Ver. 33.-.Afather's anguish at his son's death. The stroke which David feared fell upon him at last. In spite of all his desire to save his rebellious son, and his com- mands to each of the generals to " deal gently " with him for his sake, he had been slain. When the father learnt the unwelcome truth from "the Cushite" (Revised Version), he was overwhelmed with grief; and retiring to "the chamber o~er the gate" he burst out in the pathetic lamentation, "0 my ijO!l A.bsalom ! " etc., and continued crying with. a loud voice," 0 my ijOn A.bsalom I O A.bsalom, my son, my son!" (eh. xix. 4). 'rhese loud demonstrations of grief were in a high degree impolitic, as Joab soon convinced him (eh. xix. 5-8), but they were the natural outburst of bis tender heart and bis unquenchable love for his worthles~ son. He bad grieved sorely in the expectation of the death of his infant child (eh. xii. 16, 21, 22); much more must be grieve over this young man, on whom his heart bad been set for so many years, and for whom he ha<l done and borne so much. Moreover, A.bsalom had died suddenly, and by violence, and in sinful war agaiust bis father-unrepentant, unforgiven. David might even, in his passionute grief, reflect on himself as the occasiun, however inno- cently, of his death, siuce it arose from the measures he had taken in defence of him- self and his throne. Still more bitter would be the reflection that, by his foolish fondness, his evil example, his laxity of discipline, bis refraining from merited punish- ment of his son's earlier sins and crimes, and his neglect to crush bis treasonable practices at their commencement, he bad greatly contributed to the form:i.tioa of bis evil oharacter, and to his untimely and miserable end. I. THE SORROW OF PARENTS BEREFT OF GROWN-UP CHILDREN. It is composed of various elements. 1. Sorrow of natural affectiun. ,vhich cannot always give account of itself, but is implanted by the Creator for most important purposes, is increased by years of exercise and mutual endearments and services, and often survives when these have ceased, and parental love is requited with ingratitude, ne;lecr, injury, or deadly hostility. ~- Sorrow of disappointed liope. Parents picture to theu,selv<"s a career of prosperity and honow·ablo activity for their chil<lreu, aud try to eusure it by the 464 THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. [ell, XIX, 1-43,
education and at.a.rt in life which they give them. Or they may have looked to their 110n to be the prop of their own old 1tge. How can they but sorrow bitterly when all their hopes &re scattered by death ? 8. 11ieir sorrow may be increased by pairiful fea,-s. It may be & sorrow uncheered by hope, because over the death of one who lived and died in sin. 4. Self-reproach may, as in the CQ,86 of David, r.iccompany and ~mbitter the grief. The highest parmtal dutie.~-those which have respect to the souls of children-may have been neglected. The home may have been, through parental indifference and worldliness, if no worse, a quite unfit place of preparation for holy service on earth or entrance into heaven. The sorrow arisiug from the consciousness of this cannot be assuaged by remembranoe of the education given to prepare for this world's business, or the accomplishments imparted to render life refined and agreeable. 5. TM sorrows ef bereaved parents an, increased and from time to time renewed by observing the happiness of other pa1·ents whose children are continued to them, and are living in habits of piety, rectitude, and benevolenca. II. CoNSOLATIONB FOR SUCH BORROW, These are to be found in: 1. Profound sub- mi.ssion to the will ef God. The death we mourn, however it comes, was his doing who has the right to dispose of us and ours according to his pleasure; and who is infinite in wisdom and goodness-" our Father." "Thou didst it" (Ps. xxxix. 9) ; " The Lord gave, and the Lord bath taken away" (Job i. 21). 2. .Assurance of his fatherly com- passion. That he sympathizes while he chastises (Ps. ciii. 18). 3. .A good conscience. Happy the fathers, the mothers, who have the consoling reflection that they did their best to fit their departed children for this world or the next. 4. In the case of the death of godly children, the assurance cf their blessed e:i:istence and happy commence- ment ef nobler careers than those cut short by death. The assurance also of future reunion where "there sha.11 be no more death" (Rev. xxi. 4). In conclusion : 1. Let parents think of their children as mortal; and be concerned so to train and influence them as to lit them for both living and dying. 2. Let children live in 'View ef a possibly early death. Seek safety in Christ. Let life be a constant following of him. Dread to have life shortened and death made terrible by sins a.nd vices. Let your parents ha.ve the consolation of knowing, should you die young, that you are "not lost, but gone before."-G. W.