B.C. 457. to the departure of Ezra."Hales. v. 10. A. Fuller, wks. 682; E. P. Waters, 143. b Percy Anec. the king sets forth Ezra's work a Est. i. 14. 6"Granting him a free collection, and what he can get and gather by it."-Bp. Richardson. c Coverdale. "I should say sincerity, a deep, great, genuine sincerity, is the first character istic of all men in any way heroic."-Carlyle. and grants him means by a Mr. Povey, author of the now obsolete pamphlet, entitled The Virgin of Eden, with the Eternity of Hell Torments. He formed the design of conveying letters by messengers to different parts of the city and its environs; for some time he executed his plan with much approbation, and was distinguished by the title of the "Halfpenny Carrier." The ministers finding the plan too lucrative for a private subject, laid an injunction on the inventor, restraining him from carrying it on any longer; and, without giving him any compensation, took it into their own hands. 66 14-17. (14) sent.. king, lit. fr. bef. the king, i.e. with royal authority. and.. counsellors, who saw the king's face."a Note the confidence reposed in Ezra. according.. hand, the limit of Ezra's commission. (15) whose.. Jerusalem, heathen notion of localised deity. (16) and.. find, as free contributions of the people. (17) speedily, diligently, and sufficiently. God's estimate of our faith.-God's watchful and tender regard for man's weak faith is finely illustrated by the following incident. A swallow having built its nest upon the tent of Charles V., the emperor commanded that the tent should not be taken down when the camp removed, but should remain till the young birds were ready to fly. The soldier's gentle regard for the trustful bird may fairly teach us something of God's matchless tenderness for all such as venture to put their trust in Him. He that buildeth his nest on a Divine promise shall find it abide and remain till he shall fly away to the land where promises are lost in fulfilments. 18-20. (18) whatsoever, etc., happy the king who sees that what his people do "after the will of" their God, will be for for executing the general good. (19) vessels, a these were dif. from those previously taken." (20) more.. needful, after making the collection. Here was confidence in the integrity of Ezra. it a viii. 25-27. b i. 7-11. than a banquet swift to overtake -Lansdowne. c Ingram Cobbin, God's providence acknowledged.-The Jews begin nothing with"A crust of God's out an if God, or if THE NAME (meaning God) will. And it was a carving is better saying of Ben Syra, a distinguished Jew, "Let a man never say of our own pro- he will do anything before he says, 'if God will.'” So Cyrus, viding."-Beadle. king of Persia, when, under the pretence of hunting, he designed "How just is Pro-an expedition into Armenia, upon which a hare started and was vidence in all its seized by an eagle, said to his friends, "This will be a good and works! How prosperous hunting to us, if God will." So Socrates says, "But us in our crimes!" I will do this. and come unto thee to-morrow, if God will (Xenophon's Cyropedia, 1. ii. c. 25; Plato in Alcibiades, p. 135). And it is reported of the Turks that they submit everything to the Divine will, as the success of war, or a journey, or anything of the least moment they desire to be done; and never promise themselves or others anything, but under this condition, a rational nature In Shallah, that is, "if God will."-George Buchanan.-This put into them, illustrious scholar, compelled to fly from his own country by the nor can men con-blood-seeking animosity of a priestly cabal, whose vices he had made the theme of his satire, sought refuge and protection under Henry VIII. of England. His appeal to that monarch was couched in terms of great pathos and elegance. "Look not," said the poet, "with an unrelenting countenance upon the humble advances of a man whose soul is devoted to your service; one M.A. Birds cannot conunless they had verse with men verse with unless, being take of the Di- B.C. 457. "True gene every impulse of human ity, in following blind passion for our guide, and circumstances impairing our by present benefactions, so as to who, a beggar, a vagrant, and an exile, has endured every species of misfortune which a perfidious world can inflict. A savage host of inveterate enemies pursues him, and the palace of his sovereign rosity does not resounds with their menaces. Over mountains covered in snow, consist in obeyand valleys flooded with rain, I come a fugitive to the Athenian ing altar of mercy, and, exhausted by calamities, cast myself at your feet." Alas! London was not the Athens the fugitive sought, nor Henry the Pericles whose generosity was to succour him. But who can wonder that, after sacrificing to the axe that beauty on which he once reposed with delight, neither the misfortunes of greatness, nor the eloquence of genius, should have been able to make the least impression on the heart of the savage Henry.