fuch a Time he must recal to his Mind every Token of Friendship and Regard he had ever fhewed him, which was fo great, that he had even determined to facrifice all his own Pretenfions to the Throne of Ifrael, in order that David, according to the divine Appointment, might afcend it unmolested: Ifay, when he recalled all thefe endearing Circumstances to his Mind, as he could not upon fuch an Occafion help doing, what Inconfiftency can there be found at his be ing fo much affected at his untimely Fall? Had he behaved otherwife than what is recorded he did, we should have found it much more difficult to have accounted for: fuch his Conduct. Nay, we must then have taxed him with being guilty of the fouleft Ingratitude, and have allowed that he had a Heart not in the leaft fufceptible of any tender and humane Paffion. But, even in this Cafe, there would have been nothing that could by any Means have excited Laughter, nay hardly drawn a Smile; for the Man that can fport with the Failings and Infirmities of his Fellow-Creatures, at once divests himself of that which ought to be the chief Characteristic of a Man, and becomes a Dæmon.

SEC.

SECTION THE FIFTH.

S foon as the News of Saul's Death

A was confirmed, the Men of Judah, of

whofe Tribe David was, came and anointed David King over the Houfe of Judah, as Samuel by a Command from God had for merly directed them. But the House of Ifrael did not pay that Obedience to what God had ordered; as their Brethren of Ju dab had; but took Ishbofheth, Saul's Son, and anointed him King over Ifrael. Now this was done contrary to the Right of Succef fion: For if there was any fuch Right in Saul's Family, Mephibofheth, the Son of Jo nathan, was the Perfon who ought to have fucceeded according to Heirship; and the Ifraelites were guilty of great Ingratitude to him in thus fetting afide his Son, as he had ever deserved well of them. This occafioned a civil War. between David and Ifbbofbeth, which lafted as long as the King of Ifrael lived. David is often on this Account called an Ufurper; but on what Foundation? The Right of the House of Saul to the Crown of Ifrael ceafing upon his Death, as I have already fhewn, his Children could pretend no Claim to it; and as the Almighty, in whom alone, as the fupreme Governor of Ifrael, the Power of difpofing of it was invefted, had transferred that Right to David,

he,

he, in contending for the Crown, was only claiming what was then become his Right; and in fo doing, he acted in Obedience to a Command he had received from God. Now Ibbofbeth must be esteemed as an Ufurper, confider him in what Light you please whether in contending for the Government of Ifrael, contrary to an exprefs Command from God; or elfe, fuppofing he had a Right, claiming it whilft the Son of his eldest Brother was living. And that he and his Party were fenfible that God had fo determined concerning the Kingdom, clearly appears from an Answer of Abner's to Ifbbofheth, when he had been reproved by him for defiling Rizpah, his Father's Concubine, and was on that Account determined to leave him. So do God to Abner, and more alfo, except as the Lord hath fworn to David, even fo do I to him: To tranflate the Kingdom from the Houfe of Saul, and to fet up the Throne of David over Ifrael and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba. To this Speech of Abner's, Ifhbofbeth was unable to return any Anfwer, as he was fenfible it was David's Right; and feared left Abner fhould put his Threat in Execution, as we find he foon after did. Whereas had the Right been in the Houfe of Saul, he would not have had so much Reason to have dreaded him, as we find he did.

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7. This

This Contention, however, between the two Families did not caufe David to leffen his Regard to the Memory of Saul, and Jonathan his Son: For fome Time after being informed, that the Men of Jabefb-Gilead were the Perfons who had buried the Remains of Saul and Jonathan, he fent Meffengers unto them, and faid unto them, Bleed be ye of the Lord, that ye have hered this Kindness unto your Lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him. This Circumstance evidently demonftrates the great Piety of David. For he hereby teftified the Sincerity of the Refpect and Kindness he entertained for Saul and his House, though his virulent Enemy. And he was not content merely with praying God to recompence them this their Kindness, which he repeats again; but promises that he would himself take Care of them, by defending them from the Philistines, if they should offer to invade them: For these are his Words; And now the Lord fhew Kindness and Truth unto you; and I alfo will requite this Kindness, because же bave done this Thing. Such was the Conduct of this pious and truly good Man to Saul and his Family, both before and at his Afcenfion to the Throne of Ifrael. We will now take a View how he behaved towards them, after he was established upon it; and, I make no Doubt, we fhall find it equally as unexceptionable as before.

Ibbofheth

Ifbbofbeth the King of Ifrael, we fhall find, by proceeding in the facred Hiftory, was flain about Noon, as he lay on his Bed, by two Confpirators, Rechab and Baanah, Sons of Rimmon the Becrothite, who came into the House under a Pretence of fetching Wheat. As foon as they had perpetrated this shocking Murder, they cut off the Head of this unfortunate Prince, and carried it to David, in Hopes of ingratiating themselves with him by having thus bafely deftroyed his Competitor. But what Reception did that Monarch give thefe Traitors? Did he commend them for fuch their Treachery, and on that Account promote them to Honour? No. Had the pious David indeed acted in this Manner, we could have been fo far from justifying him, that we could hardly have cleared him from having been underhand concerned in this Confpiracy. But he, we fhall find, perfectly confiftent with himself, thus accofts them: As the Lord liveth, who bath redeemed my Soul out of all Adverfity, when one told me, faying, Be bold Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good Tidings, I took bold of him, and flew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given· him a Reward for his Tidings: How much more when wicked Men have flain a righteous Perfon in his own Houfe, upon his Bed? Shall I not therefore now require bis Blood of your Hand, and take you away from the Earth? And

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