and determination. 3. PerBiBtency, notwilhsfn.nding all del,ays, d,!,.~r,ouragement.9, and partial failures. 4, SonrJB of victory. Not only for evory advantage gained, but for the fino.l and complete victory o.lready to faith as good as won. If the hope of victory in other conflicts produces such effects, much more should the absolnte certainty which the soldiers of Christ have. An altogether ill effect is that which the Divine assurances pro~uce on eome, 'fhey ea.y that, o.e the battle is the Lord's, a1;1d he is sure to conquer, their efforts are needless. As relates to a man's own salvat10n, such a persuasion is fa.ta!; for victory is promised only to the earnest combatant, and the assurance of Di vine operation ls made a reason why we should "work out our own salvation" (Luke xiii. 24; 1 Tim. vi. 12; Phil. ii. 12, 13). And as respects the spread and triumph of the kingdom of Christ, such 11, feeling indicates ignorance, indifference, indolence, and unfaithfulness, rather than faith in God. It is quite inconsistent with both Scripture and reason, and will deprive those who cherish it of all share in the joy of final victory, even if they a.re not utterly cast a.way as "wicked, slothful, and unprofitable" (Matt. UV, 26, 30).-G. w. Ver. 24.-Divine omens of coming victory. "When thou hearest the sound of marching . , , then is the Lord gone out before thee," etc. (Revised Version). The Philistines were a brave and determined people, not easily beaten. Repulsed and scattered "as the breach of waters," they reunite and return. David, inquiring of God, receives directions differing from those given him on the former occasion. He is instructed not to "go up" to the hlgher ground. occupied by the Philistines, but to make a circuit to their rear, where was a plantation, and when he hears a sound as of marching on the tops 'of the trees, then to attack the foe with spirit and energy, knowing that God was gone before to give him certain victory. The enemies of the Christian and the Church a.re similarly persistent, and must be assailed and defeated over and over again. Indeed, the conflict is contiuuous. There are, however, certain times when we are specially to "bestir" ourselves, with assurance of conquest; and these are often indicated by special signs that the supernatural powers are "marching" on to lead us and give us success. J. lN RESPECT TO THE WHOLE CHRISTIAN WARFARE AND WORK, THE SUPERNATURAL EVENTS BY WBIOH OUR RELIGION WAS Dl'AUGURATED MAY BE THUS REGARDED. Jn the incarnation of the Son of God, his supernatural revelations, the miracles of his life, death, resurrection, and ascension, in the all-sufficient sacrifice he offered for sin, and in the descent and operations of the Holy Spirit, God went before his people to lead them on to victory. They were not for the men of that age only, but for all ages. We, recalling them to mind, may ever take courage in the assurance that we a.re following where God has led and still leads. Evermore they remain as calls to us to "bestir" ourselves with confidence of success; the eternal motives to energy and hope ; the eternal armoury, too, from which we draw the offensive and defensive arms we need in the war. I!. JN RESPECT TO OUR OWN PERSONAL SALVATION, THERE ABE AT TIMES SPECIAL INDICATIONS TH.AT Gon IS GOING BEFORE us TO GIVE us S!'ECL\L HELP AND BLESSC!G. We ought not, indeed, to wait for these. The knowledge of our duty, the memory of Christ, the promise of Divine aid, the experiences of the past, constitute sufficient reasons for habitual diligence, prayer, and hope; and special inspirations may be most confidently expected by such 3l! are thus ever "e:tercising themselves unto godliness," ever striving against evil and for the attainment of greater good. But there are moments of peculiar sensibility which afford peculiarly favourable opportunities and special calls to "bestir" ourselves that we may secure the blessings which they promise. Startling events which deeply move the conscience and heart; personal afflictions which compel retirement and produce impressions favourable to religious exercises; bereave- ments which bring face to face with death; losses which make the uncertainty and insufficiency of enrthly good felt; sermons which unusually touch the heart; earnest appeals of a friend wbich produce deep emotion ; whatever, in a. word, brings God and eternity, Christ ru:d salvation, nearer, and creates a sense of their supreme importance, whatevtir excites a craving for a higher good, are sigus that God is working for us, and calls to "bestir" ourselves by special meditation, prayer, etc. \Ve may at such seasons obtain more spiritual blessing in an hour than at others in a month. Jll. IN RESPE0T TO THE WARFARE AND WORK OF THE CHURCH FOR THE ADVA~CE- 142 THE SEOOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [oR, VI, 1-23,
MEN'l' OF THE KINGDOM OF Gem, THERE ARE &DULAR. SIGNS FROM HEAVEN ADAPTED TO 8TIXULATE AND ENOOURAGE. Such e.re: 1. Remarkable openings made for the en.tronce of the gospel. The operations of Divine providence prepe.ring a way for the operations of Divine grace. These may be on a small scale, laying open to Ohrietian effort an individual, a family, or a neighbourhood; or on a large scale, opening a con- tinent crowded with 8001'88 of millions of the human race. The discoveries of travellers, and the removal of barriers and obstacles by military conquests, are thus to be regarded. India, China, Japan, and Africa furnish inste.nces of God going before his people, aud calling on them to "bestir" themselves and follow whither he leads. 2. Impressions favourable to religwn. In one person, or in a family, a congregation, a town, or a nation. Impressions by sickness, by war, pestilence, or other calamities; or by signal displays of the Divine goodness. By these God goes before, and prepares the way for his people to publish more diligently and earnestly the gospel, with good assurance of success. 3. Unusual riligiuus ear11estness in. Ohristians themselves. Extraordinary emotions of love and zeal towards God and Christ and the souls of men, and of longing to rescue the perishing and enlarge the Church, however they may have been excited, are to be regarded as the yearnings of God's Spirit in the Christian heart, and as calls and encouragements to exertion. The sign that God is working and leading his people to victor_v is more oonspicuous when these emotions are shared by many. 4. S=esses in the Christian war summon to -new efforts and encourage the hope of new successes. They show the.t God is working, and assure us tha.t he will continue to work with his faithful servants.-G. W.