the malicious opposition, of his foolish and more ignorant comrades.

Let not then, my brethren, the history and the example of Cornelius be lost upon any of us. Woe be to us, if, in the judgment, Cornelius "rise up and condemn us.' For he with the little light he had, he was "a devout man, a just man, and one that feared God, and prayed to God alway." As ye, brethren, would in the judgment have the praise and the renown of Cornelius attach unto you, ye must follow now the noble example of his religious and virtuous conduct; ye must "go and do likewise." Enlisted by baptism into the service" of our Lord and of his Christ," ye must be faithful in that service, "faithful unto death." And as ye are bound to fulfil the commands of your earthly sovereign, so be ye determined with true christian loyalty to fulfil the promise and the vow which the soldiers of Israel voluntarily and be

9 Rev. ii. 10.

comingly gave in reply to the exhortation of their commander, Joshua-“ The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.”1

1 Joshua xxiv. 24.

95

SERMON VII.

DAVID AND GOLIATH.

1 SAM. xvii. 45.

“Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied."

THESE words form a part of that noble and undaunted reply which the gallant and youthful David gave to the proud boasting of the gigantic Goliath, when he, with blasphemous and insulting words, had stepped forth and challenged

to mortal combat any of the warriors of Israel. We read, however, that such a man was not then to be found in the royal camp. Either the strength of the Philistine was so well known, or his appearance was so formidable, that success in the attempt to overpower him was considered hopeless. When the man in all the pride of human might, and well furnished with earthly weapons, presented himself before the arrayed battalions of the Israelites, and haughtily uttered defiance against them and their king, "Saul and all Israel were dismayed and greatly afraid." 1 None was found bold enough to approach this strong armed man, and the army of the righteous cause continued panic-struck and powerless, quailing under the fierce look of their vaunting enemy, who thus hurled contempt and defiance at "the armies of the living God."

In this extremity, however, when fear was paralyzing the armed soldiery, and

1 Verse 11.

confusion and rout were impending over the banners of the once victorious tribes, rescue and deliverance came from aquarter little expected. The stripling David, sent by his father with an inquiry and a supply of refreshment to his brothers, arrived at the camp at the very moment when the hostile forces had once again been set in battle-array against each other, and Israel was again to tremble and to flee before the face of their giant antagonist. But the challenge now repeated was heard by one, whose heart was at once warmed, and whose spirit immediately rose to repel the bravado and the insult thus cast upon his country, and his God. And David bravely questioned within himself, and with those around him, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" 2 Neither was this, the thought of David to pull down the haughty pride of the boastful heathen, the

2 Ver. 26.

F