September 14

have died if he had not been slain by his brother. Absalom will die, and severity may hasten the event. Thou, David, though a king, art dying, and wilt become as one of the people—This was a poor reason for dispensing with civil justice against a murderer and a fratricide. Yet the argument is true in itself; and there are cases on which it will be found to bear—cases of private and personal injury, and where we are required not to avenge ourselves. Has a fellow-creature offended you? The offender will soon be incapable of receiving forgiveness, and you will soon be beyond the power of exercising it. Whatsoever therefore thine hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, knowledge, repentance, or wisdom, in the grave whither thou goest. Remember that anger resteth in the bosom of fools. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Especially, let not life close upon you before you are reconciled to your brother. Would you enter the presence of God implacable? Yet there is but a step between you and death—Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

The second is drawn from God's goodness: "Yet doth he devise means that his banished be not expelled from him"—And therefore, as if she would say, resemble him, and be like him, not only in power, but in clemency and kindness. This again is a poor plea in favour of the impunity of a public malefactor. We are not to spare those who deserve to suffer by the laws of the land because God is merciful and gracious. The minister of God is not to bear the sword in vain. He is set for the punishment of evil-doers, as well as for the praise of them that do well. Yet the argument is true in itself; and applies to cases of private and personal office. There we are required to exercise forgiveness; and it is enforced by this very motive. Hence says the Apostle: "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evilspeaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." To which we add the parable of the Saviour: "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven.—So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."

SEPTEMBER 14.—"We must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person."—2 Samuel 14:14.

HERE we are reminded that we are under a necessity of dying; that the effect is irretrievable; and the stroke without partiality.

"We must needs die." The necessity was not original, but induced by the Fall. It resulted not from nature, but sin—"By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death hath passed upon all men, because all have sinned." All creatures die, yet we never speak of a mortal bird or a mortal beast, but only of a mortal man. He only deserves the epithet as a reproach. He