of thy Sons; and I will Establish his Kingdom: he shall build Me an House, and I will Stablish his Throne for Ever: I will be his FATHER, and he shall be My Son : and I will not Take My Mercy away from him, as I Took It from him that was before thee but I will Settle him in Mine House and in My Kingdom for Ever! and his Throne shall be Established for Evermore.' According to all These Words, and according to all This Vision, so did Nathan speak unto David."-1 Chron. xvii. 3 to 15.

This seems more Exclusively Applicable to The MESSIAH, The SON of David; and the Omission of the Passage in the Book of Samuel, "If he commit iniquity," which could have no reference to Him, strengthens the divided application to JESUS and to Solomon. An Instance of the double edge of Prophecy.

'Then went King David in, and sat before The LORD, and he said, Who am I, O LORD GOD? and what is my House, that Thou hast Brought me hitherto? and This was yet a Small Thing in Thy Sight, O LORD GOD: but Thou hast Spoken also of Thy Servant's House for a great while to come. And is this the manner of Man, O LORD GOD? And what can David say more unto Thee? for Thou, LORD GOD, Knowest Thy Servant. For Thy Word's sake, and according to Thine Own Heart, hast Thou Done All These Great Things, to Make Thy Servant know Them. Wherefore Thou art Great, O LORD GOD: for there is None like Thee; neither is there any GOD beside Thee, according to All That we have heard with our ears. And what one Nation in the Earth is like Thy People, even like Israel (whom GOD Went to Redeem for a People to Himself, and to Make Him a Name, and to Do for you Great Things and Terrible, for thy Land, before thy People), which Thou Redeemedst to Thee from Egypt, from the Nations and their gods? For Thou hast Confirmed to Thyself Thy People Israel to be a People unto Thee for ever: and Thou, LORD, art Become their GOD. And now, O LORD GOD, the Word That Thou hast Spoken concerning Thy Servant, and concerning his House, Establish It for ever! and Do as Thou hast Said! And Let Thy Name be magnified for Ever, saying, 'The LORD of Hosts is The GOD over Israel and Let the House of Thy Servant David be Established before Thee! for Thou, O LORD of Hosts, GOD of Israel, hast Revealed to Thy Servant, Saying, 'I will Build thee an House:' therefore hath Thy Servant found in his heart to pray this And now, unto Thee. prayer O LORD GOD, Thou art That GOD, and Thy Words be True, and Thou hast Promised This Goodness unto Thy Servant. Therefore now Let it Please Thee to Bless the House of Thy Servant, that it may continue for ever before Thee! for Thou, O LORD GOD, hast Spoken It; and with Thy Blessing Let the House of Thy Servant be Blessed for ever." "-2 Sam. vii. 18 to 29.

In the Book of Chronicles the account is thus :

What can

"And David, the King, came and sat before The LORD, and said, 'Who am I, O LORD GOD, and what is mine House, that Thou hast Brought me hitherto ? And yet This was a Small Thing in Thine Eyes, O GOD: for Thou hast also Spoken of Thy Servant's House for a great while to come, and hast Regarded me according to the estate of a Man of high degree, O LORD GOD! David speak more to Thee for the honour of Thy Servant? for Thon Knowest Thy Servant. O LORD, for Thy Servant's sake, and according to Thine Own Heart, hast Thou Done All This Greatness, in Making Known All These Great Things. LORD, there is None like Thee, neither is there any God beside Thee, according to All, That we have heard with our ears. And what one Nation in the Earth is like Thy People Israel (whom GOD Went to Redeem to be His Own People), to Make Thee a Name of Greatness and Terribleness, by Driving out Nations from before Thy People, whom Thou hast Redeemed out of Egypt? For Thy People

Israel didst thou Make Thine Own People for ever: and Thou, LORD, Becamest their GOD. Therefore now, LORD, Let the Thing That Thou hast Spoken concerning Thy Servant, and concerning his House, be Established for ever: and Do as Thou hast Said! Let it even be Established, that Thy Name may be Magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of Hosts is The GOD of Israel, even A GOD to Israel and Let the House of David, Thy Servant, be Established before Thee! For Thou, O my GOD, hast Told Thy Servant, that Thou wilt Build him an House: therefore Thy Servant hath found in his heart to pray before Thee. And now, LORD, Thou art GOD, and hath Promised This Goodness unto Thy Servant: now, therefore, Let it Please Thee to Bless the House of Thy Servant, that It may be before Thee for ever! for Thou Blessest, O LORD, and It shall be Blessed for ever.'”—1 Chron. xvii. 16 to 27.

