may be, that all this did take place; it may be, that he "humbled himself, and went softly," as Ahab did,' considered his ways and sought forgiveness of the LORD; for a time repented him of the evil, for a time put away his sin, (how many have done-are doing-the same!) and that then, recovering from his loss, persuaded by others that Abiram's death was but a coincidence, a chance,-taught to laugh away his sorrow, he gathered strength to resume his impious work, saw with exultation, house after house arise, tower after tower rear its head, heard with pride the magnificence of the city spoken of, reckoned up his future gains, and drove away those thoughts which would sometimes intrude, of the morrow, the day of "setting up the gates." Oh! could we read men's histories, as they are in print in Heaven, could we study that sad record of their life, that speaks of God's long-suffering and their resistance of His grace, how many such a tale would unfold the solemn truth, that Hiel is not alone in his sin, that though the outward circumstances tally not, yet the same evil principle has been at work, of "despising the correction of the LORD." Look back and mark the time when God spake to you in that 1

affliction, when you found sin to be but a bittersweet, when your confession was, "I have sinned against the LORD," and you purposed to seek Him with your whole heart; when, perhaps, the pestilence was near you, and you dreaded its approach, or you were by it brought low, and your cry was, "Deliver me from this death only," and He did deliver you, and you broke off from your evil works. And have not some since cast off their fears, and with them their resolves? are not some "again entangled in the corruptions of the world and overcome?"-alas! what are such, but imitators of Hiel in his defiance, and, if they now heed not, in drawing down the further judgments of the Most High? Gradual indeed the visitation may come, but Hiel's history further tells us, that the fulfilment of God's threatenings shall be exact to each one persevering in his sin. The day of completion arrives, Jericho is rebuilt, the gates themselves are set up, but what avails it to Hiel that the sun shines brightly, and friends congratulate, and the multitudes applaud, and the desire of his heart is attained? again the voice of wailing breaks in upon their rejoicing;-ere that sun sets, Segub his youngest son is no more.... Ah! does Satan suggest to any continuing in sin,

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"Ye shall have peace, though ye walk after the imagination of your hearts?" would he lead you to hope the LORD will not execute His fierce wrath, that "everlasting fire" shall not be your portion though you go on still in your wickedness-" Know ye that there shall fall unto the earth NOTHING of the word of the LORD." Men in this day "handle God's truth deceitfully," and with unhallowed hands take from it, add to it, deem that it needs their aid to uphold it; they seek to make it palateable unto man; but, meanwhile, JEHOVAH is fulfilling that word, exactly, perfectly; it is " complishing that which He pleases, and prospering in the thing whereto He sends it;""the word of our God shall stand for ever.' The men of this world may lay their "foundations" of evil, and set up their "gates" of sin, but the curse of the Lord is in the house of the "wicked," it may break forth suddenly, in an instant. Even here their hopes are often doomed to disappointment; of the wells which they have digged, the water is naught; "the ground" whereon they have toiled is "barren," desolation is their portion; and beyond this

1 St. Matthew xxv. 41.

Isaiah xl. 8.

2 Samuel vi. 6. 4 Prov. iii. 33.

passing world there awaits them but the remembrance of abused mercies and the wrath of the Eternal God.

O ye saints of the Most High! ye who have "set to your seal that God is true," ye who "believe and are sure, that Jesus is the Christ," and "whose Hope the Lord is," know ye, that as His THREATENINGS are certain, no less certain are His PROMISES; in the one, and in the other, HE WILL DO AS HE HATH SAID; not one good thing shall fail of all that He hath promised you; He who hath helped you hitherto, will help you still, and bring you to your everlasting rest. "The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee."

VI.

NAAMAN THE LEPER.

2 KINGS chap. v., part of 1st verse.
"But he was a leper."

In the past history of man, we see as in a mirror, man as he is now; the same deceitfulness, the same need, too often the same ingratitude. There is this advantage in looking into this mirror, that we are more ready to acknowledge the evil which we see in others, than where it is pointedly addressed to ourselves; we are taken, as it were, by guile, and when Truth afterwards turns upon us, as Nathan to David, and saith, "Thou art the man," we are compelled to own the likeness. Moreover, as example is more powerful than precept, memory more easily retraces truths, when they are embodied in the history of an individual, and they do not so soon fade from the mind. May the God of all grace grant, that, in considering the history of Naaman, we may, each and all, be addressed through the

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