influence of beauty, are poor and profitless without It; and This it is in the power of every Soul alive, however untutored in Human science, however destitute of animal power, however otherwise without the wisdom of the serpent, and though with a visage no otherwise attractive, to obtain: for with the heart Man believeth unto Righteousness; and The LORD, Who Looketh upon the heart, Knoweth Them that are His: and we have the Assurance of TRUTH Itself, that all Things work together for Good to them, that love GOD and observe His Testimonies.

In the instance of David, as well as of Joseph and Daniel, we see the Influence of JEHOVAH Superinducing the counsels of the Mighty upon Earth, and His Great and Gracious Purposes Advanced in the seemingly ordinary operations of Human action; and the Predestinations of The DIVINE Will confirmed by the free-agency of Man. With a mind active as that of David, the appointment to the Post of Armour-Bearer to the King, and an Attendant upon his Person, gave David, perhaps, the first rudiments of Royal Governance, which afterwards ripened so exemplarily in him unto perfection; and, doubtless, with him no opportunity of improvement was lost. And who is there, that has not, through CHRIST, an Immortal Crown Set before him, and whose interest it is, commensurate with the Eternity of the Life to Come, to strive in the Life that is to qualify himself, in GOD'S Graciously Appointed Way, to win and wear It; and by whom every opportunity of righteous Self-government upon Gospel Principles, so indispensable a qualification as it is, should be faithfully embraced.

"Now the Philistines gathered together their Armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim. And Saul and the Men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the Valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines: and the Philistines stood on a Mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a Mountain on the other side: and there was a Valley between them. And there went out a Champion out of the Camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span; and he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass: and he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders: and the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and One bearing a shield, went before him! And he stood and cried unto the Armies of Israel, and said unto them, 'Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? Am not I a Philistine, and ye Servants to Saul? choose you a Man for you, and let him come down to me! if he be able to fight with me and kill me, then will we be your Servants: but if I prevail against him and kill him, then shall ye be our Servants, and serve

us.' And the Philistine said, 'I defy the Armies of Israel this day! Give me a Man, that we may fight together! When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. Now David was the Son of that Ephrathite of Beth-lehem-Judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight Sons: and the Man went among Men for an old Man in the days of Saul: and the three eldest Sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three Sons, that went to the battle, were Eliab, the first-born; and next unto him, Abinadab; and the third, Shammah: and David was the youngest; and the three Eldest followed Saul. But David went, and returned from Saul to feed his Father's sheep at Beth-lehem. And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days. And Jesse said unto David, his Son, ' Take now, for thy Brethren, an ephah of this parched corn and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy Brethren; and carry these ten cheeses unto the Captain of their Thousand, and look how thy Brethren fare; and take their pledge! Now Saul, and they, and all the

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Men of Israel, were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines. And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a Keeper, and took and went as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the Host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle: for Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, Army against Army: and David left his carriage in the hand of the Keeper of the carriage, and ran into the Army, and came and saluted his Brethren: and as he talked with them, behold, there came up the Champion (the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name), out of the Armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words; and David heard them. And all the Men of Israel, when they saw the Man, fled from him, and were sore afraid: and the Men of Israel said, 'Have ye seen this Man, that is come up? Surely to defy Israel is he come up! And it shall be, that the Man, who killeth him, the King will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his Daughter, and make his Father's House free in Israel.' And David spake to the Men, that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the Man, that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the Armies of The Living GOD? And the People answered him after this manner, saying, 'So shall it be done to the Man that killeth him. And Eliab, his eldest Brother, heara when he spake unto the Men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, 'Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the Wilderness? I know thy pride and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.' And David said, 'What have I now done? Is there not a cause?' And he turned from him toward Another, and spake after the same manner. And the People answered him again after the former manAnd when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul; and he sent for him. And David said to Saul, Let no Man's heart fail because of him! Thy Servant will go and fight with this Philistine.' And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for thou art but a Youth, and he a Man of war from his youth! And David said unto Saul, Thy Servant kept his Father's sheep, and there came a lion and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock; and I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he rose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him and slew him: thy Servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the Armies of The Living GOD.' David said, moreover, The LORD, That Delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He will Deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.' And Saul said unto David, Go, and The LORD be with thee! And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armour; and he assayed to go, for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these! for I have not proved them.' And David put them off him: and he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a Shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand; and he drew near to the Philistine. And the Philistine came on, and drew near unto David; and the Man that bare the shield went before him: and when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a Youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. And the Philistine said unto David, 'Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves?' And the Philistine cursed David by his gods: and the Philistine said to David, Come to me! and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air and to the beasts of the field.' Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword and with a spear and with a shield: but I come to thee in the Name of The LORD of HOSTS, The GOD of the Armies of Israel, Whom thou hast defied.

