them. Need we add to these instances the pathetic elegy which he poured forth upon the death of Saul and Jonathan, the first and one of the tenderest productions of this kind to be found in the monuments of antiquity? Who, then, but must be constrained to admire the nobleness, the disinterestedness of his soul?

David was in reality king, immediately upon the death of Saul; but he will take no steps to seat himself upon the throne, without, the express orders of God. He considers the Lord as the pillar of fire and cloud, which is to direct every movement that he makes. He consults God, therefore, by Urim and Thummim, and is directed to go to Hebron, in the centre of the tribe of Judah. He departs, therefore, carrying with him his family, and those brave warriors who had followed him into exile, and had endured so many perils with him. They had participated in his sorrows-they shall also participate in his prosperity. Though they had lately been disposed to stone him at Ziklag, yet he remembers only their wonted attachment. "Thus," says Bishop Hall, "doth our heavenly Leader, whom David prefigured, take us to reign with him, who have suffered with him. Passing by our manifold infirmities as though they had not been, he removeth us from the land of our banishment, and the ashes of our forlorn Ziklag, to the Hebron of our peace and glory: the expectation of this day must, as it did for David's soldiers, dissipate all our sorrows."

Entering into Hebron, amidst the acclamations of the inhabitants, David was acknowledged king, and was a second time anointed, his previous anointing by Samuel having been private.

The sentiments of David on his advancement are represented in those psalms of praise which he composed on this occasion. Instead of a proud, imperious spirit, and an ungrateful forgetfulness of providence, he, in the spirit of meekness, and with the fervour of devotion, retraces the divine goodness, acknowledges his own unworthiness, and implores grace from on high to enable him to discharge the weighty and important duties that had devolved on him.

Whether the other tribes were offended because they were not invited to his solemn anointing, or whether the family of Saul had still more partisans than David, he was for some time acknowledged only by the tribe of Judah. Abner, a relative and a general of Saul, declared himself in favour of Ishbosheth. He led him to the camp, declared him king, and caused him to be acknowledged by the army and the other tribes. But the purposes and promises of God can never be defeated. The son of Jesse shall obtain that throne which the Lord has declared he shall occupy. For two years, David acted only on the defensive; but at the expiration of this period, the pride and ambition of Abner produced an open war. "And there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker." Abner, offended at last by the reproaches of Ishbosheth, declared that he would abandon him, and give his influence to the true successor to the crown and throne of Israel. The execution of this design was prevented by his treacherous assassination by Joab and his brother Abishai, the two principal officers of David. He was struck with horror at this transaction; but such was the unsettled state of the kingdom, and such the influence

of these commanders over the soldiery, that he could not put the murderers to death. He cried, "I am this day weak, though anointed king; the sons of Zeruiah be too strong for me." He declared his own innocence; he deprecated the divine vengeance from himself and his country; he foretold the judgments that would fall upon the guilty; he commanded Joab to attend the burial of him whom he had assassinated, and he himself followed the bier, overwhelmed with grief. Do we here imitate David? Do we deeply lament those sins, the commission of which we cannot hinder? Do we mourn for the transgressions of others, as well as those of ourselves? We must do so, except we are entirely indifferent to the glory of God.

Ishbosheth, shortly after, was deprived of life. Baanah and Rechab, two of his officers, indulging the same error with the Amalekite, supposed that they would gratify David by delivering him, in any manner, of his only rival. They therefore traitor⚫ously murdered him, and bore his head to David, representing their crime as an act of justice which God had inspired. They said, "Behold the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, thine enemy, which sought thy life; the Lord hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul and of his house."

Cæsar was filled with grief when he beheld the head of Pompey, the most formidable rival that he had ever had in the career of glory: he shed tears when he beheld it, and punished with death those who had destroyed this illustrious man. Was David less magnanimous or disinterested than Cæsar? He viewed with horror the crime of these men; he wished to gain no advantage by the deceit or cruelty of others; he could weep at the unjust oppression

even of an enemy. As their guilt was greater than that of the Amalekite, he sentenced them immediately to a death still more painful and infamous than his.

After the death of Ishbosheth, there was but one sentiment among the Israelites with regard to David. They had seen his wisdom, his courage, and integrity; they found.it vain to contend against a prince of God's appointment, they therefore unanimously submitted to him; the deputed elders, in the name of the whole kingdom, a third time anointed him; the armies crowded to his standard, and the whole nation testified their joy. Thus, seven and a half years from the death of Saul, more than fifteen from his first anointing by Samuel, and at the age of thirty. he was in full possession of the sovereignty.

Christian, the fulfilment of the promises made to you may be delayed; yet do not, therefore, murmur or despond. Exercise faith and patience; use no undue means to promote their accomplishment; and they shall in God's best time be fulfilled to you, as they were to David.

From this time till his crimes drew down upon him the judgments of God, nothing can be more splendid than his reign. His dominions were enlarged on every side, and the God of hosts supported him in every battle. I cannot describe, in detail, all his victories; I can give little more than a list of them. The Jebusites first felt the power of his arms: inhabiting the mountains, they occupied, among others, part of that on which Jerusalem was built. Though they considered their situation as so impregnable that they bitterly derided the advancing troops of David, yet they were soon subdued; the seat of government was fixed at Jerusalem, and a royal palace there built. The Philistines, envious of

his advancement, commenced hostilities against him. By the immediate direction of God, he marched against them, and obtained two splendid victories over them. The Moabites furnished new triumphs to this hero. If his conduct, after their subjugation, should appear cruel to us, let us recollect that the usages of war were much more sanguinary in ancient than in modern times. Hadadezer, king of Zobab, who had possessed himself of the territories which God had granted to Israel in the promise made to Abraham, and renewed to Joshua, next fell beneath his arms. The Syrians of Damascus, coming to the assistance of the king of Zobab, participated in his defeat. The death of eighteen thousand Edomites secured a victory over them. Nahash, the king of the Ammonites, having died, David sent messengers to condole with his son. Instead of receiving them with kindness, Hanun treated them in a manner, which, according to the customs of the orientals, is the proof of the greatest contempt, and the punishment of the most atrocious crimes. Supposing that this conduct would be resented, he prepared for war, and fearing to meet this victorious hero alone, he hired thirtytwo thousand men from the neighbouring kingdoms. Let us merely observe, in passing, that this is the first instance in history of the employment of mercenary troops. But in vain was this immense preparation. The allies were soon broken; and the Ammonites, seeing themselves thus abandoned, joined them in the flight. The allies, fearful that David would punish them by attacking them in their own cities, raised a numerous army. David instantly crossed the Jordan, advanced to them, and obtained so splendid a victory, that they all sued for peace.