guard of three thousand men (ch. xiii. 2). Of so little worth are his gratitude and promises to David. The outlaw retreated further into the wilderness; Saul pitched his encampment in the hill of Hachilah. By means of spies, David informed himself of the King's position and intentions.

SAUL'S SECOND ESCAPE.-V. 5-12. In the night David and his men draw near to Saul's tents. Saul lay in the trench, or rather (Margin) "in the midst of his carriages," i.e., the baggage of the army; 66 carriage" is used here as at ch. xvii. 22. He would sleep in the very midst of his troops; the baggage would be piled round his tent for his protection. David determines to penetrate into the camp. He asks for two volunteers for so dangerous an enterprise. Two instantly offer themselves, Ahimelech the Hittite, and Abishai. Of Ahimelech we know nothing more; Abishai became one of David's generals. The three steal quietly among the sleeping people, most of whom would be lying on the bare ground in the open air. They reach Saul; he, too, is asleep, his spear, the emblem of royalty, (ch. xxii. 6,) stuck in the ground at his head. Surely this time David will slay his foe; after this proof of his implacability, he will show him no mercy. Abishai urges, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand. Remembering David's scruples before, he offers to slay Saul himself; he will do it with one blow, without waking the guard. Again David refuses, for the same reasons that influenced him the first time. What were they? The Lord shall smite him,— slay him suddenly. Or his day shall come to die,-i.e., a natural death. he shall descend into battle, and perish,—

Or

in any case the responsibility of his death shall not rest upon David. Take thou now the spear,-for the same reasons as the piece of the robe had been cut off. Cruse of water. The cruse of water at Saul's head is in exact accordance with the customs of the people at this day. No one ventures to travel over these deserts without his cruse of water, and it is very common to place one at the 'bolster,' so that the owner can reach it during the night. The Arabs eat their dinner in the evening, and it is generally of such a nature as to create thirst; and the quantity of water which they drink is enormous. The cruse is, therefore, in perpetual demand."-The Land and the Book.The spear and cruse were taken; the three passed out of the camp, without waking any one, because a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them.

The lessons to be learned from this story are the same as those we drew from the similar narrative ch. xxiv. 1-15. The teacher can point out how David had received further provocation; how providential this second opportunity of killing Saul appeared; how David might have shielded himself by saying it was not his hand but Abishai's that slew the Lord's anointed; and how he resisted the temptation and saw through the sophistry. Consult Lesson for October 4th.

INTRODUCTION. This Lesson will make a claim upon the teacher's power of drawing pictures, and to assist him in

this, the notes are grouped around three subjects: the Plot, the Escort and the Despatch. The conspirators furnish an

appalling illustration of the power of sin, whilst the singular turn in the fortunes of St. Paul affords an equally striking illustration of the power and wisdom of God.

THE PLOT.-V. 13-22. Calmed and cheered by the words of his Master, Paul, in custody, sleeps. Not so his enemies. Some of the baser sort cannot bear the disappointment of Paul's rescue on the previous day. "Like

seeks like: ere morning breaks, a vile plot finds a large number of abettors. What are they determined to do? This purpose they are resolved to accomplish with all speed; they will not eat or drink till it is done. God is implored to "curse the conspirators, body, soul, home, family, if the issue fails through negligence of theirs. What dark hearts the sun shone upon that morning! But as for solitary Paul, the Mosaic blessing was true, Num. vi. 23-26. We now pass from the secret chamber of the conspirators to the temple-courts. It is the time of the morning sacrifice. Members of the Council drop in; two and two; in groups: talk excitedly of the events of the previous two days. Through the hatred of Sadducees and Pharisees, he whom both alike hated is beyond their grasp, and will probably escape. The sectarian strife of the previous day is healed, for Paul must somehow or other die. Now some of the conspirators broach their plan, ver. 14, 15. O shame! the assassins and these "saints" concoct murder in the house of the Lord.

From the temple now, to those castle steps which yesterday were crowded with an excited mob. A very young man (for the word implies that he was little more than a boy) bounds up them; gets permission to see the prisoner. Who was he? What news did he bring? The Roman officer takes the youth by the hand; encourages him to speak; and with simplicity and feeling the tale is told. Perhaps the youth overheard the conversation of the conspirators with the scribes as he lingered near the steps of the fortress, hoping to catch sight of his uncle or get an interview with him. But however the information came, the intended "murder is out," and when a deputation from the Council wait upon Lysias, he knows more than he cares to tell them.