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This day will The LORD Deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee: and I will give the carcasses of the Host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the Earth may know that there is A GOD in Israel: and all this Assembly shall know that The LORD Saveth not with sword and spear; for the battle is The LORD'S, and He will Give you into our hands.' And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted and ran toward the Army to meet the Philistine: and David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine and slew him. But there was no sword in the hand of David; therefore David ran and stood upon the Philistine and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him; and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their Champion was dead, they fled. And the Men of Israel and of Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines until they came to the Valley and to the gates of Ekron: and the Wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath and unto Ekron. And the Children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents. And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem: but he put his armour in his tent.”1 Sam. xvii, 1. 54.

The very description of the figure of Goliah is enough to fill the mind with awe; and his presence, in the character of an Enemy, might well strike terror into the hearts of those that, although Israelites, were but of little faith. Saul, though towering loftily in stature above his Subjects, and bred to war, felt himself unequal to cope with him upon any reasonable estimate of Human power; and he had previously proved that he was wanting in that faith, which, working by obedience, waxeth strong and valiantly.

All the attractions of a Court seemed not to have effaced from the mind of David the duties of filial affection and service. Notwithstanding his appointment as the King's Armour-Bearer, and the regard that Saul entertained for him, he yet gave a preference to his paternal roof, and sought the return of the endearments of a pastoral life, as more in unison with the pious tenour of his thoughts, and presenting less hindrance to his devotional pursuits.

One proof that Jesse was deserving of such attention at the hand of David, and that his conduct was such as to incite to a reverential feeling and love towards him, is offered in the narrative of his considerateness of his other Sons, who had followed Saul to the battle, and his appointing David to take from them "their pledge" of that affection which the old Man was so desirous should mutually subsist between them.

Jesse directed David to run to the camp, and he accordingly rose up early, even for a Shepherd, in the morning to go thither, impelled alike by filial reverence and fraternal love; and when he came to his Brethren he saluted them with all the ingenuousness of unsuspecting innocence.

Though David asked what was to be the reward of him, that overcame the Philistine, he did not wait for the answer, till he had proclaimed that a love for his Country and a zeal for the Glory of his GOD were the primary considerations that led him to contemplate an exposure of himself in the contest.

Ungracious and ungrateful as was the return, which David met with from his Brother, it did not awaken in him any angry feelings; but, almost distrusting his own motives, when so construed by a Brother, he mildly asks him "What have I now done? Is there not a cause?" David had been Anointed by the Prophet of The LORD, and might he not reasonably hope that he might, through

The Same DIVINE Appointment, be the Chosen Deliverer of Israel; and was there not an ample cause, when the Honour of his GOD in the Armies of His People was daringly defied by a Heathen, that he should stand forth and, knowing that The LORD had before been his SAVIOUR, hope that through him He would give Salvation unto Israel?

David had witnessed the terror that Goliath's presence and his taunting challenge had struck through all the ranks of the Israelitish Battalions. Though confident in his own prowess, he did not upbraid them with cowardice; but in the spirit of true magnanimity, held out to them encouragement against despondency.

Notwithstanding the experience David had had of the extraordinary power that belonged to him, in having overcome two of the most fierce and powerful Beasts of the Forest, he did not presume thereupon as the effect of Human strength and courage, but gave to The LORD of All Power and Might the Glory and the Praise, and made Him his Strength and his Confidence. Nor did David assume that, from his individual merits, The ALMIGHTY would Interpose on his behalf, but he rested his hope of DIVINE Protection on the blasphemy of his Adversary, and the defiance vented by the Latter against the People of GOD.

David knew that the race is not always to the Swift, nor the battle to the Strong; but that the Victory is with The LORD of HOSTS, and that He Saveth by Many or by Few; though not always with sword and shield. More unequivocally to show the Israelites, as well as Heathens, that The LORD was on David's side; and that he did not fear what Man could do unto him, he laid aside the ordinary weapons of offence and instruments of protection, and went out against the mail-clad Giant defenceless almost as a Minister of peace. Such is the influence of true faith; such the effect of a pious confidence in The ALMIGHTY'S Help when fighting in His Cause.

In such utter contempt did the Philistine hold David, that he would not condescend to meet him; but, after venting his curses upon him, as it should seem for his audacity in disturbing him, says, If David would come to him (as though he doubted whether David would venture to do so), that he would exterminate him from the earth; thus arrogating to himself the power of life and death, without heeding The LORD of Life.

