886 a life that he knew would end in loss or disaster? Sacrifice is not an end, but a means to an end. The end is more abundant life. The Christian faith stands not for impoverishment, but enrichment, .and so justifies itself on the grounds of reason, prudence and common sense. Godliness is profit able for the life that now is and for that which is to come. SUNDAY, Sept. 19. 1 Kings 12:21-24. This Thing is Prom Me. It is possible for faith to-see love’s appointments in life’s disappointments. If we are to give thanks for all things, Eph. 5:20, we must recognize God in each one. Is it a peculiar and subtle temptation? It is only an occasion to prove the grace and power of God to deliver. Is it a situation bristling with adverse circumstances? God is the God of circumstances. We are over them in victory, not under them in defeat. Is it a case of financial embarassment? God is our source of supply. Phil. 4:19. His supplies are inexhaustible. Is it the darkness of bereavement? He can save from sorrow as easily as from sin. Is it a broken hope, a blighted faith, a crushing burden? He knows and loves and cares. He can turn dis appointment into hope, darkness into light, sorrow into joy. He delights to give beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. MONDAY, Sept. 20. 1 Kings 10:26- 11 : 6 . Solomon’s Glory and Shame. The shipwreck of Solomon is one of the tragedies of history. The gifts and blessings . that God gave him were turned into a temptation and a snare. David’s fall took place not in the lone liness of his exile, but on the roof of his palace in Jerusalem. It was Sol omon’s wisdom, riches and largeness of heart, his breadth and catholicity of mind that wrought his undoing. It must have been a shock to the spirit-
THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NE S S ually minded in Israel that he should go down to Egypt for his queen and that Pharaoh’s daughter should sit on the throne of David. There is no ship wreck of faith and holiness and obed ience that appeals more to. the men of our day than this of Solomon’s. There is no repentance, no paschal lamb, day of atonement, or penitential Psalm in all his writings. There is remorse and weariness of life and disgust with self, but not a hint of that godly sorrow that needeth not to*be repented of. TUESDAY, Sept. 21. 2 Sam. 7:18- 8:4. Communion and Conflict. The relation between communion and conflict is not merely that of antece dent and consequent, it is that of cause and effect. In 2 Sam. 7, David is be fore God in prayer. In 2 Sam. 8 , he is smiting his enemies in the field. Any' inversion of this order turns vic tory into defeat. The victory must be won in the closet before its effects can be seen in the camp. The platform ministry must have the private prepara tion of prayer and waiting upon God before it can have efficacy and fruitful ness. Outward results have their source and spring in the inner life. We first win the battle upon our knees and when we come face to face with the enemy, there is little fighting left to do. We only have to divide tl\e spoil. Gazing into the face of God, makes one invincible before man. WEDNESDAY, Sept. 22. 2 Cor. 4:1-12. Staying Qualities. We must be prepared to find and face 'difficulties always and everywhere. We are fighting ancient enemies of God and man. They are vigilant, per sistent and relentless. In the service of the Gospel continuance is triumph. When we consider how easy it is to faint and fall, how hard it is to keep up and press on, the assurance, “ They shall walk and not faint,” seems the climax of covenant grace. To give a
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