_Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world: both low and high, rich and poor, together._ THE INEQUALITIES OF SOCIETY Impressive and instructive that scene in the wood of Senart, when a luxurious Louis, royally caparisoned for hunting, met a wretched peasant with a coffin.... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will open my dark saying upon the harp._ DARK SAYINGS Some minds are darker than a dark saying. Doubt is cloudland; and cloudland presupposes the existence of some degree of light. In complete darkness no cloud is perceived. The time at which a man begins to doubt is the critical point of life.... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever._ REDEMPTION I. Its subject--the soul of man. Think-- 1. Of its powers. 2. Of its affections. 3. Of its duration. II. Its price--the precious blood of Christ. III. The period of its accomplishment. It is limited; “it cease... [ Continue Reading ]
_Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish._ THE WORLDLING’S DOWNFALL I. A carnal man may possibly thrive and prosper, and grow great here on earth (Psalms 73:3; Jeremiah 12:1; Job 21:7). The Scripture also giveth more light to this doctrine by examples, provi... [ Continue Reading ]
_This their way is their folly._ THE FOLLY OF SIN There can be no greater evidence of the degeneracy of mankind than their fond pursuits after the things which are light and momentary, and their wilful neglect of those which are of the greatest value and concern. 1. It is egregious folly to rely... [ Continue Reading ]
_Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them!_ TWO SHEPHERDS AND TWO FLOCKS (with Revelation 7:17):--These two verses have a much closer parallelism in expression than appears in A.. The R.V. renders the former of my texts, “Death shall be their shepherd,” and the latter, “The... [ Continue Reading ]
_Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased._ EMPTY-HANDED WE DEPART I remember an Eastern legend which I have always thought furnished a remarkable commentary on these words of the psalmist. Alexander the Great, we are told, being upon his death-bed, comman... [ Continue Reading ]