THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 X'lr
 
 THE 
 
 PILGRIMAGE 
 
 OF 
 
 ADAM AND DAVI 
 
 WITH SKETCHES OP 
 
 THEIR HEAVENLY EMPLOYMENT. 
 
 A BIBLE ALLEGORY. 
 
 BY JAMES GALLAIIER, 
 
 " JIany other signs tnily (TiJ Jesus in the presence of his disciptcswhicliarenot 
 written ill this bciok.** —John. 
 
 SECO^'D EDITION. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 PUBLISHED BY CROCKER AND BREWSTER. 
 
 new yokk : m. w. dodd. 
 
 piiiladi:lphl\ : avilliam s. martien. 
 
 1849.
 
 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the 5-eav 184G, by 
 
 JAMES GALLAHER, 
 
 in the Clerk's OiSce of the District Court of the District of Ohio. 
 
 STEREOTYPED AT THE 
 BOSTON' TYPE AND STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY.
 
 BS 
 
 55 O 
 G13p 
 
 1849 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 TO THE SECOND EDITION, 
 
 I HAVE long believed that true religion would be honored, 
 could the great men of the heathen world be fairly contrasted 
 with the great of the Bible. Nowhere on this dark earth does 
 the human mind unfold its powers to such purpose and per- 
 fection as where the light of revelation shines. When a 
 young worshipper of the true God was brought into the court 
 of a mighty heathen king, and stood there amidst renowned 
 statesmen, talented counsellors, and profound politicians, and 
 gave his opinions and his advice to the king, Pharaoh said 
 unto his servants, " Can we find such a one as this is, a man in 
 whom the spirit of God is? And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, 
 Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is none so 
 discreet and wise as thou art: thou shalt be over my house, 
 and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled : only 
 in the throne will I be greater than thou." (Gen. xli. 38 — 40.) 
 Now, what was true of Joseph in the court of Egypt, is true 
 of the great men of the Bible in every department of society. 
 The Bible legislator and the Bible historian has no parallel in 
 the annals of the heathen world. In like manner, the faithful 
 friend, the deep politician, the eloquent orator, the patriot 
 soldier, and the great general, portrayed on the sacred pages, 
 are unequalled where the true religion is unknown. It is 
 remarkable that at a single touch the pencil of inspiration
 
 4 PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 
 
 places the whole living man before you. The student of the 
 Bible sees Jonathan, the friend of David, as plainly as ever an 
 American saw Lafayette, the friend of Washington. Pie 
 knows Ahithophe.l as perfectly as an enlightened Frenchman 
 knows Talleyrand. He understands Hushai the Archite as 
 well as an old Virginian understands the character of Patrick 
 Henry. And he becomes as well acquainted with Joab as 
 the Tennesseean is acquainted with General Jackson. 
 
 The following book was prepared with a view of intro- 
 ducing the reader to the great men and the thrilling scenes 
 of the Bible, and with a belief that thus many might be led 
 to take a deeper interest in the sacred volume^ The experi- 
 ment has been successful. Rev. Thomas Brainard, pastor of 
 the Third Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, writes, June 6, 
 1849, " I have reason to love the book. Mrs. Judge Burnet, 
 of Cincinnati, sent a single copy to my little son in Philadel- 
 phia, when he was eight years old. He read it six times 
 through and through. He literally devoured its contents ; 
 he learned to repeat its dialogues; he set to work to search 
 out the Bible history on which it is founded; — and afier 
 three years, his eyes still sparkle when any thing in the Bible 
 recalls to his mind Adam and David's Pilgrimage. His 
 book has been lent with a similar result in other families. It 
 is now lent in Massachusetts. This is the only copy I have 
 personally seen ; but I hope the youth of our land will see 
 thousands." 
 
 A Missouri senator met me in the streets of St. Louis. 
 *' Why, sir," said he, " I have been reading your book. I 
 never knew there were such interesting characters and scenes 
 in the Old Testament. I thought it was all fulfilled and done 
 away. But now I have set in to read it through, and I am 
 greatly interested, and I hope profited." Such testimony 
 has been received from many others. May the Lord cause 
 the publication to promote his glory and the prosperity of his 
 Zion.
 
 PREFACE 
 
 TO THE FIRST EDITION, 
 
 TO THE 
 
 YOUNG MEN OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 My Young Countrymen : 
 
 The writer of the following work respectfully presents 
 his book to you. His object is, to encourage you to study 
 the Bible; not as a book of religion merely, but as the great 
 storehouse of general knowledcre. No book takes hold of 
 the four corners of the human mind, and " lifts it up," like 
 the book that God has written. 
 
 Almost every American has felt that there was an intel- 
 lectual superiority possessed by Dr. Franklin, which caused 
 him to shine as a luminary of the first magnitude among the 
 worthies of the revolution. You take up a newspaper ; you 
 cast your eye on the first page, and see " Debates in Con- 
 gress." Perhaps you will not read them. On the second 
 page you see, " Dissertation on Political Economy." This, 
 also, you pass over. On the third page you find, " Anecdote 
 of Franklin." You are sure to read it. Among Americans, 
 nine hundred and ninety-nine in a thousand will read it, 
 
 1*
 
 6 PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 
 
 There is an intellectual charm about Franklin, that is felt by 
 the whole American people. 
 
 Why is this? What was it imparted to the mind of 
 Franklin that clearness and power which were so conspicu- 
 ous through ail his history ? 
 
 I answer, that one prominent reason is this : Early in life, 
 his fine intellect was enriched with an uncommonly intimate 
 and thorough acquaintance with the sacred Scriptures; and 
 the Bible-reading habit, which he formed when very young, 
 he continued to cultivate until old age. This appears on 
 almost every page of his public life. Few, if any, of the 
 political men of that day, approached him in the accuracy 
 and extent of his scriptural knowledge; and this is one chief 
 reason why Franklin towered " a head and shoulders " above 
 his fellows, in, perhaps, every assembly of which he was a 
 member. 
 
 An anecdote or two will illustrate this subject. 
 
 When quite a youth, Franklin went to London, entered a 
 printing-office, and inquired if he could get employment as a 
 printer 1 
 
 "Where are you from?" inquired the foreman of the 
 establishment. 
 
 " America," was the reply. 
 
 The English, at that time, had an opinion, sufficiently 
 prevalent among them yet, that America is a land of wild, 
 uncultivated forests, and of wild, uncultivated minds. 
 
 "Ah," said the foreman, " from America? A lad from 
 America seeking employment as a printer. Well, do you 
 really understand the art of printing? Can you set type? " 
 
 Franklin stepped to one of the cases, and in a very brief 
 space, set up the following passage, from the first chapter of 
 the Gospel by St. John: " Nathanael saith unto him, Can 
 any good thing come out of Nazareth ?" " Philip saith unto 
 him, Come and see." It was done so quick, so accurately, 
 and contained a delicate reproof, so appropriate and powerful,
 
 PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 7 
 
 that it at once gave him standing and character with all who 
 were in the office. 
 
 -Similar anecdotes, in great numbers, might be given. I 
 shall at present, however, mention but one more. 
 
 When, after the declaration of independence, Franklin 
 was minister from the United States to France, he was invited 
 to dine with a French nobleman, in company with the British 
 ambassador. After dinner, they were taking a glass of wine, 
 and it was proposed that each should give a sentiment, or 
 toast. The Englishman led the way, and gave, "George the 
 Third : like the Sun in his meridian glory, he is the admira- 
 tion of the world ! " 
 
 The French nobleman followed next, and gave, — 
 
 " The dueen of France : like the Moon in her bright path 
 through the heavens, she enlightens and influences the earth." 
 
 Both now turned to Franklin, confident that he was thrown 
 very far into the back ground. But Franklin, with great 
 composure, took up his glass, and gave, — 
 
 " George Washington : like Joshua of old, he commands 
 the Sun and the Moon to stand still, and they obey him." 
 
 Many have an impression, that as the Bible is a book of 
 religion, religious improvement is the only benefit to be de- 
 rived from its perusal. The mistake is mischievous. It is 
 true, the Bible is the great source of relisfious instruction. 
 Its chief design is to teach us to glorify God and prepare for 
 a future world. But it is also true, that it is the great mag- 
 azine of useful knowledge ; and that an intimate acquaintance 
 with its sacred pages, is immensely profitable for the " life 
 that now is," as well as for the " life that is to come." 
 
 You have never seen a man "mighty in the Scriptures," 
 but that man was very respectable for his general knowledge. 
 You have never seen a grossly ignorant man, a grossly igno- 
 rant family, a grossly ignorant neighborhood, but that man, 
 that family, that neighborhood, had grossly neglected the 
 book of God.
 
 8 PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 
 
 Now, the Bible is not read. This is a reading age. But 
 alas! a large portion of the reading community do not read 
 the Bible. Their time is spent in reading light, frothy, vapid 
 trash, " written by a moonbeam, and dictated by the night- 
 mare," while the golden treasures of God's book are neglected. 
 There are many instances of men, in public life, who go 
 halting all their days, because, in their education, that bet<t 
 foundation of general knowledge was not laid. They go 
 through life a laughing-stock to Sabbath school children, 
 because they are ignorant of the book of God. 
 
 I will give a few examples. 
 
 An editor of one of our newspapers, when giving an obit- 
 uary notice of a worthy man, remarks, " We may say of him, 
 as the Holy Scriptures have so beautifully expressed it, — 
 
 «' An honest man 's the noblest work of God." 
 
 A certain lawyer, pleading for an old culprit, makes this 
 appeal : " You know, gentlemen of the jury, that the Bible 
 
 says,— 
 
 " While the lamp holds out to burn, 
 The vilest sinner may return." 
 
 Two members of a state legislature, at the close of the 
 session, addressed a circular to their constituents: " We hope 
 the course we have pursued, and the votes we have given, 
 will meet your approbation. We hope you will say to us, 
 as Nathan said to David, ' Well done, good and faithful 
 servants.' " 
 
 " Mr. Speaker," said a member of a legislative body, ear- 
 nestly opposing a measure before the house, — " Mr. Speaker, 
 I would no more vote for that bill, than I would fall down and 
 worship the golden calf that Abraham made." 
 
 " Mr. Speaker," said another member, " the gentleman is 
 wrong. It was not Abraham that made the golden calf; it 
 was Nebuchadnezzar."
 
 PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 9 
 
 Instances of this kind might be given by the dozen, by the 
 score, by the hundred. 
 
 The Bible contains the most instructive history in the 
 world — the richest biography. No book delineates charac- 
 ter with such accuracy, clearness, brevity, and power. It 
 abounds with the sublimest poetry, the loftiest eloquence, the 
 most overwhelming logic, and, indeed, all the higher beau- 
 ties of literature; while, at the same time, it lays before us a 
 map of the road that leads to a brighter world. Yet the 
 Bible is not read. 
 
 But a short time since, I conversed with a gentleman, who 
 had been assisting the Bible Society to supply every family 
 with a copy of the blessed book. He told me frankly, it was 
 a book he had never read himself 
 
 Now, to direct the attention of his young countrymen, in 
 this great and growing republic, to the rich, though neglected 
 treasures contained in God's precious Word, — the thrilling 
 interest of Bible themes, — the unrivalled beauty of Bible his- 
 tory, — the unparalleled grandeur of Bible truth, — the une- 
 qualled sweetness of Bible religion, — the vast and inexhaust- 
 ible variety of Bible instruction, is the aim and object of 
 
 The Author. 
 
 St. Charles, Mlssouei, April 10, 18i6. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 One word as to the manner of the following work. 
 As my design is to interest the reader in Bible scenes, Bible 
 characters, and Bible truth, I have preferred to use, in the 
 dialofTue, the modern rather than the ancient style. This 
 feature of the book is the result of mature deliberation.
 
 10 PREFACE TO THE FIKST EDITION. 
 
 Again : it is no part of my plan to delineate the character 
 of the fallen angels. Their conversation is used solely as a 
 medium for bringing past events and ancient men before the 
 reader. Should any one object, that the demons are not 
 had enough, I reply, that this feature of the work, also, v^as 
 deliberately chosen, as best calculated to answer the design 
 of the Author. This style of presenting Bible subjects was 
 adopted with the hope that many who neglect to read com- 
 mentaries and sermons, may thus have their attention awak- 
 ened, and their minds directed to the rich treasures contained 
 in the Holy Oracles.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Chapter I. — The Cavern — Tlie Congress of Fallen Angels, ... 13 
 
 Chapter II. — Lucifer's Narrative — His Excursion through dis- 
 tant Worlds — He finds that departed Saints are employed in 
 spreading through the Creation the Knowledge of Man's Re- 
 demption — He finds Adam thus employed, 20 
 
 Chapter III. — Adam's Rehearsal of his Primitive State — His 
 Fall — The First Promise — And the Unfolding of the Plan of 
 Salvation, 32 
 
 Chapter TV. — Adam's Discourse continued 61 
 
 Chapter Y. — Adam relates the Accomplishment of Messiah's 
 Undertaking as witnessed by the departed Saints — Speaks of 
 Pilate and Herod, 59 
 
 Chapter VI. — The Darkness at the Death of Christ, 69 
 
 Chapter VII. — The Resurrection of Christ, 74 
 
 Chapter VIII. — Proof of the Atonement, 79 
 
 Chapter IX. — The Gospel, 86 
 
 Chapter X. — Lucifer finds David also engaged in making 
 known the "Ways of God to Man — Lucifer pauses in his Nar- 
 rative, and Eelial begins his Rehearsal of the Life and Times of 
 David, 99 
 
 Chapter XI. — David's Trials, 129 
 
 Chapter XII. — Zeruiah and Samuel, • • 153
 
 12 CONTENTS. 
 
 FACE. 
 
 Chapter Xm David's Kingdom 169 
 
 Chapter XIV. — David'a Transgression, 178 
 
 Chapter XV. — Absalom, 187 
 
 Chapter XVI. — Joab and Ahitlioplicl 197 
 
 Chapter X^TI. — The RebeUion, 203 
 
 Chapter XATU. — The Debate, 219 
 
 Chapter XIX. — Ahimaaz and Jonathan, 23-i 
 
 Chapter XX. — The Retreat 251 
 
 Chapter XXI. — Scenes at Jerusalem, 263 
 
 Chapter XXII. — Carmi and Ahithophel, 284 
 
 Chapter XXIII. — Barzillai the Gileadite, 297 
 
 Chapter XXH^ — Preparations for Battle, 309 
 
 Chapter XXV. — The Battle, 326 
 
 Chapter XXVI. — Scenes at Mahanaim, 350 
 
 Chapter XXVII. — The Return to Jerusalem, 370 
 
 Chapter XXVIU. — Scenes after the Restoration, 379 
 
 Chapter XXIX. — David's True Greatness — His Psalms and 
 Hymns, 405 
 
 Likes on the Missouri River, 419
 
 THE PILGRIMAGE 
 
 OF 
 
 ADAM AND DAVID 
 
 AN ALLEGORY. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE CAVERN. 
 
 The sun had gone down behind the distant moiui- 
 tains, and the shadows of a calm and beautiful evening 
 were gathering aronnd. As the daylight faded away, 
 I had been reading the missionary's account of a vol- 
 canic eruption in an island of the Pacific Ocean. The 
 narrative excited the highest interest. The trembling 
 of the whole island ; the thunders of the convulsed 
 mountain ; the immense vohimes of ascending smoke, 
 that turned " day into night, and night into darkness ; " 
 the volcanic lightning, that now shot up to an incon- 
 ceivable height, and now, branching out like some 
 gigantic forest tree, glared over the mighty crater ; 
 the flood of burning lava, that the mountain vomited 
 forth, which, rolling a river of fire, broad and deep as 
 
 2
 
 14 THE CAVERN. 
 
 the Mississippi, swept through a tall grove for more 
 than forty miles, and then over a huge precipice dis- 
 charged its terrible flood into the vexed and boiling 
 ocean. 
 
 After the excitement produced by this awful de- 
 scription began to subside, I gradually sunk into a gen- 
 tle slumber. But the deep impression was still on the 
 mind. In my dream I saw before me a volcanic 
 mountain. Its height was very great, but its fires were 
 extinguished and its thunders were hushed. No col- 
 umn of smoke streamed upward from its lofty summit, 
 and the vast bodies of lava which it had once thrown 
 out, were now crusted and cold as the granite rock. 
 On the majestic mountain side, howcA^er, though 
 scarred and blackened with the traces of former erup- 
 tions, I could distinctly mark, even to a great elevation, 
 the successful attempts of nature to throw around it 
 her bright mantle of green. 
 
 At the base of the mountain was the yawning mouth 
 of an immense cavern. On the one side was a wall of. 
 primitive rock, which, rising to a great height, seemed 
 to overhang a large portion of the open space. On the 
 other side, black masses of solid lava formed the boun- 
 dary. Whether successive eruptions, pitching the lava 
 from the brow of the projecting clilf, had left this 
 mighty opening, or whether it had been formed by 
 some tremendous convulsion of nature, it was now 
 impossible to determine. 
 
 In the strange illusions of a dream, I resolved to 
 explore this remarkable mansion, and proceeding cau- 
 tiously along through the " darkness visible," I had 
 gone a considerable way, when ui}^ attention was
 
 THE CAVERN. 15 
 
 caught by a dim light, that feebly twinkled through 
 the gloom. On turning toward it, there appeared, as 
 thoush hewn out of the solid rock, on one side of the 
 cavern, an immense hall, fitted up for the accommoda- 
 tion of some mighty congress. There was the lofty 
 chair of the speaker or president ; and there the long 
 ranges of curving seats, rising gradually one behind 
 another for the use of the members, while here and 
 there, at regular intervals, suspended lamps were dimly 
 burning. But no living form appeared. All was si- 
 lence and desertion. After gazing on this extraordinary 
 scene for fifteen or twenty minutes, two iinearthly be- 
 ings suddenly appeared at the further extremity of the 
 spacious hall, and engaged in earnest conversation. 
 
 "I am greatly troubled," said one, — and the voice 
 was unlike any sound that ever before had fallen on my 
 ears, — "I am greatly troubled at the long and unac- 
 countable absence of our chief. I fear it portends 
 disaster to his empire." 
 
 '^ Perhaps not," said the other : " he is doubtless en- 
 gaged in guarding and fortifying his heathen dominions 
 against the encroachments of the gospel. The modern 
 movements of the church are absolutely beyond endur- 
 ance. In scarcely one of the heathen nations is our 
 cause now exempt from annoyance. Great Lucifer, 
 who once could proudly point to ' all the kingdoms of 
 the world ' as his possessions, and claim ' the glory of 
 them ' as all his own, is now threatened with utter dis- 
 franchisement. I doubt not that this is the cause of 
 his long absence. Indignant at the attempts to expel 
 him from the abodes of men, he has grasped the great 
 war-club of Jiell, with which he battled against the
 
 16 THE CAVKRN. 
 
 cliurch ill the days of Paul and Peter, and with this he 
 is beating otf the Bible and the missionary from his 
 heathen dominions." 
 
 " That was my opinion until of late, but it is now 
 fully ascertained to be a mistake. I have conversed 
 with Belial to-day, and he assures me that scouts have 
 been despatched, and that they have diligently searched 
 every dark corner of Europe, Africa, Asia, America, 
 and the islands of the sea, and they have searched in 
 vain." 
 
 '' Why, you astonish me ! " 
 
 " No doubt now remains that Lucifer is gone from 
 the earth. No tidings of him can be heard, nor the 
 slightest traces of his movements found for the last 
 fifteen years." 
 
 " Can that be possible ? I fear, then, that the days 
 of his kingdom on earth are numbered. I have long 
 dreaded the accomplishment of that ancient oracle, 
 uttered by the apostle John on the Isle of Patmos. I 
 was near him at the time. His form, his attitude, and 
 tone of voice, are fresh in my memory till this day. 
 He came to the verge of the island to which he had 
 been banished. He stood upon a naked rock, that over- 
 hung the roaring ocean, and while the sea breeze lifted 
 the long, white locks from his aged countenance, that 
 glowed with the sublimity of divine inspiration, he 
 stretched his hands towards the dwelling-place of the 
 nations his Master had come to redeem, and pronounced 
 these awful words : — 
 
 " ' I saw an angel come down from heaven, having 
 the key of the bottomless pit, and a great chain in his 
 liand, and he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent,
 
 THE CAVERX. 
 
 i: 
 
 Avhich is the Devil and Satan, and bound him a tliou- 
 sand years, and cast hiin into tlie bottomless pit, and 
 shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should 
 deceive the nations no more till the thousand years 
 should be fulfilled.' 
 
 " T am startled," said the demon, " lest this terrible 
 oracle has been fulfilled, and our great master is now 
 in chains of darkness, shut up in the bottomless pit." 
 
 Here a group of anxious and haggard visages ap- 
 peared around the speakers. Presently the hum of a 
 moving multitude was heard. Innumerahle forms 
 from without were hurrying into the spacious hall. 
 In a moment, the long ranges of seats were crowded. 
 
 I gazed on this singular assembly, and was much im- 
 pressed with the indications of powerful mind that ap- 
 peared among them. Here were a multitude of beings 
 that once shone among the stars of heaven, cherubim 
 and seraphim hurled by sin from exalted stations on 
 high, who yet appeared "majestic though in ruins." 
 
 I had often marked the strong language of the Bible 
 concerning the power of fallen angels — "a roaring 
 lion;" '-a great red dragon;" "the prince of the 
 power of the air ; " " rulers of the darkness of this 
 world ; " and other kindred expressions ; and the vision 
 now before me seemed fully to justify the emphatic 
 language of the sacred writers. 
 
 Another fact that arrested my attention was this — 
 the resemblance which the several classes of these de- 
 mons bore to the several nations among whom they had 
 been employed. I learned that all the hosts of hell, 
 from heathen and from Christian lands, had been sum- 
 moned to attend this grand council. It appeared that 
 2#
 
 IS THE CAVERN. 
 
 each, for ages, had been employed in his separate 
 charge, according to the appointment of their great 
 leader. 
 
 The Scriptures declare that the heathen idolaters 
 "worshipped devils — oflered their sacrifices to devils. 
 Now we know that the idea of local deities was prev- 
 alent among them. Some of their idol gods were 
 gods of the hills, but not of the valleys. Some of their 
 deities had power in one district, but not in another. 
 
 This belief among the ancient heathens comports 
 fully with the statement that the rebel angels have 
 each a separate charge among the nations assigned 
 them by their mighty chief. Now this was very ob- 
 servable in the great assembly before me. This group 
 reminded you of the dignified and proud Englishman ; 
 that brought to your mind the volatile and mirth- 
 loving Frenchman ; while a third led you to think of 
 the cloudy and mysterious Spaniard. Here you saw 
 the cold, calculating German ; and there the haughty 
 and whiskered Russian. The representatives from 
 Turkey, China, and Tartary occupied seats in one 
 quarter ; and in another appeared those from Central 
 and Southern Africa, and the islands of the sea ; while 
 a distinct group, with copper-colored visages and fierce, 
 savage appearance, seemed to personify the North 
 American Indians. I looked on this company, and 
 thought of the names of those powerful Indian chiefs 
 that were the terror of our country in the days of its 
 early settlement — "Red Jacket," "Double Head," 
 " The Bloody Fellow," and, " The Hanging Maw." 
 
 From remarks interchanged, in a low tone of voice, 
 by individuals in this congress of Rebel Angels, I
 
 THE CAVEKN. 19 
 
 learned that the general impression was that liiicifer 
 had reappeared ; that this council had been sum- 
 moned by his authority, and that his presence among 
 them was every moment ex})ected. The anxiety de- 
 picted in many countenances was great, and relentless- 
 ness and impatience began to be visible in various parts 
 of the assembly ; when suddenly rising on the platform 
 in front of the speaker's chair, the prince of hell, 
 
 "In shape and gesture proudly eminent, 
 Stood like a tower." 
 
 Profound silence prevaded the entire multitude, 
 while he cast his eyes around, and for several seconds 
 surveyed this vast host of collected confederates. At 
 length he spake. " Friends and allies, yon have doubt- 
 less been perplexed and amazed at my long and unex- 
 plained absence ; and although beforehand I judged it 
 important to lock up the design in my own breast, yet, 
 now that the enterprise is over, it will gratify me frankly 
 to tell you all." 
 
 Here, as if the well-remembered voice of their re- 
 nowned chief waked up emotions that could not be 
 controlled, the whole assembly burst forth into the 
 most tumultuous cheering. Hall and cavern rang 
 again. It seemed the very mountain shook, and the 
 earth itself, for leagues around, shared in the strong 
 agitation. Often, as the deafening shout began to sub- 
 side, it was renewed, reiterated, and prolonged with the 
 most extravagant demonstrations of fiendish ecstasy. 
 Lucifer at length waved his hand, and immediately 
 the multitude was calmed and reduced to order.
 
 20 Lucifer's narrative. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 LUCIFER'S NARRATIVE. 
 
 " More than thirty years ago I marked in the Chris- 
 tian church the waking up of a spirit which at once I 
 recognized as that of the apostohc age — mighty efforts 
 to send the Bible abroad in all the languages of the 
 earth ; religious truth by means of printed tracts, 
 diffused through every nook and corner of society J 
 children by tens and by hundreds of thousands col- 
 lected into Sabbath schools, and taught to lisp hosan- 
 iias to Him wiio died on Calvary ; while the living 
 missionary in the north and in the south, in the east 
 and ui the west, was scaling the walls that for long 
 ages have surrounded my heathen dominions, and 
 sounding the trumpet of the gospel jubilee. 
 
 " Signs of the times, like the buddmg of the trees 
 when summer is nigh, were appearing all abroad. A 
 spirit of inquiry seemed to be stirring up the nations. 
 Idols that had stood firm for three thousand years, were 
 beginning to totter, and a strange, portentous trembling 
 penetrated the heart of the empire of darkness. 
 
 " But what increased my alarm was this : I found 
 that the attention and interest of heaven was now di- 
 rected with uncommon intensity towards earth. Min- 
 istering angels in unusual numbers were clustering
 
 Lucifer's narrative. 21 
 
 around the heirs of salvation. And while they roused 
 their immortal energies to forward every gospel enter- 
 ;_>rise, there was an air of animated, confident expecta- 
 tion in their visages and in their movements, such as I 
 had not witnessed before. Their whisperings were of 
 'conquest, victory, nations disinthralled, and a reno- 
 vated world.' It was evident that throughout all their 
 ranks there was strong assurance that the great harvest 
 foretold by ancient seers is at hand, when the sceptre 
 of sin shall be broken, and earth shall be transformed 
 into the garden of the Lord. 
 
 " In my attempts to oppose them, I found, from month 
 to month, the work becoming more and more difficult. 
 In stratagems against the church, success was slow and 
 hard to be won. Many favorite and deep-laid devices 
 w'ere wholly baffled, or so crippled in their results as to 
 aff'ord little triumph in the review ; while the river of 
 life seemed to be continually swelling in its channel, 
 and rolling onward with a bolder and a broader tide, 
 threatening ere long to overflow all its banks, and ex- 
 tend its wonderful influence to the thirsty and perish- 
 ing nations. 
 
 "After an arduous struggle, continued through many 
 years, I became fully convinced that the modern move- 
 ments of the gospel cannot be overcome or arrested by 
 direct resistance. An invisible power from above has 
 come down, as though the ' set time to favor Sion ' had 
 arrived, 
 
 " No army that I could muster could vanquish in the 
 open field the armies marshalled by Him who rideth 
 on the white horse, with his crown, his sword, and his 
 bow,
 
 22 Lucifer's narrative. 
 
 " I saw the necessity of attempting some important 
 change in the circumstances of the war between heaven 
 and hell. I had known earthly warriors, when dis- 
 couragements and disasters thickened around, and suc- 
 cess at a given point was impracticable, to change en- 
 tirely the field of contest, and thus secure the most 
 decided triumph. Thus imperial Rome, when Hanni- 
 bal, for sixteen successive years on the plains of Italy, 
 overmatched her generals, cut to pieces her armies, and 
 shattered her strength, and it became perfectly conclu- 
 sive that no force she could bring into the field could 
 stand before the terrible invader — the crafty mistress 
 of the world despatched Scipio with a strong Roman 
 army to Africa, kindled there the flames of destructive 
 war, laid siege to Carthage itself, and thus effected the 
 recall of Hannibal and the ruin of Carthage. By this 
 artful device, Victory, which so long had seemed to 
 hesitate, was induced finally to perch on the standard 
 of Rome. 
 
 " I resolved to attempt a similar stratagem, though 
 on a somewhat larger scale. I was persuaded that many 
 portions of the creation, distant from earth, must be 
 ignorant of its history, and that if rebellion against the 
 Creator could be excited there, it would powerfully 
 draw off the attention of heaven from earth, to quell 
 the newly-excited insurrection, which might, perhaps, 
 be extended far and wide." 
 
 At this declaration of Lucifer, a strange commo- 
 tion was visible throughout the entire throng of rebel 
 angels. Troubled looks were exchanged, and here 
 and there some mighty leader rose to his feet, as if 
 anxious to make an inquiry. Lucifer paused, and the
 
 Lucifer's narrative, 23 
 
 following question was propounded by several voices 
 at once : — 
 
 '' Would your majesty, then, think of abandoning 
 your possessions on earth, and allowing the gospel to 
 achieve its triumphs among m^en, without resistance ? 
 Is it your plan to found your empire permanently in 
 some different and distant world? " 
 
 " Never ! never ! " vociferated Lucifer, with much ve- 
 hemence, " Never ! never ! " There was a pause, during 
 which the huge frame of the fallen angel underwent an 
 involuntary shudder. It was the trembling of the enor- 
 mous forest tree that has felt the glance of the lightning. 
 Again he spoke : " I say never, never surrender my 
 possessions on earth. On earth I set up the standard of 
 hell six thousand years ago. On earth I have battled 
 long with patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, and emis- 
 saries from the world above. It was to earth Messiah 
 came, boasting that he would destroy the works of the 
 Devil. Yes, and through my management, earth re- 
 jected him, and shed his blood. I am resolved firmly 
 and forever to maintain my kingdom on earth, if devil- 
 ish ingenuity and devilish energy can do it. The de- 
 sign of which I spoke was simply this — to excite insur- 
 rection in some distant province of the Creator's king- 
 dom, draw otf the armies of heaven to quell the troubles 
 there, and thus gain ample respite to recover much that 
 has been lost on earth, and fortify my kingdom here, 
 that it may be more strong and unassailable than ever." 
 
 At the utterance of these words, a smile of ineffable 
 satisfaction spread over the whole assembly, and the 
 deep murmur of applause was heard from all parts of 
 the crowded h;ill.
 
 24 Lucifer's narrative. 
 
 '.'Having formed my plan," contmued Lucifer, "I 
 determined to set out immediately on its execution. I 
 put on the robes of an angel of light, and ascended to 
 the sun, that from that central position I might take 
 a survey of the wide-extended field in which I was to 
 act. I thought it best to go quite beyond the limits of 
 the solar system, lest the knowledge of earth's history 
 should have extended there, and should impede my 
 purpose. As I stood on the outer crust of the sun, 
 pondering my voyage, and undetermined, as yet, in 
 what direction it was best to steer, I perceived a comet 
 of unusual magnitude returning from some long excur- 
 sion through the regions of space. It was yoX in the 
 distant depths of the broad blue heaven, drawing its 
 immense trail in the direction of the solar system with 
 incredible celerity. In the fury of its progress it seemed 
 to ' plough the stars aside,' and for a time looked as 
 though it would surely strike the body of the sun. But 
 at its near approach, it most gracefully curved around 
 the burning luminary, throwing its long-extended trail 
 into the figure of a gigantic rainbow. 1 resolved at 
 once to take passage on this extraordinary vehicle, and 
 while it was near the sun, I sprung upon its surface, 
 and i^erched myself on one of its lofty peaks. 
 
 " Away, away, it shot, in the rapidity of its flight, 
 for the distant tracts of creation. It was evidently the 
 wreck of some former world, which once, perhaps, had 
 been the abode of animated beings. But it was now in 
 ruins. The work of destruction, however, was yet in- 
 complete, for it was evidently still in progress. Prom 
 time to time, the internal fires, gaining access to fresh 
 bodies of coinl)nstibli? matter, tlamed foitli with a gran-
 
 Lucifer's narrative. 25 
 
 deiir that was terrible. Mountain top responded to 
 mountain top in thundering discharges of burning lava. 
 Tempests and tornadoes, mingled with broad sheets of 
 lightning, howled along the surface, while the huge 
 body itself was incessantly convulsed and torn, as by 
 the heavings and tossings of some mighty earthquake. 
 " On we drove, accompanied by this ' war of ele- 
 ments and wreck of matter.' Conflagration flamed on 
 conflagration, and explosion thundered on explosion : 
 on, on, we drove, 
 
 • Sho-\vcring thiii flame o'er half the breadth of heaven.' 
 
 "At length, having passed many a shining world, 
 wheeling in its bright orbit, I found that my fiery con- 
 veyance was beginning to slacken in its speed. I there- 
 fore prepared to betake myself to flight, and bounding 
 aloft, I spread my Avings, and directed my course due 
 north. Onward, onward, onward, I winged my way, 
 until earth's sun grew dim, and began to twinkle in the 
 distant heavens, like a feeble star. I now found myself 
 approaching a cluster of worlds, whose orbits encircle 
 that luminary which on earth is called the polar star. 
 Here I determined to make my first attempt. Alight- 
 ing on a large revolving globe, I began to take a par- 
 ticular survey. It was dressed in the richest green, 
 intermingled with all the varied and beautiful drapery 
 of early spring. I could only compare it to Eden in 
 its first loveliness, before the blight and desolations of 
 sin had entered there. Even in the vegetable kingdom 
 I could not detect the slightest trace of mildew or de- 
 cay, I looked carefully around, if there were any marks 
 of indignation from on high — any object scathed 
 
 3
 
 26 Lucifer's narrative. / 
 
 with the curse of the Almighty. But there was none. 
 I Hstened attentively. But neither sigh nor moan, nor 
 accent of woe, could be heard. Nor could I find tomb- 
 stone or graveyard, nor any vestige of the ravages of 
 him who rideth on the ' pale horse.' 
 
 " No doubt now remained that I had reached a sinless 
 world, and that intellectual beings, who inhabited here, 
 have retained their allegiance to God. As I was revolv- 
 ing in my mind the method in which it might be best 
 to approach them, and attempt to draw them into sin, 
 my attention was caught by a structure at no great dis- 
 tance, evidently the work of art, but of singular sym- 
 metry and grandeur. 
 
 " It was manifestly a monument designed to perpetu- 
 ate the knowledge of some great event. The material 
 of which it was built surpassed the finest white marble, 
 and while it stood secure and firm on its substantial 
 base, the spire streamed up to an incredible height, and 
 seemed to touch the floating clouds of heaven. I ap- 
 proached to take a nearer survey, and learn, if possible, 
 its meaning. Judge of my astonishment, when there, 
 on its broad surface, appeared an inscription, in letters 
 of light, rehearsing the story of * The Manger,' ' The 
 Garden,' 'The Cross,' and 'The Sepulchre.' 
 
 " Astounded and dizzy with amazement, I could 
 scarcely realize what I saw. It seemed like the illu- 
 sion of some wild, fantastic dream. But surveying the 
 inscription again and again assured me that it was a 
 palpable and undoubted reality. Immediately the 
 thought occurred — some of the saints from the heav- 
 enly world have been here, and have told of God's plan 
 of redemption for man.
 
 Lucifer's narrative. 27 
 
 " I now recollected that the apostle Paul, in the days 
 of his ministry, often assured his hearers that ' God 
 created all things by Jesus Christ, to the intent that 
 now unto principalities and powers in heavenly places 
 might be known jay the church the manifold wisdom 
 of God, according to the eternal purpose which he pur- 
 posed in Christ.' (Ephesians iii. 9 — 11.) 1 now un- 
 derstood that those principalities and powers in heavenly 
 places, are the inhabitants of other and distant worlds, 
 to whom God intends fully to reveal himself by means 
 of man's redemption; that the church, that part of it 
 now in heaven, is employed in this great work ; and 
 that the countless multitudes of rational beings who 
 inhabit the wide universe are to bow the knee and 
 render adorations to the incarnate Messiah. 
 
 " It was now plain that most of the saints on earth 
 ' see through a glass darkly ' with respect to the condi- 
 tion of those who have died in the Lord. Many sup- 
 pose that the saints who have gone to heaven are mere- 
 ly employed in the enjoyment of the happiness there, 
 singing anthems of praise to Jehovah, and rejoicing in 
 his redemption. I had often wondered myself at the 
 ways of Providence toward the church below. When 
 I saw Jonathan Edwards called away in the prime of 
 life, and Lamed plucked from his pulpit in New 
 Orleans at the age of twenty-eight ; when I saw Corne- 
 lius called away at the age of thirty-eight, Wisner at 
 forty, and many other similar cases, I have wondered 
 why those whose labors were so much in demand in the 
 church below, should be so early removed. But now 
 I could comprehend it all. I now saw that important 
 services await the soldier of the cross when called to go
 
 28 Lucifer's narrative. 
 
 up higher in the grand army ; and that while the 
 church below is engaged in missions, sending out her 
 sons to the dark corners of the earth to make known 
 the tidings of salvation, that part of the church whicli 
 is in heaven is engaged in missions also, on a larger 
 scale, and her sons are dispersed abroad through the 
 wide creation, making known to principalities and pow- 
 ers in heavenly places the manifold wisdom of God." 
 
 At this point Lucifer paused, for there were strange 
 commotions in the assembly of his auditors. Here and 
 there among the fallen cherubim was a countenance 
 singularly blank. Others stood aghast. Some, with 
 open hand behind the ear, were leaning forward to catch 
 every word that fell from the lips of their chief ; others 
 had unconsciously risen to their feet, and appeared 
 writhing in the agonies of bitter vexation ; while from 
 all parts of the hall arose a confused and jarring sound, 
 like murmurs mingled with gnashing of teeth. 
 
 "You are greatly troubled," continued Lucifer. " I 
 knew it would be so. But I have shared deeply in the 
 bitterness and mortification which you now endure. I 
 frankly declare that no event during the period of the 
 patriarchs, the prophets, or the apostles, inflicted on my 
 spirit such deep anguish. True it is, I was greatly 
 grieved when the tribes of Israel succeeded in passing 
 the wilderness and entered Canaan. I was greatly 
 grieved when the captive Jews, under Ezra and Nehe- 
 miah, returned from Babylon and rebuilt the city and 
 their temple. I was greatly grieved, when, under the 
 preaching of Peter, thousands of my subjects deserted 
 in a day, and became believers in the gospel. But the 
 discoveries now made of the extended preparations, that
 
 Lucifer's narrative. 29 
 
 are in progress, to have the inhabitants of distant 
 worlds become acquainted with the plan of man's re- 
 demption, and bow the kne^ and honor the Lamb that 
 was slain, rent my heart with intolerable vexation and 
 enormons woe, exceeding all that I have endured since 
 the direful day when our routed legions, scorched by 
 the red lightning of the Eternal, were forced from 
 heaven's utmost verge to take the dreadful plunge into 
 the burning lake." 
 
 Here Lucifer paused again. The tide of maddening 
 recollections choked his utterance. In a moment or 
 two, however, he mastered his emotions, and proceeded. 
 
 '• The unconquered spirit never yields. Hate, re- 
 venge, and despair are our leaders in this unequal war. 
 I determined to prosecute my original design with all 
 possible vigor. 
 
 " Accordingly I left the neighborhood of this remark- 
 able monument, to seek access to some of the inhabitants. 
 I was careful to have my whole exterior transformed 
 into the likeness of some spotless angel. The face of the 
 country over which I now travelled had every variety 
 of hill, and dale, and mountain peak. Here was the 
 extended velvet lawn, adorned with flowers of every hue, 
 that seemed to possess perpetual bloom. There was the 
 bright stream that meandered and murmured along, and 
 there was the craggy steep, towering aloft, its summit 
 crowned with the stately grove, whose branches, bend- 
 ing with the richest fruit, swung and bowed in obedi- 
 ence to the breezes of heaven, while all around teemed 
 with active life. Insects were busy among the flowers, 
 flocks and herds were grazing and bounding over the 
 
 fields, birds filled the groves with the sweetest melody, 
 3#
 
 30 Lucifer's narrative. 
 
 while the dumb fish leaped up from the stream, rejoicing 
 in the consciousness of a happy existence. 
 
 " I had not proceeded far before an assembled mul- 
 titude of the inhabitants caught my eye. They v/ere 
 collected in an extended grove, the trees of which re- 
 sembled the palm of Palestine. The number already 
 on the ground was great, and new accessions were con- 
 stantly arriving. It seemed that valley, hill, and moun- 
 tain top were pouring in their contributions. It was 
 evidently an occasion of extraordinary interest. I joined 
 the crowd unobserved, and pressed in to learn the 
 design of their meeting ; when, lo ! on an elevated 
 platform, in the midst of the assembly, arose the glorified 
 person of the first Adam — the father of the human 
 race. I had not seen him for near five thousand years, 
 and though in many respects he was greatly changed, 
 yet there was such an essential sameness, that I recog- 
 nized him at once. 
 
 " The sight of this man, at this unexpected point of 
 time and place, waked up vivid recollections of the 
 memorable scenes through which he passed soon after 
 his creation. When I first succeeded in tempting Adam 
 to transgress the commandments of God, I expected to 
 see him smitten immediately by the avenging sword of 
 divine wrath. I had no thought but that sin would be 
 instantly followed by threatened punishment. With 
 this expectation I waited in the bowers of Eden, impa- 
 tient to witness the result. Adam and his wife were 
 now abandoned by their heavenly guardians, for the 
 ministering angels had all fled from Paradise on the 
 first entrance of sin. I saw the two fallen beings 
 sewing fig leaves together in order to cover their naked 
 
 ,»
 
 LUCIFER'S NARRATIVE. 31 
 
 bodies. Presently the voice of the Lord was heard 
 walking in the garden. Terror seized them. They 
 fled, and endeavored to hide themselves among the 
 thick trees. I thought they would have sunk into the 
 earth when that terrible call rung in their ears, ' Adam, 
 where art thou ? ' 
 
 " Pale, trembling, covered with confusion and shame. 
 I saw him come from his place of concealment, and 
 stand before the Judge of all the earth. A gloom that 
 was awful seemed gathering over the entire garden. 
 Every moment I expected to hear the irrevocable doom 
 pronounced ; when suddenly a light of celestial mild- 
 ness and beauty came streaming, it seemed, from the 
 very throne above, and a heavenly voice, in tones of 
 unparalleled tenderness and benignity, uttered that first 
 promise, that Messiah should come, and man should be 
 restored, and the head of the serpent bruised. The 
 meaning of this promise I but imperfectly compre- 
 hended at the time ; though I felt the stunning power 
 of huge disappointment, and dreaded what that promise 
 seemed to imply. After a moment or two, I glanced 
 my eye towards Adam, and distinctly saw in his visage 
 the kindlings of hope coming up over the brow of 
 despair ; while Eve, who had sunk to the ground by 
 his side, now lifted up her eyes, that were bathed in 
 tears, with a look of astonishment and joy, and stretch- 
 ing her arms toward heaven, exclaimed, ' Redemption ! 
 redemption ! ' But I will not dwell on these recollec- 
 
 tions now."
 
 32 ADAM. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 ADAM. 
 
 ''In the midst of the vast assembly," said Lucifer, 
 " which I have described, the glorified form of Adam 
 now stood. As soon as he rose, the mighty congrega- 
 tion was composed and still. Every eye and ear were 
 attentive. 
 
 " ' I stand before you,' said he, ' a missionary from the 
 church of the first born, whose names are written in 
 heaven. I came to make known to you the manifold 
 goodness of God, as disclosed in his dealings with 
 man.' The language in which he spoke was that first 
 used in Paradise, the gift of God to man at h'w 
 creation, and it appeared to be fully understood by the 
 audience which he now addressed. 
 
 " Adam now went on to describe the primitive state 
 of man, how he was made in the image of God, and 
 'but a little lower than the angels.' He spoke of the 
 beauties of Eden in the liveliest terms ; of the benedic- 
 tion of God, that rested so richly on this first dwelling- 
 place of man ; told of the serenity and innocence that 
 reigned in his own bosom ,• and how the friendly angels 
 came on frequent visits to his bower, rejoicing in 
 those new-made works of God, and delighting him 
 with the rehearsal of heavenly scenes and heavenly 
 history.
 
 ADAM. 33 
 
 *' Here he asked leave to reheai-se the favorite an- 
 tlicni that he used to sing in Paradise in the worship 
 of Jehovah. I shall not attempt to repeat it now. But 
 its eflect on the audience was powerful ; and it re- 
 minded me of those early songs in the world above, 
 while cherubim and seraphim as yet were' young, and 
 celebrated the honors of the Author of their being. 
 
 " At this point, Adam made a deep pause, and seemed 
 reluctant to proceed. At length he smote upon his 
 breast, and entered upon the narrative of his fall. He 
 described the tree of the knowledge of good and evil ; 
 spoke of the serpent and -the manner of the tempta- 
 tion, but took the blame and guilt of his rebellion 
 wholly on himself He then told of the gradual un- 
 folding of the plan of redemption. He rehearsed the 
 first promise ; described the altars erected by the divine 
 command ; told of the blood of the victims sprinkled 
 there ; and how, while the sacrifice was burning on the 
 altar, and the smoke ascending high, the pious wor- 
 shipper stood and prayed for the forgiveness of his 
 sins through the great atonement thus typically set 
 forth." 
 
 At this moment, a Demon started up in a distant part 
 of the assembly, and asked leave to make an inquiry. 
 The form of his visage was peculiarly fierce and stern. 
 Destruction seemed imprinted on his brow, and his 
 hands and the whole length of his arms had a strange 
 bloody hue, the sight of which caused the hair to rise 
 on my head, and sent a chill of horror that quivered 
 through every vein; while in his eye there was a 
 wrathful fiery flash, which gave assurance that this was 
 the Demon of Murder.
 
 34 ADAM. 
 
 " I wish to ask," said he, " if your majesty saw Abel 
 in company with his father, Adam." 
 
 " Abel," said Lucifer, " no : I did not see Abel. Why 
 do you inquire for Abel? " 
 
 "Because," said the Demon, " it was through my 
 influence and instigation that Abel was killed by Cain, 
 his brother." 
 
 " Mention the circumstances, if you wish," said Lu- 
 cifer. 
 
 "No instance of death," said the Demon, "had as 
 •yet taken place in Adam's family. I had no idea of 
 the immortality of the soul, or that it could exist sep- 
 arate from the body. I had seen beasts die of disease. 
 I had also seen them killed by the wolf, the tiger, and 
 the lion. And I thought that death to man would be 
 annihilation, as to the beasts that perish. And I felt 
 the unfoldings of a new malignant delight at the 
 thought of blotting men out of existence, and plung- 
 ing them forever into the gulf of annihilation. Ac- 
 cordingly, when I saw Cain incensed and furious 
 because his brother's offering was accepted, while his 
 own was not, I urged him to take vengeance for the 
 imaginary wrong he had sustained, by falhng on Abel 
 with violence and beating him to death. But judge of 
 my disappointment and surprise, when instantly after 
 the fatal blow was given, I beheld the spirit of Abel 
 strangely disengage itself from the body now in ruins, 
 and stand up, possessed of a holy and happy existence 
 in a separate state. The robe in which he was now 
 arrayed was exceedingly beautiful, but at the same 
 time essentially unlike any thing I had ever seen before. 
 I afterwards learned that it was the robe of the Re-
 
 ADAiM. 35 
 
 deemer's righteousness, of whom his accepted sacrifice 
 was a type, and could be worn by none but the re- 
 deemed from the earth. He was immediately sur- 
 rounded by ministering angels, many of whom I had 
 seen and known in heaven, before heaven by us was 
 lost. I soon learned from their conversation, that they 
 had come to carry the ransomed spirit of Abel up to 
 live with God in glory. 
 
 '•As they began to rise from the earth, the spirit of 
 Abel appeared to be transported with joy unspeakable, 
 and full of glory. He commenced singing a new song. 
 It was the song of redemption. The ministering an- 
 gels, to whom also it was perfectly new, listened in 
 silent, deep attention, while his single voice hymned 
 the notes of victory over sin, and death, and hell, 
 through the promised Messiah. Stung with disap- 
 pointment and rage, I determined to the utmost to 
 resist his upward flight. I put on the form of a huge, 
 hideous night-raven, and set out in the pursuit. Some- 
 times, as they ascended, I pressed close upon their 
 train, with such harsh, horrible croaking as I had 
 learned in bottomless perdition. Sometimes, in dark 
 irregular circles I fluttered round them, and then again 
 shot ahead, and flapped my black enormous wings 
 right in their pathway ; but nothing could impede his 
 upward progress. He seemed borne along by an 
 invisible, resistless power. I persisted in my eflbrts at 
 annoyance until we began to approach the celestial 
 city. But when I saw the gate of glory open, and the 
 light inefl'able came streaming from within, and espe- 
 cially when I began to hear the anthems of the happy 
 multitudes around the throne, I paused in the pursuit,
 
 36 ADAM. 
 
 and wheeled in the opposite direction. Such bitter 
 recollections were waked np of all that had been lost 
 by our rebellion, that, like a burning meteor flashing 
 out the fires of vexation and despair, I shot down the 
 steeps of night, and plunged into the darkness and the 
 depths of hell." 
 
 Here one of the chiefs of the assembly spoke. " Is 
 it the pleasure of your majesty to be interrupted thus 
 in your narrative ? " 
 
 " It is," said Lucifer, with much firmness of man- 
 ner. "It is my pleasure that all the members of this 
 council shall exercise the utmost freedom in propound- 
 ing a question or introducing a remark. The fact is, 
 I have called this meeting for the edification and train- 
 ing of my associates in the war against heaven. We 
 are entering upon a new era. The great contest 
 between light and darkness is about to put on a new 
 aspect. Since the dispersion of man from the tower 
 of Babel, large bodies of the hosts of hell have been 
 employed, almost exclusively, in heathen lands. Their 
 employment has been in promoting and extending 
 idolatry, and encouraging those forms of wickedness 
 that are practised in heathen nations. They have had 
 little or no experience in combating the church, or 
 resisting the advances of revealed truth. But now 
 the Bible is going every where. The missionary, the 
 Sabbath, the church, are finding their way among all 
 nations. 
 
 " All the powers of darkness must now come in con- 
 tact with the church, and it is my plan to have them 
 properly disciplined and prepared for this mighty con- 
 flict. While, therefore, I relate what I have been doing,
 
 ADAM. 37 
 
 it is my design that all my coadjutors who liave, in 
 ages past, had conflicts with patriarchs, prophets, apos- 
 tles, or the church of God in any of its branches, 
 shall relate their experience too, for the general instruc- 
 tion of the armies of hell, in the warfare in which all 
 must soon engage. My design is, that facts shall be 
 communicated in a manner that is clear, calm, and ac- 
 curate. Fallen angels are all leagued in one cause. 
 We have no motive to deceive each other, though we 
 practise deception on men. I Avish facts to be under- 
 stood by all. 
 
 " The skilful advocate who undertakes to manage a 
 cause that is dark and difficult, wishes first to know 
 the real facts of the case, without coloring ; then he 
 knows how to employ his talents. 
 
 " I wish all the hosts of hell to know the truth, that 
 they may be the better able to disguise the truth ; to 
 counterfeit the truth ; to war against the truth." 
 
 Here the members of the great council looked one 
 upon another, bowing, and signifying their cordial ac- 
 quiescence, while the demon who had just spoken 
 addressed the chief : — 
 
 " Your majesty's plan is profoundly wise, and worthy 
 of its author ; but we are impatient to hear your narra- 
 tive ; and for this cause I asked the question." 
 
 " I will proceed, then," said Lucifer, " without delay. 
 In the address of Adam, of which I was speaking, 
 there were several items which I wish to relate to you. 
 He told how the pestilence of sin spread among all his 
 descendants ; how, without exception, they went astray 
 from God ' as soon as they were born.' He went on to 
 describe the setting up of the terrible empire of death, 
 4
 
 38 ADAM. 
 
 and the legion of diseases that arc in league with him. 
 He told of fever, consumption, and the spotted plague. 
 He spoke of red-handed war, gaunt famine, ' the pesti- 
 lence that walketh in darkness, and the destruction that 
 wasteth at noonday.' He drew a picture of the mon- 
 ster Death, mounted on his pale horse, marshalling the 
 dreadful armies under his command ; while his prog- 
 ress through the terrified and trembling earth might 
 be traced by the shroud, the new-made coffin, and the 
 yawning grave, and the sound that accompanied his 
 going, like the inscription on the roll that the prophet 
 saw, was 'lamentation, mourning, and woe.' 
 
 " Death reigned," he exclaimed, " from Adam to Mo- 
 ses, and from Moses to the time of Christ. No tyrant 
 of earth ever swayed the sceptre over such a multitude 
 of subjects. Smiling infancy, blooming youtli, stately 
 manhood, and venerable age, were all forced to bow to 
 his awful supremacy. He found his way into the cot- 
 tages of the poor, the habitations of the careful, and the 
 palaces of the great. The monarch on his throne, and 
 the prisoner in the dungeon, alike shrunk back at his 
 approach. He was to my fallen family the King of 
 Terrors. ' O Death ! Death ! how dark and how 
 gloomy, how unpitying and relentless, is thy tremen- 
 dous sway ! ' Here Adam paused in his address. His 
 emotions were too strong for utterance. After a mo- 
 ment or two, however, he continued thus : — 
 
 " 'Long did I look, with most earnest expectation, for 
 the coming of the promised Messiah. Century after 
 century rolled by, while I waited for his appearing. 
 But God's ways are above the ways of man, as the 
 heavens are higher than the earth.' "
 
 ADAM. ^9 
 
 Here one of the princes of the assembly arose to 
 make an inquiry. Lucifer paused, that he might speak. 
 
 " I wished to inquire," said the prince, " whether 
 Adam confirmed the opinion, that at the birth of his 
 eldest son, the parents tliought he was the promised 
 Blessiah. You know that the language of Eve, when 
 Cain was born, ' I have gotten a man from the Lord,' 
 or, as it is in the Hebrew, ' I have gotten a man, the 
 Lord,' has led many to suppose that she thought this 
 wa,s the promised Savior." 
 
 " Adam did not touch that subject now," answered 
 Lucifer ; " but I remember the circumstance exceeding- 
 ly well. Eve had been powerfully impressed with the 
 first great promise. Her thoughts were daily, indeed I 
 may say hourly, engaged in searching out its import. 
 * The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's 
 head,' was the theme of her meditation from month to 
 month. And when her eldest son was born, she gazed 
 with wonder and joy on this immortal man in minia- 
 ture. Her hopes were indeed very high ; how high 
 they soared I cannot exactly say ; but when Cain, by 
 rude and wicked conduct, disappointed her, and she 
 found her hopes were vain, she called her next son 
 Abel, signifying vanity, or disappointment. But Adam 
 said nothing on the subject now." 
 
 " I wished also to inquire," said the prince, "if Adam 
 spoke of the translation of Enoch." 
 
 " He did," said Lucifer, " with much point and 
 clearness, though it took place after Adam's removal 
 from earth. But tlie event was witnessed by all the 
 redeemed." 
 
 " I am anxious to know," said the prince, " what 
 reasons he gave for that strange dispensation."
 
 40 ADAM. 
 
 " He mentioned," said Lucifer, " tliat tliree great 
 objects were accomplished by the translation of Enoch 
 at that time. 
 
 " 1st. It established, in the view of men, the doctrine 
 of a future state. Enoch was pious, eminently pious, 
 in the midst of a crooked and perverse world. His 
 translation was public. It took place in the presence 
 of an immense congregation, and showed them that 
 man is a candidate for another world ; that his exist- 
 ence does not end with his life on earth. 
 
 "2d. As Enoch M'-as taken, soul and body united, to 
 the world of glory, it established the doctrine that 
 there is redemption for the hodij as well as the soul 
 through the Messiah. Thus the hope of a resurrection 
 was brought to view at that early day. And, 
 
 " 3d. He said that the translation of Enoch was 
 designed to give the angels in heaven one perfect 
 sample of redeemed humanity. Tlie angels clesired to 
 look into the work of redemption. They were ap- 
 pointed to be ministering spirits, sent forth to minister 
 for them who shall be heirs of salvation ; and yet they 
 could ' see but in part, and know but in part,' what God 
 designed in reference to man. By the talking of Enoch, 
 soul and body, to glory, and the placing of him in the 
 very midst of the Paradise of God, at this early day, 
 all the holy angels had a beautiful sample of perfect 
 redemption set before them, and they could now form 
 correct anticipations of what the Redeemer's kingdom 
 shall he, when, from all kindreds and people under 
 heaven, multitudes, which no man can number, shall 
 be brought home to God. Such," said Lucifer, •' was 
 the statement given by Adam concerning the design 
 of Enoch's translation,"
 
 ADAM. 41 
 
 The prince who had asked the question bowed, and 
 resumed his seat, as if satisfied with the answer ; and 
 Lucifer resumed his rehearsal of Adam's address. 
 
 " ' Yes,' said Adam, ' God's ways are above our 
 ways, as the heavens are higher than the earth. Hav- 
 ing waited long for the coming of the Messiah, my 
 protracted life, at length, drew to a close, and I was 
 called to leave earth and join the general assembly of 
 the church of the first born in heaven. After my 
 reception into heaven, I still waited, with the liveliest 
 interest, for the accomplishment of the great promise. 
 The saints in heaven, the great cloud of witnesses, 
 have much intercourse with earth. They see and 
 know with perfect accuracy all that is transacting 
 there. And while the pestilence of sin was spreading 
 throngh the world, with the spreading population, and 
 while that fell destroyer, Death, was turning the earth 
 into one vast graveyard for my fallen family, O, with 
 what intense desire did I look for the appearance of 
 that strong Deliverer, who should conquer sin, and 
 death, and hell ! In the mean time, the ministering 
 angels were bringing up from earth to the world of 
 glory the ransomed souls of patriarchs, and prophets, 
 and holy men who had believed the promise of God, 
 and lived and died in the faith of the coming Messiah. 
 
 " ' The circle of worshippers,' continued Adam, 
 ' around the divine throne, who stood on the great 
 platform of the atonement, and were arrayed in the 
 robes of a Redeemer's righteousness, now contained a 
 multitude which no man could number; bnt our title 
 to heaven was not yet complete, for the great atone- 
 ment was not yet made. We had been pardoned and 
 4*
 
 42 ADAM. 
 
 taken to glory, in virtue of the covenant engagement 
 of the Son of God, that he would magnify and honor 
 the broken law, and atone for sin in the fulness of 
 time ; but it was not given to us to know the times 
 and tlie seasons, and the stupendous work had not yet 
 been done. The immortal interest, therefore, on this 
 great subject, that pervaded the whole multitude of the 
 redeemed, can be more easily conceived than told. 
 
 " ' And now,' said he, ' four thousand years had been 
 completed since the entrance of sin and death into the 
 world ; when, lo ! the proclamation is made in heaven 
 that the great Emanuel was about to put on the form 
 of a servant, and finish the work the Father had given 
 him to do. And that day, when he laid aside his 
 robes of glory, and the bright crown he wore above, 
 and descended to earth, to save them that were lost, O, 
 that day, — it will be celebrated in the world of glory, 
 as a high anniversary through eternal years. 
 
 " ' In the plenitude of God's abounding mercy, I was 
 commissioned to be the bearer of the joyful news to 
 earth. Yes, it was divinely appointed that the first 
 Adam, who had lost all by sin, should be the messenger 
 to inform his perishing children of the arrival of the 
 second Adam, to repair the ruins of the fall. I did not 
 go alone ; all the redeemed from the earth, that were 
 now in glory, were directed to accompany me. 
 
 " ' It was in Bethlehem of Judea that the Savior had 
 chosen first to appear. There were shepherds abiding 
 in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. 
 I approached in the form of an angel of the Lord, and 
 the glory of the Lord shone all around them. They 
 were afraid. I called to them, " Fear not, for, behold, I
 
 ADAM. 43 
 
 bring to you good tidings of great joy, which shall be 
 to all people ; for unto us* is born this day, in the city 
 of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." No 
 sooner had I made this blessed proclamation, than all 
 the multitude of the redeemed came clustering round 
 me, singing, with celestial rapture, " Glory to God in 
 the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men." ' " 
 
 Here, a demon suddenly started up, whose name I 
 could not learn ; but he seemed one of the principal per- 
 sonages of the council, and, interrupting Lucifer, he 
 exclaimed, with a fluttered and troubled air, — 
 
 " How ? How do you say ? Why, I was present on 
 that night. I heard the announcement made to the 
 shepherds of Bethlehem. I saw the messenger. He 
 was indeed very glorious. But I thought certainly this 
 was one of the heavenly angels, who kept their first 
 estate, and whose original brightness had never been 
 sullied or eclipsed by sin. Did your majesty say that 
 this radiant messenger, who came to the shepherds in 
 the very effulgence of heaven itself, was the redeemed 
 soul of the first Adam ? " 
 
 Lucifer. Such was his statement. 
 
 Demon. And the shining multitude of the heavenly 
 host, that clustered around him and sung rapturous 
 anthems to God, did you say it was composed of patri- 
 archs and prophets, and holy men of Adam's race, who 
 had died in faith, and were already in glory ? 
 
 Lucifer. So he said. 
 
 ♦ In some old manuscripts of the Gospel by Luke, the language 
 of the angel is, "unto us," instead of "unto you," as in common 
 copies. This led some of the fathers to suppose that this angel was a 
 glorified human soul, and likely the first Adam. (Luke ii. 8 — 14.)
 
 44 
 
 ADAM. 
 
 Demon. Confusion, frustration, and defeat attend 
 us ! Why, it appears that Adam and all his descendants, 
 who have believed in Christ, are raised, by his redemp- 
 tion, to a station far more exalted, safe, and happy, than 
 that which he lost in Paradise. 
 
 Lucifer. It looks like it. 
 
 Demon. And their anthem plainly implied that the 
 plan of redemption through Christ, while it brings 
 peace and good will to man, at the same time brings 
 the highest glory to God. 
 
 Lucifer. It did. 
 
 '• Precisely so ! " cried a loud, excited voice from a 
 distant part of the assembly ; but I could not see the 
 speaker. " Precisely so it is understood by the church 
 on earth. So they preach, so they pray, and so they 
 sing. Often have I heard the assembled congregation, 
 in the sanctuary, join all their voices to swell the strain 
 of praise in the seventy-second Psalm, where that doc- 
 trine is plainly taught. And I have marked the peculiar 
 animation Avith which they would sing the following 
 stanza, referring to the kingdom of Christ : — 
 
 " Where he displays his healing power, 
 Death and the curse are known no more ; 
 In him the tribes of Adam boast 
 More blessings than their father lost." 
 
 " Confusion, frustration, and defeat ! " exclaimed the 
 demon. 
 
 " Why," said he, turning to Lucifer, " when your 
 majesty returned from Eden, and brought us the news 
 that the temptation had succeeded, and man had fallen 
 into sin, all hell kept jubilee. We calculated of a surety 
 that God was over-matched and grievously disappointed,
 
 ADAM. 45 
 
 and that man was ruined beyond remedy. O, that an- 
 cient oracle ! 1 always feared it contained some ter- 
 rible import. Bruise the serpenVs head. Bruised, 
 indeed, should it turn out, in the end, that Jehovah, 
 by redemption, is more glorified, and believers raised 
 higher in knowledge, holiness, and happiness, than if 
 man in primitive innocency had never been assailed by 
 the malignant devices of an apostate angel." 
 
 Here he stopped short, for the whole frame of Lu- 
 cifer was agitated and convulsed with the most violent 
 emotions. Shame, madness, horror, alternately stared 
 through his visage. He stamped furiously on the 
 ground, and, wielding his enormous arm, with the 
 speed of lightning he smote tlie rocky vault of the 
 cavern a blow which caused the entire mountain to 
 reel and rock on its deep foundations. The paroxysm, 
 however, was brief. In a very few moments, he had 
 entirely regained his composure, and proceeded in his 
 narrative. 
 
 " Adam," said he, " next went on to rehearse the 
 living interest with which the disembodied saints hung 
 over the pathway of the Redeemer as he carried for- 
 ward the mighty work of redemption. He spoke of 
 his example, his preaching, his miracles. He dwelt at 
 considerable length on the resurrection of Lazarus, and 
 the circumstances of Christ's transfiguration. On this 
 last subject he remarked, that the depth of Messiah's 
 humiliation was so wonderful that eminent saints on 
 earth were astonished, and their faith wavered. 
 
 " John the Baptist, one of the wisest and best of 
 men, was so alfected by the lowly condition of his 
 Master, that he sent two of his disciples, and asked
 
 46 ADAM. 
 
 him, ' Art thou he that should come, or do we look for 
 another ? ' 
 
 " Nor was this amazement at the deep things of God 
 confined to the earth. The great company of the 
 redeemed on high were filled with astonishment and 
 solicitude, when they saw that the stupendous work 
 of their eternal redemption depended on one now in 
 the form of a servant ; a man of sorrows, despised and 
 rejected of men. Well was it known that, should the 
 Mediator fail to meet the claims of divine justice at the 
 awful hour appointed, their title to heaven and glory 
 failed forever. When the period drew nigh, there was 
 deep and earnest consultation among all the patriarchs, 
 the prophets, and the ransomed souls in glory. It was 
 determined to send a delegation of their own body 
 down to converse with Christ concerning his death 
 which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. Moses and 
 Elias were chosen for this important mission. (Luke 
 ix. 28 — 31.) They descended to earth, and appeared 
 in glory to Christ and his disciples, on the mount of 
 transfiguration. There, in terms of heavenly eloquence, 
 they presented to the Redeemer the immortal interest 
 that thrilled all the multitude of the redeemed, in view 
 of the scenes of suffering on which he was soon to 
 enter. ' This interview with Moses and Elias,' said 
 Adam, ' was vastly important in its connection.' But 
 when he came to speak of the scene in Gethsemane, 
 he made some things plain which I had never under- 
 stood before. The evangelist Luke, in describing the 
 sufferings of the Redeemer, mentions, that while in the 
 garden, when his soul was in an agony, and his sweat, 
 as it were, great drops of blood falling to the ground,
 
 ADA5I. 47 
 
 there "appeared an angel from heaven strengthening 
 him." (Luke xxii, 43.) 
 
 " Strengthening him ! strengthening him ! " ejacu- 
 lated a tall, fierce-looking spirit of darkness, who now- 
 stepped forward in front of the speaker. I understood 
 that he was one who had been chiefly employed 
 among the heathen tribes, ever since the dispersion of 
 man from the tower of Babel, and that in no age of the 
 world had he been much in contact Math the church 
 of God. " Strengthening him ! " he repeated, with an 
 air at once resolute and inquiring : " why, I thought 
 that the Redeemer was divine. How, then, could a 
 created angel strengthen him? " 
 
 Lucifer. That passage has been thought by many 
 commentators to be very difficult. And some of the 
 early fathers thought it dishonorable to Christ, and 
 supposed it must be an interpolation of some unskilful 
 transcriber of the Gospels at an early day. They were 
 consequently disposed to have it expunged from the 
 copies of the New Testament. But I assure you, 
 Adam set it in a light that was plain and powerful. 
 
 " How ? " " How ? " " How ? " was now eagerly 
 called out, from every part of the assembly. " We 
 should be glad to hear what consistent explanation 
 could be given of such a passage." 
 
 "Well," said Lucifer, "he stated that the Messiah 
 had a true and proper humajiity, as well as a true and 
 proper divinity. He said, ' Such are the laws of the 
 human mind, that it is deeply affected by important 
 truth, when brought clearly and closely before it. 
 Thus the general at the head of an army, though he 
 is aware that perhaps every soldier under his com-
 
 48 ADAM. 
 
 mand has a general knowledge of the causes of the 
 war, yet on the eve of battle he makes them an earnest 
 and eloquent address, that each man may go into the 
 engagement, with the motives to valor and to victory 
 fully before his mind. Thus also the minister of the 
 gospel holds up its everlasting truths before the minds 
 of his hearere ; that truth may produce its impression, 
 though he is aware that to many of his hearers tho.se 
 things are well known, and have been heard before 
 perhaps a thousand times. Now,' he observed, ' the hu- 
 manity of Christ was in many respects like other men.' 
 He illustrated it thus : * Christ knew that Lazarus was 
 dead four days before he came to Bethany. But when 
 he arrived there, and saw Martha weeping, and Mary 
 weeping, and the large circle of friends around them 
 weeping, "Jesus wept^ His humanity was deeply 
 affected by the mournful insignia of death brought 
 thus impressively before him. ' Now,' said Adam, 
 *■ when the Mediator in the garden stood in room of 
 guilty man, the flood-gates of God's fearful displeasure 
 against sin were opened upon him. The tide of his 
 sufferings comes stronger and heavier. Billow after 
 billow of fiery wrath rolled over him, while on the top 
 of Sinai stood eternal Justice, flaming with indigna- 
 tion against sin, hurling ten thousand thunders on his 
 spotless soul. 
 
