The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-07-30
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David could both compose battle
hymns for his army and in person
lead to battle. He could both make |
law and administer it. He could |
both make law and administer it. He
could MAINTAIN the delicate equilibrium
between the recluse and the man of
affairs. With a master hand he chan
ged the whole face of Hebrew history
Samuers amounting of David was the
last official act, the golden climax of
a long, useful, and honorable career.
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
Samuers grief for Saul was evidence
of his generous and human DISPOSE
ton. While he still lived, he could
not easily treat him as if he were
dead. Though he did not visit him,
he bitterly lamented his downfall.
But there was a boundary beyond
which this grief was improper. That
limit was the point at which it dis
qualified him for obedience to God
and service to his country in finding
a successor to the fallen monarch.
Grief is natural, it is even honorable;
but there is always point at which
halt must be calledto it. That point
is where it begins to diqualify one for
the evident duties of life.
The cure of grief is here indicated:
Submissions have rejected him.
Work: Fill thine horn and go.
Hope: have provided king.
DIR. Trumbull, the versatile editor
of the Sunday school Times, carries
his proposition, "a lie never justiti-
able so far as to inhabit military
maneuvers in war. | am not certain
how he treats the incident under con-
sideration. should think it would
be enough to wreck his well-meant
| but overstrained theory. If the sac
rifice proposed was a mere pretended
affair, hollow form, engaged in
perfunctory way, and for the sole
purpose OF binding Saul, it would be
open to criticism. But Samuel could
and did enter into this sacred service
of sacrifice as deYoutiy and earnestly
as if he had had no additional pur-
pose. 1t was concealment, not decep-
ton.
However, the Bible does not stand
, or fall by the answer to the question
whether on this occasion Samuel
made pretense of a sacrifice or not.
The Scripture narrative is not the
portrayal of idally perfect characters
but rather of the genesis and evolu-
ton of conscience in man. What the
men of one era can do conscientionsly
the men of latter ought not to be
able to do. The standards of one age
can not be those of another.
Blood will tell. The lling-elect had
an untarnished train of noble ances-
tors. He inherited the prfncelY in
tegrity of Boaz and the devoted tidel-
ity of Ruth.
Yet Dayid's aptitude for kingship
did not show in his physical appear
ance. Samuel would not have select
ed him at sight. AS Lincoln passed
through throng a spectator said:
Hes a dreadful communicating
man. The President, Overhearing
the remark, turned and said, good
naturally: at only shows how well
the Lord likes common folks, that he
has made so many of us that way
Moral qualities are more important
than physical.
! Youth is no bar in the Lords ser
vice. David is called at seventeen
) Samuel at twelve. Polycarp was con
: verified at nine, Matthew Henry a
5 eleven, President Edwards at seven
l Robert Hall at twelve, Isaac Watt
at nine. Great are the gains to thu
. individual, the church, the world, o
g early piety.
: The hero-life of Dayid gives the Ii
e the iterated accusation that the re
!. ligious character is a spiritless an
: effeminate type. 1t shows religion
e compatible with courage, intrepidit
n and clear grit. Yet fervent piet
e overtops Dayid's other traits. Tn
O elements of his character are trans
l. fused with faith and prayer an
b psalmody.
Is There are no human gauges t
measure the inspirational force
e such a life. While it quickens tn
Y pulse of youth it will also prompt a
r imitation of its noblest traits. 1t is
e voice crying:
~ BLOW, blow the clarion, fill the fife!
It To all the sensual world proclaim
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