they have themselves reason to desire all possible elemency to be shown; ( 4) who must not shun to declare the whole counsel of God. And on such occasions we should, when ourselves admonished, receive the admonition as those (I) who are likely enough to have erred; (2) who are prepared to be reproved by those who are in any position of authority; (3) who are ready to correct our mistake at the earliest opportunity. III. .A. PROMPT OBEDIENCE. (Vers.14, 15.) There seems to have been no hesitancy. on the part of the priests and Levites; they appear to have applied themselves at once, with due zest, to the work which they had neglected before. They sanctified themselve3 for it (ver. 14), and then they executed it (ver. 15), doing all things "as Moses commanded, according to the word of the Lord." Like them, and like the prodi"al of the parable (Luke xv.), who said, "I will arise,'' and he arose, we should feel a~d do, conclude and act, with no interval between of which the enemy can make use. Wheu we have taken due time for understanding, and have seen the way we should take, then we should, like the men of whom we read here, (1) at once make needful preparations for act.ion, and, (2) these made, carry our conclusions into effect. It is an evil spirit of uncertaiut-y and delay which often makes penitence to bo unavailing ; it is prompt, unhesitating obedience to the Word of the Lord which takes us to the post of duty and then to the seat of honour and of joy.-C. Vers. 16,_ 25, 26, 28.-Sacred joy, In the bringing up of the ark from the house of Obed-edom, the prevailing note is that of sacred joy. We learn- !. THAT llOLY OBEDIENCE IS ATTENDED WITH SACRED JOY, The act was one of obedience in two ways, It was so in spirit; for though not commanded to take this particular step, the Israelites were desired by God to show all possible honour to that with which his service was connected. In removing the ark, therefore, to the capital, David was acting couforma.bly to tbe will of God. It was also obedient in form. Thid time the error in the mode of conveying the sacred chest was avoided, and the Word of the Lord strictly consulted. And the result was a large measure of sacred joy. Gladness of heart filled the souls of king, priests, Levites, people. Everything was done, from beginning to end," with joy" (vers. 16, 25). Holy ohedieuce will always have the same effect upon the heart. If we serve the Lord with our whole heart, endeavouring to do his will, both in spirit and in form, we shall have "gladness in our heart more than in the time when their corn and their wine increase." II. THAT SACRED JOY UTTERS ITSELF WELL IN SACRED PSALMODY, "David spake . . . to appoint . . . the singers with instruments of music," etc. (ver. lG). Sacred song often gives utterance to sorrow and distress, and there are plaintive strains, vocal and instrumental, which are profoundly expressive and touching. But gladness and song seem to be best associated. "Is any merry? let him sing psalms" (Jas. v. 13). When our heart is glad in the Lord, we cannot do better tha11 join in "psalms 11u<l hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in our heart to tho Loni" (Eph. v. 19). III. 'l'nAT SACRED JOY IS SUITABLY ACCOMPANIED WITH SACRIFICE. (Ver. 26.) The ceremony would not have been complete without sacrifice. 'l'his was probably a burnt offering or thank offering; it was, at any rate, an oll'ering t9.ken from tbeir "flocks and herds" unto the Lord, and may suggest to us that now, when God will not take such sacrifices at our hoods, we should, in the time of our gladness, present such sacrifices as those with which he is well pleased. We can" do good and communicate" (Heb. xiii. 16). Of our fulness we can contribute to the need of those who lack. Or from our exchequer we can take that which will help to fill the treasury of the Lord, IV. 'fllAT SAC1RED JOY SHOULD PROVE 'l'O DJ,: A DIFFUB1n: THING. David wished to extend this rejoicing to all who would enter into it; he made it as public as possible; so gonero.1 was it that we read that "all Israel brought up the ark ... with shouting," etc. (ver. 28; see 2 Sam. vi. 19). We may keep our griefs much to ourselves, not inflicting them on others, much less parading them beforo others ; but wo should strive to make our friends aud neighbours the sharers of our joy. This is truo of all gladness of heart, but it is peculiarly applicable to sacred joy. When our souls are ~lad in him, our F,1ther and Saviour, we should seek to make all whom wo ca11 reach a11<l influence partakers of "like precious faith" and hope and joy. Of tho joy that is not diffusive we may be suspicious. '!'ho joy that is Divine, that comes frum Gud, 240 THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [oe. xv. 1-29.
and that is in God, will be after his own nature, bountiful, generous, co=uni- cative.-C.