SUBJECT:-The Great Calamity. “Although the fig tree shall not blossom," &c.—Hab. iii. 17, 18. Analysis of Homily the Three Hundred and Thirty-eighth. HABAKKUK was receiving communications from God when he wrote our text. The condition of the Jews called forth the sympathy of this good man He exemplifies that sympathy by appealing to the Most High on their behalf; and he receives attention from the mighty God of Israel. How little he was influenced by the material, and how much by the spiritual our text abundantly proves. "Although the fig tree shall not blossom," &c. L. THE DIVINE RULE IS TO MAKE AN ABUNDANT PROVISION FOR MAN'S PHYSICAL WANTS. The Great Creator gives him the fig tree, the vine, the olive, the fields, the flock, and the herd. Observe (1) The vastness of God's wealth. (2) His supreme regard for man's comfort. causes. II. THE GOOD MAN RECOGNISES THE POSSIBILITY OF A TOTAL FAILURE IN THIS PROVISION. "Although the fig tree," &c. First: Such a failure is fearful to contemplate. Secondly: Such a failure must occur through one or both of the following (1) Man's neglect. "The sluggard that will not plough by reason of the cold, shall beg in harvest and have nothing." It is a fixed law in God's universe that "the man who will not work shall not eat." (2) A direct visitation from God. One fiery blast from Jehovah's nostrils would burn up the material and animal kingdoms. At His presence the mountains melt away, and the earth smokes. III. THAT IN THE VERY FACE OF THIS GREAT CALAMITY THE GOOD MAN TRIUMPHANTLY CONFIDES IN GOD. "Yet will I rejoice in the Lord." The wisdom of this conduct is seen in two things-First: In the divine immutability. Secondly: Great calamities afford scope for the development of great prin Vol. VIII. ciples. Trials, if very heavy, kill little men, but make great ones. Just as an atlantic billow bears the reeling ship aloft, so does the mighty wave of trouble lift to notice a true son of God. Trials strengthen and develop love and faith. IV. THAT THIS SUBLIME CONFIDENCE IS EXERCISED BY THE GOOD MAN BECAUSE HE HAS EXPERIENCED A GREAT DE LIVERANCE. "I will joy in the God of my salvation." First: This is a deliverance from the greatest evil. Secondly: This is a deliverance to the possession of the greatest good. This man has in him the elements of immortality. He is a king's son, and an heir of heaven. Heaven is his future residence and the universe his estate. HILL. SUBJECT:-Right Estimate of Life. "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."-Psalm xc. 12. Analysis of Homily the Three Hundred and Thirty-ninth. THE prayer implies :-I. THAT THERE IS A CERTAIN JUDG MENT TO BE FORMED AS TO THE DURATION OF AN EARTHLY LIFE. What is it? Not the exact hour, scene, or circumstances, of our end. We thank Heaven for concealing all this. Ignorance of this is :-First: Essential to our practical watchfulness. Secondly: To our personal enjoyment: and Thirdly: To our social usefulness. It means that we should have a practical impression that life here is temporary and preparative. The prayer implies:-II. THAT THERE IS A TENDENCY IN MAN TO NEGLECT THE FORMATION OF SUCH A JUDGMENT. Why this tendency? (1) Not from the want of circumstances to suggest it. History, observation, experience-all remind us every day of our end. (2) Not from any doubt that we have about the importance of realizing it. All acknowledge the importance. But, First: From the secularity of one con trolling purpose. Secondly: From the instinctive repugnance that we have to death. Thirdly: From the moral dread of future retribution and Fourthly: From the delusive suggestions of the tempter. He says now, as ever, "Ye shall not surely die." This passage implies: III. THAT THE FORMATION OF A CORRECT JUDGMENT IS ESSENTIAL ΤΟ PRACTICAL WISDOM. "That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." First: Such judgment would serve to impress us with the connection between this life and the future. Secondly: It would serve to moderate our affections in relation to this earth. Thirdly: It would serve to reconcile us to the arrangements of Providence. We are pilgrims, voyagers, scholars. Fourthly: It would serve to stimulate us to render all the circumstances of this life subservient to a higher. Time is bearing us and all away. "The eternal surge Of time and tide rolls on, and bears afar BYRON. SUBJECT:-The Spirit of a Happy Life. "Giving thanks unto the Father."