 " ' He " was in agony." He offered up '^strong cries 
 and tears." ''His soul was exceeding sorrowful, even 
 unto death. " His humanity was like to be crushed under 
 the tremendous load. It was now he was approached 
 by a mighty angel, one of the princes of a great hier- 
 archy in heaven. That angel held up before his
 
 ADAM. 49 
 
 humanity, how the wisdom and truth, the mercy and 
 justice, of God would be glorified in the highest by the 
 sorrows which now he bore ; how all the saints already 
 in glory would have their title to heaven made good 
 forever by his atonement ; how liberty to the captive, 
 and life from the dead, would be preached in his name 
 to the generations of men, as long as the sun and 
 moon shall endure ; how the city of God would be 
 peopled with ransomed multitudes, which no man can 
 number, wearing crowns of life, and waving palms of 
 victory ; how the new song of redeeming grace and 
 dying love would transcend all the anthems of the 
 heavenly world ; how the glory of Father, Son, and 
 Holy Ghost, would be spread over the plains of eternity, 
 and the whole creation would ascribe hosannas and 
 hallelujahs to the Lamb that was slain, through inter- 
 minable ages. Now, by the contemplation of these 
 immortal truths, in that dark and dreadful hour, his 
 humanity was strengthened, and " for the joy that was 
 set before Aiw," (Heb. xii. 2,) he endured those weighty 
 sorrows that would have crushed a thousand worlds." " 
 
 Here Lucifer made a deep pause. The spirits of 
 darkness looked one upon another in profound silence. 
 There was an anxious and troubled agitation in every 
 countenance ; but their lips appeared to be sealed, and 
 their tongues to cleave to the roof of their mouths. 
 After the lapse of four or five minutes, it was asked by 
 one, in a low and subdued tone of voice, — 
 
 "Did Adam speak of Calvary?"' 
 
 " Speak of Calvary ! " said Lucifer : " surely he did ; 
 and his speech fully convinced me tliat the departed 
 saints, who were so deeply concerned in the work the 
 5
 
 50 ADAM. 
 
 Mediator Avas now accomplishing, were constant and 
 earnest spectators during his whole earthly history. 
 Yes, he spoke of Judas, of Herod, and of Pilate, and 
 the scenes in the hall of the Jewish high priest." 
 
 "Of Judas! of Judas!" was now called out from 
 every part of the assembly. " Tell us what view he 
 gave of the character of Judas." 
 
 "The character of Judas," continued Lucifer, "has 
 long been a fruitful source of debate in the church on 
 earth, and the most prying and penetrating of the fallen 
 angels have never been able to discover why it was 
 that Christ took such a man into his family, and had 
 him numbered with the twelve disciples."
 
 ADAM. 51 
 
 CHAPTER ly. 
 
 ADAM. 
 
 The chief seemed reluctant to proceed, and the 
 changing shades of powerful conflicting emotions ap- 
 peared and disappeared in his strongly-mai'ked coun- 
 tenance. 
 
 " Tell us of Judas," was again earnestly demanded. 
 
 "Well," said the chief, "Adam declared that God, 
 and God only, can search the heart ; that the veil of 
 hypocrisy is of such a texture that it cannot, in certain 
 cases, be penetrated by the eye of man, angel, or devil. 
 It is penetrated in all cases alone by the eye of the om- 
 niscient God. He claims it as his high prerogative : ' I, 
 the Lord, search the hearts of the children of men.' 
 ' Now,' said he, ' the character of Judas, when Christ 
 called him, and during the time he was among the dis- 
 ciples, can only be known with certainty from Christ's 
 testimony concerning him. He knew all men. He 
 knew what was in man. Now, the unvarying testimony 
 of Christ is, that Judas was a bad man. When he 
 washed the disciples' feet, he said "Ye are not all clean," 
 and he spoke in reference to Judas. When Judas mur- 
 mured about the waste of ointment, because the woman 
 anointed Christ, alleging that it should have been sold, 
 and the money given to the poor, the inspired word
 
 52 
 
 ADAM. 
 
 affirms, "he cared not for the poor." He was without 
 that benevolence that is essential to true piety ; and that 
 same inspired word asserts in that connection that he 
 " was a thief." At another time, Christ says to his dis- 
 ciples, " Have I not chosen you twelve, and one of you 
 is a devil ? " ' (John vi. 70; xii. 6.) 
 
 " At this point in Adam's address," said Lucifer. " one 
 of the mighty congregation arose, and wished to pro- 
 pound an inquiry. He was a tall and splendid form. 
 In his countenance were the beamings of a soul that 
 had long been making advances in knowledge, holiness, 
 and happiness. There was there not the slightest trace 
 of anxious care, or vexation, or any of that long train 
 of woes that have followed in the footsteps of sin. 
 But there sat upon his broad, expansive brow an un- 
 ruffled and perpetual serenity, clearly denoting one who 
 had been a dutiful son in the family of God from the 
 birthday of his being. The question he proposed to 
 Adam was this : — 
 
 " ' AVhy did the Redeemer admit into his immediate 
 family — even in the number of those whom he had 
 chosen to be with him — such a man as Judas, when he 
 knew him so well ? ' 
 
 " This was Adam's reply : ' It was the design of 
 God to spread before the world the most ample proof 
 of the character and works of Christ. He intended 
 to record on the pages of inspiration the fullest testi- 
 mony of both friends and enemies to the reality of his 
 miracles and the purity of his life. That record he 
 meant to send round the earth, and down the tide of 
 time to the end of the world. Now, for this purpose, 
 Christ showed himself openly to the world. He walked
 
 ADAM. 53 
 
 in Solomon's porch ; he taught in the temple, and 
 performed many of his wonderful works hefore hun- 
 dreds of his sharp-sighted and fault-finding enemies. 
 Now, it is plain, that had the miracles of Christ heen 
 witnessed only hy his friends, the modern sceptic would 
 say, "It is true the friends of the Redeemer say he 
 wrought miracles, and such miracles as fully proved 
 his divine mission ; but who ever saw them, except his 
 particular friends? and they were partial, and even in- 
 terested in putting the most favorable construction on 
 them. Why did he not do his mighty works before 
 those who were impartial ? " Such would have been 
 the cavillings of modern infidelity. There it would 
 have taken refuge, and from that lurking-place it would 
 have been difficult to dislodge it. 
 
 " ' But how stands the matter now. Jewish rulers, men 
 of great learning and influence, admit the reality and 
 grandeur of his miracles. " No man can do the miracles 
 which thou doest, except God be with him." They 
 acknowledged the resurrection of Lazarus ; and in a 
 very notable case, the man that was born blind, was 
 brought into the Jewish high court, and catechized and 
 cross-questioned by the Jewish lawyers and doctors, 
 intensely eager to find some flaw, or plausible objection, 
 but they could make nothing out of it. The man had 
 been born blind, and Christ had opened his eyes. Then 
 having already passed an ordinance, '' that if any man 
 did confess that Jesus was the Christ, he should be put 
 out of the synagogue," they sent for his father and 
 mother, and under the terror of that ordinance, tried to 
 frighten them into a denial that this was their son, or 
 that he was born blind. But this scheme also failed, 
 
 5*
 
 54 
 
 ADAJf, 
 
 and enemies, as well as friends, had to acknowledge 
 that a notable miracle had been done by him. Now,' 
 said Adam, ' the fact that the miracles of Christ were 
 admitted by the leading men of the Jewish nation, and 
 that bitter infidels confessed that Christ did heal the 
 sick, give sight to the blind, and raise the dead, has 
 been of immense service in all ages of the church, in 
 confuting the cavils of unbelievers. But,' said he, 
 ' every man has a private character, as well as a char- 
 acter that is public ; often the public character of a 
 man may be good ; he may be very popular, while his 
 private character may be very bad ; now, it was the 
 will of God that there should be competent and credi- 
 ble witnesses to the private life, as well as the public 
 works, of the Savior. 
 
 " ' For this purpose he " chose twelve to be with him," 
 when he was withdrawn from the multitude. These 
 were with him by day and by night, on the sea and 
 on the land, in the city and in the desert. Had these 
 twelve all been the firm and faithful friends of Christ, 
 the infidel, in after ages, would have objected, that the 
 whole private walk and conversation of the Redeemer 
 was only inspected by those who were interested in 
 giving the most favorable account to the world ; and 
 though there might have been in the conduct of Christ, 
 when retired from the public eye, many things incon- 
 sistent with his claim to Messiahship, yet none could 
 witness these things except his particular friends, and 
 they, of course, would conceal them. 
 
 " ' But behold the wisdom of God,' said Adam, * that 
 every mouth might be stopped, Christ, when selecting 
 the twelve witnesses that were to be with him, took one
 
 ADAM. 55 
 
 who was not a believer; 'for Jesus knew from the 
 beginning who they were that believed not, and who 
 should betray him ; " one who " cared not for the poor ; " 
 one who was a "thief;" one who, in temper and 
 spirit, was a "devil." This man was admitted to the 
 most familiar acquaintance with Christ and his disci- 
 ples, and became a member of the family. He sees all 
 and hears all that takes place between Christ and his 
 disciples when they are retired from the public eye ; 
 knows all the secrets of the family, so to speak ; and 
 then, at last, by his avarice, is brought into circum- 
 stances where he has the strongest motives to divulge 
 all that he knows against Christ. Could Judas have 
 shown that there was a plot between Christ and his 
 disciples to palm a false religion on the world, or that 
 there was any thing in the private life of Christ incon- 
 sistent with his professions of Messiahship, it Avould 
 have mitigated his guilt in deserting his Master. How 
 powerful, then, is his testimony to the purity of the 
 Redeemer's life, when, in the solemn circumstances in 
 which he stood, he declared, " I have sinned ! I have 
 betrayed innocent blood ! " ' 
 
 "The same inquirer here asked Adam, 'Did Judas 
 expect his Master would be put to death, when he 
 betrayed him ? ' 
 
 "'Judas,' replied Adam, 'had not looked so far 
 ahead. He was an avaricious man. The thirty pieces 
 of silver were the great object : beyond that he had 
 made little calcnlation. But when he had received 
 his bribe, and had rejoiced over it for a time, the 
 tidings came tliat Christ was condemned to be cruci-
 
 56 ADAM. 
 
 fied. At hearing this, the conscience of Judas started 
 up like a terrified and tortured spectre. 
 
 " ' Now,' said Adam, ' observe, that beforehand, 
 speaking after the manner of men, the crucifixion of 
 Christ was one of the most unlikely events that could 
 be imagined ; every probability was against it. Cruci- 
 fixion was a mode of punishment unknown to the Jews 
 until after they had come under the government of the 
 Romans, Stoning to death was the mode in which 
 the Jews, from the time of Moses, had been accustomed 
 to punish malefactors. Now, the likelihood was a hun-' 
 dred to one that, should the envy and malice of the 
 Jews against Christ rise so high as to make an attempt 
 on his life, it would be by stoning, as Stephen was 
 afterwards put to death by that infuriated mob. But 
 that one so harmless and unblamable in his life should 
 be regularly accused before a Roman court, formally 
 condemned by a Roman judge, and crucified according to 
 the forms of Roman law — every probability was against 
 it. And yet Christ had repeatedly and plainly foretold 
 to his disciples that he should be crudjied. Now, Judas 
 rested well satisfied with his ill-gotten gain, till a mes- 
 senger came and told him Christ was condemned to be 
 crucified. At once his reflections were waked up. He 
 thought of the spotless innocence of that Lord and 
 Master he had betrayed ; he remembered the benignity, 
 kindness, and grace that shone through all his life ; he 
 remembered also his plain prediction, " The Son of man 
 shall be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be 
 crucified; " and the terrible words, " woe to that man by 
 whom the Son of man is betrayed ! " Judas sprang to
 
 ADAiM. ^ 
 
 his feet, seized the fatal bribe, and ran to find those who 
 had tempted him. His alarmed conscience, armed with 
 ten thousand hghtnings, flashed insufferable terrors 
 upon him at every step. Into the hall among the 
 assembled rulers he rushed ,* in his eyes was depicted 
 amazing anguish ; and he exclaimed, — 
 
 " ' " Scribes, Pharisees, Jewish rulers ! Stop ! stop ! 
 This is horrible work. My Master is innocent ! I 
 have sinned ! I have betrayed innocent blood ! Here 
 is your money! I have brought it back! Stop! 
 Take your money again, and go no further in this 
 awful work." 
 
 " ' They turned to him scornfully. " Degraded 
 wretch, would you control and direct us ? If you 
 have betrayed innocent blood, what is that to us. It 
 is your own lookout. Depart ! Molest us not." 
 
 " 'Judas, finding his influence with them gone, his 
 presence and counsel despised, dashed the detested 
 thirty pieces of silver down on the pavement, and in 
 the ravings of despair ran to the rope and the gallows, 
 and vainly endeavored, by rushing out of life, to escape 
 from the intolerable anguish that had fastened on his 
 guilty soul. (Matt, xxvii. 3 — 5.) 
 
 " ' Such,' said Adam, * was Judas, and such was the 
 testimony of Judas to the purity and spotless character 
 of the Mediator's life. The weight of this testimony 
 is tremendous ; for it is the testimony of an enemy — 
 one who had the strongest motives to speak otherwise, 
 had his awakened conscience allowed him. And such,' 
 he added, ' was the design of Christ, in taking Judas 
 into his family, that this testimony of an enemy might
 
 58 ADAM. 
 
 be given to the world. Often has the scrutinizing 
 infidel, when searching for objections against Christ, 
 been staggered, stunned, and confounded, when he 
 encountered the testimony of Judas. For he was 
 constrained to see that nothing but the omnipotence 
 of truth could have caused Judas, so circumstanced, to 
 speak as he spoke of Christ, whom he had betrayed.' "
 
 PILATE AND HEROD. 59 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 PILATE AND HEROD. 
 
 Moloch, the monster, " besmeared with blood of 
 human sacrifice," now stood up in the assembly. 
 
 " Your majesty," said he, •'' mentioned that Adam 
 rehearsed the conduct of Pilate, and the scenes of Cal- 
 vary : would you be pleased to give us the substance 
 of what he said ? " 
 
 *'He related," said Lucifer, " that the whole multi- 
 tude of departed saints, though invisible to mortal 
 eyes, were present, and beheld not only the Mediator's 
 agony in the garden, but when he was betrayed into 
 the hands of his enemies, they followed him to the 
 hall of the Jewish high priest, and witnessed the 
 insults and outrages that were perpetrated against him 
 there. But when he came to speak of Pilate, his dis- 
 course was powerful. Never since the death of the 
 inspired apostles have I seen the conduct of that timid, 
 time-serving judge so accurately portrayed. 
 
 *' He mentioned that Pilate had been brought up a 
 heathen, and in his early life, was unacquainted with 
 the true religion. But he had now been at Jerusalem 
 long enough to learn much of the character and works 
 of Jesus Christ. He was there when the resurrection 
 of Lazarus electrified the whole country, and w^as the
 
 60 PILATE AND HEROD. 
 
 theme of inquiry, comment, and wonder, from one 
 extremity of the land to the other. Pilate had seen 
 the leper Avho had been cleansed by the power of 
 Christ ; the lame man he had healed ; the dumb he 
 had caused to speak ; and the blind he had restored to 
 sight. Opportunities were ample to learn much of the 
 divine works and divine character of the Redeemer. 
 
 '' It was at the early dawn of day, on the morning 
 immediately after the betrayal of Christ by Judas, that 
 Pilate was roused from his slumbers by a servant who 
 entered his room, and told him that a vast concourse 
 of the elders of the Jews, priests and pharisees, were 
 crowded together in front of the judgment hall. 
 
 " ' What can be the meaning of all this ? ' said Pilate, 
 rising hastily, and arranging his dress. On going out 
 to meet the multitude, he was addressed by the chief 
 priest : ' We have brought a malefactor before you for 
 judgment.' 
 
 " ' Who is he ? ' asked Pilate. 
 
 " ' Jesus of Nazareth,' replied the priest. 
 
 " ' Jesus of Nazareth ! ' exclaimed Pilate, greatly 
 troubled at the announcement. He had already heard 
 and known so much of the wonderful works of Jesus 
 of Nazareth, that he shuddered at the thought of taking 
 any hand himself in violent proceeding against him ; 
 and yet the number, respectability, and influence of this 
 crowd, collected here at this unusual hour, and the 
 determined earnestness of their manner, made it plain 
 that he could not disappoint or disoblige them without 
 great risk to his popularity. He cared but little what 
 the Jews might do against Christ on their own respon- 
 sibility, but he trembled at tiieir demand that he, as
 
 PILATE AND HEROD. 6J-, 
 
 presiding judge, should share in the proceedings. And 
 on the other hand, he was greatly solicitous to maintain 
 his standing with the rulers of that people. Judea had 
 but lately come under the Roman government, and 
 Pilate thought it might be agreeable to them to have 
 the claims of Rome set aside in this case, and be 
 allowed to judge and condemn Christ in their own 
 court. Thus the Jews would be gratified, and he 
 would avoid having any personal agency in the con- 
 demnation of Christ. Pilate therefore said to the 
 Jewish rulers, — 
 
 " 'Take him,' and judge him according to your law.' 
 (John xvhi. 31.) 
 
 " ' But,' said the Jews, ' it is not lawful for us to put 
 any man to death. This is a capital offence. The 
 man deserves to die. And all cases that touch the life 
 of a man, must be brought before a Roman court.' 
 
 " ' I mean,' said Pilate, ' that as the representative 
 of Rome, I will not urge her claims in this case. Take 
 him, and judge him according to your law. Execute - 
 your pleasure. I'll take no notice of it, even should 
 you exceed your authority. I will pass it over in 
 silence. But do not urge me to take any personal 
 agency in the case.' 
 
 " * No,' said the Jewish rulers, ' we are law-abiding 
 men. We will not consent to act against the Roman 
 law. You are here as the representative of Rome. 
 We insist that you shall do your duty. We bring the 
 case before you. We insist that you shall act.' 
 
 " Such was Pilate's first attempt to avoid acting 
 against Christ, and such was its success." 
 
 At this Beelzebub rose, and observed, " There is a 
 
 6
 
 62 PILATE AND HEROD. 
 
 remarkable statement in 32d verse of 18th chapter of 
 John's Gospel : — it is this, that the Jews refused to 
 accede to this proposal of Pilate, 'that the saying of 
 Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying 
 what death he should die.' " 
 
 " Certainly," said Lucifer, " it was just stated that 
 the Jews put offenders to death by stoning. But Christ 
 had foretold that he should be crucified. Had the 
 Jews accepted Pilate's proposal, and put Christ to death 
 according to their law, it would not have fulfilled the 
 prediction of Christ." 
 
 " But," said Beelzebub, " was that their intention in 
 refusing Pilate's proposal ? Did they wish to fulfil the 
 prediction of Christ ? " 
 
 " Far from it," said Lucifer : " they had no such 
 intention." 
 
 "What, then," said Beelzebub, "does the apostle 
 mean ? Or does he there teach that doctrine so terri- 
 ble to all in hell, that there is a deep divine providence 
 running through all the actions of men, and that even 
 these infuriated Jews, when raving against Christ in 
 the presence of Pilate, were controlled by an invisible 
 hand that was higher than they. It is a doctrine 1 
 have dreaded for thousands of years. I never hear it 
 but I tremble." 
 
 " That doctrine is as hateful to me as to you," 
 answered Lucifer. " But I will go on with Adam's 
 account of Pilate. 
 
 " He next stated, that when Pilate had questioned 
 Christ of many things, he turned to his accusers, and 
 said, ' I find no fault in this man.' On hearing this, 
 they became exceedingly fierce, crying out, ' He stirreth
 
 PILATE AND HEROD. 63 
 
 up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, begmning 
 from Galilee unto this place.' 
 
 " 'Galilee?' said Pilate. 'Is the man, then, a Gali- 
 lean ? ' 
 
 "'Certainly,' said the Jews, 'he is a Galilean.' 
 (Luke xxiii. 6, 7.) 
 
 " ' Then,' said Pilate, ' I have nothing to do with 
 the matter, for Herod is governor of Galilee. The 
 offence has been committed in his jurisdiction. Take 
 him to Herod. He is now at Jerusalem.' Pilate was 
 now confident he had discovered a method of ridding 
 himself of the whole business, without offending the 
 Jews. This was his second device, and he sent them 
 to Herod. 
 
 " Bat Herod also had heard many things of Christ, 
 and having suffered much remorse for his beheading 
 of John the Baptist, he was now reluctant to have any 
 hand in tlie condemnation of Christ. To gratify the 
 Jewish rulers, who were clamorous and vehement in 
 their accusations, Herod treated him with some marks 
 of derision and disrespect, but would in no form sig- 
 nify that he thought him worthy of death ; and thus he 
 sent him again to Pilate. Herod was very artful. He 
 and Pilate had been at variance, but this day they were 
 made friends. Herod affected to understand the send- 
 ing of the Jewish rulers with their prisoner to him, as 
 a high token of respect and deference on the part of 
 Pilate, and he would not be outdone in courtesy. 
 
 " ' I am honored and flattered by the attentions of the 
 governor ; but, at the same time, it is my duty to ac- 
 knowledge him as the representative of the Roman 
 power in this province. I am but a transient visitor
 
 64 
 
 PILATE AND HEROD. 
 
 here, and far be it from me to interfere with tlie official 
 duties of one so competent to fill the high station in 
 which Cassar has placed him. Go again to Pilate, with 
 my respects and gratitude for his polite attentions.' 
 
 " On the return of the company to Pilate, he was in 
 extreme perplexity. He had just received a message 
 from his wife: it was this — • Have thou nothing to do 
 with that just man, for I have suff'ered many things 
 this day in a dream because of him.' (Matt, xxvii. 19.) 
 
 *' Pilate now resorted to a third device, by which he 
 hoped to avoid giving sentence of death against Christ, 
 and yet to retain the favor of the Jewish rulers. It 
 was now the feast of the passover, in commemoration 
 of their release from bondage in Egypt. It was the 
 most noted anniversary observed by the Jews — the 
 most joyful day to the nation in the whole revolving 
 year. There was an old custom, with which they had 
 long been familiar, that when they came up to Jerusa- 
 lem, to the annual celebration of their release from 
 bondage, some capital offender, whose life had been 
 forfeited to the laws of the land, should be set at lib- 
 erty, that he and his friends might add to the general 
 joy. Similar customs have been found to exist among 
 other nations in order to honor some high day. Pilate 
 resolved to avail himself of this old and popular cus- 
 tom, in order to obtain their consent to the release of 
 Jesus Christ. There was now at Jerusalem a notable 
 prisoner, named Barabbas. (Matt, xxvii. 15 — 18.) He 
 had been notorious as a robber, and recently had been 
 concerned in an insurrection, and some flagrant cases 
 of murder. Pilate thought that by constraining the 
 Jewish rulers to make a choice between Christ and
 
 PILATE AND HEROD. 65 
 
 Barabbas, they would, from a respect to their own 
 character, call for the release of Jesus ; but in this he 
 was wholly mistaken. The scribes and pharisees 
 bestirred themselves among the fickle multitude, and 
 persuaded them to vote for the release of Barabbas; and 
 presently Pilate was perfectly overwhelmed with loud 
 and vehement outcries, demanding that Barabbas should 
 be released, and that Christ sho\ild be crucified. 
 
 " Trembling at the thought of sharing in the guilt of 
 condemning a righteous person, Pilate now, as ^fourth 
 expedient, determined to make a strong appeal to the 
 conscience of the Jewish rulers. He knew that they 
 professed to be religious men, bound to obey the laws 
 of God, and regarded themselves as accountable to God 
 in the judgment of the great day for the deeds done in 
 the body. He knew, also, that they were actuated by 
 envy against Christ. He made, therefore, a powerful 
 elfort to wake up their conscience to the guilt of what 
 they were now doing. He avers to them repeatedly, 
 ' I find no fault in this man. Herod has found nothing 
 worthy of death in this man. Come tell me your- 
 selves, what evil hath he done ? ' To this they only 
 replied with boisterous outcries and violent demands 
 for his death. Pilate, finding that he was like to be 
 overborne by their tumultuous and unreasonable impet- 
 uosity, took water and washed his hands before the 
 multitude, saying, ' I am innocent of the blood of 
 this just person ; see ye to it. I publicly proclaim that 
 I will have no share in the guilt of shedding his 
 blood.' (Matt, xxvii. 24, 25.) 
 
 "But to the astonishment of Pilate, the Jewish 
 rulers, instead of being shocked or appalled by this 
 
 6*
 
 6*6 PILATE AND HEROD. 
 
 view of the solemn subject, came promptly forward, 
 crying out, 'His blood — the guilt of shedding his 
 blood be on us and on our children.' * Awful impre- 
 cation ! ' exclaimed Adam, pausing in the narrative. 
 ' Dreadful prayer ! and how dreadfully answered ! 
 Through eighteen centuries, that people, scattered, trod- 
 den down, a hissing, a proverb, a by-word among all 
 nations, are a monument of the fearful guilt contracted 
 by that presumptuous prayer. O Jerusalem, Jerusa- 
 lem ! memorable and mournful was that hour, when 
 the imprecation was uttered, " His blood be on us and 
 on our children." 
 
 " ' Pilate had yet,' continued Adam, ' one expedient 
 more, by which he thought to prevail with the Jewish 
 rulers, at least in part ; and this was by an appeal to 
 their sympathy. He knew that they were fully aware 
 that their charges against Christ were groundless and 
 unjust ; he thought, therefore, that if they saw him 
 exposed to severe and unmerited suflerings for a time, 
 they would relent, and consent to his release, and 
 thus his life might be spared. 
 
 " ' Pilate, therefore, gave orders that Jesus should be 
 scourged. " And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, 
 and put it on his head, and they smote him with their 
 hands." After his body was thus lacerated and mangled 
 with the scourging, and his head and temples pierced 
 with the thorns, until the streaming blood had stained 
 all his person, and ran down to the ground, Pilate 
 then went forth again, and said to his accusers, " Be- 
 hold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that 
 I find no fault in him." Then came Jesus forth, wear- 
 ing the crown of thorns, and marking the track along
 
 PILATE AND HEROD. ^ 
 
 which he came with his blood. Pilate, fixing his eye 
 on the sufferer, and pointing with his hand, said to the 
 Jewish rulers, " Behold the man ! Has he not suffered 
 enough ? Will not this content you ? " (John xix. 
 1—5.) 
 
 " 'But in this appeal to their sympathy, Pilate entirely 
 failed. As soon as they saw Jesus, they were seized 
 with a fiendish rage, and cried out, " Crucify him ! 
 crucify him ! " 
 
 " ' Balked and confounded thus at every turn, Pilate, 
 in extreme perplexity, said, " Take ye him, and crucify 
 him, for I find no fault in him. If you are clear that 
 he deserves it, do it on your own responsibility. But 
 do not ask me to violate my conscience, and sin against 
 my convictions of duty, for I find no fault in him." 
 
 " ' But the leaders of the Jews,' said Adam, ' had an 
 argument in reserve, that they well knew would bear 
 down all the scruples of Pilate. The)'- knew that 
 Pilate was anxious to retain his office as governor of 
 Judea, which he held from Cassar. They knew he 
 would be very careful not to run any risk in that quar- 
 ter ; so they addressed him thus : "If thou let this man 
 go, thou art not Cassar's friend. Whosoever maketh 
 himself a king, speaketh against Cassar : you are sta- 
 tioned here as the representative of Caesar, and guar- 
 dian of the rights of his throne. Here is a man who 
 has set up a rival claim ; calls himself the king of the 
 Jews. We have arrested this man, and brought him 
 before you, as guilty of sedition. If you refuse to 
 punish him, and let him go, we, as faithful subjects of 
 Caesar, will carry up the case to Rome, and lodge 
 information, that here, in Judea, you are betraying the
 
 68 PILATE AND HEROD. 
 
 rights of the emperor, who gave you your commission." 
 (John xix. 12.) 
 
 " ' Pilate well knew that Tiberius Caesar, who now 
 filled the throne, was a weak and jealous prince, and 
 that so grave a charge as this, carried up by so large 
 and respectable a host of complainants, would be cer- 
 tain to cost him his office, and most likely his life. 
 So, without further attempt at resistance, he yielded to 
 the tide, and gave sentence against Christ, that he 
 should be crucified ; in which act, we have the strange 
 phenomenon of a judge on the bench condemning a 
 man to die, while, at the same time, he repeatedly and 
 publicly declares, that he is free from fault, and inno- 
 cent of the charge brought against him. 
 
 > )>
 
 THE DARKNESS. 69 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE DARKNESS. 
 
 Here Moloch again lifted up his gigantic form, and 
 turning to the chief, observed, — 
 
 " Your majesty stated that Adam spoke of Calvary. 
 I was anxious to know whether he advanced any thing 
 there, beyond what has hitherto been understood among 
 the fallen angels." 
 
 '< Much of what he said," answered Lucifer, " was 
 essentially that which has been taught in the church, 
 on this great subject, from age to age, viz., 'that the 
 death of Christ was the fulfilment of those sacrifices 
 and significant types given to the Old Testament 
 church ; that it was designed to declare God's righteous- 
 ness, maintain his law, and atone for sin.' But when 
 he spoke of the prodigies and convulsions of nature 
 that accompanied Messiah's death, his observations 
 were perfectly marvellous." 
 
 " Ah," said Moloch ; "did he explain that supernatu- 
 ral darkness, that for eighteen hundred years has per- 
 plexed all the philosophers of earth, and confounded 
 the conjectures of all the angels of the bottomless pit ? " 
 
 *' What darkness ? " said a demon from Madagascar, 
 who now arose and addressed himself to Moloch. His 
 face was as black as ebony, and his eyes large and white.
 
 70 THE DARKNESS. 
 
 " What darkness ! " rejoined Moloch. " I speak of that 
 which occurred at Messiah's death. You know that 
 the vail of the temple was rent in twain from the top to 
 the bottom. The earth quaked, the rocks burst asun- 
 der, the graves opened, the dead awoke, and for three 
 hours a supernatural darkness hung over all the land.-' 
 
 "You presume too much on my knowledge," said 
 the Madagascar demon. " Much that has been men- 
 tioned here is entirely new to me. I have been 
 employed among the descendants of Ham since the 
 re peopling of the world after the flood. My labors 
 have mostly been confined to certain districts in the 
 centre and south of Africa, and some of the African 
 islands. The light of revealed religion has but little 
 interrupted us there. It is true that, about three thou- 
 sand years ago, when the queen of Sheba returned 
 from her visit to King Solomon, at Jerusalem, she 
 brought some sacred books, and teachers of revealed 
 religion, and some of the people were turned from 
 idolatry to the worship of Jehovah ; but, in the course 
 of a few generations, I succeeded in rolling the dark- 
 ness of heathenism over the population again, and so it 
 has chiefly continued since. But, as to the darkness 
 of which you spoke, was it not a total eclipse of the 
 sun, occasioned by an intervention of the body of the 
 moon between the sun and the earth?" 
 
 " That could not be the cause," answered Moloch, 
 " for two reasons : — 
 
 " 1st. Because the crucifixion of Christ took place at 
 the Jewish passover, which was always at full moon, 
 when the sun and moon are in opposite directions from 
 the earth. And,
 
 THE DARKNESS. 71 
 
 " 2d. Because no total eclipse of the sun by the 
 moon can contmue beyond a very few minutes, owing 
 to the moon's rapid progress in its orbit ; whereas 
 the strange darkness, at the crucifixion of Christ, con- 
 tinued, witiiout mitigation, for the space of three full 
 hours. But,'" said Moloch, bowing to Lucifer, "your 
 majesty was about to state the explanation which 
 Adam gav^e of this remarkable phenomenon." 
 
 " The explanation given by Adam," said Lucifer, 
 was to me very surprising, and seemed greatly to in- 
 terest and delight his audience. His commencement 
 resembled Christ's parable of the shepherd, the hundred 
 sheep, and the one that had gone astray. He said 
 that •' the Mediator is the head of the creation of God ; ' 
 that ' all things were made by him, and without him 
 was not any thing made that was made ; ' that princi- 
 palities and powers in heavenly places, visible and in- 
 visible, thrones and dominions, were all created by him 
 and for him ; that all the starry worlds are his, the 
 countless multitudes of their inhabitants are under his 
 supervision; he leadeth out their hosts by numbers, 
 and calleth them all by their names, by the greatness 
 of his might ; and because he is strong in power, not 
 one faileth. 
 
 '• ' Now,' said he, ' one branch of this wide-spread 
 family of God, viz., the race of man, went astray, and 
 the great Shepherd, leaving the ninety and nine, — that 
 is, all who had kept their first estate, — came down to 
 earth, to seek and to save that which was lost. But 
 this wonderful errand of the Son of God was known 
 far and wide through Jehovah's kingdom, not only to 
 the ministering angels, who were eager to look into the
 
 72 THE DARKNESS. 
 
 plan of the gospel, but to other orders of holy beings, 
 whom the apostle styles principalities and powers, and 
 dominions and thrones. The great Immanuel was on 
 earth during a space of from thirty to forty years, and 
 through all this period, there was much interest and 
 sympathy felt in other branches of the great family 
 of God, for the cause in which he was engaged. It 
 may be illustrated by the redemption of Israel from 
 Egypt. While they journeyed through the wilderness, 
 led by that pillar of cloud and pillar of fire, and fed by 
 the manna, and drinking of the stream that flowed from 
 the smitten rock, tidings of what God was doing there 
 spread into distant lands, and messengers came from 
 remote nations, like Hobab, the prince of Midian, to see 
 and learn more perfectly the marvellous works of Jeho- 
 vah. So now, in this greater redemption, of which the 
 release of Israel from Egypt was but a dim and faint 
 shadow, while the Redeemer was on earth, moving 
 forward in the mighty Avork, frequent messengers came 
 in from the remote tracts of creation, excited and anx- 
 ious to pry into the mysteries of pardoning mercy — 
 those deep things of God. And when, at length, Christ 
 told his disciples that he was going up to Jerusalem to 
 the passover, and that there he should be condemned to 
 die, should be crucified and slain, to atone for the sins 
 of men, — not only were the disciples startled and as- 
 tonished at the announcement, but the intelligence was 
 borne with the speed of lightning through fields of 
 creation far remote. And when the appointed moment 
 came, that Immanuel was to bear the heavy vengeance 
 that eternal justice laid on him for crimes that man 
 had done, multitudes came from far to gaze upon the
 
 THE DARKNESS. fS 
 
 Strange sight ; distant worlds were, for a time, emptied 
 of their inhabitants ; from all parts of heaven they 
 were seen flying as clouds, directing their way toward 
 earth. Over Calvary and over the cross these clouds 
 paused and were condensed, filling all the region of the 
 air, O, it was a gathering together of the sons of God, 
 beyond all that had hitherto taken place during the 
 reign of the Almighty. Never before had an event 
 occurred of such immeasurable interest as the death 
 of God's incarnate Son — never before had such an 
 assembly been convened. All were now animated by 
 one intense desire. All were crowded towards the one 
 great object of attraction. Throng pressed eagerly 
 on throng, to behold the scene, and multitude on 
 multitude, till the light of the noonday sun was shut 
 out, and " darkness covered all the land, from the sixth 
 till the ninth hour," while Jesus bled for the redemption 
 of man.' " 
 
 Here Lucifer stopped short in his rehearsal, and the 
 spirits of darkness seemed troubled, while over the 
 assembly appeared strange and varying expressions of 
 countenance. Profound silence, however, was ob- 
 served through all their ranks, and presently the chief 
 resumed his narrative. 
 
 7
 
 74 THE RESURRECTION. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE RESURRECTION. 
 
 "The account also," said Lucifer, "which Adam 
 gave of the Redeemer's abode in the prison-house of 
 death, and his resurrection to immortahty, excited 
 great interest among his audience. 
 
 " ' Death,' said he, ' had now reigned in the world 
 for four thousand years, and all that is sweet, and lovely, 
 and estimable, in human society, had been withered 
 and crushed by his tremendous sway. All the captives 
 he had taken, through this long period, he had retained 
 in his dark dominion. No victim, as yet, who had once 
 fallen under his power, had been able to escape to the re- 
 gions of immortality. The resurrection of the widow's 
 son in the days of Elijah, the resurrection of Lazarus, 
 and some other cases on record, before the death of 
 Christ, were, in each instance, a resuscitation to mortal 
 life, not a resurrection to immortality. Lazarus was 
 subject to sickness and death again. In fact, he died 
 again, and went to the grave, and is in the grave yet. 
 No resurrection, to live forever above the reach of death, 
 had been witnessed, by man or angel, at the time Christ 
 was laid a prisoner in the tomb. But he had promised 
 he would rise on the third day, and bring life and im- 
 mortality to light. What interests, of vast weight and 
 moment, depended on the fulfilment of this promise !
 
 THF. RESURRECTION. 75 
 
 All the hope of the church on earth was here. They 
 had seen their Lord and Master betrayed, condemned, 
 and nailed to the cross. They had witnessed the 
 mockery, insult, and wagging of the head, while he was 
 enduring the agonies of death ; and now, in the silent 
 grave, the ghastly king of terrors held in triumph the 
 cold, prostrate body of Messiah. The little church on 
 earth, shocked, astounded at the depth of his humilia- 
 tion, was, during the three days he lay in the grave, 
 almost bewildered and lost in the mazes of the mys- 
 tery of godliness. " Has God forgotten to be gracious ? 
 Are his mercies clean gone ? Will he be favorable no 
 more ? Shall death forever triumph and reign ? " Such 
 were the questions in the mind of the church, well 
 nigh disconsolate and heart-broken. And during the 
 first day, and the second day, after the Savior's burial, 
 many a trembling eye was turned to that silent sepul- 
 chre, and from many a heaving bosom the inquiry 
 burst forth, " Will he rise ? O Son of God, wilt thou 
 come forth out of that house of death, and bring hope, 
 and victory, and redemption to thy people ? " But 
 from that grave there was no answer ; the silence and 
 mournful gloom remained unbroken. 
 
 " ' There was another company of the friends of God,' 
 continued Adam, 'deeply concerned in this matter. 
 The saints, I mean, who had died in the faith, and gone 
 to glory, and whose bodies were detained prisoners in 
 the grave. These all knew that for them there could 
 be no resurrection, unless their Redeemer should rise 
 first. The Captain of Salvation must vanquish the 
 monster, burst the bars of his strong prison-house, and 
 lead captivity captive, or his followers could never come
 
 76 THE RESURRECTION, 
 
 forth singing the triumphant song, "O death, where is 
 thy sting ? O grave, where is thy victory ? " 
 
 " ' In long, shining ranks, the muUitude of the re- 
 deemed came down, and encircled that tomb, with 
 immortal expectation. But now their harps were sus- 
 pended, their songs were hushed. Awful silence was 
 over all their legions, save that, from time to time, some 
 ancient patriarch, or venerable prophet, approaching 
 the door of the sepulchre, and stooping down and look- 
 ing in, would reverentially lift his hands, and in tremu- 
 lous accents call aloud, " Wilt thou awake and rise ? O 
 Son of God, wilt thou come forth from this house of 
 death, for the glory of thy name, and the joy of thy 
 people ? " But there was no answer ; the stillness of 
 the grave was there. 
 
 " ' There was yet another great class of the friends of 
 God thrilled at this period with the liveliest emotions. 
 They were the holy angels, who, from a very early 
 day, had been employed as ministering spirits for the 
 heirs of salvation. They had worshipped around the 
 throne of Immanuel, before the formation of the world, 
 or the first existence of sin. They had witnessed his 
 first appearance in Eden, when the great promise was 
 given. They had witnessed his appearance to Abra- 
 ham at his tent, to Moses at the burning bush, to Israel 
 at Mount Sinai, to Elijah at his translation, and to 
 Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego, at the burning fiery 
 furnace ; and now, with strange surprise, they had seen 
 him in the manger of Bethlehem, in the garden of 
 Gethsemane, on the cross of Calvary, and a captive in 
 the grave. Mute multitudes of the angelic armies now 
 stood waiting round the tomb. Not a word uttered, not
 
 THE RESURRECTION. 77 
 
 a whisper there, saA^e that, now and then, some strong 
 prince of the seraphim, or some renowned ruler of the 
 cherubic legions, trailing his long robes of glory up to 
 the door of the sepulchre, bending his form with celes- 
 tial awe, and looking in, interrupted the silence — 
 " Wilt thou awake and rise ? O Son of God, wilt thou 
 come forth from this house of death, for the glory of 
 thy name and the joy of thy people ? " But none an- 
 swered ; the stillness of the grave was there. 
 
 " ' There was yet another host,' said Adam, continu- 
 ing his address, • tliat shared largely in the interest of 
 this memorable scene. That is the host of rebel angels. 
 Well was it understood by all the princes of hell, that, 
 could they now shut up the house of death, and prevent 
 the resurrection of the Messiah, their victory would be 
 complete. The promise of God would be forfeited, 
 his counsels overthrown, the hope of the church 
 blasted, and the redemption of man forever frustrated. 
 The powers of darkness were all in ai-ms, and on the 
 alert. And never, since the first moment of his fall, 
 did Satan put forth all the tremendous energies of 
 "archangel ruined" as now. He knew it was the 
 crisis of his empire. 
 
 " ' And now,' said Adam, ' the night of the second 
 day was far spent. The hour of Zion's deliverance 
 was at hand. I drew near to the sepulchre,' said he, 
 ' and looked in upon the scene. The terror and alarm 
 of the hosts of hell had been communicated to the 
 grim monster himself. Never, since his empire was 
 founded, had he triumphed over such a victim. And 
 now he dreads lest this wonderful victim shall buist 
 from his prison. Excited fear gave unwonted paleness 
 
 7*
 
 ■^g THE RESUKRECTION. 
 
 to his pale cheek, as, brandishing his dreadful dart, of 
 triple barb, yet red and reeking with the blood of Cal- 
 vary, the fell tyrant stood between the cold body of the 
 Son of God and the door of the tomb, in the stern 
 attitude of most determined resistance. I heard the 
 loud call of Satan ; it sounded as if issuing from the 
 caverns of despair. " King of terrors ! guard your 
 prey ! The hour has come ! " I looked round, and 
 saw in the east the rising brightness of the morning 
 star ; and behold, the angel of the Lord descended from 
 heaven, — his countenance was like lightning, and his 
 raiment white as snow, — and rolled the huge stone from 
 the door of the sepulchre. The strong bands of death 
 burst asunder with the shock of a mighty earthquake. 
 Within the tomb a moan was heard like the wail of a 
 dying empire. Another moment, and the ghastly 
 monster, ten thousand terrors in his eye, came stagger- 
 ing backward out of the sepulchre, mortally wounded 
 by an arm divine. His dart broken, his crown shat- 
 tered, backward, backward he falls to earth ; his 
 entire frame writhing and convulsed in those frightful 
 throes that portend speedy dissolution. 
 
 " ' But who may speak of the Conqueror? Who may 
 tell the glories with which he was adorned, when, 
 " travelling in the greatness of his strength," he appeared 
 victorious over sin, and death, and hell ? The multi- 
 tudes of the redeemed hailed, and blessed, and gave 
 honor and hallelujahs to his name. The angelic armies 
 joined in the praise, and even the frame of nature, that 
 was convulsed when he died, seemed to share in the 
 triumph now. " The morning stars sang together, and 
 all the sons of God shouted for joy." ' "
 
 PROOF OF THE ATONEMENT. 79 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 PROOF OF THE ATONEMENT. 
 
 At this point in the discussion, a member of the 
 council arose, whose appearance was unHke any I had 
 yet observed. They called him the " Demon of the 
 Isles." I learned that the gospel had recently made 
 great progress in his district. 
 
 " Is it your wish to make an inquiry? " said Lucifer. 
 
 " It is," said he of the Isles: "your majesty desires 
 that on all these subjects, we should know and under- 
 stand the truth." 
 
 "That is my wish," said Lucifer; "for though 
 among men I am called the father of lies, yet it is only 
 to men that we lie. Fallen angels have no interest in 
 deceiving each other. Milton's doctrine is true, that 
 
 ' Devil with devil damned 
 Firm concord holds.' 
 
 " In all these discussions, it is my wish that the hosts 
 of hell should understand facts as they are. I wish 
 them to know the truth, in order that they may know 
 how to disguise the truth ; how to counterfeit the 
 truth; how to war against the truth." 
 
 " Then," said he of the Isles, " I wish to know how 
 it was that one so spotless and innocent as Jesus Christ, 
 came to die a death of such unparalleled horror and
 
 80 PROOF OF THE ATONEMENT. 
 
 dreadfulness. So far as my experience and observation 
 have gone, the virtuous, those who follow after right- 
 eousness, and have guarded against the snares of sin, 
 have peace in their death ; often, indeed, their dying 
 hour is a season not only of tranquillity, but of tri- 
 umph. It is where there has been peculiar and extra- 
 ordinary guilt in life, that I have witnessed peculiar 
 and extraordinary terror and anguish in the hour of 
 death. Have not such been the observations of your 
 majesty ? " 
 
 " Just so," answered Lucifer, " I could mention sev- 
 eral reasons for the calmness and comfort of the right- 
 eous in death, as I once heard them given by a noted 
 divine." 
 
 " I should be glad to hear them," said the Demon of 
 the Isles. 
 
 " In the first place, then," replied Lucifer, " the hope 
 of immortality is a powerful support. To the atheist, 
 Avho looks upon death as annihilation, it is peculiarly 
 dreadful. In the heart of man there is a strong love 
 of existence. When the atheist comes to the verge of 
 life, and looks down into the yawning, unfathomable 
 gulf of eternal oblivion, it is not strange that 
 
 ' Nature runs back and shudders at the sight, 
 And every heartstring bleeds at thought of parting.' 
 
 But the Christian has the hope of immortality. He 
 looks upon death as a narrow stream, deep and cold, it 
 is true ; but hope rolls aside the mists and clouds that 
 hang over its surface, and shows him the green fields, 
 the unwithering flowers, and hills of heavenly light 
 that are beyond ; and this hope supports the Christian 
 in death : though he goes down into that dark, chilling
 
 PROOF OF THE ATONEMENT. 81 
 
 wave, yet he is assured that he shall rise on the oppo- 
 site shore, and climb the everlasting hills, and live 
 forever. 
 
 "Another support is the hope of pardon through 
 Christ, and that God is reconciled. The conscious- 
 ness of unpardoned guilt is an awful load upon the 
 dying man. Where life has been spent in treasuring 
 up wrath against the day of wrath, and there has been 
 no repentance, and no forgiveness, it is not strange that 
 death should be the ' king of terrors,' and that the soul 
 in that hour should be pierced through with many sor- 
 rows. But the Christian has the promise that sin is 
 pardoned through Christ : that its condemning power 
 is removed, far as the east is from the west. And this 
 hope of pardon, as an anchor of the soul, sure and 
 steadfast, is another support in a dying hour. 
 
 " There is a third support, furnished by the gospel, 
 to the Christian in death. It is the assurance of a home 
 in heaven ; an inheritance there that never shall fade 
 away. Death removes the sinner from his home, his 
 possessions, and all that is dear to him on earth, and he 
 is quite unfurnished for the world to come. He must 
 go where he has made no provision ; where he has no 
 inheritance, no home. It is not strange, therefore, that 
 the pangs of parting from earth should be awful. But 
 the Christian is assured, that when his earthly house is 
 dissolved, he shall find a building Avith God, a house 
 not made with hands, eternal in the heavens; that, 
 when he leaves earth, he shall join the general assem- 
 bly of the church of the first born, whose names are 
 written in heaven ; that there he shall inherit a crown 
 of life, a robe of salvation, an exceeding and eternal
 
 82 PROOF OF THE ATONEMENT. 
 
 weight of glory, and sliall sit down with Abraham, and 
 Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of God. These are 
 the hopes that bear np the Christian in the trying hour. 
 This support gave triumph to Stephen and to Paul 
 amidst tlie sufferings of martyrdom. This support 
 gave triumph to Harriet Newell, to ,Pai/son, and to 
 thousands who in their last moments have seemed to 
 be conquerors, and more than conquerors, over death 
 itself." 
 
 . '' But I would like to ask," said the Demon of the 
 Isles, " had not Jesus Christ all these supports, in the 
 hour of death, to as great a degree as any of his 
 followers? " 
 
 " To as great a degree ? " answered Lucifer. " He 
 had all these supports to an extent unspeakably beyond 
 that possessed by any of his followers. As to the first 
 I mentioned, — the doctrine of immortality, — he had 
 this before him, in a clearness and perfection of which 
 neither Stephen, nor Paul, nor any of his followers 
 were capable. He had come from God, and to God he 
 was returning. Heaven was his home, where he had 
 dAvelt from eternity. 
 
 " As to the second support which I mentioned, — viz., 
 the favor and approbation of God, — he had this in the 
 highest degree. Repeatedly a miraculous voice had 
 come from heaven, saying, ' This is my beloved Son, 
 in whom I am well pleased.' And he knew that his 
 whole life was perfectly acceptable to his heavenly Fa- 
 ther, And as to the third support, — the glory beyond 
 the grave, — the prospect before Christ had a bright- 
 ness and grandeur unparalleled. He knew that because 
 he had humbled himself, and become obedient unto
 
 PROOF or THE ATONEMENT. 83 
 
 death, even the death of the cross, therefore God would 
 highly exalt him, and give him a name above every 
 name, that on his head should be ' many crowns,' and 
 that every knee should bow to him, and every tongue 
 confess, of things on earth and things in heaven. He 
 knew that the day of his ascension to his throne above 
 would be the jubilee of all the celestial world ; that 
 the everlasting gates would be lifted up, and the doors 
 of heaven opened wide, that the King of glory might 
 come in ,• he knew that the rapturous triumph of this 
 scene would incomparably surpass all that cherubim or 
 seraphim, since the morning of their creation, had yet 
 beheld in the palace of the great God." 
 
 " Now," said he of the Isles, " that is precisely the 
 point to which I wished to come. With all this glori- 
 ous exaltation set before him, how did Christ meet 
 death ? Did he meet death as Stephen met it ? or as 
 Paul met it ? or as countless multitudes of saints have 
 since met death ? No : at the approach of death his 
 soul is ' exceeding sorrowful ; ' he is in ' an agony; ' his 
 sweat is as great drops of blood falling to the ground ; 
 he offers up strong cries and tears; he prostrates him- 
 self on the earth, and prays, * O my Father, if it be 
 possible, let this cup pass from me.' He exclaims, ' My 
 God ! my God ! why hast thou forsaken me ! ' And 
 the rending vail of the temple, the bursting rocks, the 
 quaking earth, the opening graves, and the startled 
 dead, all proclaim that a load of enormous anguish 
 pressed on the soul of the Redeemer when he died. 
 
 " How is it," said he, " that a life so spotless and 
 pure is followed by a death so ineffably dreadful ; and 
 that prospects beyond the grave, that have so amply
 
 84 PROOF OF THE ATONEMENT. 
 
 supported the followers of Christ in the trying hour, 
 seem to have afforded no support to their Lord and 
 Master, though set before him in a much more exalted 
 and brilliant light ? " 
 
 " Belial," said Lucifer, turning to his prime minister, 
 " come, give an answer to this question of the member 
 from the isles." ' 
 
 " It has been remarked," said Belial, rising and step- 
 ping forward, " that among ourselves we speak the 
 truth. Fallen angels have no inducement to deceive 
 each other. It is to the sons of men that we speak 
 falsehood, for the purpose of deception. Now, the facts 
 that have been mentioned in the sufferings of the 
 Savior, furnish the strongest proof possible that his 
 sufferings were vicarious. That is, he suffered, not for 
 himself, but for the sins of men." 
 
 "Was this the cause why the sorrows of Christ were 
 so intense and overwhelming ? " asked the Demon of 
 the Isles. 
 
 " Certainly," said Belial ; " no other adequate cause 
 can possibly be assigned. The prophet Isaiah gives 
 the true reason. He says, ' He was wounded for our 
 transgressions ; he was bruised for our iniquities ; the 
 chastisement of our peace Avas laid upon him.' " 
 
 " Is this, then," said he of the Isles, " the whole reason 
 of the striking contrast between the death of Christ 
 and the death of Paul ? " 
 
 " This is the whole reason," answered Belial. " Christ 
 presented himself before a throne of justice, Paul stood 
 before a throne of mercy ; Christ met death in all its 
 terrors, Paul met death as a foe that was vanquished ;
 
 PROOF OF THE ATONEMENT. 85 
 
 Christ died to take the sting from death, Paul encoun- 
 tered death after his sting was taken away." 
 
 Here Belial paused, and looked round on the assem- 
 bly, who all appeared profoundly engrossed with the 
 subject. " The doctrine of the atonement for sin," 
 said he, " is the corner-stone of the Christian system : 
 it is a doctrine against which all the hosts of hell are 
 most inveterate : long and laboriously have I toiled for 
 its overthrow: from early candle-light, till three and 
 four o'clock in the morning, have I sat by the sceptical 
 expositor of the Scriptures, and aided him with all the 
 devilish ingenuity I possessed, to gloss over, new trans- 
 late, and wrest from their plain meaning, texts of Scrip- 
 ture in which this doctrine was clearly taught. In this 
 department I have had very gratifying success. But 
 these recorded facts of the awful anguish of the Re- 
 deemer, when it pleased the Lord to bruise him, and 
 make his soul an offering for sin — these recorded facts, 
 I say, are stubborn and unyielding : for eighteen hun- 
 dred years I have studied the subject, and racked my 
 invention to find some way to escape from their force, 
 or set the argument aside ; but as yet I have not had 
 the shadow of success. Ingenuity and perseverance, 
 however, may yet accomplish much. But" — he 
 turned to Lucifer — "perhaps I occupy too much time, 
 your majesty was about to rehearse the account that 
 Adam gave of the doings of the risen Redeemer." 
 8
 
 86 THE GOSPEL. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE GOSPEL. 
 
 " There were a few other things," said Lucifer, 
 " in Adam's discourse, which I designed to mention. 
 He spake of the ordinances of the house of God ; the 
 Sabbath, solemn assemblies, prayer, and praise ; but 
 dwelt particularly on the Lord's supper, baptism, and 
 institution of a visible church. 
 
 " He said, ' There is much truth reaches the human 
 soul through the eye as well as through the ear ; and 
 hence, in every age of the world, God has employed 
 visible signs and visible representations of spiritual 
 things. He spake of the rainbow, the passover, and the 
 blood that was shed and sprinkled at the Jewish altar. 
 In like manner, visible signs of great spiritual truths 
 and facts were employed under the new testament.' 
 
 " He said, ' Man, in his lost estate, is guilty, polluted, 
 and an alien from God. In the Lord's supper, the ground 
 of pardon is set forth ; the bread and the wine are lively 
 emblems of the cost by which pardon was purchased.' 
 
 " He spake of the appropriateness and power of that 
 ordinance ; how it speaks to the heart, and how, in every 
 land where the Lord's table is spread, the knowledge 
 of the sufferings of Christ in the room of men is spread 
 far and Vv^ide.
 
 THE GOSPEL. 87 
 
 " 'But man,' said he, 'needs purification as well as 
 pardon ; and hence the Head of the church has ap- 
 pointed the baptismal water, to represent to the eye and 
 to the heart the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, hy 
 which the stain and pollution of sin is removed from 
 the soul. Wherever the Lord's supper is properly ad- 
 ministered, and its design and import clearly expounded, 
 there the doctrine of the atonement will be generally 
 understood. And wherever the ordinance of baptism 
 is properly administered, and its design and import 
 clearly explained, there the agency of the Holy Spirit 
 in cleansing the soul from sin will also be understood. 
 But let the design of either of these ordinances be ob- 
 scured or misrepresented, and there men will not un- 
 derstand the gospel clearly. 
 
 " ' The institution of a visible church,' said he, ' brings 
 before the eye the great doctrine of adoption into the 
 family of God. Man, who by sin was an alien and an 
 outcast from God, on embracing the gospel is pardoned, 
 and sanctified, and adopted into the family of God ; 
 is constituted an heir of God, and a joint heir with 
 Christ. The visible church had been established in 
 the world at a very early day : patriarchs and prophets 
 had enjoyed its privileges; but now, under the gospel, 
 the light of redemption shone clearer, and the ordinances 
 of the church were more simple and impressive. 
 
 " 'The risen Redeemer,' said Adam, 'remained with 
 his disciples forty days after his resurrection, teaching 
 and instructing them in the things pertaining to the 
 kingdom of God ; and then, just before his ascension to 
 heaven, he commissioned them to go into all the world 
 and preach the gospel, baptizing and administering all
 
 88 THE GOSPEL. 
 
 the ordinances of the church ; and he promised them 
 his presence and blessing alway, even to the end of 
 the world. He charged them, however, to begin at 
 Jerusalem. 
 
 " ' I must not omit,' said Adam, ' to mention the joy 
 and triumph with which patriarchs and prophets were 
 inspired, on witnessing the first victories of the gospel. 
 Enoch, Noah, Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel, and 
 many others, had been preachers of righteousness in 
 seasons very dark, when the broad road was thronged 
 with heedless and hardened multitudes, and the word 
 of God had little success in turning men from sin. The 
 spirit of prophecy had foretold a brighter day for Zion ; 
 but these venerable men had lived, and labored, and 
 died, while the darkness remained unmitigated, and the 
 powers of sin, like a wide-spreading and resistless flood, 
 carried all before them. 
 
 •"When now these old soldiers beheld the cause which 
 they loved becoming victorious, when they saw many 
 thousands in a day turning from Satan unto God, their 
 transports were very great ; and louder hallelujahs were 
 given to God than ever before had been sung by the 
 ransomed multitudes around the throne.' " 
 
 Here the demon from Madagascar rose again, and 
 stood like a pillar of darkness in the midst of the as- 
 sembly. " Did you say that Christ commanded his 
 disciples to begin their preaching of the gospel at Jeru- 
 salem ? " 
 
 " I did," replied Lucifer. 
 
 "Why, that is very strange," said he of Madagascar. 
 " I should have thought that Jerusalem was the last 
 place on the globe to which the risen Redeemer would
 
 THE GOSPEL. 89 
 
 have sent his gospel. There they had the sacred ora- 
 cles, that plainly foretold his coming for ages before he 
 appeared." 
 
 "Yes," said Lucifer, "they had all the writings of 
 Moses and the prophets." 
 
 " And in these sacred writings, the family and the 
 house from which Christ should arise were clearly 
 pointed out, as also the time, place, and manner of his 
 appeai'ing." 
 
 "That also is true," replied Lucifer. 
 
 "And yet." said he of Madagascar, "the people of 
 Jerusalem laid hands on him as a malefactor, insulted 
 and smote him with their hands in the hall of the high 
 priest, accused him of flagrant crimes before Pilate, and 
 while he hung bleeding in the agonies of death, they 
 Avalked around the cross, and wagged their heads, and 
 mocked the pangs in which he died." 
 
 "' True, every word true," answered Lucifer. 
 
 " And when he was laid in the sepulchre, they went to 
 Pilate, and urged him to station a strong guard around 
 the sepulchre, to prevent, if possible, his resurrection 
 from the dead. And after he arose, they gave large sums 
 of money to the soldiers, to bribe them to circulate 
 through the city the falsehood — ' His disciples came by 
 night and stole him away, while we slept.' " 
 
 " Well," said liUcifer. and what is your inference 
 from all this,? " 
 
 "Why," said the demon, "I should have thought 
 that Christ would have directed his disciples to go into 
 all the world and preach the gospel to every otlier peo- 
 ple, before any more time or labor was expended with 
 ungrateful, hard-hearted, incorrigible Jeri]salem. I say 
 
 8*
 
 90 
 
 THE GOSPEL. 
 
 it is strange, yes, passing strange, that the first mes- 
 sage of mercy should be sent to those who were most 
 undeserving. ' Begin at Jerusalem ! ' Why, the frame 
 of nature might tremble and quake when its Creator 
 was suffering, but the people of Jerusalem were un- 
 moved. The rocks might rend, and earth and heaven 
 put on blackness and mourning, but they exulted and 
 triumphed in his dying agonies, I say, it is strange he 
 should have commanded them to begin at Jerusalem." 
 
 "You have raised the very question," said Lucifer, 
 " which was propounded to Adam by one of his audi- 
 ence, who also thought it perfectly wonderful that the 
 Son of God should give such a command, considering 
 the unparalleled guilt of Jerusalem." 
 
 " Did Adam explain this difficult point ?" asked the 
 demon. 
 
 "He did," said Lucifer. 
 
 " Let us hear the explanation he gave." 
 
 " He said," replied Lucifer, " that three or four strong 
 reasons could be assigned for this command. 
 
 "'First,' he said, 'the gospel is the gospel of light. 
 It claims investigation. It claims to be received on its 
 own appropriate evidence. God never would have sus- 
 pended the salvation of men on the condition of receiv- 
 ing a religion which was not supported by competent 
 proof. Now,' said he, ' at Jerusalem there was every 
 opportunity to ascertain the truth of the gospel. There 
 Christ had lived. There his miracles had been per- 
 formed. There, in one family was the man that had 
 been born blind, and Christ had opened his eyes. His 
 father and mother, sisters, brothers, and neighbors were 
 witnesses of the fact.
 
 THE GOSPEL. 91 
 
 " ' In another family was the daughter that was a 
 hmatic, and Christ liad healed her. In another was 
 the man that had the palsy, and Christ had made him 
 whole ; and in another was the brother that had been 
 dead, and Christ had raised him to life. Now, members 
 of the family and the near neighbors could not be 
 mistaken in matters of this kind. And these divine 
 works of Christ proved the divinity of the gospel. 
 
 " ' Had the apostles,' said he, ' gone into some distant 
 land, beyond mountains and seas, and there founded the 
 church, and made converts, the modern sceptic might 
 have objected that the first converts to the gospel had 
 no opportunity of fairly and fully examining its claims 
 to divine origin. But what said the command of Christ ? 
 " Go, my disciples, begin at Jerusalem. There, all the 
 facts of your Savior's life are within the reach of every 
 honest inquirer. Go, begin at Jerusalem, where the 
 Jewish lawyers and Jewish doctors, men of high talent 
 and profound learning, are most deeply interested in dis- 
 proving the gospel, if they can. Let those men, skilled 
 and experienced in sifting and searching subjects to the 
 bottom, artful and expert in examining and cross-exam- 
 ining witnesses, — let those talented and influential ene- 
 mies of the gospel try their utmost. Go to Jerusalem, 
 and go 7irnv, while the public officers are unchanged ; 
 while Pilate, Herod, and the high priest, are still in 
 power. Go iioio, while the events are all recent and 
 fresh in the public mind. And if the gospel can abide 
 the scrutiny and investigation of Jerusalem, if it can 
 triumph over the obstinacy and unbelief of Jerusalem, 
 then carry the joyful tidings to the ends of the earth, 
 and let all the nations know that that gospel is from
 
 92 THE GOSPEL. 
 
 God, which achieved its first victories, heginning at 
 Jerusalem." ' " 
 
 " Tremendous ! " exclaimed the Madagascar demon, 
 rising and walking back and forth for a minute or two. 
 "I see the force of that. The gospel is the gospel of 
 light, and calls for an examination of its truth," said 
 he, speaking the words slowly, as if weighing them in 
 his own mind; "therefore begin at Jerusalem." 
 
 " But the next reason given by Adam was of equal 
 force," said Lucifer. 
 
 "Ah," said he of Madagascar: "pray, let us hear." 
 
 " He said, ' The gospel is the gospel of grace. It is 
 God's free favor to the guilty, and the riches of this 
 grace were best illustrated by beginning at Jerusalem. 
 Fallen man is slow to believe in the freeness and rich- 
 ness of the grace of the gospel. And it has long been 
 the policy of hell to crowd the minds of men with 
 doubts and unbelief on this whole subject. While men 
 are careless in sin, the plan of the tempter is to let them 
 alone. But when conscience is alarmed, and the 
 awakened sinner begins to examine how the account 
 stands between his soul and God, — when abused mer- 
 cies, wasted time, despised opportunities, with all the 
 long catalogue of crimes committed against God, rise in 
 black and terrible array before the startled soul, — then 
 the tempter bestirs himself to drive the man to despair 
 of the mercy of God. And often the sinner, at this 
 juncture, concluding that there is no hope for him, will 
 turn spiritual bankrupt in self-defence ; that is, he will 
 attempt to pay off the whole by denying the debt. 
 He will turn atheist, deist, or universalist, as the only 
 method of quieting an alarmed conscience. This is
 
 THE GOSPEL, 93 
 
 what Isaiah calls " making a covenant with death, and 
 coming to an agreement with hell." Now, the gospel 
 is the gospel of grace, and it is sufficient to reach the 
 case of the chief of sinners. It was the design of the 
 Redeemer that the freeness and the richness of the 
 gospel should be strongly set forth in the very infancy 
 of its career. " Go, my disciples, begin at Jerusalem. 
 There, light, which kings and prophets desired to see, 
 has been rejected. There, wisdom, greater than that 
 which brought the queen of the south from the utter- 
 most parts of the earth, has been scorned ; there, warn- 
 ings have been given, surpassing those which brought 
 the men of Nineveh to repentance ; there, works have 
 been performed which, had they been done in Tyre 
 and Zidon, they would long ago have repented in sack- 
 cloth and ashes. Had they been done in Sodom and 
 Gomorrah, they would have remained to this day. Yet 
 go again to Jerusalem. There, the stain of sin is black- 
 est ; there, the load of guilt is heaviest ; there, the fatal 
 leprosy has fastened its strongest grasp on the vitals of 
 the soul. Preach in Jerusalem the omnipotence of a 
 Savior's love ; the efficacy of a Savior's blood ; the 
 length, and breadth, and depth, and height, of a Sa- 
 vior's pardoning mercy. Call to repentance those who 
 accused me before Pilate, and those who stood as false 
 witnesses there. Call to repentance those who called 
 for Barabbas, and those who put the crown of thorns 
 upon my head. Tell those who drove the nails through 
 my hands, and the spear into my side, that the blood 
 which they shed cleanseth from all sin. Let the sol- 
 diers, who for three days guarded the tomb, and the 
 rulers who bribed them to circulate falsehood concern-
 
 94 THE GOSPEL. 
 
 ing my resurrection, know that Christ, who died there, 
 and was buried there, and rose there, is * mighty to 
 save.' Bid them repent, and look, and be saved. Yes, 
 go and preach, beghming at Jerusalem ; and when it is 
 demonstrated that the gospel can wash out the stain of 
 crime, take off the load of guilt, and bring back to the 
 family of God the prodigal at Jerusalem ; then bear the 
 glad tidings to every nation, and let every people know 
 that Christ can save to the uttermost all that come to 
 him." ' " 
 
 " Thunder and lightning ! " exclaimed he of Madagas- 
 car. '' I had no thought the reasons could be so strong. 
 Did you say that Adam assigned yet other reasons for 
 the command to begin at Jerusalem? " 
 
 " He did : his third reason was this : ' The gospel,' he 
 said, ' is the gospel of power. It is designed to subdue 
 the nations to God. It is the power of God unto salva- 
 tion to every one that believeth.' 
 
 " ' Now,' said he, ' from the earliest apostasy, the 
 strong current of the human soul had been do7V7ivmrd, 
 and all attempts to turn it back to God had been at- 
 tended with but limited success. Patriarchs, prophets, 
 and holy men had labored to arrest this strong torrent 
 of depravity, but it proved too strong. The great 
 majority had preferred the broad road. 
 
 "'Now,' said Adam, 'the power of sin over the 
 nations was so great, its empire so firmly established, 
 that it was a question of mighty interest among the 
 friends of God on earth and in heaven, — Is there en- 
 ergy in the gospel sufficient to overturn the fortresses 
 of sin, and turn the world to God? Now, the gospel is 
 the gospel of power, and Christ would give a decisive
 
 THE GOSPEL. 95 
 
 demonstration of its power, at the period of its first 
 proclamation by the apostles, " Go, begin at Jerusalem. 
 There, the hearts of men are hardest, and the preju- 
 dices against the gospel strongest. Go, begin at Jeru- 
 salem, and if the gospel can triumph over the stubborn 
 spirits there, — yes, if it can bring the hard-hearted 
 sinners of Jerusalem, contrite, humbled, to the feet of 
 the Savior, — then let the friends of God on earth and in 
 heaven be assured that the gospel, attended by the Di- 
 vine Spirit, will accomplish all that glorious revolution 
 in a dark and fallen world, which prophets and holy 
 seers have so brilliantly predicted, and the saints of 
 God have so ardently desired to see." ' " 
 
 " Strong as the earthquake," exclaimed he of Mada- 
 gascar. 
 
 " There was yet again," continued Lucifer, "■ a fourth 
 reason given by Adam for this command of the Mes- 
 siah, which you think so strange." 
 
 " Mention it, if you please," said the Madagascar 
 demon. " I wish fully to understand this subject. In 
 the great contest which your majesty has told us is ap- 
 proaching, we shall all need to be thoroughly furnished 
 and prepared." 
 
 "Well," said Lucifer, "his fourth reason was this: 
 he alleged, that ' it is the plan of Jehovah to give effi- 
 cacy to the gospel in answer to prayer. The prayers 
 of the church,' said he, ' bring from heaven a blessing 
 on the preached word. 
 
 " ' Now,' said he, < at Jerusalem, and only at Jerusa- 
 lem, at that period, there was a little church to hold up 
 the hands of the apostles while they labored by effec- 
 tual and fervent prayer. It was, therefore, wisely
 
 96 THE GOSPKL. 
 
 ordained in that dark age, that the apostles should begin 
 at Jerusalem their great enterprise of turning a fallen 
 world to God.' " 
 
 Here the spirits of darkness looked agitated and con- 
 fused, but continued in profound silence, while the 
 chief made a deep pause. At length the demon of 
 Madagascar inquired, — 
 
 " Were there any other particulars in Adam's address 
 which your majesty designs to mention ? " 
 
 " He spake," said Lucifer, " of the intercession of 
 Christ in a style that appeared to fill with astonishment 
 and delight the multitudes whom he addressed. He 
 expatiated on the doctrine of the Savior's intercession, 
 as one of the distinguishing doctrines of the Christian 
 system. ' A doctrine,' said he, ' rich in comfort and 
 consolation to the church.' He drew an illustration 
 from the history of Moses. When Israel, on their 
 journey through the wilderness, were attacked by the 
 armies of Amalek, Moses went up to the top of a 
 mountain that overlooked the battle plain, and held up 
 his hands in prayer to the God of battles ; and while 
 Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed. 
 
