The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 434

was to the l'ff!'ct thnt. should th<>y be brought to the test, they would develop tend- !'ll<'i<:'s which giwe no sign of present existence, and which if charged on them would prohnhly be emphati<'ally r<:'pudiatcd. Thu11 do we see how there mny dwell in men 11nconscio11sly to themselves, Intent tendencies which, thoug·h repressed nnd rendered hy presPnt snrronndings inoperntive, are so real and patent ns, under conditions yet to be created, to become the determinant powers in regulating conduct. I. THF: EXISTENCE OF UNDEVELOPED TENDENCIES IS A GENERAL FACT IN BUMAN LIFE. It is a tmth thnt as we find ourselves in daily life we ench possess n complex nntnre in which nn inextricable interweaving of thought and feeling is the prominent feature. E,·ery idea and feeling that has become an item stored in memory becomeR a po"·er in the subsequent course of our inner experience, even though not distinctly traceable. There are certain fundamental dispositions by which the great lines of action are decided, and minor feelings or sentiments which are tributary to them us 8<'rvants and prompters. But experience proves thnt nil contained within our nature cannot operate at once, and which of the inner forms of activity may be brought into PXcrcise at any given moment depends on the influences brought to benr and the lawR of association thereby set in operation. The tendency to shrink from pain and conflict found no occasion to indicate its presence when the entry of a vi0torions DaYid into Keilah aroused sentiments of joy and gratitude. It is possible for n tend- ency to be apparently annihilated by the constant demand on a feeling or sentiment ,rntagonistic with its nature. Hence men may often carry within them possibilitiea of action while ignorant of their reality, and they m11y, therefore, be induced to make professions and undertake obligations without reckoning on what may be arouserl within when circumstances require the fulfilment of the obligations. Theories of conduct are held which may be belied by the hidden man of the heart when his unhappy hour for development comes. Are we not all now and then stnrtled by the uprising from the unfathomed deeps of our nature of a hideous form which lets us see just enough of its unholy self to create distrnst and fear that other powers of evil are there waiting to appear in actual life? The precautions employed in educating youth and the care bestowed on enforcing public sentiment proceed on the belief that the germs of ruin in young and old only await nourishment in order to gain a destructive ascendancy. Nor is the fact confined to what is evil. There nre latent tendencies to good-to truthfulness, gentleness, generosity, chivalrous consider- ation, kindliness, and kindred virtues-which by reason of circumstances do not always find expression. There is a tender place in the hardest heart, though not uften touched. Have we not seen n word, an allnsion, draw out feelings not sup- posed to have existence? And in many a Christian there is much more germinal goodness than is developed in outer life. Christ shocked the complacent Pharisees by assuring them of the lntent wickedness of their hearts (Mntt. xxiii. 25-28; Mnrk .-ii. 21-23), nnd the Apostle Paul urged Timothy to" stir up the gift" bestowed on him (2 Tim. i. 6). JI. THE HECOG!>:JTION OF THE EXIS'flsNCE OF LATENT TENDENCIES IS OF PRACTICAL !Ml'OHTANCE IN ALL DEPA!ITMENT!:i OF LIFE. Our course through life is not reg·ulnted Rimply by wl,at is known. A recognition of the unkno'_Vn or at ~east undeveloped for,.e,; of our own nature ought to exercise considerable mfluence m the conduct we daily purnue. 1. Jn our aSJJociation with men. David clearly recognised the fact of ,-,,r1aiu undeveloped tendencies in the men of Keilah, nnd he discreetly dealt with t l,at 1mk11own factor by endeavouring to find out whether it would come into nscend- all(:y. It should be a maxim with us that there is far more in the men we have to do with than appears in overt act and uttered sentiment, and this, without degenerat- ing into a pai11ful suspicion and cruel distrust, will enable us often to escape being pla<•(•d wi1l,i11 their power; and also, if our intention is to dz:aw out their. better qualit.iPs. "·ill stimulate to that end. 2. In our professed alleyiance to Olirist. It shoukl be uur rule to watch arid govern ourselves in his numo on the suppoaition tliat tl,ere lie wi1hi11 us 011 the one hand secret tendencies which, under fnvourable co11ditiuns of temptation, may, at least, embitter our life by n fearful struggle for 1111• 111a~tery, and pos8ibly, in conseque11ce of lack of reso~ution a11_d forethought, for Lhe time mar our character; and on the other hund tendencies germmal repressed, and 11Carcl·ly conscious, whicl,, if we bring to bear on our heart the wnrm light of his truth, -CII, KXIII. 1-13.] THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. 441