forn,n_tjon of per~onnl_ friendship_s _in which all ordinary feelings are intensified nnJ ben11t1~ed by _t(ie 1_nfns101! of _:i spmtual_ eleme_nt. Som~ modification of the view just gn-en 1s requ1s1te m cons1dermg the friendsliip of Christ for John and the family at B_ethany. B\1t alth~ugh the perfect Saviour saw not in others qualities deficient in h_1mself, he did _see m the ardent Job!l and the tender sympathy and fine apprecin- hon ?~ the family at ~ethany that winch_ he was so eagerly m quest of in this rougl:, unspmtunl world. His weary hear_t delighted to rest in such pur~ love and sym- pathy, and he returned the affection a hundredfold. 2. Its rnaintenance. Th€ noblest form of friendship needs culture if it is to be permanent. How David and Jonathan nourished theirs is a matter of history, and should be noted. Few things are more sad to reflect on than a broken friendship-it means the embitterment and i,ad solitariness of two human beings. No detailed rules can be set for nourishing that v.ii.ich in its very nature overleaps all formalities and rigid liMs. Ordinarily we may strengthen our friendships by cherishing a conviction of their sacredness-not to be rudely handled and lightly thought of; by making it a point to secure sufficient intercourse or interchange of feeling (Prov. xviii. 24) ; by a studied respect for the minor differences wh!ch advancing age and changed ci:cmust_ances may develop ; by prayer for the blessing of God on each other ; and, if possible, by sharing in some common work for Christ. 'Why should not friendships continue through life? General lessons :-1. Knowing the force of impulse and the growth of interest when once aroused, we should be careful in placing youth in such circumstances as may lead to the formation of true and lasting friendships. 2. It should be a ques- tion for each how it is that Christian feeling does not enter so fully as it ought into the friendships of some professedly religious people. 3. It would be an instructive 11tudy for young and old to trace out in history some of the achievements in religious work and fiaelity promoted by the maintenance of strong personal friendships.
Vere. 5-11.-Some dangers of persistent sin. The facts are-1. David, behaving wisely in bis public position, wins favour with the people, and in the welcome to him on his return from the battle the women ascribe to him, in their song, higher praise than to Saul. 2. The fact excites Saul's envy hcmceforth. 3. In a fit of envious rage Saul seeks to smite David. The victory over Goliath brought Saul and David into a proximity highly favourable to the development of their respective characters. Their mutual influence acted powerfully on the main springs of life; and as these were so utterly different in moral quality, so the sequel reveals very diverse conduct, 'We have in this section an instance of- I. MrsINTERPRETED PROSPERITY. The decisive words of Samuel (eh. xv. 26) and his entire separation from Saul (eh. xv. 34, 35), as also the threatening attitude of the Philistines, were certainly enough to depress the spirit of the kiug; and his melan- choly was but the O!ltward sign to men of his painful secret. But the appearance of David, and the consequent defeat of the enemy, was an unlooked-for gleam of light, e.nd at once raised hopes which of late had been lost. He even set David over bis men of war. The old prosperity was returning; the kingdom was saved ; Saul wu not dishonoured in battle. After all, with such helpers as David, might not the .dreaded doom be avoided? Thus do we see a man, conscious of moral degeneracy, e.nd sensible of being rejected, putting an interpretation on events according to his wisbes and not from a perception of their real bearing. The heart, when destitute of the 'spirit of true repentance, obstinately clings to unwarranted hope, and, by its own perverse ingenuity obliterates or weakens the force of hard facts and moral laws ( eh. xv. 26-29). 'In the eye of God the recent victory was the public present- ~~ion of the "neighbour," as a preliminary to bis supplanting Saul ; in the eye of t!aul it was the postponement, if not the rendering void, of the dreaded doom. The ,mdency thus to misinterpret facts is common to sinful men. An impenitent hear~ is ,mwilling to believe in the vindication of justice. Not being in moral sympathy w1_th the purposes of God, it will not, if possible, see th_ose purposes. in process ?f reah~- ition. The very riches of goodness are perverted mto an occasion _for pers1sten.ce m 1,i,a (Rom. ii. 4), and the temporal prosperity of life? despite the yo1ce o~ consc1ence .T,d the clear word of God, is supposed to be a sign that the issue will not be BO feurful as was anticipated (Ps. x. 6, 11 ; Heb. ii. S). ,ell. xvm. 1-30.J THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. 345