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Probably some of David's Psalms of this period were penned while he was living in the service of the Philistines, those dreaded foes of his country. How shall we reconcile this fact with the pious tone of the sacred songs in question? Perhaps in this way-Philistia was governed, not by one, but by five kings, and it is quite possible that Achish, to whom he fled, may have been less hostile to the Israelites than any of the rest; indeed, what we read of him seems rather to favour this view. At any-rate, Achish may not have been at war with Israel just then, nor likely to be for some time; while in the native tribes, such as the Amalekites, the Philistines may well have had foes from whom David might lawfully defend his protector. As yet I have said nothing

* 1 Sam. xxvii. 30.

about those Psalms which David penned after he mounted the throne; still I must draw my remarks to a close. Even about David's wanderings in Saul's reign I have not said nearly everything that might be said; for a subject so wide cannot be fully dealt with in a couple of papers. My end, however, will have been gained, if I can lead my readers to study more carefully the history and character of David. Perfect he certainly was not, but for this very reason we can feel for him and learn from him. If, in many respects, we cannot follow him as a model, we may yet take courage from his example, and say, See, here is a man who served God well in spite of many faults. Thus then we learn that our faults need not prevent us from being a blessing to the world, if only we copy those graces in which David excelled." S.

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THE Second Epistle to Timothy has been well termed "a divine provision for perilous times." It is certain our lot is cast in perilous times, and that the evils foretold abound and are of daily observation; it is, therefore, our duty diligently to avail ourselves of the provision the epistle supplies for our security in the midst of these evils. It is not my purpose, however, to dwell upon this epistle as a whole, but rather to single out for present meditation the prophecy respecting the tendency of these times to think lightly of Scripture teaching. The inspired writer says, "the time will come when they "I suppose he means believers generally-" will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

What is meant by sound doctrine? The word doctrine, as used in Scripture, has a much wider meaning than is given to it in our theology. It is used in Scripture to signify teaching. This is the general meaning of the word. When Christ used the phrase "my doctrine," he evidently meant all that he taught, inclusive alike of what God had done and what he requires now to do. It is obvious the Saviour used the word in this general sense when he complained of the Pharisees" teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." So in the Sermon on the Mount: "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so (to do), he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them (to be done), the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." And so likewise in the apostolic commission, "Go disciple the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things. whatsoever I have commanded you." The great Apostle said to Timothy, "Thou hast fully known my doctrine, that is, my teaching,

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my instruction-the kind of knowledge I have communicated to thee: the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also."

Sound doctrine is doctrine the Great Teacher and his apostles revealed and sanctioned. It is doctrine according to godliness. It is doctrine that tends to promote the spiritual health and happiness of those who receive it. It is sound, in opposition to what is hollow and Pharisaical; true, in contradistinction to what is false and fabulous; divine, in contrast to what is human. But what is comprised in sound doctrine? It comprises, in truth, all that God has been pleased to reveal to us in the Bible from first to last; for "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine." We can only give, therefore, a very limited and imperfect enumeration of a vast number of vital points comprised in sound Scriptural teaching. The teaching we conscientiously believe to be sound includes the doctrine of man's depravity-that he is far from original righteousness, and that in his flesh dwelleth no good thing; the doctrine of man's practical sinfulness-that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and that every imagination of the thoughts of the heart is only evil continually; the doctrine of man's helplessness-that he is without strength, and morally incapable of himself of performing any works that are acceptable to God; the doctrine of man's danger-that as a sinner he is condemned already, and the wrath of God abideth on him and that he is every moment liable to be driven away in his wickedness into the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; the doctrine of man's regeneration—that he becomes a new creature by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost; the doctrine of man's justification-that he is "justified by faith without the deeds of the law," "justified freely by (God's) grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;" the doctrine of atonement that Jesus Christ by the grace of God tasted death for every man, and his blood cleanseth us from all sin. These are some of the doctrines most assuredly taught in Scripture, and which we must receive and hold fast if we are to be sound in the faith. But this is not all: to comprehend what the Apostle meant by sound doctrine, we must point out the sound practical character of Scripture teaching.

For example-1. It is sound doctrine to preach Christ's death on the cross as God's means of working within us a death unto sin. Holy Scripture teaches Christ's death for us and our death with him. To preach the one, and not the other, is to preach an unsound doctrine. The apostles of our Lord joined them together. They did not preach the atonement and omit the crucifixion of the flesh, nor preach the crucifixion of the flesh and reject the atonement. They never taught that Christ died to give reprief to the life of the flesh from death

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