glory, and Saul's already twice-revealed rejection. (xiii.14; xv. 23-31.) To him accordingly Saul, who heads his line of things, is supreme, and David perhaps a servant broken away from his master! David's place tests everything, as indeed one might expect in so striking a type of the Blessed One whom Simeon (Luke ii.) speaks of as a "sign that shall be spoken against, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed," the sword piercing through even Mary's own soul, according to Heb. iv. 12, 13. Not alone is faith manifested; it is measured also in all who come in. contact with the rejected David God's standard. Hence we find, intermediate, as it were, between the Nabals and the Abigails, the Jonathans, who, though loving David as their own soul, fall short of the mark. David had wrought a great deliverance in Israel, in which God's hand was evident, and Jonathan so appreciates it that he strips himself to do David honour, brings Saul's wrath upon himself by shielding David according to the dictates of the love which bound them. together, holds sweet counsel with him in the wood (xxiii. 16), but returns from that friendly conference to Saul's house, and David to the hold in the wilderness! Why? The answer is unmistakable. "I know," he says, "that thou shalt be king over Israel," but adds, 'And I shall be next unto thee." Here is Jonathan's weak point-self is there. To argue his humility from the circumstances would doubtless be easy; but the character of the humility is what is now in question; for God's king is in rejection. Love he certainly had, but not that which bid him to count all things but rubbish for the object of God's choice; faith too, but not that which closed his eye upon the things that were seen and tem

poral. There was just enough self-love left to make him seek a place by-and-by, just enough of it to make him value the same now. He went back and died in company with Saul on mount Gilboa, losing both the future and the present! "Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” (Luke ix. 24.) "O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places!"

It is interesting to observe that in the poor, crippled Mephibosheth we discover the moral condition one would have looked for in the devoted Jonathan. Before the king he is but a "dead dog" confessed; and when David returns to Jerusalem upon the death of Absalom, he can say concerning the scheming Ziba, in respect of what might have been gain to him, "Let him take all, since my lord, the king, has returned again in peace." Utterly devoid of self, his heart is a vacuum which nought but David can fill. But what it has cost the son of Jonathan to be brought to this-shorn of his patrimony, an exile, and helplessly crippled !

Abigail attained morally the level upon which Mephibosheth stood before David, but surpassed him even in this, that David was not then in power; he was still in rejection, yet her faith and devotedness shine out brilliantly in a day of persistent darkness for the object of her esteem. Abigail ministers to David; but more, she saw the divinely imparted dignity which rested upon him amid the sorrows of his outcast place, and meets him becomingly. To her Saul is but "a man” (v. 29), and so zealous is she for the reputation of David that she pleads with him on this ground in behalf of her unworthy husband, identifying herself with his iniquity; and she merely begs to be remembered of David "when he

cometh into his kingdom." This a crucified thief could do acceptably, and the becoming nature of his request from a despised and rejected Lord, manifests by contrast the ill savour of that which earned for James and John His just rebuke, and in which they morally stood alongside Jonathan. How different is the tenor of Psalm cxxxi.! David received Abigail's offering, hearkened to her voice, and accepted her person (v. 35); and when, in the Lord's judgment, ten days subsequently, Nabal dies, David sent and communed with Abigail to take her to be his wife. She bows herself to the earth before his messengers, and utters the most perfect expression of a truly humble heart-" Let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my Lord." (Compare John xiii. 5, 14.) She took Ham's place (see Gal. iii. 13), a consciously unworthy, self-emptied thing, in more than mere words too; for she manifests her unfeigned humility by submitting unhesitatingly to the word of David; "she hasted... and went after the messengers of David, and became his wife."

Jezreel yielded David a second wife, according to verse 43, which evidently typifies the connection of Israel (the Jezreel or "seed of God," sown to Him on the earth, Hosea ii. 19–23) with Christ in a future day; also "betrothed" to Him "for ever in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies

even in faithfulness." She shall be brought unto the king in a raiment of needlework, wonderfully wrought doubtless, just as she, typified by Abigail, will be presented to the Lamb (Rev. xix. 7, 8) in a raiment suited to His eye. "To her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white . . . the righteousness of saints." As the world will see her, it will

be purely as an object of grace, "prepared as a bride adorned for her husband . . . having the glory of God." But the blessed Lamb of God will delight to present unto Himself His Church, clad in a robe which bespeaks his own zealous and gracious care for her as she passes along through a defiling scene. He loved the Church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing." How zealous we might be in this also, were our eye filled with the scene which terminates our present coursethe marriage of the Lamb! Clad in righteousness then, and in view of that, walking as He walked now, aiming at present likeness to Him, knowing that we shall be like Him when He shall appear. What need hinder us adding, as it were, to the beauties of the bridal robe now, seeing that we find such a precious grouping of righteousnesses in Abigail-unfeigned humility, ready obedience, zeal for her lord's reputation, becoming service rendered him, thorough contempt for Saul's line of things, worthy prudence, and readiness to attribute to herself the shortcomings of others?

J. K.

ON MINISTERING CHRIST.

Our Lord said,

THE Scriptures testify of Christ. "They are they which testify of me." Whatever else they may set forth, it is clear that the great subject of God's revelation to man is Christ Jesus the Lord. In various ways, by many instruments, at different times, and under manifold circumstances, the divine glory of

His person, His perfect manhood, His moral excellencies, His infinite perfections, His finished work, His fulness, and His offices are blessedly presented to us in the Scriptures of eternal truth.

In our Lord's personal ministry, wherever He was, He declared the Father, and so perfectly showed in His ways and words the characteristics of Him who sent Him, that He could truly say at the close, "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father;" and His dealings with those around manifested that He was "full of grace and truth." Instead of casting out any sinner who came to Him, He opened wide His arms, and said, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." He plainly declared that He was the only Saviour of sinners, and the Refuge and resource for His own loved disciples.

While constantly insisting on the divine authenticity of Scripture, and declaring that "the Scripture cannot be broken," He was Himself the living expression of it. The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us. In the sacred writings, as the fitting occasions came, He was presented as the woman's Seed that should bruise the serpent's head, the Seed of Abraham; and yet He could most truly say," Before Abraham was I am;" the virgin's Child, and yet Emmanuel; the Son given, and yet the perfect Man. Scripture spake of Him as David's son, and yet being David's Lord; the offspring of David, and yet the root; Son of man, yet Son of God. There we read of Him as the Prophet that was to be raised up, the Priest after Melchisedec's order, and the King who shall yet sit on the throne of His father David, and reign over the house of Jacob for ever, of whose kingdom there shall be no end. Songs of triumph