 " Said he, ' Every soldier, while striving with the 
 enemy in the plain below, was encouraged and 
 strengthened when he lifted up his eyes to the top of 
 the mountain, and saw this holy man earnestly inter- 
 ceding for their success. In like manner, the soldiers 
 of the cross, while engaged in the spiritual warfare, 
 have been cheered and comforted, when, lifting their 
 eyes to the everlasting hills, they have beheld Him 
 who ever liveth to make intercession for them.' 
 
 "But the power and prevalence of the Mediator's
 
 THE GOSPEL. 97 
 
 intercession was the point on which he chiefly enlarged. 
 ' If the prayer of Abraham,' said he, ' in behalf of guil- 
 ty Sodom, had such power; if the prayer of Moses for 
 Israel was so successful ; if the prayer of Elijah could 
 shut and open the windows of heaven, — what shall 
 we say of the efiicacy of that intercession offered up in 
 behalf of the church by God's incarnate Son ? ' " 
 
 Here a demon stood up, on whose brow was collect- 
 ed the blackness and fury of the thunder-storm. " Did 
 Adam," said he, " speak of the promises given for the 
 success of the gospel ? " 
 
 " He did," replied Lucifer. " He rehearsed many of 
 those glowing passages found in the prophets on that 
 subject ; particularly, ' The word that Isaiah, the son 
 of Amos, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And 
 it shall come to pass in the last days, that the moun- 
 tain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top 
 of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills ; 
 and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people 
 shall go and say. Come ye, and let us go up to the 
 mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of 
 Jacob ; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will 
 walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the 
 law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.' ' Yes,' 
 he exclaimed, ' the Lord's house shall stand, in the view 
 of men, higher than politics, commerce, agriculture, or 
 any earthly interest, established in the top of the moun- 
 tains, and exalted above the hills, and all nations shall 
 flow unto it.' And I will only mention farther con- 
 cerning his discourse, that he spake of the second 
 coming of the Messiah in terms that surpassed all my 
 ears had yet heard on that awful theme. I had heard 
 
 9
 
 98 THE GOSPEL. 
 
 the discourses delivered on that subject by Enoch and 
 by Daniel in their day; I had heard also Paul, and 
 Peter, and John, in the period of their ministry, often 
 preaching on this theme ; but the picture which Adam 
 drew of the great day was beyond all parallel. Its 
 effect on the vast audience he addressed I shall not 
 attempt to describe. But I was now fully satisfied 
 that the prospect of success in the enterprise for which 
 I had left earth, was here exceedingly doubtful. 
 
 " It was inquired, by one of the council some time 
 since, if I saw Abel in company with his father, Adam ? 
 I did not, and yet Adam was not alone. Abraham, the 
 father of the faithful, was with him, and took a large 
 share in the services of the occasion. But of Abraham 
 and his discourse I will tell you at another time, not 
 now. 
 
 *' I made various attempts," said Lucifer, " to seduce 
 these worshippers of God from their allegiance. I will 
 not detain you to mention them now. They were 
 unsuccessful. It seemed that the very knowledge of 
 the plan of man's redemption carried with it an influ- 
 ence disastrous to the empire of sin. I was reminded 
 of the heathen oracles among the Gentiles being struck 
 dumb, when the first proclamation of the gospel came 
 abroad. 
 
 " It appeared that the mighty power of attraction that 
 holds such a multitude of suns, and worlds, and sys- 
 , tems in the proper relation to their great centre, the 
 throne of God, is not so strong as that invisible power 
 that draws all holy beings to the standard of Him who 
 died for the sins of men,''
 
 DAVID. 99 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 DAVID. 
 
 " I RESOLVED at once," continued Lucifer, '^ to try 
 my success in some more distant province of the wide 
 creation. But fii'st I thought it prudent to explore 
 more carefully the region where I. now was, and ascer- 
 tain definitely whether missionaries from the new 
 Jerusalem above, actually occupied every portion of 
 this great field. 
 
 " There was a splendid globe rolling in its bright 
 orbit, as near to me as the planet Jupiter is to the earth. 
 Thither I directed my way. On approaching it, the 
 first object that caught my eye was a great assembly 
 of the population, evidently in the attitude of receiv- 
 ing public instruction. The discourse, however, was 
 closed, and they were now attending to a song of sacred 
 praise. When the music began to float around me, its 
 tones, though transcendently sweet, had something of 
 familiarity, at which I was greatly surprised. I had 
 certainly heard that strain before. Another moment, 
 and I could identify the air of one of the songs of 
 Zion^ often sung in the sanctuary of ancient Israel. 
 The theme was Incarnate Divinity and Redeeming 
 Love. A single voice, which I afterwards found was 
 that of one of the redeemed, sung the body of each
 
 100 DAVID. 
 
 Stanza alone ; and then the ten thousand voices of the 
 multitude around would unite to swell the chorus. 
 The words are imprinted upon my memory as with a 
 burning brand, and run thus : — 
 
 SONG OF A REDEEMED SOUL. 
 
 "How sweet to tell, through, heavenly worlds, 
 The wondrous love of God ! 
 How sweet to sing Messiah's name, 
 
 Who bought us with his blood ! 
 Celestial armies, round the throne, 
 
 God's power and wisdom scan : 
 But, O, the depth and height of grace 
 Is only shown to man. 
 Chorus. — And has Immanuel gone to earth. 
 And grace divine unfurled ? 
 Wonder and praise, ye heaven of heavens, 
 That « God so loved the world ! ' 
 
 II. 
 
 " Involved in sin, and guilt, and woe, 
 Far from Jehovah's face. 
 Without one cheering ray of hope. 
 
 Lay Adam's ruined race. 
 The strongest angel bands could bring 
 
 No help to those who fell ; 
 WTien, lo I God's only Son appeared 
 And vanquished Death and Hell. 
 Chorus. — And has Immanuel gone to earth. 
 And grace divine unfurled ? 
 Wonder and praise, ye heaven of heavens, 
 That ' God so loved the world ! ' 
 
 III. 
 
 ♦Throughout creation's boundless range. 
 
 The joyful ncAvs we'll bear, 
 And principahties and powers, 
 In heavenly climes shall hear.
 
 DAVID. 101 
 
 The song of grace, forever new — 
 
 That song shall be our strain ; 
 And knees shall bow, and tongues confess 
 The Lamb that once was slain. 
 Chorus. — And has Immanuel gone to earth, 
 And grace divine unfurled ? 
 "Wonder and praise, ye heaven of heavens. 
 That ' God so loved the world ! ' 
 
 IV. 
 
 »' To Abram first, in early daj-s, 
 The precious word was given. 
 That ransomed souls should far exceed 
 
 The countless stars of heaven ; 
 To each bright star a mission band 
 
 Shall with the tidings go, 
 And tell what God has done for man 
 In yon dark world below. 
 Chorus. — And has Immanuel gone to earth, 
 And grace divine unfurled ? 
 "Wonder and praise, ye heaven of heavens. 
 That • God so loved the world ! ' " 
 
 " But who was this before me, leading in this anthem 
 of lofty praise ? Will you believe me ? It was David, 
 the Psalmist of Israel, Avith his ' harp of solemn sound.' 
 The music ceased, and the congregation was dismissed. 
 The discourse I had not heard, my an'ival being too 
 late ; but from the beaming eyes, the animated coun- 
 tenance, the eager conversation of the groups that now 
 clustered together and spoke of what they heard, it 
 was plain that they had not only been interested, but 
 that their spirits had been rapt in transports of the 
 sublimest ecstasy. 
 
 " In the mean time, David was walking over a field 
 
 of living green, arm in arm with one with whom he 
 
 appeared to be on terms of the most established apd 
 
 9*
 
 102 DAVID. 
 
 intimate friendship. They were not in the act of leav- 
 ing the place, but, after the public services of the day, 
 were taking delightful recreation, walking back and 
 forth among such flowers as bloom where sin and death 
 have never entered. Their deportment exhibited such 
 warm and extraordinary cordiality, that my curiosity 
 was roused. Who can that be, that the glorified King 
 of Israel dignifies with such peculiar marks of fondness 
 and intimacy ? They were now approaching the place 
 where I stood, when, lo ! the form of Jonathan, David's 
 early friend, was before me. Ah ! thought I, have you 
 been sent out, ' two and two,' as Christ sent out the 
 disciples of old ? I was now anxious to learn the sub- 
 ject of their earnest conversation. 1 soon found it was 
 the strong and mutual attachment formed in their early 
 days when on earth. 
 
 "'Jonathan,' said David, 'let us bless the name of 
 God our Redeemer for this rich ingredient in the cup 
 of our salvation, that the friendship formed on earth, 
 amidst the fretful and feverish agitations of that troubled 
 world, can be revived and perpetuated forever in this 
 immortal state.' 
 
 " 'I ascribe it all,' said Jonathan, ' to the good prov- 
 idence of God. But when I saw you take your life in 
 your hand and go forth against that gigantic Philistine, 
 who, day after day, had insulted and defied the armies 
 of Israel ; when I saw you prevail against him, and 
 vindicate the honor of Israel and of Israel's God, the 
 attachment formed for you at that hour in my heart, 
 was lasting as life, and strong as the tie that binds soul 
 and body together.' 
 
 " ' I knew it, Jonathan, I knew it. Long and severe-
 
 DAVID. 103 
 
 ly were the fidelity and firmness of your friendship 
 tried, during the dark and troubled periods of my 
 earthly history. And O, when I heard you had fallen 
 on Mount Gilboa, how bitterly I wept ! The remem- 
 brance of all your kindness came over me with tenfold 
 strength beyond what I had realized while you were 
 living, I wondered I had not seen it in that over- 
 whelming light before. I felt that I had lost a friend 
 that could never be replaced on earth ; 1 felt as though 
 a part of myself had gone into the grave.' 
 
 " ' I was conscious of it, David, I was conscious of it. 
 And that beautiful ode that you composed and sung to 
 my memory, gave me much delight. But there was 
 no token of your friendship, after I was taken from 
 earth, that made half so much impression, as when, 
 after you were confirmed in your kingdom, and had 
 become prosperous and great, amid the nobility, the 
 statesmen, the courtiers and flatterers that swarmed in 
 your capital and around your palace, you still retained 
 the remembrance of your early friend, and searched for 
 and found my poor orphan boy, Mephibosheth, when 
 he was in exile beyond Jordan, afraid of your power. 
 You had him brought to Jerusalem, and when he came 
 trembling into your presence, apprehensive for his life, 
 you said, '' Fear not, Mephibosheth ; I will restore to 
 thee all the land that was thy father's ; thou shalt eat 
 bread at my table continually, as one of the king's sons, 
 for I will surely show thee kindness for thy father 
 Jonathan's sake." I assure you, David, this conduct 
 on your part gave a new impulse to the joy of my 
 ransomed soul in the Paradise of God.' 
 
 *' ' I much regretted,' said David, ' that it was so long
 
 104 DATIO, 
 
 before I could thus publicly acknowledge the debt of 
 gratitude which I owed to you. But the first years of 
 my kingdom were stormy and full of trouble, and in 
 such circumstances the claims of the worthiest friends 
 are sometimes crowded out for a time. But as to 
 Mephibosheth, often as he sat at the table among my 
 own sons, there would be some lineament of his coun- 
 tenance, some tone or accent of his voice, some gesture 
 or turn of thought, that most affectingly and forcibly 
 brought to my mind the invaluable friend that was 
 gone from earth forever. Often was I constrained to 
 turn away, that I might hide from the youthful com- 
 pany the tears that filled my eyes ; and especially when 
 I began to be advanced in life, and had had long and 
 painful experience of worthless and hollow-hearted pro- 
 fessions of fidelity in many who crowd around the 
 court of kings ; when confidence had been abused, and 
 trust betrayed, and base, black ingratitude had stared 
 me in the face, where I was looking for truth and up- 
 rightness ; often, with a sick and burdened heart, have 
 I put aside the crown and laid down the sceptre, and 
 gone into my secret chamber, and poured forth floods 
 of tears, when I thought of the immense bereavement 
 I had sustained in the loss of the friend of my youth. 
 "O, had he lived," I exclaimed, " to be my companion, 
 my counsellor, my helper along this dreary pilgrimage 
 of life, I should 7iow know how to prize his warm, 
 faithful, unwavering friendship." ' 
 
 " ' And yet,' said Jonathan, ' the ways of the Lord 
 are higher, wiser, and better than our ways, and there 
 is one thought in this connection that thrills all my 
 soul with celestial rapture. The young buddings of
 
 DAVID. 105 
 
 friendship, amid the dark and checkered scenes of earth, 
 are feeble and dim as the moonlight rainbow, when 
 compared with the high, holy, unruffled friendships of 
 this heavenly state. It is now three thousand years since 
 we entered into the joy of our Lord ; and yet we are but 
 approaching the threshold of our inheritance. I would 
 lift up my soul in immortal hallelujahs to God, when 
 I think of the progress, growth, and maturity of holy 
 friendship among brothers in our Father's house, during 
 the long unmeasured years of eternal glory.' " 
 
 Here Lucifer paused — looked slowly round over the 
 audience, who were rapt in profound attention. " The 
 narrative," said he, -' is to me odious, extremely odious; 
 I will pursue it no farther now. 
 
 " Belial ! " said he, calling on his prime minister, 
 " you were much conversant with the church and house 
 of Israel in the time of David ; you were chiefly con- 
 cerned in plotting and attempting his overthrow, I being 
 at that time much engaged in forwarding the cause of 
 idolatry in Babylon, Nineveh, Egypt, and other nations. 
 Rehearse to this council and this host such of the trans- 
 actions of that day as you think it best to make known. 
 I would gladly have a little respite. And well I know, 
 that none has more talent to give instructions how to 
 war against the church of God than thou." 
 
 Belial rose. His appearance reminded me of Milton's 
 
 description : — 
 
 " A fairer person lost not heaven : he seemed 
 For dignity composed and high exploit ; 
 But all was false and hollow." 
 
 " Before you enter on your narrative, Belial," said 
 Lucifer, " there are two remarks I wish to make.
 
 106 DAVID. 
 
 " First. Most of this great assembly have been em- 
 ployed chiefly in heathen lands, since the earliest ages 
 of the world. Their experience has been wholly in 
 promoting those forms of wickedness which prevail in 
 idolatrous coimtries. They have not been in contact 
 with the Bible or the church, and have little knowledge 
 of the arts by which revealed religion is to be combated. 
 But now a great revolution has come. The Bible is 
 going every where, into the languages of all the nations. 
 The church — the Sabbath — the ordinances of the 
 gospel — are finding their way into every corner of the 
 earth. And it is now important that all the hosts of 
 hell should be trained and disciplined for making war 
 against the chiu:ch. My plan is, that those of my ser- 
 vants who have had this experience in ages past, shall 
 now rehearse, in the hearing of all the ai-mies of dark- 
 ness, their contests with patriarchs, prophets, apostles, 
 and saints of old, that all the troops of hell may learn 
 how to promote the cause of sin where the light of the 
 gospel shines. 
 
 " My second remark is this. In your narrative go into 
 particulars. That history which merely skims over 
 the surface, imparts little information. Sketches of 
 courts and khigs are not so much what we want, as a 
 view of the living manners of the times — the facts and 
 doings of every day life. I say again, go into minute 
 specifications. It is the only method to give correct 
 information of men and manners.'- 
 
 " I understand you," said Belial, bowing to his ma- 
 jesty. " I shall go into particulars." 
 
 " Proceed then," said Lucifer, resuming his seat. 
 " One thing more, however, before you begin. I wish
 
 DAVID. 107 
 
 the statement of facts to be given to this council in the 
 most cahii and dispassionate manner ; as httle mixture 
 of emotion and feeling as may be. Our object now is 
 to impart a correct knowledge of facts ; and the more 
 coolly and calmly it is done, the better for our purpose. 
 And don't confine yourself to the rehearsal of your 
 own plans merely ; but give us a picture of real life in 
 the times of David." 
 
 " I would premise," said Belial, "that great solicitude 
 had been felt by the hosts of darkness who surrounded 
 the church in this age to ascertain in what line or fam- 
 ily the promised Messiah was destined to arise. The 
 first promise given to Adam had created amongst us 
 much dread and apprehension. We had learned by the 
 promise made to Abraham, that the Messiah should be 
 of his descendants, and from the prophecy of Jacob on 
 his death-bed, that he should be of the tribe of Judah. 
 But no additional information had now -been obtained 
 for several hundred years. The priesthood had settled 
 down in the tribe of Levi, and Saul, the first king anoint- 
 ed by Samuel, was of the house of Benjamin. There 
 was nothing yet to be seen in the tribe of Judah to aid 
 our conjectures in the slightest degree. The various 
 branches of that great tribe were spreading abroad in 
 all directions, but nothing definite had yet been discov- 
 ered. But it was revealed to the prophet Samuel that 
 Saul's kingdom should be rejected. And when I 
 saw him go to the house of Jesse, and anoint David 
 king over Israel, and pronounce some very weighty and 
 significant words, I began to suspect that this was the 
 branch of Judah, where the promised Deliverer should 
 arise.
 
 108 DAVID. 
 
 " But I must not omit," said Belial, " the scene in the 
 family of Jesse, at the time David was anointed. Jesse 
 and his wife were deeply affected when they learned 
 that the sceptre promised by Jacob, at the close of his 
 life, to Judah, was to be wielded by one of their family. 
 They gave thanks to Jehovah, and implored his divine 
 benediction. But the joy of Zeruiah, the elder sister 
 of David, particularly drew my attention. She had for 
 David that ardent and generous affection that is often 
 found in an elder sister toward a younger brother, 
 David being the youngest of eight." (1 Sam. xvi. 
 10—13.) 
 
 " The affection of an elder sister for a younger 
 brother," said Lucifer, — "I have often noticed that. It 
 is frequently one of the striking characteristics in the 
 family circle, among the children of men." 
 
 " Zeruiah was now a middle-aged woman," said Be- 
 lial, " of fine understanding, and distinguished for piety 
 and patriotism. From early life she had felt much for 
 the honor of Israel and the true religion. She was 
 very young in her father's house, when Nahash the 
 Ammonite besieged Jabesh-gilead, and would grant the 
 inhabitants no terms, but on condition that he should 
 thrust out their right eyes, and lay it for a reproach to 
 all Israel. (1 Sam. xi. 1 — 11.) She remembered the 
 excitement in the coasts of Bethlehem, when the mes- 
 sengers of King Saul, carrying bloody slices of the 
 oxen he had hewn in pieces, came running through the 
 country, calling on the men to rally at Bezek, and fol- 
 low Saul and Samuel to the rescue of Jabesh-gilead. 
 As she came up to the years of womanhood, she sym-
 
 D.VVID. 109 
 
 pathized deeply with her afflicted country. Strong 
 garrisons of tlie foes of Israel were here and there in the 
 country, and now" and then invading armies of some 
 warlike nation ox^erran the land, spoiling the inhab- 
 itants, destroying their crops, and driving off their 
 cattle. 
 
 " Zeruiah greatly deplored this degradation and dis- 
 honor of God's chosen people. She often conversed 
 with her father and mother of the prosperous state of 
 Israel in the days of Joshua, when one could chase a 
 thousand of their foes, and two could put ten thousand 
 to flight. She carefully treasured up in her mind the 
 traditions concerning Gideon, and Barak, and Jephthah, 
 and Samson, and how Dagon, the Philistine idol, had 
 fallen before the ark of God. Such themes as these 
 became the food of the ardent soul of Zeruiah, who, at 
 the period of which I am now speaking, had become, 
 perhaps, the most enlightened and public-spirited wo- 
 man of the age. Indeed, her patriotic ardor bordered 
 on enthusiasm in the cause of her people. 
 
 '* The brave deeds of Jonathan now began to attract 
 general attention. (1 Sam. xii. 3; xiv. 1 — 13.) This 
 noble hero of her people, Zeruiah delighted to honor. 
 But an impression was abroad that the kingdom should 
 not continue in the family of Saul. And when she saw 
 old Samuel come to her father's house, and anoint her fa- 
 vorite young brother, and promise him that kingdom of 
 which Jacob had spoken at his death, the transport of 
 Zeruiah was very great. She wept, and gave praise to 
 Israel's God. She blessed David, and invoked blessings 
 on his kingdom, and earnestly besought the Lord to 
 grant that she might have some hand in furthering 
 
 10
 
 110 DAVID. 
 
 the great object for which he had been called to the 
 throne, 
 
 " When the public services of the sacrifice at Bethle- 
 hem were closed, and Samuel had come to the house of 
 Jesse, to take leave of the family, Zeruiah came before 
 the venerable old prophet, with her three little sons. 
 The appearance of the lads was fine and promising, 
 and the visage of the mother was animated with a 
 sublime enthusiasm that I have rarely seen equalled. 
 ' Prophet of the Lord,' said she, ' we have learned that 
 you were solemnly dedicated to the service of the God 
 of Israel, from early childhood, by a pious mother.' 
 ' True,' answered Samuel, ' most true ; ' and the tear of 
 affectionate remembrance for the mother he loved, the 
 pious Hannah, filled his eye. (1 Sam. i. 24 — 28.) 
 
 "'You have this day,' said Zeruiah, 'anointed my 
 beloved brother David, to be king over God's chosen 
 people.' 
 
 " ' Jehovah make his kingdom a blessing,' said Sam- 
 uel : * may the sceptre not depart from his house till 
 Shiloh come.' (Gen. xlix. 12.) 
 
 " ' The foes of Israel are many and strong,' said Zer- 
 uiah ; ' David will need the help of those that are val- 
 iant, and faithful, and true. I wish to dedicate these my 
 three sons, in the awful name of Jehovah, to be the 
 supporters of his throne and his kingdom while they 
 live, that the Lord may be glorified, and Israel ma^'- be 
 a blessing.' 
 
 " 'Jehovah bless the lads.' said Samuel, with strong 
 emotion, laying his hand in succession on the head of 
 Asahel, and Abishai, and Joab. 'Jehovah make them 
 renowned champions in Israel, and may the name of
 
 DAVID. 1 1 I 
 
 the mother and her sons be had in everlastmg remem- 
 brance.' 
 
 " The old prophet drew his hand across his eyes to 
 remove the tears, then pronounced an appropriate ben- 
 ediction on tlie whole family of Jesse, and departed for 
 his home at Rama. 
 
 " The proper training of her sons for tlie great ser- 
 vice to which she had solemnly devoted them, now be- 
 came the leading object of Zeruiah's life. Lessons of 
 truth, chastity, piety toward God, brotherly affection 
 for each other, zeal for the true religion, heroism in the 
 cause of Israel, and firm fidelity to their uncle, now 
 anointed as their king, were daily inculcated, in the 
 most earnest and persuasive manner ; while she held 
 up before their young and susceptible minds the names 
 and character of distinguished heroes in the early his- 
 tory of Israel, and animated them with the hope of 
 being such men around their uncle's throne. 
 
 '• Another circumstance, which greatly contributed to 
 the furtherance of her views, was this : There now 
 resided near Bethlehem an old retired officer of the 
 house of Caleb, who had long been renowned for 
 uncommon skill in the use of the sword, the spear, the 
 shield, and indeed all the implements of war. Zer- 
 uiah engaged this officer to become the instructor of 
 her sons in the arts of war. The old chief was a per- 
 fect enthusiast in this department, and finding an ex- 
 traordinary aptness in the lads to profit by his instruc- 
 tions, this employment became his daily delight. The 
 remarkable talents of the instructor, and the surprising 
 proficiency of his pupils, were the theme of nuich ad- 
 miration in a Ifirgo district around Bethlehem, Anc|
 
 112 DAVID. 
 
 thus it was that the sons of the pious and patriotic 
 Zeruiah were prepared for that conspicuous station they 
 afterwards filled in the armies of Israel. 
 
 " The apprehensions," said Belial, " which I had 
 taken up concerning David, were confirmed at the next 
 war with the Philistines. I had tempted and prevailed 
 on the Philistines to invade the land of Israel. This 
 was one of my favorite methods of annoying the church 
 in that age. And by this means I had repeatedly 
 brought them to the brink of destruction. 
 
 "A strong Philistine army had now marched into 
 the country, and Saul had collected a large body of 
 troops to oppose them. The Philistines stood on a 
 mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a moun- 
 tain on the other side ; and there was a valley between 
 them. Goliath of Gath now came forth as the cham- 
 pion of the Philistines. He was a giant of tremendous 
 power. His height was six cubits and a span. He 
 was clad in complete armor, and the ' statf of his spear 
 ■was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed 
 six hundred shekels of iron.' He now stood and cried 
 to the army of Israel. ' Bring out your champion,' said 
 he, in tones most haughty and daring : ' let him fight 
 with me. If he be able to kill me, the land shall be 
 yours, and we will be your servants. But if I prevail 
 against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants 
 and serve us.' (1 Sam. xvii. 1 — 10.) 
 
 " Saul and all the men of Israel heard this challenge 
 of the towering and terrible warrior in silence and dis- 
 may. Even Jonathan, who had performed so many 
 prodigious feats of valor, showed no disposition to en- 
 gage in single combat with the hiige%iant of Gath.
 
 DAvrr). 113 
 
 " Day after day, Goliath stalked forth, morning and 
 evening, in tlie view of both armies, boasting of the 
 might of his resistless arm. He told them that he was 
 a worshipper of Dagon ; that Dagon was his patron 
 and his God. He cursed them in the name of Dagon. 
 ' If you think the God of Israel is equal to Dagon,' said 
 he, ' come and maintain it in a fight with me. Cow- 
 ards that you are ! You knov/ that your God is not 
 equal to Dagon. You are afraid to trust your God in 
 a battle with«a servant of Dagon.' 
 
 " Sometimes he walked back and forth midway be- 
 tween the two armies, displaying his stature and his 
 strength. Sometimes he marched up close to the lines 
 of Israel, and still the armed men gave back at his 
 approach. ' The curse of Dagon be upon you,' vocifer- 
 ated Goliath, ' to muster here, and call yourselves war- 
 riors, and all fly before a single man. Is there no 
 soldier among you, that has confidence in his God, and 
 can meet a man in battle ? 
 
 " * Witness, O ye armies of Philistines ! witness, 
 ye armies of Israel ! that all the worshippers of 
 Jehovah tremble and fly before a single worshipper of 
 Dagon ! ' 
 
 " The Philistines rent the air with shouts of triumph 
 till the earth rang again. They despatched swift mes- 
 sengers to carry the glad news to Gath, to Gaza, to Ash- 
 dod, to Ekron, and to Askelon, They commanded to 
 publish in all the cities of the Philistines, that they 
 should keep a day of public feasting to Dagon their 
 God ; that they should crowd his temples, and pay 
 him peculiar honors for this signal triumph over Israel, 
 and over Israel's God. 
 
 10*
 
 114 DATID, 
 
 " These tidings also spread with great rapidity- 
 through the land of Israel, and there was paleness on 
 every cheek, and trembling in every bosom. Some, 
 Avith loud and bitter lamentations, bewailed tliat the 
 glory was departed from Israel. Others uttered fruit- 
 less and unavailing wishes that Samson were now 
 alive to stand up as their champion. Others, again, of- 
 fered up prayers to the God of Abraham, that he would 
 remember his covenant, that he would raise them up a 
 deliverer, and wipe away their reproach. While yet 
 another class began to meditate on the expediency of 
 renouncing the service of Jehovah, and taking up with 
 the idolatries of the heathen. 
 
 " Such was the attitude of things in the two armies, 
 and in the two countries, when David first appeared in 
 the battle-field, on an errand from his father, bringing 
 provisions for three elder brothers, who were already 
 enlisted in the army of Saul. While he was convers- 
 ing with some acquaintances, Goliath approached again : 
 this was the fortieth day he had given the challenge, 
 morning and evening. When David heard the defiance 
 and the insulting boast of the Philistine, his color went 
 and came, and the fire of burning patriotism began to 
 flash from his eyes. ' Where is King Saul ? ' said he. 
 They quickly brought him to Saul. 
 
 " ' Is there no man,' said he to the king, ' to meet 
 that boasting giant, and vindicate the honor of Israel ? ' 
 
 "'None,' said Saul: 'the mightiest warriors in my 
 army quail and fly at his approach.' At this speech of 
 the king, there was a momentary expression of shame, 
 mortification, and regret in the visage of David. It was 
 but the ebb before the return of the tide. Another mo-
 
 DAVID. 115 
 
 meiit, and his cheeks, and neck, and brow kindled up 
 in an ardent glow of patriotic zeal. 
 
 "'Let no man's heart fail,' said David to the king. 
 * Thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.' 
 
 " ' Thou art not able,' said King Saul, ' to go against 
 this Philistine, for thou art but a youth, and he is a 
 mighty warrior. He is the most formidable foe that 
 has come against Israel since the days of Joshua. 
 Abner, and Jonathan, and all the valiant men in the 
 army know that he is an overmatch for them. And 
 for you, young and inexperienced, the attempt would 
 be madness.' 
 
 "David replied to the king, 'I kept my father's 
 sheep near Bethlehem of Judah. And there came a 
 lion, and took a lamb out of the flock. And I went 
 after him, and took it out of his mouth ; and when he 
 arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote 
 him, and slew him. A bear also came, and caught a 
 lamb, and I slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion 
 and the bear ; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be 
 as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the 
 living God. Yes,' said he, ' the Lord who delivered 
 me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of 
 the bear, will deliver me out of the hand of this blas- 
 pheming Pliilistine.' 
 
 " ' Well,' said the king, ' if that is the spirit that ani- 
 mates you, and your resolution is so firmly fixed, go, 
 and the Lord go with you.' 
 
 " When the army of the Philistines, tiiat now stood 
 full in view, saw David take his sling, and a few stones 
 out of the brook, and march to encounter Goliath, they 
 were filled with scorn ; and the voice of mockery,
 
 116 DAVID. 
 
 derision, and merriment, could be heard all along their 
 line. As for Goliath, he was deeply insulted when he 
 saw David. ' Am I a dog, that you come to war witli 
 me in this style ? The curse of Dagon be on you.' 
 
 " Said David, ' Thou comest to me with a sword, and 
 with a spear, and with a shield. But I come to thee in 
 the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of 
 Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord 
 deliver thee into my hand, and I will smite thee, and 
 take thy head from thee ; and I will give the carcasses 
 of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls 
 of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth ; that 
 all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.' 
 
 " At this, the Philistine raised the visor of his helmet, 
 or that part of his armor that covered his face, and 
 threw it back in perfect contempt of David, leaving his 
 face and forehead bare ; and now with huge and haughty 
 strides he rushed upon his foe. David ran to meet 
 him, and, as he was running, he put a stone in his sling, 
 and smote Goliath in his forehead, that the stone sunk 
 into his forehead, and he fell to the ground. David ran 
 and stood upon him, and drew Goliath's sword from 
 the scabbard, and cut off his head with his ov/n sword, 
 and held it up in the view of both armies. When the 
 Philistines saw their champion was dead, they were 
 panic-struck, and fled in the utmost confusion. The 
 men of Israel and Judah arose, and shouted, and pur- 
 sued the Philistines. 
 
 '' But I must not omit," said Belial, " here to mention 
 the conduct of Jonathan, the eldest son of Saul, and 
 heir to the crown. He was an enlightened and ardent 
 patriot, and a devout worshipper of God. No man in the
 
 DAVID. 117 
 
 twelve tribes, not even Abiier himself, the commander- 
 in-cliief of Saul's army, had such reputation for personal 
 valor and unrivalled dexterity in the use of the spear, 
 the sword, and the shield, as Jonathan. He was the 
 favorite of the nation. His praise was in the mouth of the 
 old and the young. And in the social hall, and in the pub- 
 lic assembly, his many brilliant militaiy achievements 
 were the theme of the orator and the burden of the 
 poet's song. Not long before this period, a strong garri- 
 son of the Philistines, fortified and defended in a man- 
 ner that was deemed impregnable, had been stormed by 
 Jonathan and Machir, his ai'mor-bearer, and the whole 
 garrison put to the sword : which so terrified the army 
 of the Philistines, that they fied in the utmost conster- 
 nation out of the country, and Israel experienced a great 
 deliverance. This and other similar feats of extraordi- 
 nary valor had spread the renown of Jonathan and Ma- 
 chir through all the cities, towns, and villages of Israel. 
 " Accordingly, when Goliath first appeared and gave 
 his challenge to decide the matters in dispute by single 
 combat, all eyes were turned to Jonathan. It was the 
 expectation of every officer and soldier in the army, 
 that he would accept the challenge. Had the vote 
 been taken, he would have been chosen their champion 
 without a dissenting voice. But Jonathan, with all his 
 patriotic zeal, was endowed with uncommon sound- 
 ness of judgment and great political wisdom. He saw 
 that Goliath, from his enormous strength, and the per- 
 fection of his armor, wliich covered him fiom head to 
 foot, so far superior to his own, must be an overmatch 
 for him in single combat ; and though he dreaded not 
 death, and was ready to sacrifice his life for his coun-
 
 118 DAVID. 
 
 try's good, yet he knew that that life Avas too valuable 
 to his country to be rashly thrown away in a hazard- 
 ous venture, where the likelihood of success was a 
 hundred to one against hiai. He knev\r, moreover, 
 that should he encounter Goliath, and fall, his fall 
 would be the signal of rout and ruin to the armies of 
 Israel. Her towns would be burned, her countiy 
 ravaged, and her citizens, without distinction of age 
 or sex, put to the sword. He judged it wiser, there- 
 fore, to keep the array together ; to skirmish with the 
 enemy, and hold them in check : avoiding, in the 
 mean time, any attempt to hasten a final decision of 
 the war by a personal rencounter with Goliath. As 
 yet, in the skirmishing which took place from day to 
 day, the Philistines had gained no advantage, and 
 though the armed men gave back when Goliath ad- 
 vanced, yet as soon as his parading, and boasting, and 
 cursing were over, and he retired, Jonathan could 
 renew the lines again, and still present an unbroken 
 front to the enemy. He knew farther that an invading 
 army is wearried and worn out by delays, and that 
 patriots have every thing to hope from gaining time. 
 And more than all this, he cherished a high confidence 
 in God, and hoped and prayed that He who had so 
 often appeared for the deliverance of his covenant 
 people, would not forsake them now. 
 
 '■'• These views Jonathan spread freely and fully before 
 the officers and elders of the army, assembled in general 
 council. He had their unaninious approval and com- 
 mendation. And yet, notwithstanding all this, — for his 
 name was well known to the Philistine army ; he had 
 given them ample cause to know him well, — it required
 
 DAVID. 119 
 
 all the strength of his enlightened judgment, and all 
 his self-command, to enahle him to bear in silence the 
 bantering and boasting of Goliath, when he came in the 
 name of Dagon, and defied the armies of the living 
 God. Sometimes the monster came striding np, close 
 to the station where Jonathan commanded, and would 
 call him by name, and brand him with cowardice, for 
 declining to stand forth as the champion of Israel. 
 Repeatedly the tumult of his patriotic emotions was 
 so strong, that he was on the very verge of bursting 
 through all the restraints of prudence and judgment, 
 and rushing to the combat. 
 
 " And the difficulties of his situation greatly increased 
 as day after day rolled by. For now visitors came in 
 from all parts of the land of Israel, and reported in the 
 army, that it was the expectation and wish of the 
 whole country that Jonathan should accept the chal- 
 lenge of Goliath ; that the people were astonished he 
 had not done it at once, when the challenge was first 
 given ; that they were growing impatient at the long 
 delay ; that they now demanded it, insisted on it, 
 would not be satisfied without it. 
 
 " Often," said Belial, " among the sons of men, has a 
 foolish and frenzied public sentiment forced the wisest 
 and worthiest patriot, against his own better judgment, 
 into the adoption of measures that have resulted in the 
 ruin of his cause and his country. It seemed inevitable, 
 that it must be so now. The people had heard of the 
 public rejoicings in the land of the Philistines; the 
 feasting and thanksgiving in the temples of Dagon. 
 They were stung with bitter vexation, and their 
 demands became so pressing and imperative, that it
 
 120 DAVID. 
 
 required all the weight of Abner's authority, and the 
 weight of the counsel of all the officers and elders in 
 the army, to restrain the purest and bravest man in 
 Israel from rashly sacrificing himself to the unreason- 
 able wishes of his excited and misguided countrymen. 
 The authority of Abner, however, and the counsel of 
 the elders, as yet prevailed. 
 
 " Goliath had now presented himself for thirty-nine 
 days, morning and evening, repeating his challenge, 
 and breathing out insult and defiance against the ar- 
 mies of Israel. The skirmishing, however, for the last 
 week had been but inconsiderable, and the host of 
 the Philistines made no attempt to advance. Jonathan 
 asked and obtained leave from the king to make a hasty 
 visit to his family, who were at a town but a few 
 miles distant, and promised to return early the next 
 morning. 
 
 "The meeting with the members of his family was 
 most tender and affectionate. His wife was a superior 
 woman, of uncommon beauty and loftiness of spirit. 
 Her family ranked high among the princes of Benjamin, 
 and many of her ancestors were famous in the annals 
 of Israel. She possessed, in its perfection, this essential 
 endowment of a good wife, that is, a warm and wake- 
 ful zeal for the reputation and honor of her husband. 
 From the day of her espousal to Jonathan, the affec- 
 tion and fidelity of her heart had been, like the tide of 
 Jordan in time of harvest, fall and overflowing ; and very 
 highly did she prize her alliance with the royal family. 
 There was now something sad and disconsolate in her 
 air and manner. Jonathan had marked this at his first 
 arrival ; but he ascribed it to the troubles of the times,
 
 DAVID. 121 
 
 and the dark clouds that overhung the prospects of his 
 country. 
 
 '' He Avas now seated among his children, the three 
 oldest of which were climbing his knees, and covering 
 his manly face with their fond and repeated caresses. 
 In the midst of these endearments, his little son, of four 
 years old. spoke out — ' Father, I heard the boys in the 
 street, to-day, saying naughty words about you.' 
 
 " ' Ah ! my son, v/hat did they say ? ' 
 
 " They said you were a coward, because you would 
 not fight that big giant that defies our king and speaks 
 against our God. And I told mother, and she wept.' 
 
 "Jonathan sprang to his feet. It was the first word 
 of j'eproach he had heard from his own people, for many 
 of the complaints that had reached the army had not 
 been told to him. He glanced his eye on the agitated 
 mother of his boy, and saw the big, bright tear that 
 was rolling down over her pale and quivering cheek. 
 She turned away to conceal her emotions, but they 
 were too strong for concealment. She burst into a 
 flood of excessive weeping. He took her hand, and 
 attempted to soothe and comfort her, but it Vv^as unavail- 
 ing. 'I know your trath,' said she, 'your virtue, and 
 your worth, but they are not appreciated ; and how can 
 I live amidst the daily taunts I hear, of honor lost, and 
 the faded glory of Israel.' 
 
 " This was too much. Jonathan kindly endeavored 
 with tender and sootiiing words, to calm her troubled 
 spirits, but, at the same moment, silently and immova- 
 bly, fixed the resolution in his own galkuit heart, that 
 be the result victory, or be it death, the challenge of 
 Goliath sliould not pass unanswered another day. 
 
 11
 
 122 
 
 DAVID. 
 
 "Early the next morning Jonathan arose, took an 
 affectionate leave of his beloved family, in order to a 
 hasty return to the army. His wife asked, with much 
 tenderness, when she might look for his return. His 
 answer was evasive and obscure. The settled purpose 
 of his soul, though he would not make it known to her, 
 was that expressed, on another occasion, by the far- 
 famed hero of Troy : — 
 
 'No, if I e'er return, return I must 
 Glorious, my country's terror laid in dust.' 
 
 " Soon after his departure, she entered the hall of the 
 domestics, and learned that the subaltern who had at- 
 tended Jonathan from the army, had stated there, ' that 
 the unanimous opinion of all the distinguished warriors 
 in the army was, that no man in Israel would be justi- 
 fiable in meeting the Philistine champion in the present 
 circumstances ; he being covered with armor of proof, 
 from the most renowned manufactory in Tyre, ren- 
 dered his person wholly unassailable ; that the men of 
 Israel, who possessed no such armor, could not stand 
 before Goliath oji such terms of equality as the laws of 
 ffiir and honorable combat among valiant men required ; 
 that neither honor, patriotism, nor fame could justify 
 the hero of dauntless heart and strong arm, in exposing 
 his unprotected person to the spear and the sword of a 
 champion, who, being himself clothed in sheets of im- 
 penetrable iron and brass, was perfectly secure from 
 Avounds.' He stated, moreover, 'that in the transient 
 engagements that had taken place between the wings 
 of the two armies, the men of Israel had acquitted 
 themselves well, and the enemy had been effectually 
 held in check; tliat the council of war had decided to
 
 DAVID. 
 
 123 
 
 act, for the present, wholly on the defensive, and wait 
 the indications of the providence of God.' 
 
 '•After hearing this, the anxieties and fears of the 
 wife of Jonathan were suddenly and violently impelled 
 into a new channel. She had marked the firm and 
 sublime resolve that was in his eye, and in his manner, 
 at his departure. She knew its meaning well. ' Ah ! ' 
 she exclaimed, ' should my rash and indiscreet zeal, so 
 hastily expressed, drive that dear, noble patriot to sac- 
 rifice his precious life, against the light of his better 
 judgment, bitterly, bitterly must my tears flow. My 
 children fatherless ! my country bereaved of its bright- 
 est ornament ! How can I live under the agonizing 
 thought ? ' and the tumult of her soul was like the 
 waves that are tossed by the wing of the tempest, 
 through all that tedious and memorable day. 
 
 " As for Jonathan, he was now urging his way to the 
 field of action. His purpose being firmly fixed, all the 
 agitation of his mind was past and gone, like the mists of 
 the morning before the advancing day. He had called 
 to mind the promises of God, his covenant faithfulness 
 to Israel, and the many instances in which he had 
 appeared for the salvation of his people in the very 
 darkest hour. He now experienced that calmness and 
 serenity of soul, that belong to that man who sees the 
 path of duty plain, and has a high, unwavering confi- 
 dence in God. As ' coming events cast their shadows 
 before,' he had a strong inward persuasion that the hour 
 of Goliath's downfall was come, and that tlie name of 
 the God of Israel would be glorified. 
 
 " In this frame of mind he reached the army, and 
 went directly to the pavilion of the king, in order to
 
 124 DAVID. 
 
 make his determination known. On his arrival, he saw 
 a yoimg man, of ruddy countenance and noble bearing, 
 in earnest conversation with King Saul. It was David. 
 He had just declared his determination to meet Goliath 
 in battle, and had obtained the consent of the king and 
 his council of war. Although Jonathan, from the view 
 he had that morning enjoyed of Jehovah's goodness and 
 faithfulness to Israel, had not a doubt remaining on his 
 mind, that the man who went against the champion of 
 Dagon ' in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of 
 the armies of Israel,' would certainly prevail, yet he 
 was too magnanimous, too generous and brave, to step 
 between the interesting youth that now stood before 
 him and the prospect of distinction and lasting fame. 
 
 " When David marched forth to begin the fight, Jon- 
 athan took his stand in the fore front of the army. In 
 his hand was his trusty spear, and that sword was by 
 his side that had often turned the tide of battle and led 
 the hosts of Israel to victory. Though he confidently 
 looked for David's triumph, yet his position and de- 
 meanor revealed his intention, that incase David should 
 fall, he himself would rush upon Goliath and conquer 
 or die. 
 
 " When Goliath fell, and the Philistine host began to 
 fly, and the men of Israel and Judah arose, and shouted, 
 and pursued them, the pursuit was headed by Jonathan. 
 The thrust of his spear was resistless, and the sweep 
 of his sword terrible to the foes of his country. Many 
 and strong were the armed men that he dashed to the 
 earth, as over valley, hill, and mountain, they fled from 
 the land of Israel. Nor did he pause in the pursuit till 
 the aff"righted fragments of the flying army had poured
 
 DAVID. 125 
 
 their confused masses into the gates of Ekron, and the 
 pale and trembUng city of Dagon closed and barred 
 her sates against the victorious hosts of the living God. 
 It was in view of the splendid feats of valor performed 
 on this day, that David, long afterwards, when com- 
 posing that celebrated elegy to the memory of Jona- 
 than, said, ' He was swifter than the eagle, and stronger 
 than the lion.' 
 
 " Never shall I forget," said Belial, " the scene which 
 transpired, when the pursuit of the Philistines was over, 
 and the troops of Israel were mustered again in the 
 presence of the king. Abner, the commander-in-chief, 
 took David, and brought him before King Saul, with the 
 head of the Philistine in his hand. Jonathan, having 
 put off his battle garments, was now arrayed in the rich 
 and costly robe which he V\^orc as heir to tlie crown. 
 He came forward in view of all the officers and the long 
 ranks of the armed men, and, in the most graceful and 
 dignified manner, tendered to David the thanks and 
 gratitude of the king, of the officers and of the army, 
 the thanks and gratitude of his country, and blessed 
 him again and again in the name of his God ; then, in a 
 transport of afiection and entliusiasm, he clasped him 
 to his bosom, called Iiim his brother, his friend, the light 
 and glory of Israel. He then took olf his beautiful gar- 
 ment, and gave it to David, and gave him the broad 
 ornamented belt or girdle that Avas around him, and 
 gave him his sword and his bow. ' Take these,' said 
 he, ' and Avear them as a token of the regard and esteem 
 of your brother Jonathan ; ' and then and there they 
 
 made a covenant of eternal fidelity and friendship a 
 
 covenant which was never violated. 
 
 II*
 
 126 
 
 DAVID. 
 
 '■ The army was now marching back to the cities 
 where their families had been left when they went to 
 the war. At their approach, the women came out sing- 
 ing and dancing to meet King Saul and his victorious 
 soldiers. The sister, the daughter, the wife, and the 
 mother, had taken tabrets, and harps, and instruments 
 of music, and were in perfect ecstasy at the deliverance 
 of their country, and the safe return of their friends. 
 
 " In the procession which they had formed, the little 
 girls, with baskets of flowers, were placed in front, the 
 smallest foremost, then the larger girls, then wives, sis- 
 ters and mothers completed the extended train. 
 
 " The long and joyful procession was headed by two 
 females of commanding demeanor and exquisite form ; 
 the one was the wife of Jonathan, the other was Zer- 
 uiah, the sister of David. The emotions of Zeruiah 
 were too strong for utterance ; indeed, they seemed per- 
 fectly overwhelming. Bat what shall I say of the wife 
 of Jonathan ? Praise to the God of battles was her 
 theme ; honor and imperishable renown to the brave 
 soldiers of her country, as with glowing cheek, with 
 lifted hands, and eyes that sparkled through tears 
 of joy, she dictated and sung the following stanzas, 
 which were eagerly caught up and chanted by the ani- 
 mated and triumphant train that followed her : — 
 
 SONG OF THE WOMEN OF ISRAEL. 
 
 I. 
 
 ' Hail to the bannered hosts of God ! 
 
 And hail to him who fills our throne ! 
 You've jeopardized your lives and blood 
 For those Jehovah calls his own.
 
 DAVID. 127 
 
 %ye strew these roses in your path ; 
 
 Come, -welcome to your homes again. 
 King Saul his thousands overthrew, 
 
 And David hath ten thousands slain ! 
 
 ir. 
 
 ' The foe came on, how fierce and grim ! 
 
 How proudly through our fields they strode, 
 And vowed they'd make our dwellings swim. 
 
 In ^vidows' tears and orphans' blood. 
 Bat at the call of Israel's king, 
 
 Her heroes mustered on the plain. 
 And Saul his thousands overthrew, 
 
 And David hath ten thousands slain. 
 
 III. 
 
 ' Goliath led their armies on. 
 
 Blasphemed and blustered in their van, 
 And boasted his enormous strength, 
 
 " His height, six cubits and a span," 
 But Israel's stripling shepherd boy 
 
 Soon stretched the giant on the plain, 
 And Saul his thousands overthrew. 
 
 And David hath ten thousands slain. 
 
 IV. 
 
 • Aghast the hosts of Dagon saw 
 
 Their tall and towering champion fall, 
 And paleness, trembling, panic seized 
 
 Their vaunted warriors, great and small. 
 O'er hill and dale, from Israel's land. 
 
 Their frighted legions fled amain. 
 And Saul his thousands overthrew. 
 
 And David hath ten thousands slain. 
 
 v. 
 
 ' Hosanna to Jehovah's name ! 
 
 To distant lands the tidings tell. 
 How all the flower of Dagon's host 
 With their blaspheming monster fell.
 
 128 DAVID. 
 
 To sons unborn the tale rehearse, 
 
 Let them to theirs rehearse again, 
 How Saul his thousands overthrew, 
 
 And David hath ten thousands slain. 
 
 VI. 
 • Hail to the bannered hosts of God ! 
 The men who did their country save ; 
 Come, sisters, wives, and children, join 
 
 To hail the vaUant and the brave. 
 We strew these roses in your path ; 
 
 Come, welcome to your homes again ; 
 King Saul his thousands overthrew. 
 And David hath ten thousands slain.' 
 
 " The long ranks of armed men stood silent and still, 
 as the female procession drew nigh, singing this tri- 
 umphal song. Enchanted and chained by the power 
 of music they stood, while warm floods of gushing 
 tears washed many a manly face, as fathers, husbands, 
 sons, and brothers listened to this delightful welcome. 
 
 " The sweet and rapturous music floated wide over 
 the surrounding vales, and echoed and reverberated 
 again from the hills and high mountains of Israel. 
 
 " From this period Jonathan and David were much 
 in each other's society. Many an hour did they spend 
 in delightful social intercourse ; many an hour in con- 
 sultation for the good of their beloved country ; and 
 many an hour — for both were deeply pious — did 
 they spend together in the praise and the worship of 
 their God."
 
 David's trials. 129 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 DAVID'S TRIALS. 
 
 "Now," continued Belial, "when I had witnessed 
 these things, I became confirmed in my suspicions 
 relative to David, that were first awakened by Samuel 
 anointing him king. Very shortly, however, all doubt 
 was removed, when a divine vision was granted to 
 David, and the promise plainly revealed, that the great 
 Messiah should be of his house. On ascertaining this 
 alarming fact, I set my heart against him. I resolved 
 to employ all the talent and artifice of hell in order to 
 accomplish his ruin." 
 
 " David ! " said a spirit of darkness, of harsh and 
 savage aspect, who now started up and addressed him- 
 self to Belial. " Did I not see David at Mizpeh of 
 Moab, about the period of which you speak ? " 
 
 " Very likely," said Belial ; " for he soon afterwards 
 fled to Moab, on account of the jealousy and persecu- 
 tion of King Saul." 
 
 " O, I remember him well," said the demon. " I 
 was then engaged in promoting and extending idola- 
 try in the kingdom of Moab. David came there, and 
 was hospitably received by the king. The king him- 
 self was of the family of Ruth, who had been a con- 
 vert to the Jewish religion, and who was also the grand-
 
 130 David's trials. 
 
 mother of Jesse, the father of David. So there was a 
 relationship between the families. But what I chiefly 
 remember of David, was the psalms and sacred songs 
 that he sung, morning and evening, in the palace of the 
 king, to the praise of the God of Israel. The king 
 of Moab was often deeply affected when hearing the 
 weighty truths of religion that in these psalms and 
 sacred songs were combined with strains of most en- 
 chanting melody." 
 
 " Psalms and sacred songs ! I believe you," exclaimed 
 a demon of yet fiercer and sterner look. "I heard 
 them too, in the court of Achish, king of Gath, when 
 David was there. And not only was the king im- 
 pressed, but many of the worshippers of Dagon re- 
 nounced his service, and went to the land of Israel, 
 and returned no more." 
 
 "Yes," answered Belial, "David was also at Gath. 
 But I will proceed with my narrative. 
 
 " There were four distinct and well-devised plans 
 that I laid for the destruction of David. I will men- 
 tion them in order. 
 
 " The first was by inflaming against him the jeal- 
 ousy of Saul. When the women, in their songs and 
 rejoicings, ascribed to David the slaughter of ten thou- 
 sands of their foes, and ascribed to Saul but thousands, 
 he was much displeased, and began to eye David with 
 suspicion. Presently I contrived to have it told to Saul, 
 that Samuel had anointed David, and promised him the 
 kingdom. This put him perfectly frantic. In short, I 
 succeeded beyond my expectation in marshalling all 
 the power and resources of King Saul for the ruin of 
 David. Often was he brought to the very brink of
 
 David's trials. 131 
 
 destruction, and was saved only by some hair-breadth 
 escape, that was absohitely wonderful. How it hap- 
 pened I never could tell to my own satisfaction. David, 
 I know, ascribed his deliverance in such cases to the 
 hand of God. But I always disliked the doctrine of a 
 special and particular providence in the affairs of men. 
 I much prefer, when any unexpected event has oc- 
 curred, to speak of it as chance, accident, or what has 
 just happened so, rather than allow it any connection 
 with the hand and counsel of God. There were three 
 influences, however, that plainly contributed to the 
 escape of David from the snares of Saul. 
 
 '' First, the friendship of Jonathan, that never failed 
 him even in the most dark and trying time. I had 
 labored with all the art I possessed to stir up jealousy 
 also in the bosom of Jonathan. I represented David 
 as his rival in military fame, by whom he had been 
 eclipsed, and thrown quite into the shade. I told him, 
 further, that David was an opposing candidate for the 
 crown, who was likely to supplant him and all the 
 house of his father. With these and many other strong 
 temptations, I tried to areuse jealousy in the soul of 
 Jonathan ; but all such attempts were fruitless and vain. 
 You might as well have attempted to corrupt the dia- 
 mond, or fix a blot on the brow of the morning star. 
 
 " When Saul, his father, earnestly strove to prevail 
 on Jonathan to aid in the destruction of David, he re- 
 monstrated in a strain so eloquent and just, that even 
 Saul quailed under it, and for a time reversed his pur- 
 pose. 
 
 " ' Let not the king,' said he, * sin against his servant, 
 even against David, because he hath not sinned aganist
 
 132 David's trials. 
 
 thee, and because his works have been to theeward 
 very good ; for he did put his Hfe in his hand, and 
 slew the PhiUstine, and the Lord wrought a great sal- 
 vation for all Israel. Thou sawest it, and didst rejoice ; 
 wherefore, then, wilt thou sin against innocent blood, 
 to slay David without a cause ? ' 
 
 '< Wlien assailed with the malignant temptations 
 which I suggested in relation to the claims of David 
 to the crown and kingdom, he repelled them at once. 
 His self-denial filled me with astonishment, and his 
 acquiescence in the revealed will of God was almost 
 without parallel. 
 
 " ' If the Lord has chosen David to rule over his 
 people Israel,' said he, ' who am I that I sliould rebel 
 against God ? I know his will is always wise, always 
 good ; therefore, amen ! the will of the Lord be done.' 
 
 " Moreover, Jonathan warned David of the mischief 
 practised against him by Saul, aided him to escape, and 
 repeatedly brought his own life in danger in attempting 
 to save the life of his friend ; and yet he always speaks 
 of his father with respect and reverence. Though Saul 
 was now acting sometimes very foolishly, and some- 
 times very wickedly, Jonathan always speaks of him 
 with tenderness and aifection. And further, he caused 
 David to make a covenant with him and with his house. 
 ' I know that thou shall be king over Israel, and the 
 Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my father, and 
 thou shalt not only while yet 1 live show me the kind- 
 ness of the Lord, but also thou shalt not cut off thy 
 kindness from my house forever ; no, not when the Lord 
 hath cut otf the enemies of David, every one from the 
 face of the earth.' And Jonathan caused David to swear
 
 David's trials. 133 
 
 again, because he loved him as he loved his own soul. 
 And though the fortunes of David afterward, for a long 
 season, were gloomy, forbidding, and often desperate, 
 and though friends deserted and sought to accomplish 
 his ruin, yet the fidelity of Jonathan never wavered. 
 His friendship for David was lasting as life. What am 
 I saying ? From the statement of great Lucifer just 
 now given, it appears that their friendship is lasting as 
 eternity. 
 
 " Such was Jonathan. My narrative for a time must 
 take leave of him here. But his name will go in a 
 stream of light to all succeeding generations. 
 
 " The worshippers of Jehovah admired and com- 
 mended him while he lived, and affectionately em- 
 balmed his memory when dead. He was long a favor- 
 ite theme of conversation in the social circle. Many 
 eulogies were bestowed upon his acts and character ; 
 they styled him ' the affectionate and dutiful son ; the 
 warm, worthy, and valiant patriot ; the rival of unpar- 
 alleled generosity and greatness of soul ; the pure, 
 spotless, amiable man ; the devout, consistent servant 
 of God ; and the finest illustration of firm, faithful, ex- 
 alted friendship to be found in the annals of Adam's 
 race.' Many rejoiced when they saw that the acts of 
 Jonathan were written in the book of the chronicles of 
 the church of God — that book which is now spreading 
 round the globe. They rejoiced that its pages will 
 hold up the name and character of Jonathan as long 
 as the sun and moon shall endure, for the wonder, the 
 instruction, and the imitation of the sons of men. 
 
 " A second source of aid to David amidst the strata- 
 gems of Saul," said Belial, " was the counsel of Ahitli- 
 12
 
 134 DAVID'S TRIALS. 
 
 ophel. This extraordinary man was endued Avith fore- 
 cast and political discernment to an extent that was per- 
 fectly astonishing. The finest eulogium ever bestowed 
 on the talents of earthly politician, is recorded by the 
 writer of the Second Book of Samuel : ' The counsel of 
 Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if 
 a man had inquired at the oracle of God ; so was the coun- 
 sel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.' 
 
 " Modern nations may talk of their Talleyrands, their 
 Chathams, and their Cannings, but never, in all my 
 walks among the sons of men, have I encountered the 
 equal of Ahithophel, the counsellor of David. Often, 
 when Saul and his advisers had thrown around David 
 snares from which it seemed impossible he should es- 
 cape, it required but a single suggestion from Ahitho- 
 phel, and all these well-laid plans were left like the 
 remains of that building, where the living coal has 
 touched the powder magazine. 
 
 "He seemed to know, with an accuracy that was 
 marvellous, the exact condition of his foe, and the 
 measures he would most certainly adopt. And then, on 
 the question, How shall these measures be counteracted 
 and covered with confusion ? his judgment was un- 
 erring. 
 
 " He never tampered with an adversary. His only 
 aim was total defeat. And his counsel, when followed, 
 was like the red artillery discharged from the black 
 cloud in heaven, shivering to atoms all that is in its 
 pathway, and burying in one common ruin the pygmy 
 and the giant. 
 
 " A tJiird agency that favored David at this period, 
 was that of a host of valiant men by whom he was 
 surrounded. The names of thirty and seven of his
 
 David's trials. 135 
 
 mightiest men have been handed down in the histories 
 of those times. 
 
 " All of the thirty-seven were not with David yet, 
 though some of the most famous were. I would men- 
 tion Jashobeani the Tachmonite, and Eleazar the son 
 of Dodo, men of great renown. The Tachmonite 
 had with his spear, in one day, slain eight hundred of 
 the foes of Israel. Eleazar the son of Dodo had also 
 slain three hundred of the Philistines in oner battle. 
 
 " But there were two nephews of David, the sons of 
 his sister Zeruiah, of whom I wish to speak more par- 
 ticularly. The first I will name was Abishai, a man 
 of an iron frame, and possessing the heart of a lion. In 
 the line of battle he was a pillar of fire, and to encoun- 
 ter the weapon he wielded was certain death. When 
 a troop of Philistines broke into the country, and the 
 men of Israel fled, Abishai planted himself before them, 
 like an impregnable tower, and slew three hundred with 
 his single hand. He was afterwards a famous com- 
 mander in the armies of David, and has rarely been 
 equalled in any age or country. It is worthy of remark 
 that David, when embarking in any desperate adven- 
 ture, was sure to select this man to be his companion, 
 and see him through the danger. 
 
 " When Saul came out with three thousand men to 
 seek for David in the wilderness of Ziph, David, from 
 the top of a neighboring mountain, watched the place 
 of Saul's encampment. In the dead of night, when 
 he calculated the men of war, fatigued with a long 
 day's march, would be sound asleep, he determined to 
 go into Saul's camp, and give him some proof, that he 
 had no wish to takg his li£e, or injure him, even when 
 it was clearly in his power. And yet the attempt was
 
 136 David's trials. 
 
 very perilous, for should the guard be awake, he might 
 be taken, and thus fall into the hands of Saul. ' Who 
 will go with me into Saul's camp ? ' said David to his 
 men. ' I will go,' said Abishai, volunteering in a mo- 
 ment. So David and Abishai came, and behold Saul 
 lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in 
 the ground at his bolster. But Abner and the people 
 lay round about him. Then said Abishai to David, 
 ' God hatlr delivered thine enemy into thine hand. Let 
 me, I pray thee, smite him with the spear once, and I 
 will not smite him the second time.' But David said 
 to Abishai, ' Destroy him not, for who can stretch forth 
 his hand against the Lord's anointed, and be guiltless ? 
 And moreover,' said David, ' as the Lord liveth, the 
 Lord shall smite him, or his day shall come that he 
 shall die, or he shall descend into battle and perish. The 
 Lord forbid that I should stretch forth my hand against 
 the Lord's anointed. But, Abishai, take the spear that 
 is at his bolster and the cruse of water, and let us go.' 
 
 " David, from the top of a distant hill, called to Abner, 
 and reproved him for the careless manner in which he 
 had guarded the king, and appealed to Saul if he was 
 not now convinced that he designed him no harm, since 
 he had taken the spear and cruse of water from his 
 bolster, and had made no attempt on his life. 
 
 " Such is a sketch of Abishai. You will hear of him 
 again. But I must now say, that Joab, David's other 
 nephew, was a man even more remarkable. Not so 
 broad in the shoulders, nor so heavily built, as Abishai, 
 he was considerably taller, and his whole frame firmly 
 knit from head to foot. He possessed that symmetry of 
 form, those exquisite propo^ons, that combine activity 
 with strength in the highest perfection. He was, in fact,
 
 David's trials. 137 
 
 the very finest military figure I have ever seen, and to 
 no man could the appellation be given with --more pro- 
 priety, that he was ' born to command.' 
 
 " As to his courageous and noble bearing in the horrid 
 front of war, I will rehearse one instance, out of many 
 that might be given. When David was anointed king 
 over all the tribes of Israel, some years after the period 
 of which I have been speaking, he resolved to select 
 Jerusalem as the capital of his kingdom. But the castle 
 of Jerusalem, a very strong fortress, was now in the 
 possession of the Jebusites, the ancient inhabitants of 
 the land. The fortifications of this castle had been con- 
 structed at vast expense, and with such consummate 
 skill, that it was deemed absolutely unassailable. It 
 was indeed the Gibraltar of that age and country. The 
 armed men, who defended this tower, scoffed at David 
 from the top of their walls, and boasted that they were 
 beyond his power. David knew that the possession of 
 this place was essential to the prosperity of his king- 
 dom. And yet he knew that the difficulty and danger 
 were such, that he published he would confer the chief 
 command of his army on the man who would take this 
 castle by storm. No sooner was this proclamation made, 
 than Joab, his sister's son, put on his armor, took with 
 him a chosen band, in whom he knew he could con- 
 fide, and with the agility and fierceness of the Asiatic 
 tiger, scaled the battlements, cut his way through the 
 armed warriors that attempted to resist, and threw them 
 down from the top of their own towers, or at once sub- 
 dued them by the sword. Tims Joab became com- 
 mander-in-chief of the army, during the reign of David, 
 
 " As a disciplinarian, Joab has had few equals and no 
 
 12*
 
 138 
 
 David's trials. 
 
 superior in the annals of the military world. The per- 
 fect training of the troops under his command stands 
 conspicuous till this day on the pages of the history of 
 those times. When Abner, confiding in the strength of 
 numbers, having all the tribes of Israel, except Judah, 
 under his command, challenged Joab, and the servants 
 of David, to a trial of their skill in arms at the pool of 
 Gibeon, he soon found he had encountered his superior. 
 But the moment that Abner, in his flight, called to Joab, 
 requesting him to stop the pursuit, Joab blew a trumpet, 
 and his army, though flushed with victory, stood still, 
 and pursued after Israel no more. (2 Sam. ii. 28.) 
 
 '* In like manner, in that decisive battle fought with 
 Absalom, — though the strongest excitement was acting 
 on every mind, — twenty thousand men had been cut 
 down in the terrible strife, and the slaughter was yet 
 at its height, scattered over the extended plain and 
 throughout the wood of Ephraim : yet the instant that 
 Absalom fell, Joab, to prevent the needless eff'usion of 
 blood, ' blew the trumpet, and the people returned from 
 pursuing after Israel, for Joab held the people back.' 
 
 " As another proof of the extraordinary perfection of 
 the discipline of the army, it is recorded, that when 
 David was flying from Jerusalem, and Shimei came out 
 and cursed him in a manner so rude and provoking, the 
 most valiant man in the life-guards durst not lift his 
 hand to take vengeance on Shimei, without first asking 
 leave of his superior. (2 Sam. xvi. 5 — 13.) 
 
 " I will mention but one example more of the admi- 
 rable training of the army under this distinguished com- 
 mander. Long after David had come to the throne, 
 the Syrians, in alliance with the Ammonites, declared
 
 David's trials. 139 
 
 war against him. David sent Joab, and all the host of 
 the mighty men. When they found the enemy, an 
 army of Syrians was encamped in the field, near a city 
 of the Ammonites. Just as Joab had drawn up his 
 army in front of the foe, behold, the gates of the city 
 opened, and a strong body of armed Ammonites poured 
 out, and attacked his troops in the rear. Though this 
 was unexpected, and the foe had planned it with a con- 
 fidence that it must prove fatal to Israel, yet it required 
 but a moment for such a general as Joab to provide for 
 the emergency. He gave the word of command, and 
 half his army wheeled to the right about, and presented 
 their front to the children of Amnion : he then said to 
 his brother Abishai, ' Take the command, and I will lead 
 the other half against the Syrians.' Then, in one of 
 the noblest military addresses ever delivered at the head 
 of an army, he went on : ' If the Syrians be too strong 
 for me, then shalt thou help me ; but if the children of 
 Amnion be too strong for thee, then I will come and help 
 thee. Be of good courage, and let us play the men for 
 our people, and for the cities of our God ; and the Lord 
 do what seemeth him good.' I need scarcely add, that 
 the Syrians and Ammonites both fled at the first assault ; 
 for what could stand before such valor, combined with 
 such discipline? (2 Sam. x. 8 — 12.) 
 
 " Such was Joab. The drilling and mustering of his 
 army, preparatory to some great engagement, was, in 
 that military age, universally regarded as a splendid 
 spectacle. 
 
 " Such was the unlimited confidence with which he 
 inspired his soldiers, that they looked only for victory 
 when he was their leader. And in the shock of con-
 
 140 David's trials. 
 
 tending armies, — the critical crisis of battle, when spear 
 meets spear, and sword encounters sword, and the for- 
 tune of the day is trembling in even scales, — 
 
 ' One blast upon his bugle horn 
 Was worth a thousand men.' 
 
 " He never gave a challenge, nor declined a challenge 
 when given. He never asked quarter, nor refused 
 quarter when asked. He never boasted of his own 
 valiant deeds, nor decried the valiant deeds of another. 
 Nor was he ever seen to change color, or appear in the 
 slightest degree fluttered or discomposed, even in the 
 worst extremity. Collected, calm, resolute, he looked 
 danger in the face with an eye that never quailed, and 
 met and mastered the foes of his country wherever they 
 appeared. 
 
 " For forty years, he headed the armies of Israel, and 
 never sustained a defeat. He fought perhaps more 
 than a hundred pitched battles, and was always victo- 
 rious. 
 
 " In all the campaigns of Israel, while Joab was com- 
 mander-in-chief, there is not a solitary Flodden field, 
 or field of Waterloo. 
 
 " Such is a sample of the brave men who surrounded 
 David during the years of his adversity. And let me 
 repeat, that through these influences, viz., the friend- 
 ship of Jonathan, the counsel of Ahithophel, and the 
 valor of his soldiers, all the stratagems and eff"orts of 
 Saul for his destruction were rendered ineflectual and 
 vain. 
 
 " I will now," said Belial, " point out the second class 
 of snares by which I thought to ruin David. After the 
 lapse of some five years, he became wearied out with
 
 David's trials. 141 
 
 the persecutions of Saul, and resolved to leave the 
 country of Israel, and go and sojourn in the land of the 
 Philistines. He accordingly took his residence in the 
 dominions of Achish, king of Gath. 
 
 " Achish was the enemy of Saul, and the enemy of 
 Israel. He gave David a very cordial reception. He 
 saw it was weakening the host of Israel. It weis fos- 
 tering tlieir divisions. And he was glad to have a 
 wai-rior of such renown, and such a company of valiant 
 men, added to the forces under his command. And as 
 David and his men brought their households with them, 
 Achish considered this a sufficient guaranty of their 
 fidelity. (I Sam. xxvii. l-r-T'-) 
 
 " Achish, also, to confirm David and his men in the 
 interest of their new prince, gave them the city of Zik- 
 lag for their permanent home. This was exceedingly 
 gratifying to them, after the long years of wandering 
 and peril through which they had passed. 
 
