same time, made to ourselves and our own habits of thought and action, of Life and conversation: Since They were Written under DIVINE Inspiration equally for our Instruction and Admonition. And when we know These Things, (and so manifest are They for such Great and Gracious and Eternal Purposes, that he who runs may read Them ;) happy, and only so, shall we be, if we act upon Them. And, on the contrary, wretched and miserable, and so everlastingly shall we be, if, as we have means and opportunity, and according to our ability in our several circumstances and situations, we regard Them not. ** St. Luke, in conclusion of his Gospel Record, after a like description of CHRIST's Benediction to His Disciples, and His Ascension in their Presence, adds, "And they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and were continually in the Temple, praising and blessing GOD. Amen!"-Chap. xxiv. 52, 53. Such is the effect of Faith; such the fruit of Holiness. There is a Joy unspeakable and Full of Glory, a Peace, that passeth the unspiritualized Man's understanding, a Hope, that almost realizes the Happiness of HEAVEN, which belong to them who, from their hearts, believe in the Necessity and Sufficiency of CHRIST's Mediation, and who, in submissiveness to The DIVINE Will, and in subjection to CHRIST's Authority, go the Way That He hath Appointed for them; neither Principalities nor Powers, neither derision nor scorn, neither evil report nor malicious persecution, neither pains nor bonds, nor even Death itself inducing them to turn away either to the right or to the left from such faith and obedience unto Holiness. St. John, or his Disciple, to whom he confidingly delivered the manuscript of his Narrative of The Gospel, terminates his Record of The Gospel by this solemn verification of It, and with an assertion of the unnumbered and numberless Works and Manifestations of the Wisdom and Goodness of the Soul-Loving JESUS, saying, "There are also Many Other Things, Which JESUS Did, the Which, if They should be written every One, I suppose that even the World itself could not contain the Books, that should be written. Amen!"-John xxi. 25. Thus difficult does it seem to the Evangelist's mind to select, from So Rich and Exhaustless a Mine, the Treasures Which should do the fullest Justice to The DIVINE Mission of The SON of GOD. But happily, Enough is thus Furnished, under The HOLY SPIRIT's Guidance, to convict the heart of sin; to stir up the spirit of repentance ; to awaken a sense of hopelessness of DIVINE Favour, but through The Great and Gracious Peace Offering Made in the Mystery of the Condescending Merey and Love of The SON of THE MOST HIGH. And justly is The Gospel Interpreted as The Blessed Tidings of Reconciliation and Everlasting Peace unto All, who, with meek hearts and firm faith, so receive and apply It. Let us, therefore, "hold fast the faith, as There Proposed, in the Unity of The SPIRIT, and in the Bond of Peace; adding to that faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience Godliness, and to Godliness Brotherly kindness, and to Brotherly kindness charity;" that, believing in the Mercies of The FATHER, our CREATOR, and trusting in the Merits of The SON, our REDEEMER, and yielding to the Guidance of The HOLY SPIRIT, our SANCTIFIER, we may have the Assurance of Eternal Salvation and Sanctification. Thus will not CHRIST have Suffered for us in vain ; but we shall be Restored to the Likeness of His NATURE, and may cherish the hope of sharing the Riches of the Fulness of His Favour in Time and in Eternity. Amen! So be it, in Thy Mercy, and in Thy SON's Love, O LORD GOD ALMIGHTY! THE END. 765 INDEX TO THE SCRIPTURAL HISTORIES OF ABRAHAM AND DAVID. SECOND EDITION. CONTENTS OF THE HISTORY OF ABRAHAM.— Introductory Remarks on the Connection of Abraham and David, both Prophetically Abraham's birth and marriage Removal from Ur to Canaan The ALMIGHTY's Communing with Abraham, and His Signal Benediction. His piety and mode of worship Address in adjusting a strife between Lot's and his Servants His military courage and skill in the rescue of Lot from captivity, and forbearance Dedication of a Tenth of the Spoil to the Minister of GOD. Intercession with GOD for a lineal Heir, lest the Steward should succeed to his effects Abraham's belief in The DIVINE Promise, and The ALMIGHTY's Estimate thereof Abraham's mode of relieving his Wife Sarah from the offensive manner of Hagar, His prayer for Ishmael, his Son by Hagar The Renewed Promise to and Covenant with Abraham, and the Appointed Change Circumcision instituted Abraham entertains The SON of GOD and attendant Angels DIVINE Testimony to Abraham's Family and Household arrangements Supplication to have the Impending Judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah