The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 259

possibility of conferring few or many, small or great, benefits on hie kind. The conditions_ ~f. rising to the hi~her grade of ~ervice are the possession of appropriate :1atural ab~htrn~ and_ an occ_as1011 for efl!ploying them. These conditions being given, 1t rests with his will to nse to the lugher level or to be content with the lower. Secular and spiritual are not always good terms to indicate spheres of activity because e,ery act can and ought to be spiritual in its tone and principle. But fo~ our present purpose we may use the terms in the common acceptation. There are p-ades of semce-1. In the secular sphere. It may not be easy to construct a see.le tbat shall in detail exhibit the relative value of labour, but there e.re broad outlines which are always recognised in civilised society. Manual toil is not comparable with mental. That service which relates to the materio.l condition of mankind is inferior to that which bears on the moral. Whatever produces temporary effects is of less value than that which issues in the enduring. There are men who remain all their days on the lowest level, and there have been some who rose from that position to almost, if not quite, the highest in the scale. No man's contribution to the common weal is to be despised, but every man is bound to rise as high as possible in the scale of valuable service. 2. In the spiritual sphere. As in ancient times there were "hewers of wood and drawers of water," subordinate, in the common work of the chosen race, to men of loftier aspiration and more refined occupation, so in the Christian Church there are diversities in gifts and service. Generically all true Christians are equal in privilege of position and in function as witness-bearers for Christ. .And there is no room for boasting or invidious comparisons, as it is the " grace of God " which worketh all in all. Yet as a matter of fact, arising partly from great diversity in natural capacity and partly from causes in the individual will, there are distinct gTadations in kind and value of service rendered, as tested by the strength of principle involved and the enduring character of the effect. There are men who devote time and means only to the preservation of the outward organ- isations of the Church. Others, nourishing their own piety with care, minister consol- ation and instruction to the sick and ignorant. Others, again, by a wonderfully holy and beautiful life at home, as well as quiet zeal outside, train souls for Christ, and leave an imperishable impress on the world. II. The GRADE OF SERVICE ATTAINED TO DEPENDS CHIEFLY ON A WISE UBE OF EARLY OPPOaTUNITIES. Had Saul cherished the spirit awakened by hie converse l\-ith Samuel and the stibsequent inspiration from God (eh. ix. 25-27; x. 9), and strengthened it by obedience in the Lour of trial (eh. xiii. 13), far nobler service would have been recorded of him than that be made we.r with the Philistines all the days of his life. His successor David entered on a higher sphere. Of course both in ·.the secular and spiritual spheres natural capacity and education are important rletenninants, as also the occurrence of favourable opportunities. But, as a rule, the position we occupy depends on our disposition to improve such opportunities as now and then fall to the lot of most persons. Hundreds are "hewers of wood and drawers of water" all their days because in early life they failed to seize the chance of developing their own powers. In science and literature there are men who, when raw youths of meagre education, laid hold of some passing opportunity for self- improvement which opened the way to still higher ad_va~tages. In the _Church there are and have been noble men who, carefully nounshmg the l!acred gift of e. new spirit and availing themselves of some chance of doing good, rose from obscurity to the distinction of ambassadors for Christ, "whose praise is in all the Churches." There are Sauls and Davids still. General l~sons :-1. While thankful for being permitted to render the smallest service to the Church and the world, we should "covet earnestly the best gifts" (1 Cor. xii. 31 ). 2. Youths and persons young in the Christian life should be impressed witl~ tlie importance of the due improvement of their position. !J· When- ever possible we should look favourably upon any effort to enter on e. wider m~ge of usefulness. 4. The standard of service, as to aim, method, and spirit, by which our aspirations should be regulated, is the life of Christ. OH. XIV. 36-52.] THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. 261