6. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous but the way of the ungodly shall perish. is through the reasoning, to reason out the cause of these faith of Christ, contradictions, and get at their root; or is the righteous it worthy of man, who evidently is the first ness which is of in dignity of created beings on the earth, God by faith." to say, "We see and acknowledge the —Phil. iii. 8, 9. deficiency, but there is no remedy?" Is there none to answer the question, "Who shall show us any good?" Is there not One who hath promised to help us through the struggle, and to bring us off more than conquerors? Can this be denied by any who have heard the name of Jesus? TEXT. It is not in man, nor, indeed, is it for man to be the judge as to what is good or what is evil. If man's arbitrium in so grave a matter were to be the law, the rule of virtue and vice would vary according to the power, will, or taste of such as have rule for the day. Indeed, though we admit that the powers that be are ordained of GOD, yet the most absolute tyrant fails to reach or touch the will of the meanest "Thou shalt slave in his dominions. There is in us, fan them, and not only a reluctation against another's the wind shall will being made the law of our lives, carry them a- because of a rebellious spirit, but also way, and the because there is yet to be found in us a whirlwind shall sense of shame, which neither the tyranny scatter them of a ruler, nor the greater tyranny of and thou shalt custom, can wipe out. The mind of the rejoice in the infant is not as a sheet of blank paper; he Lord, and shalt soon perceives that he is come into a troubleglory in the Holy some world, nor is he long before he learns One of Israel." deceit. To cultivate the knowledge of good -Isa. xli. 16. and to eschew the practice of evil, is a duty which every parent oweth to his children, and this duty we are taught by our heavenly Father Himself, in having sent us His Holy Spirit for our teacher, and in having given us His Son to be our great example. If we fear the violence of another, or shrink from that which we have found in "Nevertheour own besetting sin; if we fear the less, the founblandishments of pleasure, or the seduc-dation of God tions of a world lost in the wicked one, are standeth sure, "Fools make we to be blamed for cutting them off, or having this seal, a mock at sin: scoffed at for separating ourselves from TheLord know : 6. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous but the way of the ungodly shall perish. TEXT. MEDITATION. TEXT. but among the them? and, if the world deride and hate eth them that us for so doing, is not this their own condemnation ? righteous there is favour."Prov. xiv. 9. Now, seeing that such separations amongst the societies of men are not contrary to right reason, who shall be able to open his mouth against the Son of man in that day, when, judging the folk righteously and governing the nations on the earth, He separates the righteous from the wicked, even as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats? are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”--2 Tim. ii. 19. 1. Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2. The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed. TEXT. "For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast MEDITATION. A prayer from the Righteous Man hath been put up and accepted in behalf of the Jewish people. Their excuse is made for them and for their rulers. "They did it anointed, both ignorantly, as did also their rulers." But Herod, & Pon- for us Gentiles, from Pontius Pilate and tius Pilate, with his soldiers down to Charles IX. of France, the Gentiles, & his advisers and assassins; and from them to the people of this very day, the question "What is truth?" Israel, were ga- is as pertinent, and should be as heartthered together, searching as when it was first demanded for to do what- by the haughty Roman Governor and unsoever thy hand just judge. We need not trouble ourselves and thy coun- much about the kings of the earth nor the sel determined rulers, no, nor about the malicious counsels before to be of other high priests and soi-disant Christian done." Acts majesties. We indeed tremble when may iv. 27, 28. we see how easily these can hound the multitudes to deeds of blood in the name of the Lord. Jesus' answer sufficeth the believer: "I AM THE TRUTH." The powers that be are ordained of GOD, and the heathen who have not heard that Jesus is the Anointed One, are a law unto themselves. But this is that very thing concerning Jesus that we have to contend for and maintain, and is the question which belongs to ourselves, our families, our firesides, and our home altars. "Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. But ye have a custom, that I should release It were not difficult to allegorise the whole process of Christ's coming in the flesh, from the manger to the cross, but that Jesus is set before us evidently crucified for our sins. This offering of himself He made once for all; yet we find ourselves more ready to ask why He thus offered himself, than to inquire why we are such fools as not to believe it. However cruel the conduct of Herod in the massacre of the children, we are not surprised at the deed of blood; nor do we wonder that men should be found ready for such work; and why? Because we know that such things are natural to men TEXT. "And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go & search diligently for the young child: & when ye have found him bring me word again, that I may come & worship him. also." Matt. ii. 8. 1. Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2. The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed. TEXT. 38-40. "But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolish ness; unto you one at in power who have no law but their own the passover will; nor are ready hands ever wanting to will ye there- do their bidding. Those also who cannot fore that I re- understand how a new-born child may lease unto you become an object of terror and of hatred the King of the to us when opposed to this will, will doubtJews? Then less also laugh at the idea of flying from the cried they all wrath of the Lamb. Nevertheless, thus it again, saying, is written, and so shall it be in "that day." Not this man, There is, however, little profit in thus but Barabbas. judging a Pontius Pilate, or a Herod, if we Now Barabbas cannot draw a lesson from the record of was a robber." their sins, in reference to our ownselves -John xviii. We know little of the power of an unrenewed will, if we know not that whilst we can make the knee and head to bend and bow to the name of Jesus, and the tongue to call Him Lord, there is a lurking desire in the heart to strangle his grace at its birth, not suffering Him to be formed in us the hope of glory. But whilst we bring under notice the deep heart-searchings of a mind that thinks; is there no wound inflicted from the careless ingratitude of the unthinking multitude for having escaped the tyrannous abuse of power, and the bloody rites of the Druids' foolishness grove? Thus may the cruel expediency GOD is wiser of a Roman Governor, when judging be- than men ; and twixt an innocent man and a priest- the weakness of ridden people, be considered and profitably GOD is stronger applied; so that, whether as regards the than men.' unthinking multitude, or the cold-hearted 1 Cor.i. 23-25. insensibility of the formal worshipper, the question remains unanswered, or resolves itself into this Catholic condemnation"They hated me without cause.' To be a witness for Jesus is a sure road for bringing us into contempt and hatred with the world. The benefits conferred on the world by Jesus, are not laid at the foot of his cross, but are heaped upon the altars of our proud, unaided reason and intellectual powers; nor are "But unto them which are called, both Jews & Greeks, Christ the power of GOD, and the wisdom of GOD. "Because the of 1. Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2. The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed. we slow to believe that we arrive at this TEXT. |