midst of the house. From hence it is evident, that the expreffion of prophefying is appli cable to the influence either of evil or good fpirits; and it is applied, both by Plato and Plutarch, to the agitations of the Sibyls, and other enthusiasts, who were, as the Heathens expreffed it, poffeffed by the god fo that the very Heathens afcribed fuch agitations to a fupernatural agency.

THUS much is certain: Saul's mind was now disturbed to fuch a degree, that David's mufick had no more power over him *. This quickly appeared; for as he played to calm him, Saul determined upon his deftruction, and, watching his opportunity, with a javelin in his hand, darted it at him : which David (with a felicity exceeding that of Dioxippus) twice declined: then, being fufficiently warned of his danger, he avoided Saul's prefence.

SAUL'S envy now began to be haunted with terror, that a man fo excellent at his weapons as he was, fhould now twice mifs his aim, and at fo near a distance, had

*To this, poffibly, may allude that paffage in the lviiith Pfalm, which refufe to hear the voice of the charmer, &c.

fome

something in it very extraordinary! And it was very natural for him to think this could not be, without a remarkable interpofition of Providence in David's behalf. Such an interpofition must be for fome extraordinary end. And what end could that fo probably be, as his defignation to royalty? He knew his kingdom was given away to a better man than himself (the prophet had exprefly declared that): And who was fo probably this better man, as the man whom all Ifrael preferred to him?

FULL of this fear, he removes David from him, by an honourable exile: he made him captain over a thousand: but where, or at what distance, is not faid. All that we know, is, that here also David behaved himself with remarkable prudence, and good conduct; which, inftead of reconciling Saul to him, ferved only to inflame his fears the Wherefore (fays the text) when Saul faw that he behaved himself very wifely, he was afraid of him : but all Ifrael and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them. He headed them in all their expeditions with a bravery and a conduct equally distinguished: greatest in

com

mand,

mand, yet greater in his example! which naturally won the affections of the people to him; infomuch that it might be faid with great truth, of him, and his mafter Saul, what was afterwards obferv'd of Germanicus and Tiberius, that the one reigned in the hearts of the people, the other only in the provinces.

IT were hard to paint out the diftempered ftate of Saul's mind, under the continued feries of David's fucceffes; the fight rack'd him but at the fame time he had fagacity enough to derive fome confolation from it. David, it is true, was often fuccessful; but it did not follow that he must always be so: he had prudence, prowefs, and conduct; but all these are often difappointed and defeated in their beft-laid fchemes. What means then fo likely to deftroy him, as flattering him in his good fortune, and inflaming his vanity to yet higher and bolder attempts? What human heart is proof against flattery well conducted! and what fo likely to point it right, as the profpect of the king's alliance? And now Merab, the king's eldest daughter, is promised to him in marriage, pn condition of his exerting all his fortitude

in the defence of his mafter and his country, against the enemies of GOD and them.

THIS was the bait laid for his deftruction: Had Saul killed David when he attempted him with his javelin, his madness might have pleaded his defence. Nor was David then fo thoroughly established in the affections of the people; fuch an attempt must now be attended with more hazard: nor could it be acquitted of deliberate defign; and therefore this other method was fixed upon : And Saul faid unto David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife; only be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord's battles: for Saul faid, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.

DAVID's answer to this tempting promise, is to me, I own, no ill prefumption of his being fwayed by fomething more than human! And, indeed, what less than fome heavenly influence could fet the foul of an obfcure youth, fuddenly exalted, fo far above the reach of the highest and strongest temptations! He did not, indeed, decline the honour

* She was due to him before (fays the learned Doctor Trapp) by promise, for killing Goliah; yet he that twice

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honour proposed to him; that, prudence and decency forbad; but he did more: instead of claiming, or even accepting it as his right, he declined all appearance of pretending to it on the score of merit : And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father's family in Ifrael, that I should be fon-in-law to the king? It is true, he had often hazarded his life in the fervice of his prince but what was fuch a life as his, compared with the honour of fuch an alliance ?

How far he merited this honour by his subsequent behaviour, is no-where particularly told us; and, indeed, was unneceffary to be told, being fufficiently implied in those characters of prudence, wisdom, and valour, which distinguished his whole conduct. However, we are informed, that when the time came for conferring it, Saul most shamefully violated his promife, and gave Merab to another, to Adriel the Meholathite.

THIS indignity and disappointment seem to be attended with all the circumftances that could heighten both. Probably, the

enquired into the reward of that enterprise before he undertook it, never demanded it after that atchievement.

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