Agrippa II., was originally King of Chalcis; received subsequently the tetrarchies of Lysanias and Philip, (Luke iii. 1,) with the title of king; and he also had conferred on him the control of the temple. He professed to be a zealous Jew, but was not much esteemed by his own people, on account of his heathen education, his frequent acts of violence, licentious character and lavish personal expenditure. Bernice was his eldest sister. To salute Festus,-to place himself on friendly terms with the new procurator, as well as to congratulate the latter on his appointment. Festus consults with Agrippa partly for the sake of guidance, as the latter might be supposed to be well acquainted with the questions which surrounded the case of Paul; partly from deference, as Agrippa was governor of the temple. The inquiry on the morrow would be helpful to Festus in drawing up a statement of the case to be forwarded to the Imperial Court.

REFLECTIONS.-We have closed the Lesson, now let us recall the persons and study them, asking what is there to approve? what is there to condemn ?

1. The rulers of the Jews.-They had a great deal of religious knowledge. This Paul allows, ch. xxiv. 15. They were zealous for the ceremonies of the law, and made their boast of the Scriptures. Yet they have acted and are acting in forgetfulness of Deut. x. 12. They are foolish builders, Matt.

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vii. 26. Never separate knowing from doing.

2. Festus, independent, ver. 4; prompt, ver. 6, Margin 17; just, ver. 5, 16; and the tone of the whole narrative implies that he was courteous in his manners. Even in this heathen there are things upon which we are commanded to think, Phil. iv. 8. But notice two defects: first, love of praise, ver. 9, with John xii. 43; second, religious indifference, ver. 19, 20. The resurrection of Jesus and the other doctrines which Paul referred to, nor Paul's own earnestness, made any impression upon him. All had to do with questions which did not interest him. Beware of religious indifference.

3. Agrippa and Bernice.-Hypocrites both of them, covering worldly and wicked lives with a show of zeal for their nation and temple; imposing on no one but themselves; for the people saw through them and distrusted them. Be sincere, Matt. vi. 24.

4. Paul.-How wide, how lasting the influence of one good man! The enmity and perseverance of the rulers testified to this in Paul. Goodness cannot be overthrown, nor its blessed results eradicated.

QUESTIONS.-Who was Festus? Why did he go to Jerusalem ? How did the Jews attempt to procure his influence against Paul? How was this prevented? What was meant by the appeal to Cæsar? How was Paul induced to make that appeal? Who were Agrippa? Bernice? Why did Festus consult Agrippa?

recall by questions the incidents of the previous Lesson. Agrippa's decision breaks up this conclave of great persons. Agrippa the voluptuary is moved by curiosity to see a famous man and hear a strange story. After deciding upon the mode of dealing with an absent person by their authority, they depart. Is not each of them free to go where he likes, to do what he will during the ensuing night? Yes, surely they are free. What of Paul? Is he free? Surely not; he lies in prison, chained to a soldier. A "must be" which he dare not disobey reaches him in a command that to-morrow he must appear before

Agrippa. What must his thoughts have been? He knew the Herods; knew the man before whom he must appear, and the shameless woman who would be by his side. Paul must not only defend himself and his Gospel, but so do it as to awaken sinners, great sinners. No doubt he sought grace of that Saviour Who had so often helped him, and lay down quietly, taking "no thought for the morrow.' Yet the mandate has come; he must appear. Lying there, chained to his guard, is he free? Surely, no!

THE SCENE.-The narrative records that great pomp was observed on the occasion of Paul's appearance before Agrippa. It was a public reception of Agrippa, as well as the trial of a far-famed prisoner. The whole scene would have some resemblance to the reception of a great native prince in open "durbar" by the Viceroy of India. Festus, the procurator, would not let the glory of the Emperor whom he represented suffer in his hands; he would be attended by the minor officers of state, and an escort of Roman soldiers. Agrippa belonged to a family given to display. His father, near this very spot, (ch. xii. 21,) had stood before the crowds of a theatre in "royal apparel," in robes of silver tissue. The son would not be behind the father in display befitting a king, as he moved to take the presidency of the court, by the courtesy of Festus, whose guest he was. the two potentates were clustered the chief captains, the commanders of a thousand men, high in military rank, in full dress. Then the principal men of the city, eager to see the display, and watch how the celebrated Christian teacher would bear himself as a prisoner before such a court. Crowds from the city streets fill the open spaces of the court-house. Festus, Agrippa, Bernice, officers, city magnates, common sight-seers, are they not all free? So it seems. The court settles down: the buzz of voices is hushed. Festus gives a word of command, ver. 23. Eager expectation lights up every face.

