which coming to the knowledge of his father, he expressly enjoined him never to do the like again. But the lad, disregarding his command, and taking advantage of his father's absence, borrowed a gun from a person in the neighbourhood, and went out as usual. While he was watching the birds, the gun, by some accident, went off, and killed him on the spot. Not returning at the accustomed time, his friends were alarmed; a search was made, and at length his body was discovered in a barn, in a state too shocking to be described. the violation Sabbath of the vv. 15-18. J. v. 17. E. Nares, 71: Bp. O'Beirne, i. 145. v. 17, 18. R. Southgate, i. 19; 15-18. (15) saw.. sabbath," note the vigilance of the good governor; and his zeal for holy days, as well as places. (16) Tyre, etc., if heathen men are willing to sell, Israel ought not to be willing to buy on the Sabbath. The laxity of the Church a Ex. xx. 10. may increase the thoughtlessness of the world. (17) what.. b x. 31. do, etc., they were responsible in that, being rulers, they per-c Jer. xvii. 21-23. mitted it to be done. (18) did.. thus, etc., such sin in the past had its punishment. yet.. sabbath, not only doing a present Venn, iii. 333; J. wrong, but treating past warnings with thoughtless indifference. Boyse, i. 361. Treading the grapes in Jerusalem (v. 15).-In peaceful times, the press in which the grapes and olives were trodden was constructed in the vineyard: but in time of war and danger it was removed into the nearest city. This precaution the restored captives were reduced to take for their safety at the time they were visited by Nehemiah. In a state of great weakness themselves, without an efficient government or means of defence, they were exposed to the hostile machinations of numerous and powerful enemies. For this reason, many of the Jews brought their grapes from the vineyards, and trod them in Jerusalem, the only place of safety which the desolated country afforded. "In those days," said Nehemiah, "saw I in Judah, some treading wine-presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves and laden asses; and also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath-day." Had these wine-presses been at a distance from Jerusalem, Nehemiah, who so strictly observed the precept of resting on that day, would not have seen the violation of which he complains. Bp. D. Wilson, 169. "He that has energy enough in his constitution to root out a vice should go and try to plant a virtue in its place: otherwise labour to renew. A strong a little further he will have his has soil that produced weeds may be made to produce wheat difficulty than it make it produce nothing."-Colton. would cost to "Reform, like charity, most begin at home. home, how will it radiate outwards, irrepres sible, Овсе well at Conscientiousness.-In December, says Mr. Barsoe, the missionary, a pleasing circumstance occurred; it showed the reve-with far less rence of our Esquimaux for the Lord's-day. Owing to the state of the weather, during the preceding month, but few seals had been taken; and Saturday, the 2nd December, was the first day on which the state of the ice permitted our people to go out on the seal-hunt. Considering the great uncertainty which ever attends this occupation, the inducement to pursue it on the following day, in the hope of securing a better provision for their families, was anything but slight. We were, therefore, not a little pleased to learn that a meeting of fathers of families had been convened on the Saturday evening, and that it had been resolved that they would none of them go out on the ensuing day of the Lord, but would spend it in a manner becoming the disciples of Christ, who were invited thankfully to commemorate His coming into the world to save sinners. They expressed their belief that their heavenly Father was able to grant them, on Monday, a sufficiency for the supply of their wants. The meeting they closed with the singing of some verses, during which they felt the presence and peace of their Lord and Saviour. - into a l that we touch and handle, speak and work, -kindling ever new light by incalculable contagion; spreading in geometric ratio, far and wide, doing goo only wherever it "Each year one vicious habit rooted out, in time might make the worst man good."- Franklin, The Queen of England is scrupulous in the observance of the Sabbath, not allowing matters of state to encroach upon holy time, not even if presented by the nobility. "I never knew a man to escape failures in either mind or body, who worked seven days in a week."-Sir R. Peel. marriages with strange wives Their confidence in God was not put to shame. On Monday the weather proved so favourable that they captured no fewer than one hundred seals; but in the course of the following night the frost became so intense as to close all the bays and inlets, and to preclude any further attempts to take seals. 19--22. (19) commanded, etc.,a took practical steps to prevent this Sabbath market being held. (20) merchants.. Jerusalem, their wares spoiling, themselves disappointed. once or twice, a few times, till they found out the inconvenience of the new and stringent rule. (21) then, etc., he sent messages of warning. Good rulers will do their best to reduce temptations fr. wh. people suffer. (22) commanded, etc., having abolished the abuse, he instituted the use of the Sabbath. remember.. also, happy is he who at the close of ea. undertaking can pray to be remembered “concerning this also.” Bishop Porteus on the Sabbath.