lnrlulgence in fresh sins in order to get rid of wha.t slight uneasiness is experienced ; but with David tho disturbing force of sin would gra.dually expend itself, and the roflective powers would begin to review the situation and gradually allow the influence of truth a.nd fact to reveal the folly and shame of what had been done. The monarch retired from the ca.res and toils of the day, and, though fretted and vexed by the bad impression his peoplo might entertain as to his persistency of purpose, be could not but ponder the recent path of his feet, and the great truths on which he had formerly been wont to "meditate day and night" (Ps. i. 2). In good men, though fallen and wretched, the intellectual faculties, as under the a.cUon of a magnet, will be sure to concentrate on the truths that help to recovery. III. TnE MIND COMES IN DUE COURSE mTo DIRECT CONTACT WITH ACTUAL FACTS AND THE WORD OF Goo. Reflection would clear away the mists of passion, and David would see in the light of the written Word the error of setting out with the ark on a. cart; the exposure, therefore, by his own arrangement or connivance, of the man to the temptation to violate the Law, and the justice of the blow which fell, as also its use in checking a spirit of indifference and inculcating reverence for sacred things. The piety of his nature, thus brought into direct contact with truth, would at once recognize its force, the shamefulness and folly of the discontent and distrust, and the desirability of placing the life once more in its proper relation to the general interests of religion. Penitents and backsliders are not far from restoration when once they gaze with calm and steadfast eye on the a.ctual facts as illumined by the light of God's Word. The revealed truth of God is the material on which the reflective powers act, and so the truly sorrowful spirit does not become the victim of false imaginings. IV. THERE IS BROUGHT ABOUT A. VIVID RECOGNITION OF THE MERCY OE' GOD IN CHRIST. As long as the passie>ns engendered by indulgence in sin darken the soul, there is a. loss of that clear and restful view of God which is the peculiar privilege of the pure in heart. David's sin (ver. 8) had transformed the all-merciful, covenanted God into an object of dread (ver. 9). But now that passion was subsiding, and the Word was allowed once more to shed.. its light on the facts of the case, the true character of God, as set forth in the sacred symbol, reappeared; and love, and mercy, and faith- fulness, and care were seen to be concentrated in the glory over the mercy-seat. The memory of all that the ark had been to Israel, in the passage of the Jordan and else- where, also confirmed the retumin~ conviction of the most precious of all truths. Once more the ark of the covenant of the Lord was, as of old, the revelation of Divine love and mercy. The same spiritual change occurs in men now when, on the subsidence of the passions, the full light of Scripture falls on the soul. God ceases to be full of terrors-an object of dread and avoidance. Christ is seen to be the express Image of the Father's Person, full of grace and truth. The old relation to him as God manifest in the flesh is restored; and the vastness e.nrl freeness of the mercy in him outshine all other truth, and shed a radiance on every thought a.nd feeling. There is another transfiguration (Matt. xvii. 2). V. THE FACTS OJ!' HISTORY ABE SEEN TO ll.LUSTBATE THE TRUTH RECOGNIZED. It was told David how the Lord was blessing the house of Obed-Edom. The e:s:perience of the godly who loved and trusted the ark as a symbol of the true character of God we.a thus in accord with the conviction arising from the exercise of reflection and the subsidence of sinful passion. History was in accord with the best thought concerning God, and furnished striking instances of the reality of a love and mercy by no means to be dreaded. Thus wonderfully does God interweave the experiences of his people for the common good of the Church and for the special help and cheer of those who have fallen into the snare of the evil one. Many a lowly Obed-Edom, by means of a love and trust simple and strong, and the blessedness resulting therefrom, has been the instrument of restoring to right views and feelings others whose position and powers were far more distinguished. Nothing is lost in the kingdom of God ; small and obscure persons and things are employed for great ends. The bearing of the actual experiences of sincere and humble Christians in the common walks of life upon the formation, by the more gifted and influential, of just conceptions of the revelation of God in Christ, is a subject worthy of much consideration. VI. 'l'HE TIIUTH BEING FULLY RECOGNIZED, THE OLD JOY RETURNS. The narrative &ets forth the strong a.bounding joy of David olhibiting itself in forms which, judged 168 THE SEOOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [err, v1. 1-23,
by the cool feelings and con,·entional standitrds of \Vestern life, seem almost fanatical. The question of form and degree is here really one of nitturalness, and of this there can be no doubt. The king gnve himself up to the full dominion of the present joy. 'l'he spring of that joy lay in his restored perception of what the ark of the covenant really was to himself and his people. It was not now the scat of flaming fire and source of destruction, but was the visible sign of the presence and favour of the God merdful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteouA in redemption. It told of protection, and guidance, and pardon, aad holy communion. It was the reconciling meeting-place, where the trembling sinner became the loving, trustful child once more. 'l'he Jordan, the walls of Jericho, the restfulness of pious souls on the great Day of Atonement, all told of what a blessed heritage is theirs whose God is the Lord; and could he as a man aad a king feel other than boundless joy now that the Refuge and Dwelling-place of all generations was coming to mn,ke a permanent abode in the very midst of his people? So it is with us all when, hadng known the oppression and darkness of sin, we ·come to see in Christ the Manifestation of the reconciling God, who forgivcth our iniquities, shelters us from condemnation, comes into close sympathetic fellowship with our spirits, and abides with us as Guardian and Friend. There are seasons when this restore.d joy is so pure and strong that all song and music seem too meagre for its due expression-when the spirit exults inexpressibly in the God of salvatioo. If danc\n" when natural, is the gesticulated expression of what canoot be put into word or ton~: then it might be an outlet for a joy unspeakable and full of glory.