up with the greatest advantage. Such a victory was D,ivid's. 1. He arrived at the wagon-rampart when the host was about to make an advance; leaving there the things he curried, he ran into the ranks to seek his brethren ; and, while talking with them, there stalked forth, as on previous days, the Philistine champion, at the eight of whom "all the men of Israel fled, and were sore afraid'' (ver. 24). The shepherd youth alone was fearless. There was in him more faith than in the whole army. And in conversing with the men around him he intimated the possible overthrow of this boastful giant, and the II taking away of the reproach from Israel," ; and expressed hie amazement at the audacity of the man in " defying the ranks of the living God" (whose presence and power all appear to have forgotten). 2. On hearing his words, and probably surmising that he entertained the thought of encounter- ing the champion, ElitLb was filled with envy and anger, and reproached him as being out of his proper place, as only fit to have the charge of a few sheep, and even neglectful of them, and ae proud, discontented with his calling, bad-hearted, and delighting in the sight of strife and bloodshed, which, he said, he knew, however .ithers might be deceived. Ah, how little did he really know of his brother's heart I But angry men are more desirous of inflicting pain than of uttering the truth. 3. This language would have excited the fierce wrath of most persons. But David .maintained his self-control, and gave the soft answer which II tumeth away wrath." He thus obtained a victory which was hardly less noble than that which he shortly afterwards obtained over Goliath. Consider his self-conquest (with respect to the passion of anger) as- • I. ACHIEVED UNDER SEVERE PROVOCATION. 1. The contemptuous reproach of a l:Yrother. From him at least better things might have been expected. But natural affection often vanishes before envy and anger (Gen. iv. 8), and is transformed into intense hatred. "There is no enemy so ready or so spiteful as the domestic al" (Hall). 2. An ungrateful return for kindness. David had come with valuable presents and kindly inquiries, and this was bis reward. 3. An unjust impugning of motives. "Eliab sought for the splinter in bis brother's eye, and was not aware of the beam that was in bis own ; the very things with which be charged bis brother were most apparent in his own scornful reproach'' (Keil). 4. An open attack upon reputation. His words were intended to damage David in the eyes of others, as unworthy of their confidence and regard. All these things were calculated to exasperate. "Thus David was envied of bis own brethren, herein being a type of Christ, who was rejected of the Jews, being as it were the eldest brethren, and was received of the Gentiles" (Willet). The followers of Christ are often exposed to similar provocation. "And the strength of a good soldier of Jesus Christ appears in nothing more than in steadfastly mninte.ining the holy calm, meekness, sweetness, and benevolence of bis mind a.midst all the storms, injuries, strange behaviour, and surprising acts and events of this evil and unreasonable world" (J. Edwards). II. EXHlllITING AN ADMIRABLE SPIRIT. 1. Extraordinary meeknes, and forbear-- ance in enduring reproach. "He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding," &c. ~Prov. xiv. 29; xv. 18; xxv. 28). 2. Firm and instant repression of angry passion. For it could hardly be but that a flash of indignation sbould glance into his breast; but "anger resteth in the bosom of fools'' (Eccles. vii. 9). 3. Wise and gentle reserve in the language e:mployed. It is as useless to reason with the wind as with an angry man. "Set a watch, 0 Lord, before my mouth," &c. (Ps. c:x:li. 3). 4. Continued and steadfast adlterence to a noble purpose. David went on talking II after the ea.me manner" (ver. 30). We ought not to suffer ourselves to be turned from the path of duty by the reproach which we may meet therein, but we should rather pursue it more diligently than ever, and prove by our conduct the sincerity and rectitude of our spirit. "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and be that ruleth hie spirit than he that taketh a city" (Prov. xvi. 32). "It is better to conquer the deceitful Juste of the heart than to conquer Jerusalem" (St. Bernard). "The bra.vest tTophy ever man obtained ls that which o'er himself, himself bath gained." •• When thou a.rt offended by others, do not )qt thy mind dwell upon them, or on E,Dch thought, ne these :-that they ought not so to have treated thee; who they 33-t THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. [en. XVII. 20-58.
are : or whom they think themseh·cs to be, and the like; for all this is fuel and a kindling of anger, ,vrnth, and hatred. Ilut in such cases turn instantly t~ the to!.rength an::I commands of God, that thou )nayest know what thou ought.est to do, and that tlnne error be not greater than theirs. So shalt thou return into the way of peace" (Scupoli). And of this spirit Christ is the supreme pattern (1 Pet. ii. 21-23). Ill. FOLLOWED BY A BENEFICIAL EFFECT. 1. A sense of peace and Divine approba- tion. 11 Angels came and ministered unto him" (Matt. iv. 11). It is always thus "·ith those who conquer temptation. 2. The punf11ing and strengthening of faith by means of the trial to which it is subjected (1 Pet. i. 7; James i. 2). 3. Th~ commendation of character in the sight of others, who commonly judge of the truth of an accusation by the manner in which it is met, and naturally confide in a man of calmness, firmness, and lofty purpose. " They rehearsed them" (his words) "before Saul: and h~ sent for him" (ver. 31 ). 4. The preparation of the spirit for sub- sequent conflict. "Could the second victory have been achieved if he had failed in the first conflict? His com~at with Goli_ath demanded an undi~med eye, a steady arm, and a calm heart, and 1f he had given way to stormy passion for only a brief s_easoll: there would have been a linger!ng feverishness and n~rvousness, utterly unfit- ting him for the dread struggle on which the fate of two armies and two nations was. depending" (C. Vince).-D.