his face, and that, being bent on their secret guilty way, the whole force of Providence is against them in _the futnre I 3. Fear o.( expositre. Samuel took no steps to de- throne Saul or to_ a_henat_e the p~ople fr?m hnn. He ke_pt t!1e secret of rejection, and expressed the D1vme will only m ceasmg to hold official mterconrse with Saul and in quietly selecting· David as one favoured of God. Saul knew his coming dodm in rough outline. The dread of this was foreshadowed in the prayer that Samuel would not openly dishonour him before the people (eh. xv. 30). A moody temperament naturally subject to impulse, would easily be urged, under this dread, now to de~ sponding a1!d mel:mcholy, and now: to the sudden grasping at a shadow of hope; and the alternations of hope and despair could not but mduce a nervous condition which, while a guilty secret was covered, might express itself in painful irritability. The fear of exposure drives men in upon them,.selves, and induces an abnormal condition of mind and nerve. Guilty men, who will not sincerely repent and seek rest in Christ, know that judgment is coming, but they take care to hide that truth from others, and often bear a terrible strain on their spirits. 4. Secret persistence in wrong. Saul natl said, "I have sinned," but he never repented. No doubt he regretted the conse- quences that flowed from his preference of self to the will of God; but he still loved to have his own way. The spirit that prompted to set aside God's command for hill o,Yn choice was unchanged. It in itself was a state of war; but still it was restive, i:nsubdued ; it chafed under restraint and conviction of rejection, and sometimes would break out in fury that its preferences should thus be chastised. "As a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke." It is this element of cherished sin, this persistent con- rin uance in the original state of mind that contracted guilt, which poisons the entire life. It sets the whole man at war with God, and renders irksome what to a peni- tent, lowly heart would be meekly borne. Truly when men sin, and "will have it so/ t?ey are so far left to themselves as to work out in their life all manner of 1msenes. II. TEMPORARY ALLEVIATIONS OF MENTAL DISQUIETUDE. The servants of Saul were true philosophers in seeking diversion for their master. In cases of trouble, diversion from self and the causes of trouble always affords relief. This is recognised by guilty men, who seek diversion in business, or pleasure, or public affairs. It is a rule with some wicked men to plunge more deeply into public or private business in proportion as conscience has to be quieted. The diversion was of a nature to soothe the nervous system. Music has in it something refined and pure and remote from the turmoil and confusion of sinful life. As a curative or alleviative element in certain sicknesses its power has not been sufficiently developed. Saul felt the charm, and for a while the irritation consequent on internal conflict was toned down. The diversion would have increased effect if associated with spiritual song. There is evidence that David cultivated psalmody in his early years; and who can tell the subduing influence on the restless Saul as David poured forth to his harp strains of love and tnllit and hope in God I We see constantly that even the boldest of impenitent sinners are touched by sweet, simple hymns, wl1ich seem to call back a lost purity, and open up a gleam of hope for the most depraved. The songs of Zion are as the echo to many of long-lost music. Their power over men should be diligently used. But in all cases of mere diversion the benefit is transitory. The old enmity remains. The old fears come back in force. The true remedy has not been sought. Ill. THE RADICAL CURE JS ONE AND CONSTANT. What would have been the course of Providence had he truly repented we know not. But looking at his sin and the rejection from the kingdom in the light of Scripture, we can see what would have been the safe and happy course. Had Saul been true to the passing impulse of tenderness he would have ceased in his persistence in sin, and have humbled himself before God, and sought mercy in the appointed way. Retirement to private life would then have been no great burden, but rather a willing, loving homage to the holiness of Goel. The troubled spirit would have found rest. The cure for the internal miseries of men lies in self-renunciation and placing the soul at the mercy of the great Saviour. We must cease to seek rest and peace apart from hi~ loving embrace. General, lessom :-1. We should faithfully search out how much of our rostles~- nees in daily life ie due to unforgiven sin. 2. In all our efforts to alleviate meat.al CB, XVI. 1-23.] THE FIRST BOOK OF SA:'IIUEL. 805
di11tress we should pay due regard to moral causes. 3. The longer the cleiay in repenting of sin, the more difficult it becomes.