_And search was made in the house of the rolls._ THE SEARCH FOR THE DECREE OF CYRUS Learn-- 1. Honest and thorough investigation promotes the interests of religion and of the Church of God. 2. The advantage of written history. 3. How great should be our gratitude for the sacred writings. (_Will... [ Continue Reading ]
_And let the expenses be given out of the king’s house._ A BELIEVER’S EXPENSES I. What are our expenses? The expenses referred to in the text are those connected with the return of the Jews to their own land, the rebuilding of the temple and its continual sacrifices. 1. Our release from the thral... [ Continue Reading ]
_Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews._ THE SCRIPTURAL WARRANT FOR AN ESTABLISHED CHURCH Look at this history, and consider candidly the great principles involved in these facts. Consider-- I. Who these men were who issued these decrees concerning the building, an... [ Continue Reading ]
_That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven._ SACRIFICE AS A RULE OF SUPPLICATION UNTO GOD I have made choice of this passage to show that sacrifice was a rite of supplication to God, wherein the supplicant came not with his naked prayer, but presented something unto God... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai._ THE TRUE PULPIT THE BEST PROMOTER OF HONEST INDUSTRY It-- I. quickens the power of thought. He quickens public thought most who presents the most startling subjects with the highest enthusiasm. The true pulpit does this. The subjects it pres... [ Continue Reading ]
_To seek the Lord God of Israel _ SEEKING GOD Birds are very fond of catching the last evening rays of a winter’s sun, and are often to be found in the afternoon on banks facing the west, or swinging, if there is no wind, on the topmost branch of trees. On the mountains, too, all birds, as the su... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the Lord had made them joyful._ GOD THE JOY-BRINGER I. God is the joy-maker. 1. The object of much that God does is simply the blessedness of human hearts. The poorest creature that lives has a right to ask of God the satisfaction of its instincts, and every man has a claim on God to make hi... [ Continue Reading ]