appear in public, and treat his people as they deserved, they would that moment defert him, as one man; which would be far worse than all the calamities that had hitherto befallen him.

THE king, however offended by this rough treatment, and offenfive truth, nevertheless, thought fit to diffemble his refentment for the present; and immediately left his chamber, and went to the gate, the feat of public justice, where he gave audience to the people: who immediately resorted thither in crouds to him; and were received, and treated by him, as they deserved; or rather, as well as his prefent diftress would allow.

DAVID, now victorious over a rebel army, totally ruined and routed, had it fully in his power to take ample revenge of all those, whofe treachery and infidelity (which had fo lately brought him to the brink of ruin) well deferved to be feverely chastised. And it is evident, that if he had had any thing revengeful or fanguinary in his nature, he could now want no pretext, either of justice or policy, to indulge it to the full; but he was governed by very different

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ferent principles; and faw the whole affair of his fon's rebellion, and his own conquest, in another light. He knew the first to be the effect of his guilt; and the last the fruit of his penitence and humiliation before GOD; and therefore made no other change in his conduct, than from prayer and penitence, to gratitude and thanksgiving, and a patient humble expectation of his providential difpofal of the event. Nor did he fail of his reward: for now it feemed good to the great Governor of the world, who at his pleasure filleth the raging of the fea, and the madness of the people, to turn the hearts of David's fubjects, as it were, in one inftant, in his favour; infomuch that they now returned to their duty, with as much eager zeal, as they had, but a few days before, rushed into rebellion against him. And now, their only contention was, which of their tribes should moft fignalize their loyalty and affection for their fovereign. They now recollected the many deliverances from their enemies, wrought for them by his hand; and could not but find it an ill return for these bleffings, to drive him out of his kingdom. They reflected, that the man,

in whose favour they rebelled, was dead; and what could they now do better than return to their duty, and reinstate their lawful fovereign on his throne? The only queftion was, how they should go to work, and where they fhould begin. Things do not easily fall into their antient and true order, after fo much tumult and confufion, as was now spread through the land; and David rightly judged, that it required the skill and address of some men of wisdom, and weight with the people, to fet things right, and conduct them in their natural courfe: and accordingly he chofe Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, to be his agents in the affair; and advised them to apply themselves, first, to the tribe of Judah; and to reprove their delay and inactivity, in taking proper meafures for bringing the king back; especially when they knew, that all the other tribes were intent upon his restoration; and had given him strong affurances to that purpose. And to influence them more effectually, the king added this kind message to them, from his own mouth; Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones, and my flesh: Wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king ?---And

forafmuch as Joab's credit with the army had for a long time been infupportable to David; had formerly protected him under the guilt of Abner's murder, and lately under an avowed contempt of his fovereign's commands; David judged this a fit oppor tunity of humbling his infolence, and repreffing his power, by placing Amafa at the head of his forces: and accordingly he sent him a kind meffage, to remind him of his near relation to his prince, and to affure him of the fupreme command in the army, if he returned to his duty. This kind treatment of that rebel, captain of the hostile hoft, and all his rebel adherents, had all the effect that he could hope for; it touched their hearts, and melted them into loyalty and affection; and they immediately deputed the heads of their tribe to wait upon the king, and invite him to return; and he immediately complied with their request, and began his progrefs to the river Jordan; and had not gone far, before the principal perfons of his whole tribe met him, in a body, to conduct him over the river. Shimei alfo, the Benjamite, who had fo lately reviled and curfed the king, now waited upon

him, attended by a thousand men of his tribe; and falling down at David's feet, confeffed his guilt, and his perverseness, and implored forgiveness; adding, with a very refined addrefs, Thy fervant doth know, that I have finned; therefore, behold, I am come the first, this day, of all the house of Jofeph, to go down to meet my lord the king.

HE very well knew, that a Benjamite, of the family of Saul, came but ill recommended to David, under that character; and therefore he would not denominate himself from Benjamin, but from Jofeph, his beloved brother. Abishai, who had before so highly resented his vile treatment of David, thought this a fit feafon for wreaking his revenge; and accordingly reminded the king of Shimei's infolence, in hopes of his permiffion to chastise it; which David refused with indignation, and a reproof, becoming a great king: What have I to do with you, ye fons of Zeruiah, that ye fhould this day be adversaries unto me? (Was this the duty of their relation, to act the part of his worst enemies?) Shall any man be put to death this day in Ifrael? I know that I am this day king over Ifrael. Should the day of his

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