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I. THE UTTER DESTRUCTION OF THE GROSSLY WICKED. "And the two sons of Eli, Hophni, and Phinehas, were slain." The greed and lust and irreverence of the sons of Eli met with swift punishment. It was no accident which sent them together to their bloody death. So sometimes sudden destruction comes upon the enemies of God. We may not tell when or how, but its coming is sure. Here or beyond, there shall be a day of righteous retribution. But we do not come to half the evil of the lives of these wicked priests if we only look at their deaths as the outcome. For they were leaders of the people. No bad man is alone in his destruction. If the final judgment is to be deferred to a one last day, which shall be the end of probation for all, is it not in order that the results of good and evil may be worked out to the end?

II. THE IMPLICATION IN EVIL OF THE WEAKLY GOOD. Eli stands out in the gallery of Old Testament characters as the most conspicuous example of weak goodness. Influence is not measured by the correctness or the intensity of the emotions, but by strength and direction of the will. We shall be judged, not by our feelings of sympathy or kindness, but by the deeds which express our earnest purpose. It was here that Eli was lacking. There was just force enough in his convictions to control his emotions; when that was done, their force was spent, and his speech was weak and his conduct wavering. It is not only open sin, positive disobedience, violent breaking of God's law, which comes within the scope of sure retributions. III THE SAFETY OF GOD'S CAUSE. That the Lord is able to take care of His own cause is no reason why we should be careless of it, or lightly imperil its interests.

(Monday Club Sermons.)

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KJV: And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

WEB: The ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.