would naturally have been, that the king was grown proud and haughty, and above his business; or elfe, old and indolent, and negligent of his fubjects.

Now, is it to be believed, that Abfalom could carry on this train of delufion and lyes, with the people, for any time, without the king's being informed of it? That is not to be imagined the proceeding was too public to be concealed. Let us then take it for granted, that the king was quickly informed of it; and found, that a fon, who visited him constantly in his fickness, and pretended great folicitude for his health, was at the fame time plotting against him; deluding his people with lyes, to his difadvantage; and wifhing to be in his place; which was, in effect, wishing him dead. How could he more naturally express himself head, on fuppofition that he knew all this, than he does in these words of the forty-firft Pfalm (part of which hath been already recited); ver. 5. Mine enemies *fpeak evil of

upon

that

* Here we fee David speaks, ver. 5. indefinitely, of his enemies in general, being loth to brand a favourite fon; but yet, in the next verse, he limits his reflection to a particular perfon, who could be no other than Abfalem.

me:

me: When fhall be die, and his name perish?

VER. 6. And if he come to fee me, he Speaketh vanity. His heart conceiveth falfbood within himself: when he goeth abroad, he telleth it. But fuppofe the king in health, and Abfalom's crime no more than that of fhutting out complainants from his presence, and then lamenting his neglect of adminiftring justice; Could there be a greater villainy, than thus to abuse his father, and his prince, in his nobleft character, of doing justice and judgment; turning his most valuable talent, and highest merit, as a monarch, into the most crying guilt a governor could fall into? How execrable is ambition, thus building itself upon the basest ingratitude, and cruelleft calumny! O that I were made judge in the land!-exclaims the abandoned mifcreant. Rare character of a judge, compounded of falfhood and flattery, inspiring rebellion, and meditating parricide, and covering his ambition under the fpecious guise of an humble familiarity! He would not fuffer himself to be adored, as his father did; but when any one came to proftrate himself before him, he prevented him; and before

arms,

he could reach the earth, caught him in his and embraced him: When any one, fays the text, came nigh to him, to do him obeyfance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him: rather paying court, than receiving it. As Tacitus tells us, Otho adored the people, ftretched out his hands, lavished his kifles, and did every thing in the most fervile manner, for the fake of fway. And in this manner, fays the facred hiftorian, did Abfalom to all Ifrael, that came to the king for judgment. So Abfalom stole the hearts of the men of Ifrael.

ABSALOM robbed his father of the affections of his people, as Cyrus the younger did his brother but parents are more indulgent, more easily deluded, and induced to forgive, than brethren; as will be seen in the sequel of this history.

Ir must be owned, that Abfalom, befides his arts of popularity, now recited, had two great natural advantages; which, if they are attended with civility, never fail to win the affection and veneration of the vulgar; a graceful perfon, and an high birth; being, at once, remarkably beautiful, and royally defcended, both by his father and

mother.

mother. Befides this, Amnon, his elder brother, was dead; and so, in all probability, was Chileab, inasmuch as we hear no more of him; and Solomon, his only competitor for the crown, was yet very young. His father was too indulgent to him; he faw him affume all the state of heir apparent to the crown, yet took no measures, that we know of, to correct his folly, or reprefs his pride. And therefore it was not unnatural, that they who favoured Abfalom, fhould prefume, that his father fecretly encouraged what he did not openly controul.

THUS did David's infirmities concur, in executing the divine decree, of raising up evil to him out of his own house.

CHA P. IX.

Abfalom breaks out into open Rebellion, and Achitophel joins him. David flies from Jerufalem, puts up his Prayers to Go D, and is fupported in bis Diftrefs.

WE

E have feen, in the preceding chapters, Abfalon's intentions of rebelling against his father: whofe unexpected recovery, (under the influence of the divine favour and protection) in all probability, broke his measures for that time; and made him poftpone his wicked purpose. Nor can it be imagined, but that David, from that time, kept a fricter eye over him so that he could make no further progress in his evil intentions. In the mean time, his popularity had all the field he could wish: as all the people of Ifrael reforted to Jerufalem, thrice in every year, on the three folemn festivals; he had fo often an opportunity of paying his court, and infinuating his poison, till the infection spread through the whole body

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