Church life iB not free from the subtle temptation,,when we observe, In the deco.y o( rival part.ies or ·denominations, a probable ~ncrease to the strength of our own. Business men may argue that benefits to society a.rise from the downfall of housea tro.ding on an insecure basis, and Eo oover the real character of the persono.l satisfaction enterto.ined. We need to be much on our guard when the reasoning powers are stimulated to justify aentiments which in their simple nakedness would be instinctively nbhorred by a very holy and loving nature. Jn moral mo.tters the first judgn1ents are safest. IV. THEY DO NOT REVEAL OR SUGGEST THE IMMEDIATE AND REMOTE OONBEQUENOEB OF YIELDING. T~e point of the _temp_tation, as it fell on David's nature, was simply to develop a cert.am feeling of sat1sfact1on that, as he could not and would not rnise a hand_ against Saul, some one else, in a natural course_ of events, had been permitted by Providence to do so, and thus bad secured the opening of the door for which he had been waiting. Now, this feeliug, so natural to many ruen, so commonly cherished under kindred circumstances, even though a human weakness, was simply a private transitory sentiment passing over the inner life, and forming no feature in conduct. It seemed to begin and end there and then. Its presence, if permitted, was e. trifle, and inflicted no injury on society. Thus, while other temptations on presento.tion, startle the ordinary mind by being associated at once with damage to social position, or to family or nation, temptations of this class do not reveal or suggest at the time their consequences. Of course, evil is to be resisted as evil apart from effects; and a pure mind will -immediately-detect the essentially immoral nature of any internal incitement to transitory impurity of sentiment. But it is easier .to many to detect and resist temptations of the other class. No doubt every deterioration of feeling does issue in disastrous consequences, as surely as do open acts of vice, only the subtle process escapes notice. Consequently many good men, forgetting t)lis, often entertain sug~. gested transitory feelings of evil, which, did they but duly consider the necessary deterioration of their entire life which therenpon sets in, they would carefully. watch a.,aainst and resist. • • PRACTICAL LESSONS. 1. We ought to act at all times under the influence of the fa.et that at no hour are we free from the possibility of being subjected to .very subtle temptations. 2. The more cultivated and tried our piety, the more likely is it that the trials of our reli11:ious purity will come in forms not suggestive of open acts 9.r transgression. 3. Whenever the reasonii:i,gs of ~xpediency come in to justify the indulgence of sentiments of which doubt may have arisen as to their moral quality, we may safely be suspicious of fa.llacy, and so should close the debate at once. 4. It is very possible that a long season of persistent temptation to actual wrong, as in the case of David for years past, may culminate in a temptation more severe, because more difficult of detection, and which, if yielded to, would virtually undo the work of years of resistance. Therefore we need to be specially watchful when the end of our trials .is near.
Vere. 11-27.-The facts of the section are: 1. Having become assured, .through the testimony of the Amalelcite, of the defeat of Israel in the death of Saul and.Jonathan, David and his men spent the rest of the day in mourning. 2. On tl;te morrow: Darid examines the Amalekite as to the particulars of Saul's death, ancl. being shocked at the sin and shame of slaying the Lord's anointed, he condemns the man to death, 3. Being left to his own reflections on the sad event which had happened to Israel, he composes an elegy, a.s an expression of his own feelings and for the use of Israel, in, which he refers in impassioned language to (1) the greatness of the calamity; (2) its possible humiliation and shame to Israel should it become freely known in Phihs~ tine cities, and its future mournful associations ,vith the locality in which it occurred.; (3) the better qne.lities of Saul and Jona.tha.u in their relation to their country and to each other; (4) the reason for sorrow even among the non-fighting members of the com- munity, as they reflect on the improved personal comforts incident to Saul's reigu ;, and (5) his special friendship with Jonathan, as the joy and solace of bygone years~ 'l'he teaching of these facts and expressions of feeling may be summarized by embracing the public act of mourning for Saul aud the poetic lament under one con- 1'.eption, and unfolding the variolll! truths thus contained. But, in order to secure more conS(:cution in dealing wiLh those two items, we may .conside1'. first the teachin.g on. t. 1-27.] 'l'RE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 11