or to wBl!te energie11 and resources in fierce conflicts with one another, ls to be dieloyal t.o their Sovereign, unbrotherly to each other, and unfaithful to the eoula of men. 2. Wny it off-en is ,wt ao. (1) Deficiency of spiritual insight. Incapacity, voluntary or involuntary, to diecern: (a) The real nature of the kingdom of Christ. That it is essentially spiritual, consisting in "righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost;" that "he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men" (Rom. xiv. 17, 18); and that in Christ Jesus nothing avails but "a new creat.ure," "faith which worketh by lo,e," and "the keeping of the commandmenta of Goo" (Gal. vi. 15; v. 6; 1 Cor. vii. 19). (b) The essential qualities of Christ's soldiers, which are not the dre."8 they wear, nor the particular drill to which they are accustomed, but love and loyalty to Christ. (2) Deficiency of spiritual affections, Want of BUpreme and ardent love for Christ and his kingdom, and for his servants as such. These deficiencies of mind and heart act and react on each other, and they open the way for all kinds of blundering and perversity. Fellow-soldiers are mistaken for enemies, and treated as such. The great cause is made practically subordinate to matter,; infinitely-small in comparison. Sectarian rivalry takes the place of Christian co-operation; or a worse thing happens-petty persona.I ambition and selfishness, or likings and disliking&, dominate, separating those who should be acting together, and introducing low, worldly principles into a region where the spiritual should alone reign. Pride, jealousy, envy, uncharitableness, perhaps the merest avarice, reduce to a fraction, if they do not altogether extinguish, those noble Christian feelings which Christianity inspires, and which would impel brothers to own brothers, cordially to render or receive help in the common work, to rejoice in each other's successes, and sorrow for each other's reverses. 3. Who sho'lild take the kad • in effecting co-operation P J oab addresses Abishai, his fellow-co=ander; and it is just the leaders and commanders in Christ's army who should be foremost in promoting a good understanding between its various bands, and inducing them to work together. But, alas I they are often foremost in promoting alienation and separation. The people are frequently more disposed to be friendly towards each other than the clergy. II. CoURAGE. (Ver. 12.) In war this is essential to success. In the Christian warfare it is not so ouviously or universally required. It is, however, still required in many cases. When unpopular truth has to be proclaimed, when strongholds of sin or superstition have to be assailed, when the evan11:elization of barbarous tiibes is attempted, or perilous climates have to be encountered, the Cbristian soldier must be prepared to endure hardship, suffering, or death. Even the ridicule which not unfre- quently assails the earnest Chr'i11Lian calls for a good deal of courage. Joab sought to inspire his brother, and through him the soldiers under his command, with courage, by reminding him that it was "for our people, and for the cities of our God," that they were about to fight. In like manner Christians may be exhorted to " be of good courage" and "play the men" for the Church of God, and for the sake of the world which they aim to conquer for Christ. Joab might have added, "for our king;" and the strongest and most animating consideration for us is that we are witnessing and working and fighting for our great King, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is worth living for, su.fiering for, dying for. He has gone before us in the labour and the suffering. He is present with us. His eye is upon each of us. Ho will overlook no true-hearted soldier of his when he distributes the rewards of victory. "If we suffer, we sball also reign with him" (2 Tim. ii. 12). Ill. RESIGNATION. Those who engage in war, though they may hope for victory, must be prepared for defeat. " The battle" is not al ways " to the strong " (Eccles. ix. 11) or tLe brave. Nor in the better warfare can we "command success" in this or that 1,articular encounter, however faithful or brave or zealous we may be, We are to recorrnize, like J oab, that " the Lord" is over all, and be content that he should "do tbat°which seemeth him good." Not that we are required to be resigned to ultimate £ii.lure, for we are assured of final and complete victory. " The BRints in all this glorious we.r She.11 conquer, though they're slain."
Nor a.re the courage e.nd devotedne81! of auy single soldier lost. All the faithful COD• cu. xr. 1-27.J THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 265
tribut.e to the final triumph, and all shall unite in the song of victory, "'l'he kingdoms of thle world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ." "Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth I"" And he shall reign for ever and ever" (Rev. xi. 15; xii:. 6).-G. W.