escape; not even their cattle will we spare; nay, not a hoof."

'Next spoke Eleazar, the son of Dodo, the Ahohite. "Remember, son of Jesse, the day I attended thee in battle, when I challenged the whole army of the Philistines, when I pursued them sword in hand. I coveted not their plunder, neither did I seek their booty. I harassed and destroyed them on all sides. Was it for plunder? No: but to annihilate my foes, and not suffer a remnant of them to escape. My might has not forsaken me. Saul shall become as one

of them, and his army like theirs."

Shammoth, the son of Agee, the Harorite, then lifted up his voice and said: "Surely those melodious strains must yet vibrate on thine ears which the virgins chanted in their dances, when in alternate choirs they sung, Saul hath slain his thousands and David his ten thousands.' How would their hearts be gladdened on thy return! on the return of a virtuous man, who, free from sin and iniquity, has been causelessly persecuted and pursued! Will they not most readily become thy subjects, bow down to thee, and place the diadem on thy head? Trust to us: we will serve thee, and not forsake thee whilst breath remains in our bodies. Remember the day when Israel was forced to flee before the Philistines: I alone remained on the field of lentiles, and maintaining my ground hurled destruction on the foe. (2 Sam. xxiii. 11, 12.) Hast thou already forgotten all this? Have we not often evinced our prowess unto thee? Remember, when we were encamped in the fastnesses, and thou exclaimest, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate.' Did we not instantly rise up, actuated by one impulse, and at the hazard of our lives, dash through the camp of the Philistines, and bring the water from that well? We are now as ready to bring thee the blood of thine enemies, who seek thy life, and wish to destroy our names. Hasten, then! delay not a moment! My sword is already drawn in my hand, and shall never return to its sheath till I have dyed it with the blood of thy oppressors, and thrown their carcases to the beasts of the field, and their body shall be utterly annihilated."

⚫ These words were scarcely uttered when Benaiah, the son

of Jehoiada, the son of a man from Rabzeel, whose valiant soul had achieved mighty deeds, stepped forth and said, "O that I equalled these three warriors, who have so nobly excelled in arms! But if I am yet too young to rank with such heroes, still I trust my deeds will bear recounting. I destroyed two lion-like men of Moab. I vanquished a lion on a snowy day; and an Egyptian full five cubits high I smote with his own spear, which I wrenched from his grasp. (2 Sam. xxiii. 20, 21.) My Lord, though young, my arm is strong as brass. Let me but sec mine enemy, and my sword anticipates his destruction. How long yet is this man Saul to be a stumbling-block unto us? And why is our fame to be calumniated at the gates? It is already said, 'David and his followers are fainthearted. Their courage has forsaken them. They hide themselves like night plunderers, who are afraid to see the light of the sun.' Thus our glory is clouded and disgraced. Lead us on. The Lord is with us. Thine enemies shall perish like grass. Let it to-day be proclaimed to the world who is the aggressor and who the conqueror."

'To them succeeded Abiathar, the priest, who thus addressed. the chief: "Hearken, I beseech thee, to the advice of thy friends, to the counsel of thy trusty warriors. They have advanced the truth free from guile. Why, I ask, should we wander in this vast and dreary wilderness, and abide here in this desolate cave, the habitation of scorpions and serpents? Hast thou forgotten that Saul in one day destroyed eightyfive men who wore the linen ephod; and that he so totally destroyed the priestly city of Nob, that he did not suffer men, women, or children, longer to exist? Even sucking babes did not escape his dire vengeance. Nay, the very cattle fell a prey to his malignity. And for what? Because he hated thee. Remember thy words to me then. I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house.' (1 Sam. xxii., 17, 23.) The blood of my father's house now calls on thee for revenge. Arise, then, and wreak thy vengeance on the tyrant this day, to atone for the blood of the Lord's servants which he has spilt! Art thou not the Lord's anointed, chosen by him to reign in Israel? Arise, then, I pray thee, and help his people and his priestly servants.

Has he not said, 'Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be lord over them?""

'Whilst yet Abiathar spoke, one of the scouts, who had been despatched by David, swiftly came running from one of the points of reconnoissance, and shouted, "Rejoice, rejoice! the enemy is already taken! He is within our grasp ! Saul is at hand! Quick, and you will succeed! His host has wound round yonder rock, and he only, himself, remains behind. I saw him enter the cave there to the north. Haste, and we shall take him!" All with one accord exclaimed, "This is the day which we have so long looked for. Seize sword and spear, javelin and shield! for this is the day on which the promise of the Lord will be accomplished, who said, "Behold, I will surrender thy enemy into thy power.' With anger flashing from their nostrils, they all prepared to rise and to assail him.

