Prince, in making a facred covenant of friendship with a poor Shepherd. He therefore feems to have been led to it by a divine impulfe. For in the first verse of this chapter we are told, that it came to pass when he had made an end of Speaking unto Saul, (and of giving him an account of his parentage and kindred) that the foul of Jonathan was knit unto the foul of David, and that Jonathan loved him as his own foul. From this time one spirit seemed to animate both; and the flame which was kindled in the breast of JONATHAN, was lighted up as vigorously in that of DAVID; nor could all Ifrael produce fuch another pair of friends.

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WHETHER JONATHAN at this time knew that DAVID was anointed fucceffor to SAUL, is not clear from scripture. However, when afterwards he became fully acquainted with it, he was not, on that account, induced to diffolve the covenant between them, as might too naturally have been expected from a less generous Prince, but to ratify it, and that too with an oath, the mutual feal of their fidelity. Nor was it only for themselves that they entered into this very folemn engagement, but likewife for their pofterity. For thus we read

in the concluding verfe of the 20th chapter, and Jonathan faid to David, go in peace, forafmuch as we have both of us fworn in the name of the Lord, faying, the Lord be between me and thee, and between my feed and thy feed for ever.

AND the reciprocal conduct of thefe illuftrious friends was afterwards, we find, fuitable to this engagement. JONATHAN, in whose power it was to give the first proof of his kindness and fidelity, immediately offered DAVID his moft vigorous aid, to procure for him that peace, which he fo ardently wished him. Whatfoever thy foul defireth, faith he, I will even do it for thee, Thefe profeffions were not, as is too commonly the cafe, the cool diftant tender of dry civility; no, they fprang from the heart, as the uniform tenor of his future actions fully demonstrated. When his friend's wants were preffing, and his affiftance directly requifite, he did not difmifs him, as FELIX, upon another occafion, did St, PAUL, with faying, go thy way for this time, and at a more convenient feafon I will fend for thee: A civil refufal, which founds like the knell of departing hopes, and often leaves afting in the breast of the unhappy fupplicant ; B 2

the

the modefty of whofe nature, or the delicacy

of whofe fituation,

to be twice told. neceffary pain of

may not permit his distress ·

And to put him to the un

doing it, is not acting by that golden rule, which was the measure of JONATHAN'S Conduct. He knew DAVID'S distress was urgent; he was fenfible of his danger, and was therefore as diligent to remove it, as if it had been his own.

BUT what peculiarly distinguishes and exalts the friendship of JONATHAN, is, it's fingular "difinterestedness. For though DAVID was the only man that stood in his way to his father's throne, and was his rival for the crown and kingdom; yet was not the fervency of his affection for him in the least abated by that confideration. No, it was established on a facred foundation, and could not be fhaken though all the powers of the world were combined againft it. His friend's intereft, and not his own, feemed to be his only care. He was as vigilant as a centinel for his fecurity, as swift as an eagle for his fafety, and as obedient as a fervant to fulfil his will. In his defence, how nobly did he expose himself to all the tranfports of his father's fury! How industrious was he to defeat the plots

2

that

that were continually laid by him against his life! And how warmly, upon all occafions, did he plead his cause!

BUT, on the contrary, how earneft was the rancorous and implacable SAUL, to shake his fidelity, and diffolve his friendship! He would fain perfuade his fon, that he had more regard for his intereft, than he had himself, and with the utmost bitterness upbraids him for a conduct, in appearance, fo fingularly impolitic, fatal, and difgraceful. Thou fon of the perverfe, rebellious woman, fays he, do not I know that thou hast chofen the son of Jesse, to thine own confufion? For as long as the fon of Felle liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now fend and fetch him unto me; for be shall Surely die.

BUT how juft and pathetic is JONATHAN'S enquiry in reply! Wherefore fhall be be flain? What evil bath be done? The frowns of his father and of his fovereign, could not deter him from doing juftice to his friend, and vindicating his innocence; nor was the throne of Ifrael any temptation to him, to withdraw affection from the man he loved. Even B 3

his

the

the javelin darted from the hand of SAUL, by which his own life was immediately endangered, ferved but to increase his ardour. But when he faw that his interceffion was vain, and that his father was not to be diverted from his cruel and bloody purpofe, his heart fwelled with honeft indignation, and he was too violently agitated, even to take neceffary fuftenance. For we are told, that Jonathan arofe from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the fecond day; for he was grieved for David, because his father had done. him fame. His fympathetic breast most anxiously felt for him. Nor can this be matter of furprise, when he had before declared, that he loved him as his own foul.

AND there feems indeed to have been a refemblance in their perfons, as well as minds; for JONATHAN's clothes fitted DAVID when SAUL'S armour would not; and probably he was as glad to put off the one, as to wear the other. For to generous minds, it is very painful to owe obligations to persons of contrary difpofitions. I cannot pretend to determine how far it may be a culpable pride, which creates in us that frong repugnance which we naturally feel, to owe them to those,

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whom