The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 116

Christ. And, like the mother of Jabez and Ephraim here, our sorrows come and we in our unbelief and short-sightedness, look at our sorro,vs and see nothina else.' We see ~ot the bo:W of mercy spanning the cloud-the love that is behind-and Slll we hang our heads m sorrow, and we write "Jabez" on this and "Beriah" on that. Oh that we could trust that love more in darkness as well as in light 1-W. V ers. 2-5.-The Divine gift of physical, strength. It is remarked as being the peculiar trust and endowment of some men that they were bodily strong. 'l'hev are spoken of as "valiant men of might." In the line of this endowment came their life- mission, and in the use of this trust they would be finally jud"ed. On St. Paul's principle that the "body is for the Lord, and the Lord for the body," we are delivered from sentimental undervaluing of our physical frame, and consequent neglect of its culture into health and vigour, or monastic efforts to humble it into a due subjection to the spirit. In view ?f the relations between bodily strength and religious life, we ought to regard health, vigour, energy of frame, as great gifts from God and, as all Divine gifts are, great nnd responsible trusts. In the older times physical strength found its readiest sphere in armies and wars. So the vigour indicated in these verses took the form of valour. The modern sentiments concerning peace and war materially differ from those of earlier ages. The modern admiration of peace and horror of offensive war befit a condition of advanced civilization and the tolerably complete division of the earth's habitable countries among the different races and nations. Still, we must folly recognize that war has had its important place in the ordering and training of the world. It has often proved to be the best judgment on, and corrective of, serious moral evils; and so there has always been a place and a work for the" mighty man of vnlour." On Joubert's principle, "Force, till right is ready," the physical restraints of social order must come before the intellectual and moral ones; and in such early times and first stages of national development, physical strength, warlike skill, power of command, and valour, are properly recognized as Divine ·gifts, and they are as truly such as are 1he gifts of statesmanship, diplomacy, and arbitration in quieter, more devehped, more civilized times. The laws that regulate the use of all our bodily g:ifts may be effectively illustrated in relation to this one of valoui·. It may be pointed out: 1. That it may never be used for schemes of personal a_ggrandizement. 2. That it may not be pr~ strated to any evil uses, of tyranny or passion. 3. That it is for use in all ways of loyalty, obedience, brotherhood, and piety. And there is still the place and the wo~k for the gift of physical strength, though not so much call for it in armies and battle- fields. Great things have been done for humanity by the physical endurance of explorers and travellers, such as Livingstone and Stanley and the members of Arctic expeditions. Great things are done in the saving of life by strong-armed and brave- hearted sailors in our lifeboats, and by firemen in our ~rea.t cities. Still the demand for manual labour and bodily strength is ma.de, in field and workshop and yard. And though so large a proportion of modern toil is mental rather than bodily, and conse- quently physical vigour is unduly despised, it remains true that the man of mind imperils his mind by failure to culture his body into strength. It remains true for the mtellectual nineteenth century, as for every other, that bodily strength is a gracious Divine gift, which should be treasured, kept, cultured, exercised, and put to all noble and holy wes. Appeal, especially from the Christian standpoint, that Christ expects faithfulness to the whole trust which he commits to us; and holds us responsible for the measure of bodily health and energy we maintain, as well as for the culture of character, mind, and soul which we may gain. "Ilody, soul, and spirit" together make the living sacrifice, which is our "reasonable scrvice."-R. 'l'. Ver. 15.- Woman's rights in ancient times. The condition and the disabilities of Eastern women should be explained, described, and duly contrasted with the position won by women in all Christian countries. Especially deal with their secluded lives in their harems, or private apartments; the utter neglect of their education and cult~re; 1.heir disadvantages in never going out into society; and their utterly dependent position, ill\·o}vin<i; the crushing of their personal wills, or the leaving them undeveloped and trncxerci.ed. And yet among them some women mado for themselves spheres, by force of their cha.n«.:ter and ability. Give Ilible illustrations, such as Sarah, Rebekah,·  <lH. vu. 1-40.] THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRO~ICLES. 107