giant, and subsequently received favours at the hand of Saul. But the possibilitie,; of human experience transcend all our effort to foresee. What the web of life w;JI embrace aa the weaving goes on who can tell? It is true one stage prepares tl,e wa v for another according to fixed laws, but we know not what new external cornlitio; 1• a day .or an hour may bring forth to modify an existing stage. Who less than Di vim, could have supposed that Adam, pure and blessed, would soon be exposed to so deadly a peril in Eden? or that he who received the homage of wise men and was the subject of angelic praise would be sought by a murde1ous Herod? The great lines of human experience are still the same. In business affairs the once prosperous come sometimes into. risks of property, reputation, and all that is dear. By associations not looked for,. characters ·once without suspicion are in danger of a fatal compromise. The tender, happy youth of a pious home, encircled by all that love can provide, is found far from home on the verge of a moral precipice. No position of privilege or service seta us a:bove the possibility of grave dangers, • Even David, the chosen servant, was- nigh unto death, and the holy apostle was anxious lest, having preached to others, he himself should at last be a" castaway 11 (1 Cor. ix. 27). 11. PROVIDENCE ALWAYS PROVIDES KINDLY WARNINGS OF DANGER AND INCENTIVES TO ESCAPE. In the service of God David came into this great peril, but by the offices of friendship God mercifully provided for his need. The signal was given, and he z:ecognised its meaning. It said to him, "Flee; escape. 11 Perhaps it may be safely said that there is no circumstance of moral-and often of material-danger into which we may be brought in the unfolding of events but that God makes known our position and opens a way of escape. Even in ordinary affairs the voice of a sober judgment, if not of some personal friend, may warn the merchant of his risks, and suggest a speedy retreat from entanglements. Often a man, gradually forming undesirable associations, is warned by relatives and those who love him, best of the peril of his reputation, The quondam youth of purity bears a voice as from a mother's heart saying, as he in later years stands on the brink of ruin, • Flee I II Providence has many a Jonathan to shoot the arrow and cry " Beyond." 11
III. It is REASONABLE THAT IN ALL TIMES OF DANGER WE SHOULD PROMPTLY ACT ON THE WARNING AT ANY COST.· In David's case we see the reasonableness of his noting the sign, acting on its significance, even though in so doing it cost him the bitter pang of parting from the dearest friend of his life, and becoming a beggur and a fugitive. Only thus could he ultimately fulfil the end of his existence. It was reasonable, for Jonathan knew the danger to be real, and would not deceive. So in any case of our peril, whether of health, business, reputation, Christian profession, or future salvation, it is important at once to heed the voice of warning ; for Provi- dence never lies. It is a fact tltat many are ruined in spite of warning. The reason is, they either will not cultivate the habit of discerning the " signs of the times" in moral and spiritual matters (Matt. xvi. 3) ; or, discerning them, they fall under the delusion that somehow they shall escape, even though they remain as they are ; or else they refuse to believe the signs. Many reject the testimony of the faithful Jonathan. They prefer their own speculations to the declared testimony of Christ (Rev. i. 18). Verily unbelief is folly, and those who pride themselves on reason are most unreasonable. It often costs mucli to act promptly on the voice of· warning, We may not have to endure a sepuration from n holy friend as did David ; but a temporary loss may be sustained of serious character. The ruin threatening from a man's entangled business affairs muy be escaped by a prompt surrender of luxurious habits and home comforts. To save reputation friends may have to be abandoned. A soul can only be saved from death sometimes by a resolute plucking out of a right eye (Matt. v. 29). Lot lost all in Sodom but saved himself. General lessons :-1. Knowing the perilous possibilities of life, let us go for- ward cautiously, yet quietly trusting in God. 2. Whenever it is in our power, let us prove ourseJves friends by warning ?thers of tl~eir material o_r spiritual dang~rs. 3. ,ve should give careful heed to the first promptmgs of conscience, remembenng that in moral questions the first moti?ns of co~science are safest for action. 4. \Ve niay make a useful study of the partmgs of life-of, e. g., Lot and Abraham, )[osei! und Pfottaoh, Paul and the Ephesians, Christ and his disciples. THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. [c11. XX. 24---'2