locality where truth is loved and rejected these opposite tendencies and issues nre found, and it would be instructive and impressive to develop with il111strations from , history the gradations of contrast. The clue to contrasts in taste, habit, and final condition is to be sought in .the state of the spirit in its relation to God. "The carnal mind is enmity against God." "You bath he quickened who were dead." II. THE JUSTIFICATION OF PATIENCE. It is possible to take David's words (ver. 39) as expressing thanks for preservation from sin, and at the same time pleasnre that his churlish enemy was now smitten; but the sense more congruous with the circum- stances seems to be that he was, on reflection, more and more grateful for Divine restraint; and the fact that God had, without his agency, done what seemed to him best was evidence that man need never hasten to vindicate himself by violent mea- sures, but may be patient under wrong. He was glad that God, and not he, had vindicated right. Events in the course of Providence will justify abstention from · evil even under strong provocation. Many a man, patiently repressing violent pas- sions, and content to endure rather than savagely avenge wrong, has lived to see the day when God, in some unlooked-for way, has visited the wrong-doer with chastise- ment, and then, while thankful for restraint, he is able to see in the Divine conduct a justification of the patience once so hard to exercise, and that seemed to men of the world so inexpedient and weak. And here comes out the great truth that the meek and quiet virtues enjoined by Christ are always justified by Providence, though at the time they are exercised they seem to be contrary to human nature. This is but a branch of a still wider truth, that all holiness of feeling and conduct is in the issue coincident with self-interest. Utility may not be the basis of morality, but ir, its broadest sense, taking in endless existence and future relations, it is exemplified • in the effects. A few observations may suffice on this subject. 1. It often requires much ejjort to be truly virtuous. David felt it harder to abstain from avenging wrong than to avenge it. The positive side of his virtue was patient trust in the justice of God, and the impulses of the old man are against this. Very often per- sonal losses and social disadvantages attend our patient endurance of evil, and these .set into operation our strong feelings of resentment, our estimate of profit and loss, and our professed love of right. 2. Alt such virtue has the promise of S'ltccess. To · trust in God, to be patient in tribulation, nnd kindred qualities are pregnant with victory. Right feeling and conduct per se have a tendency, as Butler has shown, to ultimate happiness ; and the ordinations of Providence are all subordinate to the vindication of right. 3. Personal and general history show that patient trust in, God's justice is honoured. Martyrs have found it better to leave their cause to God. The results of their endurance are perpetual, and most blessed and powerful. Every Christian can see in his own life that God does not forsake his saints, but turns their patient trust to his honour and glory, and the higher education of the individual and the race. Events will justify religious feeling in any form. It answers in every way to be like Christ. III. THE DOMESTIC FACTOR IN LIFE. The details concerning Nabal are given because of David's place in the history of redemption, and for the same reason we have an account of David's domestic relationships. It is well known that the domestic tie is of extreme importance in every life. Men are helped or hin,lered, blessed or cursed, by the kind of influence that sways the home. Considering how much the general character is affected by the development of the tender and pnre feelings proper to home life, the loss to the world arising from domestic miseries is incalculable. What a change in society were our toilers blessed in the person of their wives with the love, the refinement of feeling, and the intelligent Christianity which knows how to make home a welcome, cheery place I Men like N abal won Id be much worse were it not for the restraining influence of an Abigail. Da,-i,l's public and private career was necessarily the better for the presence in his home of such a. woman, though the elevating influence of her character was impaired hy his adoption of polygamy. Many are the counteracting influences under which thE' best of men clevelope, and Scripture, by thus calling attention to David's domestic affairs, gives us a clue to some of the circumstances amidst which his virtues and failings appeared. The extreme importance of the domestic factor in life should mge to cure in contracting alliance~, in the maintenance of a spirit at home in harmony with. THE FIHST IlOOK OF SAMUEL. [CH. XXV. 1-44.
1hc ~acred chnractN of the marriage bond, and in rendering home life subservient to " f,~thfol and effic~ent dischar&·e of _one's cn!ling in life (Ephes. v. 22-33; 1 Pet. iii. 1-,). The question of marnage 1s a dehcate one, and needs to be handled with ,.:w:it care. hnt it is rlonb~ful whether the Church has in her pastors and teachers done as mnch for the erl11cat1on of the people on the subject ns is required. A wisP pnst_or w(ll kno_w ho"'. to in_cor~orate ear~est _Scripture teaching with his ordinary rn1~1strnt1ons without m~rudmg mto the pnvac1es of life, and wise parents have it i 11 their power to save their sons and daughters from many troubles by first winnin.,. 0 confidence, and then judiciously aiding to right decisions. General lessons :-1. In order to form a correct estimate of a life we must take in~o account the end, and the bearing of the principles cherished on the endless cx1stenc~ beyo!1d the gravE:. 2. The pra~tical exhibition of the Christian spirit in our dealmgs with bad men 1s often more difficult than the maintenance of a devout spirit in relation to God. 3. The cure for some of the ills of modern life is in rnaki~g home more attractiye to those now seeking unhallowed joys elsewhere. 4. A nat10n careful of the purity and fulness of domestic life will survive those making light of these qualities.