anointed. Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it. The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee." "And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. And thou hast showed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the Lord had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not. And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. Swear now therefore unto me by the Lord, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house. And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home: but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.”

But no sooner were they parted than Saul sought David's life as fiercely as ever; still hunted him and his company through the wilderness; till, at last, David seeing there was no faith in Saul, nor any safety for himself in Judea, went with all his men into the country of the Philistines, the very people he had so utterly discomfited. And there he settled himself, under the favour of Achish, king of Gath; who held

him in great esteem, and gave him the city of Ziklag for his own, to dwell in. And there David was for more than a year, with his two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail, and with his company of soldiers, living in honour and opulence, and security.

SELIGMANN; OR THE LEAVEN OF THE

GOSPEL IN A JEWISH FAMILY.*

UNDER this title, we have a deeply interesting narrative, illustrative of the power of Divine truth on the minds of a Jewish family. From this little work, we will present our young friends with such particulars as may tend to illustrate the goodness and the grace of God, and to encourage them in their Christian course of benevolence and love to Israel. The work thus commences:

When a sinner is brought to the knowledge of God, and finds peace to his soul, the angels in heaven rejoice, and the saints upon earth unite in praising the wonders of redeeming love. When all the junior members of a family are united in the most important concern of life, and are walking together in the narrow way that leadeth to everlasting bliss, the words of the sweet Psalmist of Israel involuntarily come into our mind: "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! for there the Lord commandeth the blessing, even life for evermore." (Psalm cxxxiii. 1. 3.)

Into the circle of such a family I will now introduce the reader.

"Seligmann and Nathan." Published by Wertheim, Paternoster-row, London.

A few years ago, a Jew named M. S. L., resided in the town of F., in the Duchy of Mecklenburg Strelitz. His wife had made him the happy father of three sons and two daughters, whom she brought up in the fear of God according to the best of her knowledge; for she was not only an excellent and industrious woman, but was unobtrusive and devout, and had an unutterable longing after something better than what the prevailing system of Judaism could offer. Her children attended a Christian school, which they had scarcely quitted when she fell sick; they waited on her with the greatest tenderness, and shrunk from neither exertion nor expense, in order to alleviate the sufferings of their beloved mother; they accompanied her to Berlin, where she consulted the most eminent physicians, but all in vain. For many years she was the victim of the most excruciating pains, but they tended to increase her yearnings after God, and the bliss of immortality. At length, in the year 1821, she sweetly fell asleep in the arms of her affectionate, but deeply sorrowing children.

The long-continued affliction of their pious mother was not without benefit to her children; by the side of her sick and dying bed, they became deeply impressed with the vanity of earthly things, and their hearts were filled with an ardent longing for eternity, which did not merely produce general, undefined feelings, but convinced them that the true knowledge of the living God could alone satisfy their never-dying souls. The gleams of Divine truth which beamed faintly upon the heart of the mother, ere long shone brighter and brighter into those of her children; they learnt to know Him who even here, giveth to his own a foretaste of the joys laid up for those who love him.

These interesting young people were instructed by a rabbi in the theology of the Jewish religion; but they soon outstripped their Polish teacher; for they not only examined for themselves the writings of enlightened Jews, especially those of the celebrated Mendelssohn, and the ancient Heathen authors, but they also perused Christian books of a general religious tendency. The brothers maintained a friendly intercourse with several Christians of their own age; and from all that they now heard and saw, together with what they had learnt of Christianity at school, could not fail to inspire them with the highest esteem for it.

But something more was wanting to satisfy the inquiring minds of these young people, who were closely united in mind and affections. The eldest son especially, named Seligmann, was deeply sensible of the melancholy condition of the members of his communion, and frequently mourned, that instead of a lively knowledge of God, ceremonial duties alone everywhere prevailed; and that thus the substance was obliged to yield to the shadow. Seligmann, and his second brother Simeon, were anxious to devote themselves to the study of the sciences, but they resisted these inclinations from obedience to their father, who had destined them both for commercial pursuits, in order that they might be of assistance to him; only Traugott, the youngest brother, was permitted to choose a trade, and he fixed on that of a needlemaker.

Seligmann, who had great influence with his brothers and sisters, will, for the present, chiefly engage our attention. His particular friend and near relative was a Mr. N., Professor of the High school at M. This young man had become fully convinced that Jesus was the promised Messiah,

and he spoke openly on the subject to Seligmann, whose thoughts had frequently been directed to this important point. After his daily business was over, Seligmann was in the habit of refreshing his mind by meditating on the works of his Creator; he was greatly interested in these subjects, which afforded him abundant sources for reflection, and were not without a blessing; but they could not satisfy the cravings of his inmost soul, which had already felt the influence of heavenly grace. At the entreaties of his friend, he went to the Protestant Church on Palm Sunday, 1824, to hear the pious and truly Evangelical clergyman, the Rev. Mr. H., and to witness the rite of confirmation, which took place on that day. All he saw and heard made a deep impression upon his heart, and he now began seriously to reflect whether the truth was to be found in the Christian religion, and whether the peace which he longed for was to be there obtained. Henceforth he diligently perused the Holy Scriptures with devout meditation and prayer, and at the same time narrowly watched the lives of real Christians. On one occasion, he remarked to his friend, "It is wonderful to hear pious Christians express themselves with such assurance respecting the highest points of faith; it is as if faith had been poured into their hearts." "Yes, my dear friend," replied N., true faith is indeed something given; "it is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. You, too, my friend, will arrive at this assurance of faith, for you are impartially searching for the truth; and God, who guides the upright, will enable you to find it.

(To be continued.)