swallowed up, and all the People, that are with him!' Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by En-rogel, for they might not be seen to come into the City; and a Wench went and told them; and they went and told King David. Nevertheless a Lad saw them, and told Absalom; but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a Man's house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down and the Woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known: and when Absalom's Servants came to the Woman to the house, they said, 'Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan?' And the Woman said unto them, They be gone over the Brook of Water.' And when they had sought, and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told King David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the Water; for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you!' Then David arose, and all the People, that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not One of them, that was not gone over Jordan. And when Ahithophel saw, that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his City, and put his Household in order, and hanged himself, and died; and was buried in the sepulchre of his Father."— 2 Sam. xvii. 15 to 23.

Into what dreadful depths of folly and misery will the disappointed pride of Man plunge him! Ahithophel, so lately regarded as the Oracle of GOD, finding his advice rejected, though tending to involve his lawful Sovereign and kind Master in temporal ruin, gives up the hope of all satisfaction in the Life that is, and in the wilful blindness of despair, rushes unbidden, with all his sins unre pented of and confirmed, into the Presence of his Incensed GOD: leaves the only state where, by contrition and amendment, the Wrath of That GOD he might have appeased; and shuts the only inlet to DIVINE Pardon and Recouciliation. He could not have doubted of the Immortality of the Soul, nor of a Righteous Judgment Awaiting every One, when the Soul shall put on its Immor tality; but he fell, from yielding to the same weakness, that lost Satan Heaven: reasoning pride was his sin, and to its indulgence all was sacrificed. Had but an humble Spirit belonged to him, he would, on reflection, have rejoiced that his counsel, which savoured not of the things that should be, had failed of its promised end, and that the blood of his King might not be laid to his charge: though the mistaken zeal, with which he had attempted to serve Another, would have involved that crime. How high was the state from which Ahithophel fell; to what an awful pit of destruction did his disappointed pride sink him! He sold himself to sin, and became the Child of the Devil, leaving to future Ages the not uninstructive lesson of the hateful career and frightful end of Ambition. which thus led him at first, perhaps, but by faintly perceptible degrees, though eventually by rapid and gigantic strides to disaffection, alike from his Heavenly KING and his Earthly Sovereign, and, in the end, to Self-murder; by that last act of his life here, hastening the advent of that rule of Satan over his whole Soul, which, however in misery, exceeding all that can enter into the mind of Man, will yet leave no interval for sleep to absorb the sense of pain-will shed no one ray of hope amidst the everlasting night of despair, nor suffer the Second Death at the Judgment to separate the Soul from its sense of torture. To have lost such an Enemy, who, with all his wisdom, could not apply it to the govern ance of his own passions, and was in open rebellion against the Law of his GOL (and that too in the very season, when by the partial detection of Hushai schemes for David's protection the mischievous imaginations of Ahithophel would have been so likely to have developed, by contrast, their preference), must have imparted the balm of consolation to the afflicted bosom of David, and confirmed

his holy hope of GOD'S Continued Regard for him. The constancy of his true Friends, in their adherence to his cause, must still further have cherished his faith in The DIVINE Mercy towards him. And the application of these Historical Incidents may be universally useful, if made an operating example in us, not to faint, whilst the Judgments of The LORD are upon the Earth, but to possess our Souls in patience, waiting for the final Manifestation of DIVINE Favour, when all things shall redound to the Glory of The LORD, and to the consummation in Bliss of the hope of His Saints. In this fresh instance of David's Deliverance, it may not be undeserving of consideration, that one Instrument of it in the Hands of PROVIDENCE was so humble a Character as a Servant Girl, whose fidelity towards her Employers, and active zeal in their service, by regularly communicating the messages delivered to her, and watching every chance of detection and disappointment at the peril of her life, with no other prospect of reward, perhaps, than the approbation of her Master and of her own conscience, are exemplary. The Sons of the Priests owed their preservation, under GOD, to the prudence and devotedness of another Female, also in comparatively humble life, but who freely hazarded her own life, at least, in her resolute spirit to save the Lives of Others, and, perhaps, with a feeling of loyalty towards her rightful King, though driven into exile.

The true Riches and the only valuable Honours are open alike to the Poor and Rich, to the High and Low, to the Learned and Unlearned; the path of duty, stedfastly pursued, leads infallibly to them both; for the true Riches are those of an approving conscience, and the worthiest of Honours are the being high in the Favour of The LORD; and in the power of attaining unto these the Master is not before the Servant. The religious faith and pious offices even of a Slave may contribute to the deliverance of the Soul of One, who, however once exalted, may, for a time, be suffering under the effects of sin, and restore to it its departed peace. Let every One, therefore, work while it is day, in whatsoever work the hand findeth to do in its peculiar situation, having the fear of GOD always present; lest the night come, when no Man can work, and when the talent, that has been unprofitably hid in a napkin, will be exposed in its state of rust and uselessness, to the endless confusion and dismay of the Servant, who has so negligently abused it.

