to be carefully guarded against and nipped in the very bud. That simplicity of aim nnd purpose which was so sublimely apparent in the words nnd works of the Lord Jesus should be the mark which his disciples should constantly strive to attain. The work v:hich is done partly for a man's self is only half done. The work which is done entirely for God is done wholly. The thorough practical feeling that all our gifts and powers, be they great or small, are given to us by God for his service is a great help. towards such pure an~ righteous us~. of the!11· Bu~ we must not forget that there 1s a further stage of this abuse of spmtual gifts wluch can only end in a grievous fall. (1od i~ very patient and long-suffering, and puts up, maybe, with our lesser offences m this respect, only gently rebuking us, and giving us significnnt warni1;1gs of our dan_ger. ,B~t if these warnings ~re neglected, the state of pre- sumption may gTow till there 1s no remedy. In this state of mind men rush into temptatio~ as if there could be no danger for them. They repudiate or neglect prayer, as if prayer was not needful for them. They lose all the marks of a gracious sou_!, and yet they are not frightene~ at their ab~ence. .And then comes a fall, may- be mto the gross darkness of unbelief, maybe mto the abyss of sensual sin, which to the world seems sudden, but which had really been steadily advancing through the successi'l'e stages of presumption and self-confidence. The Spirit of the Lord departs from them, and Satan enters into them. Gifts witlwut grace unprofitable. But we cannot dismiss the sad history of Samson without the reflection that gifts, however splendid, and powers, however eminent, are useless without the grace to use them aright. Wha.t might not Samson have effected for his country and his generation if his extraordinary strength had been used humbly, wisely, and consistently in the service of God and for the good of Israel I If his own passions of Inst, and anger, and revenge had been under the control of that Holy Spirit which so wondrously strengthened his body, and his single aim had been to walk with God and do good to man, what a career his would have been I But as it was all went to waste. Desultory actions leading •to no lasting result, mighty efforts followed by shameful weakness, and heroic courage defeated by bis own· imbecility of purpose, made a life all marred and blotted, aimless and purposeless-a brilliant disappointment, a splendid failure, a glorious shame. But it has left this further lesson to be weighed and pondered by us all, and especially by those who are most richly endowed with intellectual or spiritual gifts, that while God can accomplish his own designs through our abuse as well as our use of his good gifts, and through our failures as well as through our successes, it rests with ourselves to improve each talent committed to us, and so to use them that they may be found unto our own honour and praise and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. VE'rs. I-3.-God redeeming the error of his servant. The visit to the "harlot_' is not to be explained away. The character of Samson ~xplains it~ nature. T~1s was the side where he was weak, the Jove of women. His sensuahty betrays him into a great danger. God shows his affection for bis servant, and for Israel w~om he bad delivered, by granting strength for a signal and unexpected escape, which was marked by trophies covering his enemies with shame. I. WE OUGHT TO BEWARE OF A ONE-SIDED MORALITY. External morality, like Samson the N azarite's, is almost certain to be of this kind. The saint sh~uld leave no unguarded place. Only the indwelling of the Holy Ghost can de)1ve1 from besetting sins. The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth from all sin, II. .A BINGLE SIN MAY UNDO THE FAME AND SUCCESS OF A LIFETIME. III. WHEN SAINTS FALL INTO SIN THE WICKED TRIUMPH AND ARE CONFIDENT JF THEIR RUIN. The conception which the world has of sainthood is on~ of perfect external blamelessness, the least infraction of which is hailed as utter :f.a1lure. When one failing like this iH discovered, many more are imagined. How s~re are these cowards of the capture of their foe I Or do they only seem to be so, usmg words of confidence and procraHtination to conceal their inward fear? ls ihere not an un- sounded mystery &c., that cannot be calculated upon, in the defcetions of God's people? What ;nd if Peter be restored again? 'l'he awaking of him whom God OH, XVI, 1-22.] THE BOOK OF JUDGES. 171
rouseij from fleshly slumbers will ever take the wicked by surprise. The evil is that the Churr.h too often shares the world's view about the irrecoverableness of backsliders. How often have God's saints been able to shout, "Rejoice not over me, 0 mine enemy I'' IV. THE GRACE OF GOD SOMETIMES DELIVERS HIS SERVANTS FROM THE CONSEQUENCES Oll' THEin OWN JJ'OLLY AND BIN, Sometimes, but not always. Frequently enough for hope, but not for presumption. But the victory will be wholly his own. The trophy of deliverance will reflect no credit upon the delivered one. He would rather deliver us from our sin itself. He has promised that he will heal our backslidings. V. THE TEMPORARY TRIUMPHS OF SIN ARE SWALLOWED UP IN THE ETERNAL RE- DEMPTIONS OF GOD. The gates of Gaza, the chief city of Philistia, are lifted off and carried to the top of the hill beside Hebron, the chief city of Judah. Every Israelitd could see them in their exalted place of exhibition. So shall it be with the victories of the Lamb. He in whom was no sin, but who was made sin for us, shall deliver from all sin, and make us "more than conquerors." The seed of Abraham was to "possess the gate of its enemies" (Gen. xxii. 17; cf. xxiv. GO). The gates of hell shall not prevail against the kingdom of Christ.-M.