerful ones, in the golden city !

Such, then, is the house of Jacob over which Inimanuel
Jesus reigns. Its members arc all loved of God — all
desirous of the heavenly birthright — all willing and glad
to embrace the divine covenant of grace — all prayerful —
all Shiloh-centred — and all hopeful in relation to the
heavenly inheritance ! And you ought to notice, that
the first peculiarity, viz, tliat they are all like Jacob,
loved of God, though i)ro])erly placed first iis road from
heaven, ought to be placed last as read from earth. No
man can know his election of God, but by his faith,
pray(!rfulness, and conformity to his Shiloh king. And
no man has a right to make the hidden counsels of God
the ground of his action as we have already observed. No
man, indeed, hath the power of doing so ; and where
there is no power there can be no right. And no man
has a right to (piarrel with God's decisions ! God does
injustice to nojie, and He may surely be allowed to
show mercy where He will. If He exercises sovereignty
in relation to men, it is ever on the side of mercy — never
on that of injustice. If He depart in the case of some from
the strict line of retribution, it is not to inflict unmerited
Avrong, but to confer unmerited kindness ; and even this
He does not do, without making ade(puite reparation to
the law whose sentence has been in so far cancelled !
Leaving, then, the first characteiistic of the house of
Jacob to be taken up and recogiized at a subsequent
stage, see that you examine yourselves as to the (jther
five, if indeed you wish to be subjects of the Immanuel
king ! And see that you exercise yourselves on these five
yet more and more, if you would be prei)ared for the con-
sumations of His kingdom : That is to say, set your heart
on the bidliriijlit for immortality. Endjrace the New
Testament covenant of (j race — abound in jjrai/er — gather to
the heavenli/ centre of the nations (that is to Messiah Jesus),
and cherish the hope oj ///s heacenlij kingdom. If exercised
thus, it matters not what be your earthly nationality,
you belong to the house of Jacob, and therefore to the

TMMANtTFX — JESUS.

413

kingdom of Immaniicl. Tlien, ])olong to that kingdom
you have friends and brethren in all regions of the earth.
And you will yet be gathered witli all the prayerful and
believing from all generations into the heavenly kingdom
of your prince !

But this leads me to notice concernint; this :

///. The perpetaltfi of His kingdom.

"And of His kingdom," it is said in our text, " tiiere
shall be no end." Earthly kingdoms grow and decay, but
the kingdom of Immanuel Jesus knows no decay. Tiie
mightiest empires known in history seldom e.vceed one
thousand or twelve hundred years in duration ; and
many of these never reach tliat term. The causes of tlieir
decay grow with their growth, and iUH;essitate their down-
fall. Pride, luxury, oppression, and immorality ever go
hand in hand with earthly greatness, and these l)eing in
opei-ation in any community render permanence in its
])OAver or in its glory, wluilly impossible, jjesidcs, no
earthly community can secure a snccessioii of al)le lulers,
so that what is gained in oiu^ reign is very often lost in an-
other. Furl her, no eai'thly em])ire can be secured against
the uitspi'inging of a rival kingdom— mor* j„)werfid than
itself, and in this event its ]>ivstige, and its ]»()wer nuist
be lost and overthrown. No such contingency, howevei",
(!an ari.se in relation to rmmanuel's kingdom. Himself
wields the sceptre through all generations, and He cannot
be restricted by the exeicis(! of power. N(»thing ean be
lo.st by theincundtency of a weakei' prince on Ilisthione ;
for He never vacates it, nor tiansmits it to aiu)ther. And
no rival kingdom can arise to disj)nt(i with Him in His
dominion — .seeding He is made; luvid overall things to His
chui-ch. An*' no pride or oppression, or imnuuidity is or
can be tolerated am< ug His sul))ects, so tjiat there can
arise no cau.S(M)f disunion or disiuption in this kingchun.
All the elements of dislocation or nivolution are tluis ex-
cluded froin it, ami only harmony and stabibty can be
the result. Demagogues and agitators, if it were po.ssible
that any sucli should arise in this kingdom, (which it is

i ili

iil'

' 1 i

Uiii

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

not) would have no grievance to work upon, and no plau-
sible excuse for change. Besides, the throne is the throne
of the immutable — the throne of the divine, and even the
gates of the grave,which prevail against everything human,
cannot prevail against it. Already this kingdom hath
lasted twenty centuries (to say nothing of its preliminary
existence even from the beginning). And it hath about
it no symptom of decay at the present hour. It is even
now sounding its trumpets and sending forth its agents
for further conquest. It hath mighty interests and enmi-
ties to contend with, but it knows neither trepidation nor
doubt. Its prince hath all power in heaven and on earth,
and its subjects have all confidence in the faithfulness and
purposes of their chief He is the light of the world,
and in Him it is, that all the nations of the earth are yet
to be blessed. '' All the ends of the world, says the in-
spired psalmist shall remember and turn unto Him — and
all the kindreds of the nation shall worship before Him :
For the kingdom is His, and He is the governor among
the nations I"

