Saul, against the Philistines. On his arrival at the camp he found the whole host drawn up in order of battle, but trembling at the appearance of a gigantic champion, who for days had challenged his enemies to produce a man to fight with him, and for whose head the king had in vain offered his daughter, and honors, and riches in abundance. To slay this mighty warrior was therefore at once to step into the most conspicuous station of the army, and the country; and to encounter all those trials to which sudden wealth, rank, and popularity are exposed. David undertook the task; in the sight of the contending hosts he defeated the giant, and from a humble keeper of sheep, became in a day the adopted son-in-law of his sovereign, bosom friend to the heir apparent, commander in chief of the army, the idol of his countrymen and countrywomen, and the theme of such universal admiration, as to excite the deadly jealousy even of the monarch, for whom he had risqued his life. What difficulties must this extraordinary transition have presented to his youthful mind! What hourly discretion was necessary to maintain the pre-eminence acquir

ed in this unusual manner! what self-control, what knowledge of mankind, what caution against giving offence, what conciliating manners, what readiness, and prudence in all things! And so it is intimated by the sacred historian, who, in relating the consequences of his victory, three times repeats, as if to attract our especial attention, and to account for his extraordinary success, that " David behaved himself wisely." From whence then was this wisdom derived? what opportunities had he enjoyed for forming his character, and for preparing himself to step thus at once upon the arena of public life? Scarcely any! He had been for a short time. armour-bearer to the king, and had given promise of that superiority of mind, for which he was afterwards eminent; but the historian gives the true solution of the difficulty in the expressive words, "The Lord was with him." "David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the Lord was with him."2 From the time when he was first selected as the object of divine favour, when "Samuel took the horn of oil, and anoint

1 1 Samuel xviii. 5.

2 Ibid xviii. 4.

ed him in the midst of his brethren, from that time his heart had been enlightened by the illumination of a converting Spirit; and, happy David! he had welcomed the holy dispositions thus awakened within him. He walked therefore wisely; he did not thrust himself upon the great prospects which the prophet had opened before him; but returning to his pastoral occupations, he awaited God's time to call him from his obscurity. Thus he and his God went hand in hand; and as he in the meanwhile made the divine law his daily study, meditating upon its precepts, and engraving them on his heart; so, when he found himself thrown amidst the temptations of a busy world, his footsteps slipped not. In every difficulty his path was clear; a holy freedom animated his actions, and a reverential awe restrained them. The influence which he acquired over other men, was gracious, not constrained; and as he gratefully exclaims, so it was; "I have more understanding than all my teachers; for thy testimonies are my meditation." But we return to Lysias.

1 Psalm cxix. 99..

F

1

It is difficult from this one transaction to elicit all the particulars of the chief captain's character; but there is one which seems SO essential to a prudent conduct, that we are inclined to attribute much of his discretion to it. The virtue, to which we allude, is humility, by some considered incompatible with worldly success, but which revelation declares to be its surest foundation. "Before honour is humility, and a haughty spirit before a fall." And if we contemplate the men most distinguished for their good conduct, we shall find them all endowed with a greater or less degree of this excellent quality. Few men ever occupied stations of more importance, whether as a commander, a statesman, or a lawgiver, than Moses; yet it is recorded of him, that "he was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth." Humility was evidently at the root of the wisdom, which we have noticed in David. When the servants of Saul communed with him, insinuating that he should marry their master's daughter, instead of grasp

1 Prov. xv. 33; xvi. 18.

ing at the honour thus put within his reach, his answer was, "Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?" If then there be but a presumption that Lysias possessed this valuable ornament, let us thankfully avail ourselves of any opportunity that brings it under our notice; and although it may be foreign to our nature, and difficult of acquirement, yet, if well understood, and practised upon Christian principles, it will be found our surest safe-guard, and best recommendation.

Thus far have we considered Lysias as a person worthy of imitation. Justice now requires that we should exhibit him in another point of view; and it is with regret that we find a man, capable of so many estimable actions, allowing a paltry regard to his own interests, or a contemptible fear of his fellow-creatures, to cast a shade over his otherwise bright character. Having determined to send Paul for further examination to Felix, and having taken the precautions already mentioned to ensure his

1 1 Samuel xviii. 23.