tice to his own gratifications! His ear is open to all who petition, all who complain-there is no caufe which he flat

ters not.

"See, thy matters are good " and right, and there is none deputed by the king to hear thee." What infinuations could be more powerful? What mufic is fo fweet in the ear of the unstable multitude, as to hear themfelves commended, their governors cenfured? Every man fays, "How gracious a prince is Abfalom! What a juft and careful ruler would Abfalom "be? How happy were we, if we might be judged by Abfalom? Thefe "qualities which fingly exalt a charac"ter, confpire in his : beauty of person, "magnificence of ftate, gracious affabi

lity, unwearied diligence, humility in "the midst of grandeur, the tenderest "pity, the most ardent love of justice, "the most anxious care for the general ❝ welfare !"

THUS

THUS the hearts of the people are not won, but ftolen by a falfe traitor from their lawful fovereign. Nothing was wanting but a cloak of religion to complete the treachery of that ungracious fon, whose words were peaceable, while war was in his heart. How eafily is this alfo affumed! Abfalom has a holy vow in Hebron. The devout man made it long fince in Syria, and now haftens to perform it. "If the LORD fhall bring "me back again to Jerufalem, then will "I ferve the LORD." Hypocrites fcruple not to profane the name and the worship of GOD himself in the accomplishment of their facrilegious purpose.

How glad is the good old king, that he is bleffed with fo pious a fon! How does he, at Abfalom's departure, implore the favour of heaven on his defigns! The clouds of rebellion have long been gathering-at last they burst, in all their fury, over the astonished father.

WITH an heavy heart, his head covered, diffolved in tears, clothed in fackcloth, David retires from Jerufalem. Never did any forrow, but that of his facred and innocent Defcendant, approach to his forrow. How could he but weep, when the barbarous infurrection of a too dearly beloved child drove him from his house, from his throne, from the ark of his GOD? Shimei follows him with curfes-Ahithophel, his once faithful counsellor, forfakes, and betrays him-Abfalom, invefted with the royal purple, purfues his life with implacable hatred-and the moment is come, when the iffue of a battle muft decide, whether David perish in his own perfon, or in that of his fon.

сс

" I SAID, LORD, be merciful unto "me-heal my foul-for I have finned against thee. All mine enemies whif"pertogether against me—against me do "they imagine this evil. Let the fentence

of

"

of guiltiness proceed against him-and "now that be lieth, let him rife up no more! "Yea, even mine own familiar friend, " in whom I trusted, who did also eat of

my bread, hath laid great wait for "me. O thou GOD of my strength, why "haft thou forgotten me? Why go I "thus heavily, while mine enemies opprefs me-while they fay daily unto me, Where is now thy GOD?"

"WHY art thou fo vexed, O my "foul? And why art thou fo difquieted " within me? O put thy trust in GoD, "for I will yet give HIM thanks, who " is the health of my countenance, and my God."

XXXII.

THE DEATH OF ABSALOM.

THE day of battle is come. David, who had formerly been clad in armour to defend himself against a tyrannous father-in-law, muft now feek the fame protection against an unnatural fon. He mufters his foldiers, appoints his commanders, marshals his troops; and fince their loyal importunity will not fuffer him to hazard his own perfon, encourages them with his eye, and restrains them with his tongue. "Deal gently "with the young man Abfalom, for <c my fake." O holy David, what means this ill-placed love, this unjuft mercy? Deal gently with a traitor? that traitor a fon?