patriarchs and prophets-第120部分

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restraining　and　governing　the　children　that　God　had　given　to　his　care。　But
Eli　shrank　from　this　duty；　because　it　involved　crossing　the　will　of　his
sons；　and　would　make　it　necessary　to　punish　and　deny　them。　Without　weighing
the　terrible　consequences　that　would　follow　his　course；　he　indulged　his
children　in　whatever　they　desired　and　neglected　the　work　of　fitting　them　for
the　service　of　God　and　the　duties　of　life。

God　had　said　of　Abraham；　〃I　know　him；　that　he　will　command　his　children　and
his　household　after　him；　and　they　shall　keep　the　way　of　the　Lord；　to　do
justice　and　judgment。〃　Genesis　18：19。　But　Eli　allowed　his　children　to
control　him。　The　father　became　subject　to　the　children。　The　curse　of
transgression　was　apparent　in　the　corruption　and　evil　that　marked　the　course
of　his　sons。　They　had　no　proper　appreciation　of　the　character　of　God　or　of
the　sacredness　of　His　law。　His　service　was　to　them　a　common　thing。　From
childhood　they　had　been　accustomed　to　the　sanctuary　and　its　service；　but
instead　of　becoming　more　reverent；

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they　had　lost　all　sense　of　its　holiness　and　significance。　The　father　had　not
corrected　their　want　of　reverence　for　his　authority；　had　not　checked　their
disrespect　for　the　solemn　services　of　the　sanctuary；　and　when　they　reached
manhood；　they　were　full　of　the　deadly　fruits　of　skepticism　and　rebellion。

Though　wholly　unfit　for　the　office；　they　were　placed　as　priests　in　the
sanctuary　to　minister　before　God。　The　Lord　had　given　the　most　specific
directions　in　regard　to　offering　sacrifices；　but　these　wicked　men　carried
their　disregard　of　authority　into　the　service　of　God；　and　did　not　give
attention　to　the　law　of　the　offerings；　which　were　to　be　made　in　the　most
solemn　manner。　The　sacrifices；　pointing　forward　to　the　death　of　Christ；　were
designed　to　preserve　in　the　hearts　of　the　people　faith　in　the　Redeemer　to
come；　hence　it　was　of　the　greatest　importance　that　the　Lord's　directions
concerning　them　should　be　strictly　heeded。　The　peace　offerings　were
especially　an　expression　of　thanksgiving　to　God。　In　these　offerings　the　fat
alone　was　to　be　burned　upon　the　altar；　a　certain　specified　portion　was
reserved　for　the　priests；　but　the　greater　part　was　returned　to　the　offerer；
to　be　eaten　by　him　and　his　friends　in　a　sacrificial　feast。　Thus　all　hearts
were　to　be　directed；　in　gratitude　and　faith；　to　the　great　Sacrifice　that　was
to　take　away　the　sin　of　the　world。

The　sons　of　Eli；　instead　of　realizing　the　solemnity　of　this　symbolic
service；　only　thought　how　they　could　make　it　a　means　of　self…indulgence。　Not
content　with　the　part　of　the　peace　offerings　allotted　them；　they　demanded　an
additional　portion；　and　the　great　number　of　these　sacrifices　presented　at
the　annual　feasts　gave　the　priests　an　opportunity　to　enrich　themselves　at
the　expense　of　the　people。　They　not　only　demanded　more　than　their　right；　but
refused　to　wait　even　until　the　fat　had　been　burned　as　an　offering　to　God。
They　persisted　in　claiming　whatever　portion　pleased　them；　and；　if　denied；
threatened　to　take　it　by　violence。

This　irreverence　on　the　part　of　the　priests　soon　robbed　the　service　of　its
holy　and　solemn　significance；　and　the　people　〃abhorred　the　offering　of　the
Lord。〃　The　great　antitypical　sacrifice　to　which　they　were　to　look　forward
was　no　longer　recognized。　〃Wherefore　the　sin　of　the　young　men　was　very　great
before　the　Lord。〃

