CHA P. XI.

Hufhai fends David Intelligence of all that paffed in Abfalom's Council, earnestly intreating him to pass over Jordan that very Night; which was done accordingly. Achitophel's fudden and fad End. Mr. Bayle's important Decifion upon Hushai's Deception of Abfalom confidered, with all the Deference due to it.

A

BSALOM's council had no fooner broken up, than Hushai hafted to Zadok and Abiathar, to inform them of what paffed; and to advise them to send David immediate intelligence of it; adding this particular caution and advice from himfelf, to the king, That he should by no means think of refting all night in the wilderness; but make all poffible dispatch to pafs the Jordan with his houfhold, and all his forces: Left the king, fays he, be fwallowed up, and all the people that are with bim.

Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz, who were to carry the intelligence, had not yet returned into the city; but found fome pretence for tarrying without the walls, at a place called En-rogel, or The Fuller's Fountain; and, probably, upon fome pretence of washing and cleanfing themselves from some legal pollution. And their fathers had no way of communicating Hufhai's advice to them, but by the means of a girl, whom, doubtless, they knew to be intelligent and faithful; and fuch a person, being a safe mesfenger, muft, in all probability, have been a very proper one, because least liable to be suspected; for what could be less so, than a girl going to a well, where fuch perfons have calls at all times? However, notwithstanding all their caution, they were observed by a lad, (who informed Abfalom) and immediately pursued. Jonathan and Abimaaz made the best of their way, with all poffible difpatch, towards David: but, finding themselves hotly purfued, they fled to a friend's houfe in Baburim; who having well in his court-yard, which probably was then dry, or, at leaft, not very deep, they went down into it; where a woman, cover

ing the well, and spreading fome ground corn over it, as it were to be funned and dried, effectually concealed them. Abfalom's meffengers were close at their heels; and inquiring of the woman where Jonathan and Ahimaaz were, (which fufficiently implies, that they had seen them turn into the house), she told them, as Jofephus and the Vulgate understand the text, That they just drank a little water, and hafted forward. Upon which they continued their purfuit; but not being able to find them, after all the fearch. and inquiry they could make, they returned to Jerufalem. And as foon as they were returned, Jonathan and Ahimaaz came up from their concealment, and made the best of their way to David; whom they informed of all that had paffed in Abfalom's council, and added Hufbai's earnest advice and intreaty, that he would immediately pass over the river, and place himself and his people in fafety, from furprize, in cafe things should take another turn, and Achitophel's counsel prevail over Hufhai's. David instantly obeyed the friendly monition givẹn him, with fuch diligence and dispatch, that before the next morning, he and all his people L 4

were

were fafe on the other fide of the Jordan: which, as it required a confiderable number of boats, or floats of fome kind, to convey them over a river not fordable, must, in all probability, have been attended with fome circumstances of felicity, favoured by Providence. And we need not doubt, but he now took as much care to retard the paffage of his enemies, in cafe they pursued him, as he had before done, to dispatch his own.

I HAVE often thought, that a history of David's piety, in all the various events of his life, could it be regularly pursued, and clearly connected, would, under the conduct of a masterly pen, make one of the most curious and entertaining (as well as useful) relations, the world ever beheld.

WE have already feen him fending back the ark of GOD, as from one unworthy the divine prefence and protection: we have seen him afcending Mount Olivet, in all the diftrefs of humiliation and penitence; his. head covered, and his feet bare, and weeping as he went. We have seen him prostrate on the summit of it, pouring out his fupplications, and proclaiming his confidence in GoD.

LET

LET us now follow him to the wilderness, and there we shall see him again (upon finding that his enemies took counsel against him, and laid wait for his foul) renewing his fupplications in the most affecting and pathetic ftrains, that ever were penned *. Although his enemies had faid, ver. 11. God hath forfaken him: pursue him, and take him; for there is none to deliver him; yet was his hope ftill strong, in that GOD, that he would deliver him out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. GOD, who had protected him in the vigour of youth, he prayed, and he confided, would not now fail him, in the infirmities of age. What tho' his own ftrength was decayed? he would go against his enemies, in the ftrength of the Lord God. Now alfo, when I am old and grey-headed, O God, forfake me not, until I have fhewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power unto all them that are yet to

come.

* Pfalm lxxi. In thee, O Lord, have I put my trust. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and caufe me to escape. -Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. --Caft me not off in the time of old age: forfake me not, when my strength faileth.

+ Ver. 16, 17, 18.

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