-Col. i. 12. Analysis of Homily the Three Hundred and Fortieth. THERE are four classes of men in relation to life : First: Those whose life has no purpose. The millions seem to have no worthy object in view; they act with purposeless souls. Secondly: Those whose purpose is limited to the world. They aim at knowledge, wealth, fame. Thirdly: Those whose life has a purpose in relation to the future. These look at the present in relation to the future, and endeavour to make it subserve its interest; and Fourthly: Those who feel that their purpose in relation to the future is already realized. This is the state of mind in the text. The state of mind here is not a mere hope that all is right, or even an assurance. It is more, it is a thanksgiving that all is right. The lamp is trimmed and burning, the vessel has unfurled her sails, and is sure of reaching the harbor. Now, there is no man, I think, however infidel he may be, who would not desire to possess this state of mind; to look to the future with such a heart. This state of mind implies three things: I. A BELIEF IN A SCENE OF FUTURE BLESSEDNESS. Thankfulness for a preparation for it evidently implies this. There are two things suggested here about this scene. First: Its physical character. It is called an "Inheritance." Heaven is a locality. It is sometimes called "Paradise,” a "House," "Jerusalem." Secondly: Its spiritual character. "Inheritance of the saints in light." Light is the emblem of intelligence-purity-happiness. The state of mind in the text implies: II. A BELIEF IN THE NEED OF A PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS FOR IT. Why feel thankful for that which is a superfluity? Heaven requires training. The training is not intellectual or mechanical, but MORAL. To see the necessity of this, compare the spirit and conduct of all in heaven with that of depraved man on earth, First: All in heaven have a consciousness of God's approbation-depraved men are not so. Secondly: All in heaven are actuated by devout disinterestedness-depraved men not so. Thirdly: All in heaven feel the highest delight in spiritual exercises-depraved men do not so. Fourthly: All in heaven feel an intense interest in Christdepraved man does not. Fifthly: All in heaven joyously abandon their own will to God's-depraved man does not. From all this it follows that there must be a wonderful moral change to fit for heaven. The state of mind in the text implies: III. A BELIEF IN THE PREPAREDNESS BEING EFFECTED BY THE AGENCY OF GOD. There could be no thankfulness without this conviction. The gratitude implies:-First: We could not What is to be That the work is That the work is transcendently valuable to us. feel thankful for that which was of no service. compared with this in value! Secondly: accomplished with the design for our good. a service for us, but if we feel that he serve us, we could not feel thankful. work is accomplished in perfect sovereignty. If we felt that he was bound to do it, we could not feel thankful. A party may do did not intend to Thirdly: That the This subject does three important things:-First: Presents our earthly life in an important aspect. It is a scene of moral culture. He who regards it as a divan, a mart, or laboratory, mistakes. Secondly: Presents the Creator in an attractive aspect. A FATHER: a Father by means of nature, Providence, the Gospel, and the Church, training His children for glory. Thirdly Presents Christianity in a sublime light. What a glorious state of mind is this! Some are dead to the future, some dread the future, some feebly hope in the future. But the Christian thanks God for a preparedness to meet it. Gratitude is bliss. Blessed state of mind this to have in such a world as ours. HEAVEN. The world is all a fleeting show, The smiles of joy, the tears of woe, There's nothing true but heaven! And false the light on glory's plume, And love, and hope, and beauty's bloom, There's nothing bright but heaven! Poor wanderers of a stormy day, And fancy's flash, and reason's ray, There's nothing calm but heaven. |