sons should sanctify themselves for the approaching so lemnity.

Charles. How were they to sanctify themselves?

Mother. The legal purifications of their persons by washing, or purifying with water, to signify the purity of heart required in every act of worship to the Creator, is intended in this and in every similar text. The propriety of the principle, and the aptitude of the sign, have been so universally felt, that ablutions have been adopted into the religious rites of almost all nations; and with some, appear to constitute the very essence of their religion. Objects of sense are indeed very imposing, and too often captivate our understanding. Even the penetrating eye of Samuel beheld with much complacency the noble form of Eliab, Jesse's eldest son, when he came into his presence: this, surely, he thought, must be he whom the Lord had sent him to anoint in the place of Saul-but his secret monitor commanded him to "look not on his countenance, nor the height of his stature, for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." In like manner, seven sons of Jesse, passing in review before Samuel, were rejected, until he inquired if these were all his children? Being informed that there remained yet the youngest, who kept the sheep, he refused to sit down to dinner until he should appear. David, the young shepherd, and who will be, to the end of time, the famous king of Israel, was summoned from the field, approved, and anointed in the presence of his family.

The reigning monarch meanwhile, no longer comforted by the presence of Samuel, became a prey to chagrin. A mental malady, which is described in terms opposed to those I lately explained to you, or as an "evil spirit from the Lord," afflicted him. His servants proposed to soothe him by music, and recommended David the Bethlehemite as a young person skilful in playing on the harp, of a beautiful form, and courageous and prudent in his conduct. At the king's request, therefore, David, laden with presents from his father, was sent, and succeeded in tranquillizing his perturbed spirit. Again the Philistines invaded Canaan, and pitched their camp on a mountain of Judah, whilst Saul, with his army, took his stand on an opposite eleva

GOLIATH SLAIN BY DAVID.

191 tion. While they lay thus, with only a narrow valley between them, observing each other, a champion of most terrific appearance advanced from the camp of the Philistines, and defied the king to send out a man to decide the contest with him by single combat. More than seven feet in height, and covered from head to foot with brass, armed with a weapon of proportionate strength, and attended by a page bearing a shield, this giant filled the camp of his adversaries with dismay. Forty days, morning and evening, he had thundered his insulting challenge across the valley, when, to the utter astonishment of the king, the stripling David proposed to encounter him. He had retired from his accidental attendance on Saul, to his father's house, and now, coming to the camp, on a visit to three of his brothers who were with the army, he heard the impious menace of Goliath, and the vain efforts of his countrymen to inspirit one another, by detailing the privileges which would distinguish the man who should kill this tremendous enemy. "The king," said they, "will give him his daughter-will enrich him, and exempt his father's house from taxation."

The indignant remarks of David, intimating his readi ness to engage the formidable Goliath, alarmed his brothers, and they tried to repress his ambition-but David was designed to vindicate the aspersed honour of " the living God." His contempt of the boaster, reaching the tent of the king, he was sent for, and admonished that he was but a youth, whilst the man he despised was not only of preternatural strength, but a warrior trained from his youth. "Thy servant," replied the son of Jesse, “slew both a lion, and a bear, who attacked his flock. He who delivered me from the lion and the bear, will deliver me out of the hand of this giant-therefore," added he, with modest fortitude, "let no man's heart fail because of him -thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine."

Presumptuous as this bold resolution might appear to the monarch, he nevertheless arrayed the champion in his own armour, and put his own sword into his hand; but the elastic limbs of youth, invigorated by the healthful hills of Bethlehem, refused the unnatural restraint. A sling and a stone, the implements of his rural pastime, were the wea

pons he chose; with these, he advanced to the wondrous enterprise—and with these, one fatal blow laid the vaunting Philistine prostrate on the earth! Seeing him fall, David hastened to the spot, and, seizing his own sword, severed his head from his body, and brought it in triumph to the king!

The complete rout of the invaders followed the death of their champion ;-leaving their camp to enrich the Israelites, they fled, and were pursued with terrible slaughter to their cities, Ekron and Gath.

The conquerors then, with David bearing the head of Goliath in his hands, returned in triumph to the capital. The march to the city was one continued scene of festivity; the people from all their towns saluting them with shouts of joy, and the women in bands dancing to the music of tabrets, and other instruments, and singing "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands !"

Fanny. Did Saul know that David was appointed to succeed him in the government?

