as though he were a man, doing a man's deeds and feeling a man's feelings. Some explanation of anthropomorphism and anthropopathism may here suitably be given. In the verses now for consideration, we find a double vision and a double repentance. God saw the angel and repented, so did David. I. A DOUllLE VISION-GoD's AND MAN's. It is precisely noticed that &S the angel was engaged in his work of destruction, "the Lord beheld." Here is set before us somethin"' more than God's perfect knowledge of everything that happens. It impresses upon u~ his personal interest in his administration of human affairs; his immediate attention to the execution of the judgments he denounces; and his sensitiveness to the effects of his judgments on those who suffer them. So it convinces us of what we may call the paternity of God. ,ve also gain the assurance that suffering, when it comes as penalty, can never get beyond God's in~pection and control. This conviction makes us willing, as David was, to "Jall into the hands of God." Compare our Lord, in his extrerue suffering, commending himself to the "hands of the Father." Further, it reveals to us the fact that God brings his pitying mercies into our very calamities. David also saw the angel, and by the sight was enabled distinctly to recognize the Divine agency in what otherwise he might have called a calamity. II. A DOUllLE REPENTANCE. Give explanations of the Old Testament and New Testament uses of the term. Distinguish metanoia from metameleia. Begin with general idea of repentance as clw,nge of mind; reconsideration with a view to a new course of conduct. Show in what senses the term can be applied to God, and not to man; to man, and not to God. Especially show that in God's changes of action, or relation, there is adaptation to new conditions, without any regret, conviction of mistake, or sense of wrong. In the case before us God repents, in the sense of recognizing a sufficient fulfilment of his purpose in the judgment, and so the possibility of relieving Israel of the plague. David repents in a wholly different sense. He is aroused to full conviction of his sin, and humbles himself before God in solemn confessions. David now sees the connection between suffering and sin ; the relation of one man's 8in to many men's sufferings; and above all, the exceeding sinfulness of his own sin.-R. T. Ver. 17.-0onviction of personal sin. For the particular character of David's sin reference may be made to the sketch given on ver. 2. And for the kind of conviction which David cherished when acts of sin were brought home to him, illustration may be taken from Ps. li. llis sin might have been the sin of David the man; as was his sin in the matter of Bathsheba. Or it might have been the sin of David the king; and so God regarded it, adjusting his judgments accordingly. When convicted, it is a point of exceeding nobility in David that he seeks to bring the whole responsibility upon himself, asking God to treat the sin as that of the man, not of the leing. We may fix: attention upon this point. In this instance David stood for and acted for the nation, without the nation's consent. It is a most solemn thing for parents, masters, magistrates, etc., that they cannot always separate the official character from their acts; and they are responsible for the well-being of the children, the servants, or the citizens, whom they represent. Placed in such relations, men may act in ways that do not carry the feeling or wish of those for wLom they stand; and so they may be the means of bring- ing upon them undeserved Divine judgments. The case of Jonah may be compared. The sailors' lives were imperilled by his act, though in it they bad taken no share. I. MAN MAY BE OFFICIALLY--Or even by his temporary relations-THE 0AUBE OF THE INNOCENT SUFFERING. JI. SuCB CASES MUST ALWAYS BE REGARDED AS EXCEEDINGLY PERPLEXING AND PAINFUL. See A1.a.ph's psalms, and the discussions in the Book of Job. JIJ. THE RIGHT-HEARTED MAN WILL EARNESTLY BEEK TO HAVE THE BUFFERING LU!ITED TO HlllSBU', and to this end will be ready fully to acknowledge his personal guilt. Impress that our relationships give the overwhelmingly painful character to our sins.-R. T.
Ver. 24.-Rightfeeling concerning giving to God. David apprehended that the value of a gift greatly depends on the self-de1tial for which it finds expression. Co!Dpare the very iuteresting scene of Abraham negotiating with the sons of Heth for the purchase OH, XXI. 1-30,] 'l'HE FIRST IlOOK OF THE CHRONICLES.