shepherd's bag, confiding, not in any human means, but in the strength of the living God. Hence when GoHath scorned his youthful appearance, and derided his preparations for the con- flict, David replied in the words of our text, " Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and wdth a shield : but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts."
How striking was this contrast ! how exemplary the conduct of David ! and how illustrative of the spirit in which the true Cliristian goes forth against his spiritual enemies, and prepares to combat the world, the flesh, and the devil !]
The close of our text leads us to notice,
II. The issue of the conflict —
According to all human expectations it must be decided in favour of Goliath —
[There was, as it should appear, no room for competition between the combatants ; the one a youth, a shepherd, unused to war, and destitute, as we may say, either of defensive or offensive armour ; and the other, a man of immense strength, trained to war from his very youth, and armed with all that the ingenuity of man could furnish : his armour altogether impenetrable to the stones, with which alone the youth was prepared to oppose him.]
But his strength was weakness, when opposed to the God of Israel —
[The first stone which David cast at him, was directed by an unerring arm, and an almighty power : it pierced the fore- head of Goliath, and in a moment realized the youth's pre- diction. Thus was the proud boaster " delivered into David's hand ;" and David, unprovided with any sword of his own, took the sword of his adversary, and with it cut off his head. And no sooner did the Phihstines behold their champion dead, than they fled from Israel with terror, and yielded themselves an easy prey to their pursuers.]
We forbear to suggest the various reflections na- turally arising in the mind from this event, because God himself has told us,
III. The design of the dispensation — It was intended,
1. For the instruction of the world —
[Men in general think but httle of God; and because they do not see him, they are ready to suppose that he does not interfere in the affairs of men. They imagine that they may set at nought his authority, and pour contempt on his