sometimes been regarded as favourable to valour; but far more stimulating to courage is confidence in an all-wise Ruler and Disposer of events. The soldier will go bravely to battle, the labourer to work, the martyr to suffering, when the heart is i:lspired with the assurance of the Divine presence and favour and support. "They that trust in the Lord shall never be ashamed or confounded, world without end."-'l'. Vers. 1-19.-A bundle of mistakes. This is a chapter of mistakes. Everything goes wrong ; except, indeed, that the wrong is righted inasmuch as the wrong-doers are worsted, and made to pay a heavy penalty for their folly. David may be said to have erred in acting as if it were true-- I. THAT KINDNESS IS APPRECIATED BY THE FROWARD. He meant well; his spirit is much to be commended. Gratitude for past kindnesses is a virtue which can hardly be overpraised; it is too often absent from those in whom we have a right to look for it. But the Hebrew king did not reckon on the churlishness of the Ammonite court. The princes of Ammon were men of a low and froward type, and were incapable of credit- ing a neighbouring power with simple and genuine good will. Hence an act of ingenuous goodness was entirely thrown away; indeed, it acted as a spark to a maga- zine; it brought about an explosion of national wrath. It is always well to wish to show.kindness to any and every one, but it is not always well to put our wish into practice. There is no need to " cast pearls before swine." Only we must take care that this injunction of our Lord does not hinder us from deeds of courageous kindness. Judgment and generosity must go together in the path of good will. II. THAT THERE IS NECESSARILY WISDOM m A NUMBER OF COUNSELLORS. (Ver. 3.) Hanun himself was probably inclined to accept David's overture of condolence, but he allowed himself to be overruled by his "princes." It is wise to take counsel with others, but it is to be remembered that there is often truth in the strong and bitter saying, "'l'welve wise men in counsel make one fool." Experience shows that where one man sees his way clearly, a number of men will often confuse one another an,l come to an unsound conclusion. We are not to allow a number of men to overriJe a strong conviction, especially when that conviction is reached after prayer and con- sultation of God's Word, and when it is on the side of generosity. III. THAT SUSPICION IS NEARER THE TRUTH THAN CHARITY. Doubtless these princes who ascribed David's action to a sinister desire "to spy out the land" (ver. 3) con- sidered themselves remarkably astute, and believed that they had hit upon the truth. We know that they were utterly wrong. If they had accepted the ostensible object of the mission as the real one, if they had shown the smallest charity in their spirit o.nJ credited David with kindliness of heart, they would have been in the right. As it was, their suspicions only led them directly away from the truth. Be charitable, and you will far more often be just than if you are habitually suspicious. IV. 'l'HAT ANYTHING IS GAINED DY INSULT, The shameful insult, amounting to out- rage in all international codes, that was perpetrated when "Hanun took David's ser- vants," etc. (ver. 4), wrought no good, and did an immensity of harm to its authors. It led to disastrous defeat in war (ver. 15), and to a strong exasperation of feeling against them on the po.rt of a powerful neighbouring people. Insult never answers. It hardens the heart which indulges it; it rankles in the breast of him against whom it is levelled; and, sooner or later, it brings down retaliation and penalty. Moreover, it provokes Divine condemnation (Matt. v. 22). V. THAT WE CAN MEASURE THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR TRANSACTIONS WITH OUI, FELLOWS, How little did these Ammonites think that this net of bravery and pro- vocation would be followed by the train of bitter consequences which ensued (vcrs. 6-15; eh. xx. 1-3) I How little did the Syrians, when they hired themselves to the Ammonites (vers. 6, 7), imagine that that mercenary militar_ism, of theirs would end in the double overthrow inflicted on them at the hand of David (vers. 14, 16, 18) I Wo can never see how far our transactions will extend; there may be the largest and longest issues lo.tent in very humble beginnings. Of nothing is this more true than strife (Prov. xvii. 14; Jas. iii. 5; Matt. v. 25, 26). VI. THAT PERBISl'ENCY PREVAILS WHENWE FIGHT AGAINST Goo. In vain <lid Syrians draw forth Syrians "beyond tho river" (vcr. 16) to fight against Israel. '!'he Lord was with David," preserving him whithersocver he went" (eh. xviii.13), and to persist in an 314: THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. Cou, xxx. 1-19,
endca'l'o?r to overcome him was only to "fight against God" (Acts v. 39). ,vhen we are seekmg to c·rush truth, righteousness, piety, Christian earnestne~s and zeal we are bound to be beaten. However persistent we may be, we shall surely be over~ome in the end. It is hard to kick against the goads of God (Acts ix. 6).-C.