ditions, and finds and adapts grace precisely to their needs; and that whatsoever he does for them turns out to be for their ultirnate good. We have corne to use the terrn without due consideration, and as a mere formality. It often hides the fact that we have no precise petitions to pr~sent; and so we fall. back upon the ge?eral prayer tor blessing. We should be placed m extreme difficulty, 1f God were to say m reply to our prayer for blessing, "Say precisely what it is you want. Translate your word. Use exact terms . .Ask for the very things which press upon your heart, For rny blessing is this-' the supply of all your needs out of my riches in glory."' It may be well to sho,v further what God's blessing would be to a royal house or dynasty, and to a nation or people, noting the special features of that blessing as applied to David's house and kingdom. I. "BLESS" STANDS FOB ALL KINDS OF REAL GOOD-without venturing to specify any. It may fittingly be used in prayer when we have no specific desires, and only want to run into the shadow of God's goodness. .And it may be used when we are in difficulty, and do not even know what things we ought to ask. Sometimes we are a[raicl to ask definitely lest we should ask amiss; and then we may leave the form of the answer with God, only asking him to bless. II. "BLESS" THROWS THE MATTER WHOLLY BACK ON THE PERSON FROM WHOM THE GOOD IB SOUGHT. Compare the cry of Esau, "Bless me, 0 my father I" He could not tell what to ask, but left the matter with his father, and with full confidence in the fatherly love. So for us to ask God to bless us should be the expression of our full submission and entire surrender to hiB wisdom and grace in fixing the form which tho good shall take; so it may be-and should be-a fitting expression of the right attitude and spirit of God's people, who trust the whole matter of their temporal and spiritual good to him, and will not even seem to dictate to him. Enough for all true hearts to pray with David, "Let it please thee to bless us," "for with thy blessing shall the house of thy servant be blessed for ever." Ill. T~ BLESSINGS WHICH Gon FINDS, FOR THOSE WHO THUS FULLY TRUST mu, MUST MAKE THEM INFINITELY BLESSED, The things God sends will make them blessed, and their gracious moral influence on such recipients will make them double blessings. Christ's miracles or healing were Divine blessings,and the healed ones were doubly blessed, in body and in soul. God's gifls and providences now become double bles8ings; they order and hallow our lives; they help to meeten us for the "inheritance of the saint~ in the light." God still blesses with the eternal blessiogs.-R. 'l',
EXPOSI'l'ION. CHAPTER XVIII. that D,ivid "subjected the metropolis of the Philistines to himself," quoting tlio ArnLinu Tho course of l!U!t chapter's parallel ia proverb, "To give one's bridle to nny one," oontiouod here, and answers closely to 2 as equivo.lent to submitting to him. Ho Snm. viii. 1-18. The present chnpter con- quotes o.lso Job xxx. 11. It may ho noted to.ins the wars and victories of David (vers. tho.t Ammnh is spoken of (2 So.m. ii. 2-1) o.s 1-13), with the arrangements consequent the name of a hill, otherwise unknown, however. Although David snbdued so upon them: aud (vere. 14-17) an enume- mnny places, he reigned over them, i.e. ovor rntion of some of his chief officers. many or them, still by "their own king-s" Ver. 1.-Took Oath and her towns out (1 Kings iv. 24: 2 Uhron. ix. 26). Heuco of the hand of the Philistines ; litoro.11 y, her we find Gath with a kiug slill iu l Kingij daughlera. The compiler of Chronicles ii. 39. gives us this plnin statement where, in the Ver. 2.-Brought gifts; i.e. in tho light of pnrnllel pince, we find, "took Metheg- tribute o.nd of o.cknowledgmont or sulijoctiun. ammah,'' or more exactly, Metheg-ha-ammah, 'fhore a.re curious additions to this passa~o the cxplo.no.tion of which word (see 2 Sam. in the po.ro.l\ol place, telling till' punish- viii. 1) is not yet ascertained. Its literal ment inflicted 011 Moab : "He smote Moo.Ii, signification is " the bridle or curb of the and measured them with a line, casting- mother city," and may mark a speoinl strong them clown to tho ground [i.e. causing them position which commanded Gath, or it mny to lie prostrate]: oven witll two lines mcn- describe Gath as owning itself to such a. eured he to put to dco.th, nnd with ono full position. Gesenillll understandB it to meo.n line to keep uli vc." This appear~ to monn 298 THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. [cu. :nrn. 1-17.