best of us may fall at any time, and must depend entirely upon the grace and guidance of God.

We find the proofs of this in the history of David. He was the man after God's own heart. He was called to be the servant of the Most High. No one ever enjoyed greater blessings, or brighter tokens of the Divine favour. No one was ever led to write more for the glory of God and the good of His Church. And yet this very man fell at times into the greatest sins. This very man did evil to others, and brought dishonour upon the name of that God, whose he was and whom he served.

These thoughts should keep us humble and watchful. The knowledge of all this should lead us to bear in mind what St. Paul says, "Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall."

The early history of David is full of interest. He was the youngest of eight brethren. Jesse, their father, had descended from the family of Boaz and Ruth. He was a farmer; and while the elder brethren went to the battle under the command of Saul, David was occupied in feeding his father's sheep. It is pleasant, even to this day, to look down from the walls of Bethlehem upon the land still called "the Farm of Jesse," where David followed his occupation as a shepherd.

When God had determined to reject Saul from being king, He gave commandment to Samuel, saying, “ Fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the Lord said, Take an heifer with thee, say, I am come to sacrifice to the Lord. And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee. And Samuel did that which the Lord spake, and came to Bethlehem." (1 Sam. xvi. 1-4.)

and

Samuel caused a sacrifice to be offered. At this sacrifice he ordered Jesse and his sons to appear. This was the time for him to learn which of them the Lord had chosen to be king of Israel.

"And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before Him. But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature: because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this. Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he

said, Neither hath the Lord chosen this. Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The Lord hath not chosen these. And Samuel said unto

Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come thither. And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah." (Ver. 6-13.)

We may suppose that after this David returned to his flock. We are not told whether he understood then to how great a post the Lord was about to call him. But in due time the Lord would fit him for his work, and make him equal to all his duties.

David was to be called to the court of king Saul, whose evil spirit now troubled him. His servants therefore said: "Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp and it shall come to pass, when the evil

spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well. And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me. Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him. Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep. And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul. And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me: for he hath found favour in my sight. And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.” (Ver. 16-23.)

How long David was at the court we know not. It may be that he at that time began to get into favour with others, which displeased Saul. At any rate he must have been sent home again, and had patiently and readily returned to his old occupation of feeding his father's flock.

But the time of war would call him forth again. Without seeking it himself, the Lord was about to make a way by which he should be looked upon as a great leader and a brave

man.

Not far from Jerusalem is a noble valley, called the valley of Elah, or the valley of the terebinth oaks. To this valley the Philistines had come from the low country. They wished to take Jerusalem; and Saul with the men of Israel were assembled on the other side to prevent them from doing this.

A great giant, called Goliath of Gath, fought on the side of the Philistines. He wished some one of the people of Israel to come forth and fight him alone. He said that whichever side was beaten, was to become the servants of the others. But there was not one of the Israelites who dared to face this great champion.

Jesse's sons were on the field of battle. David was the only one who was left with his father, taking care of the sheep.

"And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren; and carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge........And David rose up early in the morning, and left the