intereft, and he only carried away a spear and a pitcher of water, as tokens of the king's danger, and of his own innocency. As foon as Saul was apprized of what had paffed, he acknowledged the fuperior virtue and generofity of David, promifed not to make any further attempt upon his life, and having bleffed him, returned to his own city.

After a few years Saul was reduced to a very deplorable condition; he was attacked by an army of the Philijlines, far fuperior in number, and ftrength to the forces of Ifrael, which he drew out against them: and, when he enquired of the Lord concerning the event, the Lord gave him

no answer. This filled him with the ut moft perplexity and terror; he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled; for he well knew that there could be no fuccefs without the favour and affiftance of God.

A battle however foon enfued: the engagement between the armies was very Tharp and violent. Jonathan and two of his brothers fupported the fight with greatcourage; but being at length overpowered and flain, all was diforder and confufion, and the Ifraelites fled. Saul himself alfo fled; and on mount Gilboa, being fatigued and wounded, and fearful of falling into

the hands of the enemy, he threw himself upon his fword and died.

David lamented with unfeigned forrow, the death of Saul and Jonathan in thefe pathetic words; The beauty of Ifrael is fain; how are the mighty fallen! Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew upon you; for there the field of the mighty is vilely caft away, even the field of Saul.-I am difireffed for thee, my brother Jonathan; thy love to me was wonderful, paffing the love of women.How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

CHAP. XXV.

THE REIGN OF DAVID.

Before DAVID, who had been privately Chrift anointed king by Samuel, was 1055. directed by God, upon the death of Saul, to remove to Hebron; where the tribe of Judah anointed him to be their king: while Abner, Saul's general, and the other tribes proclaimed Ishbofheth, the remaining fon of Saul, king over Ifrael. An open war foon commenced between the two rival princes, which continued for feveral years, till Ibofheth was barbarouf

ly murdered by two of his own captains: after which, the confpirators, with full dependance upon a gracious reception, fled to David with the news; but, though the event was advantageous to him, that good prince detefted the bloody fact, and commanded the authors of it to be put to death. The heads of all the tribes immediately fubmitted to the authority of David, and anointed him king over Ifrael.

Infpired with a grateful fense of the numberless and various inftances of divine goodnefs, which had taken him from the sheepcot, and made him ruler over Ifrael; it was his study and delight to promote the glory and worship of God, and to discharge the important duties of that station, to which he had been fo wonderfully raised. He brought the ark of the Lord from the house of Abinadab to Jerufalem, in a folemn triumphant proceffion; with music and fongs of joy. He was alfo defirous of building a ftately temple to the Lord, as a place of public worship; but the Almighty fent Nathan, the prophet, to inform him, that though his intention was highly acceptable, yet the execution of it should be referved for his fon, whom God would,eftablifh in the kingdom, and bless with profperity and peace. Men are apt to be

offended, if their good intentions are not carried into execution at their own time, and in their own manner: but all our defigns fhould be formed and pursued with fubmiffion to Frovidence, and we fhould chearfully facrifice our private wishes to the will and glory of God.-The fervent zeal of David was not extinguifhed or abated by the divine prohibition; though the pious and honourable work was deferred to adorn the reign of his fon, yet he applied great care and diligence in making preparations for it and immenfe quantities of gold, filver, and brafs, which he obtained both by conqueft and by commerce, were dedicated to the Lord, and laid up for that facred purpofe. He reigned happily over all Ifrael, and executed judgment and justice unto all his people: and the Lord was with him, and preferved him whitherfoever he went. The friendly affection, which Jonathan had fhewn to him, was ftill fresh in his mind; and having made diligent enquiry after his family, and found Mephibolheth his fon alive, he restored to him all the poffeffions of his father, and placed him conftantly at his own table. Gratitude is the certain fruit of a good and generous heart; and the fatisfaction arifing from the exercife of it

proves experimentally, that it is more blefJed to give than to receive.

But, alas, what is man ! what are even good men! their beft difpofitions, their frongeft refolutions, how uncertain and changeable!-We have an alarming inftance of it in David, who fuffered impure defires to get poffeffion of his heart, and then gave himself up to the indulgence of them. Captivated with the beauty of Bathfheba, he took her to his own house: after which, he caufed her husband, Uriah, to be flain, and married her. The Prophet Nathan being fent by God to bring him to a fenfe of his guilt, addreffed him with the pretended ftory of a rich man, who, upon the coming of a flanger, had fpared his own numerous flocks, and taken away the favourite lamb of a poor neighbour. The king immediately condemned the rich man for his injuftice and cruelty; but foon found' that he had pronounced fentence againft himself, for Nathan faid unto him, Thou art the man! for the lamb was the wife of Uriah. Upon this home-attack, his Deeping confcience was roufed; his mind was filled with remorfe; and the heartfelt confufion of his crime burft forth in this honeft confeffion, I have finned against the Lord: and fo fincere and effectual was