The Pulpit in the Family:

A DOMESTIC HOMILY ON MARRIAGE.

"And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore get her for me to wife," &c.-Judges xiv. 1-4.

THE reader of Old Testament History would not be captivated by the religious character of Samson. That he was a good man, might by some even be doubted. But in the Epistle to the Hebrews, he is numbered among those "of whom the world was not worthy." One remarkable feature of Holy Scripture is, that it reveals the faults of good men. The heroes of the Bible are men, human-thoroughly human. They may have been possessed of supernatural endowments, but their humanity never leaves them. The Scriptures are full of life and reality. This is a source of consolation to us amid our imperfections.

One object of the Word of God is, to teach us how to live. Religion is not a system of doctrines, the comprehension or reception of which secures eternal life, but a revelation of truths, and principles, which influence the conduct, mould the character, form the man, fit him for earth, and prepare him for heaven. And these principles are not distinctly stated in so many formulæ, but are developed in scenes of every-day life.

To understand character, much reflection is necessary. To get at human motives and secrets of action is extremely difficult it is so with regard to one's own; how much more with regard to others'! There is no character much more difficult to comprehend than that of Samson. Our impression is, that he was of a bold, generous dis

position, doing everything with all his heart—his passions partaking of the vigor of his constitution, and incapable of guile.

In judging his character and conduct, we must consider the time and circumstances in which he lived. Many things were permitted then, which are not sanctioned now. But it may be asked, Can sin ever be sanctioned? Sin, it is replied, must depend on God's commands. It was sin to eat the forbidden fruit, because it was forbidden. Polygamy is now sin, because it is now forbidden ;—it was then permitted. In the days of ignorance, God winked at many things which He now condemns.

To the marriage of Samson I invite your attention, or rather to his life, and his marriage, as influencing his life. It frequently happens that to one single circumstance, one's future career may be traced. One event, or one feature, sometimes forms the key-stone to the whole life and character. Thus with Samson, his affections or passions, his marriage or marriages, gave the direction to his whole course, and determined his life and death.

The circumstances attendant on the birth of Samson excite great expectation concerning him. It is foretold by an angel; he is to be a Nazarite,-placed under special vows, and consecrated to God. He had an important mission; to "begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines." In course of time Samson is born, "and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him. And the Spirit of the Lord began to move him at times in the camp of Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol."

From these words it would seem, that in boyhood Samson had monitions of his strength and destiny. The condition of the children of Israel at this time, would move his spirit. They were in the hands of the Philistines, and content to be so; they were sunk in inglorious and dastardly subjection. Samson would long for their deliverance.

Arrived at manhood, Samson sees in Timnath a Daughter of the Philistines, whom he desires to marry. He asks his

parents to negociate the marriage. They object, and with force. They say unto him, "Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines?" Samson overrules. We are told in the fourth verse that "his father and his mother knew not that it was of the Lord, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines." Now, how is this language to be understood? That God should work good out of evil, is not at all strange. The condition of the Jews rendered some extraordinary step necessary. They were at this time spiritless cowards. A nation does not become all at once illustrious. The Jews had been slaves in Egypt. The race who left Egypt were not fit to enter Canaan. A direct appeal to their sense of shame had been useless. God adopts this method. But did Samson know this? It is possible that a divine impulse led him to expect something; but that this constituted his motive, we do not think consistent with his character. In him there was no apparent guile. He was marked by an open manliness of character, which would almost atone for ten thousand vices-noble generosity of spirit, such as one loves. His strong passions enslaving the strong man, subsequently, may illustrate this. We are disposed to think "she pleaseth me."

his assigned reason the true one, Was there anything wrong in this marriage? If there were, God was not responsible. God permits us to do as we wish, and works out His glory by us whilst we are simply seeking the gratification of our own lusts and desires. That God does so, is no excuse for our conduct. The Jews fulfilled the purposes of God when they put Christ to death, but their guilt in so doing, was none the less. But was the marriage sinful? I feel uncertain. It was, to say the least, highly inexpedient. There was, or should have been, to each of them, a point of difference, more powerful than any bond of union. As it regards the woman, subsequent As it regards Samson, An Israelite should have married

events show that this it ought to have been.

was the case.

with his own people. "She pleaseth me," was not a sufficient reason. To the spiritual Israel, the path of duty is plain. Christians are at liberty to marry "only in the Lord." Mixed marriages are both inexpedient and sinful. "Be ye not unequally yoked." God's glory ought to be

A man who loves God

the Christian's aim in everything. as he ought, cannot love an ungodly wife, as a husband ought to love; a woman who loves God, cannot reverence an ungodly husband, as a woman ought to reverence her husband. Conjugal claims, and the claims of God would be in constant collision. Such marriages are also constant sources of temptation. Moreover, they are inexpedient ;"she pleaseth me," is a poor reason for marriage. Beauty soon fades. Accomplishments lose their attractions. Oneness of heart and sentiment on the highest point, is essential to full communion, especially in the present state of society. If men or women did but feel how much the whole future life, and perhaps the eternal destiny hang upon matrimonial engagements, they would pause before they rushed into them. Sincere affection, and congeniality on the highest points, alone can warrant marriage. "But am I to crucify my affections?" one may say. Yes!-and better before than after marriage-for affection will not live long where minds and tastes are uncongenial. Others may exclaim, "If these be the requisites, We shall never marry." And suppose you don't. Marriage is not the main end of existence, either for man or woman. There is no subject on which education is so vicious, or popular novels are so injurious as on this. You are to glorify God in your calling, or state, whatever it may be, and to leave what it may be to God. Remember, it is possible to marry, but there is no room for repentance. The step is irremediable. Its effects abide for ever.

We think, then, that Samson made a mistake. Had he been strong over his own lusts and passions, he might perhaps, in a more glorious way, have wrought out the deliverance of Israel.

His parents, however, consent. They go down to Timnath. He is betrothed. On his way he encounters a lion. "The spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand." After a time he returned to take his wife, and found honey in the carcase of the lion. The marriage takes place. At the marriage feast, they amuse themselves with asking riddles. Samson says, "I will now

They reply, Samson does

put forth a riddle unto you, if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of raiments; and if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and thirty change of garments." "Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it." So. "Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness." For three days they endeavour to expound the riddle, but in vain. At length they apply to Samson's wife, and threaten to burn her and her father's house with fire, if she entice not her husband to reveal the answer. She basely yields. By tears and entreaties she succeeds, and Samson loses the wager. Full of wrath, he slays thirty meu of Ashkelon, and from the spoils of their own countrymen he satisfies his companions. Thus God makes Samson His instrument for the accomplishment of His purposes on the Philistines. After a while Samson, apparently reconciled in heart to his wife, returns to her abode. She is given to another—the friend of the bridegroom. Another occasion for afflicting the Philistines is thus presented. Full of wrath, he sends foxes, or jackalls, with firebrands among the corn. The Philistines burn his wife and her father with fire. Thus her conduct brings about the fate to avoid which, when threatened, she had sold her husband. Sin brings its own punishment. Samson smites the Philistines hip and thigh. They come up to Lehi and bind him. The men of Judah, three thousand in number, go to take him. He delivers himself to them. The spirit of God again comes upon him,

Vol. V.

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