These　unfaithful　priests　also　transgressed　God's　law　and　dishonored　their
sacred　office　by　their　vile　and　degrading　practices；

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yet　they　continued　to　pollute　by　their　presence　the　tabernacle　of　God。　Many
of　the　people；　filled　with　indignation　at　the　corrupt　course　of　Hophni　and
Phinehas；　ceased　to　come　up　to　the　appointed　place　of　worship。　Thus　the
service　which　God　had　ordained　was　despised　and　neglected　because　associated
with　the　sins　of　wicked　men；　while　those　whose　hearts　were　inclined　to　evil
were　emboldened　in　sin。　Ungodliness；　profligacy；　and　even　idolatry　prevailed
to　a　fearful　extent。

Eli　had　greatly　erred　in　permitting　his　sons　to　minister　in　holy　office。　By
excusing　their　course；　on　one　pretext　and　another；　he　became　blinded　to
their　sins；　but　at　last　they　reached　a　pass　where　he　could　no　longer　hide
his　eyes　from　the　crimes　of　his　sons。　The　people　complained　of　their　violent
deeds；　and　the　high　priest　was　grieved　and　distressed。　He　dared　remain
silent　no　longer。　But　his　sons　had　been　brought　up　to　think　of　no　one　but
themselves；　and　now　they　cared　for　no　one　else。　They　saw　the　grief　of　their
father；　but　their　hard　hearts　were　not　touched。　They　heard　his　mild
admonitions；　but　they　were　not　impressed；　nor　would　they　change　their　evil
course　though　warned　of　the　consequences　of　their　sins。　Had　Eli　dealt　justly
with　his　wicked　sons；　they　would　have　been　rejected　from　the　priestly　office
and　punished　with　death。　Dreading　thus　to　bring　public　disgrace　and
condemnation　upon　them；　he　sustained　them　in　the　most　sacred　positions　of
trust。　He　still　permitted　them　to　mingle　their　corruption　with　the　holy
service　of　God　and　to　inflict　upon　the　cause　of　truth　an　injury　which　years
could　not　efface。　But　when　the　judge　of　Israel　neglected　his　work；　God　took
the　matter　in　hand。

〃There　came　a　man　of　God　unto　Eli；　and　said　unto　him；　Thus　saith　the　Lord；
Did　I　plainly　appear　unto　the　house　of　thy　father；　when　they　were　in　Egypt
in　Pharaoh's　house？　And　did　I　choose　him　out　of　all　the　tribes　of　Israel　to
be　My　priest；　to　offer　upon　Mine　altar；　to　burn　incense；　to　wear　an　ephod
before　Me？　and　did　I　give　unto　the　house　of　thy　father　all　the　offerings
made　by　fire　of　the　children　of　Israel？　Wherefore　kick　ye　at　My　sacrifice
and　at　Mine　offering；　which　I　have　commanded　in　My　habitation；　and　honorest
thy　sons　above　Me；　to　make　yourselves　fat　with　the　chiefest　of　all　the
offerings　of　Israel　My　people？　Wherefore　the　Lord　God　of　Israel　saith；　I
said　indeed　that　thy　house；　and　the　house　of　thy　father；　should　walk　before
Me　forever：　but　now　the　Lord　saith；　Be　it　far　from　Me；　for　them　that

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honor　Me　I　will　honor；　and　they　that　despise　Me　shall　be　lightly　esteemed。　。
。　。　And　I　will　raise　Me　up　a　faithful　priest；　that　shall　do　according　to
that　which　is　in　Mine　heart　and　in　My　mind：　and　I　will　build　him　a　sure
house；　and　he　shall　walk　before　Mine　anointed　forever。〃

