clnims ns one of life nnd denth-one in which e.11 that 18 most valued by them for the sake of thcmselvoe, their families, and society at large is involved. And it is due to the foeR of Christ themselves that this should be done. 'l'heir conscience& should be e.ddrossed ae well as their reaeoning faculty. Remonstrance should be employed, and warning, ae well as argument. Only Jet the warmth shown be that of love and intense desire for the salvation of men. Finally, let the Christian rejoice that all opposition to "the Lord's Anointed" is, and must be, vain. It cannot injure him ; it cannot seriously or permanently injure his cause. It can only recoil on those who engage in it (see Ps. ii.; Luke u. 17, 18).- G. W. Ver. 20.-Joy amongst the enemies of the (Jhwrch. "Tell it not in Gath," etc. A poetical deprecation; for already had it been told among the Philistines, and triumphed over; and yet would be. The language expresses David's sorrow at the joy of the Philistines, and its cause. The words have often been used to express the concern of good men when Christiane give occasion to the enemies of Christ's kingdom to rejoice. I. THE OCCASIONS OF BUCH JOY. 1. In general, the misfortunes of the (Jhwrch, what- ever hinders its advancement or causes reversal. 2. In particular, the inconsistencies of professing Christians. It is amazing how men will gloat over the occasional lapses of Christians into sins which they are themselves habitually committing. Still it is a serious enhancement of the guilt of such lapses that they cause "the enemies of the Lord to blasphemen (eh. xii. 14). 3. Contentions and divisions among (Jhristians. When these are rife, the world is apt to exclaim in scorn, "See how these Christians love one another I n 4. Failures in their work. II. THE CAUSES OF eucH JOY. 1. Hatred of God and goodness. To "rejoice in iniquity'' is a sure sign of this; and to rejoice in the enfeebling of the power which most of all tends to its subjugation-the power of Christian life and teaching-is scarcely less so. It is a diabolical joy. 2. The encouragement in sin which is derived from the faults of good men. Sinners feel as if justified in their own sins when Christians fall into them; their guilty consciences are relieved. As if sin in themselves were less sinful because practised by those who profess to have renounced it; or as if the Law of God, which condemns the Christian's occasional sins, did not at least equally condemn the habitual sias of others. Rather should they remember that the lmowledge of the evil of sin by which they condemn others is to their own condemna- tion (Rom.. ii. 1, 3). They ought, therefore, to take warning instead of indulging satisfaction. ill. How CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE AFFECTED BY IT. 1. They should be careful not needlessly to publish that which will produce it. "Tell it not," etc. Not needlessly; for ofttimes secrecy is impossible, sometimes it would be injurious. We must not deny facts, nor palliate sin, to prevent the triumph of enemies. But we ought not to eagerly announce to the world the occurrences which tend to our humiliation and their exultation. (1) For the sake of those who would exult. That they may not add to their sins by their unholy joy, nor become more hardened in them. (2) Lest we should put stumbling-blocks in the way of feeble Christians; or (3) discourage our brethren in their conflicts with evil; or ( 4) lessen the power of the testimony of the Church on the side of Christ and holiness. 2. They should be still more careful so tv live as to give no occasion for such exultation. "That by well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men" (1 Pet. ii. 15). 3. They should in no degree imitate it. Which they do when they rejoice at any scandal which arises in another Church that they regard as a rival, or at failure on its part in efforts to do good. Christian love "rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth," and will be grieved at sin wherever it may be found, and at the failure of Christian work by whomsoever it may be done.-G. W.
Ver. 26.-.d beloved friend's death lamented. David's lamentation over Saul was genuine. He saw now the good in him, and passed over the evil. He remembered his early kindnesses to himself, and thought not of his later enmity. He associated him with Jonathan, and was softened towards him on that account. He mourned sincerely that his death should have been caused, though not directly inflicted, by the enemies II, SAMUEL. D THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL, [cR, I, 1-27,