nrnn as Dnvid. Their fidelity WM not based on personal beauty, vague promises, and o1ulward splendour (vers. 1-6), but on intelligence and the feeling which accompanies it in a pure heart. So Ruth was true to Naomi (Hnt.b i. 16, 17). Any promiso of attRchrnent not resting on this foundation is "'Orth nothing. II. IT IS K0URIBHED BY REFLECTION ON THE PAST. There were probably hours when the voioe of t.emptation would come to allure them from a course so pel'ilous in appear- ance, to II course promising reputation, ""ea.Ith, and honour; for these men were of like 1mssi0ns with us 1111, and hRd no love for poverty and exile in themeolves. But thoy knew David's history, and wbrn temptation to prefer the winning side camo they would nourish their vow by thinking of what he had been, how God had befriended him before, and how he bad risen from the fall which once was his shame. It is sometbin"' to be attached to a man with a good history. When we have pledged ourselves t~ a just though suffering cause, we may war,l off many a temptation by allowing the reflective powers to work on the antecedents of the rouse to which we are pled~ed. 'l'hus the early Christians, by reflecting on Christ, his words and work, and all he had be"n to them, could endorse the dying words of the aged Polycarp. • llL IT IS RESPOKSIYE TO FRANKNESS AND MAG~AKIMITY. The frank and mag- mmimous way in which David offered to release them from all risks only drew out,into stmnger and more pronounced form the attachment already cherished (vers, 19-21). iadok could not but feel a profounder regard for the king after hearing his words con- cerning the ark (ver. 25). There is something so noble in this franknesij and mag- nanimity in misfortune that a faithful he.art recruits its strength by the very sight and sound of the nobleness. Holy sentiments grow in exchange. '!'here is no sure bond between the wicked. Sin is morally a weakness. Holiness is a strength. IV. IT 1s CAPABLE OF RISKS. Whatever might befall the king in his trouble,these· faithful ones were prepared to share in it. True affection is not blind, as some would say; it sees, but it fears not. The faithful mind is intent on being on the side of right and weakness, not on securing anything for self. There are risks in adherence to a righteous cause in the day of adversity. Christ points this out to his followers, and it is the sign of true as distinguished from professional fidelity that it can bear and is determined to bear whatever may come. 'l'he real clue to the determination is the con- viction that right is supreme in its claims, and that present suffering is only an incident of a well-directed human existence (Matt. x.. 16-18, 38; xx. 22; Phil. iii. 7-9).
Vers. 31-37.-Prayer for Divine intervention. The facts are: 1. David, hearing that Ahithophel was among the conspirators, prays that God would turn his counsel into foolishness. 2. On reaching the top of the Mount of Olives, the aged Hushai expresses his desire to go with David into exile, but David declines his offer on account of his infirmities. 3. On the other hand, David suggests that he can render him good service by returning to the city and living as a servant of Abealom, and he advises him to act in concert with Zadok and Abiathar. 4. Acting on this suggestion, Hushai returns to the city, and, some time after, Absalom also enters. There passed a pang through the heart of David as he heard of the treachery of his trusty counsellor Ahitho- phel, bitter because he had relied so much on this wise man's honesty and sagacity, and more bitter still as he remembered the cruel conspiracy which he once entered into with Joab against the life of Uriah. Yet the forgiven and renewed king, in the fulness of bis anguish, was true to his revived religious instincts in at once raising his heart to God with the prayer that he would bring his own wisdom to bear so as to defeat the wisd.cm of this man. We see here- I. THAT THERE 18 JN THIS WORLD .A CONFLICT BETWEES' HOMAN AND DIVINE WlilDOM. Da,·id was well acquainted with two great facts: (1) that the wisdom of God !,ad designed him to be king over Israel to the end of his days (eh. vii.11-16, 28, 29); (2) that the wisest man in the land was devising means to frustrate this purpose, not perhaps consciously, yet practically. This is an epitome of the history of mankind. God has a purpose to carry out, and employs good men as his instruments,-all is arranged according to his iofinite wisdom; but, on the other hand, there are men who hriug their powers to bear so as to frustrate this purpose. They may not know that they are scttiog their wisc!orn against the wisdom of God, but the facts are to that eflect. Adam and Eve went against wisdom in t!-e exercise of their wisdom. Pharaoh CIT. XV, 1-37.) 'l'HE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL.