October 29

notice of Gabriel. Yet the greatest essential would be wanting still if we did not enjoy this rest with the Saviour himself—But we shall be for ever with the Lord.

We are therefore finally informed of the period of this blessedness—"When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels." Not that there is no intermediate state; for as soon as absent from the body, they are present with the Lord. But till then they are not complete in number, in person, in estate. But then the body will be raised and ennobled; then all the redeemed and sanctified will be gathered together unto him; then all his designs on their behalf will be accomplished; then "he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and admired in all them that believe."

OCTOBER 29.—"For God blessed him."—1 Chronicles 26:5.

WHEN Balak sent to hire Balaam, he flattered him by saying, "I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed." The compliment betrays profaneness, ignorance, and falsehood. But the language will justly apply to God. His voice is almighty—His words are realities—His benediction is efficiency—He whom God blesseth is blessed; and none can reverse it. Of this blessing we here read. The subject of it was Obed-edom. The occasion is marked in an earlier portion of the sacred history. It was his entertainment of the ark when David, displeased and terrified by the death of Uzzah, refused to go on with the removal of it to Jerusalem, and carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite, where it remained three months.

But what was the nature of this blessing? Good men judge by a rule of their own: they walk by faith, and not by sight. They value no blessings like spiritual blessings, because these are for the soul and eternity. They therefore pray, "Remember me, O Lord, with the favour thou bearest unto thy people; O visit me with thy salvation." And this we have reason to believe was the desire and the experience of Obed-edom. But what is here spoken of intends rather a temporal blessing, suited to the dispensation under which he lived, and which abounded much with the promise of the life that now is. Personally considered, he had health and strength, firm nerves, and fine spirits. His undertakings flourished. His possessions were preserved, increased, enjoyed. His domestic comforts were sweetened and relished. His wife was a fruitful vine by the sides of his house. His children like olive plants round about his table. Both before and after the text, mention is made of the number, the ability, and eminence of his sons. It is also said, "the Lord blessed his household—and all that pertained to him, because of the ark of God."

Let us distinguish between the circumstances and the essence of this blessing. We may then ask, Is the case of this good man a singular one? Has not our Saviour said, "There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting." Have the generous ever repented of their liberality, even on a secular ground? Have the most public-spirited Christians been the least successful

VOL. II.

even in their worldly affairs? But a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things that he possesseth. A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. The blessing of the Lord maketh rich even with competency; and he addeth no sorrow with it. How much more desirable is it to inherit his blessing ourselves, and to leave it to our offspring, than to possess, and to bequeath thousands of gold and silver without it!

"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." So said God to the selfish and saving Jews. We say the same to you. Put his word to the trial, wherein he has said, "The liberal soul deviseth liberal things, and by liberal things shall he stand." "He which soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully." Herein we may see how little faith there is in the earth. They shall prosper that love Zion. A regard therefore to their own welfare should make men liberal; and if they believed the word of God, there would be forthcoming contributions enough for every private charity and all public institutions. But we are afraid to make God our banker; and cannot rely upon his promise and providence.

Yet while we are reproved, let us also be encouraged, and stand ready to every good work. There are two cases in which we may peculiarly resemble Obed-edom in conduct and condition. The one is when we open our doors, and receive, in a way of Christian hospitality, the Lord's followers or ministers. "He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward." The other is when, to use the words of Scripture, we have a Church in our house. This was the case with Priscilla and Aquila. It was a common thing in the beginning of the Gospel, before places were expressly built for religious assemblies. Nor is the practice unknown in many of our villages now. When the preacher has first gone to publish the Gospel, he has been often indebted to some poor rustic who has lent his cottage to the Lord. He has sometimes drawn upon himself reproach and persecution; but the Lord has blessed him. And when also you establish the worship of God in your family, kneeling before his living oracles, and offering the sacrifices of prayer and of praise, never imagine the time employed in these exercises lost. You cannot serve God for nought, while the promise and the threatening remain: "Them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed." "The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just."