friendship muft ever labour under a great disadvantage. The inferior in fortune, however independent, finds difficulty to affume that ease and freedom, which the commerce of friendship naturally requires, but which an inequality of condition feems almoft to forbid. Befides, the claims of fuperiors upon thofe in humble circumftances, are ufually fo very unreasonable and extravagant, as must not only repress esteem, but highly difcourage that reciprocation of kind offices, which invariably accompanies fincere friendship. The great, when they accept of benefits, as well as when they confer them, would have it believed, that their inferiors are ftill the perfons moft obliged. Whatever these may do, it is only to be confidered as matter of duty, and not of favour. Nor is this all ; but the great often extend their claims ftill farther, and expect not only these kind affiduities and friendly offices from their inferiors, but likewife formal thanks for their condefcenfion in accepting of them. But where the mind is too generous and rational, to admit fentiments fo very illiberal and abfurd, it is not often that we find it totally difengaged from the prejudices of fuperiority, They are few indeed, who, when they themfelves

6

odious enormity, we need only be fent to the brutes, whofe nature, however meanly regarded, is fuperior to the admiffion of it. Even the ox and the afs, animals stupid to a proverb, too evidently fhew, that, in this respect, they are of a temper less ignoble than man. For this reason they are felected by the prophet, to upbraid, by their example, his degenerate countrymen with their ingratitude to almighty God, whom he introduces as thus fpeaking; I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the afs his master's crib; but Ifrael doth not know; my people doth not confider. Even creatures, led only by fenfe and inftinct," will carefs, love, and obey their benefactor; but mankind, with all the boasted prerogative of reason, will wantonly infult their best friend, and openly rebel against him that made them. Instead of being foftened by kindness, they often feem only hardened by it in their ingratitude. The benevolence that fubdues the brutes of the foreft, has frequently no other effect upon them, but to render them still more favage. And though formed by their maker, but a little lower than angels,

angels, they often, by their actions, fink themselves beneath brutes.

BUT however common this ungenerous. difpofition may be found in the human race, it is not perhaps more obfervable in any order of it, than in those who are diftinguished by fome fudden or extraordinary elevation, It is not an illiberal remark, to fay that their conduct is often fuch, as if they regarded the change of their condition, as a fufficient discharge from all former obligations. And they, who ufually experience the greatest unkindnefs from fuch people, are the very perfons who have contributed moft to their fuccefs, For fuch is the folly of mankind, that they cannot bear the reflection, that they are indebted for their profperity or greatnefs, to any one but themfelves. Therefore the fight of those, who have been their principal auxiliaries, is of course odious to them, as it reminds them of the support or affistance which they have received from others. And we have too many inftances of Princes, who, for this very reafon, have made those, that had been the. chief agents in advancing them to the throne,

the

the first victims of their tyranny. Monflers of cruelty! But let us now proceed to the contemplation of a character as amiable, as these are detestable; a character, which is as great an ornament to humanity, as thefe are a difgrace to it.

DAVID's acceffion fo power, fo far from being stained with any acts of cruelty, oppreffion, or revenge, is diftinguished by a torrent of the moft pungent grief, even for that very person, who not only ftood in his way to it, but actually fought his deftruction. But the lofs of his friend, he feems fcarcely able to fupport; for the acquifition of a kingdom, he well knew, was little or no recompence for fuch a lofs. Even a thousand kingdoms weighed against such a friend, would have been but duft in the balance. For his fake he could not only forgive, but even love his perfecutor. The cruelty of SAUL, was abforbed in the friendfhip of JONATHAN. The foul of DAVID feems now to know no other paffion, but thofe only of love and grief. And the first

act of his, that we read of,

after he was

made king, is to fend meffengers to thofe, who had done honour to their dead bodies,

to

to fignify his peculiar approbation of their conduct, and to affure them of his intentions to requite their kindness. So genuine and vigorous was his affection for these unfortunate Princes, that his grief upon the mournful occafion of their catastrophe, seems to have affumed every mode of expreffion. How highly picturefque of it, is his very pathetic elegy, compofed, as it should feem, immediately upon his receiving an account of that melancholy event! The beauty of Ifrael, fays he, is flain. How are the mighty fallen! He then proceeds to give vent to all the enthufiafm of diftraction; and even imprecates a curfe upon the fatal mountains of Gilboa. And having justly celebrated the valour and heroifm of these accomplished leaders, he concludes with a variety of such tender fentiments, as are ftrongly characteristic of his distinguished affection for them. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleafant in their lives; and in their death, they were not divided.-Ye daughters of Ifrael, weep for Saul.-I am diftreffed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleafant haft thou been unto me. Thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

BUT