conflict. It is no me1·e winning with t.he Christian. It is u. glorious warfare and an equally glorious victory. "In all these things," says the apostle, "we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." We do indeed "war a good warfare." There are "Hagarites" all round you and within you. Be "skilful in war:" gird the "buckler," the "bow," and the "sword" of truth close to your souls. " Go out to the war;" "make war." "Cry to God" in the battle. "Put your trust in him." "Your labour in the :i:,ord is not in vain." So shall you be a conqueror; so shall you carry away great spoil; so shall "many fall down slain" by you. Bo a "valiant" man; so shall you be " more than conqueror" in everything that is against you, And remember, it is not your battle, but God's. Mark what is said: "There fell dowu many slain, because the war was of God." Yes; the war is of God. He cannot look upon sin. He has ,no part in this world. It is all in spirit contrary to him. He would have you not "conformed" to it but "transformed." "This is not your re~t. Arise ye, and depart." He has better things in store for you. Everything here is too poor for the King's sons. You are waiting for the gold and the jewels and the crowns of_ the <_:elestial city. "Arise ye, an~ _dc_part." This war, thi~ discipline, this struggle with sm, those defeats, those humiliations, those hot scaldmg tears, those bleedin"' hearts, those mysteries and baffling enigmas making you cry out, " What does it all mean'! "-it is all of God. This warfare is fitting you for the glory. It is making you to know yourself and to know Jesus. It is brightening your crown; it is tunino- your golden harp; it is weaving your starlit diadem. Yes; "the war is of God.I': Oh, if you could only see it! If you could only look at it, fust for a moment, from yonder height of glory, how it would all seem right then! If you could only look at it through the tearless eye, up on the height, out of the smoke and din and roar of the battle in the plain, how it would all be right ! Yes ; "the war is of God." Then war a good warfare. The Captain of your salvation will soon be here to reward you with the crown. "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." Mark the elements of this great victory : "They cried to God in the battle, and he was entreated of them; because they put their trust in him." "When Moses held up his hand, . . . Israel prevailed." So here. Not prayer without trust-that is uubelief. Not trust without prayer-that is presumption. Prayer and trust-that is victory.-W.
Vers. 25, 26.-Reuben'sfall. We now come to the/all of the very people who, only a few verses before, had been so conspicuous for prayer and faith and victory. And what was the cause of it? "They went a-whoring after the gods of the people if the land." The world around; the pleasure-seeking, self-seeking world; the attractive, smiling, seducing world ;-this drew them aside, this stole their hearts from God. What tbe Ha_qarites had failed to do, the "gods of the people of the land" did. Satan comes to God's people in one of two forms-either as a "roaring lion" or as an "angel of light." Where he cannot succeed in one way he will try the other. He came as a "roaring lion" in the form of the "Hagarites," but he failed. He then ,;ame as an "angel of light" in the" gods of the people of the land;" thus they fell. It is the same always. Behold it in the case of good King Hezekiah. Satan tried him as a "roaring lion" in the person of Sennacherib and his threatening letter. Hezekiah threw him- self on God, and triumphed. Satan next came as an "angel of light" in tho form of the "letters and a present from Merodach-baladan, King of Babylon." Hezekiah saw not the hook beneath the gilded bait; thus ho fell (Isa. xxxix . .l). And what is the commentary of the Holy Spirit on this? "Howbeit in the business of the ambassa- dors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him." Why? Only in mercy and love, "that ho might know all that was in his heart" (2 Chron. xxxii. 31). Ah! when God leaves a man even for a moment, there is no foreseeing to what a depth he will fall. "God lift him ~'-solemn words!-" that he might know all that was in his heart." How little we know what a serpent-coil of evil is hidden in our hearts! "He that trustoth in his own heart is a fool." "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries," etc. What a filthy stream! Who would trust it? Who would look into it for good? None but the fool. 'l'rust only Jesus. 'frust a Saviour's promise, a Sa1'iour's love, a Saviour's power, but never trust your heart. Christian reader, learn OH, V, 1-26.] THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 7U