loving-kindnetls, which "ill better than life." 7. For the promotion of 1,,i, glo,·y • "thnl they me.y Bee your good v.•orks, e.nd glorify your Father which is in hee.ven."-D. Ver. 4.-(Gn.un.) Tl1e kind,u,s, Qf MacMr Ben-.Ammiel. One of the obscure che.racten of Scripture.. Be dwelt at Lo-debar, among the mountains of Gilead, "a favourite e.sylu.m for refugees;" was, probably, a descendant of Me.chir the son of :Me.ne.sseh; and "the principal me.n of Gilead" (Josephus). Of his generosity two notable instances are recorded (eh. iv. 4; xvii. 27). From these it may be inferred that he was rich in earthly possessions, and (what is of much greater importance) in: 1. Grauful memories. Like the men of Jabesh-Gilead,he remembered the heroio enter- prill8 of Saul on behalf of his people (1 Sam. xi. 9; u.xi. 11 ; eh. ii. 4-7), .. But, 0 Se.ul, do not fail us. Saul. Fe.ii ve ? Let the morn fail to break; I will not break My word. Haste, or rm there before you. FaiU Let the morn fail in the ee.st; rn not foil you; But swift and silent as the streaming wind, Unseen approach, then gathering up my force At dawning, Hweep on Amnon, as night's blast Sweeps down from Carmel ou the dusky sen." (C. Hee.vysege, • Saul: a Drama.~ Hence be afforded ready shelter and hospitality to his grandson, and may have alll!isted the revival of his house at Mahana.i.m (eh. ii 8); and when, subsequently, David was in exile at the same place, remembering his kindness to Mephibosheth, rendered him generous aid. 2. Tender compa,&ion toward the orphan, unfortunate and friendless. The sight of human distress drew forth his sympathy ; and (like the good Samaritan) he suffered no other considerations to hinder its practical expression. 3. Coostantf'riendship. During many years (ver. 12), with all their changes, he pro-· vided, apparently" without fee or reward," a peaceful home for the crippled prince, and continued his steadfast protector. 4. Active beneuolence. He was "rich in good works" (2 Tim. vL 18). " Sensibility, u the word is generally used, is a mere animal instinct, useless when it does not immediately lead to active benevolence; and in such cases not only ueeless, but pernicious, because it has a tendency to produce a resting satisfied with the emotion and a neglect of the action" (W. Cooke Taylor). 6. Beneficent ~ His conduct could not but produce a good effect on the rude, warlike tribe of which he was chief; and possibly incited others (Shobi a.nd Barzillai) to the like. " Great deeds cannot die: They with the BUD a.nd moon renew their light For ever, hlee.sing those that look on them." (Tennyson.) 6. Nobk recmnpen11e. "The blessing of him that was ready to perish" (Job xxix. 13), the approval of his own conscience, the enduring memorial of a good name. Although (like that of Aboo Ben-Adhem) his name has not been written in the sacred record among "the names of those who love the Lord," but only "as one that loves hia Wow-men," it could not fail of being divinely honoured. • The angel wrote, a.nd vanished. The next night It came again, with a great wakening light, And show'd the names whom love of God had bless'd, And lo I Ben-Ad.hem's name led all the rest." (Leigh Hunt,) D. Vera. 5-13.-(Titt JUNG'S PALACE.) Mepkwosheth befwe the king. We have here a picture of- L ExTB.AOBDiliABY VICISSITUDES m LIFE. A prince by birth, deprived of his father, orip,IJled bf a heedleu footstep, e&rmd inta ~e and povert;y, recentl1 a helple111 Ill!, tt, 1-18,] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL, 249
dependent in a remote district, is conducted into the presence of one who was once a shepherd-boy, afterwards a wandering outlaw, and now the greatest monarch on eartl, ! Buch changes: 1. May be largely, though not entirely, traced to moral causes, per• sonal character, hereditary relationships. 2. Are wrought by Divine providence (1 Sam, ii, 7, 8; Ps. cxili. 7, 8). 8. Are designed for human welfare; being not only corrective, but also tentative and disciplinary (Ps. lv. 19; Job xxiii. 10; Heb. xii. 6). 4, And should be regarded in an appropriate spirit (Jas. i. 9, 10). II. THE DEPRESSING INFLUENCE OF MISFORTUNE. "He fell on bis face, and did reverence" (ver. 6); "And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou sbouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?" (ver. 8). His physical infirmity, com- bined with long-continued dependence, made him not merely humble, but timid, anxious, abject, and self-depreciatory. Hence his language (due in part to Oriental exaggeration) is excusable, though scarcely to be commended (Kitto,' Daily Bible Illus.'). The natural tendency of heavy affliction to enfeeble and crush the spirit is effectually overcome only by the aid of Divine grace. III. AN ADMIRABLE EXHIBITION OF KINDNESS ; spontaneous, faithful, considerate, magnanimous, practical, enduring, Divine. 1. In gracious and encouraging wo-rds. "Mephibosheth I" (ver. 6). "Fear not I" etc. (ver. 7). 'l'o David himself, in a time of dejection, Jonathan had said," Fear not I" (1 Sam. xxiii. 17); and bow often bas the Lord spoken the same comforting word to his servants (Gen. xv. 1; Luke xii. 32; Rev. i. 17) I 2. In becoming and beneficent acts; fulfilling what bad been promised (vers. 9-11), restoring an alienated inheritance, and making a. sure, permanent, and abundant provision (ver. 12). 3. In honoured, intimate, and a.biding friendship. "Mephibosheth, thy master's son, shall eat bread al way at my table" (vers.10, 11, 13). Such kindness, like sunshine after rain, and as a visit of "the angel of God" (eh. xix. 27, 28), dispersed bis fear, alleviated his misfortune, and filled him with grateful devo- tion; whilst his presence at the royal table would daily remind the king of his deceased friend, and incite him to renewed generosity. IV. THE IBREMEDIABLE DEFECTS OF THE MOST FAVOURED EARTHLY CONDITION. " And he was lame on both his feet" (ver. 13). His deformity was incurable; his infirmity became an occasion of complaint and slander (eh. xvi. 2---4); and his dejection and distress returned "as the clouds after the rain" (eh. xix. 24----30). The king himself often longed to flee away and be at rest (Ps. lv. 6). And it is vain to expect perfec- tion in character or condition except in the heavenly mansions. .. There is 11, spot in every dower, A sigh in every gale, A shadow in the brightest hour, Thorns in the smoothest vale. " To smile and weep, 11,nd weep 11,nd smile, To man alternate given; To cling to earth permitted while We learn to long for heaven."