encircled only with curtains!"' David, however, had never followed the suggestions of his own mind, in any matter of moment, without superior directions. He, therefore, sent for Nathan, the prophet, and communicated his desire to erect a temple better suited to the glory which emanated from beneath the wings of the Cherubim. The prophet at first encouraged him to go on with his design, but afterwards, when better instructed, informed him, that that honour was denied unto him, who had been a man of war," and was reserved for his successor-a son who was yet to be born-" a man of peace," with whom "the kingdom should be for ever established."

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Submitting, without a murmur, to this decree, the king instantly repaired to the sanctuary, to render his heartfelt acknowledgments for the gracious promise with which it was accompanied.

Disappointed in the first object of his laudable ambition, David now looked around for other channels to receive his royal munificence. Inquiring particularly for the house of Saul, he found a son of his firm and early friend Jonathan, who had lived unknown and unnoticed, since the death of his father.-Mephibosheth, a child at the time of the late revolution, had been precipitately carried away by his nurse, and had lost the use of his limbs by a fall from her arms in the hurry of her flight.

FANNY. The discovery of a child of Jonathan, would be most delightful to the king-no doubt he rejoiced in being able to protect him?

MRS. M. Nothing could have been more soothing to his tender recollection of Jonathan. The forlorn prince was immediately conducted to court, and treated like the

children of the king. His father's estates were restored to him, and Ziba, a servant who had attended him in his adversity, was commanded to cultivate them for his master and for himself.

From these pleasant occupations the warlike king was again summoned to the field. The restless enemies of Israel again appeared in arms. The Moabites, the Ammonites, the Syrians, and others, were engaged and subdued, not now as heretofore, partially, but completely—their towns were garrisoned by Israelites-tributes exacted-and at length, the whole extent of that land which had been originally promised to the posterity of Abraham, was, according to the prophecy, brought under the dominion of David.

But the conquest of Edom was that which most contri, buted to the subsequent greatness of the empire; for he thereby became possessed of Elath and Ezion-geber, two ports on the Red sea, which opened to him all the trade of the East, the source of his immense wealth.

FANNY. I do not remember to have read of any trade carried on by David.

MRS. M. I am not surprised at your confession. It is a common thing to pass over circumstances of seeming insignificance, which, nevertheless, elucidate or confirm others of moment. The abundance of gold and silver in Jerusalem has been ridiculed by those who would not take the trouble to examine whence they came. They did not fall from the clouds on this favoured king, and his illustrious son Solomon; but were imported from India, from Persia, from Africa, and Arabia, by the Red Sea, to Ezion-geber and Elath, and this is believed to be the ori

gin of the East India trade, which has been so immensely profitable to our merchants since the passage round the Cape of Good Hope has been discovered.*

Hitherto we have seen this excellent man respectable for his virtues, and adhering to his duty against the strongest temptations to the contrary. How painful to submit to the dictate of candour, and exhibit the reverse of the picture! But the uses of history are perverted when partiality conceals the defects of those who make the most conspicuous figure on its theatre.

The divine compositions of David will ever be the record of his unquestionable piety-and the general tenor of his life was remarkable for its rectitude. Yet David fell into aggravated sin, and the fall of such a man is an everlasting confirmation of that sacred truth, that "the heart is desperately wicked;" and should teach us "not to be highminded, but fear."

Against Syria, and Moab, and others in the wars just now mentioned, the king went in person, and returned with victory and spoils of immense value, especially utensils of silver and gold, which were all dedicated to the decoration and service of the temple which his son was to build. Remaining, after these fatiguing exertions, himself in Jerusalem, he sent Joab against the Ammonites.

In this fatal season of repose, whilst every thing was flourishing at home and abroad, he fell violently in love with a very beautiful woman named Bath-sheba, the wife of one of his officers! Surrendering himself wholly to his passion, he wrote secretly to the general, commanding him to assign the most dangerous post to Uriah, the husbaud

* See Prideaux, book i. p. 4.

of Bath-sheba. No man was better qualified than the wily Joab to execute the cruel purpose of his master. The devoted Uriah soon fell by the sword of the enemy, and the fair Bath-sheba was publicly declared the wife of King David!

This shocking deed was the deep stain of David's life -yet he continued insensible for an incredible time, but he was awakened at length, by the prophet Nathan-who was commissioned to reprove him, by seeming to lay before the chief magistrate, the complaint of a man who had been wronged by his neighbour.

"There were two men in one city," said the prophet, "the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: but the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe-lamb, which he had bought, and nourished up and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

:

"And there came a traveller unto the rich man and he spared to take of his own flock, and of his own herd, to dress for the way-faring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him."

This forcible appeal to his native sense of right and wrong, awakened the just indignation of the king—but his conscience still slept! "As the Lord liveth," he hastily answered, "the man that hath done this thing shall surely die—and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity." So quicksighted are we to the faults of others, and so blinded to our own!

-Completely subjected to the dominion of his passions, nothing less than the direct application of the case to himself was adequate to the emancipation of the guilty king. “Thou art the man," said the prophet, and the whole abominable transaction arose to his conviction, whilst the messenger of God pronounced the just judgment that awaited his crime. Now pierced to the very soul, the humbled monarch breathed not one syllable in extenuation, but prostrate on the earth he acknowledged his transgression with fasting and tears.

The fifty-first psalm in our translation, which he wrote on this sad occasion, is a lively transcript of his penitence -the sacrifice of "a broken spirit and a contrite heart !” CATHERINE. I hope the penitence of David was accepted without the infliction of a penalty, seeing how much he had suffered before he came to the throne.

MRS. M. That ought not to be desired. His sin was enormous; and his high example was dangerous to the His pardon might be known only

morals of the nation.

to himself. But as his

crime had been notorious, it was

proper that his punishment should be exemplary: and it came in that bitter form, which, of all others, human nature is least able to bear!

"I will raise up evil against

thee, out of thine own house." Accordingly, horrible immoralities were committed by his sons-one fell by the hand of another-and Absalom, the most engaging-the most beloved of them all-accomplished the climax of his father's afflictions, by exciting a rebellion against him!

CATHERINE. Was it possible to excite a rebellion against a monarch so excellent, and so beloved by his people?

MRS, M. The populace of every country are restless;