of mind, he1trt, and chl\racter. 3. Jn. ch.ild,·en it ma,y a,wa,ken in their pa,rents a foolish fondness ,vhich hm~1·s parental discipline. (Comp. 1 Kings i. 6.) 4. It atfracts flatterers and l!edurei-s, and thu.s often ocoasiOni moral niin. It Wllll Tame.r'e beauty that kindloo Amnon'e lust (eh. :z:iii. 1). It is a very perilous endowmont to young women, especially among the poor. 5. It may lead its possessor to become a tempter Qf others; and rendeNI hi6 (or her) tempta-tions all the mo,·e seductive. Lord Bacon (in l1is essfly • On Beanty ') se.ye, "For the most part it makes a dissolute'youth, and nn ngo n littla out of counten1tnce; but yet certainly ag1tin 1 if it light well, it maketh virtues shine :rnd vfoes blush." HI. ITs IKFERIORTI'Y. In comparison with mental, moral, and spiritual beauty, 1. In essential nat?llr8. The latter belong to a far higher regi'on, are a far more valu1tble product of the Divine hand. The beauties of holiness are the features of the Divine Father &ppeAring in his children, and manifesting their parentage. 2. Jn appui.rana,. Moral loveliness is far more beautiful than physical in the sight of God and the good (comp. 1 Sam. xvi. 7), and it has the power of rendering very plain faces interesting and attractive, if not beautiful. 3. Jn value to its possessor and to others. Beauty of character is a priceless treasure (1 Pet. iii. 4), indicating one still more precious-the ch11racter itself; it excites the deepest and best kind of admiration and commendation (Prov. xxxi. 30); and it gives those in whom it appears a power over others for their good which incalculably surpasses the influence of mere beauty of person ; and which « adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour" (Titus ii. 10)-the chief instrument of good to men-wins for it a readier acceptance. 4. In facility of atta£nment. Beauty of person, if not a gift of nature, cannot be acquired; but that of the soul can. The Lord Jesus came to earth to make it possible for the ugly and deformed to become lovely; he lives to effect this great transformation. Those who are in him become the subjects of &new creation: "Old things are passed away; all things are become new" (2 Cor. v. 17). The Holy Ghost adorns the soul with heavenly grace and attractiveness (Gal. v. 22, 23). And when the process is complete on the. whole Church of Christ, he will "present it to himself" as his beauteous bride, " a glorions Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but . . . holy and without blemish" (Eph. v. 27). Faith in, and habitual converse with, him who is "alto<6ether lovely," is the way to experience for ourselves this wondrous change; "Beholding es in a mirror the glory of the Lord, we are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even es by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor. iii. 18). Even the body will at length be beautified (Phil. iii. 21). 6. In duration. The beauty which is of earth fades and passes away, but that which is of heaven abides evermore. 'l'he former may vanish even in yonth through the ravages of disease; will almost certainly in after-life, unless heightened and ripened by sense and goodness; and certainly witr tum to corrnption after death. But the latter will survive the decay and destruction of all things, and adorn the "Father's house" for ever. • • In conclusion, this subject appeals especially to the yonng. Let them seek with1 all their heart the beauty which is spiritual and everlasting; and regard as of email account that which is in itself of little value, and at best of short duration; and which, if separate from moral excellence, is like the beauty of a sepulchre, covering death and corruption.-G. W.
EXPOSITION.
CHAPTER XV. Talmai pro.ctised similar magni.flc,inoe at Geshur. In India it is still common for men Ver. !.-After this. The Hebrew is a of rank to be attended by runners on foot, more precise phrase than that on which who will keep up with horses or elepha11ts we have commented on eh. :z:. 1 end for an incredible distnnce. xiii. I, and implies that Abse.lom began Ver. 2.-The way of the gate. The gate hie devices t100n after obtaining his liberty. would be that of the royal palace, where the Chariaw and horses; Hebrew, a chariot and kiug gave audience and administered justice. l,ar•u ; that is, a chariot for state occasions, At the gate of the city the elders were the· in which .A.bsalom rode, wliile fifty footmen judges, and, though the highc>r authority of ran et his siuc. f'rnlnbly his :;rnndfather the king may have weakened tl10 action of CH, XV, 1-37.] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL.