studiously withhold from him the knowledge of his intentions. Of this intelligence however, from whatever quarter derived, and to which he very justly gave the fullest credit, David avails himself, and instantly flies to his GOD for His Merciful Guidance under this further difficulty. But the conduct of David, from the nature of the inquiry he causes to be made, namely, whether the Men of Keilah would deliver him up to Saul, should seem to imply, that, instead of continuing a Fugitive from the arms of his own Countrymen, however unnaturally and unjustifiably directed against him, he would now have opposed them, if the Keilahites would not in all the baseness of ingratitude have delivered him up, who had once, and so recently, delivered them from destruction, and was again ready to afford them his protection; but finding himself likely to be shamefully betrayed by those who had been so greatly benefited by him, he again seeks safety in flight, since GOD had seemingly so Appointed it; neither trusting in the vigour of his own arm, nor to that assistance which he had so justly merited, and which, to a mind less free from presumption than David, and with less of experience in Human counsel, unsanctified by pious resignation, might have seemed justifiable. How different was the conduct of Saul, and what an awful instance does he afford of the extent to which selfdeception will lead the Soul, when the heart is not right with God. With injustice and murder in his mind, and just reeking from the scarcely congealed blood of innocent Thousands, he blasphemously assumes that "The LORD is on his side, Can there be a more fearful state of selfand will Deliver David into his hands." deceivableness than this, or one in which the third Commandment is in spirit more obviously broken? And yet how Many of us there are, who outwardly assume, in the arrogance of spiritual pride, that The LORD doth not Disapprove, or will not Heed, nay, that He will even Sanction acts, which Our own conscience, if it were not seared as with a red hot iron, could not but condemn! By checking the uprisings of an accusing conscience through a continuance in sin (that inward Monitor which is Given unto All as an Emanation from The SPIRIT of Grace to Keep us from all evil and to Guide us unto all righteousness), we make that conscience become a falsely excusing one, leading us, like a lying Spirit in the mouth of false Prophets, to our utter destruction. Let us regard, therefore, the first impulses of conscience as the Gracious and Friendly and Merciful Dictates of The SPIRIT of Truth, and follow whithersoever It Guides, and stop where It Appoints, as readily as we would obey that which would insure us the immediate possession of every bliss that the heart could piously long for; since the attainment, as well as the loss of Heaven, is a work of gradation, and every step we take, whether it be right or wrong, may lead us nearer either to joy or to sorrow eternal.

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And David abode in the Wilderness, in strongholds, and remained in a Mountain in the Wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day; but GOD Delivered him not into his hand. And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life; and David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in a Wood. And Jonathan, Saul's Son, arose and went to David into the Wood, and strengthened his hand in GOD: and he said unto him, 'Fear not! for the hand of Saul, my Father, shall not find thee; and thou shalt be King over Israel, and I shall be Next unto thee; and that also Saul, my Father, knoweth.' And they Two made a covenant before The LORD. And David abode in the Wood; and Jonathan went to his house." -1 Sam. xxiii. 14, 18.

The friendship of Jonathan for David was as persevering as was the spirit of his Father persecuting. Though withholding himself from resisting the power of his Father, Jonathan knows that a Throne upheld by injustice must, ere long, fall; and relying on the Sure Promises of GOD, that He would Build up the House of David in an Acceptable Season, though himself the presumptive Heir to the Crown, yet he contents himself with seeking a Seondary Situation in the

Kingdom. At the peril of his Father's further displeasure, and as a consequence, at the probable hazard of his own life, Jonathan keeps up a communication with David, and follows him to the depths of a Wilderness to pour comfort into his Soul; and, as a Ministering Angel Sent from HEAVEN, to awaken and reanimate his confidence in the LORD of All Power and Might, he sets before David in vision, as it were, the sure Reward of his faith, avowing his full persuasion that, Outcast as David then was, the time would assuredly come, when the King's Son would glory to be deemed worthy to be Second to him. What a lustre does this conduct of Jonathan throw on religious friendship, and how prominently does it hold forth the value of moderation in Princes, and still more the prudence of submission and subserviency to The DIVINE Will. No Earthly Consolation could have been greater than that thus administered to David; no conduct could have been more replete with pleasurable reflection, and the heart's cheering approval, than that of Jonathan. Thus is it in the power of every One almost to strengthen the hand and support the feeble knees of Others by leading them to trust in The LORD of All, and, hoping in His Mercy, in patience to possess their Souls. "Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strongholds in the Wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshinion? Now therefore, O King, come down according to all the desire of thy Soul to come down! and our part shall be to deliver him into the King's hand.' And Saul said, 'Blessed be ye of The LORD! for ye have compassion on me. Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place, where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly see therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places, where he hideth himself; and come ye again to me with the certainty! and I will go with you; and it shall come to pass, if he be in the Land, that I will search him out throughout all the Thousands of Judah.'"-1 Sam. xxiii. 19, 23.