In the conclusion of these two Scriptural passages the only observable distinetion seems to present itself; the one being imprecatory of everlasting Blessing from GOD on the House of David; the other Prophetically predictive that such Mercy would be, Spiritually at least, Vouchsafed unto it; the one the offspring of humility of mind, as dictated by the lowly estate of self-estimation; the other the fruit of the fulness of faith in the Fulfilment of the Promises of GOD; each being perfectly compatible with the other.

That David was not actuated by worldly ambition, by a thirst for the praise of Men, but by a deep sense of the Greatness and Goodness of GOD, and an ardent desire to conform to His Will, and confidently to repose in His Word of Promise, is obvious from his conduct on this memorable occasion. He had wished to exemplify his gratitude to his DIVINE GUARDIAN and PROTECTOR for all the Mercies Vouchsafed unto him; and the Prophet of The LORD had at first sanctioned that wish. If any feeling of vanity had taken possession of David's mind on this occasion, and he had looked forward to his name being had in repute by future Generations, this was a trial, that, in the ready submission be paid to The DIVINE Will, marked the paramount principles of piety and humility in his heart; he knew "that obedience is better than sacrifice;" that Heaven was properly GOD'S Throne, and the whole Earth but His Footstool. With becoming resignation, therefore, David at once yielded to The DIVINE Appointment, without assuming to reason with his GOD, or repining at His Decree. In the largest expec tation and hope of David's heart, there had not so much as a thought entered into it of so Great Goodness as This, Which The Almighty was Pleased to Promise to him and his Posterity; and yet David was not faithless, but believing. And, indeed, the devout aspirations poured forth by him on this holy Communion with his GOD -the lowliness of himself in his own eyes--and the just view he takes of the Transcendent Mercies and Love of The MOST HIGH, the beautiful apostrophe he breaks out into, in an avowal, that The GOD of his worship was The Only True GOD; that His Words are Verity and Truth; and that His Promise never Fails, are an admirable Model on which our thoughts, when holding converse with GOD, may be happily framed. To give a becoming solemnity to his awful intercourse with his MAKER, he withdrew to the Place of Public Worship; "he went in and sat before The LORD," and opened his address by acknowledging his own nothingness and unworthiness of Regard in the Sight of " Him, before Whom the Heavens Themselves are not Pure, and Who Chargeth His Angels with folly." David felt that The LORD, in the Loving-Kindness He had previously Manifested unto him, had abundantly Shewed His Mercy towards him; but when, to Such Proofs of DIVINE Favour, were added Promises of Everlasting Honour and Glory to him and his Posterity, Which David saw (perhaps, though as it were, through a glass darkly) had Reference to the Spiritual and Eternal KINGDOM of JESUS CHRIST, his heart was too full of gratitude and admiration for Earthly language

to express; he, therefore, confines himself to that communion with his MAKER which most resembles, perhaps, the intuitiveness of Angels, and which, to the Omniscience of GOD, is equally Intelligible as the voice of a Multitude. "What can David say more unto Thee? for Thou, LORD GOD, Knowest Thy Servant."

