CHAPTER XI.

DAVID'S TRIALS.

"Now," continued Belial, "when I had witnessed. these things, I became confirmed in my suspicions relative to David, that were first awakened by Samuel anointing him king. Very shortly, however, all doubt was removed, when a divine vision was granted to David, and the promise plainly revealed, that the great Messiah should be of his house. On ascertaining this alarming fact, I set my heart, against him. I resolved to employ all the talent and artifice of hell in order to accomplish his ruin.”

"David!" said a spirit of darkness, of harsh and savage aspect, who now started up and addressed himself to Belial. "Did I not see David at Mizpeh of Moab, about the period of which you speak?"

"Very likely," said Belial; "for he soon afterwards fled to Moab, on account of the jealousy and persecution of King Saul."

"O, I remember him well," said the demon. "I was then engaged in promoting and extending idolatry in the kingdom of Moab. David came there, and was hospitably received by the king. The king himself was of the family of Ruth, who had been a convert to the Jewish religion, and who was also the grand

So there was a

But what I chiefly

mother of Jesse, the father of David. relationship between the families. remember of David, was the psalms and sacred songs. that he sung, morning and evening, in the palace of the king, to the praise of the God of Israel. The king of Moab was often deeply affected when hearing the weighty truths of religion that in these psalms and sacred songs were combined with strains of most enchanting melody.”

"Psalms and sacred songs! I believe you," exclaimed a demon of yet fiercer and sterner look. "I heard them too, in the court of Achish, king of Gath, when David was there. And not only was the king impressed, but many of the worshippers of Dagon renounced his service, and went to the land of Israel, and returned no more."

"Yes," answered Belial, "David was also at Gath. But I will proceed with my narrative.

"There were four distinct and well-devised plans that I laid for the destruction of David. I will mention them in order.

"The first was by inflaming against him the jealousy of Saul. When the women, in their songs and rejoicings, ascribed to David the slaughter of ten thousands of their foes, and ascribed to Saul but thousands, he was much displeased, and began to eye David with suspicion. Presently I contrived to have it told to Saul, that Samuel had anointed David, and promised him the kingdom. This put him perfectly frantic. In short, I succeeded beyond my expectation in marshalling all the power and resources of King Saul for the ruin of David. Often was he brought to the very brink of

destruction, and was saved only by some hair-breadth escape, that was absolutely wonderful. How it happened I never could tell to my own satisfaction. David, I know, ascribed his deliverance in such cases to the hand of God. But I always disliked the doctrine of a special and particular providence in the affairs of men. I much prefer, when any unexpected event has occurred, to speak of it as chance, accident, or what has just happened so, rather than allow it any connection with the hand and counsel of God. There were three influences, however, that plainly contributed to the escape of David from the snares of Saul.

"First, the friendship of Jonathan, that never failed him even in the most dark and trying time. I had labored with all the art I possessed to stir up jealousy also in the bosom of Jonathan. I represented David as his rival in military fame, by whom he had been eclipsed, and thrown quite into the shade. I told him, further, that David was an opposing candidate for the crown, who was likely to supplant him and all the house of his father. With these and many other strong temptations, I tried to arouse jealousy in the soul of Jonathan; but all such attempts were fruitless and vain. You might as well have attempted to corrupt the diamond, or fix a blot on the brow of the morning star.

"When Saul, his father, earnestly strove to prevail on Jonathan to aid in the destruction of David, he remonstrated in a strain so eloquent and just, that even Saul quailed under it, and for a time reversed his purpose.

"Let not the king,' said he, 'sin against his servant, even against David, because he hath not sinned against

thee, and because his works have been to theeward very good; for he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the Lord wrought a great salvation for all Israel. Thou sawest it, and didst rejoice; wherefore, then, wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?'

"When assailed with the malignant temptations which I suggested in relation to the claims of David to the crown and kingdom, he repelled them at once. His self-denial filled me with astonishment, and his acquiescence in the revealed will of God was almost without parallel.

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"If the Lord has chosen David to rule over his people Israel,' said he, who am I that I should rebel against God? I know his will is always wise, always good; therefore, amen! the will of the Lord be done.'

"Moreover, Jonathan warned David of the mischief practised against him by Saul, aided him to escape, and repeatedly brought his own life in danger in attempting to save the life of his friend; and yet he always speaks of his father with respect and reverence. Though Saul was now acting sometimes very foolishly, and sometimes very wickedly, Jonathan always speaks of him with tenderness and affection. And further, he caused David to make a covenant with him and with his house. 'I know that thou shalt be king over Israel, and the Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my father, and thou shalt not only while yet I live show me the kindness of the Lord, but also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house forever; no, not when the Lord hath cut off the enemies of David, every one from the face of the earth.' And Jonathan caused David to swear

again, because he loved him as he loved his own soul. And though the fortunes of David afterward, for a long season, were gloomy, forbidding, and often desperate, and though friends deserted and sought to accomplish his ruin, yet the fidelity of Jonathan never wavered. His friendship for David was lasting as life. What am I saying? From the statement of great Lucifer just now given, it appears that their friendship is lasting as eternity.

"Such was Jonathan. My narrative for a time must take leave of him here. But his name will go in a stream of light to all succeeding generations.

"The worshippers of Jehovah admired and commended him while he lived, and affectionately embalmed his memory when dead. He was long a favorite theme of conversation in the social circle. Many eulogies were bestowed upon his acts and character; they styled him 'the affectionate and dutiful son; the warm, worthy, and valiant patriot; the rival of unparalleled generosity and greatness of soul; the pure, spotless, amiable man; the devout, consistent servant of God; and the finest illustration of firm, faithful, exalted friendship to be found in the annals of Adam's race.' Many rejoiced when they saw that the acts of Jonathan were written in the book of the chronicles of the church of God that book which is now spreading round the globe. They rejoiced that its pages will hold up the name and character of Jonathan as long as the sun and moon shall endure, for the wonder, the instruction, and the imitation of the sons of men.

"A second source of aid to David amidst the stratagems of Saul," said Belial, "was the counsel of Ahith