h11d,been taken; for he Bctually dares to rebuke him for not perceiving the cunnin~ spy m the man of peace. So far was he out of sympathy with tho principles anrl ,,flli~y of the king, that he stealthily, and with the aid of his brother (ver. 30), even allr,wecl the personal resentment of his heart to issue in an act which was not only unjust anrl base in itself, but also in direct opposition to the will and measures of David. Here we, he.ve, as the outcome of his worldly spirit, displeasure with his king, assumption of superior wisdom, indulgence in personal revenge, murder, and practically aRsertion, for the time being and in a particular instance, of supreme power. Not one of these evil>i would have come to the surface of life, but would have been crushed in their most incipient stage, had his nature been more in sympathy with that of bis master. Inas- much as by full sympathy we alone can really understand, appreciate, fall in with, delight in, and surrender every faculty and subdue every errant feeling to the prompt carrying out of our Lord's designs, so, conversely, a lack of sympathy cannot but resnlt in the evils of misapprehension of designs, non-appreciation of motives and methorls, discontent with actual deeds, withholding of services, and free scope to passions, in nat,tre and consequences at variance with his superior will. The lives of the apostles during our Saviour's ministry on earth abundantly illustrate this. Bred in an atmosphere "f formalism and religious exclusiveness, they entered not into the perfect mind or Christ, and consequently wondered at his methods (Luke ix. 44, 45), desired what was contrary to his Spirit (vers. 46-56), and, in the case of Peter, actually rebuked him for arranging to establish his kingdom by a method which seemed to them to be unnecessary anrl. unbecoming (Matt. xvi, 21-23). The persecutions authorized by the Church in dMk ages, the methods introduced by Ignatillll Loyola and subsequently adopted by his followers, the bitter spirit cherished towards men differing in minor matters of faith or practice, and the sundry base deeds which grow out of a professedly Christian life becalll!e it is not well nourished in fellowship with Christ bimself,-tbese are some of the evils appearing in the course of the establishment of the kingdom of heaven as a consequence of the servants of the Lord not being in full harmony of spirit with him they profess to serve. Ill. THIS DEFECTIVE SYMPATHY, IF NOT GRADUALLY REMEDIED, MAY DiVOLVE ACTIOXS PERMANENTLY DAMA.GING TO THE MOST POWERFUL OF MEN. It is probable that Joab was with David in exile, and, like many others, he may have been drawn over to bis side partly because of tbe intimation given by Samuel and recognized by Jonathan of the Divine choice of David, and partly because of disgust at the misgovernment of Saul. However much he might have failed in the first instance to comprehend and appreciate the holy aims and principles of his leader, he could not have shared so long in David's fortnnes and misfortunes without having many opportunities of learning what manner of person he WM:, and how decidedly spiritual were his aims and purposes. He appears not to have profited by these privileges, and consequently, by the action of a well- known psychological law, the original secularity of bis nature gained in power, so that when a contest arose between a private passion and acquiescence in his master's arrange- ments, there was not sufficient moral force to restrain and destroy the passion, and hence the dark deed which disgraced his name and caused him to be in the future a man distrusted and abhorred (ver. 39). The reverse is seen'in the case of the apostles, excepting Judas, who all grew out of their imperfect sympathy with the innermost heart of Christ, and brought forth frnit accordingly. In private life there can be no question but that, when opportunities for getting nearer and nearer to the mind of Christ are neglected, the lower tendencies of human nature gain force, and when temptation to exercise them arises, sad deeds are done and reputations are damaged. Probably, if all things were explained, it would come out that many of the sad crimes perpetrated by persons professedly in the kingdom and service of Christ are connected with failure to maintain and deepen the sympathy of the heart with all that is in Christ and his work. "Without me ye can do nothing;" "Abide in me." GENERAL LESSONS. 1. 'l'he incidental evils a.rising from imperfect sympathy with the holy and far-reaching purposes of God may be found in course of the historic revelation which God has given us, and should be ascribed to their proper human source, and allowed for in our estimate of the form, matter, and incidents of the revela- tion. 2. A critical estimate of the degree of the triumphs of early ChrisLianity shoul,I bo formed on a consideration of the degree, more or less, to which the leading ann. sub- 11. SAMUEL. G I 82 THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [on, 111. 1-30.
"rdinate servants of Christ undorstood and entered into his spirit. 3, In a selection of men for any form of Christian work, great stress should be laid on their quick and cager perception of the purely spiritual aspects of his kingdom. Intellectual and othor qualities are very subordinate to this. 4. It becomes us to be on our gul\rd lest mere 11rivatc feelings of the lower order should gain a.scendency over the mol'e general con- siderations thllt pertain to the kingdom of God. 5. It will be useful if we now and then calmly reflect on the degree to which the cause of God may hl\ve suffered through our own defective sympathy with its more spiritual interests. G. 'l'he great need of each one is to cultivate close fellowship with Christ, so as more fully to enter into hie mind.