 " I was much delighted," said Belial, " with this new 
 arrangement. I saw it would give me advantages 
 against David, which, until now, I had not antici- 
 pated. 
 
 " Since the death of Moses, and the settlement of the 
 tribes in Canaan, I had rarely known an Israelite who, 
 either from choice or necessity, left the land where God 
 had planted his people, and settled permanently in the 
 midst of a heathen nation, but he gradually fell in 
 with the idolatries that were prevalent and fashionable 
 around him, and ultimately abandoned entirely the 
 worship of Jehovah. I hoped this result would follow 
 in the case of David. 
 
 " Idol gods, of costly material and splendid work-
 
 142 David's trials. 
 
 manship, were now set up throughout the land of the 
 Philistines, and wealth and respectability, fashion and 
 public sentiment, exerted all their influence to hurry the 
 multitude along in the broad way. I had, for a time, 
 high hopes that David and his men, exiled from their 
 own country, would be carried away by this strong and 
 sweeping tide. The king of Israel had sought his life 
 with a persevering bitterness that seemed to know no 
 limit, and few of the people of Israel had so sympa- 
 thized during his multiplied and protracted wrongs, as 
 to offer him shelter or protection. Achish, a worship- 
 per of Dagon, had not only received him kindly when 
 houseless and friendless, but had generously given the 
 city of Ziklag, with its fields and its vineyards, to him 
 and his men for their permanent home. 
 
 " David acknowledged, in public ^id in private, the 
 obligations under which he was brought by the gener- 
 ous and hospitable treatment of the king ; and such 
 were his professions of gratitude and fidelity, and, in- 
 deed, such the general tenor of his conduct, that Achish 
 now reposed in him the highest confidence, and gave 
 him one of the most honorable and important commis- 
 sions in his army : that is, he made him commander of 
 the life-guards that were about his own person. 
 
 " I now brought before the mind of David every 
 plausible temptation I could invent, to induce him to 
 adopt the religion of King Achish. I assured him 
 that the personal advantages would be immense ; that 
 nothing he could do would so highly gratify the king, 
 and that it would open to him the most splendid pros- 
 pects of advancement. But he would not entertain the 
 temptation ; no, not for an hour.
 
 David's trials. 143 
 
 " The psalms and sacred songs composed by David 
 have been mentioned already. He was a poet of the 
 highest order, and his psalms abomided with celebra- 
 tions of the mercy and truth, the wisdom and power, 
 the justice and glory, of the God of Israel. Many of 
 them were historical, containing a sublime rehearsal 
 of the mighty acts of Jehovah in behalf of his covenant 
 people in the earlier ages of the world. Others were 
 prophetic, looked far into the future, dwelt on the 
 promises of God, and the glorious things that were 
 spoken of the church for generations to come. David 
 also excelled as a musician. Early in life his reputa- 
 tion as a skilful performer on the harp brought him to 
 the court of King Saul, to cheer him in those seasons 
 of melancholy to which he was subject ; and old Jew- 
 ish records, till this day, speak of his ' melodious voice,' 
 and of his being * master of hymns.' 
 
 "Now," said Belial, "long experience has convinced 
 me that divine truth embodied in beautiful poetry, and 
 accompanied by the charms of music, is peculiarly to 
 be dreaded by the hosts of hell. Truth presented in 
 that form arrests the attention of men, fastens on the 
 memory, and penetrates the heart. I will speak on 
 this subject again. But, powers of darkness, in all 
 your wars with the church of God, guard that point, 
 — I warn you, guard it. 
 
 " David, while in the country of the Philistines, often 
 employed his evenings, and other seasons of leisure, in 
 celebrating the praises of Jehovah in psalms, and hymns, 
 and spiritual songs. His soldiers joined with him in 
 these seasons of worship. The scenes to them were 
 impressive and solemn. It was ' singing the Lord's
 
 144 David's trials. 
 
 song in a strange land.' Many of the Philistines would 
 gather round on these occasions, and listen with pro- 
 found attention. It was mentioned by one, not long 
 since, that many of the Philistines, at this period, were 
 converted to the religion of Israel. Yes, indeed, those 
 Gittites that came with David from Gath, and those 
 Cherethites and Pelethites that were afterwards so 
 famous in his armies, were chiefly Philistines, who, 
 about this time, embraced the religion of Israel. In- 
 deed, this sojourning of David in the country of the 
 Philistines 'a full year and four months,' though not 
 originally designed as such, proved to be the most suc- 
 cessful ' mission to the heathen,' that had yet been per- 
 formed by the church of God. 
 
 *' It was at the close of one of those beautiful days 
 so common in the fine climate of Palestine ; night had 
 thrown her sable mantle over mountain, lake, and plain, 
 announcing to wearied, care-worn man the season of 
 rest ; a broad, bright moon had just appeared above the 
 eastern horizon, and David's men had gathered around 
 him for the purpose of evening devotion. Abiathar, 
 the priest, who had fled to David when Saul, in a fit of 
 frenzy, had slain his father and all the priests of the 
 Lord, was now reading to the company in the book of 
 the law of Moses. A young man, of stately form and 
 modest countenance, entered the room, took his seat in 
 silence, and listened to the reading of the law. The 
 portion selected by Abiathar, on that evening, was the 
 history of the death of the first born in Egypt, the 
 departure of Israel, the pursuit of Pharaoh, and the 
 destruction of his host in the Red Sea. Then David 
 took his harp and led the music, while the whole com-
 
 David's trials. 145 
 
 pany joined to sing the song of Moses, recorded in the 
 fifteenth chapter of Exodus, Then a season was spent 
 in prayer. 
 
 '' After the worship was concluded, David addressed 
 the young man, whom he well knew as a younger son 
 of the king of Gath. 
 
 '• ' The blessings of the evening be upon you, Ittai. 
 We are glad to have you with us at our devotions.' 
 
 " ' I have long desired,' said the youth, ' to learn 
 more of the fame of the great God of Israel.' 
 
 " ' You have long desired it ? ' inquired David. 
 
 *' ' Yes, long,' answered Ittai. ' My mother, when I 
 was a child, told me of strange things that were done 
 at Ashdod, and at Ekron, and at Gath, when the ark 
 of the God of Israel was brought into our country, and 
 how Dagon fell before it, time after time, and how the 
 head of Dagon, and the hands of Dagon, were cut off, 
 when he fell before the God of Israel.' --. 
 
 "■ ' Ah ! have you been told of those things ? ' 
 
 " ' From very early childhood,' said Ittai. ' And 
 there was something in the manner my mother talked 
 on these subjects, that led me to doubt whether she 
 l)clieved that Dagon was the supreme God. This gave 
 me great distress, for I had thought there Avas no God 
 in the world equal to Dagon, and I wished to think so 
 still ; but my mother's words had excited painful appre- 
 hensions. I was then between ten and twelve years 
 old, I went into the temple of Dagon ; I looked at him. 
 He was great and grand. His head, and face, and arms, 
 and all his upper parts, were like a huge, gigantic man, 
 but all his lower parts were like a great fish. I looked 
 at his eyes, and tried to get him to look at me. I 
 
 13
 
 146 David's trials. 
 
 would go to one side of the temple and stand, and then 
 walk to the other side, to see if he would turn his eyes 
 after me ; but he kept staring right forward, and did 
 not seem to notice me. I was perplexed. As yet, I 
 doubted not that Dagon was a god, but I was anxious 
 to have him prove to be greater than the God of Israel. 
 I left the temple, and went to an old, gray-headed bard 
 and soothsayer, that was about my father's court. I 
 asked him if he could tell me about the wonderful 
 works of the God of Israel. 
 
 '' ' " Certainly," said he, " certainly : they are among 
 the first thin2;s I remember. The dim and early recol- 
 lections of my childhood are full of them. When I was 
 a small boy, there were old, venerable bards then living, 
 who rehearsed many marvellous traditions. They re- 
 lated that the God of Israel divided the Red Sea, and 
 led his people through on dry ground, and that a great 
 king of Egypt, who attempted to follow them, and all 
 his army, were drowned. They related that there was 
 a large fiery cloud went before the armies of Israel, and 
 that it burned so brightly that it could be seen from 
 the temple towers and mountain tops of Palestine many 
 months before their arrival ; that when they came to 
 Jordan, at a time when the waters overflov.'ed all its 
 banks, their God divided the river, and caused all their 
 armies to go through on dry ground." Said the old 
 bard, " I myself, when I travelled in that country, have 
 seen a stone pillar, that was set up by Joshua at Gil- 
 gal, near Jordan, to perpetuate the memory of that 
 marvellous event. And, moreover, I was told by those 
 aged fathers of song, that when the Canaanites mus- 
 tered all their armies to fight with Israel, the great
 
 David's trials. 147 
 
 Jehovah defeated the Canaanites, and caused the sun and 
 moon to stand still for the space of a whole day, while 
 the Canaanites were flying and Israel pnrsning, that 
 the victory might he the more complete.' 
 
 "'Here,' said Ittai, 'I asked the old bard, if he did 
 not think that Dagon could divide the Red Sea, and 
 stop the stream of Jordan, and make the sun and moon 
 stand still, if he would try. 
 
 " ' But the old man dropped his eyes to the ground, 
 looked confounded, slightly shook his aged head, and 
 remained silent. I left him more perplexed than ever. I 
 went back to the temple of Dagon again. I looked more 
 closely at his eyes ; I began to think he could not see 
 at all. His hands appeared motionless and stifl". I was 
 now imboldened, and spoke to him ; but he was dumb. 
 1 began to doubt whether he had any knowledge, — in 
 short, whether he was a god that could see, or hear, or 
 help those who called upon him. Prom that period,' 
 said Ittai, ' my mind has been troubled on this subject, 
 and I have come to-night to learn more of the knowl- 
 edge of the God of Israel.' 
 
 " David admired to hear these statements from the 
 young prince ; yet, being now in the employment of 
 Achish, he judged it best to say but little of Dagon ; 
 but he spoke in kind and encouraging terms to the 
 young prince. 
 
 " ' We have here, Ittai,' said he, ' the sacred books 
 that will give you the information you desire concern- 
 ing the great Jehovah ; that he is the living and true 
 God, tliat created the world, the great sea, and the dry 
 land ; that he created the sun and the moon, and all the 
 stars of heaven, and upholds them all by his mighty
 
 148 David's trials. 
 
 and matchless power. These books will tell you that 
 God created man at first holy and happy. O. he was 
 not then in the sinful and wretched state yoii find him 
 now. He was not the child of wrath, the heir of mis- 
 ery, the victim of death, when he came from the form- 
 ing hand of God. Sin committed against God is the 
 source of all our sorrow and woe.' 
 
 " ' I have heard,' answered Ittai, ' of a golden age, 
 when the world was much happier than it is now.' 
 
 "' These sacred books,' continued David, 'will tell 
 you of God's mercy to man in the midst of his guilt 
 and his ruin ; also of that great Redeemer God has 
 promised to man, who will bring everlasting righteous- 
 ness, and prepare us for a better world. Here, also, 
 you will find the history of holy men, in ages that are 
 gone, who loved and served the Lord, and are now in 
 the world of glory. Come and visit me often. Abia- 
 thar or myself will be happy to read for you in the 
 holy oracles ; or, as you are learned, you can read them 
 yourself. You will find there divine truths more pre- 
 cious than thousands of silver and gold ; sweeter, also, 
 than honey and the honey-comb.' 
 
 " ' I shall certainly avail myself of your invita- 
 tion,' said Ittai. ' It is the information I have most 
 ardently desired. But, perhaps before I leave you 
 to-night, you and your singing men would be willing 
 to let me hear another hymn to the praise of the great 
 Jehovah.' 
 
 " ' Willingly, willingly,' said David, taking up his 
 harp, and striking a lively and beautiful air. The 
 countenances of his men, who had been listening to 
 this conversation, were beaming with delight, and they
 
 David's trials. 149 
 
 joined their voices with the deep tones of the harp, and 
 sung the following 
 
 IIYMN TO JEHOVAH. 
 
 I. 
 
 * Come ■worship Jehovah, the holy, the high, 
 
 "WTiose hand formed the ocean, the earth, and the sky ; 
 The boundless creation arose at his word ; 
 Hosanna I hosanna ! aloud to the Lord. 
 
 II. 
 ' O sun, speak his praise in the firmament bright ; 
 Ye far distant stars, speak his praises by night ; 
 Let earthquakes and tempests rehearse his great name, 
 And lightnings and thunders his grandeur proclaim. 
 
 III. 
 
 • O man, thou art formed his blest image to bear : 
 The stamp of liis own immortality 's there. 
 
 Ye nations, look up, from the field, from the flood, 
 And sing hallelujahs aloud to your God. 
 
 ""V 
 
 IV. 
 
 ' The heathenish idols, how senseless and vain ! 
 They're rudely and stupidly fashioned like men ; 
 What folly to yield them our worship or love, — 
 Their tongue cannot speak, and their feet camiot move. 
 
 ' Shall rational man put his confidence there ? 
 Can dull, wooden ears hear the language of prayer ? 
 Can eyes that are blind see when dangers are nigh ? 
 Can hands that are motionless help when we cry ? 
 
 VI. 
 
 ' Come worship Jehovah ; to him let us pray, 
 Whose blessings surround us by night and by day. 
 How rich is the promise his mercy hath given 
 Of pardon on earth and salvation in heaven ! 
 
 13*
 
 150 davld's trials. 
 
 va. 
 
 • His word, like the movmtains, strsnds stable and sure ; 
 The sun and the moon not so long shall endure. 
 Hail, hope of redemption from death and the grave ; 
 Hail, promised Messiah ! thou mighty to save ! ' 
 
 "Ittai departed for the night, hut often repeated his 
 visits ; and read, under the direction of Abiathar, the 
 five books of Moses, the books of Joshua and Judges, 
 and soon became a believer in the religion of Israel, 
 and a worshipper of Jehovah. 
 
 " I discovered," said Belial, " that things were going 
 very differently indeed from my first anticipations. 
 There is enormous difficulty in drawing that man into 
 idolatry, or any kind of vice, who punctually and firmly 
 maintains the ordinance of family worship. Instead 
 of David and his men falling in with the religion of 
 Dagon, they were leading the Philistines to embrace 
 the service of Jehovah ; and I determined that as speed- 
 ily as possible this whole business should be broken up. 
 
 "I set all my forces to work, brewing war with Is- 
 rael through all the country of the Philistines. I saw, 
 with the clearness of demonstration, that this would 
 throw around David mountains of difficulty from which 
 there could be no escape. To the war he must go ; as 
 commander of the life-guards, there was no avoiding it. 
 If he turned traitor to Achish, who had so nobly be- 
 friended him in the day of his deep calamity, it would 
 blast his name and memory forever, where truth and 
 honor are regarded ; and on the other hand, if he fought 
 with the Philistines, under the banner of Dagon, against 
 his own people, who were fighting under the banner of 
 his God, infamy, black as the night of Egypt, must over-
 
 David's trials. 151 
 
 whelm his character among them, and fatally blight all 
 his hopes of reaching the throne. My prospect of suc- 
 cess here was brilliant, and my hopes were high. It was 
 by far the best snare I had yet been able to set for David. 
 Escape appeared impossible. I looked upon his over- 
 throw as certain. Every thing succeeded admirably. 
 War was declared. Achish mustered his numerous 
 armies and marched to the battle. David, as command- 
 er of the life-guards, was summoned to attend. He 
 and his men had been newly and elegantly equipped for 
 this great expedition. When marching along with King 
 Achish, their appearance was exceedingly fine ; the 
 unrivalled discipline and beautiful array of the life- 
 guards was the theme of remark through the whole 
 army. I may observe here that Achish himself was now 
 very favorably disposed towards the Jewish religion, if 
 he had not actually embraced it in his heart : he speaks 
 of the ' angel of God ' as you might expect a pious 
 Jew to speak, and appeals to Jehovah, and swears by 
 his name, as no Philistine had been known to do. 
 
 " And now the crisis approached. The battle was 
 nigh, and David must either fight against his own peo- 
 ple, or turn traitor to the hospitable Achish. Look which 
 way he would, disgrace and ruin seemed inevitable. 
 But just at this critical juncture, whether it was chance, 
 or vvjiether it was providence, I never could learn ; I 
 have since strongly suspected it was by some adroit ma- 
 nceuvre of that unaccountable Ahithophel, who was 
 now with David as his counsellor : all at once the lords 
 of the Philistines became jealous, angry, outrageous 
 against David and his men. They came up in a body 
 to King Achish. * What do these Hebrews here ? Is
 
 152 David's trials. 
 
 not this David, of whom they sung, " Sanl hath slain 
 his thousands, and David his ten thousands." Make him 
 return, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us. 
 For wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his 
 master ? Should it not be with the heads of these men ? ' 
 King Acliish, finding that the lords of the Philistines 
 were jealous of David, commanded him to return early 
 the next morning to Ziklag, expr.essing, at the same 
 time, in the strongest terms, his own unshaken confi- 
 dence, and commending the conduct of David all the 
 while he had been with him. (1 Sam. xxix. 1 — 11.) 
 
 ^' Thus," said Belial, "all my fine stratagems were 
 swept away like the smoke of the traveller's tent before 
 the wind of the desert." 
 
 " But you should tell," said the Philistine demon, 
 now rising again, and seeming riot to be altogether 
 pleased with the version of the story as it had been 
 related, " you should tell how the battle went." 
 
 " The battle," said Belial ; " O, the Philistines gained 
 the battle — a decided victory." 
 
 "Yes," said the demon, " and a glorious victory it 
 was, and the men of Israel fled, notwithstanding all 
 you have said of the valor of Joab and Abishai." 
 
 'iJoab and Abishai were not there," answered Belial : 
 "they were with David, and returned to Ziklag, when 
 David was sent back by King Achish. But the victory 
 of the Philistines was complete. King Saul was slain, 
 and his three sons, and, indeed, the flower of his army."
 
 ZERUIAH AND SAMUEL, 153 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 ZERUIAH AND SAMUEL. 
 
 "It is now necessary," said Belial, "to notice more 
 particularly some circumstances in the history of the 
 family of Jesse, the father of David. The residence 
 of this family was at Bethlehem, on the lot of land that 
 fell to Salmon, one of the princes of Jndah, when the 
 inheritance in Canaan was divided among the tribes by 
 Joshua. Salmon was renowned among the ancestors 
 of the house of Jesse. He was one of the two spies 
 that Joshua sent to search out Jericho, who were saved 
 from the wrath of the king of Jericho by Rahab, who 
 hid them among some stalks of flax upon the roof of 
 her house, and then sent them in safety away. Salmon 
 afterwards married Rahab, and she became the mother 
 of Boaz, whose history is so particularly detailed in the 
 book of Ruth. 
 
 " The family estate on v/hich Jesse resided, having 
 been, during a number of generations, occupied by the 
 princes of Judah, was improved, adorned, and beautified 
 in a very high degree. The house of Jesse was one of 
 the favorite resting-places of the prophet Samuel, while 
 he travelled as a circuit judge, administering the laws 
 among the people of Israel. And the members of the 
 family had thus enjoyed the privilege of forming inti-
 
 154 ZERUIAH AND SAMUEL. 
 
 mate acquaintance and friendship with the venerated 
 old prophet. (I Sam. vii. 15 — 17.) 
 
 " Zeriiiah, the oldest daughter, had taken great de- 
 light in pointing out to Samuel those parts of the es- 
 tablishment that were connected with interesting family 
 traditions, and exhibiting to him such memorials as 
 had come down to them from former generations. She 
 showed him the field in which Ruth was gleaning after 
 the reapers, when she first attracted the attention of 
 Boaz,.and the veil in which she carried the barley to her 
 mother-in-law, also the cord of scarlet thread — for it was 
 still preserved in the family — by which Rahab had let 
 down tlie two spies, over the wall of Jericho, that they 
 might escape to the mountains till the. pursuit should 
 be over. (Ruth ii. 5 — 17; iii. 15. Josh. ii. 18.) 
 
 '' Samuel carefully availed himself of these opportu- 
 nities, by pointing their minds to the hand and provi- 
 dence of God, as it appears in the early history of the 
 church, and aiding them to apprehend the great doc- 
 trines of religion, as unfolded in the oracles of God. 
 Indeed, the prophet Samuel was one of the most pow- 
 erful men that ever arose in Israel. Of the power 
 which attended his preaching there is a record, 1 Sam. 
 xix. 18 — 24. Saul had sent a company of rude soldiers 
 to take David. Samuel was holding a meeting, of sev- 
 eral days' continuance, at Naioth, and David with him. 
 Saul's soldiers came, and were subdued by the power 
 of divine truth. Another company, and then another, 
 came ; and at last the king himself ventured nigh, and 
 was disarmed and overcome by the solemnity and power 
 present in this religious meeting. 
 
 "When the jealousy of King Saul became inflamed
 
 ZERUIAU AND SAMUt:L. 155 
 
 against David, it Avas not long till it began to manifest 
 itself towards all his father's house. The three oldest 
 sons of Jesse had for a time been soldiers in tlie army 
 of Saul, and they had been very acceptable to the king. 
 But now, causes of alarm became daily more and more 
 apparent, until it was plain that the family coidd no 
 longer remain at their beloved and peaceful home in 
 Bethlehem, but at the imminent peril of their lives. 
 
 " Doeg, the Edomite, the armor-bearer of King Saul, 
 was excessive in his cruelty and vindictiveness against 
 such as were thought to be favorable to David. The 
 family of Jesse, therefore, with tears and anguish of 
 spirit, fled from their habitation at Bethlehem, and came 
 to David at the cave of Adullam. David knew, how- 
 ever, that his aged parents could not endure the expo- 
 sure and hardships of such a life as he must lead. He, 
 therefore, went to the king of Moab, and said, ' Let my 
 father and my mother, I pray thee, come down and be 
 with you, until I know what God will do for me.' The 
 king of Moab gave them a welcome reception, and they 
 remained there all the while David was so hotly perse- 
 cuted by Saul. (1 Sam. xxii. 1 — 4.) 
 
 " But the persecutions of David continued long. 
 Darker and yet more dark grew the clouds that threat- 
 ened and thickened around him. The whole energies 
 of Saul's administration were now mustered for his de- 
 struction. Jesse was now becoming an aged man. The 
 frailties and infirmities of advancing years began to bear 
 heavily upon him. Being weary of exile, and hearing 
 that his house and possessions at Bethlehem had been 
 laid waste by Doeg, the Edomite, it seemed that his 
 trials were becoming heavier than he could bear. His
 
 156 ZERUIAH AND SAMUEL. 
 
 sons were all away with David. But his wife and the 
 dutiful Zeruiah endeavored to cheer his heart, and call 
 up such motives to constancy, and confidence in the 
 promises of God, as their minds could suggest. Yet they, 
 too, Avere often almost overborne by discouragements. 
 
 " Zeruiah herself had entertained the brightest an- 
 ticipations, when she saw her brother David anointed by 
 Samuel, and heard the promise that he should have the 
 kingdom over God's covenant people. But now things 
 had fallen out so widely different from all her fond 
 expectations, that she was perplexed and bewildered in 
 the mazes of doubt and uncertainty. 
 
 " Her father's despondency and discouragement 
 weighed heavily on her spirit, Avhile month after 
 month, and year after year, rolled by, and yet she 
 could see no prospect of the dawning of a brighter day. 
 
 " In this juncture of affairs, Zeruiah resolved to 
 make a visit to their old friend, the prophet Samuel, in 
 hope to obtain some light on the mysterious and frown- 
 ing providences by which they were surrounded, and 
 also hoping that this experienced servant of God, so 
 long and so highly venerated by the family, could send 
 some message of comfort and consolation to sustain the 
 drooping heart of her aged father. 
 
 '^ Samuel himself was now almost at the end of his 
 earthly journey. His cheek was pale, his frame ema- 
 ciated and frail, and his hands trembled with age. But 
 there was a light and serenity in his eye, and a happy 
 cheerfulness in his voice, which showed that his soul 
 was leaning on some invisible support, which he re- 
 garded as sure and steadfast. 
 
 " Zeruiah came before him, and stood in silence.
 
 ZEllUIAII AND SAMUEL. 157 
 
 " ' The blessing of Jehovah be upon thee, my daugh- 
 ter: the Lord will yet perform all that he hath spoken.' 
 
 " ' My father/ said Zeriiiah : her utterance failed, 
 while the tears streamed over both her cheeks and ran 
 down to the floor. 
 
 " ' Your father,' said Samuel, ' is distressed because 
 of the unreasonable and long-continued persecutions of 
 Saul. Ah, long and deeply did I mourn for Saul. But 
 the Lord rebuked me, and told me that he had rejected 
 him. But your father and his family are not in per- 
 sonal danger ; arc they not secure in their exile ? ' 
 
 " ' We are sheltered by the king of Moab,' said Zer- 
 uiah, 'and our lives are not in immediate danger. But 
 our homes and estates have been ravaged and ruined. 
 The people among whom we live, you know, are all 
 idolaters ; the name of Israel's God is a by-word. 
 vShocking forms of wickedness come before our eyes 
 every day. It is distressing to live in such society. 
 We hoped at first that our exile would be but of brief 
 duration. But it has now continued long ; and our 
 prospects seem to be growing darker. We fear our 
 youth will become contaminated by the vile practices 
 they must witness every day.' 
 
 " ' O, let me inqviire,' said Samuel, ' where are those 
 three interesting little sons you dedicated to the sup- 
 port of Israel's throne, on the day your brother David 
 was anointed ? They must be grown to the stature of 
 men by this time.' 
 
 " ' They are all away with their uncle,' said Zeruiah, 
 ' sharing his privations and his dangers. They have 
 resolved, with one heart, to protect and defend him to 
 the utmost ; and if he perishes, to perish with him.
 
 158 ZERUIAH AND SAMUEL. 
 
 They will shun no hazard to themselves, they will 
 shrink from no personal risk in order to sustain David. 
 It is the lesson I have taught them since the day you 
 laid your hand on their dear heads at Bethlehem ; and 
 though I feel all a mother's anxiety for their safety, yet 
 I glory in the cause to which their lives are devoted.' 
 
 " ' The Lord preserve and bless them ! ' rejoined Sam- 
 uel. ' I have often thought of them, and made mention 
 of them in my prayers, since that day when you made 
 the solemn dedication of them in Jehovah's great name. 
 May Jehovah be their Guide and Defender ; may they 
 be all that your heart has desired and longed for ; and 
 may they be remembered through all succeeding ages 
 as successful and famous champions in Israel.' 
 
 " The old prophet uttered these invocations with an 
 earnestness and fervor that sent strong and thrilling 
 vibrations through the mother's heart. She stood for a 
 few moments in profound silence, while her lips moved, 
 as if in prayer. She then resumed her first topic. 
 
 " ' My father is so discouraged with our multiplied 
 and protracted trials, that I fear his heart will sink. 
 Can you not send him some word of encouragement, 
 that will cheer and strengthen his spirit amidst our 
 present distresses ? ' 
 
 " ' Certainly,' answered Samuel, ' certainly. Tell him 
 to make the eternal God his refuge, and to lean on the 
 everlasting arms. The book of God has been much 
 read in your family, I know, for I have found yon often 
 reading it when I have visited your house.' 
 
 " 'We have read much,' answered Zeruiah, 'in the 
 Book cf the Law of the Lord : it ha§ been a light to 
 our feet and a lamp to our patli.'
 
 ZERUIAII AND SAMUEL. 159 
 
 " ' Learn then,' said Samuel, ' the lessons of wisdom 
 that are there, concerning the providence of God ; often 
 too deep and mysterions for us to comprehend at once, 
 but always divinely wise and divinely good. Tell my 
 old friend Jesse to read attentively the history of Joseph : 
 he will there find a beautiful illustration of the perfec- 
 tion of divhie providence, even when thick darkness is 
 around his people.' (Gen. xxxvii. xxxix. — xlvi.) 
 
 " ' We have read the history of Joseph much in our 
 family,' answered Zerniah, ' and particularly of late.' 
 
 " 'Well,' said Samuel, — and he rose from the couch 
 on which he had been reclining, and sat upright, while a 
 peculiar glow of pleasing animation overspread all his 
 visage, — 'well, it is most appropriate to your present 
 condition. Now remark, — 
 
 " ' 1st. Joseph was torn from his kind father and 
 sold into bondage ; and sold too by brothers whom he 
 loved and honored. This made the trial doubly severe. 
 
 "'2d. He was carried far away into the heart of a 
 heathen country, where the name of his God was dis- 
 honored and blasphemed. 
 
 " ' 3d. There he was not only put into the condition 
 of a slave, but was-falsely accused of the foulest crime 
 and thrown into prison, among the vilest offenders. 
 And none appeared to plead his cause, or vindicate his 
 character, and he had no means whatever to make his 
 innocence appear. 
 
 " ' 4th. In that prison he remained for the space of 
 thirteen years, deprived of his liberty, and the darkest 
 imputations resting on his name and character. 
 
 " ' Now, how strange all this must have appeared to 
 Joseph, conscious of his innocence, daring these thir-
 
 160 ZERUIAH AND SAMUEL. 
 
 teen years ! How often was he ready to exclaim, " Has 
 God forgotten me ? Is his ear deaf to prayer ? Will 
 lie be favorable no more ? " And I may say further, 
 How strange did all this appear to good old Jacob ! 
 That well-remembered coat, all stained with blood, he 
 kept hanging up in his tent. How often he looked 
 upon it with eyes that were dimmed with tears ! It 
 was all that was left of Joseph. He refused to be com- 
 forted. " I will go down to the grave," said he, " sor- 
 rowing for my son." 
 
 " ' But now, Zeruiah, my daughter,' said Samuel, 
 'look at the providence of God in all this. During 
 this long, dreary wintry season, as I may call it, see 
 what a rich harvest of joy he was preparing for 
 Joseph, for Jacob, for the church of God in that age, 
 and in all ages until the end of time. First, Joseph 
 is brought out of that prison in circumstances that 
 showed Pharaoh, and showed all Egypt, the folly and 
 nothingness of the idols they so wickedly worshipped, 
 and that the God of Abraham was the only living and 
 true God. He alone could foresee the coming famine, 
 and instruct them how to make the needful prepara- 
 tions. 
 
 " ' Again ; This great lesson is not confined to 
 Egypt. But all surrounding lands, that come into 
 Egypt to buy corn, learn the story. They return to 
 their homes, and tell the wondrous history there — the 
 strange dreams of Pharaoh — the perplexity and con- 
 fusion of the magicians and astrologers of Egypt, who 
 could not interpret the dreams of the king — then, 
 how Joseph, a servant of the true God, is brought for- 
 ward — how he expounded all to the king — was
 
 ZERUIAH AND SAMUEL. 161 
 
 made governor over all the land — made extensive and 
 ample provision for the coming famine, by which so 
 many thousand lives were preserved, that otherwise 
 must have perished. These facts were rehearsed 
 through all surrounding lands, to the honor of the true 
 religion, to the confusion of their idols, and to the 
 glory of the great name of the God of Israel. 
 
 " ' And, moreover,' continued Samuel, ' I might add 
 that Joseph himself, by the sore trials through which 
 he was led, was matured in piety, as gold is refined in 
 the furnace, and fitted for the high station for which 
 the Lord designed him. We should not have had 
 such a lovely and instructive character exhibited in the 
 history of Joseph, had he not been thus disciplined 
 and trained in the scliool of affliction. And further 
 still ; the venerable old patriarch, Jacob, was com- 
 forted ; saw that the Lord had done all things well ; 
 and was encouraged to hope in God, and look with 
 unwavering confidence for the fulfilment of all his 
 divine promises. Yes,' exclaimed the old prophet, 
 elevating his voice, and kindling with the majesty and 
 grandeur of his subject, — ' yes, after so many years of 
 clouds and darkness, the sun at length broke out, and 
 shone with peculiar serenity and sweetness on the 
 head of the patriarch through all the remainder of his 
 years upon earth. 
 
 '' ' Now, Zeruiah, my daughter, these things were 
 written for our instruction, that we may not faint in 
 seasons of trial, but have confidence in God. He is a 
 rock ; his work is perfect. Blessed are all they who 
 put their trust in him.' 
 
 " ' I see great beauty in the history of Joseph,' said 
 
 14*
 
 162 ZERUIAH AND SAMUEL. 
 
 Zeruiah, 'and the instruction is delightful. But, 
 prophet of God, are we to believe that divine provi- 
 dence is the same now that it was in the days of 
 Joseph ? Is there the same careful, constant, almighty 
 guardianship around the worshippers of God now, that 
 there was in the time of the early patriarchs ? ' 
 
 " * Unquestionably ! ' exclaimed Samuel, with an ear- 
 nestness that was vehement, ' unquestionably ! There 
 is no change with God. His wisdom, goodness, and 
 power are as active, and as near to us now, as in the 
 days when Enoch, Joseph, or Moses were in their pil- 
 grimage through the earth. Those who, in future ages, 
 shall read the history of the church in this period, will 
 see that the trials through which your brother David is 
 now passing, were just as necessary, and as wisely ap- 
 pointed, to prepare him for the important station to 
 which God has called him, as were the trials I have 
 mentioned in the case of Joseph. There is no varia- 
 bleness with God. He is the same from everlasting to 
 everlasting. 
 
 " ' Rehearse to your father what I have told you now. 
 It is surely calculated, with the blessing of God, to 
 strengthen his heart. 
 
 " ' But,' continued the old prophet, ' the question you 
 have asked suggests the propriety of giving another 
 and more modern illustration of the same truth. I 
 know there are many who are not aware that God is as 
 nigh to the church now as in days of old. I will there- 
 fore mention an instance that has occurred within' my 
 own life. 
 
 " ' You were not born at the period of which I speak, 
 but your father will remember it well. I allude to the
 
 ZERUIAH AND SAMUEL. IG'3 
 
 dreadful distress and desolation of spirit that overspread 
 all the land, on the loss of the battle of Eben-ezer. 
 The venerable Eli was priest of the Lord in those days. 
 He was an amiable and excellent man, though he failed 
 much in the government and proper restraint of his 
 family. His sons were very wicked, and among the 
 people there was much proneness to idolatry. The 
 Lord had sent a warning, that he would " do a thing in 
 Israel at which both the ears of every one that heard 
 it should tingle." 
 
 " • Soon the Philistines, with a powerful array, invaded 
 the country. Our people went out to resist them, and 
 pitched their camp beside Eben-ezer. Li the first day's 
 battle our army was worsted. About four thousand 
 men were slain. But it was not a rout, or a defeat, for 
 they maintained their ground through the day, and 
 returned to the camp in tolerable order. That evening, 
 the elders of Israel held a council, and concluded that, 
 if they should send and fetch the ark of the covenant 
 of the Lord out of Shiloh, and take it with them the 
 next day into the battle, then the Lord would give 
 them the victory. " It was a foolish and vain confidence 
 they had in the ark, for the Lord was angry with them 
 for their sins. 
 
 " ' When the ark came into the camp, all Israel shouted 
 with a great shout, so that the earth rang again. When 
 the Philistines heard the shout, they were afraid. 
 They had heard traditions of the mighty works of our 
 God in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness, 
 and they thought that this dreadfid God was now 
 come into our camp. So the leaders went among the 
 soldiers, and urged them to figlit in tlie next day's
 
 164 ZERUIAH AND SAMUEL. 
 
 battle with desperate bravery, lest they should be over- 
 come by the God of Israel. 
 
 " ' The taking of the ark from Shiloh to the army 
 made an awful impression in that city. Many of the 
 people wept at its departure. Such a thing had never, 
 since it was stationed there, been done before. My 
 venerable instructor, the aged Eli, looked as if his heart 
 would burst with grief; but he was silent, and made no 
 objection. His two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, went 
 along to carry the ark. Anxiety and dread were de- 
 picted in every countenance. We passed a sleepless 
 night in Shiloh. 
 
 " ' Early the next morning, all eyes were turned to- 
 wards the camp at Eben-ezer. Eli, the high priest, was 
 now ninety and eight years old. His eyes were dim 
 that he could not see. He requested me to lead him, 
 and fix his seat by the wayside, at a little distance 
 from the gate, that he might catch the first news from 
 the army. His heart trembled for the ark of God. 
 While leading him along, I felt the quivering of his 
 hand, and the shuddering of his whole frame. It 
 seemed ominous and awful. 
 
 " ' The doors and windows that looked towards Eben- 
 ezer were now crowded. Indeed, the house tops and 
 city wall were thronged with eager spectators, while 
 hour after hour passed by. The suspense and agitat- 
 ing uncertainty was scarcely supportable. At length a 
 single messenger was discovered coming from the army 
 at the utmost speed. On his nearer approach, he was 
 identified as one of the princes of Benjamin, a man of 
 great worth, renowned for valor and patriotism. Every 
 bosom throbbed as he drew nearer and nearer. We
 
 ZERUIAH AND SAMUEL. 1C5 
 
 could see that his clothes were rent, and he had eartli 
 upon his head. 
 
 " ' " All is lost ! " he proclaimed in a loud and bitter 
 cry, and shrieks, plaints, and wailings of despair spread 
 through the city. 
 
 " ' " What ! what is the meaning of this tumult ? " said 
 Eli. And the man came hastily before him, and said, 
 " I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to-day." 
 
 " ' Eli raised his sightless eyeballs towards the mes- 
 senger, and lifted his hands. 
 
 mil What is there done, my son ? " ' 
 
 " ' In all my life,' said Samuel, ' I have heard noth- 
 ing from the lips of man so awfully eloquent as the 
 four sentences in which that man of Benjamin replied 
 to the question of Eli. 
 
 " ' The messenger answered and said, " Israel is fled 
 before the Philistines ! and there hath been a great 
 slaughter among the people ! and thy two sons also, 
 Hophni and Phinehas, are dead ! and the ark of God is 
 taken ! " 
 
 " ' The venerable old Eli bore up under it all, as it 
 came, sentence after sentence, heavier and heavier, till 
 the messenger reached the last clause — " the ark of God 
 is taken ! " That broke his heart. He fell backward 
 from his seat, and died. 
 
 '* f A3 another evidence of the dejected and desolate 
 state of the mind of the people of God at this time, 1 
 would mention that the wife of Phinehas, who died 
 that same day, a pious and excellent woman, gave to 
 her infant son the name Ichabod, saying, '' The glory 
 is departed from Israel, for the ark of God is taken ! " 
 
 " ' Now, my daughter,' said Samuel to Zcruiah, ' ob-
 
 166 ZERUIAH AND SAMUEL. 
 
 serve the providence of God in all this. We thought 
 the glory was departed from Israel when the ark of 
 God was taken. The Piiilistines thought so too. 
 They took the ark of God in triumph, and brought it 
 to Ashdod, to the house of Dagon, their god. They 
 were worshippers of idols, and many of them were so 
 stupid as to think that this was really the God of Israel 
 they had taken captive. They all thought that Dagon 
 had triumphed over Jehovah. 
 
 " ' They put the ark before Dagon as his captive, and 
 they had public rejoicings through all the land, in 
 honor of Dagon. But the next morning, when they 
 came early to Dagon's temple, to renew their honors, 
 "behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth 
 before the ark of the Lord." Astonished, ashamed, 
 mortified, the priests of Dagon took him up and set 
 him in his place again. They were not a little grieved 
 at this dishonor of Dagon ; but they tried to explain it 
 away, alleging that it was only an accident. 
 
 " ' But, the next morning, when they came early to 
 the temple again, " behold, Dagon was fallen upon his 
 face to the ground before the ark of the Lord, and the 
 head of Dagon, and both the palms of his hands, were 
 cut off upon the threshold ; only the stump of Dagon 
 was left to him! " 
 
 " ' The tidings of these marvellous and memorable 
 events spread on the wings of the wind through all 
 the country of the Philistines, to the confusion of their 
 idols and the honor of the God of Israel.' 
 
 " Here the excitement of the old prophet became re- 
 markable. His eyes sparkled ; his countenance glowed ; 
 his whole frame appeared animated with a divine en^
 
 ZERUIAH AND SAMUEL. 167 
 
 '-■'■■«WI$ 
 
 thusiasm. ' Yes,' he continued. ' the tidings of these 
 marvellous events came and spread through all the 
 land of Israel, to the joy of the friends of God, and the 
 confirming of all who delighted in his worship. Tho 
 Philistines were stubborn and unyielding for a long 
 time ; but the hand of God w;as heavier and heavier 
 upon them. They carried the ark from Ashdod to 
 Gath, and from Gath to Ekron ; but the scourge of God 
 was upon them, — pestilence and the plague thinned 
 their population. They cried to Dagon for help ; they 
 prayed to all their idols ; but it was vain. At the end 
 of seven months, scourged and humbled under the 
 mighty hand of God, they resolved, by a unanimous 
 vote of their rulers, with their priests and diviners, to 
 send back the ark of the God of Israel. The five lords 
 of the Philistines brought it, accompanied with rich 
 presents, and delivered it into the hands of the men of 
 Bethshemesh. 
 
 " ' No event,' said vSamuel, ' since the days of Joshua, 
 has had so mighty an influence in weaning Israel from 
 idols, and confirming them in tlie true religion. And 
 among the Philistines themselves, I have the surest 
 information, that many have been led to know that 
 their idols are vain, and that Jehovah is the only living 
 and true God. 
 
 ••" 'Now, my daughter,' said Samuel to Zeruiah, ' re- 
 hearse these things to your father ; he will remember 
 well the events of which I have spoken. Tell him 
 , the providence of God is as wise, as good, and as per- 
 fect now, as in these earlier instances. Tell him to be 
 strong in the liord. It is my last message to him, for 
 I am now going the way of all the earth. And once
 
 168 ZERUIAH AND SAAIUEL. 
 
 more, tell your three sons from me, to be true to their 
 God, to then- country, and to stand as pillars around 
 the throne of David while they live upon the earth. 
 Tell them I have prayed for them, that their lives may 
 be a blessing, and that their names may be honored 
 in the church of God iiW the end of time. Jehovah 
 bless thee, my daughter ! Adieu ! I feel that my work 
 is done ! ' 
 
 " The old prophet sunk back on his couch, exhausted 
 with the excitement and efforts of this interview, and 
 soon afterwards his spirit took its flight. 
 
 " When it was known abroad that Samuel was dead, 
 multitudes of Israel came together and lamented him, 
 and buried him in his house at Ramah. 
 
 "As for Zeruiah, she returned to her father in the 
 land of Moab. Jesse and his family were much 
 strengthened and encouraged by the views of God's 
 wise, wonderful, and perfect providence communi- 
 cated to them from Samuel. They remained in safety 
 with the king of Moab, until the news came of Saul's 
 death on Mount Gilboa. They then returned to the 
 land of Judah. And when the princes and heads of 
 the tribe of Judah assembled at Hebron, to crown 
 David king over the house of Judah the family of Jesse 
 was collected there. Zeruiah there met again her 
 three sons, and heard with a mother's delight of their 
 deeds of valor at Keilah, and at Ziklag, and in other 
 famous fields. The anointing of David was performed 
 by the prophet Gad. It was a joyful day in Judah, 
 and from this period, the declining days of Jesse were 
 days of calmness, couiioit, and peace."
 
 David's kingdom. IC9 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 DAVID'S KINGDOM. 
 
 A DEMON now arose in the assembly whose com- 
 plexion was of a yellowish cast, and he was remarkably 
 broad between the eyes. I nnderstood he had been 
 for three or four thousand years in the heart of the 
 Chinese empire, and from his rapt attention it appeared 
 that every part of Belial's narrative was entirely new 
 to him. 
 
 " And now I suppose," said he, addressing Belial, 
 " Saul and his sons being dead, David became king 
 over all Israel without opposition." 
 
 " Not exactly," said Belial : " he went to Hebron, and 
 was proclaimed king over the tribe of Judah ; but Judah 
 was only one tribe out of the twelve. One son of Saul, 
 named Ishbosheth, was still living. Abner, the com- 
 mander-in-chief of the army, was the most noted man, 
 now remaining, who was strongly in the interest of the 
 house of Saul. The officers of the government generally, 
 had the same bias, for the popularity of Jonathan had 
 been very great till the day of his death ; and even Saul, 
 though the people thought he had done many very 
 foolish and very unjustifiable deeds, yet he had been 
 patriotic and brave, and possessed in their estimation 
 many redeeming qualities, so that on the whole he stood 
 
 15
 
 170 David's kingdom. 
 
 , well with the mass of the people. Abner had a deep 
 dislike to David. He had been repeatedly out-generalled 
 by David and his men; and particularly when David 
 and Abishai had taken away Saul's spear and cruse of 
 water from his bolster, while Abner was asleep. David, 
 from the top of a neighboring hill, addressed Abner, in 
 the hearing of both armies, in a tone of strong and 
 biting irony : ' Abner, art thou not a valiant man ? 
 Who is like to thee in Israel ? As the Lord liveth, ye 
 are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, 
 ■'* the Lord's anointed.' This was a severe reflection on 
 his honor, such as a soldier was not likely to forget. 
 
 " I now," said Belial, " suggested to Abner that he 
 had influence sufficient to make Ishbosheth king over 
 all the tribes, except Judah ; that this would hugely 
 disappoint and vex David ; and that as Ishbosheth Avas 
 a weak and inefficient man, Abner himself would have 
 the control and administration of the govermnent 
 almost exclusively in his own hands. This exactly 
 chimed with the views and feelings of Abner. So he 
 took Ishbosheth and crowned him, and proclaimed him 
 king over the eleven tribes that had not followed 
 David. 
 
 " Abner was a great warrior, and had many veteran 
 and valiant troops under his command ; yet knowing 
 the men that were around David, he occupied two 
 Avhole years making himself strong ; training and put- 
 ting his army in the best condition, before he made any 
 public move, to subdue the house of Judah. 
 
 " After this long and careful preparation, Abner left 
 Mahanaim, with the choice of his forces, and crossed 
 Jordan, and came to Gibeon, within a few miles of He-
 
 David's kingdom. 171 
 
 bron. And now," said Belial, glancing his eye towards 
 the Philistine demon, " you will hear again of the sons 
 of Zeruiah — Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel. On learn- 
 ing that Abner had invaded the dominions of David, 
 they went out and met him at the pool of Gibeon. . Both 
 parties were reluctant to commence hostilities, for they 
 were worshippers of the same God, and all belonged 
 to the commonwealth of Israel ; so the two companies 
 sat down on opposite sides of the pool of Gibeon. At 
 length, Abner, whose forces were by far the most nu- 
 merous, said to Joab, ' Let the young men now arise 
 and play before us.' And Joab said, ' Let them arise.' 
 Twelve on each side first met, and commenced the 
 affray ; but presently both armies became excited, and 
 rushed into the engagement, ' and there was a very sore 
 battle, and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, be- 
 fore the servants of David.' In the flight, Abner was 
 closely pursued by Asahel, the younger brother of Joab, 
 Avho was exceedingly swift of foot. Abner, vexed at his 
 persevering in the pursuit, turned and ran him through 
 with his spear, that he died. When Abner was wearied 
 in his flight, he called to Joab, and said, ' Shall the sword 
 devour forever ? Knowest thou not that it will be bit- 
 terness in the latter end ? How long is it, then, ere thou 
 bid the people to return from following their brethren ? ' 
 Joab replied, ' Surely, if you had not given the challenge 
 and dared ns to the fight, we had all in the morning 
 marched home again without bloodshed.' So Joab blew 
 a trumpet, sounding a retreat, and all the people stood 
 still. Whether Joab at this time knew of the death of 
 Asahel, his brother, I cannot say. But it afterwards 
 cost Abner his life. Joab slew him to avenge the death of
 
 172 David's kingdom. 
 
 his brother Asahel. This battle was fought on the plain 
 of Gibeon, where tliere were no fortifications, and the 
 parties met in a fair field ; and yet when they had gath- 
 ered all the people together, there lacked of David's ser- 
 vants nineteen men and Asahel, that is, twenty in all. 
 But they had smitten of Abner's men, so that three 
 hundred and sixty died, that is, Abner's loss over Joab's 
 •was eighteen to one. I mention this," said Belial, '' as 
 another instance of the astonishing discipline and valor 
 of David's troops while Joab was their commander." 
 
 Lucifer here turned to the speaker : " I would ask a 
 question." 
 
 " Will your majesty be pleased to speak ? " said Belial. 
 
 " Have not many commentators," said Lucifer," given 
 what the church considers a very favorable view of 
 Abner's character ? " 
 
 " If they have," answered Belial, " they have shown 
 that their acquaintance with the subject was very im- 
 perfect. The following facts establish the true char- 
 acter of Abner : — 
 
 " First. He went all lengths with Saul, in his vio- 
 lent and long-continued persecutions of David. Saul, 
 in his jealousy and madness, neglected his public duties 
 much, that he might accomplish the ruin of David. 
 Jonathan remonstrated, and besought his father in Da- 
 vid's behalf: many others, among the pious in Israel, 
 pronounced Saul's conduct ' shameful and criminal in 
 a high degree.' But Abner went into all of Saul's 
 measures with perfect cordiality ; cooperated and as- 
 sisted him in all his efforts for David's destruction, 
 
 "■ Second. On the death of Saul, Abner, though he 
 knew well that Jehovah had promised the kingdom to
 
 David's kingdom. 173 
 
 David, and though he acknowledged Jehovah, as the 
 true God, yet he set up Ishbosheth as king, and for a 
 number of yeai'S exerted all his energies to sustain this 
 rival kingdom. That he knew he was acting against the 
 revealed will of Jehovah, is plain from his own words, 
 after Ishbosheth had reproved him for his licentiousness. 
 ' Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do show kind- 
 ness this day to the house of thy father ? God do so to 
 Abner, and more also, except as the Lord hath sworn to 
 David, even so I do to him, to translate the kingdom 
 from the house of Saul, and. to set up the throne of Da- 
 vid, over all Israel and Judah, from Dan even to Beer- 
 sheba.' (2 Sam. iii. 6 — 10.) Abner, for seven years, had 
 ' made himself strong for the kingdom of Ishbosheth. 
 Yet here he acknowledges that he was fighting against 
 the revealed and known will of God. There is, per- 
 haps, not another such instance on record, of bold and 
 daring opposition to Jehovah's acknowledged authority. 
 
 " Third. Abner renounced Ishbosheth and his king- 
 dom, not because he repented of his conduct as wrong, 
 but because that prince had rebuked him for his inti- 
 macies with an unchaste woman. Burning with resent- 
 ment, he went to David, and proposed a league with 
 him ; but before his plans were carried out, he was slain 
 by Joab, to avenge the death of his brother Asahel." 
 
 " It has been said by some," remarked Lucifer, " that 
 Joab was jealous of Abner's great military reputation." 
 
 " What ? " said Belial ; "jealous of the military repu- 
 tation of one so lately defeated in battle by himself! " 
 
 " Go on," said Lucifer : " I will not at present further 
 interrupt your narrative." 
 
 " After the death of Abner," said Belial, " David 
 15*
 
 174 David's kingdom, 
 
 was chosen king over all the house of Israel. And 
 his kingdom gradually advanced in prosperity and in 
 power. 
 
 " Soon after David was proclaimed king over all the 
 tribes, I roused the Philistines against him. I had often 
 brought the house of Israel low, by exciting against 
 them that hostile nation. The lords of the Philistines 
 were particularly vindictive against David. The fame 
 he had acquired by Goliath's overthrow was still to 
 them a source of grief and mortification. But though 
 they now invaded the country once and again, they were 
 repulsed with great loss, and the kingdom of David 
 continued to grow in strength. 
 
 " He now determined to exert the influence he pos- 
 sessed in order to give an impulse to the cause of 
 religion among his people. Indeed, I may specify this 
 as one of the great characteristics of David, that in the 
 worship of Jehovah he was firm and uncompromising. 
 Temptations to go after idols, in whole or in part, so 
 often successful with others, were entirely lost on him. 
 In the worship of the God of Israel, he was steadfast 
 and immovable. In this respect especially, he was 
 long held up as a pattern to the kings of Israel and 
 Judah. The ' ark of the covenant of God,' which 
 Moses erected at Mount Sinai, was now at Kirjath-jea- 
 rim. It had remained there since the day it was 
 brought back from the country of the Philistines. Da- 
 vid resolved to bring it up to Jerusalem, the capital of 
 his kingdom. His design was to honor the name of 
 his God, to remind all the people of the great covenant 
 at Mount Sinai, and to direct the public mind more 
 generally to the worship of Jehovah.
 
 David's kingdom. 175 
 
 " I dreaded this movement," said Belial. 
 
 " Well you might dread it ! " exclaimed Lucifer, ab- 
 ruptly, in a voice that startled the assembly. " When 
 public aitc7ition is strongly directed to the claims of 
 God, and the duties of religion, then let devils trem- 
 ble." 
 
 " I know it," answered Belial : '' long experience has 
 convinced me that we should oppose to the utmost all 
 such measures as are calculated to call the attention of 
 men to the subject of religion." 
 
 " For that reason," said Lucifer, '' those great annual 
 feasts, appointed by Moses, were so disastrous to our 
 cause. Those feasts were, in fact, great religious meet- 
 ings, of seven days' continuance. Three of them, ap- 
 pointed by law, came regularly every year. I have 
 often thought, that had it not been for the mighty im- 
 pulse given to the interests of religion in these great 
 assemblies, I should have succeeded in my attempts to 
 extinguish the light of revelation in Israel." 
 
 " You remember the great celebration of the feast of 
 the passover, in the days of Hezekiah," said Belial. 
 
 "Yes, indeed," answered Lucifer; " they continued 
 their public solemnities for fourteen days. The pass- 
 over in the time of Josiah also, and the feast of taber- 
 nacles in the time of Ezra, produced astonishing re- 
 sults. Thus the public mind was waked up to attend 
 to the things of God. The policy of hell is to induce 
 men to 'forgot God,' to ^neglect the great salvation.' 
 Wc should guard with all possible vigilance against 
 every thing that is calculated to direct the attention of 
 men to the law and the gospel of God." 
 
 " For that reason," said Belial, " I much regretted
 
 176 David's kingdom, 
 
 this undertaking of David, to bring up the ark of God 
 from an obscure part of the country, and give it a sta- 
 tion in the city of David, at Jerusalem. But he was 
 intent on the accomphslunent of his design. He ' gath- 
 ered together all the chosen men of Israel,' and marched 
 to Kirjath-jearim. The prophets, and the heads of the 
 tribes throughout all Israel, identified themselves with 
 this enterprise. As the ark was moving in the direc- 
 tion of Jerusalem, the king and the princes, the priests 
 and the prophets, in long procession led the way. 
 ' And all the house of Israel played before the Lord on 
 hai-ps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cor- 
 nets, and on cymbals.' Thus ' David and all the house 
 of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, 
 and with the sound of the trumpet.' 
 
 " The prophets availed themselves of this occasion 
 to address the people on the subject of their peculiar 
 relation to Jehovah. They spoke of the call of Abra- 
 ham to be the friend of God. They expatiated on the 
 divine mission of Moses, and rehearsed the history of 
 the release of their fathers from the house of bondage 
 in Egypt. They spread before the congregation the 
 solemnities of that covenant ratified in the wilderness, 
 in which Jehovah promised to be their God, and they 
 engaged to be his people ; and told of the works of the 
 Lord when he brought them over Jordan, and gave 
 them the land of Canaan for an inheritance. 
 
 " These public services, when the ark was brought 
 to Jerusalem, made a deep and lasting impression on the 
 great multitude assembled there. Indeed, the impres- 
 sion spread throughout the entire kingdom, for all the 
 tribes were represented in that assembly. The book
 
 David's kingdom. 177 
 
 of the law was read, with increased attention, from Dan 
 even to Beerslieba, and great numbers were brought to 
 reahze the relation in which they stood, as the peculiar 
 people of God. 
 
 " I have often noticed," said Belial, " that those 
 worshippers of Jehovah, who frequently call to mind 
 the circumstances and solemnities of their first cove- 
 nant with him, are generally the most active and stead- 
 fast in his service." 
 
 " True," answered Lucifer, "but I must repeat that 
 other remark — that all the powers of darkness should 
 particularly guard against those things which awaken 
 general attention to the claims of religion. I have 
 never known religion to prevail extensively among any 
 people, where it was not, at some period in the year, 
 connected with great solemn assemblies, of several days' 
 continuance. Hence I abhorred those great religious 
 meetings, ordained by the law of Moses — the passover, 
 (2 Chron. xxx. 1 — 27; xxxv. 1 — 19;) the feast of tab- 
 ernacles, (Nell. viii. 1 — 18;) and the feast of pentecost, 
 (Acts ii. 1 — 11-). There were periods when these great 
 solemnities sent terror and trembling to the very heart 
 of the empire of hell. Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, 
 was the first that took decisive measures against such 
 meetings, ( 1 Kings xii. 26 — 30 ; ) and I am anxious 
 to have many others copy his example. I dread to 
 have religion exalted and made prominent. 
 
 " Guard against that, ye powers of hell ! " he ex- 
 claimed ; "exalt earthly objects in the view of men — 
 politics, commerce, pleasure ; but suffer not religion to 
 become the great object of attention and concern."
 
 178 DAVm's TRANSGRESSION. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 DAVID'S TRANSGRESSION. 
 
 Belial now resumed his narrative. " David," said 
 he, " continued to prosper on every hand. His armies 
 were victorious in every field, and surrounding nations 
 were subdued. Moab and Ammon, Edom and Syria, 
 with many other nations, became tributary. His riches 
 and grandeur had now become great. He was riding 
 on the high tide of unexampled prosperity. 
 
 " The kindness which, about this period, he showed 
 to Mephibosheth, for his father Jonathan's sake, has 
 been mentioned in another connection ; I will not 
 enlarge upon it at this time. A number of years had 
 now gone by, without presenting any favorable oppor- 
 tunity for the powers of darkness to accomplish much 
 against David. He appeared to be growing in piety, 
 and in favor with God and man. But now his riches, 
 and honors, and magnificence had become so abundant, 
 and the contrast so great between his former condition, 
 when he kept his father's sheep, or when hiding in 
 dens and caves from the wrath of Saul, and his present 
 life of ease and luxury, that I resolved to try him with 
 the snares that beset the great. And this may be 
 called number third of the principal schemes I pro- 
 jected for his ruin.
 
 David's transgression. 179 
 
 '•' I would premise, however, that extreme conditions 
 in life have their peculiar trials. Extreme poverty has 
 its trials, and they are often great. In the well-known 
 case of Job, one of the most wealthy, prosperous, and 
 pious men in the East, Satan, who is an excellent judge 
 of human nature, was confident that by taking away 
 his sheep and oxen, and camels and servants, and redu- 
 cing him to the depths of poverty, he would dishonor 
 his profession, and even curse Jehovah to his face. 
 Job, it is true, passed through the trial like gold through 
 the furnace." 
 
 "Yes," exclaimed Lucifer, from the seat where he 
 was sitting, in a voice that thundered through the 
 whole cavern, "but you must remember that his wife 
 was driven into presumption and blasphemy." 
 
 "True," answered Belial, "most true; and I was 
 going to remark, that though Job passed through these 
 trials surprisingly, yet the man who can grapple with 
 such trials, and come down from wealth to poverty, 
 without violating the rights of his neighbor, or dishon- 
 oring the religion of his God, is a rare man in the 
 earth. 
 
 " Prosperity and wealth, also, have their peculiar 
 temptations ; and they are so insnaring and powerful, 
 that Solomon lays it down as a maxim, that 'the pros- 
 perity of fools, that is, sinners, shall destroy them.' 
 There is no artillery, in all the magazines of perdition, 
 more formidable and resistless than that which can be 
 brought to bear upon the man who is '■ clothed in pur- 
 ple and fine linen, and fares sumptuously every day.' 
 With this artillery of hell, I now resolved to rake the 
 palace of David.
 
 180 David's transgressions. 
 
 " I sent to the land of Moab for Baal-Peor, superla- 
 tively skilled in all the arts of licentiousness and wanton 
 intrigue. He had formerly brought the house of Israel 
 to the brink of destruction, on the plains of Moab, even 
 while their venerated Moses was living among them. 
 I had him concealed in David's court. My expecta- 
 tions were high ; but his success ran ahead of my live- 
 liest anticipations. He had not been in the court of 
 David exceeding a week, when he contrived to bring 
 before his eyes, in an unguarded hour, the bewitching 
 form of Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, the Hittite. 
 And can ye believe it, O ye hosts of hell ? The pious 
 and far-famed king of God's covenant people, the sweet 
 Psalmist of Israel, fell into the sin of adultery. And 
 to hide his guilt, he plotted and accomplished the death 
 of the valiant Uriah, who was bravely fighting the 
 battles of his country under the banners of his God. 
 It was the proudest achievement," said Belial, " I had 
 performed since our expulsion from heaven. I felt that 
 I had almost rivalled the success of our matchless chief 
 in the garden of Eden. Speedily did I send the 
 tidings abroad through heathen lands ; I commanded 
 to ' tell it in Gath, and to publish it in the streets of 
 Askelon,' to the confusion of those who had been 
 inclined to the true religion, and to the confirming of 
 all who were steadfast in the worship of idols. I sent 
 the story, with many additions and embellishments, 
 through all the coasts of Moab, Midian, Edom, Ammon, 
 Syria, and distant heathen countries." 
 
 '' Is that story," said the Chinese demon, interrupt- 
 ing Belial in the midst of his enthusiasm, — " Is that 
 story recorded in the Bible ? "
 
 David's transgression. 181 
 
 "Recorded in the Bible ! " replied Belial ; "certainly 
 it is, in all its blackness, and in all its details." 
 
 " I think strange of that," rejoined the Chinese de- 
 mon : " as the writers of the Bible wished all mankind 
 to embrace the religion it teaches, I should have thought 
 policy would have led them to conceal, rather than 
 publish to the world the history of such conduct ; it 
 being calculated to disgrace one of the most noted 
 professors of their favorite religion." 
 
 "The Bible," answered Belial, "is a singular book. 
 Other books record only the virtues and praiseworthy 
 deeds of the heroes whose history they contain. Take, 
 for example, the life of Cyrus, as recorded by the an- 
 cients ; or, among the moderns, the history of the life 
 of Columbus, or the life of Washington, and it will be 
 found that the writers represent Cyrus, Columbus, and 
 Washington, as almost faultless men. They had no 
 blemishes, or those blemishes are passed over in silence 
 by the historian. Not so the Bible. It records the 
 faults as impartially as the virtues of Noah, Abraham, 
 Samson, David, Peter, and others. It has been con- 
 tended by the advocates of the Bible, that this fact fur- 
 nishes strong internal evidence of its divine inspiration. 
 They have alleged that the religion unfolded and en- 
 joined in the Bible, being founded on the immovable 
 Rock of Ages, has nothing to fear from the full disclosure 
 even of the faults of those who have professed it. They 
 have alTirmed, that the Bible, being dictated by the in- 
 spiration of God, could not only aiford to tell the truth, 
 the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, respecting 
 those who, in ages past, have been called by his name ; 
 but also that this is wisest and best for the instruction 
 
 16
 
 182 David's transgression. 
 
 and warning of those who shall live in ages to come. 
 On these points, however," said Belial, " I will not 
 enlarge on this occasion, though I have often com- 
 bated the arguments to the satisfaction of multi- 
 tudes." 
 
 " But what became of David ? " said the Chinese 
 demon: "was he not blasted with the red wrath of 
 avenging Heaven ? " 
 
 " The most marvellous part of David's history," 
 answered Belial, " is yet to come. I expected to see 
 him smitten dead by some sudden judgment of God. 
 But how it was I cannot tell ; there is something in 
 repentance that is not comprehended among the prin- 
 cipalities and powers of hell. David poured forth 
 floods of penitential tears, and called for help on One 
 who is designated by the prophets as ' mighty to save ; ' 
 and through that marvellous provision made in the plan 
 of man's redemption for the pardon of sin, the trans- 
 gressions of David, by which I had hoped to accom- 
 plish his ruin, were forgiven. 
 
 '' I will here mention more particularly," said Belial, 
 " the manner in which David was brought to repent- 
 ance. The prophet Nathan had now for many years 
 been acquainted with David, and was often at the 
 palace. Nathan was remarkable for fortitude and firm- 
 ness in his vocation. When he considered that duty 
 called him, he was very plain in his dealing with the 
 old and the young, the great and the small. His influ- 
 ence at this period was very great in Israel, and his 
 laijors were directed with tremendous energy against 
 trie cause of darkness. There was no man in the king- 
 dom, at this time, whom I so much dreaded. The
 
 David's transgression. 183 
 
 transgression of King David had, by some means, 
 reached the ears of Nathan. 
 
 " I would observe, in the hearing of all this assem- 
 bly," said Belial, " that I have often had most gratify- 
 ing success in tempting the ministers of religion, who 
 were called upon to officiate in high places, to lay aside 
 the simplicity of their high vocation. I have repeat- 
 edly been able to manage, so that sermons preached 
 before assemblies of nobles, and before kings and 
 queens, should abound with studied adulation, calcu- 
 lated to flatter vanity and foster pride, rather than with 
 such messages from God as alarm the conscience and 
 penetrate the heart. 
 
 " A minister of the class to Avhich I allude, had he 
 been present there, would, most likely, not have at- 
 tempted to rebuke David for his sin ; or, had he made 
 the attempt, it Avould have been somewhat in the fol- 
 lowing style : — 
 
 " * Most illustrious and benign sovereign, in the plen- 
 itude of your royal indulgence and condescension, 
 suffer one of the most grateful and devoted admirers 
 of your majesty delicately and respectfully to intimate, 
 that apprehensions are abroad, that events have trans- 
 pired, within the royal residence, not altogether com- 
 patible with regal decorum and strict propriety.' 
 
 " Such is the style in which it has been my policy 
 to have princes and kings addressed, if rebuked at all 
 for their crimes. 
 
 " I found that Nathan designed to call upon the king." 
 
 " Did you not try to prevent the interview ?" asked 
 the Chinese demon, 
 
 " I did," answered Belial. " That was my first
 
 184 David's transgression. 
 
 attempt ; but it failed. And when I saw that he would 
 go to the king, I made every exertion to prevail on him 
 to make a smooth and flattering address." 
 
 " How did you succeed ? " inquired he of China. 
 
 "You shall judge, when I have repeated his dis- 
 course," replied Belial. 
 
 " The hour was early in the morning, when the 
 prophet, with unusual solemnity and concern depicted 
 in his countenance, entered the palace and stood before 
 the king. 
 
 " ' Have you a message, or a petition ? ' asked the king. 
 
 " ' I have,' answered Nathan. ' There were two men 
 in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. The 
 rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds, but 
 the poor man had nothing save one little ewe lamb, 
 which he had brought and nourished up ; and it grew 
 up together with him and with his children ; it did eat 
 of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay 
 in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. And 
 there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared 
 to take of his own flock, and of his own herd, to dress 
 for the wayfaring man that was come to him ; but took 
 the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that 
 was come to him.' (2 Sam. xii. 1 — 6.) 
 
 '^ David's anger was now greatly kindled against the 
 man; and he said to Nathan, — 
 
 " ' As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this 
 thing shall surely die. And he shall restore the lamb 
 fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he 
 had no pity.' 
 
 "And Nathan said to David, 'Thou art the man. 
 Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee
 
 David's transgression. 185 
 
 king over Israel, and I delivered tliee out of the hand 
 of Saul ; and 1 gave thee thy master's house, and I gave 
 thee the house of Israel and of Judah ; and if that had 
 been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee 
 such and such things. Wherefore hast thou despised 
 the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight ? 
 Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, 
 and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain 
 him with the sword of the children of Amnion. Now, 
 therefore, the sword shall never depart from thy house ; 
 because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife 
 of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. 
 
 " ' Thus saith'the Lord,' continued Nathan : ' Behold, 
 I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, 
 and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give 
 them unto thy neighbor, in the sight of this sun. For 
 thou didst it secretly ; but I will do this thing before 
 all Israel, and before the sun.' (2 Sam. xii. 1 — 12.) 
 
 " David was aroused by this address of the prophet. 
 His conduct now appeared in a new light. He smote 
 upon his breast, and wept bitterly : then he cried out, 
 ' I have siimed against the Lord.' 
 
 " ' Thou shalt not die,' said Nathan. ' The Lord, in 
 view of thy repentance, hath pardoned thy sin. Nev- 
 ertheless, by this deed thou hast given great occasion 
 to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme.' 
 
 " Although David." said Belial, " was assured by 
 Nathan of forgiveness from God, yet it seemed as if he 
 never could forgive himself Through all the remain- 
 der of his life, he had an aching and troubled heart, 
 whenever he thought of the fate of the valiant Uriah. 
 
 " Not long after this period," continued he, " I suc- 
 
 16*
 
 186 
 
 DAVID S TRANSGRESSION. 
 
 ceeded in alienating from David his far-famed counsel- 
 lor, Ahithophel. The arts I employed for this purpose 
 need not be particularly detailed here ; but the rupture 
 was irreparable. This I regarded as a great point 
 gained. The talents of Ahithophel were tremendous, 
 and his long intimacy with the king had furnished him 
 with the means of becoming a most formidable foe. 
 
 " When Ahithophel left the court, he retired to his 
 private residence at the city of Giloh. He was a man 
 of too much judgment and prudence to utter noisy 
 threats ; but his mighty spirit brooded in awful silence 
 over his imagined wrongs, and meditated schemes of 
 retaliation and revenge. 
 
