stroke in the cause or the God he had served and of the people whom he loved. From tbis scene at the end we karn many lesson~. I. THAT A NOBLE LIFE IS CROWNED BY ONE SUPRBMR EFFORT AT THE LAST. 'l'hns <lid Moses crown bis illustrious career (Deut. xxxi.-xxxiii.). Thus did Joshua worthily close his honourable course (Josh. xxiii., xxiv.). So, indeed, we may speak of our Lord himself; for by his passion and his death he wrought for the human race a far greater work than even he had accomplished by all the words and works of his life-ministry. It may well be our ambition to act in this spirit, if we do not adopt this particular method. " So much the more as ye see the day approaching" (Heh. x. 25). II. '!'HAT A TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS MAN Wll,L EARNESTf,Y CONCERN HIMSELF AB TO Tn.,T WHICH COMES AFTER lIIM. David was most solicitous to leave nothing undone that he could do to secure the happiness and well-being of Israel after his death; there- fore he convened this great assembly and gave this solemn charge. In the same spirit be adjured them to do the one right thing, in order that, in their turn, they might "leave the good land for an inheritance for their children," etc. (ver. 8). The spirit of indifference respecting the days that will succeed ottr own is one which the disciples of Jesus Christ should be ashamed to cherish. It is profoundly unchristian; it is as far as it can be from the spirit of him who died that, after and through his death, there mi~ht be righteousness, joy, life, upon the earth. III. 'l'HAT AUTHORITY AND AFFECTION GO WELL TOGETHER. "Hear me, my brethren and my people" (ver. 2). The king addresses his people as his brethren; it is in the fuloess of his heart that he thus speaks. His soul is filled with an earnest and loving regard for them, and for the nation they represent; hence the affectionate term which he employs. It is well for all who are in authority to assure those whom they direct that they "have them in their heart" as well as in their hand; that they love them as " brethren" while they rule over them as their "people." IV. THAT IT IB A GREAT THING TO BE WILLING TO SERVE THE LORD, "J had it in my heart to build an house of rest," etc. (ver. 2i, "And the Lord said unto David . . . thou didst well that it was in thine heart (1 Kings viii. 18). When o. man purposes, with pure and complete integrity of soul, to do anything for the cause of Cbrist--to give largely, or to go far afield, or to work devotedly at home, or to spare :,ome loved one, and when the providence of God interposes to prevent, is it not written in the record which is on high, "Thou didst well that it was in thine·heart"? V. THAT IT IB A GREAT THING TO DO WHAT WE CAN WHEN OUR STRONGEST WISHES ABE DE!.'IED. Perhaps it spoke most for the genuine piety of David that, when God said to him, "Thou shalt not build an bouse for my Name," etc. (ver. 3)/he -did not cease to "make ready for the building" (ver. 2), but continued to the end to store up all manner of precious tbings, that his son might have his labour lightened and might do his work with more completeness. So far from sulkily retiring because he could not have the very thing which he desired, David did the thing that be was per- mitted to do-the laboriollB but comparatively unhonoured work of preparation-cheer- fully leaving the glory of building to one that should succeed him. How many are there who live in this later and brighter dispensation who might learn a lesson of cheerful continuance in well-doing from thls Hebrew king I VI. THAT MUCH IN HUMAN LIFE IS DECIDED DY THE ELECTING GRACE OF Goo. (Vere. 4-7.) He who chose the tribe, the family, the individual man, for the sovereignt_v of r~rael, now chooses individual souls to be kings among men. By the mental aud spiritual endowments be is pleased to bestow, by the teaching and training he is 1,leased to grant, by the privileges and openings he is pleased to afford, he marks out one rather than another for office, influence, power. He still " chooses our inheritance for us" (Ps. xlvii. 4). Let the fact that he does so condemn pride, ingratitude, and envy. VII. THAT MUCH IN HUMAN LIFE IB LEFT TO OUR DECISION. "If he be constant," etc. (Ver. 7.) "Now therefore . . . keep and seek for all the commandments . . . tltat ye 'TIUl,y possess,'' etc. (ver. 8). God proposes and arranges, but not witho_ut r~gar_d to our response to his invitation, our obedience to his commandments. . Nothmg lD his ordering interferes with the conditions he bas imposed. We reap that which we sow.-C.
Vere. 9, 10.-A parental charge: a sermon to the young. 'l'he scene le one of pro- OH. xxvm. 1-21.] TIIE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 427