glare of a rocket, yields to a more conspicuous reverse. Pious men mity not in som~ instances be equal, in power and general social usefulness, to men not pious ; yet, given men of equal natural abilities, the pious will do more and better than the not pious. Every-day life is full of cases in which men, by conforming to the gospel \aw of repentance and faith, at once place themselves and their homes in a new and oelter relation to all material and mental laws ; and rise from poverty, disease, ignor- ance, and shame to comfort, health, fair attainments, and honour. A nation of true Christians would be a model to the world in all excellence and acquisitions and happiness. Ill. ALL A'ITEMPTS TO EVADE THE CONDITION OF WELL-BEING ARE FRUITLESS. Samuel's .reference to Israel's desire for a king, in connection with his argument and closing appeal, evidently means that the people were under the delusive impression that their troubles and dangers were in some way associated with the external form of govern- ment under which they had hitherto lived. But Samuel points out the sin involved in this thought-it was distrust of God's all-sufficiency; and he also indicates that the attempted substitution of a form of government for the practice of righteousness is utterly vain. Human nature -is constant in its self--re:velations. This attempted substitution of what is formal and outward for what is moral and inward is of com- mon occurrence. Nations often cry out for changes of form of government when the real need is a change in disposition and conduct. Nominal Christians present an outward, and, in emergencies, a more elaborate, form of worship in place of the sacrifice of the penitent and contrite heart. It is hard to learn the lessons of h-istory ; but all its testimony confirms what could be, a priori, shown to be true-that however good external arrangements may be per se, they are as fruitless to secure a nation•~ highest good, a Church's truest prosperity, and an individual's most vigorous and joyous piety, in the absence of a faithful conformity to the whole will of God, as was Israel's acquisition of a king fruitless to insure, apart from righteousness of· life, safety from danger and internal prosperity. "Abide in me." "For without me ye can do notliing." IV. THE TRUTH THUS VINDICATED CAN DE VERIFIED IN SPITE OF PAST SINS AND ERRORS. Samuel admits the existence of the king as a fact, though having its origin in sin and folly. He does not cut Israel off from the hope of proviug the truth of his contention, that well-being depends. on conformity to the will of God. Under their new and, as he thinks, unjustifiable arrangements they may, if they will, verify the correctness of his teaching ; and hence the urgent appeal. The sins and errors of men in the past have had tlie natural effect of placing them in disadvan- tageous circumstances for the fullest development of piety. Even in so-called Christian countries the social arrangements and customs, the habits of thought, the methods and principles of commerce, the form and spirit of legislation, and the attitude of class toward class, are the expression of the faults as well as of the virtues of our ancestors. They to that extent impede the full expression of the gospel spirit. The same holds good of antecedents in private and Church life. Nevertheless, God gives to nations, Churches, and individuals opportunities fo1· testing the vafoe of con- formity to h-is will, and each may prove its sufficiency by new acts of obedience. Here we have a philosophy of life which each may experimentally establish. General lessons :-1. Conformity to the will of God being the immutable maxim of life, care should be taken to ascertain that will as distinct from onr own wishes; and, when ascertained, all the force of our nature should be bent on insuring its observance. 2. It is well to fortify conduct by an appeal to the reasonableness of a religious life, since in a struggle reason and faith are both helpful. 3. In all times of restlessness and dissatisfaction deeper search should be made than into the out- ward forms of life, for the outward change is no sure cnre for the inward unrigl1t- eousness. 4. Gratitude to God for permission to recover lost prosperity best shows itself in renewed consecration to him.
Vere. 16-26.-The outward sign. The facts nre-1. Samuel, to confirm his argu- ment, calls for thunder and rnin during the wheat harvest, thus imperilling their property. 2. The people, awed by the event, entreat for his intercession. 3. Samuel encourages hope on the ground of God's mercy, and promises to pray for'tmd instruct 214 THE I<'IRST BOOK 01" SAMUEL. [CH. XII. 1-26.