pious home, a meeting for prayer and counsel, and the service of the sanctuary. It is helpful to court occasional retirement. The "communion of saints" should be more than an article in our creed. III. A Dl\'INE RESTRAINT IS PUT ON THE ENEMIES OF Gon's SERVANTS. Saul'a wicked desperation was great when he sent to Naioth to take David, and at its highest pitch when, after three despatches of men, he ventured to go to the abode of Samuel on a cruel errand. Hitherto Saul appeared to be fighting solely against David• but now that the mysterious spirit of prophecy came upon his messengers and rendered them harmless, it ought to have been obvious to him that in persecuting David he was at war with God. The knowledge of this mysterious restraint on them could not but add to his mental confusion, though it was not sufficient to the subjugation of his wild passion. Yet Saul was not bereft of reason ; and could he have travelled to Ramah on such an errand without passing in review events prior and subsequent to his last intercourse with Samuel? (eh. xv. 26-35). Must he not have gone back in thought to the fearful day when the prophet declared the doom of his reign ; the earlier days when as king he received the cheers of the people and the instruc- tions of the prophet ( eh. :x. 24, 25) ; and the still earlier time when, fresh from hie .anointing, on meeting a band of prophets, the spirit of prophecy came on him and tnrned him into another man? (eh. :x. 5-9). And now, after long separation he ,ms drawing near to that revered man of God and the company of the prophets, 'not the former Saul, full of hope and courage, but a man sinking deeper and deeper in sin, and with only the courage bred of remorse. If he was to be restrained and rendered harmless, what more natural method-more in harmony with the character- istics of the age and locality, and the psychological facts-than that for a season the old prophetic excitement should come upon him? It is no solitary fact that the mental and moral atmosphere of a place exercises power over men. The main truth, however, is that God restrains. Divine restraint enters into all things. The nature of things is but their limit assigned by God. The original relation of forces in the physical world is so settled by God that their interaction shall be bounded by definite results. To every effect wrought out in the development of the material universe it has been virtually said, "Thus far shalt thou go, and no farther." Scripture makes known the restraint which God puts on hearts and on moral beings. Lions dare not touch a Daniel. Evil spirits beg permission of Christ before they can go forth. Men sent to seize the Saviour were unable to fulfil their mission (John vii. 46), and soldiers were powerless in his presence (John :xviii. 3-6). The history of the Church and of individual Christian life brings out instances of the restraining power which silently lays hold of man and renders his enmity innocuous. "It shall not come nigh thee" (Ps. :xci. 7) has often been verified. In all these instances we have but glimpses of that unseen Power by which in due time all principalities and powers, and whatever oppoeeth itself to God and his Church, shall be either turned unto him or deprived of their power of injury (Isa. xi. 9; :xx:xv. 9, 10; 1 Cor:. xv. 24-26; Phil. ii. 9-11; Col. i. 19, 20; Rev. :xxi. 22-27).
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 1-7. (GrBEAH.)-The proof of true friendship. Adversity is the touchstone of friendship, as of many oth~r things ; and its _experience, sooner or Iat~r, is certai1;1. Notwithstanding the secret Jealousy and plottmg of Saul, the prospenty of David continued to increase ; and at length, unable to endure the sight of 1t, he "spoke to .Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, about killing David." Persons in high places are generally attended by some men who, like Doeg (eh. x:xi. 7; :xxii. 22) and Cush (Pa. vii., inscription), are ready to carry out their evil wishes. The danger of David was now imminent. And with the revelation of it to him by Jonathan his troubles began. Whilst adversity shows the insincerity and worthlessness of ~alse friends it also shows the sincerity and worth of true. "In adverse hours the fr1end- sl,ip ot' the good shines most." The proof of true friend~hip appears in--:- . ,, l TliE STEADFASTNEBB OF ITS A.'JTACHMENT. "Jonathan delighted much 111 David. N otwithstanding-1. Jlfisrepresentation on the part of enemies. There can be no doubt that Saul spoke of David as treacherously aiming at the throne. The mouths CB, XIX. 1-24.] T~E FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. 369