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THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S so reverenced that none would call in question what was transacted in his house.—Brown. v. 5. I said Drink. He does not say “The Lord saith Drink” for then they would have been bound to obey.— Jamieson. Set before them pots of water. Temptations like misfortunes are often sent to test our moral strength.-—Valois. The virtue which has never been attacked by temptation is deserving of no mention.—Scuder. On this earth all is temptation. Crosses tempt us by irritating our pride, and prosperity by flattering it. Our life is a continual combat but one in which Jesus Christ fights for us.—Penelon. v. 6. We will drink no wine. The prophet knew very well they would deny it and when they did, urged it no far ther. Those temptations are of no force with men of confirmed sobriety which yet daily overcome those of no resolu tion.—Henry. We do well not to touch alcohol, not to strike our roots too deeply into this world where we are pilgrims and strangers, and to cultivate the pilgrim spirit which looks for and travels toward the city which hath foun dations.—Meyer. A strong, proud, de cisive answer is the true reply to all temptation.—Sel. v. 7. Neither shall ye build house. That they might be armed against temp tations to luxury and sensuality, the prevailing sin of the age and place they lived in. Humility and contentment in obscurity are often the best policy and men’s surest protection.—Henry. ’ v. 8. Thus have we obeyed. The key thought of this chapter is obedience to God.—Sum. Bible. He charged us to drink no wine. Drinking water neither makes a man sick nor in debt nor his wife a widow.—Neal. Except you desire to hasten your end, take this for a general rule, that you never add artificial heat to your body by strong drink.—Raleigh. It is all nonsense
about not being able to work without fermented liqu,ors. Do cart horses drink wine?—Sidney Smith. It is temper ance that enables nature to exert her self in all her force and vigor.-—Addi son. Temperance puts wood on the fire, meal in the barrel, flour in the bin, money in the purse, credit in the coun try, contentment in the house, clothes on thè back and vigor in the body.— Franklin. Intemperance is a fearful enemy of God and man. It makes ruth less war upon the people, it blasts and destroys their homes as with pestilence and fire. It has killed savagely and cruelly more than one hundred thou sand a year.—Dow. v. 9. Nor to build houses. A man may not claim to be a Bible moralist because he keeps two of the ten com mandments. Jesus Christ does not call us to a partial pledge. When modern Rechahs drink no wine but build houses and abandon tents, they should say clearly that they are obeying the Rechab vow in one respect only.—People’s Bible. v. 13. Go and tell Judah. The Re- chabites were obedient to one who was but a man like themselves, but the Jews were disobedient to an infinite and eternal God who had an absolute au thority over them as the Father of their spirits.—Henry. Hearken to my words. Look carefully that love to God and obedience to His commands be the prin ciple and spring from which your ac tions flow.—Burkitt. From obedience and submission to God spring all other virtues, as all sin does from self opin ion.—Montaigne. How will you find true good? It is not a thing of choice. It is a river that flows from the foot of the invisible throne and flows by the path of obedience.—Saadi. v. 14. Notwithstanding I have spok en. The obedience of many unsaved people to the moral laws laid down by wise men of the world should put to
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