'David arose from his seat, leaning on his sword, his eyes beaming mildness, benevolence, and charity. So dilates the heart of the virtuous man, when an opportunity offers of extending mercy, and of conquering his passions! Advancing to his warriors, and looking round, he thus addressed them: "Stay, my friends! stay ye who seek my welfare! stay and listen to me." They stopped, and he continued: "Ye have ever been trusty men to me. Ye have never, in any one instance, or upon any occasion, swerved from my word. Ye have paid implicit attention to all my commands; for that the Lord will reward you. Do yé, therefore, also now listen to my request: Let each warrior deliver to me his sword, and sit ye down. It is not for you to seek revenge on Saul. That vengeance is due to me alone. He is mine enemy, and seeks to destroy my life." On hearing this request, they all, with one impulse, delivered their weapons, and sat down. David then turned towards the north, and beheld where Saul was entering the cave alone. David followed unseen, although he saw Saul and heard him angrily muttering to himself, "O that my people could but find this David! I would give his carcase to the birds of the air, and to the beasts of the field! Where can he be gone, and where is his hiding place? Did they not tell me that he had taken up his abode here in this wilderness? O that I could but find him!"

Where is the man who has got his enemy within his grasp, -that enemy who has repaid him evil for good, who has driven him from his paternal roof, who pursues him in order, without any just reason, to deprive him of life,-where is that man who would not retaliate, grasp his enemy by the throat, hurl him to the ground, and rejoice to see him weltering in his blood, and the dogs feasting on his vitals? Such are the urgent dictates of vengeance. But David slowly approached the implacable Saul. Vengeance was within the length of his sword. One thrust and it is done? The opportunity might never again present itself! But humanity remained triumphant, and David raised his sword, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe!" "

We conclude this Jewish allegory with the judicious remarks of Mr. Scott, in his Commentary. "David's men urged very plausibly, that God had brought his enemy into his power, in order to fulfil his promises to him: yet they were greatly mistaken; as in reality the Lord intended to give David an opportunity of exercising faith, patience, and generous kindness; of showing the tendency and efficacy of his religious principles, the tenderness of his conscience, and the stedfastness of his loyalty; for the confutation of his accusers, a rebuke to Saul, and an example to all who read it. David had a promise of the kingdom, but no command to slay the reigning king, or promise that God would deliver Saul into his hand. Saul had been anointed by God's command, as well as made king over Israel in his Providence : he had indeed been rejected; and David had been greatly injured, but he was not his own avenger. David's peculiar circumstances constrained him to defend himself, but not to slay Saul; whom he looked upon as his sovereign, and the Lord's anointed, and not as his rival and persecutor. He was satisfied with performing his present duty; he left his protection and future advancement to God; and he deemed it an atrocious offence to stretch forth his hand,' to hurt even so wicked a prince as Saul, and in defence of his own life. Nay, when he had privily cut off the skirt of Saul's robe, as a demonstration of what he could have done, his heart smote him, lest in this action he had failed of due respect to the Lord's anointed! Neither would he allow his men to injure

him; though they seem to have been so impatient for security and preferment, that he had much difficulty in restraining and appeasing them. It is always safe to deny the suggestions of revenge, covetousness, ambition, impatience, or other selfish principles: it savours more of piety, to interpret a providential dispensation as a trial of faith and patience, and an exercise of self-denial, than to consider it as a license for self-indulgence: and a tender conscience will be peculiarly afraid of specious temptations, and induce a man to abstain from all appearance of evil. Under the deepest injuries we are not allowed, and ought not to be inclined, to avenge ourselves. The noblest of all victories consists in overcoming evil with good."

S. X.

THE LITTLE GIRL WHO BUILT A RAGGED

SCHOOL.

A TRUE NARRATIVE.

"WHAT are you doing, Charlotte? You seem very busy and very happy, this evening?" said a lady to a little girl who was employed by her. "I am sewing the 'covers on some of our Sunday-school books, ma'am; they have been torn by being used so much; and I told teacher, if she would let me have them, I would sew on fresh covers-and so I brought them here, ma'am; and, as I have done my work, I thought you would not be angry if I employed myself in this way."

"O no, Charlotte; I am glad to see you so industrious; and when you have done, come and tell me what you do in Sunday-schools, for I have often heard of them, and should like to know all about them." Charlotte now worked with greater diligence, because her mistress spoke so kindly, and because she wished to tell her all about the Sunday-school. The books were soon finished, and then Charlotte explained what was the practice in Sunday-schools: how the children were assembled twice every Sabbath, and taught to read the Bible; and that the teachers explained, that even little children had sinful hearts, and that for their sins they would