-Bishop Porteus, when near death, felt that he could not depart in peace till he had expressed his disapprobation of the profanation of the Lord's-day, so prevalent in his diocese. "I had, for some time past," he says, "observed, in several of the papers, an account of a meeting, chiefly of military gentlemen, at an hotel in the west end of the town, as held every other Sunday during the winter season. I determined that it should not pass without reproof; and thought it best to go at once to the fountain-head, to the person of the principal influence in the meeting, the Prince of Wales." The venerable bishop was wrapped in flannel and carried to Carlton House, where he requested the honour of an audience, and a personal conference with the prince on the subject. He very graciously granted it, and the bishop had a conversation with him of more than half an hour. The prince entered immediately into his views, and confessed that he saw no reasons for holding the meeting on Sunday more than any other day of the week; and he voluntarily proposed, that the day should be changed from Sunday to Saturday, for which he said that he would give immediate orders. 23-25, (23) Jews.. Moab,a another mark of declension to be corrected. Passion outweighing religion. (24) children, etc., illus. of effect of ill-assorted marriages. (25) cursed, as one in authority he denounced the Divine judgments upon them. 6 Ezr. x. 5; Ne. smote, etc., ordered them to be scourged. made. . God, took an oath of them to abstain fr. this evil. a Ezr. ix. 2. X. 29, 30. "It must be remembered that Neh. was a per son invested with public authority, and that, as such, he was authorised to denounce God's judgments broke His law." Neh. exhorts the people Plucking off the hair.-In Judæa, the punishment of infamy consisted chiefly in cutting off the hair of evil-doers: yet it is thought that pain was added to disgrace, and that they tore off the hair with violence, as if they were plucking a bird alive. This is the genuine signification of the Hebrew word used by Nehemiah in describing his conduct towards those Jews who had violated the law by taking strange wives: "And I contended with thein, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair." This kind of punishment was common in Persia. King Artaxerxes, instead of plucking off the hair of such of his generals as had been guilty of a fault, obliged them to lay aside the tiara. The Emperor Domitian caused the hair and beard of the philosopher Apollonius to be shaved. 26-28. (26) did.. things? 1 K. xi. 1, ff. yet.. him," a 1 Ki. iii. 13; 2 hence he should have been the more carful of his example. .. nevertheless.. sin, notwithstanding his wisdom, and religious profession. (27) shall, etc., as if you could resist the evil influences of this connection, or escape the just wrath of God. (28) Joiada, prob. his name was Manasseh.d therefore me, expelled him fr. his office, and personal friendship. Jedediah.-I. The objects of God's special regard. 1. They are often the children of His servants-like Solomon; 2. They are ever the subjects of special grace-as Solomon; 3. They are always faulty and erring-as Solomon; 4. They are seldom such backsliders as Solomon. II. The reason of God's special regard. They who are thus loved are generally characterised by great devotion to His cause, great delight in His name. But the reason why He loves them is only answered by referring to Jesus. It was not the riches, wisdom, zeal, or the success of Solomon, for all these things were bestowed because he was loved. III. The tokens of God's special regard. 1. An experimental knowledge of His love; 2. A passionate, ardent return of His love; 3. Success in labours; 4. Chastisement. A faithful reproof. It is said that Henry the Great of France took much pleasure in conversing with an honest and religious man of a low situation in life, who used great freedom with his majesty. One day he said to the king, "Sire, I always take your part when I hear any man speaking evil of you: I know that you excel in justice and generosity, and that many worthy things have been done by you. But you have one vice for which God will condemn you if you do not repent, I mean the unlawful love of women." The king, it is said, was too magnanimous to resent this reproof, but he long felt it like an arrow in his bosom ; and sometimes said that the most eloquent discourses of the doctors of the Sorbonne had never made such an impression on his soul as this honest reproof from his humble friend. 29-31. (29) remember.. God, "convince and convert them." But this can hardly be the idea, for he does not add 'for good." because, etc., Neh. seems to sug. that they deserve condign punishment. (30) thus, etc., in the manner hereinbef. descr. (31) remember .. good, God will certainly "remember," us all. Can ea. reader hope he will be remembered "for good?" Summary of the character of Nehemiah.