taking" (Bottoher). 1, The firBt 1tep1 or 11n enterprise 11.re of high import11.nce, 11.nd, until they are &etually taken, even the best prepared l\re seldom without mis"iving. 2. When taken with the m11.nifest approval of Heaven, they afford strong confiden~e and liope of a successful issue. 3. The gladness (ver. 12) of succeBBful effort is all the greater because of previous snxiety and grief (Ps. cxxvi. 6), The '.(>rocession was led by eight hundred and sixty-two Levites clad in white, in three choirs, playing rcspeo. tively on cymbals, psalteries, And harps; over the first of which were Heman (grandson of Samuel), Asa.ph. and Ethan, or Jeduthun. Then followed Chcnaiab, "chief" or marshal "of the Levites for bearing; " two doorkeepers; the ark, attended by seven priests blowing silver trumpets (Numb. x.1-10); and two other doorkeepers (of whom Obed-Edom was one). Last of all came the king, with the elders and captains of thou- sands, and the whole body of the people. • Before went the singers, behind the players on stringed instruments; In the midst of damsels striking timbrels. There is Benjamin the youngest, their rnler; The princes of Judah-their motley band, The princes of Zebulun, the princes of Napht&li." (P& hviii. 26, 28.) Ill. A FESTAL AND TBIUJCPRAL PROGRESS. "With shouting and sound of trumpet" (ver. 15). .Again arose the well-known shout, "Let God arise," etc. I (Ps. lxviii.; =xii. 8). 1'he king may have composed the hymns sung by the Levites, and himself carried a harp in his hand. His clothing "had a priestly character, and not only the ephod of white, but also the meil of white byssos, distinguished him as the head of a priestly people" (Keil, on 1 Chron. xv. 27). .And David, having laid aside his royal garment, which would impede his movements, "danced before Jehovah with all his might" (ver. 14). " The same who sang The Holy Spirit's song, and bare'about The ark from town to town; now doth he know The merit of his soul-impassioned strains By their well-fitted gnerdon." (Dante, 'Par.,' xx.) • Simonides need to say of dancing that it was silent poetry, and of poetry that it was eloquent dancing" (Delany, from Plutarch). There is" a time to dance" (Eccles. iii. 4). David's dancing was a rel,,igi.ous act (ver. 21); customary among a people of simple and demonstrative habits, on a return from victory and in public worship (Exod. xv. 20; J udg. xL 34 ; 1 Sam. xvili. 6); rendered fa.miliar to him in the school of the prophets (1 Sam. x.u.. 24); practised only on an extraordinary occasion; a natural expression of personal gratitnde and joy (Ps. x:xx. 11) in a man of ardent temperament; 11, sign of humble, avowed, and unreserved devotion to Jehovah (Ps. cl. 4); a means of identify- ieg himself with the people, and of infusing his own spirit into them. Those persons who condemn him as deficient in modesty and dignity should remember these things: those who commend dancing as a social amusement or recreation by his example must find other gronnds for their commendation; and those who justify the unseasonable, vain, and indelicate manner in which it is ordinarily performed., by his conduct, either misunderstand or shamelessly pervert it (Job xxi. 7-15). Of '1'eligioU11 excitement it may be said that : 1. It does not prevail to such an extent as might have been expected from the glorious truths set forth in the Word of God. 2. It is of great val~ in inducing the performance of duty, overcoming obstacles, and leading to a decisive course of action. Reason and conscience are often insufficient of themselves to influence the will effectually. 3. It is fraught with serious danger--0f not being properly regulated by intelligence, of running into imprudence and excess, of being superficial and transient, and perverted to an unworthy and sinful end. 4. It requires to be controlled by an enlightened conscience, transformed into fixed prin- ciples, and translated into holy and useful deeds. Unless it be immediately acted upon it is injurious rather than beneficial.-D.
Vers. 17-HJ (1 Chron. :xvi.).-(ZxoN.) The ark established in it, chosen resting• on. vr. 1-23.] T'.EIE SEOON'D BOOK. OF SAMUEt. 169