An appearance of wealth covers real poverty; a geniality of manner is adopted wl.en real avernion lies in the heart ; a pretence of ill-health secures escape from obliga- tion~; ambiguous words and evasions are employed to suggest our ignorance of matters when we know them well. To be real, to be known to be just what we a1e, ie the only safe and wiee course for a true Christian. Ill. THE MORAL VALUE OF THESE SEASONS OF DARKNESS CANNOT BE APPRECIATED .AT THE TIME. David was doubtless confounded at the providence that snould have him " anointed" to a special service and yet allow him to be hunted as an outcairt. He eaw not the good of being bereft of friend and counsellor. But God deals with hie servants in view of their actual need and the future service they are to render. Unchecked prosperity might have been the greatest curse to such a young man. We do not know what subtle dangers were lurking in his heart, and how necessary it wa.a to cause him to feel his utter helplessness when left to himself. Facts prove that out of this bitter experience he rose a more devout, and humble, and trustful man, .and was thereby enabled to be a better king, and to enrich the world for ever with psalms expressive of the deepest experience of the human soul. Time is essential to the interpretation of the ways of God. The cruel wrongs of Joseph and the anguish of Jacob proved among the good things of life. The forty yeare' trial in the desert was a blessing to Israel. "No chastening for the present seerneth to be joyous, but grievous;" but history proves how blessed it is. The absolute trust expressed in the Psalms could only have been stated by one who had been very poor, desolate, and afflicted. Even the life of the Apostle Peter was the better for the bitterness and shame of bis deed. Many on earth can say that they are grateful for their adversi- ties, for through them they have got nearer to God, have found Christ's love more precious, and have set their affections more intently on things unseen and eternaL Who can adequately praise the unsearchable wisdom and love that can thus turn our darkness into light, and convert our sorrows into joys, and even build up holy characters out of the ruins of our own actions and follies? (Rom. xi. 36-39).
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-8. (NoB.)-Deceit. 1. As in the outward life, so in the inward experience -0f men great exaltation is often foll-:,wed by great depression. Whilst David was with Samuel and the prophets his faith in God appears to have been strong, and it was justified by the extraordinary manner in which he was preserved. But soon afterwards (some events which are not recorded having taken place in the interval) be was in mortal fear for his life, and resorted to an unworthy pretext in order to obtain an assurance of safety, and now took another false step. "There seems ground for suspecting that from ~he time of his parting with Jonathan-if not, indeed, from the time of bis leaving Naioth-David had lost some of his trust in God" (Kitto). 2. The intention to deceive constitutes the essence of lying. Truth is the representation of things as they are, and it may be departed from in many ways without such an intention. But veracity is always obligatory. Even if inten- tional deception be ever justifiable, ns some have supposed, it clearly was not in the case of David. The sacred historian records the fact without approval, and without comment, except as the mention of its disastrous consequences may be so regarded (eh. xxii. 2). "Whoso thinketb that there is any kind of lie which is no" sin deceiveth himself " (Augustine). 3. The amount of guilt involved in lying depends upon its circum5tances, nature, and motives. The forms which it assumes are endlessly varied (direct, equivocation, suppression of truth, for advantage, pious frauds, malicious, &c.) ; but that which is marked by hatred and m11lice is the most reprehensible. This element wns absent from the deception practised by David. The age in which be lived, too, was one in which a "lie of necessity" was deemed comparatively venial; and it was borne with, though not approved, by the "Go,l of truth" until men should be trained to a higher moral state. Concerning decei! observe that- I. lr 1B USUALLY URGED BY SPECIAL INDUCEMENTS j such as-1. The pressure of .circumstances. When David presented himself alone before the high priest at tl,e commencement of the sabbath (the evening of Friday) he was pressed by lwngL·r 1 SAM, D D THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. [CH. XX[. 1-lli.