when he asked the king of the sons of Ammon to state the grounds on which he inYaded Israel, and when on his side he refuted that statement by an historicnl retro- spect of the transactions in question. '!'hough, however, the spirit of fairness gives the best chance of an amicable settlement of controversies, it does not alw&ys lead to suci1 a settlement. Often fairness on one side is met by prejudice and unfairness on the other. But even when both parties are actuated by the like desire of getting nt the rights of a question, it may happen that there is that measure of doubt in some matter on which the controversy hinges, that honest minds may differ about it and that it _is ~nevitable t!1at men's different i_nterests, pr~possessions, and prejudices, should mclme them different ways. Thus m Jephthah s controversy with the Am- monites there was room for doubt how far the defeat and dispossession of the children of Ammon by the Amorites had for ever extinguished the claim of the former to th@ ownership of the land. That Israel bad not taken the land from the children of Ammon, or displayed any hostility towards them, was undoubtedly true. But it did not necessarily follow that the Ammonite claim was wholly unrighteous. The ques- tion bow long a time it takes to establish or to invalidate ownership is obviously a debateable one, in the decision of which personal feelings will carry much weight. In the Franco-German war of 1870 the Germans no doubt felt about Alsnce and Lor- raine that even 200 years possession by France had not wholly abrogated the German rights. And so it may have been with the king of the children of Ammon. He may have thought that he was justified in claiming the land which had once belonged to his people ; and the matter could only be decided by the arbitrament of war. The practical lesson, l1owe,·er, to be learnt is, in all the business of life, whether in politics, or commerce, or in social intercourse, or in religion, to cultivate a spirit of fairness. In religious controversies especially the value of fairness, with a view to truth, and to the peace of the Church, cannot be overrated. It is as humiliating to our Christian character as it is prejudicial to the real interests of religion, when men approach religious questions in a spirit of heated partisanship, seeking only to crush their opponents by ridicule, or abuse, or vehemence, and treating them with insult and indignity. It is no less painful to see falsehood, and suppression of truth, and pious frauds, imported into controversies, the professed object of which is to vindicate the glory of God and the truth of bis holy word. If religious controversialists would approach all subjects of difference in a spirit of thorough fairness, would look at their adversaries' arguments with a sincere desire to under- stand and appreciate them, would give due weight to them, and would believe it possible that they may have reason and justice on their side, there would be a good chance of agreement on many points which now keep Christians hopelessly asunder • .And if there should remain some points on which temperament, or education, or habits of thought, in different men, were too diverse to admit of unanimity on doubtful points, then heavenly charity would step forward and maintain that agree- ment in love which could not be attained in opinion. The unity of the spirit would not be broken the peace of the Church would not be violated, and the enemies of the gospel wo~ld not find their way to victory through the divisions and bntreds of the servants of one Lord. May the Spirit of God come as a Spirit of fairness upon all that name the name of Jesus Christ I
HOMILIES DY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vera. 1--;3.-The s/1,<J,ping injluen;ces o[ lif~. . ~hese different in their nature from that of which the poet speaks-" 'Ihere s a d1vrn1ty that shapes our ends, rough-hew them how we will" (Hamlet, V. ii.). It is an anticipative part they play. In many lives the manner in which tliey are thus influenced 1s apparent; but even when otherwise the effect is none the less powerful and lasting. It bas been questioned whether this be not the most important part of the work of creation. Of these in- fluences, notice- !. How STRONG AND VARIED THEY ARE. 1. In Jepht/1,<J,h's birth. He was a child of shame, the fruit of an age of licentiousness and idolatry. He r~ceives the title Gileadite, yet it is said Gilead was his father_; t.e must therefo~e _c1th~r ha_ve had a father with 11ucb a name, a member of the tribe of ·Manu.11aeb 1 hvmg 111 G1lend 1 or1 fJH. XI. 1-28.] THE BOOK OF JUDG f:S. 123