life to defend a city, from the very enemies, with whom he was said to be "in league?"

MARY. No; but what base ingratitude, both in Saul, and the men of Keilah! Saul hoped to catch David, in the very town he had rescued ; and its cowardly men would have given him up! What a real mercy the ephod was to him now.

MAMA. Yes, Mary; and why? Because David resorted on every emergency, in docile faith, to its unerring decision. Had it similarly profited Saul, think you-by whom, while in his possession, it had been for years unconsulted and despised? I know not that Scripture affords us a more striking contrast between the improvement or neglect of the means of grace, than is afforded by the practice of Saul and David. In the hands of the one, the mysterious breastplate of Aaron slumbers, a mere useless ornament; transferred to the other, it becomes at once the "lively oracle of God," and the daily rule of conduct to its happy and docile pupil.

MARY. No wonder, Mama, that, while he behaved thus-when Saul sought his life, "God delivered him not into his hand." But how glad I am to find that David and Jonathan met once more in this world.

MAMA. Yes; and how characteristic and delightful was the interview! The son of David's

bitterest foe, "strengthening his hand in God,” looking forward with a calm hope, (which, alas! he did not live to realize) of seeing his friend on the throne of Israel, and himself content to occupy a secondary station,—and ratifying in this full conviction, their former "covenant before the Lord." Well may we challenge all antiquity for a parallel picture, either of friendship or disinterestedness! Nor is it undesignedly said, in the beautiful simplicity of Scripture, that "David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house." Jonathan was too good a son, and too loyal a subject, to offend, by open countenance of David, even his father's groundless prejudices; in which, however, by living apart from the court, he abstained from seeming participation.

One is at a loss at times, which most to admire, the generous friendship, or consummate prudence, of this perhaps most perfect of Scripture characters!

MARY. The "Ziphites" seem to have been base tale-bearers, like Doeg, for they offered to betray David to Saul.

MAMA. Well might he say of both, in the 54th Psalm, composed on this occasion: "Strangers are risen against me, and oppressors seek after my soul. They have not set God before them." But with pious gratitude he was enabled to add, when the special providence of God had

diverted the proposed attack upon him, into another quarter; "Behold God is mine helper; the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. For he hath delivered me out of my trouble; and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.”

How was this unexpected deliverance accomplished?

MARY. A messenger came to tell Saul, that the Philistines had invaded the land; and he was forced to return from pursuing after David. I daresay God put it into their hearts to invade Israel at that time, just to deliver David.

MAMA. Such Divine interpositions are by no means uncommon, in Holy Writ, and such a one David seems here to acknowledge, when he says in overflowing gratitude, "I will freely sacrifice to Thee. I will praise thy name, O Lord, for it is good."

And, so many are the unseen providences and deliverances, daily occurring in the path of the Christian-that this song of thanksgiving may at all times be echoed from the depths of a grateful heart; remembering only, while it is uttered, on the same high authority, that the only legitimate "sacrifices" of God, are a "broken and contrite spirit:" and that to be able to praise God acceptably with David, we must first have invoked him in our need, and obeyed him in our conduct.

88

MORNING SEVENTH.

LESSON. 1st Samuel, Chapters xxiv. and xxvi.

MAMA. I have made you read in connexion, the two chapters separated from each other, by the episode of David's adventure with Nabalboth to allow us to consider in all its bearings, that remarkable incident, and still more, to combine within the small compass in which they really occurred, the two affecting instances of generosity, manifested by David, and the flagrant ingratitude with which they were twice (in spite of temporary protestations) utterly forgotten by Saul. We might again appeal in vain to the records of pagan antiquity, for deeds of such pure disinterestedness, as the fear of God, and respect for his anointed king, seem to have rendered easy to the generous nature of David; while the reckless perfidy, and blood-thirstiness, with which they were requited, can only be attributed to the direct suggestions of that "evil one," who we know, was a "liar" as I well as "murderer from the beginning."

Where did the first of these affecting encoun

ters between one, who at this time represents himself, as a "bird in the net of the fowler," and his implacable persecutor, take place?

MARY. In the "strongholds of Engedi,"does that mean a fortress?

MAMA. No, truly; for none such existed in the " wilderness," whither Saul had gone, "to seek David and his men, among the rocks of the wild goats." But how wonderfully were the relative positions of the "bird" and "fowler" reversed when Providence sent Saul to take his noon-day repose, in the very cave in which David and his men were already concealed!

MARY. Mama, how could they both be there, without seeing each other?

MAMA. Very easily, from the great size, and extensive ramifications of the caves in Palestine ; in one of which, a traveller tells us, he had himself been, capable of separately harbouring two bodies of men, more numerous than those of Saul or David.

MARY. It was no wonder that David's men thought the time was come for killing Saul! Most people would have taken him prisoner at least, to keep him from doing more mischief.

MAMA. You forget, Mary, that you are speaking of a monarch, still reigning, by the forbearance, if not express appointment of Jehovah.—