 " The troubles foretold by the prophet Nathan that 
 should arise in David's family, now began to make 
 their appearance. Amnon, one of the king's sons, con- 
 ceived a strange and unnatural attachment for Tamar, 
 the sister of Absalom. Amnon by violence ravished 
 Tamar. Absalom cherished the hidden vengeance that 
 was in his heart, till occasion offered, and then slew 
 Amnon by the hand of his servants."
 
 ABSALOM. 187 
 
 CHAPTER XY. 
 
 ABSALOM. 
 
 " A TRANSACTION is recorded in the fourteenth chap- 
 ter of the Second Book of Samuel, that strongly illus- 
 trates the intellectual eminence of Joab, in the age in 
 which he lived, and how extensively the sway of his 
 powerful mind was felt and acknowledged at the 
 throne, and throughout the kingdom of David. In- 
 deed, I might have mentioned examples of this much 
 earlier. One instance is recorded in the history of 
 Abner. (2 Sam. ii. 18 — 22.) Abner, in his flight from 
 the battle at Gibeon, was reluctant to smite Asahel, 
 because he wished to be able to ' hold up his face,' in 
 the presence of Joab. Abner was a general of more 
 than forty years' standing. Joab was now but a youth ; 
 yet such already was his force of character, and such 
 the power of his presence, that Abner was controlled 
 by it even when flying for his life. Another example 
 follows : — 
 
 " Absalom, after he had slain his brother Amnon, had 
 fled to Talmai, king of Geshur, his grandfather on his 
 mother's side, and remained there in banishment for 
 three years. The slaying of Amnon was, in the eye 
 of the law, a flagrant crime ; but yet the provocation 
 and the injury he had sustaiTied from Amnon were
 
 188 ' ABSALOM. 
 
 very great. And many thought that Absalom's part 
 in the matter was somewhat excusable on account of 
 the magnitude of msult and wrong done by Amnon. 
 
 '• After three years, David became restless and anx- 
 ious about Absalom's long absence ; but being chief 
 magistrate of the nation, and bound to maintain tlie 
 laws, he saw not how to indulge the feelings of a fa- 
 ther. The eagle eye of Joab penetrated the true state 
 of David's mind, before it was discovered by others. 
 
 " On a certain day, when the king was in the judg- 
 ment seat, busied with the affairs of the kingdom, a 
 middle-aged woman, in mourning apparel, came before 
 him. in much distress. Her dress and appearance indi- 
 cated that she dwelt at some distance in the country, 
 and that her condition was that of one in the middle 
 walks of life. The beamings of a strong intellect ap- 
 peared in her countenance, mingled with expressions 
 of woe, showing that she was one that had long been 
 mourning for the dead. 
 
 " She threw herself down upon the ground before 
 the king, and cried out in a lamentable voice, — 
 
 '' ' Help, O king ! ' 
 
 " ' What aileth thee ? ' asked the king, moved by her 
 distress. 
 
 " ' I am a widow woman,' said she ; ' my husband is 
 dead. Thy handmaid had two living sons ; and after 
 the death of their father, they were together in the 
 field alone. They quarrelled, they fought, there was 
 none to part them, and one smote the other that he 
 died. And now, my lord, the whole family and neigh- 
 borhood have risen up against me, and say, Deliver up 
 him that smote his brother, that we may kill him for
 
 ABSALOM. 189 
 
 the life of his brother ; and thus,' exclaimed the Avoman, 
 bursting into a flood of bitter tears, ' they will quench 
 my coal that is left, and will not leave to my husband 
 name or remainder upon the earth.' 
 
 " ' I will attend to it,' said David : ' go home to your 
 house ; I will give charge concerning your son.' 
 
 " ' If there should be any thing wrong in sparing 
 him,' said the woman, ' let the iniquity be on me and 
 on my father's house, and the king and his throne be 
 
 guiltless.' 
 
 " • Go home, go home,' said David : ' I will give charge 
 concerning your son ; whosoever saith aught unto 
 thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee or 
 thy son any more.' 
 
 " But the woman was not to be put off so easily. 
 Sire was," said Belial, bowing to Lucifer, " one of those 
 talking country women, who can tell over the same 
 story in more ways than one ; and when you think 
 they are through, and are about to start home, are only 
 collecting breath to give a new edition of their com- 
 plaint or argument." 
 
 " I have seen them," said Lucifer, " I have seen 
 them often." 
 
 " Well," said Belial, " the woman rose up, took a 
 step or two towards the door, then turned round and 
 addiessed the king again. 
 
 " ' I am afraid of the revengers of blood. My son 
 cannot go to the city of refuge. It would break my 
 heart to be left without him. Let my lord the king 
 forbid the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest 
 they destroy my son.' 
 
 "'As the Lord liveth,' said David, a little excited,
 
 190 ABSALOM. 
 
 ' there shall not one hair of thy son's head fall to the 
 ground. Will not that satisfy you ? ' 
 
 " ' I like the king's words,' said the woman, ' very 
 much ; but your actions do not correspond with them. 
 There is your own son, Absalom, the heir to the crown ; 
 he is in banishment for killing his brother. The peo- 
 ple wish him to return, but you do not call him back. 
 Shah the avenger never cease to destroy ? My lord 
 knows we must all die, parents and children, and are 
 as water spilled upon the ground, that cannot be gath- 
 ered up again. Let not our brief lives be imbittered by 
 cherishing the spirit of vengeance. You should imi- 
 tate the clemency of God, by whose appointment kings 
 reign. He is just; he is righteous ;. yet he pardons 
 the guilty. He deviseth means that his rebellious and 
 banished children may be restored to him. You should 
 imitate the clemency of God. Perhaps I have gone 
 too far, and said too much ; but when my lord the 
 king spake such comfortable words for my son, I 
 thought I would say a word about his own. Perhaps, 
 in showing pity to my poor, unfortunate son, he may 
 see the propriety of showing pity to his own poor, ban- 
 ished Absalom.' 
 
 " David hung down his head, and the gushing tears 
 streamed from both his eyes ; then slowly raising him- 
 self up, and wiping away the tears, he said kindly to 
 the woman, — 
 
 " ' Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I 
 shall ask thee.' 
 
 " And the woman said, ' Let my lord the king now 
 speak.' 
 
 " And the king said, ' Is not the hand of Joab with 
 thee in all this ? '
 
 ABSALOM. 191 
 
 " 'God save the king! ' said the woman : ' I see it is 
 vain to attempt to deceive the king. Why, Joab sent 
 me here, and he pnt all of these words in my mouth.' 
 
 " ' Go and call Joab,' said David, to an officer who 
 was near. When Joab came in, said tlie king, — 
 
 <' ' Behold, now I have done this thing at your request. 
 Go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.' 
 
 " And Joab bowed himself, and fell to the ground on 
 his face, and thanked the king ; and Joab said, ' To-day 
 thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, 
 my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the 
 request of his servant.' So Joab arose, and went to 
 Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. 
 
 " I have mentioned this incident," said Belial, " in 
 further illustration of the character of Joab. Though 
 David's kingdom was now so large, comprehending 
 five or six millions of people, and though his capital 
 was now surrounded with statesmen and officers of 
 great distinction, yet when he found himself instructed 
 and overcome by the argument of this plain country 
 woman, he at once suspected that it must be the pow- 
 erful intellect of Joab that was bearing upon him. 
 
 " The same thing appears in Absalom, after he came 
 to Jerusalem. David would not see his face, but com- 
 manded that he should turn to his own house. So 
 Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw 
 not the king's face. Absalom was in trouble, and sent 
 for' Joab, to intercede in his behalf witli the king. 
 There was no man in all Israel in whose influence he 
 had so much confidence. Joab at first was somewhat 
 backward. Perhaps he had seen in Absalom some- 
 thing that he did not altogether approve. But at
 
 192 ABSALOM. 
 
 length he went to David, and spoke in his behalf, and 
 David consented, and received Absalom into favor. 
 
 " The personal appearance of Absalom was remark- 
 ably captivating and commanding. The writer of the 
 Second Book of Samuel gives this testimony : ' In all 
 Israel there was none to be so much praised for his 
 beauty as Absalom, From the sole of his foot, even to 
 the crown of his head, there was no blemish in him.' 
 He was also bold, enterprising, and eloquent. He pos- 
 sessed, in an extraordinary degree, those accoinplish- 
 ments which qualify a man for gaining popularity with 
 the multitude. I may further add, that Absalom was 
 notorious for his disregard of the laws of God. He 
 was the son of a heathen princess. And long experi- 
 ence has convinced me, that the influence of a mother 
 is very great in moulding the moral character of her 
 son. A pious mother educates the conscience, as well 
 as the intellect, of her son ; and not only so, she treasures 
 up in heaven a magazine oi prayers in his behalf, that 
 seem to have power with God. Often have I seen the 
 young man escape the dangers of the rough and stormy 
 deep ; often, in the great and growing west, have I seen 
 him rescued from the yawning and devouring snares of 
 vice, where others became easy victims ; often, on the 
 perilous Mississippi, amidst the bursting of boilers, the 
 snagging and sinking of steamboats, have I witnessed 
 strange deliverances, for which I could see no adequate 
 visible cause at the time ; but when I traced back the 
 history of that young man, I found that a praying 
 mother, who had now, perhaps, been in the cold grave 
 for more than twenty years, had in her lifetime 
 crowded the files of heaven with petitions in his
 
 ABSALOM. 193 
 
 behalf, whose influence, it seemed, could never be 
 exhausted. The stream of blessings from above that 
 comes in answer to such prayers, appears to be lasting 
 as life ; and I am not certain but it may be lasting as 
 the ages of eternity." 
 
 " Belial," said Lucifer, stamping on the pavement 
 with fury, "Belial, what are you saying ? " 
 
 " I thought," answered Belial, in a submissive tone, 
 " that it was important all your majesty's allies should 
 imderstand this painful subject. It is one of the most 
 dreaded influences with which the powers of hell have 
 to contend. But as it is unacceptable to your majesty, 
 I will pursue it no further. 
 
 '' Absalom," continued he, resuming his narrative, 
 " had not this influence — his mother being the daughter 
 of the idolatrous king of Geshur ; and, though young, 
 he was very rash and reckless, and I considered him a 
 fit instrument for any desperate enterprise. 
 
 " I now determined to make d, fourth great efl'ort for 
 the overthrow of David, by exciting Absalom to rebel 
 and seize on the crown. 
 
 " Many things conspired to render this enterprise 
 promising at this period. 
 
 " First. David's treatment of Uriah had given a tre- 
 mendous blow to his reputation. Uriah was yet well 
 remembered as the gallant and brave soldier, who had 
 been most cruelly sacrificed ; and the matter was still 
 talked of, through all the tribes of Israel, to David's 
 disadvantp-ge. 
 
 "Second. The kingdom had now grown very large, 
 and it was impossible for any one man to meet the 
 expectations of all. There were complaints of neglect, 
 
 17
 
 194 
 
 ABSALOM. 
 
 and that justice was not punctually and promptly 
 administered, 
 
 " Third. There were still in the land many old 
 adherents of the house of Saul, men who had been 
 officers in his array, or in the state, during his admin- 
 istration. Many of these had been displaced when 
 David came into power, and they and their families 
 were not cordial. 
 
 " Fourth. There were many restless persons, who 
 Avere weary of what they styled monotony. These 
 were glad to have a rebellion ; some from the mere 
 love of novelty and change ; others, a large class, who 
 had nothing to lose, and who hoped that a revolution 
 might better their condition. 
 
 " Fifth. David Avas now growing old ; the infirmities 
 of age were beginning to come upon him; and many 
 were ready to pay their devotions rather to the rising 
 than the setting sun. 
 
 " Sixth. Absalom was the real heir to the crown, 
 and many thought that by being forward in asserting 
 his claims, they would ingratiate themselves with the 
 new administration. 
 
 " Seventh. Absalom possessed an engaging person, 
 captivating manners, and well understood how to render 
 himself prepossessing and popular. 
 
 " And last, but not least, Ahithophel, being wholly 
 alienated from David, would throw all the weight of 
 his talents and influence into the scale of Absalom. 
 
 " I3y the advice of Ahithophel, Absalom now began 
 to put on state, and assume the airs and bearing of a 
 sovereign. He prepared horses, and chariots, and fifty 
 men to run before him, and was most gorgeously arrayed,
 
 ABSALOM. 195 
 
 and thus appeared in the most public places about the 
 capital. This excited neither surprise nor suspicion, for 
 he was immensely rich, and was the acknowledged heir 
 to the crown. In this splendid attire he spent much of 
 his time at the gate of the king's palace, among those 
 who had come from distant quarters of the land with 
 lawsuits, to obtain judgment from the king. Absalom 
 was all atfability and attention to such, inquired of eacli 
 the nature of his claim ; never failed to express an opin- 
 ion decidedly favorable, and deeply regretted that men 
 should be detained unreasonably from their homes and 
 their business in order to obtain justice in a very plain 
 case. He spoke publicly of the necessity of more 
 promptness and despatch in the transacting of public 
 business, — 
 
 • And cast between 
 Ambiguous "words and jealousies, to sound 
 Or taint integrity.' 
 
 " In a little time the beautiful person, the elegant and 
 refined manners, the generous and unparalleled conde- 
 scension, and the impartial public spirit of the young 
 prince, were the theme of conversation and eulogy from 
 Dan even to Beersheba. 
 
 " Ahithophel had particularly enjoined it on Absalom 
 to spare no pains in gaining over the princes of Judah. 
 Judah he regarded as the spinal marrow of the king- 
 dom, and with the princes of that tribe Ahithophel 
 himself possessed great influence. 
 
 '' That eagle-eyed politician had long since noted a 
 striking peculiarity, perhaps I may say defect, in the 
 general policy of David. In his eagerness to secure new 
 friends, and confirm them in his interest, he would often
 
 196 ABSALOM. 
 
 bear hard on friends of long standing, whose attach- 
 ment and fidehty he regarded as fully established. 
 
 '' This Ahithophel thonght he had observed in the 
 very harsh treatment David sometimes gave to the two 
 surviving sons of his sister ; than whom, as he expressed 
 it, ' no earthly prince was ever followed by more faithful 
 and efficient servants, in times that tried men's souls.' 
 
 " The same policy, on a larger scale, was practised 
 after the eleven tribes had come to Hebron, and ac- 
 knowledged David as their king. The tribe of Judah 
 had, with great unanimity, rallied around David, imme- 
 diately on the downfall of Saul. Single-handed, they 
 had sustained him for seven years. And now, when 
 all the tribes received David, they thought that old 
 friends should not be forgotten. Very likely they over- 
 rated their claims, and were unreasonable in their ex- 
 pectations. But Ahithophel saw that many of the princes 
 were cooled, others deeply disappointed and nettled, 
 and that, on the whole, here were abundant materials 
 to favor a revolution. With a general revolt in Judah, 
 and Absalom's great popularity throughout all Israel, 
 there could be little doubt of triumphant success. 
 
 " Ahithophel advised Absalom to fix on Hebron as 
 the place where his banner should first be unfurled. 
 Hebron was the principal city of Judah. It was the 
 place of Absalom's birth. David himself had reigned 
 there the first seven years of his kingdom ; and there 
 were strong local feelings excited among many of the 
 citizens, when the seat of government was removed 
 from Hebron to Jerusalem."
 
 JOAB AND AHITHOPHEL. 191 
 
 CHAPTER XYl. 
 
 JOAB AND AHITHOPHEL. 
 
 " There was another influence that Ahithophel was 
 very anxious to secure to the cause of Absalom ; that 
 is, the cooperation of the two sons of Zeruiah. Their 
 popularity with the army was very great, and he was 
 confident that, could they be prevailed on to declare for 
 Absalom, many of the soldiers would follow their ex- 
 ample. But how to approach them, was the question. 
 They had ever been the firm, unwavering friends of 
 David, and seemed to think, feel, and act alike in all 
 public matters. Indeed, while Asahel lived, the three 
 brothers appeared animated, as it were, by one spirit. 
 And since the death of Asahel, Joab and Abishai were 
 always of one mind ; brothers by blood, brothers in 
 afiection, and brothers in arms. And although each 
 had great military reputation, nothing like the shade of 
 rivalry, or selfish emulation, had ever been discovered 
 between them. Each seemed to regard the reputation 
 and honor of one as the reputation and honor of both — 
 a rare and memorable example of brotherly affection. 
 
 "It was approaching noon, on the day previous to 
 that appointed for erecting Absalom's standard, when 
 an old man was seen riding slowly up the way that led 
 to the house of Joab. Joab was engaged in some 
 
 17*
 
 19S JOAB AND AHITHOPHEL. 
 
 domestic cares, when he discovered the approach of his 
 visitor. ' Welcome, Ahithophel ; this is friendly, in- 
 deed,' said Joab ; ' come in, come in, I am glad to see 
 you.' 
 
 " 'I visit but little of late,' said Ahithophel ; 'but I 
 thought I should like to call on an old friend once 
 more.' 
 
 " ' I am happy you are come to my house,' said Joab, 
 'You are now almost a stranger at court.' 
 
 " ' Yes,' said Ahithophel ; ' I have very much laid 
 aside public cares, and give my attention chiefly to 
 matters at home. But how are things moving on about 
 the city? ' 
 
 " ' Quietly,' said Joab ; ' nothing, I believe, of uncom- 
 mon inteiiest.' 
 
 " ' I learn,' said Ahithophel, ' that Absalom seems to 
 have a ready turn for public business, and is thought- 
 ful and active for the good of the people.' 
 
 " ' Absalom,' said Joab, ' is much of the time in pub- 
 lic places, extending his acquaintance among those that 
 resort to the palace, and no doubt wishes well to the 
 people. I think he is growing in public favor.' 
 
 " ' He often expresses his great obligation to you,' 
 said Ahithophel, ' for procuring the king's consent to 
 his return from banishment.' 
 
 " ' Well,' said Joab, ' I thought it would be better for 
 his father and himself that they should be reconciled, 
 and if their happiness is increased by it, I shall rejoice.' 
 
 " ' Absalom has told me repeatedly,' said Ahithophel, 
 ' that he will be grateful to you while he lives for pro- 
 curing first his return from Geshur, and then his resto- 
 ration to the favor of David. I think David forgets
 
 JOAB AND AFIITHOPHEL. 199 
 
 obligations to his friends very easily, and often, indeed, 
 very unreasonably.' 
 
 '' ' David is but a man,' said Joab, ' and, of courvSe, is 
 liable to have some of the imperfections of a man.' 
 
 " ' That pompous mourning,' said Ahithophel, 'which 
 the king made over Abner, and the very severe terms 
 in which, on that occasion, he spoke of some of his 
 firmest friends, struck me as uncalled for and improper. 
 Abner had been to David a bitter and unrelenting foe. 
 But the king's conduct was designed, no doubt, to secure 
 the favor of the eleven tribes, who, as yet, had refused 
 to give in their allegiance to him. Yet, when his own 
 sister's son, the valiant, the swift-footed Asahel, in the 
 excess of his burning enthusiasm to sustain his uncle, 
 against an overwhelming majority, sacrificed his young 
 life, his fall was passed over without any public honors 
 whatever.' 
 
 " Joab was silent. He could never hear an allusion 
 to the untimely fall of the gallant Asahel without 
 emotions that were too strong for utterance. 
 
 " Ahithophel was confident he had now made a 
 favorable impression, and proceeded thus : — 
 
 " ' I have long thought that David is over harsh with 
 old and long-tried friends. Indeed, I have thought that 
 with you and your brother Abishai, considering your 
 great services, he is sometimes quite unreasonable,' 
 
 "'Well,' said Joab, 'there may have been some 
 ground for that opinion ; but where shall we find a 
 man or a prince that is wholljr free from defects?' 
 
 " ' I have ever thought,' said Ahithophel, ' that the 
 fame you acquired by defeating Abner at the pool of 
 Gibeon excited the king's envy. He felt that your
 
 200 JOAB AND AHITHOPHEL. 
 
 military reputation had eclipsed his own ; and he has 
 never been so pleasant to you since.' 
 
 " ' Perhaps my too partial friends,' said Joab, 'dwelt 
 on that achievement too much. It was certainly im- 
 proper to bring David's generalship into the comparison 
 to his disadvantage. But, however, Ahithophel, this 
 is a delicate subject. If I make no complaint of the 
 king's treatment of me, my friends had better be silent.' 
 
 "With these words, he fixed his keen, penetrating 
 eyes on Ahithophel, as if in search of his object in 
 agitating such matters. Ahithophel was somewhat 
 confused by the manner of Joab, but, after a moment, 
 concluded it was best to come right to the point he 
 had in view. 
 
 " ' There are many,' said Ahithophel, ' who think, as 
 David is now growing old, and public business is very 
 burdensome, and especially as Absalom shows so much 
 public spirit and capacity, it would be advisable to have 
 him introduced into a share of the administration with 
 his father. I should like to have your opinion.' 
 
 " Joab gave the counsellor another scrutinizing look, 
 and asked, ' Is it David's wish? ' 
 
 " ' I am not certain,' was Ahithophel's reply. 
 
 " ' Has the king been consulted ? ' asked Joab, ab- 
 ruptly. 
 
 " ' Perhaps not,' said Ahithophel. 
 
 " ' That is the very first step to be taken,' said Joab. 
 ' I hope the subject will not be breathed to a living soul 
 again till the full and hearty approbation of the king 
 is obtained ; otherwise, I am bound in duty to set my 
 face against it.' 
 
 " Ahithophel now saw clearly that it would not do to
 
 JOAB AND AHITHOPHEL. 201 
 
 press the subject, and, after some general conversation 
 on other topics, took leave, and returned to his home." 
 
 Here Lucifer turned to the speaker and said, 
 
 " Belial, your memory appears very retentive of an- 
 cient events ; but have you not forgotten the remark 
 which I made at the time you commenced your 
 rehearsal ? " 
 
 " Your majesty," said Belial, '' observed that I should 
 not dwell exclusively on the history of kings, courts, 
 and men in public life." 
 
 " And further," said Lucifer, " that you should not 
 confine yourself to a recital of your own devices 
 merely, but that you should give sketches of indi- 
 viduals in the common walks of life ; in short, some- 
 thing of a picture of society as it existed in Israel in 
 the times of David." 
 
 " I understand your majesty," said Belial, " and shall 
 attempt to follow the direction. Let me then remark, 
 once for all, that this whole rebellion was entirely of 
 my projecting, and that Absalom and Ahithophel 
 were the chief instruments I employed. It will not be 
 necessary, therefore, in the prosecution of the story, to 
 refer continually to my own agency and plans. 
 
 " I shall presently go more minutely into particulars 
 concerning a number of individuals in the various de- 
 partments of society. Let me, however, first remark, 
 that there was yet another influence which Ahitho- 
 phel was exceedingly anxious to bring to the support 
 of Absalom's cause ; that is, the influence of the priests, 
 the ministers of religion. But this was very difficult. 
 Zadok and Abiathar were the firm friends of David — 
 always in his society ; and no suflicient inducement to
 
 ^202 JOAB AND AHITHOPHEL. 
 
 revolt could be laid before them. But their two sons, 
 Jonathan and Ahimaaz, had been Absalom's playmates 
 in childhood and youth ; they might be drawn into the 
 conspiracy ; and then their lathers would either be in- 
 duced to join for their sakes, or, at any rate, they would 
 make but little resistance. To accomplish this design, 
 Ahithophel projected that Absalom should tell his 
 father that he had a very solemn vow, which he had 
 made while in exile in Geshur; and that this vow 
 must now be performed at Hebron, with costly sacri- 
 fices. This would be a sufficient reason for taking the 
 young priests with him, to officiate at the sacrifice. He 
 was also to take with him a large number of persons 
 from respectable families in Jerusalem, who, being thus 
 brought into circumstances of suspicion, would be 
 likely to identify themselves with Absalom ; and this 
 would strongly influence their families and family 
 connections." 
 
 " ' And why go to Hebron, my son ? ' asked David, 
 when Absalom came to obtain his permission. 
 
 " ' Hebron is my birthplace,' said Absalom : ' it was 
 there that I first became conscious of existence, and 
 there I wish publicly and forever to dedicate myself to 
 the service of Israel's God. Such was my solemn vow, 
 made when sickened with the loathsome idol-worship 
 practised in the court of Geshur.' 
 
 " ' And you take with you these worthy associates, 
 Ahimaaz and Jonathan. Then go, my son ; and a fa- 
 ther's blessing go with you. Why, this is the consum- 
 mation of all my wishes,' said the king, looking on the 
 beautiful form of Absalom, as he left the room. ^ Ah, 
 he'll be the comfort of my declining days, and close 
 my eyes in death.' "
 
 THE REBELLION, 203 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 THE REBELLION. 
 
 "A CALM and brilliant day, which had thrown its radi- 
 ance over the broad and fertile inheritance of Judah 
 and Israel, was now drawing towards its close. The 
 beams of the declining sun were richly reflected from 
 the tall, majestic groves on the sides and summit of 
 Mount Olivet. Tranquillity, without a cloud, reigned 
 over Jerusalem and the surrounding fields and vine- 
 yards. Shepherds were preparing to lead their flocks 
 and herds from the hills, where they had been feeding 
 through the day, to the folds in which they might rest 
 during the night. 
 
 " David and the elders of Israel, in connection with 
 the chief officers of the army, had been deliberating 
 on some interesting state policy ; but their delibera- 
 tions were about to conclude, when a single horseman 
 was discovered on the high road leading from Hebron, 
 making towards Jerusalem at the utmost speed. Down 
 the steep he rushed — over rock and hillock, and all 
 obstructions, he hurried his headlong course to the city 
 gate. The guards opened at his approach, for they 
 knew him well. He passed without a word, and urged 
 his jaded horse, covered with foam, and panting for 
 breath, up the street to the palace of the king. There
 
 204 THE REBELLION. 
 
 he sprung from the saddle, while the horse quivered 
 for a moment, through every hmb, then dropped on 
 the pavement dead. The rider ran up the stairway to 
 the council-chamber, and with flushed cheek and brow, 
 and disordered raiment, stood before the king. 
 
 " 'How now, Ahimaaz ! ' said David, somewhat star- 
 tled, ' I thought you had gone with Absalom.' 
 
 " ' Treason ! my lord, O king, treason ! ' cried Ahim- 
 aaz : ' the hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom ! ' 
 
 "At this astounding announcement, the elders of 
 Israel stood aghast. David clasped his hands in an 
 agony of grief too strong for utterance, and sunk back 
 in his seat. The Tachmonite grasped his huge spear 
 with a violence that made the long steel point quiver. 
 Abishai and Eleazar, the son of Dodo, laid each his 
 hand on the hilt of his sword. The action was imi- 
 tated by most of the mighty men, who stood round the 
 hall in silence, knitting their brows in anger and biting 
 their lips. Joab was the only man that remained per- 
 fectly unmoved. When Ahimaaz entered, he was 
 leaning carelessly against a stone pillar, listening to an 
 officer who was speaking on the subject before the 
 council. When the alarming news was told, that filled 
 the hall with horror and agitation, he never changed 
 his position, laid no hand on either sword or spear, but 
 steadily directed his eyes towards David, as if waiting 
 and ready for the orders of his king. 
 
 " David had now somewhat recovered from the first 
 shock, and asked Ahimaaz, — 
 
 •' ' Were the people at Hebron many ? ' 
 
 " ' Multitudes, my lord,' said Ahimaaz ; 'most of the 
 princes of Judah, many of the rulers of Benjamin, of
 
 THE REBELLION. 205 
 
 Ephraim, and of Dan. The conspiracy is strong, for 
 the people are increasing with Absalom continually.' 
 
 " ' Will they continue at Hebron ? ' asked David, in 
 a voice that trembled with emotion. ' or will they at- 
 tempt to come to Jerusalem ? ' 
 
 " ' They are now on their march, my lord,' said Ahim- 
 aaz. " They will soon be here. When I cast back the 
 last look towards Hebron, I saw their columns in 
 motion.' 
 
 " ' Man the walls ! ' cried Eleazar, the son of Dodo : 
 'we can defend Jerusalem against them.' 
 
 " ' With your majesty's orders,' said Joab, ' we will 
 march and disperse them.' 
 
 "'My tried and faithful servants,' said David, *I 
 know your courage and your power in the field of bat- 
 tle. But, O, this is unlike all the wars in which you 
 have been engaged when fighting with the enemies of 
 Israel. These are my own people, misguided, deluded, 
 but still my own people. And alas ! their leader is my 
 own son ! my rebellious, dear, guilty, beloved Absa- 
 lom ! And how can I send forth such formidable and 
 resistless swordsmen, as I know you are, against the 
 life of my own people, and the life of my own son ? 
 No, we must fly. There may be some strange mistake 
 about this matter. It is possible he only wishes to 
 share the government with me during my declining 
 days, and has taken this rash, foolish method to bring 
 it about. Let him take possession of all, rather than 
 jeopardize his life ; let him take possession of sceptre, 
 throne, palace, and kingdom. A few hours of reflection 
 may cause him to relent : and this shocking, distressful 
 matter may yet be settled without the shedding of 
 
 18
 
 206 THE REBELLION. 
 
 precious blood. Let us fly ! let us speedily fly, lest he 
 come upon us in the first moments of his rashness, and 
 calamities ensue which can never be repaired.' 
 
 '' The deep and warm pathos with which these 
 words were spoken, and the flowing tears with which 
 they were accompanied, melted the iron hearts of the 
 , stern warriors around the king. And they answered, 
 ' Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatever our 
 lord the king, shall appoint.' 
 
 '' David now commenced his retreat. It was not 
 twenty minutes from his first reception of the news 
 of the conspiracy until he forsook the throne and the 
 palace, and set his face towards the wilderness. The 
 life-guards and the Cherethites and Pelethites led the 
 way. The company of Gittites that came with him 
 from Gath, proselytes to the Jewish religion, headed 
 by Ittai, the son of Achish, passed on before him ; and 
 all the people of the country through which they 
 passed, wept aloud to see him whom they regarded as 
 a brave, just, and pious prince, reduced to such extrem- 
 ities. And the king himself, as he went up the ascent 
 of Mount Olivet, covered his head, and wept. He felt 
 that he was under the rebuke of God ; that he was 
 dishonored in the eyes of the nation ; and that heathen 
 princes, in neighboring countries, who had been envi- 
 ous at his prosperity, would rejoice to hear of the sad 
 reverses that had overtaken him ; and all this through 
 the wickedness of a son he had so dearly loved, and 
 around whom so many of his fond hopes had clustered. 
 Many of the soldiers who were marching by the side 
 of the king, on witnessing his deep distress, covered 
 their heads and wept.
 
 THE REBELLION. 207 
 
 " Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, together with a 
 large body of Levites, had taken the ark of the cove- 
 nant of God, and brought it out of the city, designing 
 to carry it with David in his flight. But the king 
 commanded them to bear it back to its appointed 
 place. ' If I shall find favor in the eyes of the Lord,' 
 said David to Zadok and Abiathar, ' he will bring me 
 again, and show me both the ark and his habitation. 
 But if he say thus, " I have no delight in thee," behold, 
 here am I ; let him do to me as seemeth good unto 
 him.' 
 
 " So Zadok and Abiathar, with the Levites, carried 
 back the ark to its place. 
 
 " In the mean time, messengers were arriving from 
 various quarters, bringing tidings how the rebellion was 
 spreading, and how the people, in immense masses, 
 were rising and declaring for Absalom. ' The men 
 of Manasseh,' said one, ' are marching in great number 
 to join the insurgents.' ' The banner of Absalom,' 
 said another, ' is floating from the top of their towers 
 in most of the cities of Benjamin.' ' The signal 
 trumpet,' said a third, ' has been blown throughout all 
 JMount Ephraim, and the revolt is almost universal.' 
 And now a fourth messenger comes running, with 
 paleness in his face and terror in his eye, and cries, 
 ' Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.' 
 ' Are you certain of that, Jonathan ? ' said David, stop- 
 ping short, and looking earnestly at the messenger, 
 who was no other than the young priest, the son of 
 Abiathar. ' I saw him with my own eyes,' said Jon- 
 athan, ' and learned that Absalom had pledged him- 
 self to conduct the whole rebellion according to his 
 counsel.'
 
 208 THE REBELLION. 
 
 " I could observe," said Belial, '•' that nothing which 
 had yet come to the ears of David, excited liis alarm, 
 to compare with this message brought by Jonathan. 
 He knew the awful talents of Ahithophel. And he 
 was aware that such a man would not have come out 
 so publicly, and identified himself with the insurgents, 
 unless his designs were desperate. The news that 
 whole cities had revolted, that entire tribes had gone 
 over, produced no such agitation as the announcement, 
 * Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom! ' 
 His terror, for the moment, was excessive. ' Matters,' 
 said he, ' will be driven to extremities, indeed, if that 
 man is their counsellor. I must look to God ; for 
 against his devices there is no help on this side of 
 heaven.' And lifting up his hands and eyes, he cried, 
 ' O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel 
 into foolishness.' 
 
 " When David had reached the top of the Mount of 
 Olives, he spent a longer season in earnest prayer, that 
 Jehovah would have mercy on his covenant people, and 
 save them from the fearful ruin that now was thicken- 
 ing and blackening around them ; and especially that, 
 in the exercise of his unsearchable wisdom and almighty 
 power, he would frustrate the dark, desperate, and dia- 
 bolical counsels, into which Ahithophel would certainly 
 attempt to lead Absalom and the armies of Israel. The 
 men of war stood round, and bent their sunburnt visages 
 to the earth, as the king, with a fervor that almost 
 amounted to agony, offered up his prayer to God, in 
 whom was all his hope. 
 
 " There was but one man in all Israel who was at 
 all capable of coping with Ahithophel. This was
 
 THE REBELLION. 209 
 
 Hushai the Archite, a counsellor of great talent and 
 long experience, who now dwelt in Jerusalem. He was 
 esteemed as a man of great worth, had long been David's 
 companion, and, from their uncommon intimacy, was 
 generally styled David's friend. He was remarkably 
 eloquent and able in debate ; and even when his side 
 of the question was not the most promising, 
 
 ' His tongue 
 Dropped manna, and could make the worse appear 
 The better reason.' 
 
 " Just as David had concluded his prayer, this man 
 came up, with his clothes rent and earth upon his head, 
 and stood before the king in silence and grief. His 
 arrival at that juncture seemed the merest accident, 
 though," said Belial, " I have often since doubted 
 Avhether it were altogether accident. 
 
 " ' Hushai,' said David, ' you have come to accompany 
 me in my exile. It is kind on your part, but you must 
 not go. Return to the city. Report yourself to Absa- 
 lom. Get into his confidence, and among his advisers, 
 if you can, and then mayst thou, for me, defeat the 
 counsel of Ahithophel.' Hushai bowed, and departed 
 instantly, and returned with so much despatch and 
 secrecy, that it was not publicly known that he had 
 been absent from the city. 
 
 " There is one other circumstance in the flight of 
 David that I wish to mention here. In most communi- 
 ties," said Belial, " there is a class of men, who have 
 little or no principle, that may be called time-servers. 
 In any revolution in church or state, who is right, or 
 what is right, is no inquiry of theirs. Their sole 
 lookout is, which is likely to be the strongest party. 
 
 18*
 
 2l0 TPiE REBELLION. 
 
 And as soon as they have made that discovery, you 
 will find them noisy and conspicuous. Those can 
 always have the assistance and cooperation of this class 
 of men, who do not need them. But if they find that 
 their party is likely to be in a minority, they will desert 
 at once, and become equally loud and boisterous on 
 the other side. There was one of these men at Bahu- 
 rim, a little town a mile or two north-east of Jerusalem, 
 through which David passed in his retreat. His name 
 was Shimei, the son of Gera, a Benjamite. He saw 
 that the tide of public favor was running tremendously 
 with Absalom. David was in full retreat, with but a 
 small body of adherents. News from every part of the 
 country left no doubt on his mind that Absalom would 
 be triumphantly successful. So this he thought a 
 favorable opportunity to distinguish himself. As David 
 and his men were passing by, Shimei came forth, and 
 cursed still as he came ; and cast stones at David, 
 and at the servants of the king, and at all the people, 
 and all the mighty men that were on his right hand 
 and on his left. And thus said Shimei, when he 
 cursed, ' Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and 
 thou man of Belial. The Lord hath returned upon 
 thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead 
 thou hast reigned, and the Lord hath delivered the 
 kingdom into the hand of Absalom, thy son. And, 
 behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou 
 art a bloody man.' 
 
 " Then said Abishai to the king, ' Why should this 
 dead dog curse my lord the king ? Let me go over, I 
 pray thee, and take off his head.' What proof is here 
 of the perfection of discipline in David's army ! Abishai
 
 THE REBELLION. 211 
 
 was a famous general, second only to Joab. And yet 
 even he must not lift his hand against Shimei without 
 the order of his superior. I have seen men in modern 
 times," said Belial, " who in such a juncture would 
 have dashed over and swept off Shimei's head in the 
 first place, and then discussed the propriety of it after- 
 wards. Not so in the army of David : perfect discipline 
 was maintained. And here is the great secret of the 
 unexampled success of that army. David rebuked 
 Abishai for being too resentful, and acknowledged it as 
 a chastisement from the hand of God. 
 
 " ' So let him curse, because the Lord hath said unto 
 him, Curse David. Who then shall say. Wherefore 
 hast thou done so ? And David said to Abishai and to 
 all his servants, Behold, my son seeketh my life : how 
 much more may this Benjamite do it ! Let him 
 alone, and let him curse, for the Lord hath bidden him.' 
 
 Here Beelzebub, who had not spoken a word since 
 Belial commenced his narrative, raised his Atlantean 
 bulk, and stood erect amidst the council of fallen 
 angels. There was a troubled anxiety in his coun- 
 tenance, mingled with the beamings of a powerful 
 intellect. 
 
 '• Belial," said he, " how is it David speaks so plainly 
 of the agency of God in Shimei's cursing him? " 
 
 '' Bible saints," said Belial, " often employ strange 
 language on that subject, and language in many cases 
 exceedingly strong. Joseph, you know, said to his 
 brethren in Egypt, 'God sent me here.' " 
 
 Beelzebub replied, " And was there not in Nathan's 
 message to David something that implied that the 
 hand of God would be concerned in the troubles that
 
 212 THE REBELLION. 
 
 should arise in David's house, inchiding, no doubt, the 
 murder of Amnon and the rebellion of Absalom ? " 
 
 " There was, indeed," said Belial, " something in 
 Nathan's language that strongly implied it." 
 
 " 1 have dreaded that doctrine," said Beelzebub, " for 
 thousands of years. It is so closely connected with 
 the doctrine that God's ' counsel will stand,' and he 
 will do his whole pleasure. If the hand of God is 
 concerned in the death of the sparrow, and in feeding 
 the young ravens, and if his providence enters into all 
 the minute affairs of men, I fear that when his designs 
 are complete, and the 'mystery of God is finished,' it 
 will be found he hath done all things well, and that 
 the head of the serpent has been bruised. I fear that 
 all tears will be wiped from the eyes of the saints 
 forever, and that the angels and all holy beings will 
 be satisfied with the administration of God from the 
 beginning to the end." 
 
 '' Do not be alarmed," said Belial : " the doctrine of 
 a particular, special providence is growing more and 
 more unpopular in the world. The tide of public 
 sentiment is strongly against it. Multitudes at this 
 day reject it, and go in for the doctrine of chance and 
 accident as strongly as we could desire." 
 
 " But is there not great danger, now," asked Beel- 
 zebub, " when the Bible is spreading, and coming into 
 the hands of almost every family and every individual, 
 that the doctrine of God's providence, that stands out 
 on every page, will be revived again ? " 
 
 "The Bible," answered Belial, "is not read, how- 
 ever it may be circulated." 
 
 " I thought," said Beelzebub, " this is becoming a
 
 THE REBELLION. 213 
 
 reading age. Is not the habit of reading rapidly- 
 increasing ? "' 
 
 " True," said Behal, " but they do not read the 
 Bible. Their reading is chiefly in the light and frothy 
 novels, so current at the present day." 
 
 "Excellent," said Beelzebub: " I should tremble to 
 see the public attention fixed closely on the Bible. It 
 brings God so near to men. The policy of hell is to 
 keep God as much out of sight as possible. If men 
 will not deny his existence altogether, let them, at least, 
 be persuaded that he is very far off", and that his hand 
 and counsel have little to do in the common events 
 of life. When you spake of David owning the hand 
 of God in the reproach he received from Shimei, and 
 Nathan teaching that the hand of God was concerned 
 in the troubles that sprung up in David's family, I was 
 distressed ; for the doctrine of a special, particular 
 providence is not only unpleasant, but terrible to the 
 hosts of hell." 
 
 "There is nothing to fear," answered Belial : " pub- 
 lic sentiment now, among multitudes who do not profess 
 to reject the Bible, is decidedly opposed to the doctrine 
 of a particular providence in all the affairs of men." 
 
 '' But," said Beelzebub, heaving a deep sigh, and 
 rolling his huge eyes around the gloomy cavern, " is 
 there not danger that when the Jews return, and ai-e 
 converted, and become teachers of religion, the old 
 Bible doctrine may be revived again ? The Jews, 
 you know, study the Bible very attentively. And the 
 public sentiment you speak of may go, like the public 
 sentiment at the time of Absalom's rebellion." 
 
 '•I have no fears," answered Belial: "I tell you the
 
 214 THE REBELLION. 
 
 doctrine you dread is very unpopular, and is daily 
 growing more so." 
 
 '' I am glad of that," said Lucifer, keeping his seat, 
 however, — "heartily glad of that. But come, come ; 
 this is no theological seminary for the discussing of 
 such subjects. Proceed with your narrative, Belial." 
 
 Beelzebub now resumed his seat, and Belial pro- 
 ceeded. 
 
 ''I mentioned," said Belial, "that Hushai the Ar- 
 chite, returned to Jerusalem immediately after his inter- 
 view with David. The general confusion and tumult 
 made by the flight of David and the expected arrival 
 of Absalom, was such, that Hushai was able to reenter 
 the city without having it known that he had been 
 with David in his flight. He arranged with Zadok 
 and Abiathar, the priests, that their two sons, Jonathan 
 and Ahimaaz, who would be under suspicion because 
 they had left Absalom at Hebron, should be secreted at 
 Enrogel, or the Fuller's Fountain, a short distance from 
 the city, that they might carry to David any informa- 
 tion concerning Absalom's plans and movements that 
 it was important he should know. 
 
 " This was scarcely done when loud strains of martial 
 music, from the heights on the Hebron road, came float- 
 ing on the breeze. Another moment, and in full view 
 appeared the advancing columns of armed men, while 
 banners of costly material and exquisite workmanship 
 were waving over their extended lines. No sooner 
 were they full in sight, than a signal flag, according to 
 a previously concerted plan, was run up on the tallest 
 tower of the city of David, announcing that the city 
 was in the possession of the friends of Absalom : at ?ight
 
 THE REBELLION. 215 
 
 of this, the advancing anny rent the air with shouts 
 of transport ; these were answered by ten thousand voices 
 from the city, in a style that made valley and moun- 
 tain ring. Often, as the enthusiastic shout began to die 
 away, it was renewed, now from the army and now 
 from the city, till Absalom, and even Ahithophel himself, 
 found the extravagant ardor of the people go beyond all 
 previous calculation. At the head of the advancing 
 army could now be identified the martial form of Amasa, 
 Absalom's chief commander. He was the nephew of 
 David, and the cousin of Absalom. Near the centre 
 of the moving multitude could be discerned the gor- 
 geous equipage and elegant person of Absalom, wearing 
 a brilliant diadem, and attended by all the pomp and 
 circumstance of royalty. 
 
 " The gates of Jerusalem opened wide to receive its 
 new monarch, and as the long procession moved up 
 the main street of the city towards the palace, wavmg 
 signals of welcome from door, window, and house-top, 
 with the splendid ensigns of the several tribes, as they 
 passed in succession, imparted to the whole scene an 
 air of the most imposing grandeur. 
 
 " Absalom was conducted to the throne by the 
 princes of Judah, Ephraim, Benjamin, and Dan. And 
 the nobles of many a house, famous in Israel, were 
 emulous which should first press forward and give in 
 his allegiance to the young king. At this juncture 
 Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came forward and 
 said to Absalom, ' God save the king ! God save the 
 king ! ' without saying who the king was. Said 
 Absalom to Hushai, ' Is this thy kindness to thy 
 friend ? Why wentest not thou with thy friend ? '
 
 216 THE REBELLION. 
 
 Hushai's answer is the best example of the equivocal 
 that is to be found in all ancient history. ' And Hu- 
 shai said unto Absalom, Nay ; but whom the Lord, and 
 this people, and all the men of Israel choose, his will I 
 be, and with him will I abide. And again, whom 
 should I serve ? Should I not serve in the presence of 
 his son ? As I have served in thy father's presence, so 
 will I be in thy presence.' (2 Sam. xvii. 18, 19.) The 
 answer may mean, that Hushai will now be the firm 
 friend of Absalom, as he once was the friend of David ; 
 or it may mean just as well that he will be true to 
 David now in his adversity, as he was when he sat on 
 the throne. But Absalom took it as a high compliment 
 to himself, and received Hushai into his confidence. 
 
 " During all this pompous ceremony," said Belial, 
 *' I watched narrowly the countenance of Absalom, if 
 I could detect any indications of remorse, or shame, or 
 regret, for the degradation and misfortunes of his aged 
 father. But there were none. Intoxicated with vanity, 
 success, and popularity, he seemed wholly wrapped in 
 supreme self-complacency, and altogether unmindful 
 of the threatenings of God against a rebellious son. 
 
 " When the congratulations and waves of tumultuous 
 joy had begun gradually to subside, Absalom beckoned 
 to Ahithophel to approach, and the aged counsellor 
 came near. 
 
 " ' What next ? ' said Absalom. 
 
 " ' I have a word,' said Ahithophel, ' for your own 
 ear.' 
 
 " Absalom signified to the nobles that they should 
 fall back, that he might speak in private with his coun- 
 sellor. Ahithophel had been long practised in courts.
 
 THE REBELLION. 217 
 
 The schemes and intrigues of the wily politician had 
 been to him ' the breath of life.' And such a life," said 
 Belial, "you all know, is calculated to blunt the finer 
 sensibilities and sear the conscience. ' It hardens all 
 within, and petrifies the feeling.' But there was some- 
 thing in the suggestion he was now about making to 
 Absalom, that brought to his pale, ashen countenance a 
 blush that spread over cheek, and brow, and temples, till 
 I could see the red glow between the long locks of his 
 snow-white hau\ 
 
 " ' Your majesty's followers,' said he, ' are devoted, 
 faithful, and enthusiastic ; and yet there is one point 
 on which it is essential they should be thoroughly 
 satisfied.' 
 
 " ' What is that ? ' said Absalom. 
 
 " ' Whether there is any likelihood of a compromise 
 between your majesty and the former occupant of the 
 throne.' 
 
 " 'None whatever,' rejoined Absalom. 
 
 " ' On that point,' said Ahithophel, ' it is necessary to 
 fix the firmest conviction on the public mind. It is 
 well known that David, when he left the city, calcu- 
 lated you would propose a compromise, and that a part- 
 nership in the throne, during his life, is all you have in 
 view. Now, while this impression is on the mind of 
 the people, they will be timid and cautious as to any 
 decisive step in your majesty's service ; thinking that 
 David may yet be brought back, and then any strong 
 measures against him at this time will be remembered 
 and avenged. But show them you are going to make 
 thorough work ; that the breach between yon and 
 David is irreparable. '•' And then their hands will be 
 
 19
 
 218 THE REBELLION. 
 
 strong," and they will hesitate at nothing in order to 
 establish your throne.' 
 
 " ' I see,' replied Absalom, ' the importance of your 
 suggestion ; but how shall it be effected ? ' 
 
 " ' Your majesty is aware,' answered Ahithophel, 
 ' that conquerors take possession of all that belonged to 
 the former king — his throne, his treasury, his palace, 
 and his wives. Now, there are ten young women here, 
 concubines of the conquered king. If your majesty 
 would take them as your concubines, in a manner that 
 shall be entirely public, that will at once convince all 
 the people that no accommodation or compromise is 
 thought of, and then they will go all lengths to estab- 
 lish your dominion.' 
 
 " I said," continued Belial, " that Ahithophel, though 
 inveterate in wickedness and hard-hearted, blushed 
 deeply, at making this proposal. But such was the 
 gross and enormous depravity of Absalom, that on his 
 part there was no blush nor hesitation. He signified at 
 once his approval of Ahithophel's counsel. The suu 
 was yet above the horizon, for the events I have de- 
 scribed had passed in rapid succession. ' So they spread 
 a tent upon the top of the house, and Absalom went in 
 unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.' 
 
 "Although this transaction met with the general 
 sanction of scheming politicians, yet many of the plain 
 country people, who had gathered to the standard of 
 the revolution, were shocked at what they regarded as 
 hideous and abominable wickedness, and immediately 
 many of Zebulon, and Naphtali, and Issachar, and 
 Asher, sick at heart, quietly left the city, and returned 
 to Absalom no more."
 
 THE DEBATE. 219 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 THE DEBATE. 
 
 " Absalom now assembled the princes and elders of 
 the various tribes who had declared openly for him, to 
 consult what further measures should be taken to 
 strengthen and confirm his government. Not less than 
 five hundred leading men, numbers of them famous in 
 the annals of their country, were gathered in grand 
 council ; but all eyes v/ere turned to Ahithophel, whose 
 long experience and unrivalled reputation for political 
 wisdom gave him an undisputed preeminence. 
 
 " Now," said Belial, "I cannot go on with this history, 
 without requesting this large and respectable assembly 
 to give special attention to what I am about to relate. 
 I was prodigiously interested at the time, and I have 
 never spoken of it since without the strongest emotion." 
 
 At this request, there was a general movement 
 through the whole assembly. Huge demons, from 
 remote heathen lands, were seen putting themselves 
 in an attitude of renewed attention, and fixing their 
 eyes on the speaker with awakened expectation. 
 
 " I have witnessed debates," said Belial, " between 
 the most renowned orators in heathen lands. When the 
 great masters of eloquence in Greece and Rome were 
 in the zenith of their glory, I have heard their argu-
 
 220 THE DEBATE. 
 
 ments. Among modern nations also, I liave attended 
 to the discussions of their ablest statesmen. Bat the 
 debate that now ensued, whether we consider the 
 talent arrayed on opposite sides, or the momentous 
 results that followed, has had, so far as my observation 
 has gone, few parallels in the history of parliamentary 
 discussion. 
 
 "Absalom first broke the silence, calling out his 
 renowned counsellor, ' Ahithophel, give counsel what 
 we shall do.' 
 
 " Ahithophel rose, and with both hands threw back 
 the long locks of his hoary hair. There was a glad- 
 ness m his eye, an air of satisfaction that entirely 
 overspread his remarkable countenance, that told how 
 largely he shared in the triumph already achieved. 
 With a reverential, prolonged, and graceful inclination 
 of his person towards Absalom, he thus began : — 
 
 " ' The success, thus far, of this glorious and mem- 
 orable revolution has equalled, nay, I may say, tran- 
 scended far, the liveliest anticipations of your majesty's 
 warmest admirers. The same wise counsels followed 
 a little further, and the work is done. Your majesty's 
 dominion is established, firm as the foundations of 
 Lebanon, over all Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba. 
 One obstacle only remains in your path, — one man. 
 Have him swept entirely and forever out of the way, 
 and then your long and prosperous reign goes on with- 
 out hazard or molestation. As to that man, mark what 
 I say,' (three times rapping his finger on the table 
 before him,) 'take time by tlie forelock! Pause not ! 
 delay not ! till the final blorv is given, that secures to 
 your majesty all that your heart can desire. The de-
 
 THE DEBATE. 221 
 
 throned monarch left the city late this afternoon in con- 
 sternation and fright ; he has as yet no plans of resist- 
 ance or defence. This is evident from the fact that, 
 with Jerusalem in his possession, and all the munitions 
 of war in the city at his command, no attempt was 
 made to bar the gates or man the walls against the fol- 
 lowers of your majesty. This,' said he, ' in one re- 
 spect, is to be regretted,' looking round over the glowing 
 countenances of the proud aspiring nobles that thronged 
 the spacious hall ; ' for multitudes around your majesty 
 eagerly coveted the opportunity of demonstrating their 
 enthusiastic loyalty by cutting to pieces whatever 
 opposition might have been vainly attempted to the 
 advancement of the prince of their choice.' 
 
 " Here bursts of tumultuous applause overwhelmed 
 the speaker. He yielded to the torrent, while loud and 
 extravagant protestations of zeal and devotion resounded 
 from all parts of the assembly. Prince vied with prince 
 and noble with noble, Ephraim with Judah and Judah 
 with Ephraim, Benjamin with Dan and Dan with Ben- 
 jamin, who would be foremost to sacrifice limb and 
 life in a cause so ardently beloved. Absalom at length 
 called to order, and Ahithophel proceeded : — ^ 
 
 " ' But no such opportunity was offered ; not even the 
 shadow of attempt at resistance was made. Jerusalem, 
 with all its defences, was abandoned, and the gates left 
 open wide for the reception of one who is worthy to 
 reign. The throneless exile, as I learn, in his flight 
 went up the ascent of Mount Olivet, barefoot, with his 
 head covered and weeping. His meagre handful of de- 
 jected and degraded followers, as I learn, covered every 
 man his head, and went on weeping. Their appearance 
 19*
 
 222 THE DEBATE. 
 
 was so forlorn and miserable, that the common people 
 of the country, who witnessed their retreat, had their 
 pity and sympathy so much excited, that men, women, 
 and children, lifted up their voices and wept. These 
 wretched refugees, I have certain intelligence, are now 
 huddled together in the open field, quaking with terror 
 and exhausted by their precipitate flight, a little beyond 
 the town of Bahurim, wholly unprepared for resistance 
 or further escape. But, mark me ! ' — here his emphasis 
 was awful, while he smote the table at full force with 
 his clinclied hand, and stamped on the pavement with 
 all his might — ' mark me ! Take time by the forelock ! 
 This precious, golden opportunity must not be lost. 
 This auspicious time must not be sacrificed. Beware 
 of delay ! If time be given, the old warrior will re- 
 cover from this shock. His martial spirit will awake. 
 His old military habits will be aroused and called again 
 into action. His old soldiers, now scattered through 
 the kingdom, will rally around him again, and he will 
 become formidable in battle. Let me nov\'" choose out 
 twelve thousand men, that each tribe may have an equal 
 part in this glorious and conclusive deed ; and I will arise 
 and pursue after David this night ; and I will come upon 
 him while he is weary and weak-handed, and I will 
 make him afraid ; and all the people that are with him 
 shall flee ; and I v/ill smite the king only. And when 
 it is publicly known that David is dead, then all Israel 
 will turn to thee, and thy kingdom shall be established 
 in safety and in peace.' (2 Sam. xvii. 1 — 3.) 
 
 " 'Admirable ! admirable ! ' exclaimed Absalom : ' what 
 wisdom could equal this ! ' The princes smiled, and 
 gave signals of assent and approbation from all parts of
 
 THE DEBATE. 223 
 
 the council chamber; whilst Ahithophel left the room, 
 as if some preparatory arrangement had occurred to 
 his mind, necessary in order to his taking the proposed 
 command. 
 
 "In this interval, Absalom inquired if any of the 
 princes had a word to offer before the final decision 
 was made. None answered. 
 
 " ' Is Hushai the Archite in the assembly ? ' said 
 Absalom : ' we should like to hear his opinion.' (2 Sam. 
 xvii. 5.) 
 
 " Hushai rose, and began to move slowly through 
 the crowd of nobles, as if he was desirous to get nearer 
 to the king. I thought," said Belial, " I could discover 
 that while he wished to show that he was going to oc- 
 cupy the floor, he was anxious to give as much time 
 as possible for the waves of emotion excited by Ahitho- 
 phel's address to subside. I have told you that he was 
 an experienced and talented counsellor, who had rubbed 
 through many a hard dilemma, though never one that 
 equalled tiiis. He saw, with the clearness of a sun- 
 beam, that if Ahithophel's counsel was followed, unless 
 God interposed by miracle, David must be crushed ; 
 and yet, as he was proverbially called David's friend, 
 if he too strongly dissented from Ahithophel, he would 
 at once fall under suspicion, and ruin his cause. His 
 introduction was modest and cautious in the extreme. 
 
 " ' Illustrious monarch,' said he, ' your attention, and 
 the attention of the princes of Israel, has again been en- 
 grossed by the enlightened views of the most renowned 
 and fortunate statesman that ever graced the council 
 of a king ; renowned, I say, for who has ever equalled 
 him in wisdom ? and fortunate, for who would not be
 
 224 THE DEBATE. 
 
 pronounced fortunate, who had the happiness to have 
 the one tenth part of his agency in conducting this most 
 desired and desirable revohuion to its present successful 
 com-pletion ? I say completion : there let me respect- 
 fully differ with him ; for I regard the revolution as now 
 complete, and the throne of your majesty as now firmly 
 and forever established. I should have continued silent 
 at the feet of this unequalled counsellor, and delighted, 
 as in days past, to learn lessons of wisdom from his 
 lips, did not zeal for your majesty impel me to notice 
 what I think a slight oversight in the proposed expedi- 
 tion against David.' Here, with a most respectful and 
 insinuating bow to the young king, he said, ' Thou 
 knowest thy father, that he is a man of war, and will 
 not lodge with the people. Your majesty has had op- 
 portunities of understanding his character, far beyond 
 any of your counsellors, and I am well persuaded you 
 have not forgotten the many tales that interested and 
 delighted your childhood, of his artful escapes from 
 Saul ; how, with untiring and interminable cunning, 
 he outwitted and outmanoeuvred that persecuting king, 
 with all his wily advisers, and all the resources of his 
 army and his kingdom. From city to city, from 
 wilderness to wilderness, from cave to cave, for the 
 space of seven long years, was he hunted and chased 
 by the unscrupulous and insatiable jealousy of Saul ; 
 and yet all his deadly snares and deep-laid plots were 
 foreseen, circumvented, and frustrated, so as to result in 
 nothing but sheer disappointment and shame ; and all 
 this, I may add, in the days of his inexperience and 
 youth. Is this the man,' said Hushai, warming and 
 collecting confidence as the argument advanced, — ' is
 
 THE DEBATE. 225 
 
 this the man who now, at a more wary period of life, 
 and trained in the lessons of ripe experience, you are 
 going to find in the open field, a mile or two beyond 
 the village of Bahnrim, carelessly and thoughtlessly 
 exposed to be slain or taken in a night attack ? I doubt 
 it, in my inmost soul I doubt it. Behold, he is hid 
 now in some pit, or in some other place of secure con- 
 cealment : and if Ahithophel goes with his twelve thou- 
 sand men, the probability is, five hundred to one, he 
 will not find him. And how ominous and sadly 
 changed will be the aspect of our afl'airs. if, after ex- 
 pectation has been raised to such a height by this 
 expedition, the news must spread through Jerusalem, 
 and through all the multitudes that are collecting here, 
 that it is a total failure ; and that in the first attempt 
 at hostilities, David had out-generalled and. over- 
 matched all those who have risen up against him.' 
 
 " At this, Absalom dropped his eyes on the floor, 
 raised his right hand to his brow, and pressed it for a 
 moment, while the princes of Judah looked one upon 
 another with an air of doubt and misgiving. Hushai 
 saw the impression he had made, and assumed a bolder 
 tone and more resolute manner. 
 
 " ' There was another position assumed in favor of 
 the proposed hasty and hurried expedition, from which 
 I must beg leave strongly to dissent. It was said, 
 David will be afraid, and the men that are with him 
 w'lWJlij. It was said that in their retreat from the city, 
 there were such marks of terror and consternation, that 
 no resistance is to be expected if they are attacked : his 
 attendants were styled a meagre handful. There is some 
 strange mistake here ; his life-guards are witli him, and
 
 226 
 
 THE DKBATK. 
 
 the renowned Cherethites and Pelethites. The Gittites 
 that came with him from Gath are with him, those old 
 tried and trusty soldiers. And, moreover, he had with 
 him his far-famed phalanx of mighty men, that are 
 admitted to have no equals in the present age. Who 
 has not heard of Jashobeam the Tachmonite, who, on 
 one battle-field, with his single spear, slew eight hun- 
 dred men ? Who has not heard of Eleazar, the son of 
 Dodo, before whom, in a single day, three hundred 
 Philistines fell ? Who has not heard of the two sons 
 of Zeruiah, Joab and Abishai, and of Shammah, and 
 others almost their equals in celebrity ? There can- 
 not now be Avith David less than twelve or fifteen 
 hundred men ; — yes, and such men as these. 
 
 "'As to the style in which they retreated, I say- 
 again j there is some strange mistake. I have the best 
 authority for saying, that David prevailed with these 
 men to retreat, not because he was unable to offer re- 
 sistance, or unable to defend the city, but because he 
 was unwilling to endanger the life of his own son, and 
 the lives of his own people, in a bloody battle, when, 
 perhaps, by a little moderation and forbearance, all ex- 
 isting difficulties could be amicably compromised. But 
 the retreat itself was in perfect order. The life-guards 
 led the way, the Gittites came next, then the Chere- 
 thites and Pelethites. And as David marched along, 
 he had on his right hand the Tachmonite and Abishai, 
 and on his left, the lion-like Shammah, and Eleazar, 
 the son of Dodo, whilst Joab brought up the rear. Yes, 
 Joab was the hindmost man in this retreat, and far was 
 he from being fluttered or in consternation. All the 
 mighty men appeared calm, but it was the calmness 
 that precedes the earthquake.'
 
 THE DKBATE. 227 
 
 " ' Although these men retreated peaceably at David's 
 request, they are now full of indignation. I learn that 
 it required all of David's authority to prevent Abishai, 
 the son of Zeruiah, from outing off the head of 
 Shimei, the son of Gera, who spoke rudely and in- 
 sultingly to the king as he passed through Bahurim. 
 Yes, they are now chafed in their minds, bitter, en- 
 raged, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field. 
 
 " ' Now,' said Hushai, raising his voice, ' with twelve 
 thousand hastily recruited and undisciplined men, it is 
 proposed to rush, in a night attack, on this compact 
 body of trained, veteran warriors, indignant and des- 
 perate as they are. And your father, if found among 
 them, will he afraid! It will be the first time, yes, 
 the first time, in the history of his long, eventful life. 
 If he retreated from Saul, it was because he was con- 
 scientious about lifting his hand against the Lord's 
 anointed. But was he ever known to tremble before 
 an enemy of Israel ? Is it forgotten that he took up 
 the challenge of Goliath, and slew him, when no other 
 man in the twelve tribes dared attempt it ? Is this the 
 man that will be afraid! And the men that are with 
 him will fly ! Who ? who will fly ? Joab fly ? Abishai 
 fly? Jashobeam the Tachmonite, fly? Eleazar, the 
 son of Dodo, fly? Tire Cherethites and Pelethites, 
 that never yet lost a battle, fly? The valiant men 
 from Gatli, that have gathered laurels on every field 
 they have fought for twenty-five years, fly ? Is this, 
 I ask, our brightest hope of success, that these men 
 will fly ? To eiierish such a hope is delusion, is mad- 
 ness, is ruin. Has God forsaken us? Has angry 
 Heaven permitted some demon of destruction to come
 
 228 THE DEBATE. 
 
 arid mingle in our counsels, and decoy us into a meas- 
 ure like this, with the delusive hope that these stern 
 warriors will fly ? Look for the rocks of Mount Zion 
 to fly ! ' he exclaimed, raising his arm to its utmost 
 height ; ' look for the stream of Jordan to turn back, 
 and go foaming and thundering over the loftiest peaks 
 of Lebanon, into the Sea of Tyre ; look for the firm 
 ordinances of day and night, summer and winter, to 
 fail in their seasons ; but do not look for such men as 
 are about David to fly, when they hear the clash of 
 arms — men who know only to conquer ; men whose 
 sweetest music is the shout of the onset, the din of the 
 war-strife, and the loud peal of victory. The very 
 fowls of heaven and beasts of the earth know their 
 war-cry, and for twenty-five years past have followed 
 them through fields of slaughter. Go on this ill-ad- 
 vised, precipitate expedition, and how many eyes, now 
 bright and beaming with hope, instead of greeting the 
 light of to-morrow's morning, will be torn from their 
 sockets by the crooked beak of the foul vulture or the 
 croaking raven ! How many hearts, now beating high 
 with patriotic ardor, will be hurried into a horrid grave in 
 the maw of the prowling wolf or the hungry hyena ? ' 
 " Here there was a ghastly paleness in the counte- 
 nance of Absalom and several of the princes of Judah. 
 Ephraim and Benjamin v/ere trembling as they stood. 
 Hushai saw it, and called aloud, ' But where will you 
 get soldiers for this expedition? Who, that knows 
 David and his men, will volunteer to go on this mid- 
 night assault ? Where is the heart that*will not utterly 
 melt, if summoned to go through the darkness to storm 
 this den of lions ? '
 
 THE DEBATE. 229 
 
 "Here Hushai made a pause of some duration. 
 This branch of the argument had been carried as far 
 as he thought advisable, and the impression was clearly 
 as deep as he desired. 
 
 " And now, in a mild and somewhat colloquial style, 
 he proceeded, ' But who is to take the command of this 
 expedition? Who is to reap the Itonor, in case it shall 
 prove successful ? Ahithophel reserves this to himself. 
 He is distinguished in counsel, though I have not 
 learned that he has been equally so in war. There 
 may be great talents for the cabinet where there is 
 little for the field. But,' said Hushai, with some hes- 
 itation, '1 do not blame him.' 
 
 " Here," said Belial, " I could observe a slight elevat- 
 ing of the shoulders, and there played upon his cheek, 
 and about the corners of his mouth, something that 
 approached, though it did not fully amount to, a sar- 
 castic smile. 
 
 " ' I do not blame him for coveting this distinction. 
 I should be glad myself,' said he, bowing most respect- 
 fully to Absalom, — ' I should be glad myself to appear 
 in your com-t, and about your throne, during all t!ie 
 years of your long and prosperous reign, as the man to 
 whom, of all Israel, you were most indebted for your 
 kingdom and your crown. I should be glad to have 
 my name go down to distant ages, as the renowned 
 leader who struck the main, decisive blow in this great 
 revolution, so rich and abundant in its beneficent bear- 
 ings on the whole land. But your majesty has called 
 us to consult for the public good ; and where the public, 
 good is in jeopardy,' he cried, with an impatient stamp 
 of the foot, and a look of awful sternness, ' confusion 
 
 20
 
 230 
 
 THE DEBATE. 
 
 and perdition to all such artful, cunningly devised 
 schemes for individual aggrandizement ! 
 
 " ' My decided opinion is, that where the fate of the 
 whole nation depends on the issue of a single engage- 
 ment, the very best talents should be in the command 
 and at the helm. I counsel thee, therefore, that thou 
 go to the battle in thine own person. And let the 
 highest honor go where it is most certainly merited. 
 
 " ' Will your majesty allow me to ask these distin- 
 guished princes a question that much concerns us 
 
 now? ' 
 
 " ' Certainly,' said Absalom, ' certainly.' 
 " ' Princes of Judah,' said Hushai, ' are all your peo- 
 ple, who are willing to serve our illustrious king, already 
 here ? ' 
 
 " ' Not the half of them,' was the reply. ' To-mor- 
 row, by the time the sun is risen, our numbers will be 
 doubled.' 
 
 " ' Princes of Ephraim, what say you ? ' 
 " ' In twelve hours more, our numbers will be four- 
 fold,' was the answer. 
 
 " ' Princes of Dan, what of the sons of your tribe ? ' 
 " ' By the going down of the sun to-morrow, twenty 
 thousand Danites, now on their march, will be at 
 Jerusalem.' 
 
 "'And thus it is,' said Hushai, 'beyond all doubt, 
 Avith every other branch of the great house of Israel. 
 Let me beg, let me implore you, illustrious monarch, 
 not to be hurried by rash, precipitate counsels. Give 
 your faithful, zealous subjects time to rally around 
 your standard. Your popularity, immense and unex- 
 ampled, will bring all Israel, from Dan even to Beer-
 
 THE DEBATE. 231 
 
 sheba, into the ranks of your army, if only the neces- 
 sary time be allowed. And then, with you for our 
 commander-in-chief, we will pursue the dethroned 
 king. So shall we come upon him in some place 
 where he shall be found, and we will light upon hini 
 as the dew falleth on the ground, and of him, and of 
 all the people that are with him, there shall not be left 
 so much as one. I wholly disapprove of the counsel 
 that says, ' Smite the king only,' and leave all those 
 old rebel officers, that are hostile to your majesty, to 
 create vexation and annoyance in after years. No, my 
 voice is, extirpate them utterly. Crush the whole 
 hornet's nest at once, and then will your majesty's 
 reign be peaceful and unmolested. 
 
