bly at Hebron; and with thofe variations which we find at the cviiith pfalm, after the taking of Jerufalem. This I am fure of, and this only I will venture to pronounce, that this Michtam, (as it is called) this golden memorial of David, fuits this occafion, and no other that I know of.

DAVID here promises himself, in a prophetic rapture, the dominion over Moab and Edom. He confidered himself as that rod which should rife out of Ifrael, and smite

fcattered us, v. I. When they were in terror, and divided amongst themselves, thou haft made the earth to tremble and divided it. This was exactly the condition in which Ifrael was from the death of Saul.---The Ifraelite cities contiguous to the Philistines, were deferted by their inhabitants after the battle of Gilboa; and foon after, the kingdom was divided under David and Ibbofbeth.

David now beleeches God to heal the divifions of his people, Heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh: And that was done, when they all joined to make David their king at Hebron. God had now given them a centre of union, to which they might refort, as the forces of a broken army to their standard---Thou haft given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be difplayed because of the truth. David was the only centre of union that people ever had, and God now made him the captain and ruler of his people, to manifest the truth of those promifes long fince made to him.

David here fings, in the rapture of a man who had juft recovered his right, Gilead is mine, and Manaffeh is mine--Gilead and Manaffeb were just before in the poffeffion of Ibbofbeth; no king of Ifrael but David was ever dispoffeffed of them, and recovered them again.

the

the corners of Moab, and make Edom a poffeffion (Numb. xxiv. 17, 18.); and undoubtedly he was fo. He next dares Philiftia in a bold irony to triumph over him; plainly intimating that it fhould not long do fo. And what king but David subdued the haughty Philistines, conquered Moab first, and Edom after? And when could this prophecy be written, but in the beginning of his reign, (when the Philistines were triumphant) and before he had made any of thefe conquests?

IT

Ir appears from this pfalm, that David expected to be brought by GoD into a strong city, before he was brought into Edom by him. Who will bring me into the strong city, who will lead me into Edom? Ferufalem is the only city so charactered, which David took before his war with Edom.

He concludes, imploring the divine aid, with a refolution, that, on this presumption, he and his people would act valiantly: and accordingly they marched directly to Jerufalem, and took it by storm.

СНАР.

TH

CHAP. VI.

DAVID takes Jerufalem.

HAT this pfalm is preparatory to fome great and martial purposes, cannot be doubted by any man that reads these words in it, Wilt not thou, O God, go out with our hofts? through God will we do great acts; for it is He that shall tread down our enemies. And with what martial purpose could David fo properly and fo prudently begin his reign, as with an expedition against that people which GOD had commanded the Ifraelites to extirpate for their abominable pollutions, in order to difpoffefs them of a ftrong hold, which they yet retained in the heart of his kingdom?

ALL the martial men of the nation were now affembled together, their spirits raised with a magnificent and princely entertainment, and their hearts elated with joy; united in a firm league, under a martial and magnanimous prince, and an eminent leader. Such an union naturally infpired confidence in their own power and prowess; and, in confequence of this, a readiness and an ar

dour

dour to undertake fome great atchievement; David was too wife and too brave a captain, to let this ardour cool. There was nothing wanting to keep it up, but a firm confidence in GOD; and nothing could inflame it, but an affurance of discharging duty towards him.

THE ftrong-hold of Zion was still in the poffeffion of the Jebufites, their chief, if not their only fortrefs; and confequently the refort not only of the remains, but the refuge of that abandoned people; like that city of Thrace which Philip of Macedon peopled with all the miscreants * of his country, that other places might not be infested with them. To take this fortress, would be to fignalize the beginning of his reign to great advantage; and to extirpate that abandoned race, would be at once to bless mankind, and to obey GOD.

WHOEVER Confiders the genius of David, will find him thoroughly disposed to apply himself to GOD upon every occafion. This was not only the ftrong bent, but is the distinguishing characteristic, of his spirit. The

* Calling it Poneropolis, or the city of miscreants.

foul

foul of piety breathes fervent and predominant in him. Is it to be imagined then, that he would enter upon this great enterprize, this initiating adventure of his reign, without prayers and hymns to the great Guide and Governor of his life? That many of the pfalms are martial hymns to GOD, is out of all doubt. Let God arife, and let his enemies be scattered---* is evidently the beginning of such a hymn, alluding to that prayer of Mofes (Numb. x. 35.) and in general all thofe pfalms that recount the mercies of God to the people of Ifrael from the beginning and nothing fure could better infpire a well-grounded confidence into that people, than a recapitulation of the many, the mighty, the miraculous deliverances from time to time wrought for them; interfperfed with ejaculations of thanksgiving, and concluded with an affurance, that God would. ftill continue his mercy and loving kindness towards them.

TAKING it for granted then, that David omitted not this nobleft of all incitements to fortitude on this occafion; I fhall not how

* Pfalm lxviii.

ever