the Bethlemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely perfon, and the Lord is with him.

HERE We fee to what a height of reputation David's endowments had raised him, even in his retirement, from the time that the Spirit of the Lord came upon him: his fame grew, as Horace tells us that of Marcellus did, like a tree long hid in the shade, which was at full growth as foon as it was seen. And that there was fomething very extraordinary in the endowments of David, appears evidently from the last clause of this recommendation, And the Lord is with him: plainly implying, that he was highly favoured and eminently protected by Almighty God.

IN the next place, we may obferve the artful address of this recommendation, which paints out David, tho' yet a youth, as now in his prime both of valour and prudence. And to account for this, the reader is to know, that valour and strength were the first and most advantageous recommendations to the favour of Saul, who (like fome princes of our age) piqued himself upon bringing

men

men of that character into his service (1 Sam. xiv. 5.): And when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.

IN the next place, Saul, we know, was troubled with an evil fpirit, under whose influence he was, doubtlefs, guilty of many and great extravagancies; it was not fit that a raw, giddy youth fhould be witness to these; and therefore David is recommended as a prudent, and a valiant man: as a man of prudence, he was fitter to be trusted with the fecret of Saul's extravagancies in his fits; and as a valiant man, he was more likely to bear with the infirmities of a brave man, as Saul was; and therefore the occafion required, that not only his character, but his age alfo fhould now be raised as much as poffible. Nor did David belye the recommendation made of him; for the facred historian affures us, that he not only approved, but endeared himself to Saul, and was made his armour-bearer.

THUS was David called to court, and a commerce with the world, and gradually prepared and fitted for the great part he was to act in it, by the pure appointment of the divine Providence, without any forecast or D

COE

contrivance either of his own, or of his friends.

How long David continued at court, and when and why he returned to his father, and his flock, is no-where told us. His fituation with Saul feems not altogether so well fitted for the views of a great genius. Doubtless, he found himself formed for great things; and, poffibly, with all his humility about him, he was not long fatisfied with his condition and character; and preferred, in Cafar's way of thinking, to be first among the fhepherds, than laft, or even low, in Saul's train. Or, poffibly, Saul's favour (for he was fufficiently inconftant) might have abated with his diftemper; and therefore, when he found himself tolerably recovered, and his thoughts were wholly taken up with preparations for the Philiftine war, Jee might eafily have redeemed David's attendance, by fubftituting three other fons in the fervice of Saul.

BUT whatever the occafion of his leaving the court might be, it is evident, it was not without the special appointment of Providence; whose purposes required, that when David fhould next make his appearance

there,

there, it should be under a more advantacharacter than that of the most excellent musician; which foon after came to

geous

pafs.

CHAP. IV.

DAVID'S Duel with GOLIA H.

H

OW long David had now been returned to his father and his flock, when the Philiftine war broke out, can nowhere be clearly collected; but I think it pretty evident, that he returned, upon his father's fending his three eldest fons into the fervice of Saul: for when we are told, that David was the youngest fon, and the three eldest followed Saul; the facred historian immediately subjoins, But David went and returned from Saul, to feed his father's jheep at Bethlehem.

THE Occafion of this war is unknown: probably, the Philiftines were tempted to engage in it by the fame of Saul's lunacy, which would leave him ill able to conduct it, to advantage.

As little are we informed of the continuance of this war, or in what year of it to fix the era of the Philiftine champion's challenge; we are only told, that when David was directed by his father to go to the camp of Saul, with fome neceffary provifions for his brethren, and a prefent of ten cheeses for the captain of their thousand, he rose up early in the morning, and left his flock with a keeper, and took and went as fefe had commanded him, and came to the camp juft as both armies were going to engage: He came to the trench, says the text, as the hoft was going forth to fight, and shouted for the battle. This found foon inflamed his manly spirit with more than common ardour, to fee, and to share in the engagement. He left his carriage in the care of the officer who guarded the baggage, and ran into the army, and faluted his brethren; and as he talked with them, (both armies being now drawn up in battle array) the Philiftine champion, Goliah of Gath, who, it feems, had now braved the Ifraelite army for forty days together, ftept out as ufual, to urge his challenge, which he did with a loud and terrible voice, the tenour of which was as follows:

THAT,