< 21-23. (21) decree.. speedily, the king fulfilled his word royally. (22) £22,000 acc. to silver talent of Babylon. why.. wrath, the disasters of the nation were attributed to the anger of the gods. (23) render us incapable of future ones."-Goldsmith. the king's decree to the treasures a "Such as Ma rathon and Salamis, and in Egypt."-Words worth. b C. H. Spurgeon. (1644). Nothing this world uuriddles but the next." Unlimited grace.-I. As salt was used for its preserving and purifying properties it may be regarded as an emblem of grace in the soul. II. As the king gave salt to Ezra without limiting the quantity, so the King of kings gives unlimited grace to His people. III. We can have large measures of many things with-c C. Simeon, M.A. out being necessarily benefited. IV. As salt kills reptiles, so grace v. 23. Alex. Henderson, A Fast Ser. kills sins.-The decree of Artaxerxes.—To make a due improvement of the words before us we shall consider them-I. In reference to the Jewish Church. The state of that Church at this time is not unlike to that in which it was in the days of Ezra,-but to us is given, no less than to Ezra, a command to advance their welfare, -in this work we should engage with all diligence. But as the Jewish Church was typical of that which exists under the Christian dispensation, it will be proper to consider the words of our text-II. In reference to the Church which is amongst us. I propose to limit my observations to individuals amongst ourselves. I call you, then, to engage in the Lord's work with your whole hearts. Let me call you to obey this imperial mandate 1. In a way of personal reformation; 2. In a way of ministerial exertion.c Dr. E. Young. plan for every verb. let me draw what with the believer. He does not im lets him draw No licentiousness in grace.-Certainly to argue from Gospel mediately transmercy to sinful liberty is the devil's logic. The more a man fer his inheritlives in the sight of Gospel grace, the more sin will be discoun-ance to him, but tenanced, resisted, hated, and totally displaced. A man may as what he needs truly assert that the sea burns, or that the fire cools, or that the out of the riches sun darkens the air, as he may assert that the sight, sense, or of his fulness in sweet of Gospel grace will breed security or carnality, looseness Christ Jesus."Spurgeon. or wickedness in a gracious heart.d 24-26. (24) Nethinims, fr. nathan, to give. Those who had given themselves up to serve in the temp." (25) and thou, Ezra, etc., the mind of this heathen king must have been very powerfully influenced. (26) banishment, called rooting out, i.e. outlawry. Importance of activity.-It is good policy to strike while the iron is hot it is still better to adopt Cromwell's procedure, and make the iron hot by striking. The master-spirit who can rule the storm is great, but he is much greater who can both raise and rule it. To attain that grand power, one must possess the brave and indomitable soul of activity which prompted Edmund VOL. V. d T. Brooks. Ezra's followers from taxes a Hales. exempt se "As Satan idle, SO our Saviour chose were busy at - either mending casting them into the sea. Nay, He Him self stooped to a trade, and was a carpenter."Farrindon b E. L. Magoon. Ezra praises a Port. Com. Motives to dilievery day a day of harvest; suppose it a marketday; u pose it a day wherein you are to work in a golden mine; suppose it a ring. gence. - - Suppose which you are to engrave and ena mel with your actions, to be at night presented j on God's altar." -N. Caussin. Burke to exclaim to his constituents in his famous speech at Bristol," Applaud us when we run; console us when we fall; cheer us when we recover: but let us pass on,-for God's sake, let us pass on.' סיי 27, 28. blessed, etc. "This devout thanksgiving is in unison with the whole character of Ezra, who discerns the hand of God in every event, and is always ready to express a pious acknowledgment for the Divine goodness."a Gratitude to God (v. 27).—The late Lady Glenorchy, being in a delicate state of health, frequently employed Mrs. Graham as her almoner to the poor. On one of these visits Mrs. G. called on a poor woman with the present of a new gown. "I am obliged to you and her ladyship for your kindness," said the poor woman, rich in faith; "but I maun gang to the right airt first; ye wad nae hae come gin ye had nae been sent; the Lord hath lately left me wi' but ae goon for week-day and Sabbath, but now He hath sent you wi' a Sabbath-day's goon." Thus intimating that her gratitude was first due to the God of providence, who had put it into the hearts of His people to supply her wants. Thanks for human aid due to God.