the eternity that is to follow. Then in the limitless ages to come " He will show the exceeding riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Him unto a dispensa tion of the fulness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth . . . according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His will " (Eph. i. 9-1 1, ii. 7, R.V.).
We now come to the I4th verse. First let me give a word of explanation in reference to the difference of the names here as compared with the loth verse. As to 0?n, Helem, it is the same as ^n, Heldai, the difference being probably occasioned by a very slight scribal error of running two separate Hebrew letters into one. " Hen " is not a proper name at all, but an appellative, meaning " the favour," or " grace," and is rightly rendered in the margin of the R.V. and by all scholars, " and for the kindness of the son of Zephaniah."
This is very beautiful. The crowns were to be deposited in the Temple of God as a memorial, not only of these three distinguished strangers who had brought their own and their brethren's offerings for the House of God, but as a memorial also of " the kindness " of this true son of Abraham, who, as stated at the beginning of this exposition, was evidently a man given to hospitality, and received these three strangers into his house. It was apparently a small service rendered to the cause of God, but it was very precious to Him because it was doubtless done for His Name's sake. And so many a little and apparently insignificant deed done out of love for our Lord Jesus yea, even the cup of cold water given in the name of a disciple is treasured up in His memory, and shall in no wise lose its reward " For God is not unrighteous to forget your work, and labour of love, which ye have showed toward His Name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister" (Heb. vi. 10). "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith " (Gal. vi. i o).