 " ' As to the apprehension, that the exiled king, if not 
 pursued to-night, may get into adefenced city, and thus 
 become formidable, it is an idle dream ; let him fly into 
 a defenced city, if he thinks it will avail him. The army 
 that follows your majesty will be so numerous, that 
 should each soldier take one stone from the wall of that 
 city and throw it into the river, there will not be enough 
 left to mark the place where it stood. But now, in con- 
 clusion,' said Hushai, lowering his voice, and speaking 
 in a calm, cautious, confidential tone, ' let me frankly de- 
 clare, that all depends on your keeping the reins in your 
 own hand ; your honor, your crown, your kingdom, your 
 lasting fame are all suspended here. Let no artifice, 
 however cunningly proposed, induce you to commit that 
 command to another, whicli the great house of Israel 
 have intrusted to you. 1 regret to mention it, but the 
 necessity laid upon me is imperative, and fidelity to your 
 majesty forbids that I should be silent. Let me then
 
 232 THE DEBATE. 
 
 say, that should this command be given to Ahithophel, 
 the faithful friends of King Absalom will soon blush 
 and cover their faces with shame, when they are com- 
 pelled to hear the hints, and whisperings, tliat will be 
 busily circulated through all the multitudes collected 
 here, "that there is a power behind the throne greater 
 than the throne ; " " that our king is only a king in 
 name, a mere child in leading-strings, a feeble and flexile 
 tool in the hands of a mighty manager that is behind 
 the curtain ; " " that a certain great counsellor, like 
 Abner with Ishbosheth, hath projected and planned this 
 whole revolution ; and that it is the popularity of the 
 counsellor, not of the king, that hath drawn these 
 immense masses of armed men around Jerusalem." ' 
 
 " ' A word to the wise is enough,' cried Hushai, again 
 lifting his voice to a lofty key ; ' and well I know that 
 your majesty will drive all such idle and injurious delu- 
 sions from the public mind, as the whirlwind drives the 
 dust from the face of the marble. Let King Absalom 
 fill the throne himself, wield the sceptre himself, com- 
 mand his armies himself, and then shall his kingdom 
 prosper and prevail ; all Israel will take shelter under 
 the shadow of his throne. Distant lands shall learn 
 his fame, and unborn generations shall embalm his 
 memory and rehearse his greatness.' 
 
 " At the close of this address, Absalom appeared per- 
 fectly lost in a wild maze of contending emotions. 
 Astonishment, shame, rage, seemed alternately to pre- 
 vail. At length a venerable chief, of the house of 
 Ephraim, arose and moved, as the sense of the meeting, 
 ' that the counsel of Hushai the Archite is better 
 than the counsel of Ahithophel ! '
 
 THE DEBATE. 233 
 
 " The decision was entirely unanimous, and then 
 Absalom, somewhat recovered, in the most public and 
 polite manner thanked Husliai for the light he had 
 imparted. ' The obligation shall be remembered,' said 
 Absalom, ' and you shall all see forthwith that I am 
 king, and I am counsellor.' 
 
 " Belial," said Beelzebub, who now spoke out with 
 some emotion, " does not the writer of the Second 
 Book of Samuel speak as if the hand and appointment 
 of God had some iaflucnce in this decision of Absalom 
 and his council, so fatal to all their undertaking ! " 
 
 " He does indeed," said Belial ; " his words are these: 
 ' For the Lord had appointed to defeat the good counsel 
 of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring 
 evil upon Absalom.' " (2 Sam. xvii. 14.) 
 
 '' Come, come," said Lucifer, who now raised his 
 voice ; " I dislike exceedingly to hear such quotations 
 of Scripture as that ; no more of it, go on with your 
 historj'', Belial." 
 
 20*
 
 234 
 
 AHIMAAZ AND JONATHAN. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 AIIIMAAZ AND JONATHAN. 
 
 " And now," said Belial, " a scene of thrilling inter- 
 est followed immediately, on which much depended. 
 
 " As soon as Hushai could quietly, and without 
 attracting observation, escape from the council chamber, 
 he hurried to the house of Abiathar the priest. There 
 he found Zadok and Abiathar in earnest discourse 
 about the troubles of the times. He hasted to tell 
 them that the designs of Absalom were desperate ; 
 that there were no thoughts of compromise, or ac- 
 commodation ; that Ahithophel had made a powerful 
 speech, advising the instant pursuit of David, that he 
 might be overtaken while weary and weak-handed, 
 and slain, before his old friends had time to rally around 
 him. (2 Sam. xvii. 15, 16.) 
 
 " ' Slain ! ' exclaimed Zadok and Abiathar at the 
 same moment, starting to their feet, in astonishment ; 
 ' Slain ! is that their bloody and horrible plan ? ' 'I 
 employed,' said Hushai, 'every argument I could invent, 
 to procure some delay. I appealed to their fears, to 
 Absalom's vanity ; his love of power and personal dis- 
 tinction ; the prospect of his army being greatly in- 
 creased in a day or two ; and every other motive within 
 the range of my imagination ; and they have just
 
 AHIMAAZ AND JONATHAN. 235 
 
 decided to wait till the morning at least, before setting 
 out to pursue David. But Ahithophel was out of the 
 room when the decision was made. I fear he may 
 return, and yet persuade Absalom to let him go to- 
 night, and the good old king may be overtaken and 
 slain before the break of day. Ahithophers counsels 
 are dark as the grave, and deadly as perdition. Now, 
 therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, " Lodge 
 not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but 
 speedily pass over Jordan, lest the king be swallowed 
 up, and all the people that are with him." ' 
 
 " ' But,' said Zadok, ' if Absalom's designs are so 
 bloody, our lives are in danger. If he sees the least 
 symptoms of our being favorable to David, we shall 
 find no mercy.' 
 
 " 'Jonathan and Ahimaaz,' said Husliai, 'are now at 
 Enrogel, near the gate of the city : send word to them, 
 and they will take it to David.' (2 Sam. xvii. 17.) 
 
 " * Bat who dares to go ? ' said Zadok : ' the gates are 
 guarded, and if you, or 1, or Abiathar are seen passing 
 out on such an errand, it is certain death.' 
 
 "'Alas! alas!' exclaimed Abiathar, 'and our dear 
 sons, Jonathan and Ahimaaz, if they should be discov- 
 ered where they are now, waiting for tidings to carry 
 to David, their lives will be sacrificed to the vengeance 
 of Absalom.' 
 
 " ' God of mercy, help us ! ' exclaimed Zadok. 'Ab- 
 salom must know that they both left him at Hebron, 
 and have declared for David. He will be transported 
 with rage, and doom them to instant death ! ' 
 
 " ' I see,' said Hushai, 'their imminent peril, and the 
 peril of David, and the kingdom ; and yet what can we
 
 236 
 
 AHIMAAZ AND JONATHAN. 
 
 do ? For one of us to attempt to go is absolute death ; 
 and if they and David do not receive warning, they 
 will certainly be slain.' 
 
 '' Zadok and Abiathar walked the room, wringing 
 their hands, while convulsive sobs, mingled with 
 prayers to Heaven, burst from their agonized bosoms. 
 Hushai sat with eyes fixed on the floor, and seemed 
 perfectly at fault. Counsellor as he was, renowned for 
 astonishing resources, and long skilled in stemming 
 the most formidable tides of adverse influence, he 
 seemed to have met with an overmatch now. Dark 
 shades of desperate intellectual eff'ort rushed over his 
 manly countenance, and his strong frame was agitated 
 as he looked now at the danger of David, now at the 
 ruin of the kingdom, and now at the peculiar hazard 
 of the two interesting and adventurous youths, Ahim- 
 aaz and Jonathan, and saw no possible plan for act- 
 ing in their behalf Every moment was precious ; and 
 yet, turn which way he would, a gloom was before him 
 like the midnight of despair. 
 
 " At this juncture, a low and tremulous female voice 
 was heard at the door of a small room adjoining the 
 apartment where they were in consultation, calling to 
 Abiathar, ' Father ! father ! ' It was the voice of Tamar, 
 the daughter -of Abiathar. She had been in her room 
 when Zadok and Abiathar came together. Presently 
 Hushai entered, the door of her little chamber was 
 slightly ajar, and she had overheard all their conversa- 
 tion. Jonathan was her beloved brother, and Ahimaaz 
 her intimate acquaintance, who had recently declared 
 to her the deep devoted affection he had long cherished 
 in his heart, which, suffice it to say, had met with no
 
 AHIMAAZ AND JONATHAN. 237 
 
 repulse. Modest, bashful, and timid, even beyond her 
 equals in age, — for she was not above seventeen, — yet 
 hearing of the danger of her brother and Ahimaaz, her 
 soul was roused to all the energy that characterizes 
 woman in the hour of danger, and she called her father 
 to the door. 
 
 ''Abiathar hastily obeyed the summons, 'Tamar, 
 my daughter, are you here ? ' 
 
 " ' Did you say brother Jonathan is exposed by being 
 at Enrogel ? ' 
 
 " ' Exposed ! My dear, his life and the life of Ahimaaz 
 is in peril every moment, till they are warned to fly. 
 Absalom and Ahithophel are resolved to kill King 
 David and all his friends. Alas ! what shall we do ? ' 
 
 " ' Father, I can go and tell them to fiy.' 
 
 '^ ' But the gates are guarded; we cannot pass.' 
 
 " ' But I can pass them, father ; the guards know me 
 well ; they let m% pass as often as I please, going to 
 and from the house of Phinehas the Levite at Bahurim.' 
 
 " ' That will do ! ' said Hushai, springing to his feet ; 
 ' that will do, bring her in, bring her in. Thanks to 
 the God of Abraham, there is hope yet.' 
 
 " Abiathar hastily led her into the apartment. She 
 was delicate and slender, and extremely youthful in 
 appearance : on her cheek the rose had now mounted 
 above the lily, that usually predominated there ; but her 
 manner was firm, and her step elastic and light as that 
 of the nimble fawn on the lofty ridges of Carmel. 
 Hushai took her eagerly by the arm : ' My child, has- 
 ten with all your might to Ahimaaz and Jonathan ; tell 
 them to escape to David, and warn him to fly to Jordan, 
 and cross the river, if possible, by the break of day ; tell
 
 238 AHIMAAZ AND JONATHAN. 
 
 him to speed his way to Mahanaim, in the tribe of 
 Gad ; few of them have joined in the rebellion. Tell 
 him Absalom and Ahithophel are intent on his death, 
 and I fear they will pursue and overtake him before 
 the morning light.' 
 
 " The door opened, and Tamar left the room. Down 
 the street she glided, like a meteor through the gather- 
 ing gloom. The guards were in the act of closing the 
 gates, but suffered her to pass after bandying a few play- 
 ful words ; and on she tripped, with a fluttering heart, 
 toward the Fuller's Fountain. (2 Sam. xvii. 17.) 
 
 " Our narrative now," said Belial, " returns to Absa- 
 lom. When the vote, at the close of Hushai's speech, 
 had settled the question that David would not be pm*- 
 sued till more forces were assembled, the council was 
 dissolved, and many of the nobles of Jerusalem left 
 the hall. Their houses were crowded with acquaint- 
 ances from all quarters, now collected in the city. 
 Absalom, however, still remained. Newly arrived 
 princes had sought the council-chamber : with these 
 he must be familiar, and each put in drafts upon his 
 time, and he still continued to follow up his election- 
 eering arts, so that the number in the council-chamber 
 was yet considerable. 
 
 " ' The revolution goes bravely on,' said a powerful 
 chief from Mount Ephraim, who had but recently come. 
 
 " ' Bravely, bravely,' answered Absalom. 
 
 " ' I understand that the old king,' said the chief, 'has 
 fled without striking a blow ; and that all Jerusalem is 
 unanimous for your majesty.' 
 
 " ' Unanimous,' said Absalom ; ' and from the coun- 
 try they are pouring in. thousands on thousands.'
 
 AHIMAAZ AND JONATHAN. 239 
 
 II i 
 
 How do the priests go ? ' inquired the chief. 
 
 " ' O, with me,' said Absalom, ' decidedly with me — 
 all of them.' 
 
 " ' Except Ahimaaz and Jonathan,' said an old citi- 
 zen of Jerusalem, who was standing by. 
 
 " 'Ahimaaz and Jonathan are with me,' said Absa- 
 lom, turning on the last speaker, with a look that bor- 
 dered on a frown ; ' we have been friends from boyhood.' 
 
 " ' Your majesty is mistaken,' said the old man firmly j 
 ' they are certainly with David.' 
 
 " ' Did I not see them at Hebron ? ' said Absalom, rather 
 more sternly. ' Indeed, I took them with me from Jeru- 
 salem in the very beginning of our glorious enterprise.' 
 
 " ' But they have left you.' 
 
 " ' How ? Ahimaaz and Jonathan ! Left me, you say ? ' 
 
 " ' Certainly, they have left you. The moment your 
 standard was erected in Hebron, and your purpose pro- 
 claimed, Ahimaaz mounted the swiftest horse he could 
 procure, and rode at full speed all the way to this city, 
 and was the first who gave the alarm to David and his 
 friends. Jonathan followed immediately, and, I learn, 
 was the first to inform David that Ahithophel had de- 
 clared for you.' 
 
 " ' Base dogs ! ' exclaimed Absalom, grinding his 
 teeth in a transport of fury ; ' they shall feel my ven- 
 geance, my hottest and heaviest vengeance.' 
 
 " ' They have left their fathers and you, and gone 
 with David.' 
 
 " ' No, they have not gone with David,' said a forward 
 lad of fifteen, who had just entered the room, and now 
 spoke up : one of those prying and inquisitive boys who 
 always share largely in any excitement that is going
 
 240 AHIMAAZ AND JONATHAN. 
 
 on ; try to be every where, to see every thing, to know 
 all that is doing, and are always ready to speak, no 
 matter who the hearers may be. ' They have not gone 
 with David ; they are out here now at the Fuller's 
 Fountain.' (2 Sam. xvii. 18.) 
 
 " ' At the Fuller's Fountain ? ' said Absalom : ' what 
 on earth are they doing there ? ' 
 
 " ' Why,' said the boy, ' when David left the city, I 
 went along a while, to see what he and his mighty men 
 were going to do ; and when he was more than half way 
 up the Mount of Olives, Jonathan came running to him, 
 his face very pale, and said, ' Ahithophel is among 
 the conspirators with Absalom ; ' and David seemed 
 greatly frightened, and prayed a little while, and then 
 called Jonathan to him, and whispered something in his 
 ear ; and then he whispered to Ahimaaz, and they both 
 turned back to the city. I could not think what it 
 could be that David said to them ; but I noticed they 
 did not come into the city gate, but turned off to the 
 old building Enrogel, or the Fuller's Fountain. Directly 
 I heard the men with David say that you would soon 
 be in sight on the Hebron road. So I turned back to 
 see you and your men come to the city. But when I 
 came down the mountain, you were not yet in sight, 
 and I thought I v/ould go and see what Jonathan and 
 Ahimaaz could be about at that old building. I found 
 them standing behind some rubbish in one corner of a 
 waste room. They appeared not to wish me to see 
 them. But I said nothing, and they said nothing; 
 and presently I heard your trumpets, and then I came 
 away ; but I suppose they are there yet.' 
 
 " ' ^SJ}les ! ' exclaimed a stout Danite officer, who
 
 AHIMAAZ AND JOxNATHAN. 241 
 
 had had some experience in the arts and stratagems of 
 war ; ' spies, most unquestionably ! They are waiting to 
 find out our plans and intentions, and then they will 
 carry the intelligence to David.' 
 
 " ' But how,' said Absalom, ' will they discover our 
 plans ? — they out at Enrogel, and afraid, no doubt, to 
 come into the city ? ' 
 
 " ' Poh ! poll ! ' said the Danite : ' David has friends in 
 the city by the dozen, by the hundred, that will send 
 them word, and they will take it to him ; that is the 
 arrangement, as sure as there is a cedar on Lebanon.' 
 
 " * By the God of Geshur,' said Absalom, 'I will 
 make it dear spying to them, the false villains ! Here, 
 Ben Huppim,' to the Danite, ' take twenty of your 
 best horsemen, and your swiftest horses, and take this 
 boy to show you where they are ; dash off immediately, 
 and surround the building, and hew them to pieces, or 
 take them alive.' 
 
 " ' Had we not better go on foot ? ' said Ben Huppim. 
 
 " ' On foot ? ' said Absalom : ' no, take your horses, your 
 best horses ; they are as swift as two wild antelopes. I 
 have raced with them often when we were boys together. 
 Ahimaaz particularly, his fame is everywhere, through 
 all this mountain country : give him three paces the 
 start, and there is not a man between Jordan and the 
 great sea that can catch him.' (2 Sam. xviii. 27.) 
 
 " The Danites were mounted and gone in brief space. 
 And Absalom stood soliloquizing: 'Spies! ah. indeed, 
 and friends of David in the city sending him intelli- 
 gence of our affairs ! I will put a stop to that forthwith ! 
 Here, Carmi ! ' to one of the princes of Judah : ' have the 
 guards at the gate doubled ; proclaim it as the king's 
 
 21
 
 242 AHIMAAZ AND JONATHAN. 
 
 order that neither man nor woman shall go out or in 
 but by my special command.' 
 
 " Tamar in the mean time had delivered her message 
 to Ahimaaz and Jonathan, and they had put off at full 
 speed to warn David. Tamar was standing, and by 
 the light of the moon, which had just attained its first 
 quarter, was looking after them as they ran, and offering 
 up prayers to Heaven for their safety, and the safety of 
 David, — when the clatter of the Danite horsemen was 
 heard as they rushed from the gate of the city towards 
 the Fuller's Fountain. As they came nearer and 
 nearer, she dropped among some shrubbery, as the 
 timid partridge when the broad shadow of the eagle 
 is seen. 
 
 '' The Danites galloped up and surrounded the build- 
 ing. Ten of them sprung from their saddles to search 
 the house, while ten remained on horseback to watch 
 without, reigning up their mettled horses, and ready for 
 pursuit. Their leader entered the house, addressing at 
 the same time the objects of his pursuit, not doubting 
 but that they were present : ' Ha, Jonathan and Ahimaaz, 
 lads, are vou here ? Rather dark and uncomfortable 
 quarters you have selected in these brisk times ; come, 
 we are going to mend your boarding. What ! no an- 
 swer ? Look round in that dark corner, Beriah ; do you 
 find them ? no one there ? gone ? ah, gone ? To horse ! 
 to horse ! and pursue the spies ; Ave will catch them 
 yet.' The Danites were mounted in the twinkling of 
 an eye, and away they went, shouting, ' Hurrah for the 
 revolution ! Down with old David ! Hurrah for Ab- 
 salom ! Hurra for Ben Huppim ! Absalom and Ben 
 Huppim forever ! ' Thus they swept like a hurricane
 
 AHIMAAZ AND JONATHAN. 243 
 
 up the sides of the Mount of Olives, and were soon 
 beyond the summit. 
 
 " Ahimaaz and Jonathan were approaching the village 
 of Bahurim, when they heard this tempest of pnrsuit 
 roaring behind them. Finding that they must be over- 
 taken, they ran into the house of Phinehas the Levite, 
 and said to his wife, ' Hide us, hide us ! our lives 
 are in danger! instantly! instantly!' (2 Sam. xvii. 
 18.) 
 
 "Now," said Belial, "it is chai-acteristic of a woman 
 in all ages, that, in an extremity, her mind acts quick — 
 she will think at once of the very best thing that can 
 be done. She will hit in a moment on, perhaps, the 
 very expedient which a man would adopt, if you gave 
 him five minutes to study about it. Phinehas the 
 Levite had in his court a well ; there were small cir- 
 cular steps going down, for the family kept milk, and 
 butter, and such articles there as they wished to pre- 
 serve from the heat of the day. As soon as the woman 
 had heard the hurried request of the two young priests, 
 she pointed to the well. Ahimaaz darted in, followed 
 by Jonathan. The woman hastily put a covering on 
 the well, spread a cloth over the covering, and then 
 spread meal over the cloth, as if for the purpose of dry- 
 ing, or giving it the benefit of the fresh air. This was 
 all done in a moment. The keen eye of Ben Hup- 
 pim, ever the foremost of his troop, had caught several 
 glimpses of the two young men before they loft the 
 main road. But he distinctly saw them when they 
 turned off and ran into the house of Phinehas the Le- 
 vite. Certain of his victims now, he threw the reins 
 to a soldier, bade a number of his men follow him, and
 
 244 
 
 AHIMAAZ AND JONATHAN. 
 
 entered tlie house with a drawn sword in his hand. 
 Finding nothing there but a woman and some terrified 
 children, he looked around with impatience and disap- 
 pointment, and demanded, — 
 
 " ' Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan ? I saw them 
 run into this house.' (2 Sam. xvii. 20.) 
 
 " ' They are gone over the water,' said the woman, 
 pointing toward a brook that ran beyond the house. 
 
 " Ben Huppim fixed his eye sternly on her for a 
 second or two, as if he did not more than half believe 
 what she said ; but there was no quailing of the eye, or 
 dropping of the countenance with her. She returned 
 his angry gaze by looking him full and steadily in the 
 face, seeming the meanwhile entirely careless and un- 
 moved in view of his irritation and disappointment. 
 He bade his men to search the house. It was soon 
 done, for the building was not large ; but nothing could 
 be found. They saw that meal spread out there to dry, 
 but never dreamed that there might be a well under it, 
 containing the objects of their search. 
 
 " Ben Huppim now called out, ' To horse ! ' They 
 remounted, passed over the brook, and galloped up and 
 down for half an hour in the direction the woman had 
 pointed, then gave up the chase, and turned back for 
 Jerusalem. As he was repassing the house of Phine- 
 has the Levite, Ben Huppim reined up his horse, and 
 said, in a voice loud enough to be distinctly heard, 
 ' Should I yet find that those spies have been concealed 
 here, I will scourge this family for trifling with the 
 majesty of Absalom. I will make this house a monu- 
 ment of his wrath.' He then resumed his retreat. As 
 soon as he Avas out of hearing, the woman called
 
 AHIMAAZ AND JONATHAN. 245 
 
 Ahimaaz and Jonathan up out of the well, and away 
 they ran to give the warning to David. 
 
 " It was mentioned," said Behal, " that at the ap- 
 proach of Ben Huppim's party to Enrogel, Tamar hid 
 among some shrubbery. She remained perfectly still 
 and undiscovered, till they had finished their search of 
 the building at Enrogel, and dashed off in the pursuit, 
 over the top of the mountain. She then arose and 
 hastened back toward the gate, hoping that through 
 her acquaintance with the guard, she would be allowed 
 to pass and return home. On drawing nigh, how- 
 ever, she discovered quite a number of mounted men 
 before the gate, who seemed to be in some confusion. 
 They were Absalom's friends just arrived from the 
 country. Tamar paused at a little distance, and 
 heard the watchman tell them, ' No admittance to- 
 night. King Absalom has so commanded. You must 
 remain without till the morning.' Tamar now saw 
 that her own situation was somewhat awkward. To 
 return home was impossible — to be discovered might 
 be dangerous. But Tamar, though young and deli- 
 cate, had a firm, courageous heart. Early in life she 
 had read the history of the remarkable preservation of 
 Joseph in Egypt ; of Moses in the ark of bulrushes ; 
 and of the spies that Joshua sent to Jericho, who were 
 hid by Rahab. Indeed, before she was even able to 
 read, she had a very great fondness for narratives of 
 this kind ; and used to importune and almost tease her 
 father to tell her tales of days gone by. Abiathar 
 would take her up on his knee, during the long winter 
 nights, and rehearse how, when he was a youth, Doeg, 
 the Edomitc, the wicked armor-bearer of persecuting 
 
 21*
 
 246 AHIMAAZ AND JONATHAN. 
 
 Saul, had come to his father's house, and killed his 
 father and all his brothers ; that in one day that 
 unmerciful man put to death eighty-five persons that 
 wore the sacred garments, and the city in which they 
 dwelt was by him laid in ruins. He would tell her 
 how, when his father and all his brothers were killed, 
 he escaped and fled to David ; and how he was with 
 David Avhen he was pursued and his life sought by 
 jealous and tyrannical Saul. He would tell her how 
 they were chased, sometimes through the fields and 
 sometimes through the forests, and hid themselves, 
 now in caves and now among the mountains ; how 
 they prayed to the God of Israel to preserve and de- 
 liver them ; how he always heard their prayers, and 
 always opened for them a way of escape, until, at last, 
 Saul was overthrown by the hand of the Philistines ; 
 and David, by the providence of God, was brought to 
 the throne. 
 
 " These and similar sketches of Israel's history had 
 made a deep and lasting impression on the mind of 
 Tamar ; and while there was a cast of romance in her 
 character, a strong and unwavering confidence in God 
 was firmly planted in her heart. This was of great 
 importance to her now. Finding all access to the city 
 cut off for the present, she resolved at once to go to 
 Bahurim, and spend the night at the house of Phinehas 
 the Levite. 
 
 '• She had passed the mountain top, and began to de- 
 scend, when she heard the returning party of Danites, 
 under the command of Ben Huppim. She slipped 
 quietly from the road, behind some olive-trees, and 
 listened eagerly if she could learn the result of their
 
 AHIMAAZ AND JONATHAN. 247 
 
 pursuit. Their horses were now climbing slowly up 
 a steep and rugged part of the ascent. 
 
 " '■ Captain.' said the rough voice of a soldier, < I 
 think now, ten to one, but those two traitor spies that 
 ran before us so tremendously over these rocks and 
 rough places, were hid somewhere about that house 
 we searched, after all.' 
 
 " •' Pshaw ! Beriah ! ' said Ben Huppim ; ' be ashamed 
 of yourself Would you dispute the word now of that 
 handsome woman, so modest, so gentle, so pleasant, 
 notwithstanding we rushed rudely into her house, with 
 drawn swords, and ripped and tore through every 
 room, scaring the children almost to death, and turning 
 "every thing in the house upside down. A fine-looking 
 woman, was'nt she ? ' 
 
 " ' Ah, captain,' said Beriah, ' you are an old soldier. 
 But take my word for it, just let a woman alone for sly, 
 cunning management in a pinch. She was a little too 
 modest, a little too gentle, a little too pleasant and 
 good-humored, to be just as ignorant as she pretended 
 about that whole matter. You know, captain, still 
 water is often deep.' 
 
 " ' That's you, Beriah,' answered the captain, '■ that's 
 you, always suspicious and surmising evil — think every 
 body as bad yourself A real Danite, every inch of 
 you. Good old grandfather Jacob's description of the 
 Danite, fits you as the scabbard fits the blade — "A ser- 
 pent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the 
 horse's heels, so that his rider shall fall backwards." 
 (Gen. xlix. 17.) Ride on, men! ride on; let's reach 
 the city.' 
 
 " So away went Ben Huppim and his party. But
 
 248 AHIMAAZ AND JONATHAN. 
 
 this rough and brief dialogue took a mighty burden 
 from the mind of Tamar. ' Bless the name of the 
 Lord,' she said in her heart ; ' Jonathan and Ahimaaz 
 have escaped them ; ' and with a light and bounding 
 heart, she glided down the mountain side, and soon 
 entered the house of Phinehas the Levite. 
 
 " ' Of all sights, Tamar, can this be you ? and at this 
 time of night ? ' exclaimed Phinehas, as she shot into 
 the room, and threw herself into a seat that was farthest 
 from the door. 
 
 " ' Yes, praise to the God of Israel, I am here safe 
 at last,' answered Tamar. 
 
 " ' Ay, as safe as the spies of Joshua were in Jericho,' 
 rejoined Phinehas, who, having a strong spice of humor 
 in his composition, I might almost say playfulness, 
 though now somewhat apprehensive and uneasy, could 
 not altogether restrain his ruling passion. ' But, Tamar, 
 what new flare-up of old Beelzebub is this you have in 
 Jerusalem ? Have princes and people all run crazy ? ' 
 
 " ' Why,' said Tamar, ' Absalom and Ahithophel have 
 determined to kill David. Ahithophel has counselled 
 Absalom to pursue after David to-night, that he may 
 be slain, before his friends can have time to gather and 
 defend him.' 
 
 " ' Shocking ! ' exclaimed Phinehas. ' Is Absalom so 
 horribly wicked as to wish to kill his old father ? I 
 thought there was hope of the whole matter being 
 compromised, and settled without bloodshed.' 
 
 "'No hope at all of that now,' answered Tamar. 
 * Ahithophel told Absalom that he will never be safely 
 seated on the throne while David is alive ; that the 
 surest policy is to kill him, and the quicker the better.'
 
 AHIMAAZ AND JONATHAN. 249 
 
 " ' Did you say they will pursue after David to-night ? ' 
 " ' That was Ahithophel's counsel,' said Tamar. ' But 
 Husliai told father, that he made the strongest speech 
 in his power to persuade Absalom to put it off for a 
 day or two till more of his friends could be collected, 
 for that Joab and Abishai would fight like lions for 
 their uncle's life, and they had a great many mighty 
 men with them, and if he rushed on them before he 
 was ready with a strong army, he might be defeated.' 
 
 '■' 'Ah,' said Phinehas, ' Hushai wanted to gain time 
 for David. The old fox, how cunning ! 
 
 •• Gossips, you know, have a saying in store — 
 ♦ He that masters a lawyer has only one more. ' " ' 
 
 " ' But Hushai did not know whether Absalom 
 would follow his counsel or Ahithophel's,' said Tamar. 
 
 "'But, Tamar,' said Phinehas, 'what set Jonathan 
 and Ahimaaz to racing through the country at such a 
 rate ? They ran through here as if they thought all 
 Absalom's army was after them.' 
 
 " ' They were concealed at Enrogel,' said Tamar, 
 ' to find out Absalom's plans, and carry the news to 
 David. I went and told them to fly and tell David 
 what Ahithophel had counselled against him. It was 
 well I went when I did, for they were not out of sight, 
 when Absalom's men galloped up and surrounded the 
 house where they had been. But Ahimaaz said they 
 were just going to start when I came, for that boy, Ira 
 the Kenite had been there looking about, and had seen 
 where they were hid, and they were every moment 
 afraid he would tell it to Absalom, or to some of his 
 friends.'
 
 250 AHIMAAZ AND JONATHAN. 
 
 "'That gimlet-eyed little Kenite,' said Phinehas, 
 ' was he there ? Never fear for him : he must see and 
 know all that is going on : he is in his element now, 
 no doubt.' 
 
 " ' O, he had told it, I know ; for the Danites, when 
 they came to Enrogel, had him along, and he showed 
 them the place where he had seen Ahimaaz and Jona- 
 than ; but when they could not be found, the Danites 
 galloped oiF, and left him there.' 
 
 '' ' That was fortunate,' said Phinehas : ' had they 
 brought him along, we should all have been detected. 
 You would never have got him away from the house, 
 without having a peep into that well. But, Tamar, 
 how came you to be sent to Enrogel ? Was there no 
 stouter messenger in so rough a time as this ? ' 
 
 " ' Hushai, and Zadok, and father, all said they dare 
 not go, for it would be instant death if Absalom found 
 any one favoring David ; but I — ' 
 
 " ' Wife ! wife ! do you hear that? ' ejaculated Phin- 
 ehas. ' What do you think of your share in this busi- 
 ness ? ' 
 
 '"Why, husband, do you think they take notice of 
 us?' 
 
 " ' Take notice ! ah, indeed will they, and be as bit- 
 ter as vipers. Did you not hear the threat of Ben 
 Huppim on his return ? Yes, all we have done will be 
 publicly known before morning. We must fly. Our 
 only hope is to try to reach David's party, and escape 
 with them beyond Jordan.' 
 
 " We must now," said Belial, '■ leave this family in 
 the midst of their apprehensions and projects for safety, 
 in order to notice the condition of David."
 
 THE RETREAT. 251 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 THE RETREAT. 
 
 •' Ahithophel, as usual, had judged with unerring 
 correctness the exact state of David's mind, and his 
 exposed situation. The storm had burst upon him so 
 suddenly, and wave after wave of calamities, heavy 
 and horrible, had rolled over him, till his spirit was 
 bent to the earth, and he had made no attempt to con- 
 ceal himself, in case he should be pursued, or to resist 
 in defence of his life. He looked upon himself as un- 
 der the rebuke of God ; and now he prayed for pardon- 
 ing mercy, and now he thought of Absalom's ingrati- 
 tude and guilt. Yet in the midst of these gloomy 
 meditations, he cherished hopes, sometimes stronger and 
 sometimes weaker, but still hopes, that Absalom would 
 relent, and send after him a message of peace, and that 
 all things could be adjusted without the dire necessity 
 of a resort to arms. Joab, however, seeing his uncle 
 in an agony of mental distress, quietly put the men in 
 order at the place where they had halted, stationed a 
 sufficient guard at a proper distance, and himself walked 
 silently back and forth, at a little distance within the 
 line of sentinels, ready in case the worst should come. 
 
 " All was now still ; and as the dark mantle of night 
 began to cover hill and valley, prince and peasant, the 
 tranquillity of the scene imparted a soothing influence
 
 252 THE RETREAT. 
 
 to the harassed and agonized mind of David. It had 
 long been his habit, at the closing hour of day, to lift 
 up his heart and voice in praise to God. Standing 
 now under a spreading and stately palm, his faithful 
 adherents ranged around, in a low and subdued tone, 
 he chanted the following 
 
 HYMN. 
 
 T. 
 
 • Cease, cease, my tears, to flow, 
 
 Cease, cease, my heart, to moan ; 
 Look up, my sotil, to Zion's hill. 
 The great Jehovah'3 throne. 
 
 n. 
 
 • No earthly storm or flood, 
 
 Though fierce it rave and tear, 
 Can shake the dwelling-place of God, 
 Or spread confusion there. 
 
 III. 
 
 • Long ere the world began. 
 
 Serene he dwelt on high ; 
 And long his blessed throne shall stand, 
 When earthly kingdoms die. 
 
 IV. 
 
 • The sun liimself shall fade, 
 
 The starry worlds shall fall ; 
 Yet, through a vast eternity, 
 Shall God be all in all. 
 
 V. 
 
 ' Though now his ways are dark, 
 
 Concealed from mortal sight, 
 
 His counsels are divinely wise, 
 
 And all his judgments right.
 
 THE RETREAT. 253 
 
 VI. 
 
 ♦ In God my trust shall stand, 
 
 "While waves of sorrow roll ; 
 In life or death his name shall be 
 The refuge of my soul. 
 
 VII. 
 
 * Cease, cease, my tears, to flow, 
 
 Cease, cease, my heart, to moan ; 
 Betide what may to me, I'll say, 
 Ilis holy will be done.' 
 
 " At the close of this hymn, David addressed Ittai 
 the Gittite, who was standing close by his side. 
 
 " ' I think, my dear and long-tried friend, that surely 
 Absalom, when he finds the palace, and throne, and 
 kingdom all left to him, and no attempt at resistance, 
 will relent, and send us a message of peace.' 
 
 '• ' You would consent,' said Ittai, ' to allow him a 
 share of the throne and kingdom, during your declin- 
 ing days, if that would content him? ' 
 
 " ' Willingly, most willingly,' answered David : ' he 
 is the undisputed heir to the kingdom ; and so far as is 
 consistent with the public good, I would gladly roll a 
 portion of its burdens on him ; for, Ittai, I grow weary 
 of the cares and distractions of public life.' 
 
 " ' He will certainly be satisfied with such an arrange- 
 ment as that,' said Ittai, ' and I fondly hope all will yet 
 go well.' 
 
 " ' O, had I but known his wishes sooner, all this 
 disgrace and agony of soul might have been avoided ; 
 but Ittai, on that dark cloud we are contemplating, 
 there is one spot so frightfully black, that I shudder 
 while I look upon it.' 
 
 22
 
 254 THE RETREAT. 
 
 " ' What is that, my lord,' said Ittai, with much 
 concern, 
 
 '' 'Ahithophel.' 
 
 " ' He was long your friend,' said Ittai. 
 
 " 'Ah, but it is otherwise now, and he would not 
 have come out so publicly, unless he meant to drive 
 matters to the very worst extremity, and also had the 
 strongest assurance that his counsel would be followed.' 
 
 " ' But the princes of Judah, my lord, are there in 
 great numbers ; they will certainly resist violent meas- 
 ures ; many of them have stood well affected towards 
 you.' 
 
 " ' I have more confidence in Hushai the Archite, ten 
 times over, than in all the princes of Judah ; but such 
 are the awful talents of Ahithophel, and such will now 
 be his vindictiveness, that unless God interposes, by 
 some special providence, he will work our ruin.' 
 
 " The tread of footmen was now heard at a dis- 
 tance, which seemed to approach with great rapidity : 
 nearer, and yet nearer, it came, when a sentinel on 
 guard called out, — 
 
 " ' Who's there ? ' 
 
 " ' Ahimaaz and Jonathan,' was the reply. 
 
 "' Come on,' said Joab, who was walking near the 
 sentinel : ' have you tidings for the king ? ' 
 
 " ' Where is the king ? ' said Ahimaaz. 
 
 " ' Under that palm-tree,' said Joab. 
 
 " ' Fly, my lord, fly for your life ! ' cried Ahimaaz. 
 ' Ahithophel has urged Absalom to pursue you to- 
 night, and kill you before you are ready to defend 
 yourself! ' 
 
 " ' Alas ! ' cried David, ' is that their ann ? Ah, Ahith-
 
 THE RETKEAT. 255 
 
 ophel ! Ahitliophel ! I knew your designs were deadly. 
 Poor, poor, deluded Absalom ! ' 
 
 " ' Is it your pleasure, my lord.' said Joab, ' that I 
 should draw up our men and await their onset ? Re- 
 gard them but as grass at the edge of the mower's 
 scythe, before the servants of your majesty.' 
 
 " * O,' exclaimed David, ' we must not resort to blood- 
 shed now. Deranged as they surely are, desperate and 
 driven on by the devil and Ahithophel, they are still 
 my people. And Absalom, O, my dear, wretched son ! 
 You will break my heart. Ahimaaz, did you see Hu- 
 shai the Archite ? ' ' " 
 
 " ' No, my lord,' answered Ahimaaz ; ' but he sent you 
 word to escape with all possible speed beyond Jordan, 
 and take refuge in the strong city of Mahanaim. The 
 gathering storm, he says, is tremendous.' 
 
 " ' We will take the counsel of Hushai,' said David. 
 ' Fly, soldiers, fly ! ' 
 
 " ' Hushai is no warrior,' said Joab ; ' I would regard 
 them as the rock regards the chaff driven from a sum- 
 mer threshing-floor. But your order, my lord, shall be 
 obeyed at once.' 
 
 " This was Joab's first and only retreat, in the history 
 of a long and brilliant military career. A new chapter 
 in the book of discipline was demanded here, yet a 
 moment proved that he had it perfectly by heart. His 
 loud, commanding voice now roused the little army. 
 
 " ' Soldiers, attention ! To the Jordan road ! Gittites, 
 to the front ! Ittai, place the king in the centre of your 
 men. I need not mention the value of the treasure 
 you guard. Abishai, take Jashobcam the Tachmonite, 
 Eleazar the son of Dodo, with the thirty mighty men,
 
 256 THE RETREAT. 
 
 and put yourselves close around the king's person. 
 Life-guards! fall back behind the men from Gath. 
 Cherethites and Pelethites ! my good, tried fellow-sol- 
 diers, come with me to the rear; and now,' said he, in 
 a lower tone, ' if they attack us, show yourselves men ! ' 
 
 " Then lifting his voice to be heard the whole length 
 of the line, he gave the word of command. ' Quick 
 time ! forward, march ! ' 
 
 " Away swept the column of armed men, like the 
 tide of a river swollen by the rains of heaven, steady, 
 strong, silent, swift — onward, onward ; winding with 
 the windings of the road ; now curving to the right to 
 shun the rough rock that stood there ; now bending to 
 the left, to avoid the yawning ravine ; now meandering 
 among the tall forest trees — onward, onward, onward ; 
 now rushing down the steep ; now stretching across the 
 plain ; now shooting up the ascent ; now pouring over 
 the comb of the ridge — onward, onward, onward. The 
 hope of Israel was in their flight, the life of the king, 
 the safety of the church — onward, onward, onward. 
 Deep silence reigned along the line ; profound stillness 
 was over the valley, lake, and hill, as if nature held 
 her breath in the intense interest of the hour — on- 
 ward, onward, swept the column. The moon sunk 
 behind the distant mountains. Night threw a darker 
 mantle over their pathway, while the broad, blue heaven, 
 with all its starry eyes, gazed upon them, mute, atten- 
 tive, and beautiful. Onward, onward, swept the column. 
 For three long hours not a word had been v/hispered : 
 at length tall, scattering trees were seen, and lights 
 glimmered before them — ^it was the stars on an ex- 
 tended sheet of water. ' Halt ! ' cried the voice of their
 
 THE RETREAT. 257 
 
 commander. And the little army stood on the bank 
 of the Jordan, 
 
 " ' Ahimaaz and Jonathan ! ' said Joab ; < man the boat 
 with rowers. Put the king and people over with all 
 possible despatch. Rear guard ! form a line ! To the 
 right about, face! stand, lest the foe should yet appear.' 
 
 " Stout rowers manned the boat, and the river being 
 calm at this hour, company after company was placed 
 with great rapidity on the opposite shore. 
 
 " The deep silence which had reigned so long was 
 now broken only by the creaking and groaning of the 
 oars, and the dash of the disturbed waters, as strong 
 fears, mingled with hopes of escape, caused the boat to 
 shoot like an arrow, now to this shore and now to that. 
 
 " The gray of the morning had appeared, or rather 
 the dawn was distinct, when Joab and the last of the 
 Pelethites stepped out of the boat on the Gilead side 
 of the river. 
 
 '' The transportation of the party was now complete. 
 The immediate danger was considered as past. And 
 David and the body of the people were taking some 
 scanty refreshments where they had halted, at a little 
 distance from the river. But Jonathan and Ahimaaz, 
 who had superintended the crossing of the company, 
 were still at the brink of the stream, when a loud call 
 was heard on the opposite side at some distance from 
 the bank. 
 
 " ' The boat ! the boat ! bring over the boat.' 
 
 " They looked, and saw a man advancing with huge 
 and hasty strides ; two women mounted, the one with 
 a child in her lap, the other with a little girl behind her, 
 while two small boys, riding a mule, completed the party. 
 
 22*
 
 258 THE RETREAT. 
 
 " ' Ah, more refugees, in these squally times,' said 
 Ahimaaz : ' who can they be ? ' 
 
 " ' The foremost,' said Jonathan, ' strongly resembles 
 our man Phinehas the Levite, of Bahurim. But where 
 can he have picked up those women and children ? ' 
 
 " ' One of them,' said Ahimaaz, looking very steadily, 
 ' is certainly Tamar, your sister, and the other, beyond 
 doubt, is the good wife of Phinehas — the little boys, 
 the babies, and all.' 
 
 " '■ Success to them ! ' ejaculated Jonathan : ' I will call 
 back the rowers, and bring them over.' 
 
 " ' Instantly,' said Ahimaaz : ' they are flying for their 
 lives. Their kindness to us has brought them into 
 danger.' 
 
 " The boat was over by the time the party had gained 
 the top of the bank. Ahimaaz ran up to help the women 
 to dismount, while Jonathan stood by the rowers as 
 they held the boat to the shore, 
 
 " ' Why, Phinehas,' said Ahimaaz, ' what in the 
 world has started you in this style ? ' 
 
 " ' Put me on the other side of the river,' answered 
 Phinehas, ' and I will tell you.' 
 
 " The wife of Phinehas, accustomed to live among 
 the mountains, remote from any large body of water, 
 looked upon the bold and rapid stream with some mis- 
 giving and trepidation. 
 
 " ' Do you think, Jonathan,' said she, ' that the boat 
 is entirely safe ? Is there no danger of its sinking ? I 
 was always afraid of water.' 
 
 " ' Step in, step in,' said Jonathan ; ' perfectly safe. 
 They take over loaded wagons and camels every day.' 
 
 <' The little sons of Phinehas were greatly delighted at
 
 THE RETREAT. 259 
 
 the sight of so large a river, and expressed their wonder 
 as they looked up and down its broad channel, while the 
 care and anxiety of the mother, lest they should fall in 
 and be drowned, was very characteristic. She con- 
 tinned giving hasty admonitions and directions, some- 
 times to the children, and then to their father, till the 
 boat had gained the eastern bank of the river. 
 
 " ' Now, Phinehas, for your history,' said Ahimaaz, 
 when they were all safely landed. ' What was it that 
 started you in this style, and in the dead hour of the 
 night ? ' 
 
 " Phinehas now experienced that pleasing reaction of 
 mind which ensues when alarming dangers are past and 
 over, and he freely indulged in that humorous and play- 
 ful style that generally characterized his conversation. 
 
 " ' Our little town of Bahurim,' said he, ' during the 
 afternoon and earlier part of the night, was agitated 
 and tossed with commotions as though we had dwelt 
 on the side of some volcanic mountain. In the first 
 place, our good old king took a singular trip through 
 our principal street, late in the afternoon ; and what 
 astonished us the morn, he was taking his excursion on 
 foot. In the second place, a great man of our town, 
 Shimei, the son of Gera, by name, moved by the pres- 
 ence of royalty, undertook to give his majesty a speci- 
 men of our proficiency in the fine arts, particularly in 
 the department of oratory. He was edifying the king 
 with an eloquent oration, which abounded in certain 
 historical references, when Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, 
 became suddenly very anxious to make a display of his 
 skill in another department of the arts, that is, in the 
 department of surgery. All he asked was the royal
 
 260 THE RETREAT. 
 
 sanction, in order to effect what, he maintained, wonld 
 be a decided improvement in the location of Shimei's 
 head. The good king, however, discouraged the pro- 
 posed surgical operation, on the ground that his mind 
 was not clear as to its propriety in the case of the 
 polite and eloquent Shimei. 
 
 "'While we were admiring these singular events, 
 two young men, who shall be nameless, without the 
 idle ceremony of knocking at the door, very familiarly 
 presented themselves as guests in my parlor. This ex- 
 cellent wife of mine, renowned all through Bahurim 
 and the neighborhood for her tact in killing two birds 
 with one stone, to accommodate her guests, and save 
 herself the trouble of spreading a table for their re- 
 freshment, showed them into the apartment where she 
 keeps her cream, milk, and butter, that they might help 
 themselves ; but, woman-like, in her attention to the 
 claims of appetite, she did not neglect those of dress 
 and external appearance ; and as powdering is all the 
 fashion now among the quality, she used up a fine grist 
 of meal for the benefit of her two visitors. Scarcely 
 were these arrangements completed, when a certain 
 Ben Huppim, and eighteen or twenty Danites, politely 
 called upon us. and appeared as hungry for an inter- 
 view with the two guests who had entered the house 
 before them, as the seven lean and famished cattle that 
 Pharaoh saw in his dream, were for an acquaintance 
 with the fat and well-favored kine that came up from 
 the river before them. My prudent and judicious wife 
 declined acting as mistress of ceremonies on this occa- 
 sion, and very plainly intimated to Ben Huppim and 
 his party, that as our house was not large, if they would
 
 THE RETREAT. 261 
 
 go farther they might fare better. The Danites, how- 
 ever, decHiied leaving the house until they had made 
 ail accurate examination of the extent of our accom- 
 modations ; they overset all of our furniture, leaving 
 scars and mai'ks of violence on almost every ai'ticle 
 they touched. 
 
 " ' Yet all this -while neither did King David himself, 
 nor Abishai, nor the two young men, nor the Danites, 
 deign to throw any more light on these strange pro- 
 ceedings, than the magicians and astrologers of Egypt 
 did on the dreams of Pharaoh before mentioned. At 
 length, however, an interpreter appeared, as young, as 
 wise, and if some people's opinion be consulted,' glan- 
 cing his eye toward Ahimaaz, ' far more beautiful than 
 the expounder of dreams who stood before Pharaoh. 
 This genuine Joseph, or Josephine, I should say, unrid- 
 dled the whole matter. From her interpretation we 
 learned, like the chief baker in prison, that our heads 
 were in danger. At this moment our good neighbor 
 Zachariah came iu and informed us, that the notable 
 orator, Shimei, the son of Gera, had watched our house 
 after the Danites had departed, to see if the two myste- 
 rious young men would not be forthcoming. He stated 
 to Zachariah that the Danites were scarcely out of 
 hearing, when he saw two men leaving the house with 
 great rapidity ; he was confident they must be the two 
 spies, but that they had changed their raiment for the 
 purpose of disguise, for their robes were dai'k when they 
 entered the house, and in their retreat, by the moon- 
 light, they appeared remarkably white. lie was not 
 apprised of the free use my wife had made of her meal. 
 
 " ' Zachariah further stated, that he thought we were
 
 262 
 
 THE RETREAT. 
 
 in danger, for he was confident Shimei would try to 
 recommend himself to Absalom, by giving him infor- 
 mation of what we had done. Now, as Tamar had told 
 us that a famine was coming, and no promise of seven 
 years' plenty preceding it, and as all the meal we had 
 on hand was fairly disposed of, we at once concluded 
 it was expedient to come over and sojourn for a time 
 in this plentiful land of Gilead. I regret, however,' 
 said Phinehas, ' that I cannot honor and reward my 
 interpreter, as liberally as King Pharaoh did his, by 
 bestowing the office of governor over all the land. 
 However, over a part of the population I think,' giving 
 another glance at Ahimaaz, 'the dominion will be as 
 complete, and I trust far more lasting and happy, than 
 that of the great patriarch in Egypt.' 
 
 " ' Phinehas,' said Ahimaaz, ' if you talk in riddles at 
 this rate, you should take an interpreter with you 
 wherever you go.' 
 
 " ' I would gladly do so,' said Phinehas, ' but I am a 
 peaceable man, and have all my life been careful to 
 avoid lawsuits, and in this case, I am aware of a cer- 
 tain adverse claim, that I am sure will'be pressed with 
 great earnestness and perseverance, and I believe I shall 
 not attempt to resist it.' 
 
 '' ' Enough, enough,' said Ahimaaz ; ' that will do for 
 your history. Come along and give your greeting to 
 the king.' 
 
 " During this speech of Phinehas, Tamar sometimes 
 blushed, sometimes smiled, and sometimes looked an- 
 other way, and seemed not to understand ; but now 
 she accompanied the family of Phinehas to join the 
 circle which surrounded the king."
 
 SCENES AT JERUSALEM. 263 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 SCENES AT JERUSALEM. 
 
 "We must now," said Belial, " return to Jerusalem, 
 and notice the progress of matters there. When Ben 
 Huppim and his party reached the gate, they were told 
 no admittance could be obtained before the morning. 
 Though somewhat disappointed, he was not displeased ; 
 for his success in the pursuit of Ahimaaz and Jonathan 
 had been such, that he was not very anxious for the 
 opportunity of giving in his report to the king. The 
 Danites, therefore, eddied about for a few minutes in 
 the confused whirlpool of eager adventurers that now 
 "wheeled, and boiled, and tossed its turbulent billows 
 before the gate of the city. They then drew off a 
 little way, dismounted, and prepared to pass the night. 
 The voice of one standing near them, in the dark, now 
 addressed their leader in a familiar style, that seemed 
 to claim acquaintance. 
 
 " ' Did you catch them ? ' said the voice. 
 
 " ' Catch whom ? ' replied Ben Huppim. 
 
 " ' Ahimaaz and Jonathan,' said the voice, ' after 
 whom you ran your horses so rapidly over the Mount 
 of Olives ? ' 
 
 " ' Who arc you ? ' inquired Ben Huppim. 
 
 " ' Ira the Kenitc, the boy that was your guide to 
 Enrogel,' was the reply.
 
 264 SCENES AT JERUSALEM. 
 
 " This inquisitive and curious lad had, in common 
 with others, been intercepted in his return to the city. 
 He had caught a ghmpse of Tamar as she returned 
 from Enrogel toward the gate, and also when she 
 started in the direction of Bahurim. He had made no 
 attempt to speak to her, though he shrewdly suspected 
 the errand that had brought her there. But he had 
 found ample and admirable employment for his curios- 
 ity among the newly-arrived companies before the gate, 
 after the proclamation of the king's order. There 
 were among them a number of Reubenites from be- 
 yond the river. Among these he had picked up the 
 news of the progress and prospects of the revolution 
 in their quarter of the kingdom. In the general, he 
 had learned that only a part of the tribe of Reuben 
 was willing to espouse the cause of Absalom, and that 
 it was thought that almost the whole of Manasseh, and 
 the entire tribe of Gad, would positively refuse to give 
 any countenance to the rising against David. The 
 martial character of the sons of Gad, at this period, 
 stood very high. It was proverbial through the coun- 
 try, that ' their faces were like the faces of lions, and 
 they were as swift as the roes upon the mountains.' 
 The busy and inquiring mind of Ira had been theoriz- 
 ing and forming conjectures as to the probable result 
 in case David, who, he knew, had fled in that direction, 
 should reach the land of Gilead, and gather around him 
 the sons of Gad and Manasseh. His speculations 
 were broken off by the arrival of the Danite pursuers, 
 and his curiosity took a new direction, and caused the 
 question to Ben Happim above mentioned.
 
 SCENES AT JERUSALEM. 265 
 
 " < I was anxious to know,' said he, ' whether you 
 had caught them or not.' 
 
 " ' Caught them ? ' said Ben Huppim : ' no ; they ran 
 like the ostrich over the desert.' 
 
 " ' You got in sight of them, then ? ' said the boy. 
 
 " ' O, yes, we saw them distinctly more than once.' 
 
 " ' Could not your horses gain on them ? ' said the boy, 
 
 " ' O, yes ; but when we were like to overtake them, 
 they ran into a house, and we lost them, and could get 
 a sight of them no more.' 
 ■ " ' What house was that ? ' said the boy. 
 
 " ' In Bahurim,' said Ben Huppim, 'at this end of the 
 town.' 
 
 " ' What, the first house on the right hand side as 
 you enter the town ? ' 
 
 " ' Yes, the very house.' 
 
 " ' Ah, that was the house of Phinehas the Levite,' 
 said the boy. ' They are great friends to the families 
 of Zadok and Abiathar, always visiting back and forth. 
 Wliat did Phinehas say of the two young men ? ' 
 
 " ' The man of the house was not there,' said the cap- 
 tain. We only saw the woman and some children.' 
 
 " ' She is the wisest woman in Bahurim,' said the 
 boy: ' they say she is a very good woman too; but she 
 would do all in her power to save Ahimaaz and Jon- 
 athan. What did she tell you about tliem ? ' 
 
 " ' She said they ran through the house,' replied the 
 captain, ' and she pointed over the brook of water as 
 the direction in which they had fled ; but though we 
 pursued them rapidly, we could see them no more.' 
 
 " ' O, she did not want you to catch them. She 
 would try to fool you by |iii(iuig you on u false scent, 
 
 23
 
 266 SCENES AT JERUSALEM. 
 
 as the hunters say. I question if she had not hid them 
 somewhere, after all.' 
 
 " ' No, but we searched the house very carefully,' 
 said the captain. ' I'm too old a soldier to neglect that 
 for the say-so of a woman, and let her out-general me.' 
 
 " ' You searched the house thoroughly, you say ? ' 
 
 " ' Thorouglily,' replied the captain. ' I am sure they 
 were not there.' 
 
 "'Now, captain,' said Ira, 'if you had not left me 
 when you galloped off from Enrogel, in such a hurry, 
 I could have found them if they were any where in 
 that house, or about it. But I do not care ; they never 
 did me any harm ; only I would like to know where 
 they were hid. I had a notion to run after you over 
 the hill just to see what luck you would have in the 
 chase. But you were scarcely started when I saw a 
 strange sight, that turned my attention quite another 
 way.' 
 
 " ' Ah,' said the captain, ' what strange sight was to 
 be seen at that time and place ? ' 
 
 " ' I saw something white as a sheet among the shrub- 
 bery near the old building you surrounded and searched. 
 Just as you were out of hearing, it began to move, and 
 went towards the gate of the city. But the loud talk 
 between the guard and the Reubenites just arrived, 
 stopped it, and after pausing for a minute or so, it glided 
 off up the Mount of Olives, in the direction of Bahurim. 
 I could see it when a great way up the mountain. I 
 had a notion to speak to it once or twice, when it was 
 near me. But I was a little afraid, and so I did not 
 speak to it at all. It was just about the size of Tamar, 
 the sister of Jonathan, and it looked like her ; so I went
 
 SCENES AT JERUSALEM. 267 
 
 to the gate, and the soldiers were talking with the peo- 
 ple at the outside, and I asked if Tamar, tlie daugliter 
 of Abiathar, had come out lately. And tliey said she 
 had, about the time they were shutting the gate, and 
 that she was out yet. Then I began to think that she 
 might have heard somehow that Ahithophel wanted to 
 pursue after David, and kill him to-night, and she had 
 come to tell Jonathan and Ahimaaz to go and warn 
 him to fly. Perhaps she thought also that the two 
 young men themselves were in danger, for I think, 
 from some things I have noticed, she would be nearly 
 as sorry to have Ahimaaz killed as Jonathan.' 
 
 " < And do you think,' said Ben Huppim, to whom 
 this was all new and strange, ' that she had warned 
 those two spies to fly before we reached tho place ? ' 
 
 " ' Exactly so,' said the boy: ' she had told them all, 
 and that is the reason they were gone.' 
 
 " ' The little mischief-making witch! ' said Ben Hup- 
 pim : ' if I had caught her, I would have made her 
 smoke for meddling with other people's matters.' 
 
 " ' Other people's matters,' answered the boy : ' no 
 such thing. Jonathan is her own brother, and Ahimaaz 
 — But you would not have hurt her, captain ; she looks 
 so young and innocent, you could not have found it in 
 your heart to hurt her.' 
 
 " Here the conversation was interrupted by a loud, 
 earnest dialogue, at the gate of the city, between the 
 guard and some one without, impatient and vociferous 
 to obtain entrance. 
 
 " 'No admittance to-night,' said the olTicor in com- 
 mand ; ' the king has forbidden us to open the gates but 
 by his order.'
 
 268 
 
 SCENES AT JERUSALEM. 
 
 " ' But I must enter,' said the importunate applicant. 
 ' I have an important errand to King Absalom.' 
 
 " ' On what subject ? ' demanded the officer. 
 
 " ' It is for the king's own ear,' said the man without. 
 
 " ' But I must know something of its importance,' 
 answered the officer, ' before I will venture to disturb 
 the king at this hour of the night.' 
 
 " ' My message must be delivered to King Absalom 
 in person,' said the persevering candidate for admis- 
 sion. 
 
 " ' Who are you ? ' demanded the officer. 
 
 " ' Shimei, the son of Gera, of Bahurim,' was the 
 answer. 
 
 " ' Well, Shimei, the son of Gera,' said the guard, 
 ' you can certainly tell me so much of the nature of 
 your business with the king, that I can judge whether 
 it is my duty to have him disturbed at this hour 
 or not.' 
 
 " ' It is of the two traitor spies,' said Shimei, ' if you 
 must know, that were here picking up news to carry 
 to David.' 
 
 ''• ' That indeed ! that is good,' said the officer. ' The 
 Danites have just reported that they had escaped. 
 Here, Zimri, hasten to the palace, and let the king 
 know, that one of his faithful servants, Shimei, the 
 son of Gera, of Bahurim, has caught the two spies, 
 Jonathan and Ahimaaz, and has them here, and waits 
 his majesty's orders concerning them.' 
 
 " ' No, that's not it,' said the agitated voice of Shimei. 
 ' I wished to tell the king that I saw them.' 
 
 " ' Saw them ! ' exclaimed the ollicer ; ' is that all : I 
 thought you had them safe.'
 
 SCENES AT JERUSALEM. 2G9 
 
 "'I saw them,' said Shimei, 'as they ran from Ba- 
 hurim, after the Dauites had returned from the search.' 
 
 " ' And did you not pursue them ? ' asked the officer. 
 
 " ' Did I not pursue two wild pigeons on the wing ! ' 
 exclaimed Shimei, impatiently: 'why, you must be 
 crazy. Would you have a man of my age, and loaded 
 with flesh as I now am, to attempt to run after Ahim- 
 aaz, — when it is universally known, that give him a 
 fair field, and there is not a youth within forty miles 
 of Jerusalem that can catch him ? and the chance of 
 catching Jonathan is not much better. What I wished 
 to tell King Absalom is this. I know the house where 
 they were hid, and who it was that hid them, and they 
 are no friends to King Absalom ; for I saw the two 
 spies running from the house after the Danites re- 
 turned.' 
 
 " ' Pshaw ! ' said the officer ; ' that is quite another 
 matter. I will let the king take his nap out. Crazy 
 or not crazy, I shall hardly rouse him at midnight 
 without a weightier reason. And now, good, patriotic 
 Shimei, the son of Gera, of Bahurim, since that is your 
 title, make yourself as comfortable as may be without 
 the gate, till the morning. Had you caught the spies, 
 it would have altered the case. But our fine young 
 king is a firm believer in the old maxim, " A bird in the 
 hand is worth two in the bush." Good night, Shimei.' 
 
 " The confused and restless throng, collected before 
 the gate of the city, had maintained a l)reat bless si- 
 lence during this singular dialogue : many of them 
 had been there for hours, and there was that vacancy 
 of employment and plan, that wlicts the a])petite for 
 the enjoyment of a good jest. The close of this dis- 
 
 23*
 
 270 
 
 SCENES AT JERUSALEM. 
 
 cussion, therefore, was followed by a general burst of 
 loud, unrestrained laughter, mingled with shouts and 
 huzzas for the sagacious and patriotic Shimei.' 
 
 '"Decidedly the best joke since we crossed Jordan,' 
 shouted a young Reubenite officer. 
 
 " ' Honor to whom honor is due,' vociferated a 
 second. ' King Absalom must give that man a cap- 
 tain's commission, at the least.' 
 
 " ' A broad belt and a new cockade,' cried a third. 
 ' Why, the poor fellow has lost a whole night's sleep, 
 in order to come and warn the king to lock the stable 
 door after the horse is stolen.' 
 
 " ' Set him up for counsellor,' shouted a fourth, ' and 
 Ahithophel may hide his head.' 
 
 " Thus a perfect hail-storm of jest, taunt, severe 
 comment, and biting sarcasm, poured its pitiless peltings 
 on the devoted head of the disappointed Shimei, till 
 peppered, riddled, and vexed beyond endurance, he was 
 forced, in absolute self-defence, to retreat from the com- 
 pany of his tormentors. 
 
 "Of this Shimei," said Belial, "I must now speak 
 more particularly. He was a genuine specimen of a 
 certain class of men that exist in all ages of the world — 
 a perfect time-server ; yet vain, conceited, and ever 
 prone to boasting. His talents and claims to public 
 consideration and respect, had never, he thought, been 
 properly appreciated by others. Nor could he tell, for 
 the life of him, how it was that persons of less merit 
 than he was conscious of possessing, would always 
 stand higher in public esteem and confidence than him- 
 self. He had made many desperate efforts to become 
 distinguished and popular, but unfortunately some un-
 
 SCENES AT JERUSALEM. 271 
 
 toward influence always defeated the success of his 
 plans. It seemed to him, moreover, that people took 
 an unreasonable delight in making themselves merry 
 at his expense. Blunders that in others were passed 
 over with little notice, in him seemed to attract univer- 
 sal attention, and become themes of entertainment and 
 sources of amusement, to an extent, as he thought, 
 altogether unaccountable. The mistakes and miscar- 
 riages of others could be readily forgotten ; but his 
 were remembered with a pertinacity, and rehearsed 
 with a frequency, absolutely provoking. 
 
 " Early in life, he had earnestly endeavored to recom- 
 mend himself to King Saul, by the zeal and constancy 
 with which he labored for the destruction of David. 
 But while valuable services and dangers dared were 
 soon forgotten, any mishaps, or palpable failures, were 
 treasured up in the public mind, and readily called up 
 on all occasions. He was one of the party sent to take 
 David, whom Michal, Saul's daughter, deceived with 
 the image covered up in bed, and a pillow of goat's 
 hair for its bolster ; there were twenty others in the 
 company, all imposed on as much as he, by the trick 
 of Michal ; but somehow the matter went abroad in 
 the land, and became a favorite tale around the evening 
 fire, as a capital joke on Shimei. An image, near the 
 size of a man, on a pillow of goat's hair, could scarcely 
 be spoken of, but the story must be told how Michal 
 had befooled Shimei ; and it seemed he was never to 
 hear the last of it. He was one of Saul's life-guard on 
 the night that David and Abishai took the spear and 
 cruse of water from Saul's bolster. Shimei, in his zeal 
 for Saul, had laid him down nearest the king's head ;
 
 272 SCENES AT JERUSALEM. 
 
 but when the matter was over, it seemed that the 
 guard, who were all asleep as well as he, managed to 
 give a turn to the whole story, so as to throw the burden 
 of the censure, or the point of the jest, when it was 
 spoken of lightly, entirely against Shimei. 
 
 " He was with Abner when he challenged Joab to a 
 trial of their skill in arms at the pool of Gibeon. Ab- 
 ner's party sustained a sore defeat. But yet, when the 
 mourning was past and their spirits somewhat revived, 
 there were not wanting those who could tell laughable 
 stories of Shimei on that day. While Ishbosheth's 
 kingdom had any respectability, all the credit was 
 given to Abner. But when Abner was dead, and the 
 kingdom became weak and contemptible, you would 
 have thought from the common conversation of the 
 plain people through the country, that Shimei was the 
 principal stockholder in that miserable concern. 
 
 " Since the kingdom of David had been set up over 
 all Israel, Shimei had led the life of a retired soldier, 
 chiefly in the little town of Bahurim. The same difli- 
 culty, however, of maintaining his respectability, at- 
 tended him here. Phinehas the Levite was a source of 
 much trial to him. Phinehas relished a good anecdote 
 exceedingly, but seemed to have special fondness for 
 such as bore hard on Shimei. Phinehas excelled in 
 telling an amusing story. But all Bahurim acknowl- 
 edged that he told no story so well, as when some blun- 
 der, mistake, or peculiarity of Shimei was the theme. 
 
 " Only a few hours past had furnished an example of 
 this. After the little community at Bahurim had suffi- 
 ciei:^tly expressed their wonder and regret at David's 
 retreat through their town, and their apprehension of
 
 f^'rj 
 
 SCENES AT JERUSALEM. 27 
 
 consequences that might follow, Phinehas began to 
 amuse a group of the citizens by maintaining that the 
 profession of a soldier had been chosen by Shimei in 
 sheer mistake ; that nature had unquestionably de- 
 signed him for an orator. In proof of this, he appealed 
 to the success of his recent essay. Tears, he alleged, 
 were seen to stand in the eyes of David, while those 
 pathetic strains were rolling in torrents from the lips 
 of Shimei; and that his marvellous eloquence had 
 wrought up the military enthusiasm of Abishai to the 
 very highest pitch, was evident to all. For the fame 
 of the orator, and the fame of the town he had honored 
 with his residence, he said, it was to be regretted that 
 the king had interfered with the personal attentions 
 Abishai wished to bestow on the orator of the day. 
 Men, ambitious of fame, have ever desired to die when 
 in the zenith of their glory : as the eagle, who vanishes 
 from sight when nearest the sun ; or the general who 
 has just decided the fate of some great empire, and falls 
 on the battle-field, with the shout of victory in his ear. 
 As to the operation itself, he assured Shimei that 
 Abishai was a perfect master of his trade ; that he kept 
 his implements in the very best order, and, had the 
 king permitted, would have performed the interesting 
 ceremony in the very best style. 
 
 '' Shimei left this company in deep ire, and saw 
 Jonathan and Ahimaaz run into the house of Phinehas. 
 After the departure of the Danites, on their return to 
 Jerusalem, he watched the house till he saw the retreat 
 of Ahimaaz and Jonathan. Thinking that the public 
 gtand he had taken against David would recommend 
 him to Absalom, he now bolicved that the information
 
 274 SCENES AT JERUSALEM. 
 
 he could give concerning the spies would greatly ben- 
 efit him, and effectually ruin Phinehas; so off he put 
 for Jerusalem, firmly resolved, in the new world that 
 was coming up with this great revolution, to make 
 one more desperate effort to gain that conspicuous and 
 commanding station in society, which he had long 
 been conscious of deserving, but from the attainment 
 of which he had hitherto been debarred by untoward 
 impediments, which, like rival heirs to a great estate, 
 had stood in his way, at every turn and corner in the 
 journey of life. 
 
 " But now his prospects were more flattering than 
 ever before. The public and bitter cursing he had 
 administered to David must be highly pleasing to Ab- 
 salom, and the important discovery he had made, how 
 the two spies had been concealed in the house of Phin- 
 ehas, when carried to the king's ears by himself, must, 
 he was confident, place him forward among the fore- 
 most of the favorites of the popular young monarch. 
 The more he conned the matter over in his mind, the 
 more enchanting brilliancy his hopes put on ; and they 
 now ran up to a dizzy and topless height. He might 
 become first ruler about Absalom's person, prime min- 
 ister of the kingdom, chief commander of the army : 
 conjecture itself was fain to droop its wing when asked 
 to soar to the summit of his prospects. As he hurried 
 down the Mount of Olives towards the city of Jerusa- 
 lem, short sentences, as from a heart full and overflow- 
 ing, burst forth in an audible voice — 'All's well that 
 ends well. The lane has been long, but the happy 
 turn comes at last. Talent and worth, like the capital 
 of the merchant, will, at length, find the proper invest-
 
 SCENES AT JERUSALEM. 275 
 
 ment.' His repulse by the guard at the gate, and the 
 sportive remarks of the Reuben ites assembled there, 
 have already" been detailed. These fell on the excited 
 mind of Shimei like a killing frost on the full-blown 
 flowers of May. Balked, insulted, maddened, he dis- 
 engaged himself from the company, and staggered and 
 reeled off a little way in a perfect wilderness of disap- 
 pointment. It was now that Ben Huppim came to his 
 relief, who had found something of special interest in 
 Shimei's statement to the guard. 
 
 " ' You say,' inquired Ben Huppim, leading Shimei 
 by the arm to the place where his party was quartered, 
 — ' you say that the two spies ran out from that house 
 we searched, after we had left it.' 
 
 " ' Yes,' said Shimei ; ' but the treatment given to 
 merit and loyalty here, is enough to make a man abjure 
 king and country.' 
 
 " ' Did you find out where those spies had been 
 hid ? ' said Ben Huppim : ' we searched the whole 
 house carefully.' 
 
