from thee; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel." His declaration was verified. With a sling and a stone, he who had excited so much terror was prostrated on the earth, and his head severed from his body by his own sword. The Philistines, terrified by the death of their champion, and the shouts of joy from the enemy's camp, immediately fled, and were pursued by the Israelites. The head of Goliath, after being presented to Saul, was preserved at Jerusalem; and his sword was deposited in the tabernacle of Nob, as an acknowledgment of the aid of God.

After perusing this history, shall we tremble at any dangers in which we may expect the presence of the Lord? David's God still lives, and will surely aid us if we have David's faith. Especially in that conflict, in which all believers must engage, in our combat with that enemy stronger than Goliath, who challenges the armies of the living God, let us avoid "an evil heart of unbelief;" let us exercise a true faith in the promises of the Redeemer and the everlasting covenant, and we shall assuredly be successful.

David was now honoured by the soldiers, respected at the court, and admired by the people: but Saul soon viewed him with jealousy and rage. After the victory over the Philistines, the women of Israel had sung, in their public celebrations of this event, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." The harp of David had not been more successful in composing the monarch's mind, than this thankful acknowledgment was in rousing his fury. He thought that the surest mode of calming

his inquietudes, was to deprive of life him who had caused them. He, therefore, while David was playing before him, endeavoured twice to pierce him with his spear: but Providence interposed in behalf of the son of Jesse. The fury of the king was increased by disappointment; and we shall henceforth see him nourishing the most irreconcileable hatred, and exercising the blackest ingratitude, to David; and David displaying to him constant moderation and magnanimity.

But David was comforted under the persecutions of Saul by the attachment of his son. Jonathan, possessed of high virtue and courage, and a tender heart, could not but properly appreciate these qualities in another; and therefore, to use the strong expression of Scripture," the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul." It was a friendship that was proved by exposing his own safety for the preservation of David, that was not impaired by adversity, that endured till the close of life. That it was mutual, is shown by the pathetic lamentations of David when Jonathan fell at Gilboa, and by his affectionate conduct to his surviving children.

Though few such friends are to be found, yet there is one more powerful, more tender, more durable; one "who sticketh closer than a brother;" who is ready to indulge the most generous affection to you. This is the blessed Redeemer, who hath declared respecting his disciples, "Henceforth I call you not servants, but friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." Secure his friendship, and adversity will lose its bitterness, and the grave its victory. Death will bear your soul to his embraces; and after leaving your body for a

short time in the dust, he will say to the angels who surround his throne, as he did to the disciples during his incarnation, "Come, let us descend; our friend sleepeth: I go that I may awake him."

Merab, the eldest daughter of Saul, had been promised to David as the reward of his victory over Goliath but when the marriage was about to be concluded, she was given to a man of Abel-mehola. The king probably hoped, that so atrocious an injury would urge the object of his hatred to some act of violence that might be punished with death. Disappointed in this expectation, David was informed that Michal, the younger daughter, should be given him, if in an expedition against the enemy he should slay one hundred of them. Saul again had the mortification of seeing David return victorious, after destroying two hundred Philistines, instead of hearing of his death.

Saul, no longer able to refuse his daughter, endeavoured, by the instrumentality of Jonathan and Michal, to shorten the life of David. But these were too generous, and too tenderly attached to David, to assist the murderous designs of their father.

We have not time minutely to relate all the deliverances of David. He fled to the venerable Samuel at Naioth, a seminary of the prophets, hoping that in the exercises of religion he might enjoy peace. He was pursued thither by the unabated malice of Saul; but two bands sent to apprehend him, and Saul himself, were prevented from executing their designs by a miraculous impression on their minds. In what numberless modes can God deliver his children!

He secretly returned to his beloved Jonathan, and found consolation in his tried friendship; but con

vinced of the inveteracy of his father's hatred, was obliged to part with him. How often has God given us similar relief in our sorrows! How often has he raised up friends and comforters in our trials, and dried our tears by the kindness of those whose hearts he has turned towards us.

Fleeing again to the high-priest Abimelech at Nob, he partook of the shew-bread, which in ordinary occasions could be eaten by the priests only, but for partaking of which he is excused by the Saviour himself; (Matt. xii. 3.) and received the sword of Goliath, that undoubted proof of the merciful protection of his God. The view of it doubtless often strengthened his faith and assured him of deliverance. Our own comfort, as well as gratitude, require us to preserve memorials of the divine goodness

to us.

Driven from the territories of Saul, he sought refuge in the court of Achish, king of Gath, where he was preserved either by pretended madness or a real epilepsy.

the

"Hunted like a partridge upon the mountains," poor exile is found now in the cave of Adullam, where he is joined by his relatives, and by four hundred men of courage, but of desperate fortunes, whom he uses however only to defend himself, and to serve for the security of the neighbouring inhabitants; now in the court of Moab, whither he carries his aged parents whence their ancestor Ruth had come, and commits to the king till he knows "what God will do for him." Returning to Judea by the advice of Gad, he shows that in the midst of his own distresses he can feel for the sufferings of others, and delivers Keilah from the assaults of its enemies. When the inhabitants of this city had basely and ungratefully

resolved to deliver him up to Saul, he fled again to the wilderness of Ziph; here he for the last time had an interview with Jonathan, and by holy and affectionate conversation his faith was confirmed and his heart cheered. They met no more in this world ; but their friendship was founded on piety and was imperishable. They have been re-united in glory; and in the transports of re-union David forgot the sorrow with which he poured forth his lamentations for the fall of Jonathan on Gilboa. "If the converse of one friend can at one interview occasion comfort and strength to our hearts, what may not be expected from the continual supports, and daily visits, and powerful love, of the sinner's Saviour, the believer's covenanted friend? And what will heaven be, where perfect, universal friendship reigns, without interruption, separation, or alloy? Let us then continually seek the renewed ratification of the covenant of grace, and cultivate the friendship of the Lord and his people." (Scott.) From Ziph, David fled to Maon and Engeddi; and was pursued into mountains, caves, and deserts. Every day his life was threatened; every day he experienced anew the watchful care of providence.

Having at last obtained a short respite at Ziklag, he was on the commencement of a new war between the Philistines and Israelites; he was about to be reduced to the painful necessity of choosing between the defence of his benefactors or countrymen. Saved in this extremity from either painful alternative, he returned to Ziklag, whence he had been a short time absent. He found that it had been attacked by the Amalekites, the inhabitants and his family taken prisoners, and the place burnt. In addition to this, he was blamed as the cause of this calamity, and the