In the fulness of The HOLY GHOST, Which is Strength as well as Wisdom, from Whom is the Gift of foreknowledge, as well as of power to understand even the Deep Things of GOD, and to overcome all Adversaries, David, with the eye and tongue of Prophecy, foresaw and foretold that the great Work of Israel's Redemption from temporal Enemies was to be Accomplished, through DIVINE Aid and Favour, by him. David said not "If The LORD Will, He can Enable me to accomplish this," but he spoke as One having Authority from On HIGH, and he avowed That Authority, admitting, substantially, that it was not his arm that of itself could gain the victory, but that it was The LORD That Wrought That Work in him; a Work which should Redound to The DIVINE Honour, and Advance the Gracious Purposes of GOD to Man upon Earth. The passage beautifully and exemplarily illustrates the nature and efficacy of true faith-such faith as is strong in The LORD and in the Power of His Might, removing even mountains and overcoming obstacles to Human eye apparently insurmountable; but it does not, therefore, in the spirit of Phrarasaical selfrighteousness, take to itself the merit, but ascribes it to its Genuine SOURCE, The LORD Omnipotent, Who Alone Giveth strength to the Weak and wisdom to the Simple, and Who hath Chosen the foolish things of the World to confound the wise, and the weak things of the World to confound the things which are mighty; that no Flesh should glory in His Presence, otherwise than in The

LORD.

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Thou comest to me (said David to the Philistine) with a sword and with a spear and with a shield, but I come to thee in the Name of The LORD of HOSTS, The GOD of the Armies of Israel, Whom thou hast defied." What an example is here offered for the Warriors of this day to invoke the Aid of The Same ALMIGHTY POWER, and to trust in Him Who equally now, as in the days of David, Ruleth over all the Kingdoms of the Earth; and Whose Arm is not shortened, that He cannot Deliver as heretofore, nor is His Ear now Deaf to prayers, that He cannot Hear such as in fervour of spirit are made unto Him. Did David trust in The Living LORD, and proclaim that trust before Hosts of Israelites and Heathens, and persevere therein, in defiance of the upbraidings of a Brother and the mockery of the Philistine Warrior? and should we, if opposed by discouragements no greater, refuse to make Him our Confidence, and to proclaim Him as The POWER That Teacheth our hands to war and our fingers to fight, and Giveth us the Victory over Spiritual, if not over temporal Enemies?

The situation in which David placed himself was desperate. He ran towards the Philistine, who was so cloathed with mail as to be vulnerable, with such weapons as David had, only in the face; and had David missed his first aim, the defenceless state in which himself was, must have made him an easy prey to the mighty power and exasperated feelings of his Antagonist. But he knew that it was the battle of The ALMIGHTY he had to fight. So against Satan himself, and all the Adversaries of our Souls, mighty and powerful as they are, and eager at all times to swallow us up, The SPIRIT of The LORD will continually Protect us, if we seek unto It, and will Arm us with That Grace, Which, like the Mandate of our Blessed SAVIOUR to the turbulent waves, by the utterance, in faith, of the words "Peace, be still!" will put to silence and confound with shame All that defy The Living LORD, and would, through us, diminish His Glory and overturn His Kingdom within the hearts of His People. How Wonderful is the Counsel of The MOST HIGH! Which thus by Means so contrary to Human conceptions, Brings His Gracious Works of Mercy to Pass! Let us, therefore, take courage from this example, and, giving the lesson thus read to us a Spiritual application, defy with fearlessness the evil passions within us, and the machinations of evil Men from without; seeing that The LORD is our Help, and that through JESUS CHRIST, The Great CAPTAIN of Salvation, He will Give us the Victory.

The yielding to one passion systematically, may enlarge it to an extent of influence over us, that it may seem to need a DIVINE Miracle to uproot it from our habits and affections; and this may prove an avenue for the minor passions and evil propensities of our Nature by degrees, and almost imperceptibly, to approach and enter into us, and acquire such an ascendancy over our Souls, through the effect of a rejection of religious principle (which cannot be of partial operation), as to render them also formidable antagonists in our Spiritual warfare. But where sin doth abound, if The HOLY SPIRIT we have not entirely quenched within us, there doth Grace also, through JESUS CHRIST, The Propitiation for our sins, much more Abound: and if through penitence and faith in That Same JESUS (which faith worketh by love and by an entire devotion of the heart to the Service and Glory of GOD), we resist the evil that principally besets us, we shall surely prevail; and then all the multitude of lesser passions, that have sought the destruction of our Soul's peace, like the Hosts of the Philistines when they found their Champion was dead, will take to flight.

And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the Captain of the Host, Abner! Whose Son is this Youth?' And Abner said, As thy Soul liveth, O King, I cannot tell! And the King said, Enquire thou,