than we suppose。 〃Many shall sit down in the kingdom of heaven〃 whom we
never expected to see there when we died。 Let us read on； and pray on；
and visit on； and speak on； and tell of Christ to every one whom we can
get at。 If we are only 〃stedfast； unmovable； always abounding in the
work of the Lord；〃 we shall find； to our amazement； that our labour was
not in vain in the Lord （1 Cor。 15：58）。
But if we try to do good； we must always cultivate patience。 We cannot
have two heavens： a heaven here； and a heaven hereafter。 The battle is
not yet over。 The harvest…time is not yet e。 The devil is not yet
bound。 The time when our Lord's promise shall be fulfilled is not yet
arrived。 But it will arrive before long。 When our gracious Queen at the
end of the Crimean war came forward in front of the Horse Guards； and
with her own royal hands gave the Victoria Cross to the gallant
soldiers who had earned it； that public honour made rich amends for all
that those soldiers had gone through。 Balaklava； and Inkerman； and the
hardships of the trenches were all forgotten for the time； and seemed
paratively small things。 What； then； will be the joy when the
Captain of our salvation shall gather His faithful soldiers round Him；
and give to each one a crown of glory that fadeth not away！ Surely we
may well wait in patience for that day。 It is ing； and will surely
e at last。 Remembering that day； let us cast behind us doubts and
unbelief； and set our faces steadily towards Jerusalem。 〃The night is
far spent； and the day is at hand〃 （Rom。 13：12）。 Not one word of the
blessed promise before us shall fail： 〃Many shall e from the east
and the west； and shall sit down with Abraham； Isaac； and Jacob； in the
kingdom of heaven。〃
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CHAPTER XIV
2 Sam。 23：4…5。
WITHOUT CLOUDS。
＇13＇
〃He shall be as the light of the morning； when the sun rises； even a
morning without clouds； as the tender grass springeth out of the earth
by clear shining after rain。 Although my house be not so with God； yet
He hath made with me an everlasting covenant； ordered in all things；
and sure： for this is all my salvation； and all my desire； although He
make it not to grow。〃2 Sam。 23：4…5。
THE text which heads this page is taken from a chapter which ought to
be very interesting to every Christian。 It begins with the touching
expression； 〃These be the last words of David。〃
Whether that means； 〃these are the last words which David ever spoke by
inspiration as a Psalmist；〃 or 〃these are among the last sayings of
David before his death；〃 signifies little。 In either point of view； the
phrase suggests many thoughts。
It contains the experience of an old servant of God who had many ups
and downs in his life。 It is the old soldier remembering his campaigns。
It is the old traveller looking back on his journeys。
I。 Let us first consider David's humbling cotillion。
He looks forward with a prophetic eye to the future ing of the
Messiah； the promised Saviour； the seed of Abraham； and the seed of
David。 He looks forward to the Advent of a glorious kingdom in which
there shall be no wickedness； and righteousness shall be the universal
character of all the subjects。 He looks forward to the final gathering
of a perfect family in which there shall be no unsound members； no
defects； no sin； no sorrow； no deaths； no tears。 And he says； the light
of that kingdom shall be 〃as the light of the morning when the sun
riseth； even a morning without clouds。〃
But then he turns to his own family； and sorrowfully says； 〃 My house
is not so with God。〃 It is not perfect； it is not free from sin； and it
has blots and blemishes of many kinds。 It has cost me many tears。 It is
not so as I could wish； and so as I have vainly tried to make it。
Poor David might well say this！ If ever there was a man whose house was
full of trials； and whose life was full of sorrows； that man was David。
Trials from the envy of his own brethren；trials from the unjust
persecution of Saul； retrials from his own servants； such as Joab and
Ahithophel； trials from a wife； even that Michal who once loved him
so much；trials from his children； such as Absalom； Amnon； and
Adonijah；trials from his own subjects； who at one time forgot all he
had done； and drove him out of Jerusalem by rebellion；trials of all
kinds； wave upon wave； were continually breaking on David to the very
end of his days。 Some of the worst of these trials； no doubt； were the
just consequences of his own sins； and the wise chastisement of a
loving Father。 But we must have hard hearts if we do not feel that
David was indeed 〃a man of sorrows。〃
But is not this the experience of many of God's noblest saints and
dearest children？ What careful reader of the Bible can fail to see that
Adam； and Noah； and Abraham； and Isaac； and Jacob； and Joseph； and
Moses； and Samuel； were all men of many sorrows； and that those sorrows
chiefly arose out of their own homes？
The plain truth is； that home trials are one of the many means by which
God sanctifies and purifies His believing people。 By them He keeps us
humble。 By them He draws us to Himself。 By them He sends us to our
Bibles。 By them He teaches us to pray。 By them He shows us our need of
Christ。 By them He weans us from the world。 By them He prepares us for
〃a city which hath foundations；〃 in which there will be no
disappointments； no tears； and no sin。 It is no special mark of God's
favour when Christians have no trials。 They are spiritual medicines；
which poor fallen human nature absolutely needs。 King Solomon's course
was one of unbroken peace and prosperity。 But it may well be doubted
whether this was good for his soul。
Before we leave this part of our subject； let us learn some practical
lessons。
（a） Let us learn that parents cannot give grace to their children； or
masters to their servants。 We may use all means； but we cannot mand
success。 We may teach； but we cannot convert。 We may show those around
us the bread and water of life； but we cannot make them eat and drink
it。 We may point out the way to eternal life； but we cannot make others
walk in it。 〃It is the Spirit that quickeneth。〃 Life is that one thing
which the cleverest man of science cannot create or impart。 It es
〃not of blood； nor of the will of man〃 （John 1：13）。 To give life is the
grand prerogative of God。
（b） Let us learn not to expect too much from anybody or anything in
this fallen world。 One great secret of unhappiness is the habit of
indulging in exaggerated expectations。 From money； from marriage； from
business； from houses； from children； from worldly honours； from
political success； men are constantly expecting what they never find；
and the great majority die disappointed。 Happy is he who has learned to
say at all times； 〃 My soul； wait thou only upon God； my expectation is
from Him〃 （Ps。 62：5）。
（c） Let us learn not to be surprised or fret when trials e。 It is a
wise saying of Job； 〃Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward〃
（Job 5：7）。 Some； no doubt； have a larger cup of sorrows to drink than
others。 But few live long without troubles or cares of some kind。 The
greater our affections the deeper are our afflictions； and the more we
love the more we have to weep。 The only certain thing to be predicted
about the babe lying in his cradle is this；if he grows up； he will
have many troubles； and at last he will die。
（d） Let us learn； lastly； that God knows far better than we do what is
the best time for taking away from us those whom we love。 The deaths of
some of David's children were painfully remarkable； both as to age；
manner； and circumstances。 When David's little infant lay sick； David
thought he would have liked the child to live； and he fasted and
mourned till all was over。 Yet； when the last