It was giving a pre-eminence to the youthful, and hitherto obscure stranger, which the pride of the monarch could not brook. Rage took possession of his breast. He was unable to conceal it. He gave vent to his agitated feelings; They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?"

Already the rejected monarch seems to be anticipating who is to supplant him. He had been told by the prophet Samuel, on one occasion of flagrant transgression, that the Lord had rent the kingdom from him, and had given it to a neighbor of his that was better than he. Does he not begin to see who that person is? In the great favor which the God of Israel bestows upon the youthful son of Jesse; in the wonderful victory that he has been enabled to achieve over Goliath and the Philistines; in the universal esteem that is awarded him; and in the singular discretion that marks his conduct, showing that he has the wisdom which can come only from the source of all wisdom;-does not Saul discover in these striking, providential circumstances, him that is destined ere long to wear the crown? Have not his suspicions fastened upon David, and are they not clearly manifested in the expression, "what can he have more but the kingdom?"

He watches the course of his rival, as he re

gards him, with the closest and most jealous scrutiny. His mind becomes so disturbed, and his breast so agitated with the tumultuous passions which reign there, that the evil spirit, permitted of God to do it, returns once more to take possession of his soul. In the paroxysm of frenzy that ensued, we are told, he prophesied in the midst of his house. He either actually foretold some future events, perhaps the removal of the kingdom from him, or assumed the air of the prophets when under a divine inspiration, that he might the better conceal the murderous design which it appears he cherished, at the time, against David. The latter, as he had before done, taking his harp, endeavored by the power of his music to calm the mind of the king. But the rage of Saul was not now to be thus subdued. He strove to make David its victim; furiously hurling at him the javelin which he held in his hand, and exclaiming that he would smite him even to the wall with it. But it failed of its mark. David, probably being aware of the danger, dexterously avoided it on this and a subsequent occasion, escaping out of the presence of Saul.

The latter could not but perceive that the one whom he attempted to destroy was under the peculiar protection of the Almighty, and that he enjoyed, also, the divine favor in many other respects. Himself, he knew, had lost that protection and favor. Hence, he not only hated but

feared David. He dreaded the influence he was continually gaining, and the invidious comparisons which would be made between their respective characters. He resolved to remove so odious a superior in worth from a place near his person, and appointing him captain over a thousand men, sent him away on some public service. Here the youthful commander continued to exhibit his usual wisdom in the discharge of his duties, and to gain still more the affections of all with whom he had intercourse, or who knew of his measures. "All Israel and Judah," we are told, "loved David, because he went out and came in before them." They rejoiced in his management of the public concerns which were entrusted to his care, and the more the people became subject to his personal supervision, the more they valued him as a man, and respected him as an officer.

The cause of this is readily discovered. The Lord was with him, exercising a peculiar influence upon his mind; guiding him in the adoption of the best means for the attainment of the wisest ends; sustaining him in the encountering and overcoming of difficulties; and inspiring him with that unshaken intrepidity which is the result of a conscientious performance of duty in the fear and the strength of God.

The Lord was with him. Is He with you, my young friend, so that you have a refreshing and

invigorating sense of the divine presence? Is your heart indeed the temple of the Holy Spirit? Do you rely on this Guide and Comforter? Christ promised this support to his disciples. Has your faith in the Savior realized the fulfilment of this promise in your own case? If so, like David, you have nothing to fear. If not, and continuing in that state, like the wretched Saul, you have just reason to dread the terrible displeasure of God; and to anticipate your final destruction.

The apprehensions of Saul were only aggravated by the course he had adopted with regard to David. Foiled in this way, a deeper plot must be laid to accomplish his object. Revenge and envy were at the bottom of it. The life of his victim could alone satisfy his thirst for blood. David must die, not indeed by the hand of the king, for he began to dread, probably, the vengeance of his subjects upon so foul a deed, but, if possible, by the hands of the Philistines. He accosted David with professions of great regard. Having deferred the fulfilment of at least one part of the reward offered to the individual who should slay Goliath, Saul now would seem desirous of carrying it into effect. "Behold," said he to David, "my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord's battles."

In these engagements with the enemy, he hoped the time would not be far distant when some

one of them would deliver him from his fears by striking a deadly blow at so distinguished a combatant. David did not decline the honor, though, with his characteristic modesty, he expressed his diffidence in accepting it. "Who am I?" was his reply, "and what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?"

But Saul did not fulfil the engagement. From some sudden caprice, or stroke of policy, of which we have no explanation, at the very time agreed upon for consummating the marriage, Saul gave his daughter to Adriel the Meholathite.* May it not have been the case, also, that he thus intended to offer such an indignity to David in the view of all the people, as to provoke the latter to some rash, retaliatory speech. or action that would render it justifiable to bring him to public punishment and disgrace. Whatever his object was, he was again disappointed. The discretion of him whom he sought to ruin was not to be baffled, and other devices must be attempted before Saul can hope to succeed.

He was told of the affection which his daughter Michal had for the youthful son of Jesse, and he aimed to make it subservient to his malicious purpose. He resolved to offer her to David in marriage on certain conditions, the

* Abel-meholah, the place here probably referred to, was beyond the Jordan in the tribe of Manasseh.