calmness and fearlessness, expounded the spiritual nature of his ki11gdom who woe crucified. Spiritual power works marvels in men. III. "ANOTHER MAN" IS MADE WHEN THE SOUL IS RENEWED BY TUE SPIRIT OF' Goo. This is the most radical of all changes; it is more than an enlargement of the ordinary powers, more than the gift of discrimination by which ordinary duties cnn be discharged ; it is the renovation of that deep, subtle spring of feeling and willing ~-hich <letermines the character of the entire life. The will of a man is supposed to be the key to his destiny; but the change wrought by the Holy Spirit seems even to penetrate into the mysterious rear of the will, and insure that it shall issue in acts of repentance, of faith in Christ, of supreme love for God, of delight in holiness. The realily of the transformation is seen in the new aims, the new joys, the new acts of the soul, the new outward form of life, the new spiritual discernment of the spiritual and unseen, the new hidden secret which no words can reveal, the new absorption in Christ. IV. "ANOTHER MAN" IS MADE WHEN WE ATTAI:W TO THE COMPLETE REDEMPTION FOR WHICH CHRIST DIED. Relatively to a life of sin, the regenerate life of the Christian on earth is a new creation, he is " another man ; " and likewise, relatively to the imper- fect, struggling life we spend on earth, that which awaits us beyond is a new creation. "'ben the full stature of a man in Christ is attained, and becomes clothed upon with a body "like unto his own glorious body," then may it be most truly said of each, be is "turned into a new man." Ilow unlike our former selves will be that r,erfectly holy, tearless, strong, joyous, unwearied life, exercised in a "spiritual body, ' created in special adaptation for the new activities and joys of the kingdom of heaven. General consi,derations :-1. Reflect on what the world may lose by careless disre- gard in our social life of the adaptation of circumstances to aptitudes and abilities. 2. There is room for every man to examine himself and see whether his religion is really the product of a radical renewal by the Holy Spirit. 3. With so lofty a destiny before UE as Christians, the inquiry should arise, bow it is that we are so little affected by the prospect, and by what means we can more fully live under the inspiring "powers of the world to come."
Limitatwns of prerogative. Saul was told that when the promised "signs" came upon him he might do as occasion required, and for the assigned reason that God wa1 witli him (ver. 7). This great freedom immediately receives a limitation in the command to wait at Gilgal till Samuel came and offered sacrifice, and gave further instructions. The royal prerogative was to be exercised under limitations. Here the question of civil and spiritual power is brought into distinct concrete form as the natural outcome of Israel's history. The analogy between Israel and all other nations cannot be established in detail with respect to this question; but, nevertheless, there are a few truths of general application illustrated in the restrictions put by the prophet of God o::i the actions of Israel's king. I. The ULTIMATE ENDS FOR WHICH GOVERNMENTS EXIST ARE SPIRITUAL. There is a difference between the immediate concern of a government-namely, with protec- tion of life and property, the repression of crime; scope for the free action of citizens, and for the development of national resources-and the ultim~te end f~r which Providence designs it and all other institutions. Man's body exists for his spirit. Society, in the mind of God, exists for the spiritual welfare of individuals. Tl,~re is an evolution progressing towards a world-wide righteousnes~, an!1 govern- rne11ts are one of the agencies which are to subserve this issue. Attention to the· material and intellectual interests of a people may be to rulers an end in itself, but 1,ut to God. Governments may subserve this spiritual end without cons?ious_Jy entering into questions pertaining to its nature and varied means for securmg it. A faithful discharge of definite functions, on approved principles, cannot but help on tlie purpose for which God is himself governing mankind. JI. The CHURCH OF Goo IS THE TRUE WITNESS-BEARER AND THE MEANS OF ACC0M- PL!SHINO THESE SPIRITUAL ENDS. Samuel was the representative of the spiritu_?-1 power. He liad authority to asse1t tlie Messianic_ truth, to cducat-:J !he people m harmony with that truth, and to demand that the kmg shoul~ ~overn rn rnc_h a way as to allow free scope to the spiritual work. He and the relig10us commumty were Cll. Jr. 1-16.] THE J<'IHST IlOOK 01<' SA'.\IU EL.