Vere. 12-14.-Due preparation for Divine service. Not only was David on this occasion careful to employ the proper persons, but he was anxious that they should be properly prepared and fitted for their solemn duty. He commands them to "sanctify themselves," that is, to go through the ceremonies by which the Mosaic priesthood were prepared for ritual duties (see Lev. xi. 44; Numb. xi. 18; 2 Chron. x.xix. 5, etc.). God has ever shown anxiety over men's preparation-times. A long preparation-time may precede a very brief period of work, but the efficiency of the work always depends on the preparation. Illustrate from the preparations for the first Passover; from the answer of our Lord's disciples, "Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Passover?" from the actual experience of our Lord, who had thirty silent years, and then a long spell of desert meditations; from such cases as that of Moses, who had forty years in the Horeb district, and of Saul, who was a long while in the deserts of Arabia; from such a case as that of Savonarola, who had many years of study and prayer in the monastery before he commenced his brief eight years of public ministry. In all ages, and now, the holiest and best men have deeply felt the need of times of devout meditation and prayer and spiritual preparation, before engaging in Divine service; and such personal preparations are quite as important for worshippers as for ministers. The neglect of them is the secret of the limited blessing that so often attends the means of grace. L PREPARATION-TIMES ARE NECESSARY. 1. Because of the solemnity atbching to every form of Divine worship or work. 2. Because of God's reasonablo demand that everything we do for him shall be done with our best powers and our whole heart, therefore with due consideration and effort. 3. Because man is so absorbed in worldly things, that he cannot at once disengage himself so as fittingly to attend to heavenly and Divine things. 4. Because the hurry and bustle of life makes an agitation and excitement of mind and feeling that are unsuited to religious occupations. II. PnEPARATION-TIMES BEAR DIRECT RELATION TO FA.ITHFULNESS. Because they test our spirit wben no eye is upon us, and there is none but God to take account of our doings, It is an easy thing to be devout and attentive and particular when we have all the surroundings of the great congregation; but only God knows whethor we are really in tone for our work and our worship. He reckons faithfulness by our heart- stntes, not merely by our life-actions. III. PREPARATION•TIMES BEAR DIRECTLY ON SPIRITUAL PROFIT. This la the other side of the matter, Blessings come to us only as we are in moods to receive them. There is e. "set of the soul" towards heavenly and Divine things on which the 10fluence of teachings and holy surroundings entirely depends. When that "set of the soul" is secured, the smallest and simplest" means of grace" prove nourishing. And we are in large measure responsible for securing it. The great things of Goll are revealed unto "babes," unto the simple-minded and open-hearted and devoutly toned. Our spiritual profit depends on ourselves. IV. PREPARATION-TIMES ARE NBVER WASTED TIMES. Though we are liable to regard them e.s such because they seem to have no tangible result, the issues of them we cannot count ~nd measure. But school-time is not wasted time, for it fits the boy for life. Apprentice-time is not wasted time, for its issues are seen in vigorous a11ll skilled manhood. There never can be waste in efficiently getting ready; and this is fully truo in religious spheres. Pre.cl.ice.l application of these points may be made to three or four forms of moJeru 244 'l'HE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [cH, xv. 1-29.
religious life: e.g. prayer, almsgiving, worship, sacraments, Christian work. In rela- tion &o them all God's call to us is, "Sanctify yourselves for it."-R. 'l'.