 " 'Respectability and long services are wholly disre- 
 garded,' said Shimei. ' It was my right to see the 
 king ; my errand is of the first importance.' 
 
 " ' But come, come,' said Ben Happim, 'I want you 
 to tell me about the spies : are you sure it was in the 
 house they were concealed? ' 
 
 " 'I intended,' said Shimei, -to give gratuitously to 
 the young king all the benefit of my talents and sage ex- 
 perience. I have witnessed the rise, progress, and down- 
 fall of three kingdoms in succession, Saul's, Ishbosheth's, 
 and David's ; few have had my opportunities. Absalom 
 is young, and will need experience and educated talent
 
 276 SCENES AT JERUSALEM. 
 
 at the helm of state. But to be made a laughing-stock 
 by beardless boys, and stopped in my important em- 
 bassy by a proud, petty subaltern, patience ceases to be 
 a virtue. I've a mind to abandon the helm, and let 
 them all go on the rocks and to the bottom together.' 
 
 " ' Beriah,' said the captain, 'run to the stream — or 
 stay, three or four of you go, bring your helmets full 
 of water. The man is deranged, absolutely driven to 
 madness, by the foolish jests of those thoughtless fel- 
 lows : we must bathe his hands, and face, and templeSj 
 or we shall get nothing out of him.' 
 
 " ' And then,' said Shimei, ' not a man in Bahurim 
 to come out publicly for Absalom, but myself. And 
 to be endangered by that rough fellow, Abishai, and 
 mocked by the teasing Phinehas, and even the boys in 
 the street, at my time of life ; and now my important 
 services meet a recompense like this.' 
 
 " ' Come, come,' said Ben Huppim, ' don't take it so 
 hard ; they are rude young lads ; but don't mind them. 
 Wash your hands and face well in this helmet ; you'll 
 feel better. Soldiers, have not some you a little wine 
 left ? Give him some ; it will help to revive him.' 
 
 " ' Most absurd,' said Shimei, ' to require that I should 
 catch Ahimaaz in a foot-race ! Just as if nature had 
 given me the legs of the antelope, or the wings of the 
 eagle.' 
 
 " The Danites were not great proficients in either the 
 theory or practice of medicine ; yet by the dint of rub- 
 bing, bathing, slapping his hands, and pouring down a 
 little wine, they managed so as to somewhat recover 
 Shimei. Little, however, could be learned from him, 
 save that Jonathan and Ahimaaz had been seen leaving
 
 SCENES AT JERUSALEM. 277 
 
 the premises of Pliinehas after Ben Hiippim's departure, 
 and that they had disguised themselves by putting on 
 something white, particularly about the head and shoul- 
 ders, as he could distinctly see in the pale moonlight. 
 
 " 'Where could they have been hid ? ' said the captain. 
 'We certainly moved all the furniture in every room.' 
 
 " ' O,' said Ira the Kenite, who had been listening 
 most attentively to all that could be drawn from 
 Shimei, 'did you look in the well, captain? ' 
 
 " ' The well ! What well ? ' said Ben Huppim. ' I saw 
 no well.' 
 
 '"That's it! that's it ! that's it!' shouted the boy, 
 with a jump of joy at each exclamation. ' Ha ! she had 
 hid them in the well : that's the way she fooled you.' 
 
 " ' Where is the well ? ' said the captain. 
 
 " ' Why, about the centre of the court,' said Ira. 
 
 " ' Why, captain,' said Beriah, ' that is about the 
 place where that meal was spread out to dry.' 
 
 " ' What meal ? ' said Ira. 
 
 " ' Why, just about the centre of the court, as you 
 describe, there was a cloth spread out, covered with 
 meal. I thought strange of her leaving it there in the 
 night, but I suspected nothing.' 
 
 " ' Better and better ! better and better ! ' exclaimed 
 Ira, in the highest ecstasy. ' I love to see a thing well 
 done. You see she has a covering for the well, and 
 steps going down to where she keeps the milk and 
 butter from the heat : she had jjut them in there, and 
 put the cover on, and spread a cloth over it, and then 
 poured her meal on the top.' 
 
 " ' Ilm-rah for old Bahurim ! ' exclaimed the boy, 
 hopping round, and tossing his arms, and snapping his 
 
 24
 
 278 SCENES AT JERUSALEM. 
 
 fingers. ' It's the best story yet. Twenty Danites, 
 with swords and spears, beat out fairly by one woman. 
 Hurrah for old Bahurim ! And there,' said he, 'is the 
 white, old Shimei saw by the moonlight, about their 
 head and shoulders — a little of the woman's meal, that, 
 in their haste, they had forgotten to brush off.' 
 
 " Ben Huppim felt this sorely, 
 
 " ' I'll go yet and chastise them,' said he. 
 
 *' ' By no means, captain ; that woman deserves a 
 reward,' said Ira. 
 
 " ' But it is a rebellion against King Absalom,' 
 answered the captain. 
 
 " ' Well, captain,' said Ira, more composedly, ' do as 
 you please. I don't know how the customs are among 
 your Danite people, in your country ; but I can tell you 
 that at old Bahurim it is necessary that you should 
 catch a man before you punish him. You can go, if 
 you choose, to Bahurim ; but I think you will find that 
 the nest is cold, and that the old bird and young ones 
 are all gone.' 
 
 " By this time, Shimei was considerably recovered, 
 and Ira the Kenite, having learned to his satisfaction 
 the particulars of the Danites' adventure at Bahurim, 
 now manifested a strong disposition to pry into some 
 of the particulars of Shimei's life and achievements. 
 He accordingly commenced addressing him in - the 
 following style : — 
 
 " ' Shimei, you must tell me about this day's work 
 at Bahurim, as David passed through. Eleazar, the 
 son of your neighbor Zachariah, was here to-night, and 
 told me that you cursed King David as he went through 
 Bahurim.'
 
 SCENES AT JERUSALEM. 279 
 
 '' ' I did,' said Shimei, ' and I care not who knows it.' 
 
 '• ' He said you cursed him bitterly.' 
 
 " ' But not so bitterly as he deserves,' said Shimei. 
 
 '' ' Did you tell him, " Get out, get out from the 
 kingdom " ? ' 
 
 " ' Yes, and the nation should have told him so long 
 ago,' answered Shimei. 
 
 '• ' Did you call him a bloody man ? ' 
 
 " ' Yes, he is a bloody man.' 
 
 " ' Did you charge him with the blood of the house 
 of Saul ? ' 
 
 " ' I did, and he deserves the charge.' 
 
 " ' Mephibosheth, and all ? ' 
 
 " ' I say he deserves the charge.' 
 
 " ' Did you say he was taken in his mischief? ' 
 
 " ' I did, and it is true.' 
 
 " ' Did you throw stones at him ? ' * 
 
 " ' I did ; and only regret that I had not liit him as 
 fairly and effectually as he hit Goliath, long years ago.* 
 
 " ' Well, Shimei,' said Ira, ' what did you think of 
 Abishai's proposal ? ' 
 
 " ' Abishai is a ruffian,' said Shimei. 
 
 " ' But he cuts off heads in style,' said Ira. < You 
 know I am a Kenite ; we are strangers and sojourners 
 in Israel. Father says we must not take part in politi- 
 cal divisions among you. But he says it's no harm for 
 me to see and know how things are going on. Now, 
 Shimei, I would like to know one tiling. Suppose 
 David comes back, what do you think you will 
 do?' 
 
 " ' David comes back ! ' exclaimed the startled 
 Shimei : ' what do you mean ? '
 
 280 SCENES AT JERUSALEM. 
 
 "'Just what I say,' replied Ira: 'suppose David 
 comes back, and is king again, Avhat will you do ? ' 
 
 " There was something in this question that roused 
 Shimei far more effectually than all the wine of the 
 Danites. 
 
 " ' David will never come back,' said he, ' that is sure.' 
 
 " ' I'm not so sure of it,' said Ira : ' I've been trying 
 to find out all I can : my father and mother are great 
 believers in Providence, and it looks to me as if Provi- 
 dence is working for David.' 
 
 " ' How so ? ' said Shimei, with much interest ; ' I 
 see nothing of it.' 
 
 " ' But I see it,' said Ira, ' and I will tell you what I 
 think, and my reasons. I heard Ahithophel's speech 
 to the council last evening : you know he has a great 
 deal of wisdom : well, he wanted them to follow David 
 and kill him to-night. He was the most earnest man I 
 ever saw. It seemed as if his soul would burst through 
 his eyes, as he warned Absalom not to lose a moment, 
 but to pursue and come on David while he was weary 
 and weak-handed, and kill him at once. But they have 
 not done it, and it's past midnight now. David is near 
 Jordan by this time, and will be across before they can 
 overtake him. And I think Ahithophel would not 
 have been so earnest and urgent if he had not thought 
 it would be very dangerous to let David escape. Then 
 I heard the speech of Hushai the Archite too. He did 
 not want them to go after David so soon. He said 
 David was very good at hiding^ and they might not 
 find him so easily ; and then, if they did, he was capi- 
 tal at fightmg, and would not be so easily killed ; and 
 then he said David had a great many powerful men
 
 SCENES AT JERUSALEM. 281 
 
 with him, that were fiercer than lions. But I could 
 not see, if David and his men are so dangerous now, 
 how it is going to be any better, when he has had time 
 to collect more men, and make preparation for battle. 
 Husliai told Absalom how popular he was, and what a 
 great general he would make, and what a large army he 
 would have directly. They all voted that Hushai's 
 speech was best. But I think it was because none of 
 them wanted to go and fight the men that are with 
 David ; for it seems to me, if they expect to kill David 
 at all, Ahithophel's plan was best for that. And I 
 know Ahithophel thought so, he was so earnest.' 
 
 " • Hushai, you know, is called David's friend, and 
 he may be his friend yet ; for though he talked finely 
 for Absalom, yet it seemed to me that his plan was 
 just the plan to give David time to gather his old 
 friends, and prepare to give them battle. So I think it 
 is likely David will get back yet.' 
 
 " Shimei groaned deeply, but continued silent, and 
 Ira went on : — 
 
 " ' I learned from the Reubenites at the gate, that it 
 is thought most of the sons of Manasseh, and all the 
 sons of Gad, will go for David. Now, if Joab has them 
 for a little while under his training, they will be hard 
 to conquer. Did you ever see Joab mustering his 
 men ? ' 
 
 " ' Yes.' said Shimei, dryly. 
 
 " < Well,' said Ira, ' it is the prettiest sight ever my 
 eyes beheld : and then, did you ever hear him make a 
 speech ? ' 
 
 '' ' No,' said Shimei, 'and I never wish to hear him.' 
 
 " ' Well,' said Ira, ' he never makes a long speech, 
 24*
 
 282 
 
 SCENES AT JERUSALEM. 
 
 but it seems to me that to listen to him five minutes, 
 is enough to make the greatest coward on earth fight 
 like a hero. 
 
 " ' But, Shimei, here is another thing. I heard a great 
 chief from Mount Ephraim talking to one of the princes 
 of Judah just after they all came to the city ; and he 
 seemed angry about something, and said the men of 
 Mount Ephraim were as good as the men of Judah, 
 and that they would not be undervalued or imposed on ; 
 and he said a good deal more in that strain. And I've 
 been thinking that Absalom's men will be apt to fall 
 out among themselves in a few days, if great care is 
 not taken. But I'll tell you what I think of more than 
 all things else. Father says that Samuel anointed 
 David king by the commandment of the Lord ; that 
 the kingdom is his from the Lord. And then, you know, 
 they can't take it from him. He is a good man, and 
 Absalom is so wicked ! Every decent man and woman 
 in the city was put to the blush by the very first thing 
 he did when he reached his father's house, last after- 
 noon ; and when the plain country people hear of it, 
 they will all be ashamed of him too. If he goes on 
 that way, they will soon be sick of having him for their 
 king.' 
 
 " ' If you are not a friend of Absalom,' said Shimei, 
 ' I will inform of you, and have you punished.' 
 
 " ' Ah,' said Ira, ' you can't make them hurt the 
 children of Hobab. (Numbers x. 29.) For Moses 
 promised our great father, that if he would come along 
 with you to Canaan, he and his children should be 
 treated well. We don't meddle with your divisions, we 
 don't break the laws, but it is no harm for us to look at 
 what is going on, and think for ourselves.'
 
 SCENES AT JERUSALEM. 2S3 
 
 " Here Shimei arose and walked off in anger and 
 vexation. When alone, he uttered, in a suppressed tone, 
 this soliloquy : ' David come back ! Perdition ! Is this 
 going to turn out another of my wretched blunders? 
 I thought I was proceeding prudently. I was told that 
 nine tenths of Judah were for Absalom ; that Ephraim, 
 Dan, and Benjamin, were almost unanimous ; and that, 
 beyond all question, Absalom would have a triumphant 
 majority of the whole house of Israel. In that case, 
 it was plain that good policy demanded that I should 
 take a public stand at once, and curse David. It was 
 acting the man ; and then Absalom would hear of it, 
 and promote me to honor. But should David prove 
 triumphant in this struggle, then my choice of sides 
 has been exceedingly indiscreet. Sad is the condition 
 of a country,' he exclaimed, ' when the wise and wor- 
 thy patriot can't for his life discover what course is 
 likely to prove the most popular, and the most profita- 
 ble to himself ! ' Such were the melancholy musings of 
 Shimei. In the meantime, the Danites, fatigued with 
 their exertions, were fast asleep. Ira the Kenite re- 
 mained wide awake ; no sleep for his eyes nor slumber 
 for his eyelids : wakeful and watchful he remained, 
 that he might see and know whatever should trans- 
 pire."
 
 284 CAUMI AND AHITHOPHEI.. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 CARMI AND AHITHOPHEL. 
 
 " While these various incidents," said Belial, " were 
 transpiring without the gate of the city, a scene of 
 more solemn and tragical character was progressing 
 within the walls of far-famed Jerusalem. 
 
 " Carmi, the prince of Judah, who received Absa- 
 lom's command to double the guard at the gate, was 
 one of the most powerful nobles of his day ; he was a 
 man of few words, but of great estimation and weight 
 of character ; he lived retired on his estate in the coun- 
 try, and generally shared but moderately in the political 
 agitations of the period. His opinions, however, when 
 expressed, were received with the most profound 
 respect, and his influence was immense, in that large 
 branch of the house of Judah, of which he was now the 
 head. He had been the early and decided friend of Da- 
 vid during the persecutions he sustained from the hand 
 of Saul ; the wants of David and his men, in the gloom- 
 iest period of their history, had often been supplied from 
 the fruitful fields and abundant flocks and herds in the 
 possession of his friend Carmi. When Saul was dead, 
 Carmi was among the foremost who moved in favc^r of 
 placing David on the throne of Judah. During the 
 seven years that David reigned in Hebron, Carmi was
 
 CARMI AND AHITHOPHEL. 285 
 
 prominent and powerful among the princes who were 
 regarded as the pillars of his throne. When Ishbosheth 
 was slain, and all the tribes of Israel united under 
 David, the course of policy he adopted cooled the zeal 
 of most of the princes of Judah, It may be that David, 
 anxious to shun the appearance of partiality for his 
 own tribe, leaned to the other extreme ; but certain it is, 
 many of his early friends complained bitterly and much. 
 Hard is the lot of a king, surrounded by hosts of power- 
 ful and necessary friends, each thinking he has claims 
 to be a special favorite, while, from the very nature of 
 the case, it is impossible to gratify them all. Suffice 
 it to say, that the policy adopted by David alienated 
 many of his earliest and warmest admirers in Judah, 
 and laid the foundations broad and deep for the revolt 
 of that tribe in favor of Absalom. 
 
 "The state of the public pulse," continued Belial, 
 " was accurately understood by Ahithophel. Absalom 
 was instructed by him how to approach the princes of 
 Judah. The objectionable points in David's policy 
 were pointed out and aggravated, and promises of im- 
 portant changes were freely made, in case Absalom 
 should be clothed with royal authority. 
 
 " Such was the astonishing tact and forecast of Ahith- 
 ophel, that the whole matter was planned and prepared 
 without awakening the slightest suspicion in David or 
 his friends. 
 
 " It was not spoken of as a revolt, a rebellion, or even 
 a revolution, but simply as the introduction of Absalom, 
 the unquestioned heir to the crown, to a share in the 
 current administration. Thus the consent and coopcra-
 
 286 CARMI AND AHITHOPHEL. 
 
 tion of multitudes were obtained, who would have been 
 shocked had the real purpose been known. 
 
 ''• Carmi had sought several close interviews with 
 Ahithophel, before he would consent to embark in the 
 revolution ; but the ulterior designs of that wily politi- 
 cian were cai-efuUy concealed from Carmi. from the 
 nobles, and even from Absalom himself. The great 
 reputation of Ahithophel, and the pledges given by 
 Absalom that all should be conducted by his counsel, 
 clothed the undertaking with character and feasibility 
 that secured the general confidence. Ahithophel un- 
 derstood Absalom thoroughly, how wicked and unprin- 
 cipled he was ; he knew that the flush of success would 
 prepare him for going much farther than he at first 
 anticipated. He therefore advised the great sacrifice 
 at Hebron, for the purpose of paying Absalom's pre- 
 tended vow. Great multitudes could thus be assembled 
 without exciting suspicion, 
 
 " He then advised that Absalom should be proclaimed 
 king, without specifying the extent to which he was 
 to be clothed with the royal authority. 
 
 " In this unexplained state of affairs, he urged an 
 instant march upon Jerusalem. He saw this would 
 force David either to fly or give battle to Absalom. 
 His fond, parental affection, he knew, would prevent 
 the latter ; and he saw that, in his sudden, hurried, and 
 troubled flight, he might be easily overtaken and slain. 
 This was Ahithophel 's great object. He wished to 
 make David feel his vengeance. This was indeed the 
 sum of his aim. On the kingdom of Absalom he had 
 made little calculation, but he was resolved that David 
 should die.
 
 CARMI AND AHITHOPHEL. 287 
 
 " There was one error in the calculations of Ahitho- 
 phel, and the Second Book of Samuel ascribes his fail- 
 ure there to the special hand of God. (2 Sam. xvii. 14.) 
 
 " No man looks upon himself as in the way. Every- 
 one is apt to think that the room taken up by himself 
 is occupied to good purpose, and that power and influ- 
 ence in his hands are very appropriately and properly 
 located. Ahithophel did not foresee Absalom's jealousy 
 against himself springing up so soon. Yet this was 
 the chord which, touched by the master-hand of Hushai, 
 the Archite, produced the downfall of Ahithophel and 
 the ruin of Absalom. 
 
 " The modest, virtuous, and noble mind of Carmi 
 was filled with shame and horror, when Absalom pub- 
 licly dishonored the young women his father had left 
 to keep the house. Many of the princes of Judah and 
 Israel shared largely in this shame and horror. But 
 when Ahithophel next, in the general council, urged 
 the instant pursuit and slaughter of David, Carmi was 
 almost petrified ; matters seemed rushing to a dire ex- 
 tremity, but he was no public speaker to combat the 
 argument. The speech of Hushai the Archite gave 
 him some relief, as it adjourned to another day, at leastyt 
 the tragical termination of their wretched enterprise. 
 He was carried away by the argument of Hushai on 
 the danger of a night attack on the veteran warriors 
 around David ; but when he saw the impression made 
 on Absalom by Hushai's intimations that Absalom had 
 better be king himself — that lie was the choice of the 
 people — that they did not wish to have a power behind 
 the throne greater than the throne, &c. — his soul 
 was in a tornado of trouble. He dreaded an explosion
 
 288 CARMI AND AHITHOPHEL. 
 
 between Absalom and Ahithophel as inevitable destruc- 
 tion to all concerned. 
 
 " Carmi received and executed Absalom's orders, as 
 above described ; but as he returned from the gate, his 
 mind was as a ship on a stormy sea, in a dark night, 
 when the stars are hid, and the rudder is broken, and 
 the compass has fallen overboard. 
 
 " As he drew near to the capital, he encountered 
 Ahithophel in the street. The aged man had buckled 
 on his armor, taken his sword, and made every prepa- 
 ration for his nigh pursuit of David, not dreaming but 
 that his counsel had been unanimously adopted. 
 
 *' Carmi's hair stood up, his teeth chattered, and his 
 frame trembled as he silently paused after the encounter. 
 
 " ' Why have you left the council ? ' asked Ahitho- 
 phel, calmly. 
 
 " 'The council is dissolved,' answered Carmi. 
 
 "'Where are the troops ordered out for my expedi- 
 tion?' 
 
 " ' They are not ordered out.' 
 
 " ' How ? what ? That is strangely negligent.' 
 
 " ' Absalom has changed his plan.' 
 
 " ' Changed his plan ! Madness ! No other plan will 
 do. David's spirits will rally, if time be allowed him. 
 His old military habits will revive — his old veterans 
 will gather round him — he will soon become formida- 
 ble — every moment is precious — delay is full of 
 danger. The decisive blow must be struck to-night. 
 Where shall I find Absalom ? ' 
 
 " ' It was thought,' said Carmi, taking Ahithophel by 
 the arm, ' that David may be hid in some pit, or place 
 of concealment, and that you would not be able to find
 
 CARMI AND AHITHOPHEL. 289 
 
 him in the dark. You know how often he ehided 
 Saul.' 
 
 *' ' But I have the surest intelligence that he is halted 
 in the open plain, beyond Bahurim, weeping and bent 
 to the earth with sorrow, waiting and hoping for a 
 message of reconciliation. The opportunity must not 
 be lost. I must see Absalom instantly.' 
 
 " ' But it was thought,' said Carmi, holding on to his 
 arm, ' that if rushed on too suddenly, his martial spirit 
 may awake. You know he is tremendous when, 
 roused. Remember Goliath.' 
 
 " ' Derangement! ' said Ahithophel, stamping on the 
 pavement — ' absolute derangement. 1 tell you he is 
 overwhelmed, not with fear, but with trouble — mental 
 anguish. The father has overcome the king. His 
 distress for Absalom's conduct has unmanned him. 
 Now is the time to strike.' 
 
 " ' But it was thought that your men would go with 
 apprehension and misgiving in this night attack, and 
 that the heart of the boldest would melt, as all know 
 the valor of David and his men.' 
 
 " ' I will inspire them with emulation by putting a 
 price on his head — yes, a higher price than he put on 
 storming the tower of the Jebusites.' 
 
 " ' But,' said Carmi, ' Joab and Abishai are with him, 
 and the thirty-six mighty men, and the life-guards, and 
 the Cherethites and Pelethites, and the men from 
 Gath. It was said they will fight as a bear robbed of 
 her whelps in the field ; that they are chafed and bit- 
 ter in their minds in view of the revolution, and the 
 wrath of each is burning now like a furnace of fire.' 
 
 " ' Who said all this ? ' asked Ahithophel, hastily. 
 
 25
 
 290 CARMI AND AHITHOPHEL. 
 
 " ' Hushai the Archite.' 
 
 " ' Hushai ! Was he in the council ? and did he have 
 the impudence to speak ? — the proverbial friend of 
 David, and amongst us. beyond doubt, in disguise. 
 Hushai ! the traitor ! I'll have him arrested and pun- 
 ished. But first, David must be pursued and slain ; for 
 on that all depends. Come with me instantly to the 
 king. Surprising, that he would listen to Hushai ! 
 But come along.' 
 
 '' ' But,' said Carmi, ' I must tell you, the men will 
 not go on this expedition io-night. I saw the boldest 
 princes of Judah, Ephraim, and Dan, amazed, turn pale 
 and tremble like a reed in the wind, while Hushai 
 drew a picture of the indomitable strength and bravery 
 of the stern and fierce warriors that are with David. 
 No man who heard that speech will consent to attack 
 them till a large army can be collected, so as to over- 
 whelm them with numbers. It was the unanimous 
 vote of all the nobles.' 
 
 " ' And Absalom was counselled by Hushai ! ' ex- 
 claimed Ahithophel! 'I'll mark that, but not now. 
 Come, Carmi, you must go with me to the king, this 
 moment, or we are all ruined, utterly. If David 
 escapes to-night, and the public mind has time to re- 
 act, dire results may follow. Hushai is in David's 
 interest : of that I am sure. I can show his sophistry 
 to the king and the princes : it must be done forthwith, 
 or the golden moment is gone forever. Come along ; 
 wait no longer.' 
 
 " ' Ahithophel,' said Carmi, taking hold of his arm 
 strongly with both hands, ' we are old friends.' 
 
 "'Certainly,' said Ahithophel, 'but do not delay.'
 
 CARMI AND AHITHOPHEL. 291 
 
 " ' I would not have engaged in this revohition, but 
 for yon.' 
 
 *' ' I know it,' said Ahithophel ; ' but let us not con- 
 sume time.' 
 
 " ' Many others, through confidence in you, have 
 done as I have done,' said Carmi. 
 
 " ' I know it,' said Ahithophel : ' but why lose pre- 
 cious time by talking of it now ? ' 
 
 " ' You must promise me,' said Carmi, ' that you will 
 not abandon us now, that we are brought into this 
 difficulty.' 
 
 '• ' What do you mean? ' said Ahithophel. 
 
 " ' You have had long experience, and know there 
 is much to be borne in this world, even from our 
 friends.' 
 
 " ' Certainly,' said Ahithophel ; ' but why do you 
 tease and tantalize me thus ? ' 
 
 '' < It is best I should tell you all. though it grieves 
 me much ; but you have self-command, and must bear 
 it, for the sake of your friends.' 
 
 " ' You torment me ! ' exclaimed Ahithophel. 
 
 '• ' Then, to be plain,' said Carmi, ' you must not see 
 Absalom to-night.' 
 
 " ' If I don't, I see ruin as plain as ever I saw the 
 sun in the heavens.' 
 
 " ' He will not listen to you,' said Carmi. 
 
 " ' To me ! not listen to me, say you ? He is under 
 the most solemn pledge to do it from the beginning. 
 That was the first point settled.' 
 
 "' Pledges may be broken,' said Carmi ; ' don't see 
 him now ; it will not do just at present ; but you will 
 be able to bring all things right, by taking time.'
 
 292 CARMI AND AHITHOPHEL, 
 
 " ' Speak out plainly ! ' vociferated Ahithophel ; ' this 
 perplexity is insupportable ! ' 
 
 " ' Then,' said Carmi, ' Hushai, in the presence of all 
 the elders, called on Absalom to show himself a man ; 
 said his warmest admirers were sick of the whisperings 
 that were spreading every where — that the king was in 
 leading-strings — that another governed, and used him 
 only as a tool — and that it was the popularity of the 
 counsellor, and not of the king, that had brought such 
 multitudes around his standard. Absalom arose under 
 the strongest emotions ; publicly thanked Hushai for 
 the frank fidelity that had communicated to him the 
 knowledge of these facts, so vitally connected with his 
 honor ; and called on all the nobles of all the tribes to 
 witness, that from that hour it should be plain that he 
 was both the king and the counsellor — he would let 
 it be seen whose name and popularity had rolled the 
 successful tide of the revolution over the land ; and 
 again, in the most superlatively graceful and elegant 
 manner, thanked Hushai over and over, he said, from 
 his inmost heart, and that the obligation would be 
 lasting as his life for assisting him to discover the true 
 import and design of counsels, which, while they pro- 
 fessed to be for the public good, were, with selfish 
 cunning, aimed to put another in command, secure to 
 him all the honor of the victory, and send his name to 
 succeeding generations, as the great actor who had the 
 imperishable renown of striking the main, decisive 
 blow in this memorable revolution.' 
 
 " At this, Ahithophel started back, elevated his pale 
 face, fixed on the declining moon those piercing gray 
 eyes that now seemed starting from their sockets,
 
 CARMI AND AHITHOPHEL. 293 
 
 stretched upward, with spread fingers, his long, skinny 
 arms, and in a sepulchral, unearthly voice, exclaimed, 
 ' Ha ! angel of death ! art thou there ? I know thee ! 
 Thou art come at last ! ' 
 
 " ' Compose yourself,' said Carmi : ' all may yet go 
 well, only take the needful time for management.' 
 
 " ' Let me go ! ' said Ahithophel. 
 
 *' ' No,' said Carmi, ' you must come to my room and 
 spend the night with me.' 
 
 " ' Let me go ! ' said Ahithophel, impatiently. 
 
 '' ' If you prefer it,' said Carmi, still holding on, 
 ' I will go to your room, and spend the night with 
 you.' 
 
 " ' Let go my arm ! ' raved Ahithophel, drawing his 
 sword from the scabbard with a violence that was 
 fearful. 
 
 " ' Madman ! ' exclaimed Carmi, quitting his arm and 
 stepping back, ' what do you mean ! ' 
 
 " Ahithophel turned in silence, and walked down the 
 street ; presently he turned a corner, and was out of 
 sight. Carmi gazed after him till he disappeared, and 
 then returned to his lodgings with a heart heavy and 
 filled with troubled forebodings. 
 
 " Without the gate of the city all was now silent 
 and still. Sleep had established his dominion over all, 
 save two or three Reubenite sentinels, and the wake- 
 ful eyes of Ira the Kenite. Ira was reclining on the 
 ground, his head raised on his hand, and his eyes were 
 roving among the stars, when the gate quietly opened, 
 and a mounted man rode out. 
 
 "'Ha!' said the Reubenite sentinel, *I thought 
 none were to pass the gate before morning.' 
 
 25*
 
 294 CARMI AND AHITHOPHEL. 
 
 " ' It is the king's counsellor,' said the guard : ' I am 
 authorized to let him pass.' 
 
 " The rider moved slowly along near the spot where 
 the Kenite boy was reclining. As the figure passed 
 between him and the clear blue sky, the tallness of his 
 person, the long gray locks, the bending attitude and 
 remarkable mien, identified Ahithophel, the far-famed 
 counsellor. He seemed in a profound reverie, and was 
 muttering short sentences as he rode along. 
 
 " ' Said Hushai's counsel was the best. Would show 
 he is his own man — that no man could use him as a 
 tool — that he will be king and counsellor both. 
 Well, he shall know what my name and counsel are 
 worth to his cause ; and where Hushai will land him.' 
 
 " Such broken sentences, falling on the acute ear of 
 Ira, roused his curiosity to know what this could mean. 
 To spring to his feet, and follow the aged counsellor, 
 was with him the work of a moment ; yet he made no 
 attempt to come up close to him ; for there was an 
 awfulness in Ahithophel's manner, and something so 
 peculiar in the tone of his voice, that, forward and 
 fearless as Ira was, kept him at a respectful distance. 
 The old man went muttering along ; but even the 
 sharp ear of Ira could not gather many of the words 
 that he uttered. Yet when he remembered his earnest- 
 ness in the council, and that his advice had not been 
 followed, this, together with the broken sentences he 
 had heard, led his active mind to conclude that he 
 now despaired of Absalom's success, and was either 
 flying for his life, or in the agony of disappointment 
 was resolved to seek a reconciliation with David. 
 
 "When Ahithophel reached his house, he entered,
 
 CARMI AND AHITHOPHEL. 295 
 
 and waked his family, and gave them a hasty though 
 comprehensive charge about the proper adjustment of 
 his worldly aftairs. He then secured a rope, and came 
 to the side of the great road leading to Jerusalem. The 
 only sentence Ira could distinctly hear Avas this : ' I 
 wish it were in the great street of the city, that Absa- 
 lom might find, at once, all its effects on his cause and 
 prospects.' A bending tree was standing there. He 
 threw the rope over a large limb, and in another mo- 
 ment swung himself by the rope, and died. 
 
 '' Ira looked on till the horrible struggle was over, 
 then turned and hurried with great speed, and reached 
 and roused the Danites just at the break of day. He 
 said not a word of what he had seen, but entered the 
 city at the first opening of the gate, and went directly 
 to the council chamber, where Absalom and many of 
 the nobles were already assembled. At length, look- 
 ing round, with some indications of anxiety, Absalom 
 inquired, — 
 
 " ' Is Ahithophel in the room ? ' 
 
 " * He is not,' said an officer near the door. 
 
 " ' Send for him immediately,' said Absalom. 
 
 " ' He has left the city, as I learn,' said Carmi, stand- 
 ing near the king. 
 
 " ' Left the city ! ' said Absalom : why, that is strange : 
 he is not gone far, I should think, at a time like this.' 
 
 " ' Ahithophel is dead ! ' said Ira, who never hesitated 
 to speak in any company. 
 
 " 'Ahithophel dead ! ' exclaimed Absalom. ' It is not 
 possible.' 
 
 " ' He is dead, my lord,' said Ira ; 'I saw him hang
 
 296 CARINU AND AHITHOPHEL. ^ 
 
 himself beside the road, near his own house, about two 
 hours before day.' 
 
 " ' AVhy, what can have ailed him ? ' said Absalom. 
 
 " ' He despaired of our cause,' answered Carmi. 
 
 " ' Our cause is prospering,' answered Absalom; ' the 
 people are increasing every hour.' 
 
 " ' By the delay in pursuing David,' said Carmi, ' he 
 said that the golden mom.ent was irretrievably lost ; 
 that his old friends would have time .to assemble, and 
 he would become too strong for us in battle.' 
 
 " ' Then we will pursue after him immediately,' said 
 Absalom. ' There has not been much time lost yet, 
 and it is best to do it before this case of Ahithophel 
 has time to spread far. Say as little about it as possi- 
 ble, all of you ; speak not of it at all.' 
 
 " ' Had we not better,' said Carmi, ' send after David 
 and desire conditions of peace ? ' 
 
 "'Speak not of it,' replied Absalom, earnestly: 
 ' things have gone too far. Amasa, make your prepara- 
 tions as speedily as you can ; we must pursue the 
 refugees with all possible despatch.' 
 
 " The whole city of Jerusalem was presently in that 
 state of hurry, hubbub, and mingled confusion, attend- 
 ant on the preparations of a great multitude to depart 
 on an important expedition. But we must now leave 
 them to take notice of the progress of things on the 
 other side of the river."
 
 BARZILLAI THE GILEADITE. 297 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 BARZILLAI THE GILEADITE. 
 
 " The rising sun," said Belial, " had just begun to 
 tinge the top of the mountains of Gilead, when a ven- 
 erable man, of fine personal appearance, walked forth 
 from his dwelling to take his morning ride through his 
 cultivated fields. He yet retained much bodily vigor, 
 though his age bordered on fourscore. A little grand- 
 son, of nine years old, and two granddaughters, the one 
 perhaps seven years of age and the other five, were 
 playing around him, lively as morning larks, and court- 
 ing his caresses before he mounted his horse. 
 
 " Two visitors were about to accompany him. The 
 one appeared an Israelitish prince of the first grade, and 
 the other, though on terms of great intimacy, evidently 
 belonged to some other nation. The mansion-house 
 was large and commodious, though free from any aping 
 of extravagant grandeur. The enclosure around it 
 contained lofty shade trees, interspersed with every 
 variety of shrubbery : delightful walks, laid out in the 
 very best taste, added to its interest and its loveliness. 
 
 " Before the party rose to their saddles, the eye of 
 the stranger was caught by an extensive apiary, or 
 range of bee-houses, at the one side of the enclosure. 
 He drew near to view it ; and already the little, lively,
 
 298 BARZLLLAI THE GILEADITE. 
 
 busy insects were plying their labors, building their 
 cells, carrying in their comb, and preparing their honey 
 with all the nimble industry, hilarity, and briskness in- 
 spired by a beautiful summer morning. They hurried, 
 buzzed, and dashed about as if the mightiest interests 
 depended on the speedy accomplishment of the little 
 enterprises in which they were so earnestly engaged, 
 
 " The stranger inquired what was the annual prod- 
 uce of this establishment in honey and wax, and 
 what its average value. 
 
 " The patriarch replied by giving details and specifi- 
 cations, which showed how closely his personal atten- 
 tion was given to the diversified interest of his large 
 establishment. 
 
 " On the other side of the enclosure, a gushing 
 spring poured forth its cool, transparent waters, and a 
 little below was a large dairy, where cream, butter, 
 cheese, and articles in that line, were found in rich 
 abundance. Milkmaids, assisted by a number of boys, 
 were bearing vessels of milk, brimming full and cov- 
 ered with snow-white foam, from the buildings where 
 the cattle were kept, to the dairy. A question was 
 asked by the nobleman of Israel — ' How is the best 
 method to secure the greatest quantity of milk from a 
 given number of cows ? ' 
 
 " The stranger said, that large pasture fields, with 
 frequent changes, would produce the best result. 
 
 " The old patriarch said, ^ Where land is valuable, 
 there is a fine profit in cutting the grass with scythes, 
 and feeding it to tlie cattle in their stalls. It is more 
 trouble,' said he, ' but the advantage is more than a 
 compensation. The grass in that case is not injured
 
 BARZILLAI THE GILEADITE. 299 
 
 by the treading of the cattle, and you save all the litter 
 and manure — an important consideration with the 
 farmer. The same quantity of land,' he said, ' will sus- 
 tain more than double the quantity of stock. Try it, 
 friends, try it,' said he. ' It is a maxim with me, that 
 " what is worth doing at all, is worth doing well." ' 
 
 " They now passed on to where barns of mammoth 
 dimensions and large granaries arose ; immense quan- 
 tities of wheat, barley, rye, and the various grains for 
 bread, together with beans, peas, and such like articles, 
 were here stored in vast profusion. 
 
 " They then rode through extensive orchards and 
 vineyards, and the conversation turned on the culture 
 of fruit-trees and the vine ; the best methods of graft- 
 ing, budding, pruning, and improving the size, quantity, 
 and flavor of the fruit. On these topics the prince of 
 Israel appeared to be entirely in his element, and expa- 
 tiated with great fluency. 
 
 " Next came the wide wheat field, bordered on the 
 one side by the barley, and on the other by the rye. 
 The patriarch now discoursed of grain, particularly the 
 wheat ; the red chafl" variety, the white chaff, the blue 
 chaff", the golden chaff", and the adaptation of the wheat 
 from Egypt, rather than the seed brought from Ar- 
 menia, to the soil and climate of the country where 
 they resided. 
 
 " The party next entered the broad meadows ; and 
 the variety of grasses was their theme, the manner and 
 time of manuring the land, so as to produce the heav- 
 iest swarth ; also the period best for mowing, so as to 
 secure the first quality of hay. 
 
 " They now entered large pastures, where the land
 
 300 BARZILLAI THE GILEADITE. 
 
 was richly set with grass. Here camels, horses, mules, 
 asses, and such like animals were around them in great 
 numbers and variety. Something was said of the 
 characteristic distinction between the camel and the 
 dromedary ; but the principal discourse was engrossed 
 by the qualities and value of the noble horse, which 
 had recently become an object of more attention than 
 formerly. A difference of opinion arose between the 
 prince of Israel and the stranger respecting the com- 
 parative merits of the Arabian horse, and the great 
 chariot horse of Egypt, each being mounted on a horse 
 of the kind he preferred, and each maintaining his 
 opinion with pertinacity and some animation ; when 
 the patriarch observed, that for the saddle the horse of 
 Arabia was certainly admirable, and the Egyptian horse 
 for the harness had great reputation. ' But,' said he, 
 patting the shoulder of the noble animal which he 
 rode, ' here is a specimen of the horse, lately introduced 
 from the country on the Tigris, that in a very high 
 degree unites the good qualities of both the races you 
 have mentioned.' 
 
 <' The party now rode leisurely along, and entered 
 extensive fields, where vast herds of cattle were feed- 
 ing. They were thrifty and in fine condition. Much 
 was said of the various breeds of cattle, and the state 
 of the market for beef, hides, and tallow ; when the 
 patriarch directed the attention of his guests to some 
 large bulls of Bashan. ' These,' said he, ' are some of 
 my four-year-olds, but they are full-blooded, and excel- 
 lent samples of that kind of stock.' 
 
 "The stranger here turned to the old man, and ob- 
 served, ' The survey we have taken of your possessions,
 
 BARZILLAI THE GILEADITE. 301 
 
 this morning, induces me to conclude that you have 
 not devoted much of your life to politics, nor con- 
 sumed much time in office-seeking or office-holding.' 
 * Politics ! ' exclaimed the prince of Israel, starting as if 
 a train of affecting recollections had suddenly been 
 recalled to his mind — ' politics ! office-hunting ! I 
 rarely hear the subject broached, but I think of that 
 good old maxim which our ancestors have handed 
 down from a remote period — '• Blessed is the man that 
 won't run crazy." Absolutely, were it not that I have 
 great confidence in the patriarch Joseph as an inter- 
 preter of dreams, I should be of opinion that that lot 
 of meagre, famished, miserable creatures, which Pha- 
 raoh saw, in his dream, coming up from the river, 
 " poor, and very ill-favored, and lean-fleshed, such," 
 said the old king, " as I never saw in all the land of 
 Egypt for badness," must have been a company of 
 disappointed office-hunters.' 
 
 <' ' My ancestors,' said the stranger with a good-hu- 
 mored glance toward the patriarch, ' have also handed 
 down a maxim of which I have been reminded this 
 morning. It is this : " Blessed is the man that has a 
 comfortable home, and sense enough to stay at it." ' 
 
 "The patriarch smiled, and said, 'The giver of all 
 good has certainly bestowed on me many tokens of his 
 unmerited bounty. He has also given me cheerfulness 
 of spirit to taste his gifts with joy, and I trust, more- 
 over, has inspired my heart with thankfulness for his 
 goodness, and a readiness to impart of his bounty to 
 others, as I see they have need. But come, let us go 
 up on the rising grounds, and view the flocks of sheep 
 and goats.' They followed him accordingly, and saw, 
 
 26
 
 302 BARZILLAI THE GILEADITE. 
 
 spread over many a fertile hill, the fleecy multitudes 
 under the care of the shepherds — sheep of various 
 tribes — the skipping and bounding lambs, and with 
 his long-descending beard, the patriarchal goat. 
 
 " The venerable old man, who was particularly en- 
 thusiastic in this branch of husbandry, was in the midst 
 of a dissertation, in which he maintained the decided 
 superiority of the rams of the .breed of Bashan over 
 every other specimen and variety, he said, ' between the 
 great Euphrates and the river of Egypt,' when the at- 
 tention of the company was suddenly arrested by the 
 appearance of two persons approaching them at a rapid 
 pace. The travellers had a youthful aspect, but there 
 was something in their manner and bearing that elfectu- 
 ally arrested the discussion that had been in progress. 
 
 " • The blessings of the morning be upon you, my 
 sons,' said the patriarch, when they were near enough 
 to be addressed: 'you seem anxious and in haste.' 
 
 " 'We are seeking,' said the foremost, ' Barzillai the 
 Gileadite.' 
 
 " ' That is my name and title,' said the patriarch. 
 
 "'Allow me then,' said the young man, 'to intro- 
 duce to your acquaintance Jonathan, the son of Abia- 
 thar, the high priest of Jerusalem.' 
 
 " ' And my friend, here,' said Jonathan, ' is Ahimaaz, 
 the son of Zadok.' 
 
 " ' Happy to see you, my sons, happy to see you : let 
 me make you acquainted with Machir, the prince of 
 Lodebar. And this,' turning to the stranger, ' is Shobi, 
 the son of Nahash, the ruler of the children of Ammon. 
 Can I be of service to you, this morning, my young 
 friends ? ' (2 Sam. xvii. 27.)
 
 BARZILLAI THE GILEADITE. 303 
 
 " ' "We have come in behalf of King David,' said 
 Ahimaaz. ' You have heard doubtless of Absalom's 
 rebellion.' 
 
 " ' Rebellion ! ' exclaimed Barzillai : ' is it then so seri- 
 ous ? Some vague rumors came last night of troubles 
 existing or expected at Jerusalem. But I hoped it was 
 either a fabrication, or some small matter exaggerated.' 
 
 " ' It is a painful reality,' said Ahimaaz. ' The king 
 fled from Jerusalem late in the afternoon, crossed Jor- 
 dan in the night, and is now near the city of Mahanaini 
 with some fifteen hundred followers.' 
 
 " ' Then he is in need of provision,' said Barzillai : 
 ' I must see to sending him supplies instantly.' 
 
 " 'I will share that duty with you,' said Machir, and 
 at once put his horse in motion towards Lodebar. 
 
 " ' David was my father's friend,' said the Ammonite : 
 'he shall not lack my friendship now.' And he bowed 
 low to the company, with appropriate expressions of his 
 best wishes, till the tall plume that streamed from his 
 head-dress swept the arching neck of the beautiful ani- 
 mal which he rode. He then resumed an erect posi- 
 tion, fixed himself firmly in the saddle, and wheeling 
 his fine Arabian horse, shot, like an arrow, over hill and 
 valley, in the direction of his home, till lost from their 
 view in the distant forest. 
 
 •' In the mean time, the noble Assyrian charger of 
 Barzillai was bearing his master with swiftness and 
 ease towards the large mansion-house, while Ahimaaz 
 and Jonathan, rejoicing in their welcome reception, 
 followed him on foot. 
 
 " As soon as they were witliin call of the house, 
 ' Daniel,' said the old chief to one of the princijjal
 
 304 BARZILLAI THE GILEADITE, 
 
 servants, ' take four or five of the young men with you, 
 and hurry down to the lower pasture ; turn out three- 
 score and ten of the best beeves, the largest and the most 
 thrifty, Daniel, and drive them, as fast as you can with- 
 out injury to the cattle, to Mahanaim. King David is 
 there, in want of provisions. And, Daniel, see here : take 
 two hundred of the best sheep ; they will be wanted 
 too ; put them in the same drove, and take them along.' 
 
 "'Benjamin,' to another servant, 'harness up, as 
 quick as possible, all the beasts of burden and all the 
 wagons and carts on the place ; we must send them 
 with supplies to King David.' 
 
 " All was now hurry and bustle about the large 
 establishment of Barzillai. Beds and bedding, house- 
 hold, kitchen and table furniture in all variety and 
 abundance, were packed into the wagons and on the 
 beasts of burden. And then sacks of fine flour, and 
 wheat and barley, and parched corn, beans and peas, 
 large jars of honey, kegs of butter, and casks of cheese, 
 with all the variety of vegetables that the fruitful fields 
 of the venerable old chief could furnish, loaded wagon 
 after wagon and cart after cart ; also a number of camels 
 and asses. 
 
 " The preparations were now complete, and the 
 drivers had already mounted to their stations, when a 
 fine-looking, motherly old lady put her head out at 
 the door : 'Benjamin! don't start yet a minute.' Pres- 
 ently out she came, followed by two stout serving 
 women carrying a large basket between them. ' Just 
 a few things for the king himself,' she said to her 
 husband. 
 
 " The basket was then hoisted and fixed in a secure
 
 BARZILLAI THE GILEADITE. 305 
 
 place on the wagon. 'Now, Benjamin,' said the old 
 lady, ' be cai-efnl of the basket, and mind it is just for 
 the king himself.' 
 
 " Away swept the train of carts, and wagons, and 
 beasts of burden, Barzillai, on his superb Assyrian 
 charger, leading the way ; and soon the towers of Maha- 
 naim rose in view. 
 
 " The supplies sent by the generous Machir, from 
 Lodebar, arrived not long afterwards. And nobly and 
 in prince-like style did the Ammonite redeem his pledge. 
 Sheep, and oxen, and fine flour, and other rich provis- 
 ions, furnished, in the very best order, and in astonish- 
 ing profusion, bore witness of the productiveness and 
 the wealth of the land which God in his providence 
 had bestowed on the children of Lot. 
 
 " The proper officers had made a liberal distribution, 
 and the wants of all had been abundantly supplied, and 
 the day was far advanced, when Ahimaaz, who was 
 conversing with the family of Phinehas the Levite, was 
 approached by a lad whose face appeared flushed with 
 rapid travelling, and addressed him in a very familiar 
 manner — ' Well, you escaped from the Danites, safe 
 enough, I see.' 
 
 '"Why, Ira, you unaccountable boy, can this be 
 you?' 
 
 " ' Certainly,' said Ira. 
 
 " ' Why, what in the world brought you here ? ' 
 
 " ' I might ask the same cpiestiou,' said Ira, ' only 
 that I happen to know the style in which you left 
 Jerusalem. I was not honored with so respectable a 
 train of followers.' 
 
 " ' I suppose not,' said Ahimaaz ; ' and what do you 
 26*
 
 306 
 
 BARZILLAI THE GILEADITE. 
 
 think you deserve, for telling Absalom that Jonathan 
 and I were concealed at Enrogel ? ' 
 
 '^ ' They were disputing whether you had gone with 
 David or not. And I told them you had not gone with 
 David, but that you were at Enrogel. How could I 
 know that they would take you for spies, and send to 
 have you arrested ? ' 
 
 " ' But,' said Ahimaaz, ' you came as guide to the 
 Danites, to show them where we were.' 
 
 " ' O, yes,' said Ira, ' when I found they were going 
 to try to catch you, then I was willing to come along. 
 I did not wish you any harm, but I wanted to see the 
 chase. I knew that, if you got a good start, their 
 chance was bad. But, Ahimaaz, do you think there 
 will be a battle ? ' 
 
 " ' A battle ? ' said Ahimaaz : ' what put that in your 
 head ? ' 
 
 " ' Why,' said Ira, ' some of the people think that 
 David will keep flying before Absalom, till he will go 
 into the land of Moab, or Amnion, or Syria ; and some 
 say that his old officers and soldiers will turn and fight 
 when Absalom comes.' 
 
 " ' When Absalom comes ! ' said Ahimaaz : ' does 
 Absalom intend coming ? ' 
 
 " ' He is on his march now,' said Ira ; ' he will be 
 near Jordan to-night. He gave orders to pursue after 
 David, as soon as he heard that Ahithophel was 
 dead.' 
 
 '"Ahithophel dead ! ' ejaculated Ahimaaz : 'is Ahitho- 
 phel dead ? ' 
 
 " ' Yes,' said the Kenite, ' he hung himself last night, 
 a little before day.'
 
 BARZILLAI THE GILEADITE. 307 
 
 " * Is it possible ? ' said Ahimaaz : ' why, what was 
 the matter ? ' 
 
 " ' Well,' said Ira, * some said it was because he was 
 displeased that Absalom took the counsel of Hushai the 
 Archite, rather than his own ; and some said it was 
 because he thought the best time for killing David had 
 been let slip, and that David would gather friends, and 
 conquer, and be king again, and Ahithophel could not 
 bear to live to see it. But others said that Absalom 
 had been talking that he was king, and he would show 
 the people that Ahithophel could not lead him about 
 as he pleased ; and Ahithophel had found it out, and 
 hung himself, to spite Absalom, and discourage Absa- 
 lom's friends. It may be they were all right, for 
 Ahithophel was a great man, and must have had some 
 terrible motive for such a deed. It may be that it was 
 because God had forsaken him.' 
 
 " ' But are you sure that Absalom is coming ? ' 
 
 " ' I heard his orders,' said Ira : 'I saw Amasa muster- 
 ing the men. They were to start immediately. And 
 so I came over. I thought, if there is going to be a 
 battle, I would like to see it.' 
 
 '"Is Amasa,' said Ahimaaz, ' the commander-in-chief? ' 
 
 " 'Yes, next to Absalom, you know,' answered Ira. 
 
 " ' Come with me,' said Ahimaaz : ' this information 
 must be given to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai the Gittite.' 
 
 " They were soon together, and Ahimaaz stated briefly 
 what he had learned from Ira the Kenite. Ittai the 
 Gittite alone showed surprise and apprehension at the 
 news of Absalom's intended pursuit. But at the men- 
 tion that Amasa was chief captain of Absalom's army, 
 a glance was exchanged between Joab and Abishai.
 
 308 BARZILLAI THE GILEADITE. 
 
 Something bordering on a smile appeared on the face 
 of Abishai, but the visage of Joab remained unmoved. 
 
 " 'Can you rely on the statements of this Kenite ? ' 
 said Joab to Ahimaaz. 
 
 " * I know him well,' said Ahimaaz : ' he is a med- 
 dling, inquisitive kind of creature, that must pry into 
 every thing, and know all that is transpiring ; but his 
 character for truth is unimpeachable, and moreover the 
 accuracy and extent of his information is marvellous. 
 You may rely with full confidence on his statements.' 
 
 "'Then,' said Ittai, 'what shall we do? ' 
 
 " ' Appeal to the God of battles,' said Joab. 
 
 " ' But the king,' said Abishai, ' will not consent to 
 fight Absalom, He would rather fly beyond the land 
 of Israel, and die in exile.' 
 
 " ' I respect the sympathies of a father,' said Joab, 
 ' but the country must not be sacrificed. Ittai, take 
 Eleazar, the son of Dodo, and go to the king ; you are 
 an old friend that he values highly. Tell him that 
 Absalom is coming, and that he must give him battle. 
 Tell him that his old soldiers will not retreat another 
 hair's breadth : be firm, and speak plainly. Abishai. 
 take the Tachmonite, follow Ittai at a little distance, 
 then enter and confirm his words. I will come pres- 
 ently with Ahimaaz and Jonathan ; we must be im- 
 movable as the cliff's of Carmel, and the king must 
 hear — he will hear.' "
 
 PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE. 309 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE. 
 
 •' David was now, to a great extent, rested and 
 refreshed after the fatigues of his journey. He was 
 calmly reposing on a couch, furnished by Barzillai the 
 Gileadite, and in a low tone was chanting one of his 
 favorite psalms, when Ittai came in. 
 
 " I have mentioned," said Belial, " that Ittai was 
 regarded as a superior man, of great delicacy and 
 refinement of feeling, and he had long been the inti- 
 mate friend of David. Ittai thought it no violation of 
 the orders of his superior, to give the king the most 
 welcome intelligence first. 
 
 " 'News from Jerusalem, my lord, O king.' 
 
 " David started from his couch, and Ittai went on. 
 
 " 'Ahithophel, disappointed and in despair at some 
 derangement of his plans, has hanged himself.' 
 
 " ' The Lord reigneth ; let the earth rejoice,' exclaimed 
 David, raising his hands and eyes in an attitude of 
 devotion; 'let the multitudes of the isles be glad.' 
 
 " ' Our further advices,' said Ittai, ' are of a more 
 gloomy character. The insurgents are pursuing us, 
 and will be near Jordan to-night.' 
 
 " ' Clouds and darkness are round about him,' con- 
 tinued David ; then adding in a submissive tone, ' right-
 
 310 PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE. 
 
 eousness and judgment are the habitation of his 
 throne. Ittai, Ave must prepare for further flight, if it 
 be even beyond the limits of the land of Israel.' 
 
 "'Your faithful servants, my lord,' said Ittai, 'are 
 of one mind — that further flight must not be thought of.' 
 
 " ' What then? ' said David ; ' shall we enter the city 
 and stand a siege ? But you see we are not prepared : 
 our only hope is in flight.' 
 
 " ' Give them battle,' said Abishai, who now entered 
 with the Tachmonite. ' We left them the throne, the 
 capital, and all the country beyond Jordan ; but if they 
 follow us here, they shall find the horrid front of war, 
 for we will retreat no farther.' 
 
 " 'We are not able to meet them,' said David : ' they 
 will cross Jordan with one hundred twoscore and ten 
 thousand men that draw the sword ; we cannot muster 
 the fifteenth part of that number.' 
 
 " ' In addition to the fifteen hundred that came from 
 Jerusalem,' said Abishai, ' we have now been joined by 
 two thousand five hundred veteran warriors, the sol- 
 diers of my lord the king in other wars. And the 
 sons of Gad and Manasseh will strengthen our army 
 with five thousand more. We have valor and disci- 
 pline, and experienced commanders, which will avail 
 much against a confused and disorganized multitude, 
 such as follows Absalom.' 
 
 " ' We have duty, and right, and the sanction of 
 God,' said Joab, who had now entered. ' My lord, hear 
 one word from your servant. You have been divinely 
 called by the great Jehovah to rule over his people. 
 The honor of his name, the prosperity of his church, 
 and the welfare of his chosen people, for a long while
 
 PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE. 311 
 
 to come, depend on the decision of this hour. Be 
 yourself again, and trust in God, and these troubles 
 will be scattered as the mists of the morning when the 
 sun shines forth.' 
 
 "At this, David, for a moment, turned deadly pale, 
 and exclaimed, ' Alas ! deluded Absalom ! ' then manned 
 himself by a strong effort. ' I will do as seemeth good 
 to you.' 
 
 " ' Then,' said Joab, ' we will enter the city, and 
 place the king's person in safety till the crisis is past.' 
 
 " The gates of Mahanaim were accordingly opened 
 wide, and David and all his followers marched in, and 
 took possession of such accommodations as were freely 
 offered by the citizens. 
 
 " This was a city given by the tribe of Gad to the 
 Levites, and Tamar, being the daughter of Abiathar, 
 the high priest at Jerusalem, found a ready and hearty 
 welcome in the house of a wealthy Levite, near the 
 gate of the city. The splendid mansion rose much 
 higher than the city walls, so that the window of the 
 elegant suit of rooms assigned to Tamar not only 
 commanded a view of the extensive plain before the 
 city, but also gave opportunity of witnessing whatever 
 might be transacting immediately before the gate. At 
 her special request, the family of Phinehas the Levite 
 were admitted into the same apartments ; Jonathan 
 and Ahimaaz also became inmates with the family to 
 whom the house belonged. 'J'lie name of this Levite 
 was Merari. 
 
 •' During the night and the following morning, the 
 intelligence of Absalom's approach was confirmed by 
 messenger after messenger. But as large bodies cannot
 
 312 PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLT 
 
 move with great rapidity, the second day was closed 
 before he had reached the neighborhood of Mahanaim. 
 
 "In the mean time," said Belial, *' the leading offi- 
 cers of the army had held consultation. It was known 
 that the king designed to lead the army to battle him- 
 self, or at least to be present with them. This they 
 determined to resist, for two reasons : first, it would 
 be a needless and unwise exposure of his person, his 
 life being the great object sought by his enemy ; and 
 secondly, his affection for Absalom was such that, in 
 the very crisis of battle, he might make efforts to save 
 him, that would be followed by disastrous results. It 
 was resolved, that Ittai the Gittite, in the name and 
 behalf of all, should resolutely oppose the king's wish 
 in this matter, and that he need only assign the first 
 reason, as that was amply sufficient. 
 
 " David, in the mean time, shut up in his chamber, 
 was also revolving in his mind plans for the coming 
 battle day. He doubted not the success of his army 
 against the insurgents. Though their numbers were 
 so far inferior, yet they were choice men, and in such 
 perfect training, that he considered the victory as next 
 to certain. But his anxiety was to save Absalom. He 
 dreaded Joab. Joab had formerly interested himself 
 much in Absalom's favor, and was the moving cause 
 of his being recalled, after he had fled to Geshur, on 
 account of having killed his brother Amnon ; but soon 
 after Absalom's return to Jerusalem, Joab discovered 
 unquestionable indications of that restless ambition 
 which afterwards convulsed the whole kingdom. For 
 this reason Joab was unwilling to have any agency in 
 putting Absalom forward in the king's court. Absalom
 
 PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE. 313 
 
 sent for him again and again, bnt he quietly declined 
 lending him his influence. And it was not until Ab- 
 salom became importunate, and, indeed, almost frantic, 
 that Joab consented to procure for him an interview 
 with the king. (2 Sam. xiv. 29— 33.) When the first 
 news of the insurrection reached Jerusalem, Joab alone 
 showed no surprise. He promptly proposed to check 
 the conflagration by firing against it. He wished to 
 marshal the troops that were at hand, rush to meet the 
 insurgents, surprise and disperse them. He then be- 
 lieved that this could be done. The blow aimed at 
 the kingdom of David warded oft', his throne would 
 scarcely feel the shock ; and even Absalom might be 
 saved, though on the brink of ruin. But this counsel, 
 through parental tenderness, was rejected by the king. 
 The order was to fly before the storm, and let the 
 rebels take the city. When David and his servant 
 were told how Absalom had insulted and outraged 
 his father's family, which he had left at Jerusalem, 
 Joab became perfectly silent in relation to Absalom. 
 He no more mentioned his name in the presence of his 
 father, and this silence struck David as ominous. He 
 therefore labored to form such a plan that Absalom, if 
 captured on the defeat of his army, might fall into the 
 hands of some other officer than Joab. Joab was com- 
 mander-in-chief of the army. For this high office he 
 had paid a high consideration, by storming the strong 
 castle of the Jebusites. But Joab, brave and magnani- 
 mous, was not at all tenacious of punctilios, in iiis in- 
 tercourse with his uncle, the king ; and David thought 
 that for the one day, he could manage that Joab should 
 command but one third of the army. So he resolved 
 27
 
 314 
 
 PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE. 
 
 to divide the forces collected around him into three 
 parts, and put Ittai the Gittite at the head of one divis- 
 ion, Abishai at the head of another, and Joab with 
 the third. Thus the likelihood would be, two to one, 
 that Absalom, if taken, would not fall into Joab's hands ; 
 and to guard that point, David resolved to go with 
 Joab's division himself, and should Absalom be taken 
 there, he hoped, by his personal influence, to be able to 
 save him. The plan looked plausible and promising, 
 and, relieved in some measure from the agony of pain- 
 ful apprehensions, he sunk into a deep sleep, until 
 waked by the military trumpets at the dawn of day. 
 
 " The morning light of the third day disclosed to the 
 view of the watchman, on the towers of Mahanaim, 
 the extended and formidable array of Absalom's army. 
 They had halted in the skirts of the wood of Ephraim, 
 and though the intervening plain was wide, yet from 
 the top of the walls, their long martial lines could be 
 distinctly seen. Their numbers appeared immense, 
 stretching to the north and south farther than the eye 
 could reach. At regular distances along the line were 
 seen the standards of the several tribes, each with the 
 ensign of the house of their father. Full in view, and 
 directly in front of the city gate, appeared ' The Lion 
 of the Tribe of Judah,' now distinct, and now obscure, 
 as the banner rose and sunk on the morning breeze ; 
 and there also appeared the sons of Issachar and Zebu- 
 Ion, each under their appropriate standard : on the 
 north was unfurled the broad banner of Ephraim, with 
 all the pomp and haughty pretensions so characteristic 
 of that tribe ; the sons of Benjamin were near, many a 
 chief of renown and brilliant prospects while the house
 
 PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE. 315 
 
 of Saul was in power ; but the hopes of Benjamin had 
 experienced a dark eclipse in the downfall of that ad- 
 ministration. A small body also of the sons of Ma- 
 nasseh, from the west side of the river, were in this 
 division of the army. 
 
 " On the south of Judali arose the standard of Dan, 
 and Asher and Naphtali were there ; and yet farther 
 on was seen the standard of Reuben, and Simeon was 
 near ; but the sons of Gad, who, in the arrangement 
 of the tribes by Moses, were classed in this division, 
 had with one heart refused to join in the rebellion, and 
 no banner of theirs appeared in Absalom's army. 
 
 " Just as the sun had risen, Joab ascended the lof- 
 tiest tower in ]Mahanaim, and standing motionless as a 
 pillar, with his experienced military eye, reconnoitred 
 this vast multitude for the space of three quarters of an 
 hour. He then descended, and, in company with his 
 brother and Ittai, went to the king, and said, — 
 
 " ' We wait your commands, my lord.' 
 
 "'I will put our forces,' said David, 'into three di- 
 visions. Ittai shall command one, Abishai another, 
 and you, Joab, shall command the third ; and with you 
 I will go njyself.' 
 
 " Each expressed his cordial approbation of the 
 arrangement. ' But,' said Ittai, promptly and earnestly, 
 'from the last proposition, my lord, in the name of all 
 your majesty's friends, I must beg leave strongly to 
 dissent. Your life, my lord, is the object of all this 
 insurgent army. The destruction of your life is their 
 chief and only aim. Your life must not be placed 
 within their reach, by going to the battle-field. You 
 must remain in the city ; we will try the fortune of
 
 316 
 
 PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE. 
 
 war. If we are vanquished, they have accomplished 
 but little. If the half of us die on the field, they have 
 accomplished but little. While your life is safe, the 
 hope of the church, the hope of the kingdom, is safe. 
 To these great interests you are worth more than ten 
 thousand of us. Remain, therefore, in the city, and 
 let your servants go to the battle-field.' 
 
 "It was evident," said Belial, "that David yielded 
 this point with great reluctance ; but the princes and 
 commanders were unanimous, decided, and firm. After 
 a little hesitation he said, — 
 
 " ' My tried and faithful friends, I will do whatever 
 seems best to you.' 
 
 "'Be pleased, then,' said Joab, 'to, take your stand 
 at the gate, and speak an encouraging word to the sol- 
 diers as they pass.' 
 
 " David now stood in the gate. It was the expecta- 
 tion of all, that he would remind the soldiers of his 
 wrongs, and urge them to be valiant, and regain his 
 crown, his palace, his kingdom; but, to the astonish- 
 ment of all, now on the very eve of a battle which 
 must be decisive, the king was wholly lost in the father. 
 His only and oft-repeated charge was, ' Deal gently, for 
 my sake, with the young man, even with Absalom.' 
 
 "When the first column came up, with the chief, 
 commander at its head, 'Joab,' said he, 'for my sake, 
 deal gently with Absalom. He is young ; he is rash, 
 and has done wrong ; but when you meet him, think 
 of me, and for my sake deal gently with him.' Then, 
 as the columns swept by, ' Soldiers, for my sake, deal 
 gently with Absalom.' And he kept repeating the 
 charge till every soldier in Joab's division had heard.
 
 PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE. 317 
 
 Then the powerful figure of Abishai approached at the 
 head of his men: 'Abishai, my firm and long-tried 
 friend, for my sake, deal gently with Absalom.' And 
 again he repeated the charge, naming now and then a 
 subaltern personally known to him, till all the men in 
 that division had heard. Then came the warriors led 
 by Ittai the Gittite. ' Ittai,' said the king, ' deal gently 
 with Absalom, for my sake. Soldiers, for my sake, 
 deal gently with Absalom.' Tears sprung to many an 
 eye, and rippled over many a Aveather-beaten face, as 
 officers and soldiers passed along ; for they were fa- 
 thers, and brothers, and sons, and forcibly were they 
 reminded of the strong affections that encircled their 
 own firesides at home. 
 
 '• ' Wonderful ! ' exclaimed Ittai the Gittite, address- 
 ing Jonathan, as he wiped his eyes and cheeks, — 
 ' wonderful the affection of a father for his son ! ' 
 
 " ' And wonderful,' said Jonathan, pointing to the 
 array of Absalom's army, ' the rebellion of a son against 
 his father ! ' 
 
 " ' How they contrast with each other ! ' said Ittai. 
 'Here is David anxious, above all things, to save the 
 life of Absalom.' 
 
 " ' And there is Absalom,' said Jonathan, ' anxious, 
 above all things, to destroy the life of David.' 
 
 " ' It shows us,' said Ittai, ' how kind a father can 
 be to the worst of children.' 
 
 " ' Yes,' said Jonathan, ' and how base a child can 
 be to the best of fathers.' 
 
 "'I know not where to find a parallel,' said Ittai, 
 'unless it be in God's unmerited kindness to man.' 
 
 " 'And,' said Jonathan, ' in man's unprovoked rebel- 
 lion against God.' 
 
 27*
 
 3 IS 
 
 PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE. 
 
 s; ' Por mi/ sake ! for mi/ sake ! ' repeated Tttai, 
 dwelling on the clause. ' Did yon notice how he em- 
 phasized those words ? Strange, when it is his crown, 
 his kingdom, his life, against which the rebel has risen 
 up. *' Deal gently, for w??/ sake, with the young man, 
 even with Absalom." ' 
 
 " ' It is the argument of mercy,' answered Jonathan, 
 ' the great argument of mercy. In the rebel himself 
 there is no merit, no claim to favor. It must be found 
 elsewhere. God shows compassion to sinners for his 
 great name sake.'' 
 
 " The army was now drawn up before the gate of 
 the city, and some necessary arrangements were in 
 progress preparatory to their march. 
 
 " ' Mother ! mother ! come here ! ' cried the eldest 
 son of Phinehas the Levite as he looked from the win- 
 dow of the house of Merari ; * here is a man whose 
 face and hands are perfectly black.' 
 
 " •' Who is he ? ' said the mother to Ahimaaz, who 
 was now in the room. 
 
 " ' That is Joab's man, Cushi, the Ethiopian,' an- 
 swered Ahimaaz. ' He was made captive some years 
 ago, when a roving band of his people broke into the 
 country ; but he has since behaved himself very well, 
 and Joab treats him with some attention.' 
 
 " ' But who are these ? ' asked the woman, still look- 
 ing from the window — ' these with the bright armor, 
 whose uniform is so exact, and their height so nearly 
 equal ? ' 
 
 " ' They are the Cherethites and Pelethiles.' said 
 Ahimaaz. ' You have often heard them spoken of as 
 Joab's men ; they are beyond doubt the best soldiers 
 of the age.'
 
 PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE. 319 
 
 '' ' There is another company,' said the woman, 
 ' though not so large, but equally well armed. Who 
 are they ? ' 
 
 " ' Those are the life-guards,' said Ahimaaz, ' who 
 are usually about the king's person. They are gener- 
 ally led by Abishai.' 
 
 " ' There is a leirger company beyond, but they seem 
 older men : many of them are gray-headed, and their 
 armor is not so bright : who are they ? ' 
 
 '' ' Those are the volunteers. They were formerly 
 in David's army ; but for some years had retired to 
 private life. Yet now, hearing of this rebellion, they 
 have taken up arms again, to assist King David to 
 regain his throne.' 
 
