at which it is declared that both the ears of every one that heareth them shall tingle!

There is no evidence that Eli's sons were uninstructed in those various branches of useful science, which must ever be considered so highly important as preparatory to a due discharge of the sacred duties of the priesthood, in every age; but which may be attained without the least spark of Divine grace; and, through human depravity, eventually employed against the ark of God, instead of being devoted to its service. Nor does it appear that Eli was guilty of any particular deficiency in the preceptive part of his duty, in reference to his sons; or that he neglected prayer to God on their behalf. But, though not backward in the communication of knowledge, he evidently was grossly negligent in the exercise of discipline. He expostulated, and perhaps wept, when he ought to have corrected or punished. And, alas! he lived to see the day when fatherly discipline could not be exercised, and when all that was left him. was sorrow and tears.

His sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. He neither interposed his paren

tal nor sacerdotal authority; even when their abominations had proceeded to the most alarming extent. Yea, when they committed the most gross and scandalous abominations-when, by their profaneness in the discharge of their office, they made the offerings of the Lord to be abhorred of the people; and, by their lewdness, enticed and polluted the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle - even then, instead of being roused with holy indignation, and a pious regard for the honor of God and the interests of religion, he merely expostulates with them, My sons, why do ye so wickedly? instead of suspending them from the exercise of the duties of the priesthood, or restraining their monstrous delinquencies by ecclesiastical censures, or even by condign punishment.

This want of zeal was highly displeasing to Almighty God, and plainly discovered that Eli was, in this respect, a very unworthy successor to the pontifical office of another and a better, Phinehas, who was zealous for his God*. In the chapter, out of which the

Numbers xxv. 7-13,

text is taken, we have the predictions of an inspired prophet, concerning the awful judgments which should be brought upon Eli and his house, as the punishment of that dereliction of duty which we are now considering. How awfully the last six verses were fulfilled, you may find recorded in the fourth chapter of this First Book of Samuel!

And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head. And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the way side, watching for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out. And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli. Now Eli was ninety and eight years old, and his eyes were dim that he could not see. And the man said unto

Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I

Aed to-day out of the army.

is there done, my son?

And he said, What

And the messenger an

And the

swered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people; and thy two sons, also Hophni

and Phinehas are dead; and the ark of God is taken. And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward, by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died.

The affecting scene, recorded in the verses immediately following, is too painful to dwell upon. Let us bear in mind, that this description of the death of Eli and his sons, is here given in illustration of the doctrine laid down in my text, Them that honor me I will honor; and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. The truth of this assertion, I shall now proceed to consider and establish, as it regards INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND NATIONS. And may God the Holy Ghost assist our feeble endeavours to explain his holy word, and grant that what our understandings may apprehend, our hearts may feel, and our life and practice exemplify, to the praise of the glory of his grace in Jesus Christ our Lord.

This

passage we are then to consider as

it regards,

I. INDIVIDUals.

The religion of the Bible, in order to its

being displayed in the family, and diffused throughout the nation, must first have its seat in the deep recesses of the heart. Without this personal piety, there may be the form of godliness, but its power will be unfelt, and its consolations unknown. Who then are the individuals that honor God? I answer those, and those only, who receive his word as the rule of their lives, and the test of their motives;-who receive His Son as the object of their faith, the foundation of their hopes, and the pattern for their daily imitation; that, through grace, they may attain to that mind which was also in Christ Jesus;-who receive his Spirit, as their Enlightener, Comforter, and Sanctifier. Such a man does indeed honor God: he comes to be saved in that way which infinite wisdom devised, which infinite power executed, and which infinite grace offers to every penitent and contrite heart. He honors the Divine purity, by confessing his own vileness; and the Divine mercy, by relying all his hopes upon it. He honors the Divine precepts by giving all diligence that he may obey them, and walk according to their requirements.