-The Rev. A. Redford, in his funeral sermon for the king (George III.), states that a respectable mechanic, who had the honour and happiness to be personally known to his majesty, was, through affliction in his family, brought into great pecuniary straits. He was advised to present a petition to the king, stating his circumstances. He did so; and his majesty was pleased to appoint a certain hour on the next morning, when he was ordered to be in waiting. He went accordingly to the gate of the queen's lodge, but through diffidence did not ring for admission. He lingered until the appointed time was past by a few minutes, when the king came out with some attendants. He instantly observed the petitioner, and said, rather sharply, "I desired you to be here precisely at such an as a greater ex-hour; it is now five minutes past the time; you know that I am pression of favour. So the punctual." His majesty condescendingly turned back, saying, "Foltrue Christian low me." He proceeded through several rooms, into his private prefers the pri- closet; and, having shut the door, went to his desk and took out vilege of accepta purse and gave it to the applicant, and said, "There is money ance with God to to pay your debts, and a trifle for yourself." The humble petitioner, overwhelmed with the king's goodness, dropped on his knees, and made a stammering effort to thank his king, but a flood of tears prevented him. His majesty instantly put forth his hand, and with considerable emotion exclaimed, "Get up, get up; thank God that I have it in my power to help an honest man." "When Cyrus gave one of his friends a kiss, and another a wedge of gold, be that had the gold envied him that had the kiss, the possession of any earthly comfort; for the light nance is lite, and His favour as the cloud of the latter of His counte rain."-Buck. B.C. cir. 457. the companions of Ezra who went from Babylon a Dr Kitto thinks the whole could not be less than 7,000. There CHAPTER THE EIGHTH. 1-7. (1) them.. Babylon, these are males only (1,754); as there were also women and children there must have been fr. 6,000 to 8.000a in the whole caravan. (2) Daniel, not the prophet. (3) by genealogy, or a lineage. (4—7) males, note that males only are included in this list. The mission of each person.-There is not a spider hanging on the king's wall but hath its errand; there is not a nettle that are groweth in the corner of the churchyard but hath its purpose; there is not a single insect fluttering in the breeze but accomplisheth some Divine decree; and I will never have it that God created any man, especially any Christian man, to be a blank, and to be a nothing. He made you for an end. Find out what that end is; find out your niche and fill it. If it be ever so little, if it is only to be a hewer of wood and drawer of water, do something in this great battle for God and truth." It 8—14. (13) last . . Adonikam, 666 had already returned. is suggested that no more were left behind after these." (14) Bigvai, ii. 14. Zabbud, or Zaccur. King James and the earl's genealogy.-King James I., in his progress into England, was entertained at Lumley Castle, the seat of the Earl of Scarborough. A relative of the noble earl was very proud in showing and explaining to his majesty an immensely large genealogical line of the family; the pedigree he carried back rather farther than the greatest strength of credulity would allow. In gude faith, man," says the king, "it may be they are very true, but I did na' ken before that Adam's name was Lumley. the halt at Ahava Levites, etc., are sent for a Acc. to Ewald, 15–20. (15) river.. Ahava," so the river itself is called. abode.. days, this to rest, order the march, afford time for all to join the party who intended to go. viewed, reviewed, examined into tribes, fams., etc. found.. Levi, whose slackness is bef. noted, ii. 40. (16) chief men, men of influence and authority. men of understanding, with powers of persuad- the Pall-a-caps, ing. (17) Iddo .. Casiphia," "prob. Iddo was head of theo- a river south of logical seminary, or college of Levites." told.. say, gave the Babylon; to Rawlinson the substance of the message. ministers, servants. (18) by..di, wh. fl ws God, he attributes the success of their mission to the right source. (20) all.. name, no promiscuous herd of men, each had his name distinctly recorded. acc. into the Eu- N. of Babylon. b Fr. casaph, to Strabo, i. 506; A sensible retort.-At the Anthropological Section of the British Association several members having vehemently asserted the derivation of man from lower organisms through the monkey, Professor Macgregor said that "if any man seriously believed he was so closely related to the lower animals, he was very likely to be right !"-Distinguished men of obscure birth.