is in a condition to render its best service to the world, and to attain to the most perfect development of its powers. The wisdom of every one oppressed with a. sense of guilt is to humble himself before God, and seek in Christ forgiveness and power for n truer life in future. II. THE MANIFOLD RAMIFICATIONS OF EVIL. The sin of Saul did not begin and end with himself. Hie failure in duty affected the general interests of his kingdom. Even the brief narrative before us enables us to see how directly and indirectly the following circumstances were connected with his disobedience-namely, the inability of Israel to assail the threatening host; the depredations of the three divisions of the Philistine army; the private and social misery over a considerable area insepar- able from the raids of the invader; the cutting off of the ordinary means for waging successful war; the impediments to the pursuits of trade and agriculture; the general humiliation and dread brought on the non-combatants of the land ; and the withdrawal for a while of the counsels and encouragements-of the prophet of Goel. The truth thus exemplified in the instance of a monarch's sin finds expression also in every sin, and especially in sins of persons in responsible positions. No sin can end in the act or in the person of the sinner. It impairs tlie tone and force of the entire man; it adds another item to the germs of future sorrow and shame ; it further disqual~fies for conferring on the world spiritual good; it gives a stronger taint of evil to the current of thought and feeling which flows out from the_ inner man to the.world. Si!l in us is as a wave of influence that spreads out, by laws of association and impu}se, over the whole area of the spirit, and modifies all conduct for the worse. Especially is_ this true of persons in office and of parents. A monarch's official acts reach all classes. A parent's sin ramifies through the home- inducing, it may be, loss of peace, certainly loss of hallowed influence over childrent and possibly ruin to 4ealth in offspring. _ III. UNFAITHFULNESS IN THE SERVICE OF Goo DEPRIVES us OF A MOST DIPORTANT MEANS _OF ACCOMPLISHING OUR MISSION AS CHRISTIANS IN THE WORLD. The scarcity of smiths and weapons of war is evidently associated by the historian with the dis- obedience of Saul. •It is possible for Christian men engaged in the endeavour to- maintain and extend the kingdom of Christ to be brought into an analogous condi- tion as a consequence of their manifest unfaithfulness. In our conflict with the world it is of supreme importance that we make use of the ever available and potent instrument-influence of cliaracter. With this as a weapon we can accomplish much, by the blessing of God. If this be lost, if by our manifest inconsistencies before the world we virtually place this instrument of war at the feet of the men whom we seek to bring to Christ, then we shall be as powerless with them as was Saul and his people when the Philistines had control of their smiths and weapons of war. General lessons :-1. The general spiritual power of our life will be in proportion as we keep pure, or, in case of falling into sin, at once humble ourselves before God and seek for pardon and a right spirit (Pa. Ii. 6-13). 2. It is an encouragement to holiness and obedience to know that the ramifications of righteousness may become as wide as are those of sin. 3. It is a mercy to know that, though the enemy may sometimes triumph over the servants of Christ because of their weakness of character, yet the eternal Source of strength is in reserve, and will manifest himself.
HOMILIES BY VAHIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-7. (MicHMAsH, GIDEAH, GEnA, G110AL. )-Tlie tntmpet sounded. "And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear." 1. The great conflict between good and evil which has been waged from the first (Gen. iii. 15) has been concentrated in every age on some particular issue. At this time it was whether Israel and the worship of the true God or the Pliilistines and the worship of idols should prevail. It was thus of the highest importance in relation to the kingdom of God upon. cnrth. 2. The Philistines were old enemies and powerful oppressors (Judges iii. 3; x. 7; xiii. 1; 1 Sam. vii. 2). During the- administration of Samuel they were held in check (eh. vii 13), although they nppear to have had military posts or garrisons in the land (eh. x. 5; ver. 3), and thu THE FIRST BOO1( OF SAMUEL. [err. xm. 1-23.