-There are many things which men may observe in him for their special direction, and because he desires God to remember them, we likewise will consider what use they will be to us. I. Observe his care of foreign and remote intelligence. II. His extraordinary love, zeal, and tender-heartedness towards his country. III. His not being contented with his own honour and greatness, while his own brethren were in affliction. IV. His prudent vigilancy. V. His pious courage. VI. His wise discovery of adverse counsels and preparation. VII. His special care upon all emergent occasions to call the people together for new and further counsels. VIII. His indefatigable labour night and day, being not only a commander, but an example of unwearied patience to all the people. IX. His compassionate zeal, mixed with wisdom, impartiality, and self-denial, for the poor which were oppressed. X. His bounty to the work. XI. His undiscouraged constancy. XII. His wise and pious care to communicate part of the charge to faithful coadjutors. XIII. His singular zeal for the purity of God's Neh. prays that he may be remem bered for good a Wordsworth. 6 x. 30, xii. 1, ƒƒ. "The ending of this Bk. may at first seem rather abrupt; and, since the date of the Bk. of Esther of Neh., the last is prior to that words of Neh. are the last words of Biblical hist." -Wordsworth. v. 31. Bp. Reynolds, Wks. v. 49; Dr. H. Mill, 347. "We commend a horse for his strength and sureness of foot, and not for his rich caparisons; a greyhound for 110 B.C. cir. 445. his share of heels, not for his fine collar; a hawk for her wing, not for her jesses and bells. Why, in like manner, do we not value a man for what is properly his own? He has a great train, a beautiful palace, many thousand pounds a year, and all these are about him, but not in him."Montaigne. so much credit, so c Bp. Reynolds. d Bp. Reynolds. "Much precious our laps before we by prayer shake the tree. Now, if the fruit falls into water of life do flow in such streams upon us when We pray not, how pleasantly will they flow when they are drawn by the attractive power of prayer! If the Lord is found when we seek not, opens when we knock not, answers when we call not; how much more will He open and answer when we knock and call! If the greatest blessing be Vouchsafed before we have hearts to pray, how confident may we be that prayer will ob tain the less!" Clarkson. e Increase May hew. people. XIV. His special wisdom and care to heal the sinful breaches and divisions among the people. Nehemiah.-Though all saints have all the members of the new man, and all the graces of Christ fashioned in them-for there are no monsters in His body-yet, as in the natural body, some excel in sight or hearing, or strength, or swiftness, or beauty; so ir the mind, one excelleth in one grace, another in another, according as the Spirit is pleased diversely to distribute His gifts unto men. Abraham is renowned for faith, Isaac for meditation, Jacob for plainness, Joseph for chastity, Job for patience, Solomon for wisdom, Moses for meekness, Phinehas for zeal, David for devotion, Mary for love, Nathaniel for singleness. And as some are more eminent than others for special graces, so likewise in special services. Joshua for a warrior, Hushai for a counsellor, Solomon for a governor, Paul for a preacher; and in this book Nehemiah for a wise and a valiant manager of great and honourable actions. 1 would send a worldling to read Ecclesiastes, to learn the vanity of the creature; a lover of Christ to Solomon's Canticles; a devout person to David's Psalms; an afflicted person to Job's temptations; a preacher to Timothy and Titus; a blackslider in faith to the Hebrews; a moralist to the Proverbs; a justiciary and legalist to the Romans and Galatians; a libertine to James, Peter, and Jude; a soldier to Joshua and Judges; a man that would study God's providence to Esther; and those who go about great undertakings to this Book of Nehemiah.d Power of prayer.-Hiacoomes was the first Christian preacher on Martha's vineyard; for a biography of whom the reader is referred to Increase Mayhew's account of the praying Indians, 1726. The following is related of him: "One Lord's-day after meeting, where Hiacoomes had been preaching, there came in a Powwaw very angry and said, 'I know all the meeting Indians are liars. You say you don't care for the Powwaws,' then calling two or three of them by name, he railed at them, and told them they were deceived, for the Powwaws could kill all the meeting Indians, if they set about it. But Hiacoomes told him that he would be in the midst of all the Powwaws in the island, and they should do the utmost they could against him; and when they should do their worst by their witchcraft to kill him, he would without fear set himself against them by remembering Jehovah. He told them also he did put all the Powwaws under his heel. Such was the faith of this good man. Nor were these Powwaws ever able to do these Christian Indians any hurt, though others were frequently hurt and killed by them.e-Importunity in prayer.— The Rev. Philip Henry, having prayed very earnestly for two of his children that were dangerously ill, said: "If the Lord will be pleased to grant me this my request concerning my children, I will not say as the beggars at our door used to do, I'll never ask anything of Him again;' but, on the contrary, He shall hear oftener from me than ever; and I will love God the better, and love prayer the better as long as I live." |