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stories are told of the doings of many of these worthies; which, though marvellous, are yet quite credible. For in those days the success of war depended more upon individual acts of bravery, than upon the combined efforts of undisciplined masses. At one time, we read, three of the thirty came down to David, in the harvest-time, into the cave of Adullam: the garrison of the Philistines being in Bethlehem: And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate! And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD. And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men."

In the twelfth chapter of the first book of Chronicles, we are told how the people were led, little by little, to gather themselves to David, during the time of his hiding from the face of Saul. We read there of the Benjamites, who came to him in Ziklag, "while he yet kept himself close," who "could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow." Of the Gadites who "separated themselves unto David, into the hold to the wilderness, men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains." Of the children of Judah who came to him there,

because they saw the Lord was with him. Of the children of Manasseh who fell to him, when he came up with the Philistines to fight against Saul. These, and many more, joined David's band, "until it was a great host, like the host of God." Thus was the way prepared for him, till, as we have seen, the whole tribe of Judah, and, afterwards, all Israel, 66 came to David to Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the Lord."

And now being settled in present peace at Jerusalem, "David consulted with the captains of thousands, and hundreds, and with every leader. And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the Lord our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every-where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Lévites, which are in the cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us: and let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul. And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people!"

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So David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is to Kirjath-jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the Lord, that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is called on it. And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart. And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrils, and with cymbals, and with trumpets. And when they

came unto the threshing-floor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God."

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Now the Lord had expressly declared that the ark should not be conveyed from one place to another upon a cart, nor drawn by beasts, but that it should be carried by Levites, borne on their shoulders by staves; for even they might not touch it. The manner of its present removal was, therefore, in direct opposition to this law: it is true, the Philistines had sent it to Kirjathjearim, fifty years before, on a new cart;" but they knew nothing of Israelitish law. The Israelites were not ignorant of what the law required, hence their sin. "And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me? So David brought not the ark of God home to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom, in his house, three months. And the Lord blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that he had."

But David was not content till it should be brought to Zion! And he vowed a vow unto the Lord, saying, “Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eye-lids. Until I find out a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob." So having duly prepared a place for it, David and the elders of Israel went, yet again, "to bring up the ark of the covenant of

the Lord out of the house of Obed-edom, with joy." And the Levites bare it upon their shoulders, with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded, according to the word of the Lord. And it was brought to Zion with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet, and with holy songs. David himself dancing before it with all his might, "girded with a linen ephod:" and they "set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it," and Asaph and his brethren were appointed "to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work required."

This thing accomplished, it was in David's heart to build a temple to the Lord at Jerusalem. For, he said, "See, now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains." However, it was not permitted to David to do this, becaùse he was a man of war, and had shed blood (1 Chron. xxviii. 3); but he had this testimony, that he did well, because it was in his heart to build: and the promise was given that Solomon, his son, should enjoy a long and peaceful reign, and that he should build God an house!

*The tent that David had pitched.-"The old tabernacle, made in the wilderness, with the altar and all the sacred utensils, were, it appears, still at Gibeon (1 Chron. xvi. 38; 2 Chron. i. 3), where they remained till the days of Solomon,"-See Pictorial Bible.

SELIGMANN; OR THE LEAVEN OF THE GOSPEL IN A JEWISH FAMILY.

(Continued from page 55.)

"WHEN Seligmann had himself been brought to a knowledge of the Truth as it is in Jesus,' he longed that others might be partakers in that blessing, and hence laboured to make them understand the character and claims and sufficiency of that Messiah, whom he had found.

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'His endeavours were often blessed, though they brought upon him many severe conflicts. His delight was to serve the Lord, and he longed to be engaged actively in His service. But His ways are not as our ways. He had determined that the trials of his youthful servant should be of short duration, and that he should, before the winter of storm arrived, be transferred to the land of enduring calm :

"Where saints and angels in a countless throng, Swell the bright ranks of the Redeemer's train; And sing, in sweetest harmony, the song,

'Worthy the spotless lamb for sinners slain.""

"On Monday, August 9, 1824, he went as usual to the Rev. Mr. Heinrich's, with his sister, to receive instruction ; and on this occasion, the Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity was fixed upon for their baptism. Seligmann chose that day because a deep impression had been made on his mind by the words which occur in the appointed lesson of the day, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see,' (Luke x. 23,) which words were also to form the subject of the clergyman's discourse. When Seligmann took leave of Mr. H., he pressed his hand with much warmth, and