ailed over the Philistine_!"--1 SAMUEL xvii. 50.

Yes, he did, but he would not have done so if he had remained as quiet as
the other Israelites. David was one of those who could not be easy so
long as the enemies of his country were in the ascendant. To see a
Philistine strutting about, defying the armies of the living God, was
more than he could bear. Is not this the spirit which should animate
Christians to-day? It is not one GOLIATH merely, there are many.
DRUNKENNESS, PROFANITY, SUPERSTITION, INFIDELITY, and a host of others
are not only defying us, but destroying us. Is it not true that the
armies of the alien are robbing our families and churches, plundering us
of the results of years of toil? Think, in one department alone, how we
are spoiled. We refer to the Sabbath school. What a small percentage of
those who pass through our schools become stable members of the church!
What crowds of our children become the slaves of sin! How long do we
mean to bear it? When shall we, like David, say, "THY SERVANT WILL GO
AND FIGHT WITH THIS PHILISTINE?"

We read that "David hasted, and ran towards the army to meet the
Philistine." He was aggressive. There is a great deal to be said in
favour of what is called "working on the old lines," but

DAVID DESPISED THE OLD LINES.

His countrymen had remained too long there; he would dare and do,
therefore ran into the lines of the Philistines. Is it not too true that
we stay in our entrenchments too long? Why should we not carry the war
into the enemy's country? WESLEY and his fellow-labourers would not have
had the success they had, if they had not, like David, run towards the
enemy. It was time, for the sake of his country's prestige, that he ran
with his face towards the foe. Shall we not imitate him, and dare
something for God? Saul's army had too often showed their backs to the
enemy. When a man runs towards his foe, he looks bigger every stride,
while if he runs away, he looks less, and becomes more contemptible the
more active he is!

David prevailed over the Philistine with very simple weapons, but

THEY WERE HIS OWN.

If he had gone in Saul's armour, he might have perished. He was no match
for the giant if it came to a sword fight. The long reach of the giant's
arm would have ended the conflict very soon. On the contrary, the sling
gave David an immense advantage. He could strike a blow, and be out of
Goliath's reach. Have we not known some men