Near

By and by a Roman soldier

stalks into the prisoner's dock, and near him a person of unimposing appearance, bronzed with travel, his brow evidently lined with care. This is the prisoner. A clink of iron is heard; it is the sound of a chain, now seen; it passes from the prisoner's right hand to the soldier's left. There is one person then in that crowded court not free. It is the Apostle of the Gentiles. He is fettered. But hear what strong words he uses, ver. 10. It is evident that he thinks himself free. this?

How is

What

SLAVERY AND FREEDOM. does the Bible say? "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free," John viii. 32. "If the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed," John viii. 36. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty," 2 Cor. iii. 17; Rom. vi. 7. Jesus gives the freedom, through the truth, and imparts the knowledge of it to the heart by His Spirit.

"He is a freeman whom the truth makes free, And all are slaves besides."

"Men would rather besin's drudges than God's freemen, and neglect that service wherein is perfect freedom for that wherein there is intolerable slavery. They will disturb their consciences, violate their reason, impair their health, in contradicting the laws of God, and prefer a sensual satisfaction, with toil here and eternal ruin hereafter, before the honour of God, the dignity of their nature, or happiness, or peace and health; which might be preserved at a cheaper expense than they are at to destroy them."-Charnock. In our next Lesson we shall turn again to the scene of Paul's trial, and inquire who were fettered? who were free? Meanwhile let us ask ourselves, are we trying to be free in the way in which Jesus spoke of freedom?

QUESTIONS.-Why would Festus assume much dignity on the occasion of Paul's appearance? What instance can you give of the Herodian fondness for display? Who were in attendance to increase the pomp? Why would Paul be the attraction of all eyes? What would people say about him? Did he feel as a slave? What words of Jesus explain this?

DECEMBER 6.

David

THE INCURSION OF THE AMALEKITES. V. 1.-6. Where did our last Lesson leave David? In what town did he live usually at that time? How did it come into his possession? Three days David and his men marched homeward. All rejoiced, specially, that they had escaped fighting against their own countrymen. They would wait the issue of the battle between Saul and the Philistines quietly in Ziklag, with their wives and families. When they reached that town, they found only a heap of smoking ruins. All was desolate, there was not even one human being left to tell the tale of disaster. How had it happened? Perhaps one or two of the inhabitants had fled and hidden themselves, and when they saw David's band, returned and related to him the story. Perhaps he could only guess the authors of the mischief. But he would have no difficulty in guessing. The Amalekites had taken advantage of David's absence to revenge themselves for his attacks upon them, ch. xxvii. 8. What had become of the Israelites' wives and children? were they living? We know the Amalekites had carried all into captivity, not that they were too merciful to slay them, but that they might employ them as slaves. Had the men been certain of this, it would have given them little comfort; hopeless captivity was but little better than death. Their property, too, their flocks and herds,-was lost. One is not much surprised that their grief made them angry with David, that they even spake of stoning him.-Compare

VOL. IX. NEW SERIES.-December, 1874.

Exod. xvii. 4. Their sorrow almost bereft them of reason, otherwise they loved and trusted their leader too well to think of harming him. His agony would be greatest of all, not merely because his wives were stolen, but because this calamity was the direct result of his settling in a heathen land. Yet he did not despair; he encouraged himself in the Lord his God.-God had delivered him out of many troubles, He would not forsake him in this. His friends had turned against him, those who were dear to him were in the power of his enemies, but the Lord lived still.

THE DISASTER RETRIEVED.-V. 720. At David's request, Abiathar, clothed in the priestly garment, the ephod, inquires of God for him, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? The answer is decisive and most cheering, Pursue, etc.,

-the Amalekites shall be defeated and all their captives recovered. The whole band, without waiting for refreshment, which indeed they could not have obtained in Ziklag, hastened after the spoilers. At the brook Besor,-some distance south of Gaza,-one-third of their number fall out of the ranks from fatigue. The remainder continue the pursuit. An Egyptian is found by the wayside, apparently dying of hunger. Short of provisions themselves, they relieve him. They have their reward. He was servant to one of the very Amalekites who had done David so much mischief. He had fallen sick, was cruelly left behind, to perish or recover as he might. Probably his master was so enriched by the spoil of

Ziklag, that he thought a sick slave not worth caring for. Most likely he had forgotten all about him. Yet the abandonment of that Egyptian led to the destruction of the Amalekite host. Cherethites,-the name of the inhabitants of Southern Philistia. The south of Caleb,-the land allotted to Caleb, Joshua xv. 13, etc. Upon the promise that his life and liberty should be spared, he conducts David's little army to the Amalekite encampment. They are eating and drinking and making merry in fancied security, believing that both David and the Philistines are far away in the north, and have not yet heard the tidings of their loss. Ver. 17-20 contain the rest of the narrative. The twilight,-the evening twilight. The slaughter lasted full twenty-four hours. All the flocks and the herds, properly belonging to the Amalekites. Those other cattle,-seized by them at Ziklag. This is David's spoil,- -an exclamation of triumph. He had recovered his own, and had captured large booty too.

