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presence of mind, self-control, prompt and firm decision, ardor of feeling, excellence in music and dancing, supernal poetry, artistic ingenuity, loyalty as a subject, beneficence as a Sovereign, warmth and fidelity in friendship, parental loving-kindness, and a genial appetite for legitimate luxury, all united in the magnificently endowed son of Jesse ; and to whom was also given a beautiful form.

The personal experience of David was so varied, and so extensive, as to include, in some degree, almost every phase of human life. The Hero of the Odyssey had not a wider range of acquaintance in his own fortunes with the vicissitudes of prosperity and adversity, with the multiform workings of the passions that actuate humankind. Rapturous joys, torturing woes, diverse calamities, brilliant triumphs, and serene repose, checkered the lot of David.

"And power's high gift, and war's red wreath,
And glory's glittering beam,

All, all of honor, pomp, and

sway;

Young Feeling's gush, and triumph's flush,
Ambition, love, and power,"*

all imprest and animated his romantic career.
In war, the Chief of Israel, like Alexander,
was never defeated, but was ever victorious. Per-

* Ward's Miscellany, Death of Marshal Saxe.

sonal valor and eminent skill as a commander, most admirably combined in this mighty hero. Truly he was an excellent general: for he united ardor and prudence, careful judgment and fierce energy, so highly as to achieve perpetual success.

A true Prophet of the Most High, pronounced by the Eternal Lord-"A man after Mine own heart," David is indeed a most exalted saint. Piety of the most enthusiastic devotion was the very life of his soul.

Next to the blessed Mary, Holy Mother of Jesus, and equally with Abraham, the Father of the Chosen People, David enjoys the highest honor of the Ancestry of Messiah.

The Koran celebrates his sanctified greatness, saying, "Remind them of Our servant David, endued with strength; for he was one who seriously turned himself unto God. We established his Kingdom, and gave him wisdom and eloquence of speech. And he shall be admitted to approach near unto us, and shall have an excellent place of abode in Paradise."+

Good and great, favored and honored, as he was, David was but one of the fallen race of Adam. Liable, like other men, to fall into wicked* Bible, Acts 13, 22.

+ Chapter 38, Sale's Translation.

ness, he did so yield to temptation: and having dishonorably seduced the dearly prized wife of a brave and faithful officer of his army, to hide his criminality, he abominably murdered the gallant soldier with the vilest treachery. Of this horrible and monstrous atrocity he repented in perfect truth, abhorring the cruel wrong he had perpetrated; and God Almighty, infinite in mercy, reading the heart, accepted David's unfeigned and bitter penitence, and pardoned him his sin, looking to the future atonement by Jesus.

By the instrumentality of David, the Lord of Hosts gave the promised dominion to the Covenanted Race. The stout array of the stalwart Philistines, the fierce warriors of Ammon and Moab, the warlike mountaineers of Edom, the numerous hosts of Aram from both sides of the Euphrates, and the bold rovers of Arabia's bordering deserts, all fell before the terrible sword of the great Israelite conqueror. From the blue waves of the Mediterranean Sea bearing Phoenician fleets, to the profound depths of the Desert traversed by the wandering tribes of Ishmael's people, and to the noble stream of the great river Euphrates rolling by ancient and princely palaced cities; and from the memorable shores of the Red Sea to the Cilician heights of Mount Taurus,

spread the Heaven-given Empire of Israel under the mighty Warrior King, the irresistible Lion of Judah.

Ninus, Sesostris, Achilles, Cyrus, Alexander, Cæsar, Ardahsheer, Founder of the Sassanian Dynasty, Constantine, Charlemagne, Alfred, Saladin, Baber, Gustavus the Great, Cromwell, Nadir, and Napoleon, are Heroes of the same class as David.

The mighty Paladins, at whose head was Adino, who slew hundreds of men at one time with his own hand, were to David and Israel as the Knights of the Round Table were to King Arthur and Britain. There is, however, this difference: the record of the strength and bravery of the valiant warriors of Israel is certainly true and unquestionable, for it is part of Holy Scripture: the tale of Arthur's Knights is clouded with fable.

Like Alexander the Great in being ever victorious, David resembled Julius Cæsar in possessing a genius for both warfare and literature.

"The harp the monarch minstrel swept,"*. played by a Divinely inspired bard, breathed forth the very melodies of Heaven.

"A generous friendship no cold medium knows, Burns with one love, with one resentment glows."+

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And such was the affection that bound Jonathan the Prince to David the noble young brave. The attachment between David and Hushai, shows that the sweet amenities of sincere and affectionate friendship may well enough be enjoyed in the exalted station of Royalty as in the lowlier grades of society.

No fanatic principle of austerity, nor any unsocial sentiments of ascetic character, bore sway with David; who, within the limits assigned by the Mosaic Dispensation, largely enjoyed the pleasures of social life. With a frank soldierly bearing, and an easy and sympathizing tone of intercourse, he attached to himself the personal affection of his people, while his great deeds and majesty of spirit commanded their admiration and reverence. In freely disposed but religiously controlled personal habits, and in the bold and cheerful manner of his intercommunion with his attendants, he presents a very considerable resemblance to Baber the Mogul conqueror in India.

When a subject, David ever acted with pure faithfulness to the duty of loyalty to his king, who was anointed to reign by the direct command of the Almighty: nevertheless, as a citizen of Israel, he was entitled to save himself by flight from the

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