And it came to

"Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the Men of Israel with him. And Absalom made Amasa Captain of the Host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a Man's Son, whose name was Ithra, an Israelite, that went in to Abigail, the Daughter of Nahash, Sister to Zeruiah, Joab's Mother. So Israel and Absalom pitched in the Land of Gilead. pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi, the Son of Nahash, of Rabbah, of the Children of Ammon, and Machir, the Son of Ammiel, of Lo-debar, and Barzillai, the Gileadite of Rogelim, brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse, and honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David and for the People, that were with him, to eat for they said, The People is hungry, and weary and thirsty in the Wilderness.'"-2 Sam. xvii. 24 to 29.

Availing himself of the counsel, that was graciously communicated to him, David continues his retreat in the order and with the rapidity of a military movement, but under the hardships and privations to which such movements are liable; nor was it long before Absalom, following the advice of Hushai, and placing himself at the head of all the Men of Israel, who had not joined the fortunes of David, advanced in the direction that David had taken, having selected for the Military Head of his Army One of the warlike Family, to which the distinguished Captains and Leaders of David's Armies belonged. But not

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withstanding this eager and formidable pursuit after David, yet, through the Mercy of his GOD, did he find Help in the fearful time of need; and so Wonderful are the Operations of DIVINE Grace upon the heart of Man, that, though David was persecuted almost to the death by the Child of his bosom, he was upheld and supported by the own Brother of him, whom he had slain, and whose Country he had rendered tributary to the triumphant power of Israel. Had Shobi, who was the Son of Nahash, been like-minded towards David, as we have before seen was Hanun, who was also the Son of Nahash, how might David's difficulties have been magnified, not only by the withholding from him the supplies so necessary for the recruiting the exhausted strength of his Followers, but, by co-operating with Absalom, have overwhelmed him with Enemies, as well before as behind, since by such an alliance, Shobi might, perhaps, have made his own terms with Absalom for the future emancipation of his Country from its tributary yoke, and the heavy punishment inflicted upon it even at David's hands [see ch. xii. 31]. Neither was this the only hand so unexpectedly, perhaps, but so generously instrumental to the comfort and aid of David amidst the trials that surrounded him. Machir, with whom Ziba, the now treacherous servant of the helpless Mephibosheth, had resided, and who, in the crooked policy of that faithless One, might have been influenced by him to seek the countenance of Absalom, in order that under any change of fortune destructive of the re-establishment of David and confirmatory of the predominance of Absalom, Ziba might have a Friend at court, stood prominently forward, of his own free will (though he had before been the Shelterer of the fallen House of Saul), to give succour to him, whom Saul had denounced, and had unceasingly persecuted as his Enemy; and that too at a season when the absence of such succour might have plunged the Object of it in irretrievable ruin. Nor was the third Contributor of this most seasonable bounty to David, from his extreme age and the consequent probability of his shrinking from the exertion of taking part with Either of the conflicting Powers, in circumstances such as might render it probable, that assistance would so effectually be afforded by him to David; when the consequence of it, in the event of Absalom's success, might not improbably be, that his grey hairs would be brought with sorrow to the grave. But the exalted character of David won him love and admiration and support from even Aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel; though those of his own Household had raised their heel against his peace.

"And David numbered the People that were with him, and set Captains of Thousands and Captains of Hundreds over them. And David sent forth a third Part of the People under the hand of Joab, and a third Part under the hand of Abishai, the Son of Zeruiah, Joab's Brother, and a third Part under the hand of Ittai, the Gittite. And the King said unto the People, I will surely go forth with you myself also!' But the People answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us: neither, if half of us die, will they care for us; but now Thou art worth ten Thousand of us therefore now it is better that Thou succour us out of the City.' And the King said unto them, 'What seemeth you best I will do.' And the King stood by the gate side, and all the People came out by Hundreds and by Thousands. And the King commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, 'Deal gently for my sake with the young Man, even with Absalom!' And all the People heard when the King gave all the Cap tains charge concerning Absalom. So the People went out into the field against Israel and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim; where the People of Israel were slain before the Servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand Men: for the battle was there scattered over the face d all the Country; and the wood devoured more People that day than the sword devoured."-2 Sam. xviii. 1 to 8.

