would become of this beloved one-whether he should live or die. In his trouble he remembers God; and so he sends his wife to the old prophet Ahijah, to Shiloh ; he was afraid or ashamed to go himself, for wicked men are great cowards. The wife of Jeroboam goes on this unpleasant errand, and came to the prophet in Shiloh. She had to listen to sad news-"hard sayings." The man of God told her that the house of Jeroboam would be destroyed-that fearful judgments would be inflicted on the nation, and that their pious Ichild would soon die. "Arise thou, therefore, get thee to thine house, and when thy feet shall enter the city, the child shall die." "And all Israel shall mourn for him," &c.

Soon after this the lovely flower faded-Abijah died. His religion could not save him from death, nor would this have been desirable;-what was judgment on his father was mercy to him. "He was taken away from the evil to come." God put forth His hand and took him away to a place of shelter before the storm. The dark cloud was about to burst upon the ungodly, and before the tempest began he was taken home. He was taken away in mercy say, because our God is love. "He doeth all things well."

This young prince was greatly respected in life, and in death he was highly honored. He alone out of the house of his father died a natural death-he alone came to the grave in peace. Indeed, he only came to the grave at all. "Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat," &c. "He only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave." (ver. 13.) He was greatly lamented by the nation; all Israel "mourned for him:" and well they might, for his departure was a great loss to them; the sun of their hope had set, and that in the early morning. But their loss was his gain. Death was to him deliverance from all temptation. "For in him was found some good thing towards the Lord God of Israel." In this short, but comprehensive passage, we are taught important truths, in regard to the nature and influence of true religion. There are four thoughts in this text to which we direct your notice :

I. THAT RELIGION IS A "GOOD THING." It is good in itself, -in its very nature. What is true piety? It is a right state of the heart in regard to God. Religion is a "good thing" because it comes from a good God. As to its origiu, its first principle,-it comes directly from Him. He is the fountain of all goodness. The fountain whence all the streams of virtue flow. He is the author of every good idea-every virtuous thing.

"Every good and perfect gift

cometh from above, from the Father of lights." Whatever goodness we find in the creature, comes directly or indirectly from Heaven. Religion is a "good thing," for it is Divine in its origin. Religion is a "good thing," for it is good in its influence. Piety has the most beneficial influence upon the whole of our being; upon the faculties and ideas of our mind; upon the love and affections of our heart; upon the whole life and conduct. When the principles of virtue are implanted in the heart, it produces the most salutary effects on the whole man. Religion restores man to the image and likeness of his maker. It makes him God-like and Christ-like in feeling and character. It converts the enemy into a friend, it makes the prodigal "arise and go to his father." "Godliness is profitable unto all things," &c. Religion is a "good thing;"-good in its influence. Religion is good, because it leads into a good place. It leads the soul directly to heaven, the best of all places. It directs the pilgrim to his home, to live with God and all happy beings for ever. It comes from heaven at first as its germ or fundamental principle, and it returns to heaven again, taking its possessor with it.

As all rivers run into the sea, whence they came; so the streams of goodness flow to the great ocean of love. "The labor of the righteous tendeth to life." God, like a mighty magnet, attracts the heart of the good man, and ere long He will draw him to the bosom of eternal love. Religion is a "good thing," it leads to a good place.

II. THAT RELIGION IS A GOOD THING IN MAN.

"There

is found in him," &c. "The kingdom of heaven is within you." the hope of glory." Religion is essentially a matter of the heart. Its first roots are implanted in the inner man. It proceeds from the centre to the circumference. The great change which takes place, when the soul is converted, takes place within. Much good is done by a righteous man; but the principle of goodness must first be in him. The whole life of the Christian is but a development of what is within; -the benevolent deeds of such a character are the outworkings of an inward state. All his virtues are the fruit of his hidden, unseen, life. The tree must be good before the fruit can be good; the fountain must be pure before the streams can be salubrious. An outward appearance of piety cannot long be maintained, without something within to sanction it. The sham edifice of the hypocrite will fall in the day of tempest, because there is no strength within to sustain it; but the real, the true man, has inward power to sustain him, when the rain descends and the winds blow upon his house. He will stand in the rainy day as well as the sunshine, "because in him there is some good thing towards the Lord God of Israel !"