Averted Birth of Isaac: his Circumcision Hagar's mockery of Sarah on becoming a Mother; Sarah's resentment; effect on Abraham's treaty of peace with Abimelech Abraham's remonstrance on the violence shown by Abimelech's Servante The great Trial of Abraham's faith and obedience unto Holiness, when Called upon to sacrifice his Son Isaac The progress towards the Appointed Place of Offering Recall of The DIVINE Injunction Substitution of a ram for an offering DIVINE Estimate of such obedience, and Promise of endless Generations to Abraham, 3232 should Spring འ Its prominent connection with That of The MESSIAH DIVINE Appointment of him to be King on Saul's disaffection to GOD's Command Reflections thereon Saul's mental malady consequent on GOD's Rejection of him The Communication of DIVINE Grace to David; Its Consistency with Free War between the Israelites and Philistines Goliath's defiance of the Armies of Israel David's mission from his Father to his Brothers in the Army David's challenge of Goliath, and his successful combat with the Giant David's modesty on the proposal made him Affection entertained for David by Michal, Saul's other Daughter Saul's malignant purpose in turning this incident to David's destruction Proposed dowry required from David, endangering his life in a conflict with David's accomplishment of the object stipulated for by Saul, and consequent marriage Michal's love for David, and Saul's increased fear and envy of him. Saul's effort to induce Jonathan to sacrifice David, and Jonathan's proof of devoted Further success against the Philistines Saul casts a javelin at David, which he avoids, and escapes Michal's contrivance to defeat Saul's purpose to sacrifice David to his jealousy David goes to Samuel at Ramah Saul informed thereof Saul sends Messengers and goes himself to Ramah: Prophetic Influence produced David removes from Ramah, and has an interview with Jonathan David's Expostulation at Saul's unmerited treatment of him: Jonathan's promise Jonathan's pledge to David to give him every countenance and succour in his power, Plan suggested by David to Jonathan to sound Saul, by Jonathan's permission for Covenant between Jonathan and David of perpetual friendship between them and Jonathan arranges to give secret intelligence to David of Saul's feeling on David's Result of the first day of the Festival On the second day, when Saul informed by Jonathan, the violence of the King's 47 47, 48 Jonathan's fulfilment of his promise to David Affecting interview between Jonathan and David, and the piety it exhibiteth David's flight to Achish, King of Gath, and feigns madness to escape being treated His escape to the Čave of Adullam David's Brethren join him, and about 400 Supporters: their character His intercession to have protection given to His Father and Mother by the King of David's removal to the Land of Judah by the warning of the Prophet Gad ment Doeg's betrayal of David's reception by Ahimelech and the Priest of Nob Saul's summons of Ahimelech and his Household: the accusation and defence Fell destruction both of the Priests and of the Inhabitants and City of Nob David's Followers beset him with their fears; and David again seeks for and obtains David's rescue of Keilah, and acquisition of great spoil David having fears that the Inhabitants of Keilah might betray him to Saul, David in the Wilderness of Ziph: Interview there between Jonathan and David: David removes to En-gedi, where Saul seeks him; but is himself surprised in the Saul, stung with Self-condemnation, acknowledges David's righteousness; proclaims Saul's return; but David's continuance at En-gedi 3 E 2 Death of Samuel, and his burial, and the general lamentation thereat wife Abigail: On their sheep-shearing festival David sends a Deputation to Nabal's stern and insulting rejection of David's embassage Abigail's wise conduct on the occasion, in her personal intercession with David to Abigail cautiously apprizes Nabal of the imminent danger that had been averted David's prophetic view of the fatal Destiny awaiting Saul, and of his own Deliver- David's remonstrance with Abner, the Captain of Saul's Host, for leaving the King David's expostulation with Saul for his unjustifiable hostility Saul's confession of his error; he pronounces a blessing on David David's continued fear of Saul leads him to seek refuge in Philistia, with Achish He obtains a grant from Achish of the City of Ziklag David's subtle invasion of the Geshurites, Gezerites, and Amalekites, and false repre- dence War between the Philistines and the Israelites renewed; and Achish purposes On the death of Samuel, and on Saul's having put away the Wizards of the Land, Battle between the Philistines and the Israelites in Mount Gilboa: Jonathan and his |