*

Human policy guided and Human judgment may pardon the conduct of the Ziphites, for they had not, like the men of Keilah, owed in an especial manner deliverance from an enemy to David; and the fatal example of Nob, as incurring Saul's displeasure for having seemingly supported David, was before them. The salvation of one's own Life and of the Lives of one's Wives and Little Ones, of all that is dear to us as connected with this Life, are powerful incentives to some disregard of the laws of hospitality. It is a hard thing to judge such a cause, unless there can fairly be imputed a knowledge that the Favour of The MOST HIGH had been Transferred from Saul to David, in which case the Ziphites were then leaguing with an Enemy to righteousness against HEAVEN, seeking the fleeting favour of an earthly Potentate, who could neither save nor destroy, unless it were Permitted him from Above, rather than studying the Will of The KING of Kings, Who hath Power to Cast both Body and Soul into Hell. And if such were the weak and impious policy of the Ziphites, verily they had their reward; but their sin in seeking thus the praise of Man, rather than of GOD, will surely find them out, and bring confusion on them in that awful Day of Account, when all hearts shall be open, and a Righteous JUDGE shall Pronounce on all the workings thereof, however hitherto falsely coloured or concealed. But whatever were the real motives of the Ziphites, we have in this passage a fresh instance of the dreadful deceivableness of sin in the imprecation of the DIVINE Blessing by One with so impious a purpose in his heart. Saul's subtle policy led him to endeavour to impress on Others the persuasion, that his was the injured cause, and that the destruction of David was an act of justice to his Country's King. But his heart, had he dispassionately and unprejudicedly consulted it, would have told him otherwise, and would have told him also that his very prayer must have been turned into sin.

"And they arose and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his Men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Plain on the south of Jeshimon. Saul also and his Men went to seek him. And they told David; wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the Wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the Wilderness of Maon: and Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his Men on that side of the mountain; and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his Men compassed David and his Men round about to take them. But there came a Messenger unto Saul, saying, 'Haste thee, and come! for the Philistines have invaded the Land.' Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines; therefore they called that Place Sela-hammahlekoth."-1 Sam. xxiii. 24, 28.

Such is the infatuated blindness of jealousy or envy, which, influencing all the energies of the mind that yields to it towards the attainment of its object, even at the expense of sacrificing, in so doing, a true Friend, neglects to provide against the assaults of a deep, and rancorous, and vigilant Enemy. And so is it when the heart, devoted to the sensual pleasures and ambitious objects of this Life, neglects to provide against that fearful Day of Account, which comes in its Appointed though unlooked for season, and sweeps away, as a Thief in the night, Many, who then, when but too late, will weep and lament that they had not watched against their Spiritual Adversary, and armed themselves by a suitable preparation of heart for the conflict, to which they are awfully and suddenly Called. By such seemingly natural means, as on this occasion operated to the Salvation of David, The LORD Saveth Such as are His. And in like manner, by the invisible but effectual influence of Grace it is, that GOD, of His Mercy through CHRIST JESUS, by the Power of The HOLY SPIRIT, Sendeth Deliverance from spiritual dangers, when all other hope of help hath failed.

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And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strongholds at En-gedi. And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, “Behold, David is in the Wilderness of En-gedi.' Then Saul took three thousand chosen Men out of all Israel, and went to see David and his Men upon the rocks of the wild goats: and he came to the sheep-cotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet. And David and his Men remained in the sides of the cave. And the Men of David said unto him, 'Behold the day of which The LORD Said unto thee, Behold, I will Deliver thine Enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee!" Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily."-1 Sam. xxiii. 29, xxiv. 1,4. Acquainted by secret communication with all the hostile purposes of Saul, and knowing him to be again bent on his destruction, David has presented to him an opportunity, which placed his Persecutor altogether in his power, and laid his life even open to David's mercy. To avail himself of such an opportunity of ridding himself of so relentless an Enemy, David is exhorted by his Followers as of the Appointment of The MOST HIGH, The LORD of All, and Whose Providence is over All, to destroy the Anointed of The LORD to steal on his acknowledged King, in the unguarded hour of sleep, and to send his guilty Soul, without one moment's time for repentance, to its awful account: but these Counsellors savoured not of the Things That are of The SPIRIT. David, however, more submissively yielding to the Benign Influence of That HEAVENLY POWER, Which Teaches forbearance and patience and the love of mercy, strove to overcome evil with good, and forbore to hurt even a hair of Saul's head, contenting himself with only taking a part of his garment as a proof that Saul had been altogether in his power.

"And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt: and he said unto his Men, 'The LORD Forbid that I should

do this thing unto my Master, The LORD'S Anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the Anointed of The LORD.' So David stayed his Servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul."1 Sam. xxiv. 5 to first part of 7. Having checked the passion of revenge in his own Spirit, David now exerted himself to arrest its progress in the minds of his Followers; and so far from encouraging in them a disposition of retaliation for the injuries Saul had inflicted on him, and the still greater calamities he had in contemplation to visit upon him, and in order to keep down any enterprising spirit against Saul's life, David manifested before them contrition for having even approached The LORD'S Anointed so irreverently, as to have cut off but the skirt of his garment; so anxious was he to inculcate amongst All, who were under his influence, and to illustrate it by practical demonstration, the highest reverence for the Appointments and Ordinances of his GOD.

