follo~·ed in their private life the heat of passion, are at l&st brought low by disnster or 11iokmi11s, and constrained, RA the fires of p&ssion become slack, to give heed to the higher authority within. Though life me.y ha.ve been w&sted, and, &sin Abner's case, me.y hBve caused much misery, there is hope of a better end. The pro,digal son is an extreme Cll.lle of the kind. III. IN SEASONS OF' FAILURE MEN ARE GLAD TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE HIGHER 001'"'SIDERATIONS THEY O)IOE BET ABIDE. Both fools and every m&n of sense must have 1uimitted the force of Abner's appeal (ver. 26). Now in his defeat he pleaded con- siderations of humanity, of common tribal interests, and of general expediency. One might have thought that the possibility of the death of three hundred and seventy men and the general mise1ies of a battle would have been of force with Abner in the morning of the day; but it is only when failure had come that he can use the higher re:\Sons for saving himself and followers from still greater calamities. So is rt that men can uae moral reasons when it answers their purpose. They pay homage t'o the superiority of moral reasons by pleading them with emphasis when they have anything to gain thereby. France could appeal to Europe against what were termed hard and ruthless conditions when in defeat, but no question of humanity or common Europ~a.n interests was raised when she entered on the war against Germany. Many an evil- doer, overtaken with the consequences of his deeds, speaks of the desirability of mitigating suffering and remembering the innocent that share the consequences of his actions, who, while in the path of his wrong-doing, was heedless of the pleadings of humanity. In these facts have we not an intimation of the more comprehensive truth that the day will come, the day of the defeat of all the enemies ·of Zion's King, when every soul shall recognize the riihteousness and expediency of the great principles which once they rejected as the spring of conduct and which enter into the essence of Christ's government? IV. AmDST THE DIN OF LIFE MEN SOMETIMES OBTAIN A GLIMPBE OF A BETTER ORDER OF THINGS THil<' THAT THEY ARE IN. Abner was painfully impressed with' the miseries consequent on that day's conflict, and by a stretch of imagination he pictured to himself what won!d be the issue to his nation if the spirit of war which then prevailed in men's hearts were to move on unrestrained. He saw only "bitter- ness in tbe latter end." Then, by a reversion of the picture, he could not but think of the comparative blessedness that would ensue should the sword not continue to dev.our. Human life as we see it is a spoiled thing. Nationally and personally it is often laid' waste. Neither individuals nor communities hava attained to the development, physical, intellectual, and moral, which is the ideal of life, and which may, if men will, become real. Artists sometimes have depicted in contrast" War" and" Peace," and so have given form to the ideal, which often steals before the imagination, of a more blessed state of things than that familiar to us. The representations of the Bible encourage us to dwell on the beautiful image of a time when the sword shall no more devour-when men shall learn the art of war no more. .Also, out of the dull and beclouded life of many a poor victim of sin there arises, consequent on the revived teaching of early years, a. lovely and apparently unattainable image of a pure and blessed life, strangely in contrast with the defiled and restless past. Such a "heavenly vision" bas a message to which it behoves us not to be disobedient. V. A CONVICTION OF BEING ENGAGED IN A RIGHTEOUS CAUSE ENABLES MEN TO ABSTAIN FROM STRIFE. Joab did not seek to carry on the conflict. He contented him- self with reminding Abner that had he been wiser in the morning be would not have had occasion to lament the evils of the evening. Most probably he knew the aversion of David to a civil war, and was simply carrying ont the wishes of his king when he ordered hie men back to Hebron. Moreover, his presence with David during the exile gave him abundant opportunities of knowing the validity of his claim. Subsequent fact.s show that Joab was not of the highest type of character, but he was sagacious, and could u a Hebrew, recognize the force of the supernatural claims of Davi\!. It was doubtleBS the assurance that he was on the right side, which so often had. been vindicated by God's providence, that induced him t.o cease from war and abide t1'o issue of evenui. History proves that too often it is the men who are least conscious or rectitude of motive and juetice of claim that press on with the sword, as though time, the healer of strifes, would be sure to work against them, David's calm waiting during arr. 11, 1-32.] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 51
all the years of provocation, when Saul was eager for conflict, was here showing itself agnin in the moderate conduct of his general. In the highest sphere, that of Christ'H llfo and kingdom, we seo how assurance of right was conjoined with a spirit that would not strivo. It is along the same line that the Church should move to moral conquests, and kings and private persons may also do well to act in the same spirit,