forth her plaintive notes, as if her head were waters, and her eyes a fountain of tears, we may mention Job iii., xiv., xix, and xxix; Psalı xlii.; Jer. ix. 17-22; Ezek. xxii., xxvii., and xxxii., with many other passages, which will appear to every attentive reader. Though we had no other specimen of the Hebrew elegy, that from which our text is taken would be perfectly sufficient,-Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided. In discoursing from these words, we are,

First, Shortly to illustrate, by the help of the Spirit of God, the sentiment contained in the text; and then,

Secondly, Consider the application of these beautiful words to the striking dispensation of Divine Providence by which they were suggested, returning from the affecting solemn

scene.

We are, first, to expand the sentiment contained in the text, Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided. The sentiment is short; but it comprehends the whole of man, so far as we at present can distinctly see,—namely, his life and his death. They were lovely and pleasant in their lives; and in their death they were not divided. A more concise and more pleasing descrip tion could scarcely be given. He does not say they were lovely and happy in their lives; though we think the former should have secured the latter. Alas! few, even of kings, and of the sons of kings, attain to happiness in this world. Uneasy, frequently, lies the head that wears a crown. When Croesus, the proverbially rich King of Lydia, sent for Solon the philosopher, (B.c. about 550,) and exhibited before him all the splendour of regal magnificence, and then put the question, Have you ever seen a man happier than I?-he was astonished and indignant, that he would not reckon him among the num ber of the happy. Solon answered, O King of the Lydians, you are possessed of great riches, and are the sovereign of many people; but to so great vicissitudes is human life subject, that it is impossible to decide on the felicity of any man, till he finish the career of life.

That time is continually producing new accidents, is indubitable. Till the combat is finished, confidence in victory is premature. Esop, the ancient fabulist, could scarcely restrain the anger of Croesus from bursting on the head of the philosopher. But he was convinced of the truth of the saying of Solon, when his life was saved by calling thrice upon his name, after he was raised on the top of a pile of wood, to be burnt In the presence of the Persians, by the Great Cyrus,

-so fre

quently and honourably mentioned in the Book of God, (Isa. xliv. 28; xlv. 1-13.) Though David does not eulogize the felicity of Saul and Jonathan, he does not say they were the most unhappy of mortals. He celebrates their valour, saying, They were swifter than eagles, and stronger than lions. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. They were not destitute of personal courage, nor of warlike prowess. They had every requisite for defensive war; and aggressive war, unless when absolutely necessary, has never been sanctioned by right reason nor revelation. They seem to have had all those qualities which have been considered necessary for a king and a king's son. They were, in addition to all this, lovely and pleasant in their lives. We cannot, perhaps, fully ascertain the meaning of these words. Without endeavouring to discover their precise meaning, as uttered by the king of Israel, we shall take their general import. Saul was a tall, handsome, and beautiful man; so particularly so, that it is recorded by the Sacred Annalist,-Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power; and he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly; and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he; from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people, (1 Sam. ix. 1, 2.)

Of the person, and stature, and beauty of Jonathan, there is nothing particularly recorded; but what may be inferred from his valour and confidence in God, when he and his armourbearer mounted the garrison at Michmash, and turned the tide of battle, and discomfited the Philistines, (1 Sam. xiv.) Jonathan must have been a goodly person without, while he had a generous and noble spirit within. They were both, doubtless, clothed in purple, scarlet, and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. They had everything requsite to keep the body easy, and render it beautiful. They had oil to make their countenances to shine, and corn and wine, which cheer the heart of man, and support his strength. Being in the exalted station of kings and princes, they must have lived delicately. They were never even sated with luxury, like the monarchs of the east, and too many of the west. They died when their breasts were full of milk, and their bones moistened with marrow. Their external appearance must, therefore, have been lovely and pleasant. Though favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain, and fading as the full-blown flower, it has always been admired and praised. Beauty, thou pretty play-thing!

Wealth has, in opulent and luxurious countries, competed with it, and not unfrequently depreciated, if not stript it of its charms. But they were possessed of both. They were pleasant, moreover, in their tempers and conversations. Jonathan had a heart overflowing with the benevolent affections; and Saul, during his whole life, doubtless, eyed, with affectionate regard, the expanding virtures and honours of his son. We leave out of view, in the meantime, the jealousy which burned in his bosom against David, and prompted him, as it has done many his inferiors, to duplicity, treachery, and many of the most horrid symptoms of human depravity. This was not much to be wondered at in the case of Saul. He had, truly, been raised, by Divine right, to a throne. Though he had disobeyed Him who had placed him on it, and was told that it should be taken from him; yet he wished his son to retain it, and hoped, that the anger of the Supreme Ruler of the universe might be turned away. Besides, an evil spirit from the Lord now troubled him. He might, and must have been possessed of many amiable qualities. As a husband, a father, and a friend, no charge is preferred against him. Nay, even as an absolute monarch, he is not charged with injustice, severity, or cruelty. How few of those who have been born and bred to a throne, have reigned like Saul. Never had he an equal. He was raised, at once, from an obscure and low condition, by the special selection of Jehovah; and yet conducted himself better than the most of kings. How many would be completely and perpetually disgraced and degraded, were it accounted to be so much as base to be generous to a friend; but irreconcilable and inexorable to a foe. Far be it from us to attempt to extenuate the faults and crimes of Saul. Well, however, had it been for mankind, had he been the only king who attempted to take away the life of the innocent. Well, also, would it be for those who censure him, if they would steer clear of the rock on which his stately, but frail bark was wrecked. Avarice, upon a certain occasion, seems to have been his fatal crime, (1 Sam. xv. 22, 23.) Dearly did he pay for his ill-gotten gain. The love of money is, indeed, the root of all evil. It deserves being enjoined by an apostle,-Love not the world, nor the things of the world; if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Saul did not wade through slaughter to a throne, nor shut the gates of mercy on mankind. His sin and his punishment are written in blood; and his judgment is with the Lord. It is true, however, that he was lovely and pleasant in his life,—though we may not be able to make it appear. Concerning Jonathan, there can be but one