-Euripides was the son of a fruiterer, Virgil of a baker, Horace of a freed slave, Anayot of a currier, Voiture of a tax-gatherer, Lamothe of a hatter. Sixtus the Fifth of a swineherd, Fletcher of a chandler, Masillon of a turner, Tamerlane of a shepherd, Greinault of a journeyman baker, Rollin of a herdsman, Molière of an upholsterer. J. J. Rousseau of a watchmaker, Sir Samuel Romilly of a goldsmith, Ben Jonson of a mason, Shakespeare of a butcher, Sir Thomas Lawrence of a custom house officer, Collins of a hatter, Gray of a notary, for ct., 1871. Beattie of a farmer, Sir Edward Sugden of a barber, Thomas More of a grocer, Rembrandt of a miller.e c Bp. worth. d Leisure Words Hour e Cabinet de Terture. the fast proclaimed 21-23. (21) then..there, without a military escort, carrying much valuable property. This is a fine illustration of faith. Ahava, v. 15. afflict,a humble. right, safe in every sense. for.. ones, thoughtful care of the children. (22) ashamed, a Le. having avowed faith in God, he would not betray any want of confidence. (23) and.. us, God honoured their faith. Ezra an example in business.-The circumstances in which Ezra was placed were as difficult as can be conceived. He had xvi. 29, xxiii. 29; Is. ev. 21-23. T. E. Hawkinson, 369. B.C. cir. 457. "The work savours of the workman. If the poet sickens, his to contend with the scorn and opposition of Pagans, and with the corruptions of Jews. He bears up under his difficulties; he labours through them; he endures as seeing Him who is invisible. Notice-I. His humility. II. His faith. III. His prayer. IV. His holy jealousy. V. His success.-The fast by Ahava.-Who verse sickens; if Ezra. proclaimed this fast? black, What was the chief feature? blood flows to Prayer: "to seek." What was the thing sought? "A right an author's way.' Under what circumstances? Return to promised land brain, it beclouds from captivity. For whom especially was this sought? "Our venous his pages; and disease as Lord II. the devotions of little ones." Why should we do so? I. Because the way home consumptive to heaven is through the midst of danger. Perils peculiar to man scent of his youth; fascinations of the world; temptations of Satan; inborn Byron's obsceni-corruption and folly; evil companions and influences. ties smell of gin. Because the little ones are not likely to seek the right way for Not only lying themselves. They think more of the pleasant than the right lips,' but a dyspeptic stomach, way; often regard religion as opposed to their present happiness. is an abomina III. Because only God knows the right way, and He will show it tion to the Lord." to us. This He does by His word and His Spirit. Jesus is -H. Mann. revealed to us as the way; His truth our guide, His life our pattern, His death our atonement. Learn-(1) To seek the right way earnestly for ourselves as well as for "our little ones;" (2) To induce the little ones to walk in and keep the right way; (3) To make the way plain and easy, in imitation of Him who carries the lambs in His bosom; (4) Are you little ones now in the "right way? "c b R. Cecil, M.A. c Hive. the vessels committed to the care of the priests was in com. use "Faith without 24-27. (24) separated, appointed to this special duty of being custodians of the sacred vessels. (25) weighed, that there might be no error at the end of the journey. (26, 27) weighed, etc., worth acc. to value of Babylonian talent ab. £515,000 sterling. two.. copper," some precious alloy. a "Copper shinA modern encampment in the desert.-I was in the land of the ing like gold."Medes, on the very spot to which the ten tribes were brought in Gesenius. "Rare as the metal captivity about two thousand years ago; and from which, in the called auri-chal- fulness of time, the scattered remnants were collected (after the cum was."-Pa- first return, B.C. 536, by command of Cyrus), and led back to trick. As copper their native land, on the decree of Artaxerxes, the king, when amongst the Ezra gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava, Babylonians, this and there they abode in their tents three days: and he viewed could not be the people and the priests. And he proclaimed a fast there, that mere copper, wh. would not be as they might afflict themselves before God, to seek of Him a right precious as gold. way for them, and for their little ones, and for their substance. And the Lord was entreated of them, and He delivered them from works is like a the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way. bird without And Ezra, and those with him, came to Jerusalem. We see in wings; though this account, from the book of Ezra, chap. viii., that the wild she may hop tribes of the mountains were then regarded as banditti; and panions that no decrees of safe-conduct from the king would have more earth, yet she effect in those days than in the present to protect a rich caravan will never fly from ambuscade and depredation. But I must own there are heaven; but some points of observation in the encampment before me which when both are a little disturbed the resemblance between its holy grouping, and joined together, that which followed the really pious ordinance of the sacred then doth the scribe of Israel. The Mohammedan evening prayer over, all was to her eternal noise of another description; bustle and riotous merriment, rest."-J. Beau- more like preparations for a fair than a worship; showing at once the difference in spirit between the two religions. In the with her com on with them to soul mount up mont. |