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THE ESCORT.-V. 23, 24, 31-33. At nine the same night, a large military escort mustered at the gate of the castle outside the temple walls. How many soldiers? Two hundred and seventy of these were "regulars," infantry and cavalry; the remaining two hundred, auxiliaries, lightly armed. The subordinate officers inspect weapons; place the troops in position -portion of the cavalry in the centre;two led horses there; brought near the » steps of the castle, a prisoner is. placed upon one of them; a document passes from the hand of Lysias to the care of the officer in command; the word is given, and the tread of the infantry and the clatter of iron hoofs ring through the city streets. "Some new movement of troops," say the spectators, accustomed now to the presence of the Roman soldiery. The city is cleared at last: all that night the march continues. But why so many troops to guard a solitary prisoner? Near the city, the danger of a surprise to be guarded against: beyond that, pro tection needed against bands of robbers · which in the disturbed state of the country infested the roads. The pace would necessarily be slow, because of the infantry; and the sun would be shining clearly as the wearied troops entered Antipatris, thirty-eight miles from Jerusalem. Thence the infantry return to their quarters. After a halt of some hours, the troopers are in the saddle again, and accomplish the rest of the journey at a smart pace. Evening is approaching when the wearied escort halt at the residence of the Roman Governor with their prisoner, and await instructions.

a

THE DESPATCH.-V. 25-30; 33-35. Felix reads the document presented to him, Paul standing near. Let us read also, and make our comments on the letter. "The most excellent governor Felix, -an official title answering to our "His Excellency, the Governor." "Having understood that he was Roman," -the letter conveys the impression that knowing him to be a Roman, Lysias rescued him; whereas the fact was that Paul's Roman citizenship was not known until after the rescue. This misrepresentation was inserted as a shield to Lysias against any inquiry about the bonds and torture, ch. xxii. 25. "Gave command-

Felix

ment to his accusers."-Roman letters are always written from the position of the reader, not the writer; "by the time this letter is read the accusers will have received orders to come." lifts his eye from the paper; glances at the prisoner; asks a question; (what?) no danger of meddling with the duties of another governor; bound to protect a Roman citizen; all clear for the present; remove the prisoner. So the great Apostle is marched off to the military establishment known as Herod's judgment-hall.

REFLECTIONS.-1. Be warned of the deterioration of character by sin.-Consider these conspirators, once boys playing innocent gambols, now planning the murder of an Apostle. Sin is busy with a like bad work still amongst boys and girls.

2. Wickedness is rash.-These men

put themselves under God's anger wittingly. Unrepentant and ungodly men put themselves in a similar position by their actions. "God is angry with the wicked every day."

3." Thou God seest me."-The con

spirators sought secrecy; God saw them, for "the eyes of the Lord are in every place." Paul was in an unwilling solitude; God saw him, for "the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous." Better have those Eyes in love than anger.

4. The hand of the Lord is mighty, Judges iv. 24.-Paul wished to go to Rome; Jesus said he should see Rome, ch. xxiii. 11. Everything against it; but at nine that night, God began to fulfil His promise; the seventy miles' journey to Cæsarea was on the road to Rome.

5. Note and copy the loveable features in the persons of this story,-artlessness and courage in the young man; courtesy in the officer; prudence in St. Paul: he would not leave himself to a danger which might be avoided.

QUESTIONS.-What plot did certain of the Jews form against Paul? Who was the means of frustrating it? How did the officer treat the young man? Of how many soldiers did the escort consist? How far did the footmen go? When was the journey finished? Το whom was Paul presented? What document gave information about him? In what respects was it false? What order did Felix give? How was the Providence of God seen in these events?

The

INTRODUCTION.-The greater part of the Lesson is occupied by facts which have already passed under our notice. This familiarity makes them peculiarly suitable for didactic teaching. moral of each paragraph is indicated by a text placed at its head, and the events recorded are regarded as a practical comment on the text. The concluding part of the narrative cannot be realised without some knowledge of the character of Felix. This is furnished to the teacher in our Illustration, but it can only be stated in general terms to the class.

THE ABUSE OF LANGUAGE.—V. 1— 9; Matt. v. 37. Speech is God's noblest gift to man; beautiful as the expression of sincerity, truth and courtesy. Sad when employed insincerely, like the vessels of the temple used in Belshazzar's feast. Insincerity of language is caused by fear, flattery and interest. Here the last. The scribes had a bad case; the worse must be made to appear the better reason; money will do it. To whom

was the money given? Notice his skill, he selects for commendation the only things in Felix's conduct which could be commended. But such words as greatness, worth, clemency, applied to Felix, were sheer flattery. Contrast the simplicity and straightforwardness of Paul's address, ver. 10. The advocate then proceeds to state three charges,-1st, sedition; 2nd, heresy; 3rd, sacrilege. Point out phrases which embody these charges. Presently he makes a direct mis-statement as to fact. The murderous attack upon Paul (ch. xxi. 30) is represented as a judicial arrest, and the timely interference of Lysias as a violent intrusion upon the calm course of justice. Read over the text. Be simple and sincere in all your words.

RIGHT USE OF LANGUAGE.-V. 10 -21; 1 Peter iii. 13-17. Joy, calmness, reasonableness, gentleness, courtesy, fidelity to God, are elements of Peter's prescription for persecuted Christians. All are found in Paul's