the rl uctrine whether it be of God." 3. To snpplement t!tese means by watching cart!- jully for new indications. The Philistines were to do all i11 their power to enable them to judge the significance of coming events. We cannot always•make occasions for Providence to reveal itself; but we can fulfil all conditions for observing clearly, and then can watch the indications of the will which we know does.speak to us in duily life, in the word and in the "still small voice." Then, acting in a reverent spirit, etraitne8e will yield to a "large place," and darkness will be made light before us. General lessons :-1. God has means of helping even the most ignorant to a fuller knowledg·e of his will. 2. By what wiHe and unlooked-for methods God accomplishes the realisation of his purpose among men who do not love him I 3. How superior the privileges of those who in mental darkness can cry direct for more light to the Father of light I Yers. 10-15.-'--Restored bless-ings. The facts are-1. The kine bearing the ark, con- trary to their instincts, go away from their home to Beth-shemesh. 2. The men of Beth-ehemesh, seeing the returning ark, leave their occupations, and express their joy in sacrificial worship. 3. The Levites, exceeding their privileges, open the ark and examine its sacred contents. 4. The representatives of the Philistines observe the issue of their' experiment and return. The rapid succession of incidents connected with the restoration of the ark illustrates several important truths. I. The SUPREMACY OF GOD OVF:R HIS CREATURES. As a human device, the means f~ ~ ascertaining the will of the God of Israel were excellent ; and it is a mark of conde- scension that God should thus use imperfect men to effect his purpose. The men argued that he who commands disease and the ravages of vermin can, if disposed, effect h1s will through the agency of other creatures. God is not indisposed to exert his great power, should moral cause exist, even through the actions of men who act up to the measure of light attained to. The departure of the kine from their home and young to a strange land was a remarkable instance of the control of Goel over the strongest instincts. The seeming unnaturalness of the event is owing to our one-sided views of God's purposes and methods. It was contrary to their nature, as ordinarily exercised, to go from home. It wns not contrary to the nature of things for them to do the will of their Maker. 1. It is a reality in every case oj animal life that God's will is done. All creatures are "HIS." He formed their powers and gave them tendencies. Therefore every creature, in following its ordinary course, is actually carrying out a Divine intent. In this the kine were one with all cattle. Animals ·exist not for themselves. The end of their existence is moral and spiritual. The fabric of the universe and the lower creatures are for the development of the spiritual and eternal. In the case of the kine a great spiritual ,;;~d was subserved-the restoration of the ark and consequent development of the "kingdom which cannot be moved." The original appointment of instinct anrl the specific control of it are acts identical in kind-supernatural. 2. There are otliei· instanres of special control. Balaam's ass was used to reprove the prophet. The lions 'Vere restrained from touching Daniel. In either case, as here, the event was connected with· a manifest spiritual purpose ; and who shall say that he who governs men and calms the sea shall not be free to control the movements of kine, as trn'y as when ·on his ,vay to Jerusalem he guided the ass on which he sat? 3. It is a mea.ns of teacking important tntth. This subordination of the most powerful i111- pulses to the high purposes of God sets forth the truth that the most powerful natural attachments must yield to the requirements of the kingdom of God; as • well perhaps as that, in coming years, the inferior creatures will subserve t lio advance of Christ's 'kingdom as certainly as that they will share in its blessings (Isa. xi. 6, 7; Matt. xiii. 32). II. The JOY OF RESTORED BLESSINGS. The men of Beth-shemesh were the first honoured with a sight of the ark, and with the instinct of the true Israelite they appieciated the boon. 1. The blessing now received was very great. The signili- cance of the ark to Israel cannot be fully expressed. Its return from captfrity meant to the people a reinstatement in the favour of Goel. Their cry of ang·ui~h ~nd the intercession of Samuel had been heard. Likewise the Church, after seasons l)f chastisement and loss of privilege, knows the greatness of the boon when God I 2 llG TUE l<'IHSl' DOOK OJ<' SA:\IUEL.
1w1kc; "tltr plarr of his feet glorious," and comforts Zion with the light of his. ,·,11inlcn;t11c0. :2. The 1·estoration u•a.~ ?tnexpected. Both us to the fact und th(I. 111ca11s there was no anticipation of what occurred. Men were called from common t,1ils to share in a gTeat spiritual joy. Thus does God in his mercy break in on the cares and sorrows of common life with blessings in excess of our hopes. Israel "·as not able to dense means of delivery from Egypt, and ~urprise filled their mind~ when they saw the salvation of God. Christ's appearance after death even took away the p°'ver of utterance (Luke xxiv. 36-41). "For a small moment have I forsaken thee, bl1t with great mercies will I gather thee." 3. The expression of }oy ,oa~ naf1/ral. It was most proper for a nature toned by recent chastisement to rnsh from the occupations of life to bid wP-lcome to the long-wept-for ark of God. The reco,·er.~- of property, the return of a lost son, nothing, could stir such deep feelings as the sign of the restored favour of Jehovah. The sacrifice of the kine was a form ~f penitence, ho:nage, and gratitude culminating i~ highest joy. There is no joy like that of God s assured presence and favonr. It 1s a gladness beyond that of the. time when corn and wine increase. "Then was our mouth filled with lauO'hter 0 and our tongue with singing." '