And this, my friends, is the consmnmation of the
dynasty of David — this the centre of righteousness — this
tlie conquering king — this, spiritually speaking tln^
temi)le-ri!igning prince of peace — this tlu; world-instruct-
ing sovereign — this the unity-restoring Mediator and
Intercessor — this the passover-furnishiii High Priest and
Redeemer ! He is thus in Himself you perceive, at once,
the David, the Solomon, tlie Jehosliaphat, tlu'. Hezekiah,
and Josiah of New Testament times ; and far more
honoured and far more worthy than any of them ! He
is more beloved and more successful than David! He is
more royal, more pacific, and more enlightened than
Solomon ! He is more devoted and more persistent in
the matter of instruction than Jehoshapliat ! lb; is more
influential as an intercessor than Hezekiah ! And He
is more distinguished as to passover-observance tluin
Josiali. The millenial age indeed, will yet keep passover
under Him for a thousand years. He is tlie last of the
kings of this dynasty — as He can have no successor. And

tlklMANtTEL — JEStJS.

415

He is the glory of the dynasty, the origin and the spring
as well of all that is excellent in it. He fulfils and in-
tensifies all that was bright and honourable in the worthy
members of the dynasty. And as for the unworthy or
inconsistent member? thereof, they receive no excuse or
countenance from anything in His government. There
is with Him no unfaithfulness, as in the case of Solomon !
No impotent pride as in the case of Rehoboam ! No
hypocrisy as in the case of Abijah ! No sinking from
the divine life, as in the case of Asa ! No misjudgment
or misalliance as in the case of Jehoshaphat ! And no
renunciation of truth in favour of idolatry as in the case
of Jehoram, Joash, Ahaz, Amon, and Zedekiah ! He is,
at once, faithful, true, faultless, and wonderfid ! The
truth is, all that was worthy or illustrious in His David
ancestry, but foreshadowed and intimated His coming,
and all-eclipsing glory ! He is, in relation to His dynasty,
the first and' the last — the beginning and the end. It
was with a view to Him that the covenant was made
with David and his family at first. And now that He
has been manifested, no other son of David can or will
dispute with Him the sacred throne. He must reign,
and He must increase i And, while He is tlie glory of
the house of David, He is also the hope of the entire
world.

His disciples gathered from among all nations, are all
dignified and consecrated l)y tlieir sulyection to Ilini.
They are all Davids, all beloved and all accepted in
Him as the great l)eloved ! And all made priests unto
God as well, and all members of His undying and un-
ending kingdom.

O, but we ought to rejoice that such a king hath l)een
enthroned ! And how earnestly we should desire, ev<'ry
one of us, to be sul)jects of His government ! Let us
forsake and renounce all evil that we may seek an<l find
in Him divine favour, royal existenct^, and immortal
peace !

\! i

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t

416 THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

QUESTIONS ON IMMANUEL— JESUS.

Will you mention the characteristics of Immanuel Jesus, as
set forth in the verses of Luke ]
His name, His greatness, His double sonship, the manner
of His enthronement and the seat of government.
Is He able to realize -vvhat his name imports ?

Yes, certainly. He is able to save to the uttermost all
them that come unto God by Him.
What is the extent of His greatness 1

It is unrivalled. His name is above every name.
What do you mean by his double sonship ?

That he is at once the son of God and the son of David.
Is this double sonship explicable ?

No. It is beyond the reach of human intellect and investi-
gation.
What is the value of this mystery to us ?

Though wholly inexplicable, it yet enables us to see how
this son of David can be tndy the Saviour from sin.
What is noticeable concerning the manner of His enthrone-
ment ?
Ft was not by violence, or because of ambition on His i)art
that he obtained the throne, l)ut by anterior and adcijuate
authority. " Tlie Lord f/rroc Him the throne gave it
Him not only because of His lineage, but also because
of His merits."
And where is the se.atof His government 1

In the lieaveidy Mount Zion, at the right hand of the
Majesty on high.
What rendered it needful to change tlu^ scene of His rule
from the earthly Mount Zion to the heavenly '/
The universal and si)iritual nature of His government.
And is he just such a Saviour as the fallen and dying sons <»f
men need I
Yes. He meets in Himself all their wants, capabilities and
aspir.ations.
What should V)e the first solicitude of every young person i

Truly to know this mighty son of David.
But how are the subjects of this wonderful prince descril>ed !