“And after this, it came to pass that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines. And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line; casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's Servants, and brought gifts. David smote also Hadadezer, the Son of Rehob, King of Zobah, as he went to recover his Border at the River Euphrates: and David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred Horsemen, and twenty thousand Footmen; and David houghed all the chariot-horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots. And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer, King of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand Men. Then David put Garrisons in Syria of Damascus ; and the Syrians became Servants to David, and brought gifts. And The LORD Preserved David whithersoever he went. And David took the shields of gold, that were on the Servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jeru salem: and from Betah, and from Berothai, Cities of Hadadezer, King David took exceeding much brass. When Toi, King of Hamath, heard that David had smitten all the Host of Hadadezer, then Toi sent Joram, his Son, unto King David to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him ; for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass: which also King David did dedicate unto The LORD, with the silver and gold, that he had dedicated of all Nations which he subdued; of Syria and of Moab, and of the Children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, Son of Rehob, King of Zobah. And David gat him a name, when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the Valley of Salt, being eighteen thousand Men. And he put Garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he Garrisons; and all they of Edom became David's Servants. And The LORD Preserved David whithersoever he went. 2 Sam. viii. 1 to 14.

The account in the Chronicles is as follows:

"Now after this, it came to pass that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and her Towns out of the hand of the Philistines: and he smote Moab and the Moabites became David's Servants, and brought gifts. And David smote Hadarezer, King of Zobah, unto Hamath, as he went to stablish his dominion by the River Euphrates: and David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand Horsemen, and twenty thousand Footmen: David also houghed all the chariot-horses, but reserved of them an hundred chariots. And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer, King of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand Men. Then David put Garrisons in SyriaDamascus; and the Syrians became David's Servants, and brought gifts. Thus The Lord Preserved David whithersoever he went. And David took the shields of gold, that were on the Servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem: Likewise from Tibhath and from Chun, Cities of Hadarezer, brought David very much brass, wherewith Solomon made the brazen sea and the pillars, and the vessels of brass. Now when Tou, King of Hamath, heard how David had smitten all the Host of Hada. rezer, King of Zobah; he sent Hadoram, his Son, to King David, to inquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer, and smitten him (for Hadarezer had war with Tou); and with him all manner of vessels of gold, and silver, and brass. Them also King David dedicated unto The

LORD, with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these Nations: from Edom and from Moab, and from the Children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek. Moreover Abishai, the Son of Zeruiah, slew of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt, eighteen thousand. And he put Garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became David's Servants. Thus The LORD Preserved David whithersoever he went."-1 Chron. xviii. 1 to 13. The reference to Solomon's appropriation of the brass taken by David, shews the fulfilment of his Father's hallowed purpose.

Amidst the brilliancy of his conquests, and himself, on one occasion at least, made the Victim of that passion to which the violence of a state of warfare but too frequently and fatally gives rise, in inflicting cruelty on animals unconscious of offence, (unless, as some Commentators think, the Text will bear the construetion, that the chariots and not the horses were disabled, for the word "horses' seems not to have been in the original Text, though the context rather calls for it), David never forgot Whose was the Victory, nor to Whom, therefore, should be the Glory; for of the richest of the spoil he reserved to make a Sacrifice unto The LORD; not being Forbidden, like Saul, so to do: and the precious fruits of his piety were Salvation from On HIGH, for The LORD Preserved David whithersoever he went." And The Same Merciful Care in Spiritual, if not in temporal, Salvation, also is Extended over every Soul of Man, whether Governor or Governed, where there is faith in the Blessed Promises of GOD, and to that faith is added Christian love and charity.

And David reigned over all Israel: and David executed judgment and justice unto all his People. And Joab, the Son of Zeruiah, was over the Host: and Jehoshaphat, the Son of Ahilud, was Recorder: and Zadok, the Son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech, the Son of Abiathar, were the Priests; and Seraiah was the Scribe; and Benaiah, the Son of Jehoiada, was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's Sons were Chief Rulers."-2 Sam. viii. 15 to 18.

The account in the Book of Chronicles is as follows:

"So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his People. And Joab, the Son of Zeruiah, was over the Host: and Jehoshaphat, the Son of Ahilud, Recorder: and Zadok the Son of Ahitub, and Abimelech, the Son of Abiathar, were the Priests; and Shavsha was Scribe: and Benaiah, the Son of Jehoiada, was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the Sons of David were Chief about the King."-1 Chron. xviii. 14 to 17.

