c-alls t,, rise t,1 n1ore arduous positions in the Chnreh, or to enter on some line ui pri,·ate Cl,ri,tian ernieavonr that shall more truly bless mankind. Let devout men ,wt forg-<'t that thr Divine C'all to higher work is not confined to pnblie functionaries. A II kind, "f \\·urkrrs are cngngcd on the spiritnal temple. J J. ThPJ'(' is A ~1'1,CIAI. FITNF.SS Rl,QU!RE[) FOR HIGHER SERVICE. Obviously onlr a Sanrnel trninrtl by a devout mother, accnstomed to the hallowed association; of ihe ,,:and11,1r_,·. "·ns s11itrd for the work that had henceforth to be done. The chief ~lernrnts_ that qualify for ent_rnnce on higher servic_e ar~--1. peep piety; for as piety 1s a 1·eq111s1te to all nsC'fo 1 spmt1!al ~,·ork, so deep piety 1s req111red for the more trying forms of usC'folness. 2. Fidelity lll lower forms. He that is faithful in th.at which is l~ast becomC's fitted f?r superi~r responsibpities. "Come up higher" is the voice winch rrmn_is C'arth!): toil. 3. _1\ atural aptitude for new emergencies. God never p11ts a man m a pos1t1on for winch natural powers when sanctified are unsuited. The ,Hmdro11~ adaptations in the material world find their ana]oo-ies in the spiritual. 4. Rean'.:;;ess to endure what is unknown. God's servants ha:e to enter an untra- versNl grunnd, and their qualiticat<ion for a call to this must embrace a spirit that says, '' 1I ere am I." " Speak, Lord." " 'What wouldst thou have me to do? " The representation given of Samuel, and of others in the Bible, shows that they were endowed with these qualifications. This, also, may be a test by which good men rnay now j11dge of tl1ernbelns. No one ought to think of departing from any useful sphere of Jabour without severe scrutiny as to capabilities for heavier duties. Ill. The FITNESS FOR HIGHER SERVICE IS, IN SOME INSTANCES, UNCONSCIOUSLY A, ·Ql'II\ED. Growth is not felt while in process, and only when attention is called to it is the fact recognised. Samuel became month by month more pious and true; _his ;,ptitudes enlarged, and his courage rose with every discharge of inconvenient duty. ll<> became spiritually wealthy without being aware of it-sure evidence of vital "·odliness. The disposition sometimes found to complain of one's lot, to hanker after ~ome more showy occupation in God's service, and to watch and plan for personal adv,rncement, is not a good sign. The humble deeds of opening the door, lighting the lamps of the house of God, when done out of pure love for the Lord of the ~anctuary, are means of raising the tone of the entire life. To do the smallest deed ;,,r Christ is blessed, and years of such fond service is an education, the results of which are only brought out to view when a perhaps sudden demand is made for some difficult duty. By his bitter repentance, and the all-absorbing love for Christ C'u11sequent on foll restoration, Peter little knew that he was becoming the man to J,,ad the Church on to great triumphs. • l\'. The MEANS OF CALLING TO HIGHER SERVICE ARE WONDERFULLY SUITED TO THE , 1 nc--c~rsTANCE. The miraculous manifestation of the Divine Ileing was in harmony "ith the method b_y which, as Samuel knew from history of the past, God conveyed l,is will to men. No terror would arise in his spirit, for he was accnstomed to rnerence the lwu,t;e of God, and to feel that God was nigh. A pure, loving heart does 110! dread God. The more childlike the piety, the more welcome the thought and presence of the eternal Friend. If Samuel was to become a prophet, and the emergency required that a prophet should speak at that juncture ; and if, for authen- tication, Eli must be used, it is difficult to conceive how these ends could be more naturally secured than by the manner in which the call was made. The objections men raise to what they call tl1e anthropomorphism of such a portion of Scripture as this are utterly baseless. Does not God reveal himself in the material world by the visible thingR "·l1ich are the outward expressions of his mind? Does it make any real difference to him whether he form them by a slow or by a more swift process? VT as the first expression, in an act of creation, slow? Who, then, shall say that in expressing l,is mor;i] purposes for men he must not and cannot adopt an Ot)tward visible form, by which the mind to be taui;Lt shall be surely arrested? ~1ven a revelation to be made, will men prescribe a priori and infallibly hoto God 1s to net. in rnaki1w it? If so do they not draw on their human views, and create a God of 0
th~ir u\11~~ /1.1,d "·l,'at is this but antliropomorphism of deepest dye? All God's acts ;,re perfect. Tl,e call of his servants is hy means suited to time, purpose, und conditiun. Al,rahmn ,rnd o1hers after him eaeh heard the Divine voice differently, but n;11urally, so far as ~peeial conditium deten11ine e\'ents. There are" diversities of OH. Ill. 1-21.] THE FlllST BOOK OF SA)IUEL. 73
,operntions,'' hut "one Spirit." So now it may be by "still small voice," or hy fillggcstion of the wise, or by pressure of circumstances, that his servarits receive thfl assnranco that God would have them enter on enlarged responsibilities. V. It is I'OSSIDLE THAT A CALL MAY NOT BE CLEARLY DISTINGUl8HED AT FIRST. It was not wonderful that Samuel mistook the voice of God for the voice of man. It was Divine tenderness gradually to prepare his mi11d, through the suggestion of Eli. for a great e,·ent. God accommodates his voice of majesty to mortal ears. A spirit like Samuel's, satisfied with the honour of doing anything in the house of God, wou'd scarcely suppose that the greatest of honours was at hand. We are not sure that calls to higher service arc in any case immediately clear. Scripture tells of the fac-t in many instances without reference to the mental history of the individuals. Abraham's strong faith implies special difficulties, and possibly conflicts. Isaialr could scarcely believe that God would use him. Though the disciples knew thai Jtisus of Nazareth called them to be his servants, doubts subsequently came ove1 them, for they "trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel.'' Good men become so habituated to lines of action, ruling of impulses, and guidance of common events, that at first they cannot recognise a superior will in new openings, new gentle longings, and pressure from without. It is by the use of ordinary faculties and means that the call to duty is ascertained. Samuel inquired of Eli, and followed the suggestions of the experienced. The great lines of duty are close to all who will take the trouble to know them. Wise men, passing events, openness of spirit, willingness to be led, these are the means by which every perplexed Samuel will be sure to solve his doubts. To know the possibility that God has some unknown duty to indicate, to be saying in hea1t, when attention is aroused, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth "-this is often the first step to a new career of usefulness.