facts are incorporated with an incidental setting of circurnstancP,~; and it is singular thnt its occasional detail is never contradicted by well-established fact, but, on t;.e other hand, is being constantly confirmed by discoveries concerning rn;inners, customs natural productions, and international relations. ' III. THE BARBARITIES OF SLAVERY AND OF WAR. This unfortunate man had a master, but longed. not to be restored to him. The bar baron.~ manner in which he had been left to die justified his horror of his former owner. Slavery necessarily hardens the heart and debases the entire nature of all who promote it. The horrors that have been perpetrated under its influence more befit a hell than an earth like this. Christi- anity has proved its beneficent character in removing from many a fair region this accursed evil; and it enjoins on masters of the free to manifest towards their servants a kind, generous spirit, worthy of the Saviour they profess to follow. It is well when servants care to return to employers, and there is something wrong where there is aversion and reproach. The barbarities of war, which in this section and elsewhere are conspicuous, are among the foulest blots on human nature. In nothing as in war do the vilest passions of men break forth in wild licence. The ease and com- placency with which many so-called Christians speak and read of war is really shocking to one who enters deeply into the spirit of Christ. More care ought to b~ taken in preventing our children from imbibing a love of w.1r and its literature, and in the Christian state its manifold, incipient, and actual evils ought to be removed or avoided by the most energetic measures. It is doubtful whether the Church rises to a due sense of its solemn obligations in this respect. IV. THE RESTORATION SUBSEQUENT TO REPENTANCE AND OBEDIENCE. David had repented of the course to which he had committed himself, and, encouraging himscli in God, he had followed the direction conveyed through the high priest. The result was a restoration of all he had lost by his folly and an acquisition of much besides. O.f coun,e this was a case of material loss, through misconduct, attended with much anguish of spirit, and the restoration was of the same character; but have we not here something analogous with the result of our repentance and renewal of life? The loss and damage occasioned by our sins are removed when we turn to God and follow the guidance of our High Priest. In due time we recover purity, peace with God, most blessed joys, varied spiritual treasures, and even convert the weapons of our great enemy into means of moral advancement. Much has been ruined by our sins, and the whole race has suffered from the curse; but the effect of our restoration of soul to God through Christ is a recovery of the lost position and blessedness, with also an attainment of a bliss surpassing anything known by our first parent in his state of innocence. The promise reads, "I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the canker-worm, and the caterpillar, and the palmer-worm, my great army which I sent among you" (Joel ii. 25). V. PRUDENT FORESIGHT IN ANTICIPATION OF COMING EVENTS. David's considera- tion for his followers in allowing them a large share in the spoil was attended also with a wise prevision of what was soon to take place, and no doubt it was on this account that he kept for himself the cattle taken from the enemy. Having repented of his former self-choosing, and having drawn nearer to his God (ver. 6), his soul rose to the old confidence in his call to the kingdom, and, calm in the fresh assunnce of God's care, he saw from impending events that the end of S:i.ul's reign was uigh at hand. Hence, to pave the way for an easy and prosperous return to Judah, he selected what would prove suitable gifts to elders and friends (rnr. 20; cf. ver. 26). Thus we see how recovery from backsliding tends t;:i a healthy tone and balance of ordinary mental operations, and how prudent anticipation of requirements becomes one called to high service in the kingdom of God. Faith in God's purposes concern- ing us should be accompanied with wise effort to obviate difficulties in the realisation of that purpose. Our elevation in the service of Christ's kingdom is to be secured on our part by the vigorous use of our best powers in dependence on God. General le.ssons :-1. Amidst the hurry and excitement of our life we, like David, should turn aside to care for the poor and destitute, and shall find in so doing a blessing for ourselves. 2. As slavery was put down by the energetic assertion of the principles and spirit of the gospel, so may not the Church, if in earnest, equally 111ppresa the war spirit which too largely prevails in so-called Christian lands? ~ li54 Tl!E FlHST D00K OF S,L\IUEL. [ell. XXX. 1--8),
,\ ftn the pattern of Davi<l in tempornl matters we onght to slri,·c with all zeal and ,·,111sia11cy to recoYcr the blessed inheritance of good lost to us individually and as a race through sin. 4-. In so far as men are convinced of the certainty and g·lory of Christ's kingdom will they exercise all their utmost powers to hasten it on and win men over to it. Indifferent action is a sure sign of spiritual decay.