REFLECTIONS.-1. "Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."

QUESTIONS.-What had happened to Ziklag in David's absence? Why was it the Amalekites "slew not any"? What effect had the disaster on the people! What did they think of doing to David? How did he feel? What was the first step he took? What answer did God return? What occurred at "the brook Besor"? What was the next noteworthy event? How came the Egyptian there? What information did he give them? What service did he render them? How did David's expedition end? Explain Cherethites, the south of Caleb, all the flocks and the herds, those other cattle. What texts has our Lesson illustrated? What other practical lessons have you learnt from it?

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DECEMBER 13.

THE DEATH OF SAUL.—V. 1—7. What was the last we heard of Saul? Describe the positions of the Philistine and Israelite armies: see Morning Lesson, November 22nd. The first verse of the present chapter relates briefly the defeat of Israel. It is generally supposed that the battle was fought in the plain of Jezreel, to the west of Mount Gilboa, and that the vanquished Israelites fled thither for refuge. The Philistines pursued them Naturally the battle would be hottest around the leaders. One by one Saul's three sons fell. Then an arrow wounded the King; he knew that the end was come resistance was hopeless, he had not strength for it. He dreaded lest the Philistines should not kill him outright, but insult and torture him. He begs his armour-bearer to slay

him, the armour-bearer refuses; he is specially responsible for the King's safety, he dare not violate his trust. So Saul commits suicide, and his example is followed by his armourbearer. Ver. 6 sums up the result of the contest; all his men,-his bodyguard. [Illustrate: at the storming of Magdala, King Theodore shot himself rather than fall alive into the hands of his enemies.] From ver. 7 we learn that the whole country between Jezreel and the Jordan was the prize of the Philistine victory. Thus all Israel's territory, except that east of the Jordan and the land of Judah, was in the possession of the Philistines. Contrast ch. vii. 13, 14. To what a state had the nation been brought by the king it had demanded!

THE PHILISTINE TREATMENT OF THE

BODIES.-V. 8-10. On the morrow the Philistines came to strip the slain, -to take their armour, their clothes, and whatever valuables they might have about them. Not till then did they know the Jewish King and his sons were among the dead. Their heads were cut off, their weapons and armour plundered, and all sent from place to place as trophies of victory, in honour of the idols to whom the Philistines ascribed their conquest. [The Sacred Narrative speaks only of Saul, but it is evident from ver. 12, that his sons' corpses suffered similar dishonour.] Read 1 Chron. x. 9, 10. Thus were the trophies finally disposed of. Note the phrase, to carry tidings unto their idols,-the idols needed to be informed of a victory supposed to be gained by their help! The bodies were fastened to the wall of Bethshan, one of the towns referred to in ver. 7.

THE MEN OF JABESH-GILEAD.-V. 11-13. Do you remember any kindness Saul once showed to JabeshGilead? ch. xi. 1-11. It is forty years since, but they have not forgotten it. They cannot help Saul, but they will give his body honourable burial. A dangerous enterprise, to cross the Jordan, to penetrate into an enemy's country, to remove bodies from the wall of a city, to carry them through hostile territory, over the river again! Yet it was accomplished swiftly, silently, successfully-in the

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night. The corpses were burnt, partly because they were corrupt and mutilated, partly to make sure that they should not again be seized by the Philistines. The bones,-left when the flesh was consumed. Fasted seven days, -the customary time of mourning.

REFLECTIONS.-1. Upon the death of Saul.-Retrace Saul's history from the time God gave him another heart till now. A warning against disobedience, Read pride, hypocrisy, formality. Hymn 317, Wesley's Hymns.

2. Upon the death of Jonathan.-It was Providential. David could not have ascended the throne if Jonathan had lived. Notice that Jonathan assisted his father in his distress, though he would not join him in persecuting David. Beyond question, Jonathan went from the battle-field to heaven. Imitate Jonathan's character: unselfish, loving, brave. A wicked father may have a godly son. 3. Upon the Philistines' cruelty and savageness.-Hate war. Thank God for peace.

4. Upon the conduct of the men of Jabesh-Gilead.-Do kindnesses. Requite kindnesses.

QUESTIONS.-Where was the battle fought? Who conquered? Describe Saul's death. Why would not the armour-bearer slay him? Who died with Saul? How much of Israel did the Philistines possess? What did they do with the corpses? What became of armour, heads, corpses in the end? Give the substance of each of the Reflections (to be asked for separately).

THE MESSENGER AND HIS TIDINGS.V. 1-10. David has been in Ziklag

two days; he does not even know that the battle of Gilboa has been fought.