d; thou wilt not have to fetch
me from the ale-house any more!' After he had told us of his changed
life, we all knelt down and thanked God. Last night his wife went home
rejoicing in the Gospel.--Your son in the Gospel, JAMES ATHERTON."

That poor man was chaff. And you, wherever you are, you may be just
about to be carried away. Cry to God! This is my last word--Poor chaff,
cry to God! And He will make thee wheat that shall command a rare price.

WE CAN WORK ONLY WHILE IT
IS DAY, AND NONE KNOW WHO HAS
THE SHORTEST DAY!

LV. "THE KING KISSED BARZILLAI."
2 SAM. xix. 39.

And no wonder, for David could appreciate a real man when he saw him, and
so does David's Lord.

I.--LOYALTY IS PRECIOUS TO THE KING OF KINGS.

In the days when the son of Jesse had but few friends, it was a precious
thing to be treated in the style Barzillai and his neighbours entertained
him (see 2 Sam. xvii. 27-29). They were rich farmers, and had land which
brought forth with abundance, so were able to act with princely
hospitality to the fugitive monarch. But plenty may live with avarice,
and when that is the case it is not to be expected that men who are
fleeing for their lives will be received with kind generosity. In this
case, however, the sight of the needy soldiers made the hearts of those
kingly farmers beat with sympathy, and so the provisions were put there
for the men to help themselves. "Hungry, weary, and thirsty" were they,
but their hospitable entertainers made them welcome. Never would those
dust-covered soldiers forget the halt they made in those green fields.

None felt, though, as David did. He had seen one trusted friend after
another fall away, and the thought that the chief among the rebels was
his own beloved son pierced him to the heart. It was then he composed
the fourth Psalm. And just then to have this welcome feast must have
cheered his soul even more than his body.

Do you live among those who are the enemies of David's greater Son? Is
Jesus in a minority? Are there those who work with you who delight in
making assaults upon your faith? Do they insult your God? Stand up for
Jesus! Be faithful when others are recreant or hostile. A working man
the other day, who has to win his bread among those who hate the name of
God, and who profane the air with their blasphemies, said to one who was
cursing, "Draw it mild there, that's the name of my best friend." Let us
play the man even though