Mother. No. But this fatal pre-eminence, either in prowess or in fortune, ascribed to David by the people, was the signal for that cruel persecution through which he laboured to the throne. Whether delighted by his address, or fearing the formidable impression he had made on the people, while he knew himself to be discarded, Saul would no more permit David to leave him, but kept him near his person, affecting to honour, though he envied and hated him.

No quality is more imposing with the populace than military valour in times of public danger. Exposed as were the Israelites to the incursions of their enemies, David might easily now have taken advantage of the ascend-ancy he had obtained in the affections of the people to supplant his master; and knowing himself to be divinely appointed, he might have soothed his conscience in the attempt; nor did the reigning monarch take care to secure his allegiance by laying him under a debt of gratitude for personal kindness. But the integrity of David awaited the direction of providence, while he performed his own duties with such meekness and fidelity, that he soon became as great a favourite in the royal family, as he was with the

SAUL PERSECUTES DAVID.

193

people. Jonathan, the king's son, was united to him in the firmest friendship; and Michal, his daughter, beheld the amiable youth with tender partiality. These flattering distinctions in his own house, appeared to the distorted mind of the king no less than a tacit surrender of the crown which the increasing admiration of the people was preparing for his youthful rival, and so haunted his imagination, that he attempted to destroy him at once by the stroke of a javelin, whilst he played on the harp in his presence; or, as some suppose, while he assisted with his harp, at the family worship of the king, because it is said, that Saul prophesied, or prayed, at the same time.

Failing in his murderous attempt, and yet more enraged by the interposition of Jonathan in favour of his friend, the insidious monarch meditated the death of his dreaded rival in a way less odious even to his own feelings, while it seemed a concession to the desires of his subjects. The command of a thousand men was given to David, and his best exertions incited by the promises of an union with Merab, the king's eldest daughter, as the reward of his success against the enemies of his country.

Fanny. Why not bestow Michal, who had already given her heart to the young hero?

Mother. Saul was not then, perhaps, acquainted with the extent of her predilection for David, but it was not his intention to bestow either; for when David had earned the promised honour, and expected to receive the hand of Merab, on his return from a successful expedition against the Philistines, he found her already married to another! The discovery of Michal's love now afforded the malicious king another opportunity of exposing the life of David. His servants were secretly instructed to flatter him with reports of the high estimation in which he was held by the king, and the fair prospect of becoming his son-in-law. But the modest shepherd, so far from presuming on his own merit, replied, that he did not consider himself entitled to so high an honour, his father's house was of no importance in Israel, nor was he rich enough to pay the dowry of a king's daughter.

Fanny. The objection of David requires an explanation, mother. What did he mean by paying a dowry?

194

PURSUES HIM TO NAIOTH.

Mother. The customs of the East are sometimes the reverse of our own. The dowry of a daughter was a sum of money or goods, which a man paid on his marriage to the father of his wife. The objection was just what Saul desired, and was easily obviated by requiring of David only the slaughter of an hundred Philistines. Double that number of the king's enemies fell beneath the valiant arm of David; and Saul, no longer able to elude his engagement, was obliged to give him the hand of his daughter.

Charles. Saul would now be more tender of the life of his son-in-law.

Mother. The policy of kings, my son, is not often directed or restrained by such associations as are held sacred by their subjects. The express design of Saul, in this case, disappointed in his hope of ridding himself of David by the hands of the Philistines, was, by marrying him to his daughter, to bring him more completely within the reach of his own wily schemes; for his envy and rage increasing in proportion to the esteem and admiration of the people for David-he barbarously commanded his confidential servants, and even Jonathan, his most beloved friend, to slay him privately in the very presence of his wife. The affectionate pleading of Jonathan, however, averted his fate for the present, and David was again brought to soothe by the melody of his harp the desolating spirit of the miserable monarch. But his presence only aggravated the malignant flame, and he was compelled to fly from the stroke of the javelin again aimed at his life, whilst he dexterously exercised his art, for the relief of his wicked persecutor.

Both his wife and his friend, now believing no longer the insincere professions of their father, assisted him to escape to Ramah, where he found Samuel, and related to him all that had befallen him since the king had treacherously taken him into his service.

Naioth, a city belonging to the sacerdotal tribe, and the site of one of Samuel's national schools, seemed to offer a secure retreat to the innocent refugee, and thither he went accompanied by Samuel. But neither the protection of the prophet-the entreaties of Jonathan-the affinity of David to his family-nor the sanctity of his retreat-withheld the infuriated monarch; he not only sent messengers to