The natural life of man or woman is incomplete apart from the married state and children are the blessing and crown of marriage. But they may also be its ~urea !,t is_ only as God .~hapes thei~ destiny nnd mo_ulds their character, only as h~ bm)ds the house, that happmess and prospenty can be insured. Improvident ~ar~ages and parent~l neglect have been amongst the greatest causes o:': misery and VIce m all ages. As 1!1 later ages we hav;e learr,it t~at. thero is no virtu? in being a mothe_r, so we have discovered that the smgle hfe 1s not the only possible one for the samt. L Goo DELIGHTS IN GRATIFYING 00!1 LEGITIMATE NATURAL DESIRES, It is but fitting that he ~ho made us_ as we are constituted_ should supply, or place within our reach, that which shall satisfy our natural cravmgs. To do otherwise would be a refined a~d terrible cruelty. But our sin has forfe~ted for _us this claim upon his pro- ndence. It "'_'l'Ould be perfectlr lawful for him to withdraw natural supplies, nnd leave a rebellious world to perish, because of a broken covenant. But it has been far otherwise. The providence of God has been extolled by the heathen as by the Christian, by the sinner and the saint. He makes his sun to rise and his rain to fall upon the just and the unjust. Save his grace, there is no more pathetic and won- derful thing in the doings of God than this persistent and impartial providence. And in visitations like this to Manoah's wife we have glimpses of the feeling which inspires it. .A real pleasure is felt by our Father in helping and gratifying hie children. The mother has no more pleasure in giving suck to her infant than God has in making it possible for her to do so. Care and interest like thil!I prepare us for the grander exhibitions of bis grace in the gift of his only begotten Son. It could only be sustained in the breast of one who "so loved the world." .A part of this Divine love is due, doubtless, to the possibility of some of those he fosters becoming his spiritual children and heirs of his kingdom. IL HE DOES IT IN SUCH A MANNE& AS TO IMPRESS UPON THE SU11JECT OF THE BLESSING THE SACREDNESS OF THE GOD-GIVEN LIFE, AND THE TRUE GLORY OF MOTHERHOOD. The child promised is to be devoted to God from his birth. His whole life is to be a Divine service. .A special commission is to be given him for the deliverance of God's people. To this end a life of self-denial-a Nazarite life-is to be his. This con- ception of Samson's future is typical and representative. Every first-born in Israel was so regarded. .And every child should be so regarded, and taught so to regard himself or herself. There is nothing so beautiful under the sun as a life wholly and from beginning to end devoted to God. And this, though it may seem a hard and difficult thing to realise, is the shortest and truest way to happiness. The mother of such a child-every mother-is therefore called upon to sanctify herself, that her offspring shall receive from her no evil tendencies or desires. Hereditary influence is everywhere recognised throughout Scripture. III. THE OFFSPRING THUS GRANTED 18 MADE 'l'HE INSTRUMENT OF BLESSING AND DELIVERANCE TO HIS PEOPLE. There are always considerations for and against grant- ing a boon outside and inde~endently of the ordinary ~01;1rse ?f.nat~re, Consecration of the gift thus bestowed 1s the surest way of avo1dmg mJushce to others, and justifying our own super-abounding good. What a thought this for every mother to ponder I In lesser proportion and degree hers may be the wonder and forethought of Mary, the mother of our Lord, when "she hid these things in her heart. "-M. Ver. 5.-Tlie diificulty ofsal~ation. ".And_he_shall begin ~o deliv~r Israe)," There is a parsimony of expression here that 1s highly expressive, It 1s not said, "he shall deliver" as of a complete work, but only "he shall begin" to do so. How many reasons we~e there for this I Do they not also hold good for the grander work of human salvation? I. HINDRANCES To THE co:MPLETE SALVATION OF ISRAEL. 1. le was a work which required to be, in the first pla£e, and mainly, spiritual in order to its being thorough. 2. Jn order w thu the penalty of past transgressim /uuJ, in greater measure to be felt. The transgression had been great, repeated, and habitual. .A stem lesson had to be re:ad to the guilty. It was an evil inflicted in order to induce repentance, 'rhe moral dep!l 1s of Luman nature were being sounded and discovered to_ itself, that in the fol11c/;B of time a Divine Saviour might be Bought. 3. Meanwliile t/i,e nature and err. xm. 1-25.J THE BOOK OF JUDGES. 143
character of tlie deliverer did not admit of such a work being completed. Ile wa.e but o. rno.n: his consecration was merely or chiefly external; the faults of his character were glaring. Bis deeds, accordingly, are those of physical heroism and strength. Only once or twice do o.ny hints of more than human wisdom occur. II. CONSOLATIONS ATTACHED TO THIB INCOMPLETE SALVATION. 1. It was actually begun. 2. God liad undertaken it, and provided the instrument. 3. As being a professedl'!I_ partial undertaking, it showed a far-reaching and tliorough scheme. 4. Tlie conditions of its 1tltimate accomplishment were with themselves.-M. Vers. 2-5.-God's use of unlikely means for gracwus ends. The cne1s was grave, relief being, humanly speaking, impossible. The family chosen for the experiment an ordinary one, of no social standing. The mother of the promised child barren. The sustenance enjoined of the most meagre description, not likely to produce strength or furnish artificial stimulus. No inward holiness is shown by Samson. J. fr SHOWS A PURPOSE'OI!' ENGAGING THE SINNER, EITHER PERSONALLY OR REPRESfillT· ATIVELY, IN THE TASK OF IIIS OWN SALVATION. Tlie humblest transgressor cannot bo saved without his own self-surrender and willing co-operation. II. TIIE HIGHER SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES, FAITH, HOPE, &c., ABE EVOKED IN THOSE WHO ARE THUS SAVED. 'fhe human agent is thus put in his right place. Be secures the sympathies of his fellow-countrymen. Their hopes rise or fall as he prospers or is hindered in his task. The blessing of God must therefore be invoked, and the pro- mise of God implicitly believed. III. .ALL THE GIFTS OF OUR NATURE ABE SHOWN TO BE DmNE IN THEIR ORIGm, AND THEIR CONSECRATION IS ENCOURAGED. IV. THE SAVING GRACE OF GOD IS THUS VINDICATED AS HIS OWN, AND HE HIMSEL!I' DECLARED THE ONLY SAVIOUB.-M.