David's was not an abstract unsocial piety, it did not withdraw him from his Fellow-Man, nor induce him to shrink from those duties, to which the rights and interests of a Community give rise. Called to the august Seat of Judgment as the Vicegerent of GOD over GOD'S Own People, he executed the high Office with diligence and fidelity, with discretion and impartiality, neither withholding from the Poor, nor perverting for the Rich the dispensations of justice, but shewing that None were too high for the power of the Law to reach, and None too low for its zeal to disregard. The selection of Officers, on which the wisdom of a Government, and consequently the happiness of a People, so much depend, was probably, such as reflected credit on the King's discernment; and his appointment of his own Sons to be Rulers over Provinces or Districts shews the King's earnestness to render service to the Public, not only by his own Personal exertions, but by Those, over whom None Other but himself might be supposed to have influence, as being next in Rank to Majesty itself. He would not allow them to waste in indolence and luxury that time, on which he knew their fate in Eternity depended: and, supporting Parental authority by the most exemplary conduct, both as a Governor and a Judge, appointed his Children to fill Offices of usefulness in the State; doubtless instilling into them those lessons

of purity and piety, of wisdom and righteousness, which might reflect back the splendour they derived from the Throne, and promote the prosperity of its Subjects.

"And David said, 'Is there yet Any that is left of the House of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?' And there was of the House of Saul a Servant, whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the King said unto Him, Art thou Ziba?' And he said, 'Thy Servant is he.' And the King said, 'Is there not yet any of the House of Saul, that I may shew the Kindness of GOD unto him?' And Ziba said unto the King, Jonathan hath yet a Son, which is lame on his feet.' And the King said unto him, Where is he?' And Ziba said unto the King, Behold, he is in the House of Machir, the Son of Ammiel, in Lo-Debar.' Then King David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the Son of Ammiel, from Lo-Debar. Now when Mephibosheth, the Son of Jonathan, the Son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth!' And he answered, Behold thy Servant!' And David said unto him, Fear not! for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan, thy Father's sake, and will restore thee all the Land of Saul, thy Father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.' And he bowed himself and said, 'What is thy Servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog, as I am?' Then the King called to Ziba, Saul's Servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy Master's Son all that pertained to Saul and to all his House. Thou therefore, and thy Sons, and thy Servants shall till the Land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy Master's Son may have food to eat but Mephibosheth, thy Master's Son, shall eat bread alway at my table.' Now Ziba had fifteen Sons and twenty Servants. Then said Ziba unto the King, According to all that my Lord the King hath commanded his Servant, so shall thy Servant do.' As for Mephibosheth,' said the King, he shall eat at my table as One of the King's Sons.' And Mephibosheth had a young Son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were Servants unto Mephibosheth. So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the King's table; and was lame on both his feet."-2 Sam. ix.

4

This incident is not noted in the Chronicles.

Many as had been the incidents in David's life since the death of Saul, and few as, in a worldly point of view, were the grounds for David's visiting his memory with reverence by extending favours to his Descendants, David's was not that Spirit, which rendercth evil for evil, but contrariwise blessing; for so had he learnt the Law of his GOD, though the Pure Doctrines of Christian Charity and Forbearance and Love and Mercy were then but imperfectly foreshadowed. In the magnanimity of Christian heroism, however, David, fearless of invoking a Spirit of civil discord, by raising up against himself a Descendant of Royalty for the disaffected of the Land to patronize, calls generally for Any of the Lineage of Saul, with the intention of doing them a kindness: the discovery of a Son of his beloved Jonathan was, probably, as unlooked for, as it was acceptable to him; and a more distinguishing mark of that love he bore Jonathan, and of the gratitude he continued to feel for him, though in the grave, could not have been exhibited than by the adoption of that Son as a Child of his own, and the Royal endowment so generously made him. The modesty of Mephibosheth himself heightens the interest of this picture of Regal munificence and Manly virtue. No haughty independence is assumed, no sullen envy is manifested, no arrogant pretensions to equal or superior power are exhibited, no jealousy at the rise of one Family on the downfall of his own appears; but, on the contrary, the most pious resignation to the Will of HEAVEN is shewn, and the most honourable testimony borne to the Justice of The DIVINE Adoption of David.