1 Kings 14:13 And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave… I. THAT RELIGION IS A THING WITHIN US. Godliness is something in the heart and mind. Piety is an internal principle. It is the gift of God. It is the implantation or transfusion of a new nature. Then comes the inquiry — How is it to be had? in what manner is it to be gained? "If ye, being evil," said Christ, "know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him!" How much more, I may add, will He give it to the inquiring, youthful, praying mind! II. THAT RELIGION IS INTRINSICALLY GOOD. It is called here "some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel." It is intrinsically good. I mean, in its own nature and essence. Jesus Christ has pronounced it to be "the good part," which shall never be taken away from us. And He likens it to a pearl, which it would be worth a man's while to "sell all that he had" in order to gain. It is "good," To whom is it good? It is "good" to yourselves. It is "good" for your souls. For the mind to be enlightened, for the will to be in subjection to the will of God, to reflect the beauty of Christ's own image, to walk in the way which God's own wisdom has appointed and ordained — is not this good for the soul? It is "good" to the eye of your parents. It is beautiful to the vision of your friends. It is lovely in the circle in which you move. They see the fruits of grace; they behold sweetness of temper, amiableness of demeanour, rectitude of conduct; they see high moral principles. How do they see all this? With indifference and insensibility? No, but with gladness and with gratitude. It is "good" to God. It is precious in the sight of God. You remember the twenty-eighth chapter of the Book of Job, where "wisdom" is said to surpass jewels and precious stones of every kind and description. What is this "wisdom"? The grace of God — internal purity. And as it is "good "for you in time, it will be better for you in eternity. III. IT HAS SPECIAL REGARD TO THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL. And here is its chief glory; this is the fairest, the most impressive aspect. You know how it is with the sun. Let the sun shine upon what it may — let the beams of the sun descend upon what they may — the object is illuminated; the object reflects the radiance more or less. I look upon God, according to this image, as the sun. Whensoever He comes in contact with the mind, He enlightens it; the mind reflects the brightness. And this is our chief good, this is our highest honour, this is our purest joy — that our religion has deeply and intimately to do with the Lord God of Israel. IV. REAL RELIGION IS VERY BEAUTIFUL IN YOUTH. V. WHERE IT EXISTS, IN DUE TIME IT WILL BE DISCOVERED. 1. It may long be as the seed under ground, that has taken root, but has not yet sprung up. It will spring up; and you shall see the blade, then the ear, and after that the full corn in the ear. Here is the bud; just opened — not expanded. It can be seen. There shall be the blossom presently. There shall be the ripe fruit in due time. So, if it be in the heart and mind, there is a period of its discovery. 2. It may be found sometimes in circumstances where it was not looked for. VI. RELIGION MAY NOT EXCEMPT YOU FROM DEATH, for "the child died," but it will secure to you a blessed immortality. (J. Stratten.) Parallel Verses KJV: And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam. |
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