I. A BOND OF INTERNATIONAL UNION. The interchange of commodities among the different peoples of the earth one of the surest means of promoting peace and causing wars to cease.

II. A SIGN OF ADVANCING CIVILIZATION. When a nation's wants multiply beyond its own power directly to meet them, it naturally draws upon the resources of lands and peoples beyond itself. Thus while the existence of these wants marks the upward progress of the nation itself, the effort needed to supply them acts as a stimulus to other peoples to join in the onward march.

III. A SYMPTOM OF DECLINING PATRIOTISM. No truer indication that the national sentiment amongst a people is becoming feeble than the slavish imitation of the manners and customs, speech and dress, of a stronger neighbour.

IV. A SYMBOL OF RELIGIOUS DECLENSION. In this light regarded by the Egyptian or Chaldean raiment worn by Judaean princes and peasants meant that their hearts were hankering after Egyptian or Chaldean idolatry. So when Christians conform to the world's ways, adopting its maxims and principles, manners and customs, thoughts and feelings, sentiments and practices - all of which should be to them what foreign clothes were to Israel - there is reason to suspect that a backward movement in religion has begun. - T.W.

1. The distinguishing capacity of man. To receive the word of Jehovah. To receive a word from another is to appreciate its meaning. The word of the Lord comes to every man at times, — comes in visions of the night, comes in the intuitions of conscience, comes in the impressions that nature makes on the heart.

2. The wonderful condescension of God. Even to speak to man. "The Lord hath respect unto the humble."

II. THE MORAL CORRUPTION OF MAN AND THE EXCLUSIVE PREROGATIVE OF GOD.

1. The moral corruption of man. There are three great moral evils indicated in these verses.(1) Idolatry. "I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests; and them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops." The remains of Baal worship, which as yet Josiah was unable utterly to eradicate in remoter places.(2) Backsliding. "Them that had turned back from the Lord." The other evil here is —(3) Indifferentism. "And those that have not sought the Lord nor inquired for Him."

2. The exclusive prerogative of God. What is that? To destroy. "I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the Lord. I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumbling blocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the Lord."(1) No one can really destroy but God. "I kill and I make alive." Annihilation is as far behind the work of the creature as the work of creation.(2) God has a right to destroy human life.(3) His destructive work is as beneficent as His sustaining and creating. Destruction is a principle in all nature: one plant destroys another, one animal destroys another, and there are elements in nature whose work is destruction. From destruction new life and beauty come; destruction keeps the universe alive, fresh, and healthy.

(Homilist.)