"But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way. David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, 'My Lord, the King!' And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself. And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou Men's words, saying, 'Behold, David seeketh thy hurt!' Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that The Lord had Delivered thee to-day into mine hand in the cave: and Some bade me kill thee; but mine eye spared thee, and I said, 'I will not put forth mine hand against my Lord: for he is The LORD's Anointed.' Moreover, my Father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand! for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see, that there is neither evil, nor transgression in mine hand; and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my Soul to take it. THE LORD Judge between me and thee! and The LORD Avenge me of thee! but mine hand shall not be upon thee: as saith the proverb of the Ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the Wicked;' but mine hand shall not be upon thee. After whom is the King of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog! after a flea! THE LORD therefore Be JUDGE! and Judge between me and thee, and See, and Plead my cause, and Deliver me out of thine hand!'"-1 Sam. xxiv. last part of 7 to 15.

So little conscious was David of giving rise to jealousy in the mind of Saul, that it seems he attributed the persecuting spirit exhibited towards him by the Latter, to the evil machinations of Others in poisoning the mind of Saul with untruths respecting him. And most judiciously should it seem did he resort to means the most likely to produce in the mind of Saul a contrary impression, and to convince him, by conduct as well as reasoning, that there was no evil design towards him in David's heart. In the fulness of a devout Soul he appeals to The JUDGE of Quick and Dead to Decide between them, adding the assurance that he would not himself raise his hand against Saul, but rely on the Providence of GOD for Protection. David then proceeds to set forcibly in contrast the relative situation of Saul and himself, urging on Saul the consideration of his high and exalted station as King over the Chosen People of The LORD, and likening himself to the most helpless and the meanest of the Subjects of Creation, in order thence to produce a conviction in Saul's mind of the degradation to which he was exposing himself by engaging in such hostility, as well as the utter inutility that must result from it in a temporal point of view, even in the event of its being ultimately successful, to the destruction of One so guiltless and harmless as David. From hence may be drawn some practical lessons of selfabasement, and resignation to the Will of GOD, which, in every situation of life, may be found highly salutary and useful in their application to every Subject of The KING of Kings, with Whom are all Power, Might, Majesty, and Dominion, now and ever.

"And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, 'Is this thy voice, my Son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I ; for thou hast rewarded me good; whereas I have rewarded thee evil and thou hast shewed this day, how that thou hast dealt well with me; forasmuch as when The LORD håd Delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not: for if a Man find his Enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore The LORD Reward thee Good, for that thou hast done unto me this day! And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be King, and that the Kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand! Swear now, therefore, unto me by The LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my Seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my Father's House!' And David sware unto Saul."-1 Sam. xxiv. 16 to first part of 22.

The force of truth is indeed mighty. On a heart desperately wicked and stony, as that of Saul, its influence was, for a season, irresistible, and the mag. nanimity of David, amidst such unmerited persecution, cut Saul to the quick and melted him to tears. Thus did David's conduct tend, as far as in him lay, to convert the Wicked from the error of his ways; and had the sorrow of Saul been a godly sorrow, and his repentance such as needed not to be repented of, his sins, though they were red as scarlet, would have been remembered no more. However faithless Saul had been in the performance of his own vows to walk righteously before The LORD, and to do justice and to love mercy, as His Vicegerent upon Earth; yet had he confidence in the faithfulness of David's vows, and seeing that The LORD Was with David, Saul exacts from him a solemn pledge of forbearance, and compassion, and protection towards his Descendants; still influenced by worldlymindedness, and more desirous of the praise of Men than of the Favour of GOD; not considering that by righteousness and holiness alone are Thrones established, and Crowns of Glory obtained, which are Eternal in the Heavens.

"And Saul went home: but David and his Men gat them up into the hold."-1 Sam. xxiv., last part of 22. However seemingly sincere at the moment Saul's sorrow may have been, David, it appears, was unwilling to trust to the constancy of his conversion; and, therefore, still kept himself from the power of Saul; though in doing so he must have been severed from the chief Objects of his affection and regard-his Wife, and home, and Friends. Saul should have publicly acknowledged his injustice, have restored David to his honours and his office, and have received Jonathan and him to his bosom, as his Soul's and Kingdom's Counsellors. This would have been to have manifested a true repentance, which is naturally and necessarily followed up by amendment of conduct, where opportunity is afforded of giving effect to such an altered disposition of the heart; for without this a mere transient sorrow is fruitless and unprofitable, as rain upon a rock, and will, indeed, only the more condemn us when GOD shall Rise in Judgment and Reward every One according to his deeds.

"And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him; and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the Wilderness of Paran. And there was a Man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the Man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. Now the name of the Man was Nabal, and the name of his Wife Abigail: and she was a Woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance; but the Man was churlish, and evil in his doings: and he was of the House of Caleb. And David heard in the Wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep: and David sent out ten young Men, and David said unto the young Men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name : and thus shall ye say to him, that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine House, and peace be