of national resources were matters of deepest concern. The consciousness 0£ this drew him nearer to G:od, attached responsibility to his deeds, imparted dignity and grace to his bearing, put a restraint on the flow of private feelings, and, though uncrowned, made him royal in his magnanimity. David as a coming king was morally a more developed man than would have been David as a simple citizen. A con.~ider• ation of tlie irifl,uence of calling on character would afford much instruction in relation to social habits, mental and moral development, Christian excellence and degeneracies national and frovincial characteristics and tendencies, domestic comfort and discom, fort, persona antagonisms and aversions, and the need for a large charity in Pstim,it. ing conduct different from our own, as also for profound thought in reference to the best means of remedying some evils incident to a highly-developed civilisation, in which the comforts and luxuries of one class are procured by avocations of another class that tell perniciously on their mental and moral development. Christians am especially exhorted to walk worthy of their high calling; and, apart from direct :nfluence of the Holy Spirit in the formation of character, it "·onld be helpfol to all to study the natural influence over the entire man of a calling to be " kings anrl priests unto God." "What manner of persons ought ye to be?" "As he which bath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation" (1 Pet. i. 15). IV. THE COMMITTAL OF OUR INTERESTS TO Goo IS THE PROPER SEQUEL TO A C0~SCI- ENTIOUS DISCHARGE OF DUTY. David had done all an honest man could do to clear himself of guilt and to pacify Saul, and with strong faith in an over-ruling Providence- he leaTes his cause with God. Personal retaliation for injuries done is no part of om· duty. " Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord." Whether we succeed in a difficult work is not our business. To have done right is the chief concern. Our Saviour has set us an example of fulfilling all righteousness and then committing himself and his cause to the" righteous Father." There is that in the conscience of men which bows before such appeals to the" Judge of all the earth." The name of God is a power over men because they are moral beings. It is a refuge for the oppressed and a terror to the wicked. General lessons :-1. The real guilt of men is to be estimated both by the intrinsic- evil of their intentions and the influence they seek to exercise over others. 2. Men who desire to find the Bible faulty in its language can have their desire easily grati- fied by reasoning as though they ]mew all concerning its production and contents: while a different disposition will lead to suspension of judgment or minute search for hidden facts. 3. The moral influence of a calling on character should guide us in our arrangements for our .sons an,i daughters. 4. Deeds are the tests and signs of principles ; for as wickedness is tli.e natural outcome of the wicked man, good· actions, as in the generous sparing of Saul's life, are the product of a righteouE, soul ( ver, 13).
Vars. 16-22.-Te:nderness transitory and tr1.tth suppressed. The facts are-1. Saul, subdued by the magnanimity of David, weeps and admits his own wrong in contrast with David's kindness. 2. Acknowledging his belief that David is to be king, he pleads with him to-be merciful to his seed. 3. David, granting the request, returns to his stronghold, and Saul to his home. Good actions soon begin to authenticate their Divine mission in the world. The noble self-vindication from the calumnies of slanderers and the rare display of generosity to a persistent foe told at once even on the obdurate- nature of Saul, and in the effect produced we have an instance of two facts often observable among men and of some significance in their experience. I. THE TRANSITORY TENDERNESS OF SINFUL MEN. Saul's heart was softened, and he wept. Words of tenderness and of frank confession of guilt came forth with all sincerity. The terrible encrustation formed by years of transgression and disobedi- ence seemed to be broken, and the true man reasserted itself from within. The power of kindness received a conspicuous illustration. Wickedness could ~o longer confront goodness. And yet as we know from the subsequent care of David to escape from Saul the tenderness' was only as" the morning cloud and early dew." 1. J.'here artt seas~ns of tenderness even- in the lives of the most impf!ll~tent of m~n- This might be inferred from our necessary knowle_dge of _the co_nfl1ctrng prmc1~les at ''.·ork 1~ all moral beino-s 0 and from our observat10n that 1t reqmres enormous effort to kill outnght ' H H2 THE FmST BOOK OF SAMUEL. (CB. XXIV. 1-22.