V ers. 23-40. - David's rnighty men : description and character. What is the character of these followers of David? Are they mere followers? Nay, in very deed they are soldiers, warriors to the very death. They fight David's battles. They stand in the breach, in the forefront. They "loved not their lives to the death" "warring a good warfare" in the service of him who loved them and attachment to whom has drawn them out. Mark their character: "men of valour;"" ready armed•" "expert in war; " " famous in the house of their fathers;" not "double-hearted;" ~f "one heart;" of" perfect heRrt;" men who could "keep rank;" who could use "all instruments of war; " who "could use both hands;" who were "swift as roes; " who had "faces like lions;" and "men who bad understanding of the times, to know what lRrael ought to do." Blessed and noble warriors gathered round the exiled David I No wonder it is called "a great host, like the host of God." It is such the true David seeks now. These are the men who do honour to our exiled "King of kings and Lord of lords." These are they who shall reign in glory with him ere long. They are men who sit not down at ease because they a.re just saved from hell. They do not make salvation from everlasting death their end, but their beginning-their motive, their power, their strength for the fight. They know what the Spirit meant when he said, "'l'o him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me on my throne." Thank God, we have such men in the Church now, though very few. Reader, are you one of them? Oh, rest not satisfied with being just saved! Aim at these features. Be not of "douLle heart." Aim at "one-heartedness "-at a perfect heart. Be "ready armed." l\e able to "keep rank," to walk with those who walk with God. Use "both hands "-every affection, every desire, every aim, every pound. Let everything, little and great, in your hourly history be consecrated to God. Have a. " face like a. lion" against all evil, and stand up for Christ. Be as" swift as a roe" for everything that concerns your Saviour's glory and the blessing of others. "Run swiftly" the race set before you, "looking unto Jesus." And ask God that, when the Church is trembling, and truth is failing, and hearts on all sides are quaking, and the true Israel of God knoweth not what to do, you may have "understanding of the times, to know what you ought to do."-W. Vers. 16--18.-Friends in adversity. David appeared to have reached a.n extremity when he was compelled to escape from Gath and find shelter in the cave, hold, or possible fortress of Adullam. His fortunes then seemed to be at their lowest, and at first be must have felt utterly friendless and forsaken. Soon, however, his immediate relatives heard where he was, and presently those discontented with Saul's rule gathered to him. The verses on which we are now dwelling narrate an incident connected with this assembling of people round David, and the point of interest is that among them some Benjamites came, who should properly have belonged to the party of Saul, and David found it necessary to put their friendliness to some testing. The incident may introduce the subject of human friendship. We note- I. Tu.ms OF ADVERSITY TAKE AWAY OUR SEEMING FRIENDS, Many so-ea.lied friends are but " fair-weather friends," sharers of our prosperity and success. Really friends for the sake of what they can get by it. Illustration may be found in the parable of the prodigal son. When his money was gone bis friends hatl gone too. II. 'l'IMES OF ADVERSITY FIND OUT THE TRUE AMONG OUR FRIENDS. The test shows which are the faithful ones. '!'hey are not often the boastful and forward ones. Often they are those whom we have almost neglected. 'l'he true brother ill "born for ad,ersity," and only blossoms out in the shady night-times of calamity, 011. xn. 1-40.) THE FIUST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 101
III. 'l'IMES OF ADVERSITY SURPRISE us WITH THE FRIENDS THEY BRING TO us. Beyond proving who are our real friends, they actually bring us new and unexpected friends, such as are really concerned for us and are full of earnest purpose to help us. Often we say that it is worth while getting into trouble, if only for the sake of the friends we find and prove. IV. TIMJ£S OF ADVERSITY, ABOVE ALL THINGS ELSE, PROVE THE FAITllFULNESS OF OUR BEST FRIEND; he of whom it may truly be said, "He sticketh closer than a brother." He is indeed the Example of the man in adversity; and from his case we see how all forsook him and fled, even St. John not venturing to plead for him. And so Paul at the judgment-seat was alone, but he found the faithfulness of the best Friend:" Never- theless the Lord stood by me."-R. 'l'.