requires attention. All forms for the expression of principles tend to exhaust their capacity for expressing truth. Like vessels, or pipes, that get encrusted with use, they have to be taken away, and replaced by other and larger forms. All we have to care for, from the most conservative standpoint, is that the old life shall flow into and through the new forms, and that the new form shall be fully adequate to convey the great flow of the old life. We may even plead that, in view of the ever-varying wants of men, we should be ready to adopt new forms and modes in the religious Ii fe and service. Illustration may be taken from the attitude advisable towards such schemes as that of the Salvation Army, or modern mission halls and revivals. David lived in one of the so-called "periods of transition,'' and it is very interesting to mark how he led the change that was demanded, bu. carefully toned it with du~ reference to the rules and order which had been divinely given. We may more fully illustrate from practices and order of worship, customs of religious life, and Church doctrine, one necessary condition of chan~e that may be regarded as wise and healthy-the old rule, or principle, must find adeq=te expression in the new form. The form is bad if it dwarfs, or hides, or misrepresents, or attenuates the principle. The body must worthily and sufficiently express the man. If it be so that men ever gain a larger and fuller grasp of any principle or truth, they are following a genuine inspiration when they seek a larger form in which to give it expression. A.nd this condition, duly observed, guarantees the safety of what is called "modern religious thought." This subject may be used to quiet the minds of those who fear the many and apparently extensive changes in the expression of reli!rlous truth in our times. \Ve may be sure that God will watch jealously over his° truth; and will have, in every age, godly men who will "earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints."-R. T.
EXPOSITION. will. The easentinl meaning of the ex, CHAPTER XXV. pression evidently is to use the voice in sacred service, more or less under Divin a Vera. 1-8.-The fami"lies of the thru impulse. With oymbale. These instrumen Is chiefs in song. were used to regulnte the time (compare Vor. 1.-The twenty-four courses of those tbia verse with eh. xiii. 8). For some who were to be enga~ed in the temple particulars respecting these and other service a.s singers aml musicinns fill up this musical instruments used in Isrnel at this chapter. They are to be taken from the time, the article" :i\lusio" iu Smith's • Bible three great fomilies of Asnpb, Hemnn, and Dictionary' mny bo consulted with advan- Jeduthun. For the oaptains of the host, as tage. And the number, elo. The literal deei!mating those who superintended the translntiou of the last clause of this verse orde~ of temple worship, see eh. xxii. 17; is, And was their number, the men of work, xxiii. 2; xxiv. 6; ns also Numb. iv. 3; viii. for their service, i.e. "And the number of 23. The sons of Aaaph. (For n clear instance workmen for the service wns." 'l'he ivorl.- of the use of the preposition (lamed) prefixed, men intend, of courso, those who performed na here, see Ezrn viii. 24.) The English the senice. should nppenr "the sons of Asnph." Aso.ph, Ver. 2.-Four sons of Aeaph nre here Heman and Jeduthun belonged respectively given, tho number, however, not being ex- to the' Gershon, Kohath, and Mernrite pressed, although it is expressecl in the families (eh. vi.18-32). Thus these singers cnsea of Jeduthun nnd H,·mau (vers. 3, 5). and musicians were drawn from ench great "For Asnph," we find twelve ponlme in- branch of Levi; viz. from Ge~shon, four scribed, viz. Pa. 1.; lxxiii.-lxxxiii.; of through Asaph; from Kohath, ~IX through some of which he wna himself the inspired Jeduthun; and from Mero.r1, fourteen composor. When it is so.id "for Asnph," through Hemen; while the whole number the mcnning is for those "under his ho.1111," of those trained to sing was two hundred or direction, and who ns a bnnd bore his and eighty-ei.,.ht. Who should prophesy. nnme, nnd performed wnong other odes The Hebrew" c,N:.im (Jer. xiv. 14, lli) those which he prophesied. Zaocur. A stands for Niph~l· partioiple plur9:l, tho descendant after the Return is mentioned in singular of which (N~3rl) appears ID the Neh. xii. 35. Asarelah. This last of the following two voraes. T_h 7se w~re the four sons of Asaph is called in vor. H, utterere in song of the D1V1ne mmd and Jeshnreloh. tJnder the hand.a of . .. aooord- 896 THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES (clt, xx.v. 1-:n.