God　charged　Eli　with　honoring　his　sons　above　the　Lord。　Eli　had　permitted　the
offering　appointed　by　God　as　a　blessing　to　Israel　to　be　made　a　thing　of
abhorrence；　rather　than　bring　his　sons　to　shame　for　their　impious　and
abominable　practices。　Those　who　follow　their　own　inclination；　in　blind
affection　for　their　children；　indulging　them　in　the　gratification　of　their
selfish　desires；　and　do　not　bring　to　bear　the　authority　of　God　to　rebuke　sin
and　correct　evil；　make　it　manifest　that　they　are　honoring　their　wicked
children　more　than　they　honor　God。　They　are　more　anxious　to　shield　their
reputation　than　to　glorify　God；　more　desirous　to　please　their　children　than
to　please　the　Lord　and　to　keep　His　service　from　every　appearance　of　evil。

God　held　Eli；　as　a　priest　and　judge　of　Israel；　accountable　for　the　moral　and
religious　standing　of　his　people；　and　in　a　special　sense　for　the　character
of　his　sons。　He　should　first　have　attempted　to　restrain　evil　by　mild
measures；　but　if　these　did　not　avail；　he　should　have　subdued　the　wrong　by
the　severest　means。　He　incurred　the　Lord's　displeasure　by　not　reproving　sin
and　executing　justice　upon　the　sinner。　He　could　not　be　depended　upon　to　keep
Israel　pure。　Those　who　have　too　little　courage　to　reprove　wrong；　or　who
through　indolence　or　lack　of　interest　make　no　earnest　effort　to　purify　the
family　or　the　church　of　God；　are　held　accountable　for　the　evil　that　may
result　from　their　neglect　of　duty。　We　are　just　as　responsible　for　evils　that
we　might　have　checked　in　others　by　exercise　of　parental　or　pastoral
authority　as　if　the　acts　had　been　our　own。

Eli　did　not　manage　his　household　according　to　God's　rules　for　family
government。　He　followed　his　own　judgment。　The　fond　father　overlooked　the
faults　and　sins　of　his　sons　in　their　childhood；　flattering　himself　that
after　a　time　they　would　outgrow　their　evil　tendencies。　Many　are　now　making　a
similar　mistake。　They　think　they　know　a　better　way　of　training　their
children　than　that　which　God　has　given　in　His　word。　They　foster　wrong
tendencies　in　them；　urging　as　an　excuse；　〃They　are　too　young　to　be　punished。
Wait　till　they　become　older；　and　can　be　reasoned　with。〃　Thus　wrong　habits
are　left　to　strengthen　until　they　become

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second　nature。　The　children　grow　up　without　restraint；　with　traits　of
character　that　are　a　lifelong　curse　to　them　and　are　liable　to　be　reproduced
in　others。

There　is　no　greater　curse　upon　households　than　to　allow　the　youth　to　have
their　own　way。　When　parents　regard　every　wish　of　their　children　and　indulge
them　in　what　they　know　is　not　for　their　good；　the　children　soon　lose　all
respect　for　their　parents；　all　regard　for　the　authority　of　God　or　man；　and
are　led　captive　at　the　will　of　Satan。　The　influence　of　an　ill…regulated
family　is　widespread　and　disastrous　to　all　society。　It　accumulates　in　a　tide
of　evil　that　affects　families；　communities；　and　governments。

Because　of　Eli's　position；　his　influence　was　more　extended　than　if　he　had
been　an　ordinary　man。　His　family　life　was　imitated　throughout　Israel。　The
baleful　results　of　his　negligent；　ease…loving　ways　were　seen　in　thousands　of
homes　that　were　molded　by　his　example。　If　children　are　indulged　in　evil
practices；　while　the　parents　make　a　profession　of　religion；　the　truth　of　God
is　brought　into　reproach。　The　best　test　of　the　Christianity　of　a　home　is　the
type　of　character　begotten　by　its　influence。　Actions　speak　louder　than　the
most　positive　profession　of　godliness。　If　professors　of　religion；　instead　of
putting　forth　earnest；　persistent；　and　painstaking　effort　to　bring　up　a
well…ordered　household　as　a　witness　to　the　benefits　of　faith　in　God；　are　lax
in　their　government　and　indulgent　to　the　evil　desires　of　their　children；
they　are　doing　as　did　Eli；　and　are　bringing　disgrace　on