'l'he pressure of busiaess may cause thorn to lie unnoticed for months and years· but now and then opportunities will occur which an uncorrupted heart will gladly iu:e for briuging them into the current of daily life. There may be an abuse of "days and see.sons;" but e. well-regulated ]if~ will not, on that account, be hindered from tskin"' pa.ins to sweeten and subdue the present, and prepare for e. better future by a distinct and deliberate revive.I of the most ~e.cred and tender experiences of the p;st. IV. THIS DELIBERATE UBE OF HALLOWED ASSOCIATIONS SECURES A CONTINUITY 01" GOODNESS. '!'here was e. native force in David's generous sentiments toward Jonathan in early days which would tend to their continuous assertion. The main elements of a man's moral life will a.bide in spite of counteracting evils. Yet as limbs maintain their muscular power by exertion, so the special qualities of David's character, as seen !n his early friende~ip for_ Jonathan, wo~ld form a C?~tinuous fe~t~re of hie life only m so for as he availed himself of passmg opportumt1es for rev1vmg the sentiments associated with the name of his departed friend. To this habit of allowing the feelin"'s peculiar to such associations to act again and again, as occasion permitted, upon his life, in combination, of course, with other forms and methods of spiritual culture, we may ascribe the freshness and force of the kindly, generous sentiments which were a distinctive feature of hie character to the very end. The characters of some men are disjointed. The main qualities of one part of their life are not conspicuous later on, The good has been overlaid, crushed down, by an enormous pressure of thought and sentiment of an adverse kind, and no care has been taken to give new force to latent memories. Their later good qualities are not of the same order as their earlier. This is not true growth. The true continuity of goodness is that seen in David's case, and is promoted by the same careful use of the power that lies in the best associations of our .earlier life. . GENERAL LESSONS. 1. Let us see to the storing of the mind in early years with facts and experiences that will be as fountains of blessing to freshen life amidst the carking cares of a busy life. 2. We should be careful to cast out low thoughts, lest they occupy, in the mental and moral area, ground on which holy and generous feelings may take root and flourish. 3. It is desirable to make seasons when the best memories of the past are allowed to exercise their full power over us. This seems to be one reason, at least, for the insUtution of the Lord's Supper. 4. It is by cultivating the memories of departed friends, and cherishing the sentiments associated with their name, that the communion of the saints on earth and in heaven is promoted. 5. It is by the deliberate cultivation of sacred memories that we shall be able to conserve the more gentle virtues of life, and so give tone and purity to the otherwise hard and unsympa- thetic life of the world. 6. It behoves us to consider well what sacred vows of our earlier years are yet waiting to be redeemed. 7. In the remembrance of former friend- ships we may do well to inquire whether there are any in trouble and need on whom the spirit of the old friendship may exercise itself.
A spiritual parallel. Great mischief may a.rise from the endeavour to trace spiritual analogies in the ordinary historical narratives of Scripture, in consequence of the licence of an over-active imagination. It is not a safe canon of interpretation to say that sacred history is throughout e.n allegory. That e.n apostle saw an allegory in one or two cases is not proof of a general rule (Gal. iv. 24). But, under limitations, we are warranted in tracing parallels between the temporal and spiritual, the earthly and the heavenly: the one may exhibit features which serve to illustrate the other. Much of our Saviour's teaching partook of this character. In this lies the essence of parable. In this light we may regard the story of David's conduct toward Mephibosheth: it serves to illustrate the bearing and action of the true King of Zion toward the weak and lowly. Naaman's cleansing and Mephibosheth's elevation a.re historic facts shedding light on spiritual realities. Note- I. A PLEDGE TO BE KEPT. The events here recorded have their root in the free pledge given by David many years before that he would care for the seed of Jonathan (1 Sam. xx. 15). He had undertaken to bless when need should arise. In a deeper sense the whole merciful transactions recorded in New Testament history a.re the out- come of a "covenant ordered in all things." Christ's interposition on behalf of the fallen was not a casual act called forth by a passing incident in human history. THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUT~L. [011. IX, 1-13.