opinion. Few of the sons, or subjects of kings, have equalled him. If his father was brave and valiant, he was not inferior. Whatever good qualities were in the mind of his father,—and he must be worse than Saul who had none,—they seem all to be inherited and exceeded in the son. He was a man singular among many. He was, indeed, one of a thousand. He who loved his rival so sincerely and so exquisitely, and who served his father so faithfully, and submitted to him so dutifully,he who kept so well the second table of the law,-to love his neighbour as himself,-we would also hope, nay, we are certain, endeavoured to keep the first, to love and serve supremely his God. Well might the daughters of Israel be called upon to weep over Saul, who clothed them with scarlet and other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon their apparel. Well might the mountains of Gilboa henceforth be deprived of dew and rain, and fields of offerings. They have always been accounted singular places where monarchs were born and slain. Monarchs and ministers are awful names; whoever wear them challenge our devoir. We do not wonder at David praising Jonathan, whose love for him, by his own confession, was wonderful,-passing the love of women; so that he renounced a kingdom, a crown, and a sceptre, for his friend. He incurred the displeasure of his father, and oftener than once endangered his own life, to save him who was to fill that exalted station, of which he was to be deprived for his father's disobedience to the Divine command. David must have been ungrateful as the most ungrateful creature,—yea, he must have been ingratitude itself, had he not loved, and lauded, and lamented his generous friend. Time, in its ample volume, does not furnish a parallel to the temper and conduct of Jonathan.

But Saul did not merit such praise from his singular successor. If a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away! Saul was the inveterate and invincible enemy of David. He hunted him like a partridge on the mountains. His wrath was so deadly, and his revenge so insatiable, that David thought he would one day fall by his hand; yet, when he had him, more than once, in his power, he would not put forth his hand against the Lord's anointed. After he fell in battle, he unfeignedly wept over him, and immortalized him in his inimit able verse. Let Saul be what he might, David has done honour to humanity, and excelled many who have basked in the effulgence of Christianity. He has forgiven his debtor, as his debts were forgiven. Had he never done another heroic and generous deed, this would have immortalized his name,

and testified his grateful heart and forgiving spirit. But there was surely a cause. Will a man speak deceitfully for God, or falsify when writing to the diction of the Spirit? Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their deaths they were not divided. This needs no proof, and as little amplification.

The sons of Saul might fall fighting side by side, and, grasp. ing each other by the hand, close their eyes in death. They might present an ejaculatory prayer for themselves and each other, while they were enduring the last agony, and uttering the groan that is repeated no more. Much about the same time their spirits might, and would enter the invisible state. Saul was spared a little after Jonathan and his other sons were slain. He had escaped partly from the field of the slain. The archers had hit him, and he was sorely wounded of the archers. He was not slain by the Amalakite, as he pretended, (and for the pretence forfeited his life, though he had stript him afterwards of his crown and bracelets;) but he said to his armour-bearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armour-bearer would not; for he was sore afraid therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it. And when his armour-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him. So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armour bearer, and all his men, that same day together. (2 Sam.)

Saul obtained forgiveness of David, and might, if he asked, obtained forgiveness of God. He is the Lord God, merciful and gracious; and there is forgiveness with Him, that He may be feared. Saul was once among the prophets; and may, through the peace-speaking blood of Christ, be among the redeemed. There are many names recorded in the sacred page, who sinned, so far as we can see, as much as Saul, and yet obtained mercy through the blood of atonement. The exclusion from the kingdom of Israel did not necessarily exclude him from the kingdom of heaven. If all the kings who acted like Saul, are excluded from these blissful mansions, the sarcasm would be too true, that they are all in hell that ever reigned, (Cowper's Table Talk, i. 4.) We have left him to stand in his lot at the end of the days; and that great and awful day will determine both his and our states. The Judge of all the earth will do right; but if all who have sinned like Saul are lost, there are few, indeed, who shall be saved. Let us never sit in judgment upon others; but let us examine, and judge, and condemn ourselves, while we are yet prisoners

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