Piety is an inward principle. "Christ in you

III. THAT RELIGION IS A GOOD THING TENDING TOWARDS GOD. "Toward the Lord God of Israel." There are people who have nothing good in them either towards God or man. Selfishness is their ruling principle. Self is the beginning and end of their existence. They never act from principle; they never ask What is right, what is true? but, “Will this course answer my purpose?-will it be of advantage to me personally?" They "live to themselves, and they die to themselves." There are others who have something good in them towards man, but nothing towards God. They are just to their fellow-creatures, but very unjust to their Creator; they are called, however, "nice, good sort of, men."

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The truly good man has something good in him "towards the Lord God of Israel," and towards his fellow-men too. His conscience "is void of offence towards God and man." The religious man seeks God's glory in all things. He "sets the Lord ever before him," as the grand purpose and end of his being. The bias of his soul is also towards God;— he moves Godward. The tendency of the wicked man is from God; the language of his soul is,-" Depart from me." He tries to escape from God like Cain. But the pious man "draws nigh to God"; his cry is "Whom have I in heaven but thee?" &c. "When shall I come and appear before God?" When shall I "see him face to face," and be for ever like him?

IV. THAT RELIGION IS A GOOD THING EVER MANIFEST. "There is found in him," &c. True religion always manifests itself where it exists; it is seen and felt. "The good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things."

First: This "good thing" is "found" by the Searcher of hearts. He sees it first. He can see it when no one else can. This was a source of great comfort to the old patriarch. When all regarded him as a hypocrite and an enemy of God-suffering for his great wickedness; he could appeal to his Maker and say, "Thou knowest that I am not wicked." "All things are open and naked to his eye." He discovers the "good thing" wherever it exists.

Secondly This "good thing" is "found" too by the man himself. He cannot remain ignorant long of the real state of his own heart. At first he may not possess a "full assurance of faith," yet he must know his own moral state. He must know whether he is a hypocrite, or whether he is a true Christian. He must know whether he loves God supremely, or whether his whole love is devoted to money. A man cannot but know if there is "anything good in him towards God."

Thirdly: It is "found" also by his fellow creatures. Such a character tells powerfully upon a neighborhood.

"He is

influential. His "light is not hid under a bushel.” a burning and a shining light" on the heights of the world. All can see the light there is in such a man. Religion is not a dead, worthless, thing; no, it is a living principle. Every true-hearted man has influence over his age; he leaves his "footprints in the sands of time"; and though he may not always be understood, or fully appreciated, by his contemporaries, yet he will have full justice done him by generations to come and even during his lifetime every good man is respected, and acknowledged to be a man of power and influence. Whenever there is " 'any good thing in man towards the Lord," it will be seen and felt sooner or later by mankind. Now, in Abijah, the pious young prince who lived near to God in the midst of temptation, we see a noble example to the young man of our age. Here is a youth of courage and resolve, who remained faithful to his God in a court notorious for impiety. He refused to become an idolater; he rejected the fashionable religion; he thought for himself. He absolutely refused to bow down to the golden calves of Bethel and Dan. How noble his character! how honorable his name! It will be held in everlasting remembrance. It will be remembered when the name of the wicked kings of his age will have been forgotten for ever. Yes, it will be remembered when the marble and the granite will have crumbled into dust.

Young men, follow his bright example in this material, this money-getting, age. Be real, be in earnest; seek that "good thing" which will make you strong for trial and for duty. And if you are blessed with this Divine principle within your souls, the epitaph suitable for your tombs too will be this noblest of all memorials:- "In him was found some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel."

H. P. BOWEN,