The mother's heart, deep in emotions of affection and urgent solicitude, is expressed in the passionate form of the address.

I. ON WOMEN OR THE DUTY OF CHASTITY. (Ver. 3.) The weakness of this passion was one of the things, Alexander the Great was wont to say, which reminded him that he was mortal David and Solomon were both warnings and beacon lights against yielding to it (2 Samuel 12:9, 10; comp. ch. 2, 5, 7).

II. ON WINE, OR THE DUTY OF TEMPERANCE. (Ver. 4. sqq.) Here is a sin in close affinity to the former (Hosea 4:11).

1. A vice degrading in all, drunkenness is most especially unbefitting those in high station. Elah (1 Kings 16:8, 9), Benhadad (1 Kings 20:16), and Belshazzar (Daniel 5:2-4), were all dark examples of the danger (comp. Hosea 7:5).

2. It may lead to moral perversion. (Ver. 5.) The woman wrongly condemned by Philip of Macedon exclaimed, "I appeal from Philip drunk to Philip sober." Ahasuerus (Esther 1:10, 11) and Herod (Mark 6:21-28) appear to have been guilty of arbitrary conduct under the same besotting influence. Men "err through strong drink" (Isaiah 28:7).

3. The true use of wine. (ver. 6.) It is a medicine for the fainting. It is a restorative under extreme depression. The Bible tolerates and admits the blessing of wine in moderation as promotive of social cheerfulness. It "maketh glad the heart of man," and is even said to "cheer God" (Judges 9:13). Hence libations were a part of the sacrificial feast offered to the Majesty on high. As an anodyne it is admitted here (ver. 7). But all this does not exempt from close circumspection as to time, place, persons, and circumstances in its use. The priests, when performing their sacred functions in the tabernacle and temple, were to abstain from wine. But here, as in other matters, there is large latitude given to the exercise of the private judgment, the personal Christian conscience. Any attempt to overrule the right of personal freedom creates a new class of evils. Let those who see their duty in that light adopt total abstinence; and others labour according to their ability to strike at the indirect and deeper causes of what many regard as a national vice. Wherever there is a widespread vice, it is rooted in some profound misery. The surest, though longest, cure is by the eradication of the pain of the mind which drives so many towards the nepenthes, or draught of oblivion.

III. ON THE FREE AND FULL ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. (vers. 8, 9.) The royal heart and hand are to be at the service of those who cannot help themselves - the widow, the orphan, the poor, and "all that are desolate and oppressed" (Job 29:15, 16). He is to be both advocate and judge. He is to be an earthly type of God. "Let his representatives on earth study the character of their King in heaven, and be conformed more fully to his image of forgiveness and love." - J.

The world has dealt severely with woman. It has always been too fashionable to distort her character, and with cruel cowardice cast on her the entire blame for all the ills humanity endures. Long ago it was declared that "if the world were only free from women, men would not be without the converse of the gods." Even pronounced woman to be "a necessary evil, a national temptation, a desirable calamity, a domestic peril, a deadly fascination, and a painted ill." There is still an Italian proverb to the effect, "If a woman were as little as she is good, a pea's pod would make her a gown and a hood." Similarly the Germans say, "There are only two good women in the world — one of them is dead, and the other is not found." So Englishmen sometimes say, "If there is any mischief you may rest sure that a woman has to do with it." It cannot be denied that the devil employed woman to accomplish the ruin of the race; that by her he disturbed Abraham's home and heart, cast innocent Joseph into prison, robbed Samson of his strength, brought life-long trouble upon David, seduced Solomon into idolatry, caused John the Baptist to be beheaded, and drove Paul and Barnabas from Antioch. But let us go over to the other side, and deal fairly with woman. Whilst we hear the harsh voices of men shamefully reviling our Saviour we cannot discover an instance of a woman insulting or injuring the God man. Whilst men — even the favoured disciples — forsook Christ and fled, women responded readily to the loving appeals of Jesus, clung constantly to His person, ministered self-denyingly to His needs, and watched patiently and persistently at His cross. Remember that "many daughters have done virtuously." It is not a few who stand before us for our admiration and gratitude. It is a glorious galaxy of pure-minded, consecrated women to whom the Church and the world are, and ever will be, indebted. And, further, recollect that they became what they were, and accomplished what they did, by personal effort. They strove to excel. They reasoned thus: "The thing is right, reasonable, desirable; circumstances demand that it should be done; therefore, with all my heart I will do it or fail in the effort." Hence the words of the wise man. "Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all." The words seem to picture before us a racecourse with women runners — the goal, perfect virtue; the course, three-score years and ten; the umpire, God; the spectators, men and angels. We see the maiden entering the lists before she reaches her teens. Young, innocent, inexperienced, and trustful, she begins the race; we watch her pressing on through youth, adolescence, and old age. Now surpassing some who started with her, then being surpassed by some who began long after her; now level, abreast of scores of equals, then outdistancing her compeers. To-day passing one barrier of temptation, and to-morrow scoring another victory. Not stopping for some fading allurements as Atalanta did, but adding one excellency to another until it is said of her: "Many daughters have run well, but thou hast outrun them all; many daughters have done virtuously, but thou..excellest them all." Young women, I ask. you each. to enter on this holy competition. Let me say, then, that you should cultivate affection for, and obedience to, your parents. We have known cases in which daughters have been callously absorbed in thoughts of themselves whilst all sympathy for the anxious and ageing mother has been wanting — where the young woman has deemed it beneath her to help a hard-toiling parent. I beseech you to remember that next to God you cannot love too deeply and lastingly those who have so sympathetically watched over and waited upon you. Never suffer either parents or friends to have cause for pronouncing you idle or indifferent to home claims. Be as careful what books you read as you are with what persons you associate. Above all, acquaint yourself with the Scriptures. And do not be ashamed to have it known that you pray. It is a lofty honour to commune with the Infinite Father.

(J. H. Hitchens, D.D.)