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BUT his affection for his friend did not exhaust itself in unavailing lamentation for his death; but he diftinguishes his orphan, although he might now be justly confidered as his rival for the crown, with the most princely honours. The claims of the father had expired with his life, upon the mountains of Gilboa; and DAVID, had he framed his conduct upon the cold and ungenerous maxims of worldly prudence, might have easily contented himself with only dif playing the outward enfigns of forrow usual upon fuch occafions, without raising his fon to an elevation, which, as it furnished him with opportunities of forming connections and intimacies with the leading men in the kingdom, might have foon rendered him formidable. For though, by virtue of his engagement with JONATHAN, he was bound to fhew kindness to his feed, he was not bound to raise him to a level with the first Princes. Befides, with refpect to Mephibofheth, DAVID feems to have been entirely ignorant that there was any fuch person; and he would have had no reafon to think that he had been deficient in the performance of his engagement, had he only fhewn. kindness to fuch of the family, as he had

any

any cognizance of, or to fuch of them as fhould, at any time, be introduced to his notice; but his affection for his friend was not fo torpid, feeble, and inanimate; nor his political maxims fo narrow, felfish, and illiberal. No, fo dear to him was the memory of JONATHAN, that, for his fake, he longed for an opportunity to diftinguish any one of the whole houfe of SAUL, by his royal favour; and therefore inquired if there were any left of his defcendants, to whom he might fhew kindness? And when, by this means he had discovered a fon of his beloved friend, who had hitherto lived in the greatest obfcurity, he immediately, in oppofition to the ufual maxims of courts, granted him a princely establishment. DAVID fhewed not, in his conduct towards him, any thing of that artifice, jealoufy, or fufpicion, fo peculiarly characteristic of little minds, but acted with an uniform generosity, frankness, and affection.

To make a fuitable provifion for his dignity and independence, he restored to him the poffeffions of the king his grandfather, and appointed him a fteward to fuperintend and cultivate them; but his fociety he could

Nor

not part with. For the fight of MEPHIBOSHETH ferved daily to recal to his mind. the 'fond idea of his beloved JONATHAN; and therefore he placed him among those who did eat at his own table continually. Befides, as his father was now no more, he confidered it as his duty to fupply that lofs, and to be a father unto him, and therefore gave him rank among his own fons, that with them he might share his affection. With them he was to eat, and with them to affociate. would he fuffer him to feel any other mortification, by the departure of the fceptre from his family, than must arise, only from his not bearing it himself. For while he made him fit among Princes, it was not upon the humble footing of a court dependent; but upon that of an opulent Prince, whofe hereditary poffeffions were suitable to his dignity, and equal to his ambition. Illuftrious monarch, and more illuftrious friend, whofe virtues add luftre to a crown, and do honour to humanity!

THE friendship of JONATHAN now bloffomed in the grave, and his pofterity gathered the fruit of it. How great was the love of JONATHAN; and how noble the gratitude of DAVID!

DAVID! For his friend's fake, he was a friend to his enemy, and a generous patron to his whole house. Unhappy ISHBоSHETH, that inftead of falling into the power of the fons of RIMMON, thou didst not fall into that of the fon of JESSE! For then wouldst thou have found, at the foot of a throne, that peace and protection, which the full poffeffion of it could not fecure to thee. Then wouldst thou have experienced him thy best friend, whom thou wert wont to esteem thy greatest enemy. To recal life is not in his power; but what will he not do, which even a Prince of thine own blood could have done for thee? He will avenge thy fall, execute thy murderers, and pronounce thee righteous; the nobleft panegyric that can be bestowed on These deeds therefore shall pronounce him righteous, and worthy, from a fhepherd, to become a king.

man.

SERMON

SERMON II.

Gratitude to GOD.

PSALMS CXVI. 12.

What shall I render unto the Lord, for all his Benefits towards me?

Or,

What Reward Shall I give unto the Lord, for all the Benefits that he hath done unto me?

GR

RATITUDE to GoD, in the most comprehenfive fenfe, may juftly be confidered as including every act of piety, every duty of religion. The man who is properly actuated by this principle, will always endeavour to discharge every species of obligation, which he conceives to be incumbent on him. It is therefore of the utmost confequence to mankind; that they should be rightly impreffed with it. For to the inefficacy or total deftitution of this principle, may evidently be afcribed the preva lence of vice and wickedness in the world.

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