As " the house or iiousehold of Jacob."
Ls this house (or househoUl) c(>nlined to the natural descen-
dants of Jacob /
No. "They are not all Israel that are of Israel."
Who then constitute this household (

IMMANUKF, — .rKSCS.

41'

US.

1 Jesus, as

lie m.aiinor
;nt.

ermost .all

Djivid.
1 invosti-

) see how
sin.
Hithrone-

II is p.avt

iiilofjuato

gave it

» because

(1 «»f the

His rule

mt.

[ sous of

ties and
raou ?
cri 1)0(1 !
desceu-

They that are of like character with Jacob, no matter what
their earthly nationality may be.
What Avere the peculiarities in the life and habits of Jacob /
He was loved of G-od. He set store by the birth-right.
He gratefully accei^ted the divine covenant at Bethel.
He was a man of earnest prayer. His hope was in the
C(jming 8hiloh and He died in the faith of the promised
inheritance.
And what about Jacob's Ikjuso (or household j in relation to
these peculiarities or habit I
They are common to all the members thereof.
What is that fundamental peculiarity in Jacob and his house-
hold which lies beyond or above the range of luiman
agency or human understar.diug ^
The sovereign love of God towards them.
Where then must we begin the enumeration of the peculiari-
ties and habits of the members of Jacob's household ?
In their desire after the birthright which stands linked
with the ultimate inheritance. Under the influence of
this desire, they are willing to sacrifice the present to
the future, Avhile they whf) belong n<jt to the household,
readily sacrifice the future to the present.
What next distinguishes them i

They willingly and gratefully accept the covenant of grace
proposed by God in His gospel and dedicate themselves
to the service of God accordingly,
What is the third peculiarity of the members of Jacob's house-
hold /
They are all men of prayer. Like Jacob, they wrestle Avith
the divine and find comfort or victory by the exercise.
Mention the fourth characteristic of the members of this
household i
They all gather around the Shiloh — centre of the nations
— rejoicing in His fulness and transcendent excellences.
And what is the last characteristic of the members of this
hoiisehold ?
They all live and die in the hope of a pi-omiscd inheritance,
—Not now a typical inheritance, but a heavenly and
inalienable inheritance,
Wliat is the dilference concerning the sovereign love of God
to the house of Jacob, when read from the divine side
and the human side respectively ?
Wlien read from tlie divine side, it must be placed, first —
When read from the human side, it can only properly be
• considered last : That is to say, it is by the existence of
'. AA

1 »■

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; ' .11 ■

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418

THE DYNASTY OF DAVID.

faith, prayer and hope in the believer that the election
of God is known in any case. The method of our pro-
cedure therefore must be — not to believe because we ai'o
elected ; but by faith, prayer and hope to make our elec-
tion manifest.
What is said about the kingdcnu of Immanuel Jesus, as to
continuance ?
That it will have no end.
What security for its continuance is there in its laAvs and
customs i
The absolute right of these laws and customs. It admits
of no pride, luxiiry, oppression or immorality.
And what security in the nature of its chief /

He is immutable — the same yesterday, to-day and forever,
and his throne cannot be superseded or set aside by
resisting or opposing authority.
What is the position of this kingdom at the present time /

Commanding and advancing.
What have you to notice of the crowning prince of the
dynasty in relation to the entire dynasty i
That He combines in Himself all the excellencies of His
progenitors, and that these excellencies in Him are all
intensified. He is at once the David, the Solomon, the
Jehoshaphat, the Hezekiah and the Josiah of the New
Testament times.
But what of unworthy members of the dynasty in relation to
this prince I ,

They have neither excuse nor countenance from any thing
in His government.
How should Ave regard this crowning prince ?

With great and inexhaustible gladness.
And what should be the suprenxe desire of every one of us
concerning Him I
That we may bo truly subjects of His government and
sharers in His love.
What are the prizes to be obtained in connection with
Him {
Divine favour, royal existence, and immortal peace.

FINIS.

tlie election
i of our pro-
cauae we are
ake our elec-

Jesu3, as to

ts laws and
It admits

.nd forever,
3t aside by

)nt time ?

nee of the

sies of His
Sim are all
lomon, the

'f the New

relation to
any thing

' one of us
ment and
tion with

ice.