DOUBTLESS, Saul (with the wits and flatterers of his court) had, in the fulness of his libertine fpirit, often turned David, and the prophetick choir to which he had affociated himself, to abundant ridicule! and now the ridicule is retorted upon himself: a ridicule, which (as Erafmus obferves) is properly applied to any man who is unfitly affociated. WHILST Saul continued under this influence of the Holy Spirit, David returned from Ramah to Gibeah, where the court then refided, and where Jonathan is believed to have been governor: here he had recourse to his faithful friend, for aid and advice in his prefent exigency; here he expoftulated with him upon the cruelty of his father's "cloaths, and to give them worse and fhorter, that they "might be the more fit for fervice, as Sanctius and Gro"tius have obferved. Befides, it is not probable that "Ifaiah could have lived three whole years without any "cloaths to cover him. We must therefore render, " that Saul ftript himself of his upper garment, and lay "almost naked on the ground. In the fame fense that «Aurelius Victor, speaking of those who were sent to "Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus, to bring him to the fenate "to be made dictator, fays, that they found him naked, "ploughing on the other fide of the Tyber. For it were "ridiculous to imagine that he was altogether naked. "And Titus Livius, relating the fame ftory, obferves, "that he called to his wife Rucca for his gown, or toga, that he might appear fit to accompany them. persecution, and endeavoured to find out the cause of it. JONATHAN gave him all the confolation he could; and probably confiding, more than he ought, in the fincerity of Saul's converfion, from the late miracle wrought upon him, endeavoured to perfuade David, that no more mischief was meant him; inafmuch as his father, who concealed nothing from him, had not given him the least hint of any fuch intention. But this, far from affuring David, confirmed him the more in the perfuafion of fome fecret defigns laid against him, which were industriously concealed from Jonathan, from a perfuafion, that his friendship would discover them to David: And David fware (1 Sam. xx. 3.) moreover, and faid, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thy eyes; and he faith, Let not Jonathan know this, left he be grieved * : but truly, as the *The reader will obferve a fingular delicacy in this expreffion; the honour David had for Jonathan, would not let him put any expreffion into the mouth of his father, which should imply the least distrust of his fon : and therefore he gives it quite another turn; as if Saul concealed his defigns upon David from Jonathan, only to avoid afflicting him. Lord Lord liveth, and as thy foul liveth, there is but a step between me and death. To this Jonathan replied, that he was ready to do every thing that David's heart defired for his fafety. UPON this, it was agreed, that the next day, being the feftival of the New Moon, at which time David's attendance would be expected, if Saul fhould enquire for him, Jonathan fhould answer, that he had, at his earnest request, given him leave to attend an annual family sacrifice then held at Bethlehem. If the king acquiefced in that excufe, they were to conclude, that all was well; if not, that evil was determined against David. DAVID added, that in acting thus, Jonathan would give him a fure proof of his friendship, and inviolable adherence to that covenant which they had mutually confirmed by folemn oaths: but if Jonathan declined doing this, he then begged, that if he were conscious of any guilt in him that deferved death, he would flay him himself that he might have the fatisfaction of dying by the hand of his friend, and not be exposed to the rage of his cruel father: If there be in me iniquity, (fays he) Лlay me thyself; for why shouldst thou bring me to thy father? THIS he faid in the fulness of friendly affliction; as the Japonefe at this day, when their friends are doomed to die, flay them with their own hands, thinking it infamous to fall by the hand of a common executioner. Though David's request had, I think, more of Phaedra's wifh in it, to die by the hands of that person who was dearest to him. And Jonathan fo understood it; for we find this tender expreffion touched him to the quick, and he immediately cried out, Far be it from me! affuring David at the fame time, that, far from deftroying him himself, if he knew any evil defigns of his father against him, he would certainly difcover them. David then asked, Suppofing there were fuch defigns, and Jonathan fhould come to the knowledge of them, what method could he take of informing him? To this Jonathan (having hit upon a contrivance that would effect what he defired) only replied, by defiring him to walk out into the fields with him; and as they paffed along, his generous heart, filled with all the tenderness of friendship, and touched with the appear ance ance of his being fufpected by David, broke out into that tender profeffion of his integrity, and pathetick appeal to Almighty God for it, which nothing ever yet equalled: O Lord God of Ifrael, when I have founded my father, about to-morrow at any time, or the third day; and behold, if there be good toward David, and I then fend not unto thee, and fhew it thee, the Lord do fo, and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will fhew it thee, and fend thee away, that thou mayeft go in peace; and the Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my father. He then proceeds, in the fulness of his friendship for him, and in full affurance that David would one day fill the throne which GOD intended for him, to oblige him once more to ratify the covenant which they had mutually fworn: And thou shalt not only, while yet I live, fhew me the kindness of the Lord, that I die not; but also, thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever. How tender a fenfe had Jonathan of that friendship which he thus wishes to perpetuate! How unspeakable a generosity, to stipulate for his own life, with that man whose H 3 life |