man knows himself until he has borne the stress of middle life, and its responsibilities, testings, and temptations. II. 'l'HE PERIL OF THE OVEn-DEVELOPED BODY. For this he was chosen and admired; in accordance with the admiration of physical size and strength which is common to all people who retain tribal notions. But there is also the peril of_ the bodily growth being stronger than the mental, and the overgrowth of body often mvolves nwral weakness. And these may find expression in a stubbornness of self-will, which, by indulgence, may become mania. The self-will of moral weakness should be carefully distinguished from the self-reliance, power of rule, and masterfulness, which are as clearly the signs of mental and moral strength. III. THE TEST OF THE NEW TRUST OF KINGSHIP. The office was quite a new one; the only previous instance was the forced kingship of Abimelech. Saul had really no model on which to order his conduct. Exactly what kingship could be in a country where Jehovah himself was the sole sovereign Lord, he had to find out. So that, beyond the ordinary testings of any new and untried situations, Saul was tried by the uniqueness of the position in which he was placed. Exactly the point at which be might fail was this-he might practically claim independence for an office which was nevertheless strictly a conditioned and a dependent office. He could be Jehovah'~ prince and viceroy; he would be tempted to claim personal and independent kingly rights. So the trust of the office tested his will, proved wheth~r he was fully and sincerely loyal to God. This piece of Saul's life brought him into the conflict of the seen and the unseen, which every man must enter. Would he, even with all the fasci- nations and interest of the "seen," be true to God, the unseen? \Vould he be strictly and wholly obedient to the Diviue commands and the Divine leadings? Not character only, but the very root-principle of Saul's being, was tested. Compare the searching tests of Abraham's faith and Job's patient submission. Saul failed under the testing; so we have to consider- IV. THE CONDITIONS OF THE GROWTH OF SELF-WILL. Apparer;t success in the earlier efforts of wilfulness encourages the self-confidence. But, in view of Saul's case, we me.y especially dwell on the influence of rejecting early Divino warnings, aml refusing to be humbled under reproofs of earlier sins and failures. 'l'his involves the hardening of the heart, as may be illustrated in the case of Pharaoh. V. SELF-WILL, IN THE END, BRINGS DOTH SELF AND OTHERS TO RUIN. It can never have more than a certain length of tether. No man can long "resist God and prosper." Saul's later days fully illustrate the inward miseries and outward ruin of self-will; the "death" which this sin, "when it is finished, surely brings forth." Distinguish between the self-strength which God may use, and the self-will which severs a man wholly from God. Whatever may be our station or our office, there is one conditi .. u of success, and only one-we must "foar God, and keep bis commandwents."-R. 'l'.
Vers. 11, 12.-The time for returning kindness is sure to c011UJ. Recall the deliver- ance which, very early in his kingship, Saul had wrought for the men of Ja.besh- gilead (1 Sam. xi.). It seemed most unlikely that those rescued citizens would ever be able to do anything for Saul which would publicly testify their gratitude; and yet time passed on, and presently brought them their golden opportunity. When tho strivped and dismembered bodies of Saul and his sons hung in front of the gates of Beth-sban, the men of Jabesb-gilead felt they could at least stop such dishonouring of the dead; so they made a sudden foray in the dead of night, seized the bodies, ga vc them honourable burning, and burial under a tree (1 Sam. xxxi. 11-13). We may learn from this incident tba.t- l WE CAN HELP OTHERS IN THEIR EXTREMITIES, For precisely this we are knit together in the human brotherhood; and there are no possible forms of human need and trouble for which there are not human alleviations ; and these aro at our command. lf. QuIOKNESS TO HELP OTHERS II! CHARAC'l'EIU~TICALLY CnmS'l"IAN. SensitiVC!lCSS to human sufferin", and senso of personal responsibility in relation to its relief, are necessary features ~f Christian character, and etiSential elements of true,. Christ-likeness. " Himself bare our infirmities and carried our sorrows." We are to "bear one anothcr'ti burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." HI. MEAIORY OF HELP RECEIVED SHOULD DE LOVINGLY CHEnlSHED, Ingratittide i.:! 142 THE FIRST BOOK. OF THE CHRONICLES. [ell. X, 1-14,
a si!1 of pec'.1liar baseness. Ther~ may be long delar ere gratitude can find its oppor- tunity, but 1t should be well nourished and kept for its occasion, IV. 'l'IME BRINGS ROUND TIIE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL WIIO KEEP TIIE WILL, Illus- trate from incident of text, and from the care of our parents. We seem unable to show our gratitude for the hallowing care of our childhood; but their helpless old age comes and we get our opportunity. Lead on to that sense of indebtedness we should feel t; Christ for his redeeming work; and to the duty of keeping ever watchful of oppor- tunities for serving him-as we may do, by serving some of the least of his brethren, See McCheyne's hymn, "When this passing world is done," etc.-R. T.