The consummate military skill of David seems at all times conspicuous; and notwithstanding the hope, that must have been in him, that the Arm of The LORD would be Put forth in his favour, yet does he put forth all his faculties of mind and body to work out, by DIVINE Permission, his own salvation. To that end he marshals his Forces, and appoints over them Commanders of the most tried experience, offering himself to take his part in the awful conflict; for personal valour was, not less than military skill, a feature in his admirable and exemplary character. But his People's love towards him was too ardent to allow of his unnecessarily risking his Personal safety; they urged him, therefore, to remain with the Reserve, that if the tide of battle went against his Army in the field, he might, in the City, stand a siege, and preserve himself for the more auspicious day of victory. For his sake they had already, it is true, endured much, hungry and thirsty and faint and weary, they had well nigh perished in the Wilderness, had it not been for succours that might not in future with certainty be calculated upon; and had they but surrendered up David to Absalom, they would have been allowed to return to their homes in peace, and have been generally, perhaps, reinstated in their former possessions and employments; but their sense of the duties they owed to their beloved Master, whom they now freely served, forbade this; and so devoted were they to that service, that for the advancement of it, and in furtherance of their object of effectuating his deliverance, they tender the sacrifice of their Lives by Thousands, holding that but a becoming offering of patriotism for the protection of so good and gifted a King. With what impressions of gratification must David have received this noble and ingenuous mark of his People's devotedness to his cause! How palliative of his sufferings must have been his recurrence to that past conduct of his, which had so worked upon the best passions of so Many of the brightest Ornaments of his Country, and the most zealous Observers of the sacred rites and cherished Precepts of his GOD! But still the natural affection was not to be entirely absorbed either in self-love, or in those attachments, which were thus so powerfully excited in him; the tie of Parental endearment was not to be broken: and amidst every preparation for a war, on which so much was to depend, in which the Lives of Thousands had been self-offered to purchase his ransom from the state of imminent peril awaiting him, in a war wholly attributable to the impious and parricidal conduct of his own Son, David asks, with all the tenderest feelings of a Father, to have the life of that his rebellious and unnatural Child spared,— a Man, in the comparison with whom, as far as intrinsic merit could weigh, the life of the meanest Individual among David's Followers could not fairly be put in competition.

"And Absalom met the Servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away: and a certain Man saw it, and told Joab, and said, 'Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.' And Joab said unto the Man that told him, ‘And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver and a girdle.' And the Man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the King's Son; for in our hearing the King charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that None touch the young Man, Absalom ;' otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the King; and thou thyself Wouldest have set thyself against me.' Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee.' And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom; while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. And ten young Men, that bare Joab's armour, compassed about, and smote Absalom and slew him."2 Sam. xviii. 9 to 15.

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Destructive as was the wood by its pits or otherwise, to the Men of Absalom, yet was its work of destruction, as instrumental to The DIVINE Decree of Deliverance to David, not thereby complete; the haughty and ambitious spirit of Absalom itself was yet to be sacrificed to its power. Cursed be he, that hangeth on a tree!" (Deut. xxi. 23), was one of the maxims of the Pentateuch; and cursed indeed, in his own contemplation, must have been the folly of Absalom when, raising him to such a bad pre-eminence among his panic-stricken and overthrown Followers, he found himself destitute and helpless before his victorious Foes: for faint, indeed, must have been his hope of rescue, and still fainter his expectation of pardon from so injured a Father and so insulted a King; but the termination of his career, so profligately run, was Decreed in the Councils of The MOST HIGH. But before this closing scene of a bad life is further contemplated, it is of absolute justice to pay the tribute of praise to the instance of noble disinterestedness and unshaken loyalty, which was manifested in the conduct of the common Soldier, who first communicated to the General the peculiar and helpless situation of Absalom. Money and rank (of which latter the girdle, it is presumed, was a badge) were offered him to hasten a death, which an absence of all relief from such a situation, might bring on only more painfully and lingeringly, and which might be easily, to Man's limited vision, attributed to the ordinary chances of war and the indiscriminate assault of flying Numbers: but the virtue of loyalty towards a good and estimable King is not confined to rank or station: the lowest Soldier in an Army may be influenced by it, and in that influence will find more of inward satisfaction than the highest rank can intrinsically yield. Had this conduct of an Inferior, so calculated for reproof to the opposing and sanguinary wish of Joab, been but acceptable to him, it might have proved profitable towards securing him from the offence of bloody-mindedness, and spared him the pangs, which, in the Great Account, will arise to the Soul on the recollection of its having been the willing Victim of such a merciless disposition. And not only did the Soldier remind Joab of David's earnest request to spare Absalom's life, rejecting himself the tempting offer made him under circumstances so favourable to concealment, but he bore testimony, at the same time, to the deep discernment and penetration of David's mind, and thus proved David to possess the love of his Soldiers equally for his wisdom as for his valour; but the pride and revengeful spirit of Joab was not to be subdued by the honest virtue and faithful loyalty of One so beneath him in rank; yet could he not find argument sophistically to overcome the reasoning of One so much his Inferior: his will was the law he alone consulted, and that will, inflated by the fierce breath of vengeance, perhaps, at the remembered injury done by Absalom to his property in burning his field-crops, dictated destruction. He might have thought, "there will be no peace in Israel while Absalom lives," and so justified to himself the resolve to cut short that life; and Absalom's doom was sealed in death. In that death what a lesson is offered to the Votaries of ambition! How different were the hopes of Absalom, when, flushed with his early success, he sallied forth from Jerusalem, bent on a fond Father's destruction! He, who might have inherited the Kingdom of Israel, in laying claim to it before the time of succession, influenced by principles so at variance with the Laws of GOD and Man, lost not only a corruptible, but, not improbably, also an incorruptible Crown. Had one of the earliest Precepts taught him, "Honour thy Father, that thy days may be long in the Land, which The LORD thy GOD Giveth thee," been but cherished in his heart, how different would have been his life, how different too his death!

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And Joab blew the trumpet, and the People returned from pursuing after Israel for Joab held back the People. And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the Wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him : and all Israel fled, every One to his tent. Now Absalom, in his lifetime, had