DAVID. 
alted ftation, and amidit the dangers that encompaffed him, 
he behaved with fingular prudence, fo that he was in high 
eiteem both in the court and cam mode 
his approved courage and refo- 
the confidence and friendthip of Jona- 
ran, the king’s eldeft fou, ‘who loved him as his own foul,” 
his advocate with his father, and obtained from him 
t i an oath, that he would no more 
attempt to deftroy him. But his jealoufy returned by a 
frefh vidory David gained over the Philiftines; who, find- 
ing the king was determined to have his life, retired from 
Saul’s tyrannical government, to the number of fix hundred 
men, to prote im from the violence of his unreafonable 
perfecut i 
veneration he 
uch was the paid 
regard he had for his life, fuch the generofity of his temper, . 
onde ; fF 
of Ifrael. 
was a friendfhip o 
from‘his allegianee and filia y 
fo firm a confidence, that as knew he would be king, he 
promifed himfelf he fhould be the next perfon in dignity and 
authority under him; and with his friend David covenanted by 
oath, that * he would not cut off his kindnefs from hie houfe 
r 3? H 
never feduced 
uty; in him Jonathan had 
e 
m avenging himfelf with his own 
nifth himfelf i 
5 
er 
° 
) 
fa] 
a 
Me] 
% 
~ 
i?) 
‘country, he was faithful to the prince who proteéted him; 
and, at the fame time, mindful of the intereft of his own 
nation, he cut off many of thofe, who had harafled and 
plundered his feliow-fubjedts. 
into whofe dominions he retired, to j ina war againit 
his own country, and father-in-law, ently gave 
him fuch an a 
of him, nor tying up his hands 
from ferving his own prince, and rmy that fought un- 
him ; only him in general, that he had neve 
done any thing that could give bim juft reafon to think he 
would refufe to affift him againft his enemies. Upon the 
death of Saul, he cut 0 the Amaiekite who came tom 
e Lord by 
n the death of Ithbofheth, who was treache- 
roufly murthered by two of his own captains; whom 
ra juftly cut off for their perfidy, treafon, and parri 
cide. 
As king of Ifrael, he adminiftered juftice a8 judgment 
to all his people, was a prince of courage, and great mili- 
and condu@; had freque i 
ry pruden equent wars with 
neighbouring nations, to whi € was generally forced 
their invading his dominions, and plundering his fub- 
jets; again& them he I battle; he never be- 
fieged a city without taking it, nor y thing 
nor, as for an 
d any feverities againft thofe he 
arms is 
with th 
T his crimes were heinous, and hi ily ted, 
in the affair of Uriah and Bathfheba, he patiently endured 
reproof, humbly fubmitted to the punifiment appointe 
im, atoned for his fins, as far as he 
could, by a fincere 
commanded th When forced by it to 
the ju punithment of 
him, 
for murder and treafon. 
command of God i 
e the crown w 
baitard children, 
had-no right or poffible claim to the throne, and could es 
ver give him any uneatinefs in the poffeffion of it ; and thus 
fhewed his inviolable regard for his oaths, his tendernefs to 
Saul, and 
lw him according to his prudence, and 
not to fpare him if he found hing i 
gave the 