 " ' Noble-hearted and generous men ! ' said the wo- 
 man ; ' may the Lord bless them ! I hope they will be 
 successful. But, Ahimaaz, what company is that, armed 
 with bows and arrows ? They appear, from their dress, 
 like country people, who are not soldiers by profes- 
 sion ; and yet their countenances are very bold and 
 courageous.' 
 
 " ' They are the sons of Gad,' said Ahimaaz : 'ah, 
 their faces are like the faces of lions, and they are swift 
 as the roes upon the mountains.' 
 
 " ' I see beyond them still another company that 
 look like men from the country, though they are all 
 equipped for war.' 
 
 " ' Yes,' said Ahimaaz, ' they are the sons of Manas- 
 seh, from the country east of Jordan. But I must not 
 detain — I have just come to bid you all farewell, be- 
 fore going into the battle.' 
 
 " ' Ahimaaz,' said Tamar, coming from the door of
 
 320 PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE. 
 
 an adjoining room, 'King David stays in the city, does 
 he not ? ' 
 
 " ' That is the plan adopted,' answered Ahimaaz. 
 
 " ' Well, should not some of you stay, and guard the 
 king ? Would it not be best for you and brother Jon- 
 athan to stay and take care of the king ? ' 
 
 "'Don't speak of it,' said Ahimaaz: all depends on 
 the success of this battle. I must be at my post to 
 sound the silver trumpet for the onset. Think of us, 
 Tamar, in your prayers.' 
 
 " ' Ahimaaz,' said Tamar, ' if duty to your king and 
 country, and the cause of Zion, call you, I will not 
 say stay ; but I will stand at that window and watch.' 
 Her voice trembled. ' I will watch at that window ; 
 don't let me be long in suspense.' 
 
 " ' The Lord bless you and keep you,' said Ahim- 
 aaz, and left the room as if forcing himself away. 
 
 " The trumpets sounded, and the army moved from 
 the gate in the most perfect order, and halted again 
 near the centre of the plain. The multitudes who had 
 taken up arms for Absalom were now full in view. 
 Not only could the banners, spread on the breeze, be 
 distinguished, but the person of each renowned chief 
 of Judah, Ephraim, Reuben, and Dan, as, mounted on 
 their mettled and fiery war-horses, they rode along the 
 line, putting the men in the best order for the expected 
 action, and animating them by every motive to deeds 
 of valor, for the establishment of Absalom's throne. 
 It was now ascertained that they outnumbered the 
 army of David in proportion of twenty to one ; and 
 many nobles were there, anxious to distinguish them- 
 selves in this memorable field, and thus become the 
 favorites of the young king.
 
 PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE. 321 
 
 " Some men are ' born to command,' and, notwith- 
 standing David's precantions, no sooner was the enemy- 
 near, than all felt that Joab was commander-in-chief. 
 
 " At this juncture, a prince of Manasseh, somewhat 
 vain, and putTed up with a conceit of his capacity for 
 war, pushed forward, and spoke to the commander. 
 This was his third attempt to interfere. ' I learn,' said 
 he, ' that the enemy design to outflank us ; would it 
 not be better, instead of attacking their main body, to 
 change your plan, and attack one extremity of their 
 line? Thus we should be certain to succeed.' 
 
 " ' Captain,' said Joab, ' I shall be much obliged to 
 you, if you will give me more of your service, and 
 less of your advice.' The officer bowed low, in deep 
 silence, and fell back to his place. 
 
 " ' Outflank ! ' whispered Ahimaaz to Jonathan; 'Joab 
 intends to make flanks in the centre of their army.' 
 
 " A brief council of war was now called. When 
 they met, Ittai the Gittite, in a voice that almost 
 faltered, hurried forth two questions in one breath. 
 
 " ' Will they stand obstinately ? Have we any pros- 
 pect of success ? ' 
 
 '•'■ Joab fixed his piercing eyes steadily on Ittai. 'Ask 
 me if they will stand obstinately before a stream of 
 fiery lava, poured from the summit of a burning moun- 
 tain ? Success ! Has the lightning any prospect of suc- 
 cess when its livid stream has touched the topmost 
 bough of the oak on Bashan ? Absalom's chief reliance 
 is on the princes of Judah. They are valiant men, but 
 their discipline is nothing. 
 
 "'Ittai, take the Tachmonite with your division, 
 and front the standard of Dan.'
 
 322 PREPARATIONS TOR BATTLE. 
 
 " ' Abishai, take Eleazar, the son of Dodo, with your 
 division, and front the standard of Ephrairn ; each ap- 
 proach within one hundred paces of the foe ; then stand. 
 They will not advance on you. Keep the standard of 
 Judah in your eye, while I lead my division against 
 the centre of their line. When you see the standard 
 of Judah driven back, then shout, "Judah flies ! " and 
 charge for country, and king, and the Zion of our God. 
 And Jehovah's will be done.' 
 
 " ' But,' said Joab, in a lower tone, ' what of Absa- 
 lom? ' 
 
 " ' How? ' said Ittai and Abishai at the same moment. 
 ' What shall we do with Absalom ? ' 
 
 " ' O,' said Ittai, ' you know the king's charge. If 
 we can defeat his army, we must let him escape.' 
 
 " ' That will not do,' said Abishai ; ' the rebellion is 
 too general. The revolted princes will not return to 
 their allegiance, if Absalom is at liberty to head them 
 again. We must secure his person. Take him captive, 
 if possible, but do him no injury.' 
 
 " * You err,' said Joab ; ' you both err. Absalom must 
 die. I take the responsibility.' 
 
 " ' Herald ! ' said he, calling a young officer ; ' go, 
 make known through the army, that Joab will give ten 
 shekels of silver and a girdle to the soldier who will 
 smite Absalom.' 
 
 " Joab now gave the word of command, and instantly 
 the army was thrown into a hollow square. In the 
 centre was a little eminence. Towards this he moved, 
 in company with Abishai and Ittai the Gittite. His 
 dress was plain, but exceedingly neat, exhibiting his 
 fine figure, his strong and active person, to the best
 
 PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE. 323 
 
 advantage ; his step was firm and confident ; his eye 
 serene and bright ; his manner calm, collected, and 
 resolute. Many veteran soldiers had now joined the 
 army, whom he had led in former wars to victory and 
 conquest. At the sight of their old favorite general so 
 near, their ardor was uncontrollable. Cheers, shouts, 
 and bursts of military devotion, arose on all sides, as 
 Joab ascended the little eminence to make a brief 
 address. 
 
 " ' Soldiers ! ' said he ; and the loud tones of his melo- 
 dious voice hushed every whisper, and brought to him 
 every eye — ' soldiers ! the cause in which you are 
 armed to-day, is the cause of your God, your country, 
 and your king. This is the land which Jehovah 
 promised to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. Here 
 he hath planted his covenant people ; here he hath 
 said they shall flourish and grow like the cedars of 
 Lebanon. Or, shall I change the figure, and say that, 
 while surrounding nations are covered with the blight 
 and mildew of heathenism, here he hath planted that 
 beautiful vine, which he brought out of Egypt ? Here 
 he hath said it shall take deep root, and spread, till it 
 hath covered Tabor, and Hermon, and Gilead, and 
 Carmel, with the valleys between ; yes, till it hath 
 fringed with living green the borders of every stream, 
 from the river of Egypt to the great Euphrates, and 
 hung its rich clusters on rock, and hill, and mountain- 
 peak, from the Sea of Arabia to the Great Sea westward. 
 The wild boar from the wood hath sought to waste 
 and destroy this vine. Jehovah hath appointed his 
 servant, David, to dress and to keep it. By the anoint- 
 ing oil of the prophet Samuel, he was consecrated to
 
 324 PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLK. 
 
 this sacred charge. His kingdom is from God, and it 
 cannot be moved. 
 
 " ' Are any appalled at the magnitude of the host 
 that is risen up against you ? I ask you to call to mind 
 what our fathers have told of the works of Israel's 
 God in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and at the first entrance 
 of the tribes into Canaan. I ask you to call to mind 
 the unfailing help of God in dark and trying days, 
 within the period of your own remembrance. I see 
 around me those who remember the scenes of Keilah 
 and of Ziklag — men who can tell the tale of the strong 
 hold of Adullam, and the cave of En-gedi ; men who 
 have traversed the deserts of Paran, the forests of Ziph, 
 and the wilderness of Maon. Yes, I see around me 
 the men who drew the sword at the pool of Gibeon. 
 Soldiers ! have you forgotten the brave, the generous, 
 the unparalleled Asahel ? ' His voice trembled a mo- 
 ment ; then, raising his eyes, and his clasped hands, he 
 exclaimed, ' Departed brother, thou art not forgotten ! 
 Thy memory is embalmed forever in the soldier's 
 heart ! ' Many a strong warrior bowed his head and let 
 fall the big tear to the memory of the valiant Asahel. 
 
 " After a moment's pause, he went on : ' Call to mind 
 the fields on which you have vanquished the stubborn 
 sons of Moab, the wild and warlike Edomite, the 
 countless hosts of Syria, and the fierce and gigantic 
 Philistines : each is an Ebenezer of assurance that the 
 God of your fathers will be with you now. 
 
 " ' Yon rebel host, with a rebel and profligate prince 
 at their head, are now pale with fear, and trembling at 
 the heart. At your attack, they will be scattered like 
 chaff before the whirlwind. The shrewd and crafty
 
 PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE. 325 
 
 Ahithophel foresaw their doom, and hanged himself, 
 rather than share in their overthrow.' Then, pointing 
 upward his long, glittering sword, and holding it steady 
 at the full length of his extended arm, he exclaimed, 
 ' Trust in that God who divided the Red Sea, rolled 
 back the overflowing tide of Jordan, and stopped the 
 sun and the moon in heaven, that the cause of his 
 covenant people might prevail. King David will yet 
 lead you back in triumph to Jerusalem. You will again 
 see him on the throne, with the sceptre in his hand, 
 and the crown upon his head. His kingdom shall 
 endure ; Israel shall be a blessing ; Messiah shall come, 
 and the whole earth shall be filled with the name and 
 the glory of Israel's God.' 
 
 " Bright weapons, that flashed back the rays of the 
 sun, now waved over all the host, while the soldiers 
 rent the air with reiterated shouts of enthusiasm, that 
 startled the multitude in Absalom's army. 
 
 '' Joab now looked around. ' Abiathar,' said he, ' is 
 not here ; Jonathan, give to the army the charge which 
 Moses commanded.' Jonathan drew near to the com- 
 mander, and lifting up his voice, repeated the address en- 
 joined in the twentieth chapter of Deuteronomy: ' Hear, 
 O Israel ! Ye approach this day unto battle against your 
 enemies : let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not 
 tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them ; for 
 the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, to fight 
 for you against your enemies, to save you.' " 
 
 28
 
 326 THE BATTLE. 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 THE BATTLE. 
 
 "At the close of the address of Jonathan," said 
 Belial, " a few moments passed in profound silence ; 
 then, at a signal from the commander, Abishai and Ittai 
 filed off with their troops to the right and left, and took 
 their appointed stations in front of the standards of 
 Ephraim and of Dan. Joab remained marshalling his 
 men till the other two divisions of the army had halted. 
 He put the Cherethites and Pelethites with the mighty- 
 men, in front ; next these he placed one thousand vete- 
 ran warriors, proved and tried in former battles ; in the 
 rear of all he put a large body of archers of the tribe of 
 Gad, renowned for strength and skill in handling the 
 bow; each archer was also girded with a sword. His 
 division numbered about twenty-five hundred men. 
 He gave the proper directions, and they moved with 
 quick, but regular and orderly step, towards the foe. 
 When within thirty paces of the centre of Judah's line, 
 the swordsmen and spearsmen dropped on their knees, 
 bending forward, and covering their heads and bodies 
 with their shields : the archers of Gad now brought 
 the bowstring to their ear, and a shower of death was 
 driven over the heads of their comrades right on Judah's 
 thick array. The shriek, moan, and dying cry arose,
 
 THE BATTLE. 327 
 
 mingled with the shrill clangor of the trumpet of Ahi- 
 maaz, sounding the onset. The warriors sprung to 
 their feet with the quickness of thought, and charged 
 on Judah with the speed of lightning. It was the 
 descent of the avalanche, rent by an earthquake from 
 the awful brow of a frozen mountain, that uproots the 
 rocks in its course, bends and crushes the tall, strong 
 forest, and overwhelms all before it in undistinguished 
 ruin. 
 
 ''The standard of Judah Avas driven back, but not 
 far. Ahimelech, the standard-bearer, was cut down by 
 the sword of Elhanan, one of the mighty men, who 
 seized the standard and dashed it to the earth ; while 
 prince and peasant, officer and soldier, fell on every hand, 
 like ripe corn, in the harvest field, before the reapers. 
 
 " Abishai, in like manner, carried all before him, at 
 the first onset. Ephraim and Benjamin fled, after a 
 very feeble resistance. But the sons of Dan, Asher, 
 and Naphtali, animated by the presence of Absalom, 
 fought more obstinately. The watchful eye of Absa- 
 lom had marked the arrangement of David's army. A 
 deserter had told him of his father's charge, that none 
 should do him injury. He knew this charge would be 
 regarded by the Gittites, but he doubted Joab and Abi- 
 shai. He was anxious to avoid, in the battle-field, an 
 encounter with either of the sons of Zeruiah. On see- 
 ing the Gittites planting themselves before the sons of 
 Dan, he resolved to give his personal influence there. 
 He was eloquent, brave, and not unskilled in war. 
 Cheered by his presence, and encouraged by his elo- 
 quence, the Danites were fighting hand to hand with 
 the men from Gath. Though greatly inferior in dis-
 
 328 THE BATTLE. 
 
 cipline, they were equal in courage, and far superior in 
 numbers. Absalom was in the foremost rank, exhort- 
 ing, commanding, and promising rewards. Yet none 
 of the Gittites would do him harm, such Avas their 
 veneration for David. 
 
 " The perfect disciphne of the Gittites carried all 
 before them at each charge ; but at the call of Absalom, 
 the sons of Dan would rally and return to the fight. 
 The soHd body, headed by Ittai, had ploughed through 
 their thick array again and again ; and again and again, 
 exhorted by Absalom, they had returned and renewed 
 the attack. When Absalom, seeing at a distance a 
 powerful Danite chief, with a fresh body of troops, 
 called him by name, ' Zuri ! advance with your men, 
 and turn the fortune of the day.' He came like the 
 fierce panther, raving and furious, and sprang upon the 
 foe. Absalom threw himself by his side, hoping much 
 from this assault ; but the spear of Jashobeam, the 
 Tachmonite, met Zuri as he rushed on, and ran through 
 shield, breastplate, and body, and came out half a cu- 
 bit's length behind his shoulders. With one frightful 
 scream, he leaped high from the earth, then fell in 
 the struggles of death at the feet of Absalom's mule. 
 Frightened at this, or from some unknown cause, it 
 dashed off with uncontrollable fury, through the con- 
 fused multitude, towards the point from which the hosts 
 of Judah had fled. A huge oak was there, with hori- 
 zontal branches, that ran out some distance from the 
 trunk. Under this the mule rushed at full speed : Ab- 
 salom's neck was driven in between two limbs up to 
 the fork. He was hung by the head, and the mule, 
 caieless of its rider, left him, and continued its flight.
 
 THE BATTLE. 329 
 
 " One of the soldiers saw it, and ran, and told Joab, 
 * Behold, I saw Absalom, hanged in an oak ! ' 
 
 " ' Did you smite him there to the ground ? ' said Joab. 
 
 " * No,' answered the soldier, ' for it would have been 
 certain ruin to myself.' 
 
 "'I would have given thee ten shekels of silver and 
 a girdle,' said Joab. 
 
 " ' Excuse me from sacrificing my life,' answered the 
 soldier : ' a thousand shekels of silver would be no in- 
 ducement, for the king would soon be told who it was 
 that killed his son, and from the charge he gave to you 
 and all the army, I know that the man who smites 
 Absalom must fall under the king's hot displeasure, 
 and most likely lose his life.' 
 
 " ' It is essential to the safety of the country,' said 
 Joab. ' The patriot should look at that first, and abide 
 the consequences. Where is he ? ' 
 
 " The soldier pointed to the tree. And Joab took 
 three darts in his hand, and went and drove them 
 through the heart of Absalom, as he hanged in the oak. 
 
 " The moment Joab was satisfied that Absalom was 
 dead, he considered the great question as now settled ; 
 and to stop the needless effusion of blood, he took the 
 trumpet, and gave a blast, which his soldiers well un- 
 derstood, announcing that, now the victory was com- 
 plete, they must stop from further slaughter, for Absa- 
 lom's army had fled through the wood of Ephraim, 
 and the servants of David were upon them in all direc- 
 tions, and there were more slain in their flight through 
 the wood, than were slain in the battle, while they 
 attempted to fight with the sword. 
 
 "As soon as the trumpet blast and the loud echoes 
 28*
 
 330 THE BATTLE, 
 
 that followed had died away, the young men that 
 attended Joab, took Absalom down from the tree, and 
 cast him into a great pit in the wood, and then the 
 soldiers threw a very great heap of stones upon him. 
 It was the monument of a rebellious son. This heap 
 of stones is still to be seen. It was long a custom in 
 that country for the traveller who passed by that place, 
 to take up a stone and throw it on that heap, and say, 
 ' Thus shall it be done to the rebellious son.' 
 
 Beelzebub, who had been attentive and silent all this 
 while, now spoke up : — 
 
 " Is there not an impression among men that viola- 
 tions of the fifth commandment, ' Honor thy father and 
 thy mother,' are punished sooner than other sins ? " 
 
 ''There is such an impression," said Belial, "and it 
 is the result of long experience and observation. If 
 you wish to bring destruction upon a youth speedily, 
 tempt him to rebel against his parents. There are some 
 sins, the punishment of which divine justice seems to 
 delay long, perhaps until the man has reached the eter- 
 nal world by the tide of years. But disobedience to 
 parents is a sin, which, it appears, the vengeance of 
 Heaven will not endure, and the offender is often struck 
 down before he is half way along the journey of life." 
 
 "Does not Solomon," said Beelzebub, "use some 
 strong language on this subject ? " 
 
 " He does," answered Belial. " His words are these : 
 ' The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to 
 obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it 
 out, and the young eagles shall eat it.' I have long," 
 said Belial, " been an obsen^er of the affairs of men, 
 but I have never yet seen a notoriously disobedient son
 
 THE BATTLE. 331 
 
 live to be a useful, respectable, or happy man. It is a 
 sin that God punishes speedily." 
 
 "Just so," answered Beelzebub; " but I would not 
 break in upon your narrative. Go on." 
 
 '• As soon as Absalom was burried in the deep pit," 
 resumed Belial, " a very lively scene occurred. Ahim- 
 aaz was remarkable not only for his resolute patriotism, 
 but also for his highly cultivated mind, great delicacy 
 and refinement of feeling, and warm attachment to 
 King David. He thought that the victory would be 
 joyful to David, though he knew that the death of Ab- 
 salom would almost break his heart. He was anxious, 
 therefore, that the good news should get to David first, 
 and let the other come when it must. Yet such was 
 the perfect discipline of the army, that even Ahimaaz 
 must not go on such an errand without the authority 
 of the commander-in-chief. 
 
 "He therefore said to Joab, 'Let me now go and 
 bear the king tidings how the Lord hath avenged him 
 of his enemies.' 
 
 " ' No, Ahimaaz,' said Joab, ' the news will be un- 
 welcome to the king ; even the messenger who brings 
 it will be lessened in his esteem. Thou shalt bear 
 tidings another day, but this day thou shalt bear no 
 tidings, because the king's son is dead.' 
 
 " ' Cushi,' said Joab to the Ethiopian, ' Go tell the 
 king Avhat thou hast seen.' And Cushi bowed himself 
 to Joab, and ran. ' A heavy message,' said Joab, fol- 
 lowing Cushi with his eye for some distance, ' but it 
 must be borne.' , 
 
 "Ahimaaz looked for a moment at Cushi's running, 
 which was not remarkably swift ; and knowing he could
 
 332 THE BATTLE. 
 
 Start yet, and reach David first, he said again to Joab, 
 ' But, howsoev^er, let me, I pray thee, run after Cushi. 
 I can be with King David first, and tell him the good 
 news, and let him have a little gleam of gladness be- 
 fore Cushi comes with the heavy tidings.' 
 
 " ' My son,' said Joab, kindly, ' you have no good 
 news to tell David. He is not thinking of his crown, 
 his palace, his kingdom ; all his anxieties are for Ab- 
 salom. He will ask you for Absalom first, for Absalom 
 last, for Absalom all the time. You have no good 
 news to tell the king, for Absalom is dead.' 
 
 "'But howsoever,' said Ahimaaz, 'let me run.' 
 
 " ' Well,' said Joab, ' with the whole case before 
 you, if you prefer it, run.' 
 
 " Ahimaaz shot like a dove on the wing, and over- 
 took, and was soon ahead of Cushi. 
 
 " David, in the mean time, stood before the gate of 
 Mahanaim, straining his dim eye across that wide plain, 
 to catch the first glimpse of a messenger from the 
 army; a restless sea of anxieties, fears, and gloomy ap- 
 prehensions rolled and tossed unceasingly in his trou- 
 bled breast. The watchman, who had younger eyes 
 than the king, went up to the roof over the gate, and 
 looking attentively in the direction the army had gone, 
 discerned the foremost messenger. He called aloud to 
 the king, ' Behold, a man running alone ! ' 
 
 " ' If he be alone,' answered the king, ' there are 
 tidings in his mouth.' 
 
 " Presently the watchman called again, ' Behold, 
 another man running alone ! ' 
 
 " ' He also bringeth tidings,' said the king. ' It is not 
 the fragments of a routed army you see, or there 
 would be more than two.'
 
 THE BATTLE. 333 
 
 " They were yet so distant that their forms were 
 but indistinctly seen ; yet, from the window of the house 
 of Merari the Levite, there was one pair of eyes, look- 
 ing out on that plain, brighter and clearer even than 
 those of the watchman. By these eyes, the foremost 
 messenger was at once identified. A snow white hand- 
 kerchief, thrust from the window the full length of the 
 arm, now waved with a rapidity that told of the lively 
 emotions within. At the sight of this token, the speed 
 of Ahimaaz was astonishingly accelerated. Cushi now 
 fell back in a stjde that was perfectly new. To every 
 one who beheld this scene, the reason was perfectly 
 plain why the fame of Ahimaaz for unequalled swift- 
 ness in the race should have overspread all the mountain 
 districts west of Jordan, and indeed filled the entire* 
 land of Gilead. As has been said of Asahel, the brother 
 of Joab, he was 'as light of foot as the wild roe.' 
 
 " The watchman at Mahanaim looked with amaze- 
 ment, rubbed his eyes, and looked again. ' Between 
 Dan and Beersheba,' exclaimed he, ' there cannot be 
 two men that can run at that rate ; ' and calling again to 
 the king, he said, ' Methinketh the running of the fore- 
 most is like the running of Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok.' 
 
 " And the king said, ' He is a good man, and cometh 
 with good tidings.' 
 
 " Every window in Mahanaim, that rose above the 
 city wall, was now crowded with heads. The wall 
 itself was literally lined with women and children of 
 every various age and size. For sons and husbands, 
 fathers and brothers had gone to that battle-field, and 
 thrilling interest was felt to learn the result. 
 
 " With palpitating heart, and in an attitude of thQ
 
 334 
 
 THE BATTLE. 
 
 most anxious expectation, David stood before the gate ; 
 his aged form bending forward, his long gray hair 
 streaming on the wind, his waning eyes shaded by his 
 hand placed across the forehead, as he gazed on the 
 approaching messenger. 
 
 " When Ahimaaz was near enough to speak, he 
 cahed out, ' All is well ! ' and he fell down to the earth, 
 on his face before the king, and said, ' Blessed be the 
 Lord thy God, who hath delivered up the men that 
 lifted up their hand against my lord the king.' 
 
 " ' Is the young man, Absalom, safe ? ' asked the king 
 hastily. 
 
 " To this Ahimaaz answered doubtfully. ' When 
 Joab sent me, I saw a great tumult, as if something 
 very serious had been done ; but particulars I cannot 
 give. But your foes are routed. The crown and 
 kingdom are yours.' 
 
 " ' Stand aside,' said David ; ' I can hear of nothing 
 else till I know that Absalom is safe.' 
 
 " Ahimaaz now turned aside, and stood in silence. 
 The stillness was awful. Not a whisper at the gate 
 or on the wall. It seemed as if the people almost 
 feared to breathe, while Cushi, bending across the 
 plain, drew nearer and nearer to the gate. At length 
 he called out, ' Tidings, my lord the king ; for the 
 Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose 
 up against thee.' 
 
 " ' Is the young man, Absalom, safe ? ' said David, 
 with a tone and manner that defy all description. 
 
 '' Cushi raised his visage right in front of the king, 
 planted one foot firmly before, lifted his huge arm to 
 its utmost height, and replied, ' The enemies of my
 
 THE BATTLE. _ 335 
 
 lord the king, and all they that rise up against thee 
 to do thee hurt, be as that young man is. I wish no 
 heavier doom on your worst foes, than has fallen upon 
 him.' 
 
 " ' And the king was much moved, and hurried as age 
 loaded with trouble can hurry, to the chamber over the 
 gate, and wept ; and as he went thus, he said, ' O my 
 son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom ! would God 
 I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son ! ' 
 
 " It is wonderful," said Belial, " among the sons of 
 men, how, when a friend dies, his faults are all forgot- 
 ten. His excellences and amiableness only are re- 
 membered by the survivors. Who ever saw a father 
 or a mother that could censure, blame, or find fault 
 with a son or daughter that had gone to the grave ? 
 No. The living complain only of themselves. Every 
 harsh word, every pang, thoughtlessly or carelessly in- 
 flicted, every neglect of kindness that occurs to the 
 mind, goes like a cold dagger to the heart. It was so 
 with David now. He thought of Absalom when a 
 lovely little boy, on his knees ; — when a blooming and 
 sprightly youth ; — when a fine, promising, beautiful 
 young man, that had not his like in all Israel. And 
 now, to keep the crown a few years longer on his aged 
 head, that was trembling over the grave, Absalom must 
 die. 'Ah, dearly recovered crown, how worthless 
 now ! my poor beloved Absalom, has it cost your life ! 
 Has it cost your life ! ' 
 
 " The people were stunned and astounded with the 
 loud and excessive bursts of anguish from the bosom 
 of the king. For a time they seemed to forget their 
 personal interests in the events of the day. But soon
 
 336 THE BATTLE. 
 
 after David had shut himself up in his chamber, Ahim- 
 aaz and Cushi were surrounded by those who eagerly- 
 inquired for husbands, sons, fathers and brothers, who 
 had gone to that bloody field. To many of these they 
 could give, of course, no satisfactory answer. It was 
 not long, however, till martial music was heard, float- 
 ing over the plain, and the front ranks were seen of the 
 returning army. As was the custom in Israel, the 
 women and children went out to meet their friends, 
 but not with songs, dances, and instruments of music. 
 Awed, shocked, overwhelmed with the king's lamenta- 
 tions for his son, they appeared rather like a funeral 
 procession, than those celebrating a victory. • And the 
 victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the 
 people.' The death of Absalom occasioned sorrow 
 that far exceeded all the joy of success. The victory 
 appeared valueless, and matter of regret. It was a 
 meteor at midnight, whose feeble flash is swallowed 
 up and lost in the superabounding darkness. It was a 
 dim candle lighted up at noonday, when the sun in 
 heaven has undergone a total eclipse. 
 
 " The officers and soldiers who had fought against 
 such desperate odds, and by their extraordinary valor 
 had achieved a victory so decided, and saved the life of 
 the king, his throne and his kingdom, had anticipated 
 the warmest greeting and the most enthusiastic welcome 
 on their return to the city. They were proud of what 
 they had accomplished ; lifted up with enlarged expec- 
 tations of royal approbation and favor. Services had 
 been rendered at the imminent risk of their lives, which 
 they had fondly calculated could never be forgotten. 
 They expected to find the people all in raptures, and that
 
 THE BATTLK. 337 
 
 the king himself would meet them with gratitude, 
 honor, and admiration, for their matchless deeds. 
 
 " When, instead of this, they found that all was gloom, 
 melancholy, and mourning, when the king refused to 
 see them, and hid himself from their view, and they 
 could hear his loud and bitter cry, ' O my son Absalom ! 
 O Absalom, my son, my son ! ' there was a deep and gen- 
 eral feeling of disappointment and chagrin. They felt 
 as if they were blamed and censured for the most invalu- 
 able services. Symptoms of indignation and resentment 
 began to appear, and spread through the army like the 
 contagion of a plague. The Cherethites, Pelethites, 
 and life-guards frowned and hung their heads. Even 
 the faithful Gittites showed a mortification that verged 
 towards madness. While among the volunteer soldiers, 
 and the sons of Gad and Manasseh, broken sentences 
 were heard of ' merit neglected, loyalty set at nought, 
 fidelity dishonored and scorned.' 
 
 " The eagle eye of Joab marked the gathering cloud, 
 saw its blackness, and the glitter of the lightning there, 
 while his ear caught the roll of the distant thunder. He 
 felt the heaving and rocking of a convulsed mountain, 
 portending a most terrific eruption. It was plain that 
 nothing but a competent leader was wanting to produce 
 a general and irreparable revolt. And who coukl tell 
 tjie moment when that leader might appear? 
 
 " Joab wheeled the army from the gate, and halted at 
 a little distance on the plain ; told them that he de- 
 signed for the weary and exhausted soldier some need- 
 ful refreshments before they proceeded fartlier. He then 
 despatched from each division a competent number of 
 men to bring an ample supply from the abundant stores 
 
 29
 
 338 THE BATTLE. 
 
 furnished by Barzillai the Gileadite, Machir of Lode- 
 bar, and their generous friend the Ammonite prince. 
 
 " As soon as the provisions began to be distributed, 
 Joab went in person to the chamber of the king. 
 
 " David was prostrate on a couch, with his face cov- 
 ered, venting the deep sorrows of his heart, when Joab 
 entered the room. At the sound of footsteps, the king 
 uncovered his face, saw the commander, then instantly 
 threw the covering over his eyes again, exclaiming, ' Be- 
 gone from my presence ! I cannot bear the sight of you. 
 Leave me ! Leave me instantly ! Instantly, I say.' 
 
 " ' When I have done my duty,' said Joab. 
 
 " ' Your duty ! your duty ! ' said David : ' your duty 
 is to obey the commands of your king.' 
 
 " ' When my king is himself,' said Joab, 'and not de- 
 ranged by excessive fondness for a rebellious, abandoned 
 son, who rose up to destroy his father's life.' 
 
 " ' Deranged ! ' exclaimed David ; ' did you say de- 
 ranged ? ' 
 
 " ' Yes, my lord, deranged, till he has forgotten the 
 cause of God, the interests of his kingdom, the claims 
 of his long-tried friends, and even what is essential to the 
 preservation of his own life.' 
 
 " ' I commanded you to spare Absalom.' 
 
 " ' You did, my lord ; but it was the command of the 
 fond, misguided father, and not of the wise ruler of 
 the Israel of God.' 
 
 " 'You put a price upon his head,' said David. 
 
 " ' I did, my lord, for I saw that his death or your 
 ruin was unavoidable. I resolved that he should die. 
 And I preferred that it should be by another hand than 
 mine.'
 
 THE BATTLE. 339 
 
 " ' But you slew him with yoiu-own hand,' said David. 
 
 " ' I did, my lord ; for though many saw the neces- 
 sity of his death as clearly as I, yet the dread of your 
 displeasure was such, that the most valiant were ap- 
 palled. No man could be found in all Israel that was 
 willing to save your crown by doing a deed that must 
 bring certain destruction upon himself. Who, then, but 
 your own sister's son, was to step forward, and save 
 your life and your kingdom ? Though he clearly saw 
 that, for doing this, he must be blighted with the light- 
 ning of your vengeance, and go degraded and dishon- 
 ored to the grave.' 
 
 " ' Leave the house ! ' vociferated David ; ' leave the 
 house instantly ! I cannot bear you in my sight.' 
 
 " * If I leave you,' said Joab, ' your days are num- 
 bered, and your kingdom at an end.' 
 
 " ' Let my days be numbered,' cried David ; ' I am 
 weary and sick of life. O my son Absalom ! my son, 
 my son Absalom ! would God that I had died for thee ! 
 O Absalom, my son, my son ! ' 
 
 " ' My lord,' said Joab, ' this is midsummer madness 
 now. I might be offended and leave you. But I can 
 sympathize with the bleeding heart of a bereaved 
 father ; and while I remember that you are my king, 
 anointed of God, and remember, moreover, that you are 
 the beloved and favorite brother of my dear departed 
 mother, I must not, I will not leave you thus. My lord, 
 have you forgotten your sister Zeruiah ? that noble wo- 
 man, whose name will shine as a precious and beautiful 
 gem in the annals of the people of God, till the end of 
 time ? She had for you — for I know no stronger term — 
 the affection of an elder sister for a younger brother. In
 
 340 THE BATTLE. 
 
 her anxiety for your honor, your usefuhiess and your 
 respectability, she seemed often wholly to forget herself 
 And O, when she saw you anointed by good old Sam- 
 uel, and heard him promise, in Jehovah's name, that 
 you should have the kingdom over God's chosen peo- 
 ple, she wept for joy and gladness of heart. And when 
 the old prophet left the room, she ran and threw her 
 arms around your neck, in a transport of enthusiasm, 
 and blessed and glorified the name of God, and invoked 
 blessings on you and on your kingdom. That sister, 
 with all her worth and sisterly devotion, was forbidden 
 by her sex to be a counsellor in your cabinet, or a sol- 
 dier in your army ; yet she would do what she could. 
 She was the mother of three little sons, and from the 
 day she saw you anointed king, she devoted those 
 three sons, in the awful name of Israel's God, to be the 
 helpers and supporters of your kingdom. She made it 
 the business and delight of her life to train those sons 
 to be useful and faithful to you. She read to them, 
 from the book of God, the history of Joshua and Gideon, 
 and Jephthah and Barak, and the champions of Israel 
 in other days. These lessons were illuminated and 
 enforced by her enlightened and powerful comments, 
 till military ardor in the cause of Israel, and of Israel's 
 God, flowed, like the blood of life, through the veins 
 and through the hearts of her sons. " Keep your eye," 
 said she, " on these noble examples, and be such men 
 around your uncle's throne." As soon as her sons 
 were able to handle the sword and the shield, she sent 
 them av/ay from her beloved presence, to be with you. 
 Shall I mention their names, my lord ? Tiiey were Asa^ 
 hel, Abishai, and Joab, You were then pursued and
 
 THE BATTLi:. 341 
 
 persecuted by the bitter jealousy of the unrelenting and 
 powerful Saul. These sons of your sister shared your 
 privations and your sufferings, wheu you were flying 
 through fields and forests ; when you were secreting 
 yourself among the rocks of the wilderness, and hiding 
 in the dens and caves of the earth. And they never 
 made a stolen and hasty visit to their mother, but with 
 the liveliest emotion she asked for your welfare and 
 your prospects, and urged them not to be discouraged 
 at the multitudes that were arrayed against you, but 
 to cleave to you through all dangers, and defend you 
 M'ith their lives. That sister lived to see you on the 
 throne of Judah ; and then on the throne of Israel. 
 She lived to see you become prosperous, and rich, and 
 great. 
 
 " ' And shall I say, she lived to hear the princes of 
 Judah, the powerful associates and friends of our family, 
 complain and censure you much and harshly, that to 
 conciliate enemies, and win over the doubtful, you 
 would be harsh and severe with tried and faithful 
 friends, and bear hard on those Vv^ho had long been firm 
 and unwavering in your service. That sister always 
 had an apology, a palliation, a favorable construction, 
 for every complaint alleged against you ; and when at 
 last she was summoned to go the way of all the earth, 
 she called for her two surviving sons, she stretched out 
 to each one of her withered hands, and while they 
 wept upon it, and kissed it, now growing cold in death, 
 she charged them to be faithful to their God, true to their 
 country, and to love and cherish her brother, to the end 
 of life. " If perplexed and distracted with public cares," 
 said she, " your uncle is sometimes harsh, sometimes 
 
 29*
 
 342 THE BATTLK. 
 
 unreasonable, and sometimes does you wrong, think of 
 me ; be patient, be true and faithful ; and stand as pil- 
 lars of his throne, till you are called to the grave. Never 
 hesitate to encounter any danger to yourselves ; never 
 shrink from any risk on your own part, that is necessary 
 to sustain his kingdom." Such, my lord, was her 
 dying charge, and she breathed out her soul in a prayer 
 to God, that your kingdom might be a blessing, and 
 that your name might go with everlasting honors to 
 succeeding generations. The lessons of that mother 
 have been the law of my life. They have been written 
 in my heart as with the point of a diamond. I will not 
 ask you, my lord, where, when, and how, the valiant 
 Asahel laid down his life. I will not ask, what have 
 been the value to you of the services of Abishai. I 
 ask you to look on this head, now covered with gray 
 hairs. It is the head of one who entered your service 
 before there was down upon his chin. Your honor and 
 the interest of your kingdom have been the guiding star 
 of my life, next, I mean, to the duty I owe to my Creator. 
 '' ' As for Absalom, I loved him. You know I loved 
 him. When he had fled from the land of Israel, because 
 of your wrath, for slaying his brother Amnon, and all 
 were afraid to speak a word in his favor, I interceded 
 for him until you were graciously pleased to grant my 
 petition, and permit his return. I went myself to 
 Geshur after him, and brought him to Jerusalem. You. 
 refused to see his face for two full years. Absalom was 
 in distress : he sent for me to intercede for him, and I 
 went to you again, and besought you to receive him 
 into favor, and again you were graciously pleased to 
 grant my request. I loved Absalom, and was willing
 
 THE BATTLE. 343 
 
 to do for him all that I could, consistently with your 
 honor and the interest of your kingdom. 
 
 " ' When Ahimaaz first came with the news of liis 
 rebellion at Hebron, I asked leave of you to march and 
 disperse his followers at once. It might then have been 
 done, and Absalom might have been spared. Hut when 
 he came to Jerusalem, and in his first public act insulted 
 and dishonored your name and house in the most out- 
 rageous and unpardonable manner, — when he publicly 
 polluted and debauched your family in the sight of all 
 Israel, — I then saw that he must die, or your throne 
 must go down forever. When, not contented with the 
 throne, palace, and kingdom, he pursued you to take 
 your life, I considered him doomed to death by the law 
 of God, wliich ordains that the rebellious son shall die. 
 My lord, all thought, all hope, that Absalom could have 
 lived after the crimes he had committed, is an empty, 
 vain delusion, imposed on your fine understanding by 
 parental fondness. I knew Absalom too well. His 
 spirit was too high. After the insults, injuries, and 
 outrages he had perpetrated toward you, your presence 
 would have been a hell to him : had he been con- 
 strained to live, and you on the throne, he would have 
 suffered the agony of a thousand deaths. Again, this 
 rebellion was too general to be quelled by any thing 
 short of the death of their leader; nine tenths of the 
 princes of Judah had gone with Absalom ; four fifths of 
 all the tribes west of Jordan were involved. Those 
 princes Avere too proud, and too powerful, and their fol- 
 lowers too numerous, to return to their allegiance if their 
 leader had survived, because of the loss of a single battle. 
 They would have rallied and fought again. Twenty
 
 344 THE BATTLE. 
 
 thousand men have died to-day, and twenty thousand 
 must have died another day ; and still Absalom, his own 
 circumstances being desperate, would have rallied them 
 again ; the country would have been exhausted by a pro- 
 tracted and ruinous civil war, until the glory of Israel 
 would have fallen an easy prey into the hands of some 
 heathen foe. The necessity was imperative ; Absalom 
 must die. For his death, my lord, I alone am respon- 
 sible. Ittai advised to defeat his army, and let him 
 escape. Abishai advised to take him captive, and deliver 
 him to you. But I knew your parental fondness would 
 set him at liberty in one hour, and all the sad results I 
 have mentioned would ensue. I offered ten shekels of 
 silver and a girdle to the man who would smite him, 
 and save your throne ; but a thousand shekels of silver 
 would have been no inducement ; for while every sane 
 man in Israel saw that if your throne was saved, Absa- 
 lom must die, yet as all knew it would bring your dis- 
 pleasure and certain destruction on the man who did the 
 deed, all stood aghast. The battle in the right wing of 
 the army was well nigh lost, for the Gittites feared 
 your wrath, and spared Absalom, while he rallied the 
 Danites, and charged on the faithful Ittai, and rallied 
 and charged again, till God's providence interposed. 
 His mule took fright, and fled and hanged him in an 
 oak. But I say nothing of the injury he sustained when 
 hung in the oak. I say nothing of the probability that 
 he could not have lived. I say that I saw he must die, 
 to save your kingdom ; and when all others shrunk from 
 the deed, I thought of my mother's dying charge, that 
 '' I must risk every thing for your good" — and I slew 
 him with my own hand ; though I saw that it would
 
 THK BATTLE. 345 
 
 bring on me the wrath of the king I honored, and the 
 uncle I loved, and would most likely cost me my life. 
 
 " ' Now, my lord,' said Joab, ' dishonor me, banish 
 me ; do what seemeth good to you with me : but be 
 yourself once more ; arouse ! and save the kingdom over 
 which God has made you overseer. 
 
 " • Call up your religion to help you in this hour of 
 trial. You have often led in our devotions while we 
 have sung that beautiful psalm, with the chorus — " His 
 mercy endureth forever." In that sublime psalm, we 
 sing that it was mercy to Israel that smote the first- 
 born in Eg3^pt ; mercy to Israel that overthrew Pharaoh 
 and his host at the Red Sea ; mercy to Israel that slew 
 Sihon, king of the Ammonites, and Og, the king of 
 Bashan. Think of the overthrow of those who rose 
 up in this rebellion against you in the same light, for it 
 was equally necessary to the prosperity and salvation 
 of Israel. Call up your religion to help you, and be 
 once more the king of that people Jehovah hath called 
 by his own name. 
 
 " ' The army at- the gate is now on the verge of 
 mutiny. After fighting with desperate bravery against 
 twenty to one, and saving your kingdom and your life, 
 and the lives of your family, it appears to them as if 
 you have no regard for either princes or servants, who 
 are laboring to vindicate your own crown. You act as 
 if you loved your enemies and hated your friends. 
 Your servants, so faithful and true, are mortified and 
 ashamed, that they meet with blame and censure, 
 where they have merited praise and the highest com- 
 mendation. It looks to them as if, had Absalom lived, 
 and all your own servants been slain, yon had been
 
 346 
 
 THE BATTLE. 
 
 well pleased. Now, therefore, arise, go forth, and speak 
 comfortably unto thy servants ; for I swear by the 
 Lord, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one 
 with thee this night, and that will be worse unto thee 
 than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until 
 now.' 
 
 " This powerful address bowed the spirit of David, 
 as the strong breath of heaven bows the stately cedar 
 on the brow of Lebanon. By the touching references 
 to his departed sister, the amiable, the talented, the 
 enthusiastic Zeruiah, early associations were called up, 
 and his tears turned into a new channel. The con- 
 vincing argument, in reference to Absalom, showed 
 that his death was expedient, necessary, unavoidable ; 
 while the danger of instant mutiny and revolt in the 
 army rung upon his soul, like a sudden peal of thun- 
 der. He sprung to his feet. ' Joab, I will go.' 
 
 " ' To the gate, then, my lord, without a moment's 
 delay.' 
 
 " Joab hastened to the army, and found it in a tem- 
 pest of wild confusion. Stung with disappointment, 
 blamed and censured after having jeopardized their 
 lives for the king, insubordination, noise, tumult, and 
 loud threats were breaking out in all quarters. Ahimaaz, 
 Jonathan, and Ittai had tried to gain their attention to 
 some soothing and tranquillizing address ; but they 
 were impatient, insulted, outraged, and refused to 
 hear ; while Abishai stood aloof, leaning on his sword, 
 surveying this turbulent sea of boisterous indignation, 
 Avith an eye of courageous despair. 
 
 " The voice of their old commander came like oil 
 over these tumultuous waves.
 
 THE BATTLE, 347 
 
 '' ' Soldiers ! you must allow the wounded heart to 
 bleed. The king has been crushed with sorrow for the 
 death of his son. Many of you have sons ; most of 
 you have brothers ; and you have all had fathers. You 
 must allow the wounded heart to bleed. But you are 
 wanted now. Fall into ranks. The king is at the 
 gate, anxious to welcome, and thank, and bless the 
 men, who this day, by their fidelity and valor, have 
 saved his life and his kingdom. 
 
 " 'Ittai! with your brave Gittites, lead the way. 
 
 "'Abishai! take the command of the Cherethites 
 and Pelethites, and life-gnards ! 
 
 " ' Volunteers ! Sons of Manasseh ! Sons of Gad ! 
 follow in your order.' 
 
 '' The power of discipline prevailed ; the soldiers 
 are again in their ranks, and the army again in motion. 
 David stood in the gate, and the head of the column 
 of the Gittites drew near. 
 
 " ' Ittai,' said the king, 'Jehovah bless thee, in thy 
 fidelity and truth ! and Jehovah bless thy brethren with 
 thee ! We became acquainted first in a land of stran- 
 gers. You came from that land for the great name of 
 the God of Israel. The God of Israel be with you, 
 and keep^ you, and be to you an everlasting blessing.' 
 The Gittites bowed their heads, melted into tears, and 
 passed on. 
 
 " Next came Abishai, at the head of his company. 
 
 " ' Son of my dear, departed sister,' said the king, 
 'true and unconquered ever! Well did the matchless 
 Zeruiah train and prepare you to be the pillar and 
 defender of Israel's throne. 
 
 " ' Cherethites ! Pelethites ! long tried and faithful
 
 348 THE BATTLE. 
 
 friends ; always at hand in the trying hour, and always 
 victorious in the contested field. 
 
 " ' Life-guards ! the Lord bless you and smile upon 
 you. We have gone to the house of God in company, 
 and taken sweet counsel together.' 
 
 " When the men of Manasseh drew near, — ' Sons of 
 the illustrious Joseph,' said the king : 'his bow abode 
 in strength, and his arms were made strong by the 
 hands of the mighty God of Jacob. The blessing of 
 the God of thy father be upon thee, unto the utmost 
 bound of the everlasting hills. They shall be on the 
 head of Joseph, and on tlie crown of the head of him 
 that was separated from his brethren. 
 
 " ' Valiant sons of Gad ! strong as lions, and swift 
 as the roes upon the mountains, well might the great 
 patriarch Jacob say of your father. Gad, a troop shall 
 overcome him, but he shall overcome at the last.' 
 
 " 'Twelve cheers to the king! ' shouted the power- 
 ful voice of Joab, when the last of the rear-guard had 
 entered the city. ' From the twelve tribes of Israel, 
 twelve cheers to King David ! ' ' For Reuben ! ' cried 
 Ahiraaaz, standing at the head of the army, with the 
 silver trumpet in his hand. And prince and stripling, 
 priest and warrior, swelled the animated shout, — 
 
 " ' Lona; live Kins David ! ' 
 
 " ' For Simeon ! ' cried Ahimaaz. 
 
 " And another shout made wall and pavement ring. 
 
 " ' For Levi ! ' ' For Judah ! ' ' For Issachar ! ' ' For 
 Zebulon ! ' ' For Dan ! ' 'For Naphtali ! ' ' For Gad ! ' 
 ' For Asher ! ' ' For Joseph > ' ' For Benjamin ! ' 
 
 " For each tribe, as called by Ahimaaz, ten thousand 
 voices, like the waves of the rolling ocean, sent up the
 
 THE BATTLE. 349 
 
 loud acclamation, ' Long live King David!' while ban- 
 ners waved, trumpets sounded, and from window, 
 door, house-top, and city wall, white scarfs and flags 
 were thrown upon the breeze. Hands clapped, harps, 
 tabrets, and timbrels played, and all the people shouted 
 for joy. 
 
 *' All now in the city was tranquillity and gladness. 
 The soldiers were not only satisfied, but delighted, and 
 flattered with the attentions and commendations of the 
 king. ■ They were dismissed for the evening, to visit 
 and interchange salutations with their friends. Sons, 
 brothers, fathers, and husbands, returned to the families 
 to which they belonged. Those, I mean, who resided 
 in the neighborhood, and those, of whom there were 
 many, whose families had followed them to Mahanaim. 
 
 " The loss in David's army had been so small that 
 few causes of grief remained. There \vas that reac- 
 tion of the mind, that buoyancy of spirit, that springing 
 up of all the cheerful and glad emotions of the heart, 
 that ensue when some dreaded and dreadful calamity 
 is past and gone. The night had been dark, the clouds 
 black, and the storm loud ; flasli succeeded flash, peal 
 answered peal, and the crash of contending elements 
 was frightful. But now the darkness had vanished. 
 The clouds were fled, and the storm was over. The 
 morning light was abroad. The sun had risen, and 
 blessed the earth with clear shining after rain. The 
 guardian angel of the season had passed over the face 
 of nature, and had left her ' robe on the trees, and her 
 breath on the gale.' Age leaned upon its stafl^, and 
 blessed the Lord. Children clapped their little hands, 
 and sung hosannas." 
 
 30
 
 350 SCENES AT MAHANAIM. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 SCENES AT MAHANAIM. 
 
 " In the apartment assigned to Phinehas the Levite," 
 continued Belial, " Jonathan, Ahimaaz, Tamar, and a 
 few other friends were seated at a table, well covered 
 with excellent food. They were in the midst of a 
 lively conversation, when a servant at the door an- 
 nounced a stranger, who wished to speak to Ahimaaz. 
 
 " ' Tell him to come in,' said Phinehas. 
 
 " ' He declines,' said the servant, ' and wishes to see 
 Ahimaaz alone.' 
 
 " ' Who can he be ? ' said Ahimaaz, rising and going 
 to the door ; when, behold, his old acquaintance, the 
 Kenite, stood before him. 
 
 " ' What, Ira, is it you ? ' 
 
 *' ' Yes, I wanted to ask you a question.' 
 
 " ' What is it ? ' said Ahimaaz. 
 
 " ' Would you hurt Ben Huppim now, if it were in 
 your power ? ' asked Ira. 
 
 " ' Why, you foolish boy,' said Ahimaaz, ' did you 
 call me up from my dinner to ask me such a question 
 as that ? ' 
 
 " ' But I want you to answer me : would you hurt 
 him now, if he were in your power ? ' 
 
 << < Why, no, certainly no,' said Ahimaaz ; ' the war is 
 over now ; we would not hurt any one.'
 
 SCENES AT MAHANAIM. 351 
 
 " 'But you know,' said Ira, 'it was he that pursued 
 you the other night from Enrogel to Bahurim, and 
 would have killed you if he could.' 
 
 " ' That was in war time,' said Ahiraaaz ; ' but now 
 we must forget and forgive.' 
 
 " ' I am glad of that,' said the Kenite, 'for he is now 
 lying wounded on the battle-lield.' 
 
 " ' Are you sure of that ? ' asked Ahimaaz. 
 
 " ' O, yes,' said the lad ; ' for as soon as you started 
 for the city, I thought I would go over the field where 
 they had been fighting, and see if I should know any 
 that were killed. I went to the place where Absalom 
 conmianded, and where they fought so long. Tiiere 
 were many dead and many wounded. And there was 
 Ben Huppim, leaning against a log, severely injured. 
 He wanted water very much. So I took his helmet 
 and brought him some ; and I told him I thought you 
 would befriend him if you knew his condition. And 
 he requested me to come and ask you.' 
 
 " ' Come, Jonathan,' said Ahimaaz, entering the 
 room, ' we must go to the assistance of an old friend.' 
 
 " ' Who ? ' said Jonathan. 
 
 " • Ben Huppim, the Danite captain, who escorted us 
 in such style to Bahurim, the other night. He is out 
 on the battle-field, wounded.' 
 
 " ' Badly ? ' asked Jonathan. 
 
 " 'He is crippled,' said Ahimaaz, 'and he wants our 
 help.' 
 
 " ' He shall have it,' said Jonatlian, ' without delay, 
 Phinehas, will not you go along ? ' 
 
 " ' Willingly,' said Phinehas : ' to assist the distressed 
 is one of the great duties of life,'
 
 352 SCENES AT MAHANAIM. 
 
 " A skilful physician was called, and a suitable lit- 
 ter provided, and the party set out under the guidance 
 of Ira the Kenite, who, greatly pleased with the suc- 
 cess of his mission, edified them with his observations 
 and opinions, most of the way across the plain. ' I 
 asked Ben Huppim,' said he, ' how he had the mishap 
 to get crippled. He told me that he was in the thickest 
 of the battle, figliting hand to hand with the strong and 
 valiant Gittites. Absalom was with the Danites, en- 
 couraging them with all his might. Three times, he 
 said, the Gittites in solid column had charged, and 
 broken through the ranks of Dan ; and three times, at 
 the call of Absalom, they had rallied and renewed the 
 fight. Then Absalom's mule began to rear and plunge, 
 and throw down its head, and he was afraid the young 
 king would be thrown to tiie ground. So he, with 
 many others, ran to render him what assistance they 
 could ; when, in the struggle and confusion, he received 
 a blow, he knows not from whom, by which he was 
 disabled. And then the mule dashed off with uncon- 
 trolled fury, bearing Absalom along. Finding that ho 
 was badly disabled, the captain threw himself under 
 the large trunk of a fallen tree that was there in the 
 wood, and both armies, pursuers and pursued, passed 
 by him and over him, but he received no further injury. 
 But,' said Ira, ' Ben Huppim did not know that Ab- 
 salom was dead, till I told him. He knew oidy that 
 the battle was lost. But when I told him how Absa- 
 lom was hanged in the oak, and run through with the 
 darts of Joab, and was dead, he seemed much dis- 
 tressed, and sighed and moaned deeply.' 
 
 '■' The narrative of the Kenite had run on thus far
 
 SCENES AT MAHANAIM. 353 
 
 without interruption. But now the party had reached 
 the fatal field, and before them were the sad memorials 
 of the ravages of war. They first came to the point 
 where Joab had routed the hosts of Judah. The 
 ground was literally covered with shields and helmets 
 cleft in twain, pierced breastplates, broken swords, 
 spears shivered, or cut asunder, mingled with arms, 
 legs, heads, and headless bodies, and other mangled 
 remains of those who had fallen ; while all the ground 
 was red and slippery with blood and gore. 
 
 " Further on were seen the daughters of Judah, who 
 had followed their friends to this dreadful field. There 
 was seen the tender mother, holding up the head of 
 her expiring son, and giving her last benediction. 
 There was heard the wail of the desolate wife, by the 
 cold body that was once her husband. Here was the 
 dutiful daughter, bestirring herself to minister to the 
 wants and soothe the sorrows of a wounded father. 
 And there was the aff'ectionate sister, searching and 
 examining among the carved and bloody faces of the 
 dead, laboring to identify the features of a brother, 
 who had gone to the battle, but had not returned. Tiie 
 plaints, shrieks, and loud laments of these were min- 
 gled with the agonizing groan of the neglected stran- 
 ger, in whose behalf no friend appeared, and the star- 
 tling howl of the lone dog, whose master had been lost 
 in the confusion of that frightful day, while wolves 
 and vultures were seen gathering round. 
 
 " ' What a desolating scourge is war, and how mani- 
 fold are its horrors ! ' exclaimed Jonathan, surveying 
 the mournful scenes around him. 
 
 30*
 
 354 SCENES AT MAHANAIM. 
 
 " ' There is Ben Huppim ! ' said Iia the Kenite, point- 
 ing to the object of their search. 
 
 " ' Captain ! ' said Ahimaaz, ' we sympathize with 
 you in yonr affliction, and ai'e come to administer what 
 assistance and comfort we can.' 
 
 " • This is Aliimaaz,' said Ira, 'and this is Jonathan, 
 and that man is Phinehas the Levite, of Bahurim.' 
 
 " ' I'm sorry,' said the captain, dropping his eyes to 
 the ground, ' to give trouble to persons I have used 
 so ill.' 
 
 " 'Not a word of that,' said Ahimaaz ; ' you thought 
 you were in your duty, and we know how to respect 
 fidelity and worth, even in a mistaken cause. Is your 
 wound severe ? ' 
 
 " ' Very painful,' said the captain, ' though I think if 
 it were carefully dressed, I may hope for a speedy 
 recovery.' 
 
 " ' We have brought a skilful physician, who will 
 dress and bandage the wound,' said Ahimaaz ; ' but 
 first, here is a little fresh water, and a little light food. 
 When your wound is properly attended to, we will bear 
 you to a friend's house in the city.' 
 
 " ' You are very kind,' said the captain, his utterance 
 much affected by strong emotions of gratitude ; ' may 
 you ever have kind friends in the time of trouble, and 
 far distant be the day when that time shall come.' 
 
 " The wound was speedily and skilfully dressed, and 
 the captain was borne to the city. On their way they 
 were delighted to meet company after company going 
 out to the battle-ground to administer relief to the 
 sufferers.
 
 SCENES AT MAHANAIM. 355 
 
 " After reaching the house, the captain experienced 
 much abatement of his pain, and much of the cheer- 
 fuhiess and good humor of the soldier began to 
 appear. 
 
 '• The wife of Phinehas was all attention and kind- 
 ness ; but there Avas something in her manner, and a 
 propensity to smile in her countenance, which made it 
 evident that her thoughts were with the scenes of for- 
 mer days. Ben Huppim saw it, and feeling now per- 
 fectly at home, entered fully into the spirit of the 
 occasion. 
 
 " Phinehas, also, could not resist the temptation to 
 broach the subject of their former acquaintance, and 
 yet he was anxious to do it with all possible delicacy 
 and propriety. 
 
 " ' Captain,' said he, * we leave this place for Bahu- 
 rim, in a day or two.' 
 
 " ' I am sorry for that,' said Ben Huppim ; ' I am so 
 much at home already in your family.' 
 
 " ' Merari, the owner of this house,' said Phinehas, 
 ' is an excellent man, and will take pleasure in giving 
 you all proper attention.' 
 
 *' ' Yet I regret to change my nurses,' said the captain. 
 
 " ' Why so ? ' asked Phinehas. 
 
 " ' Because,' said the captain, ' you improve greatly 
 on acquaintance.' 
 
 " ' How will you make that appear ? ' asked Phinehas. 
 
 " '• My first reception at your house,' said the captain, 
 ' was considerably on the north side of welcome.' 
 
 " ' Our accommodations,' said Phinehas, ' were partly 
 taken up, before your arrival, by other visitors.' 
 
 " ' I suspected as much,' said Ben Huppim.
 
 356 SCENES AT MAHANAIM. 
 
 " ' You must come to see us again,' said Phinehas ; 
 * I hope we shall be prepared to treat you better.' 
 
 ",f I shall be happy to accept your invitation,' said 
 the captain, ' There is something in your style of 
 housekeeping that I wish to understand.' 
 
 '' ' Ah,' said Phinehas, ' what can that be ? ' 
 
 " ' I wish to learn whether you have a well about 
 your house, for I saw none.' 
 
 " ' An excellent well,' said Phinehas, ' that answers 
 many valuable purposes.' 
 
 " ' You are very careful strangers shall not see it.' 
 
 " ' Only on particular occasions,' said Phinehas. 
 
 '' ' And then,' said the captain, ' I wish to learn why 
 it is that your good wife suns her meal after sundown.' 
 Then, fixing his eyes on the wife, said he, ' Just to 
 think, what a face a woman can put on ! ' 
 
 •' ' Why, captain,' said the woman, coloring and 
 laughing, 'I would have done the same thing for you, 
 if your life had been in danger.' 
 
 " ' I believe it,' said the captain ; ' and I like those 
 who are true to their friends. But it caps the climax 
 of all the tricks that ever were played off on Captain 
 Ben Huppim ! ' 
 
 " We must now leave this company to improve their 
 acquaintance, in order to notice three respectable-look- 
 ing persons, who had just entered the city, and were 
 making their way to the apartments of King David. 
 
 " These were no other than Barzillai the Gileadite, 
 Machir of Lodebar, and the young Ammonite prince. 
 David received them with the \varmest cordiality, and 
 the strongest expressions of gratitude and lasting obli- 
 gations. ' You have fully illustrated,' said the king,
 
 SCENES AT MAHANAIM. 357 
 
 ' the good old maxim, " A friend in need, is a friend 
 indeed." ' 
 
 '• They, on their part, congratulated the king on the 
 overthrow of the insurgents, and the vindication of his 
 right to tlie crown and kingdom ; averring that what 
 they had done, in supplying the wants of his army, 
 was only their duty, and had heen to them a source of 
 the higliest gratification. 
 
 " ' My servants,' said Barzillai, ' have just arrived 
 with another herd of beeves. Some choice sheep, 
 also, have been brought along — sheep of the breed of 
 Bashan, with other supplies. And the good mother at 
 home has sent to yourself a few baskets of her own 
 preparing. Women, you know, have their own notions 
 about cookery.' 
 
 " The Ammonite also informed the king, that his 
 hunters had brought in a good supply of venison, 
 ' which,' said he, ' may now be growing scarce in the 
 highly cultivated country round about Jerusalem ; a 
 supply also of other articles, which I hope may be 
 acceptable to the least of the servants of my lord.' 
 For with great delicacy and respect, he would politely 
 intimate, that nothing which he could furnish was 
 worthy of the acceptance of the king himself. 
 
 " Machir, of Lodebar, also sustained his part nobly, 
 and was not a whit behind his two friends in the 
 munificence of his contributions. 
 
 " During the time that Barzillai and the Ammonite 
 were making their communications to David, Machir, 
 of Lodebar, had kept somewhat back, and seemed 
 rather to conceal his countenance from the king. But 
 as soon as they came to a pause, he stepped forward
 
 358 SCENES AT MAHANAIM. 
 
 and stood erect right in front of King David. He was 
 a man of fine figure and stiijiendous frame ; and there 
 was that in his manner and movements which at once 
 made it plain, that a portion of his life, at least, had 
 been spent in the tented field, and in the society of 
 military men. 
 
 " ' You have forgotten me, my lord,' said* he, evi- 
 dently under the influence of strong feeling. 
 
 " ' I should know that voice,' said David, fixing his 
 eyes with much earnestness on the chief; ' and that 
 face, too, was certainly once familiar. Bat time and 
 trouble have impaired my memory, that I cannot call 
 names as formerly.' 
 
 " ' Do you remember,' said the chief, ' on the morn- 
 ing you went forth against Goliath, who it was that 
 walked with you as far as the brook, from which you 
 took the five smooth stones, and then only turned back 
 at your earnest request ? ' 
 
 " David sprung to his feet, in ecstasy, exclaiming, 
 < Machir ! the valiant armor-bearer of my early friend 
 Jonathan ! ' and he threw himself forward on the neck 
 of the chief with strongly excited feeling. Machir, 
 Barzillai, and even the Ammonite, shared deeply in the 
 sympathies of the occasion, 
 
 " ' I could not have thought,' said David, after his 
 emotions began to subside, ' that 1 should ever have 
 had any difficulty in naming you at first si^ht.' 
 
 " ' My lord,' said Machir, ' great changes have come 
 over me, as well as yourself, since our last meeting.' 
 
 " ' But I knew yon so well,' said the king ; ' 1 was 
 so often with you at the house of Jonathan, as well as 
 in the army, and then you were v/ith him when he
 
 SCENES AT MAHANAIM. 359 
 
 came to rno m ihe Avilderness of Ziph, in the darkest 
 period of my persecutions. Bat why Ijave you aban- 
 doned pubhc Hfe ? ' 
 
 " ' My lord,' said Machir, ' you know how I was 
 honored by the confidence and friendship of that noble 
 and wonderful man, who was once the favorite of all 
 Israel. When I saw him fall, and saw his family 
 broken and desolate, the impression on my mind was 
 so deep, of the vanity of earthly fame and earthly 
 prospects, that I resolved to seek a better and more 
 enduring portion. I retired to private life, and set my 
 heart on that hope that is beyond the grave.' 
 
 " ' A wise decision ! ' exclaimed David. Then fixing 
 his eyes on Machir, he proceeded, ' How strongly you 
 remind me of Jonathan, my early friend ! ' 
 
 " ' His attachment to you, my lord, was marvellous,' 
 said Machir. ' After you had fled to the court of Achish, 
 king of Gath, he often expressed his great anxiety for 
 your welfare. Reports were circnlated, that you had 
 turned away from the worship of Jehovah, and adopted 
 the religion of Dagon. Jonathan promptly pronounced 
 them base falsehoods. But when he knew that you 
 were made commander of the life-guards of Achish, 
 and that he was marching against Israel, he expressed 
 his fears lest you should be brought into a snare. I 
 remember he spoke with much feeling on this subject 
 the morning before the battle of Mount Gilboa.' 
 
 " ' Gilboa ! ' echoed David. ' So then you were with 
 Jonathan on that memorable day.' 
 
 " 'Yes,' said Machir; ' on Mount Gilboa I was with 
 Jonathan, in his last battle-field. And sad is the 
 remembrance of that field to this day.'
 
 360 SCENES AT MAHANAIM. 
 
 " ' I was long anxious,' said David, ' to know the 
 particulars of Jonathan's death, but none could tell me. 
 I should be glad to hear a statement from you.' 
 
 " ' At the approach of the battle,' said Machir, ' King 
 Saul was much dejected. His usual bravery and con- 
 fident patriotism appeared to have forsaken him. The 
 dejection of the king seemed to affect the whole army ; 
 but yet many brave and renowned warriors were in 
 arms for the defence of their country. The arrange- 
 ment of the army was this. The right wing was com- 
 manded by King Saul in person. The left wing was 
 led by Abner, and the centre was commanded by Jona- 
 than. His reputation was so great, and the hold he 
 had on the affections of the people so strong, that a vast 
 number of veteran warriors had identified themselves 
 with this division of the army. The Philistine host 
 came on in three columns towards the lines of Israel. 
 In front of Saul appeared the giant Ishbi-benob, the 
 son of Goliath of Gath, and by his side was the giant 
 Saph, almost his equal in stature and st»-ength. In 
 front of Abner appeared the giant Lahmi, the brother 
 of Goliath, and another son of the giant equally formi- 
 dable. Both wings of our army gave back, and fled at 
 the first assault. As soon as this was known to Jona- 
 than, he made a brief and burning address to the war- 
 riors around him, then charged with desperate bravery 
 on the centre of the Philistine host ; he carried all 
 before him, and for a time, it seemed as if victory 
 might yet declare for Israel ; but in the midst of his 
 exertions and wonderful deeds of valor, his armor 
 became somewhat deranged ; an arrow from the foe 
 smote him on the temple, and he dropped dead on the
 
 SCENES AT MAIIANAIM. 361 
 
 battle-field. The hope of Israel fell with him, and 
 instantly all our forces turned and fled.' 
 
 •' ' How mysterious and wonderful are the Avavs of 
 God ! ' said David. ' His counsels are past finding out.' 
 
 " 'I hare long wished an opportunity, my lord,' said 
 Blacliir, < to express to you my gratitude for your kind 
 treatment of my adopted son, as I may call him, 
 Mephibosheth.' 
 
 " ' Ah, yes,' said David, ' I remember now, it was in 
 yoiu" house that Mephibosheth was found when I sent 
 to have him brought to Jerusalem, that I might show 
 him kindness for his father Jonathan's sake.' 
 
 " ' Yes,' said Machir ; ' after the fatal battle of Mount 
 Gilboa, the wife of Jonathan, Avith her son and nurse, 
 in terror of the Philistines, fled to the country east of 
 Jordan, and came to my dwelling, a forlorn, broken- 
 hearted widow. In the hurry and confusion of their 
 flight over the rocks, the nurse suffered the child to 
 fall ; he was sorely crippled, and has ever since been 
 lame on both his feet.' 
 
 " ' I am happy to know,' said David, ' that the deso- 
 late and bereaved mother and child found a home, so 
 warm and welcome, in your house. Having been Jona- 
 than's armor-bearer so long, when his name was the pride 
 and the joy of Israel, you would know how to be kind 
 to the afllicted family of so rare and excellent a man.' 
 
 " ' Ah,' said Machir, ' if kindness could have availed 
 to soothe her sorrows — but the death of her noble 
 luisband inflicted a wound rq^on her heart that was 
 absolutely incurable.' 
 
 "'Sad change,' said David; 'many a happy horn 
 have I spent under their roof ; when no family in Israel 
 
 31
 
 3&Z SCENES AT MAIIANAIM. 
 
 had prospects so promising and so brilliant. O Jona- 
 than we shall not look upon thy like again ! ' 
 
 " ' I thought,' said Machir, ' that the sorrow of her 
 widowed heart had reached its utmost height, when 
 she learned of a surety that her husband was dead ; but 
 when, shortly afterwards, tidings came that the Philis- 
 tines had hung up the bodies of Saul and Jonathan by 
 the wall of Bethshan, that they might be publicly dis- 
 graced, and devoured by birds of prey, the tumult of 
 her grief was such that it seemed she could not live. 
 I resolved to venture my life, in order to alleviate her 
 anguish. I went to Jabesh-gilead. I reminded them 
 of what Saul and Jonathan had done for them in the 
 day of their distress. Fifty of their valiant men vol- 
 unteered to go with me. We crossed Jordan in the 
 night, went to Bethshan, and took down the bodies. 
 The good providence of Jehovah favored us in our 
 hazardous undertaking, for none of the enemy inter- 
 rupted us. It seemed as if a deep sleep from God had 
 fallen upon them. We brought the bodies of Saul and 
 Jonathan over Jordan to Jabesh, and burned incense 
 over them, and then buried them under a tree at Jabesh, 
 and fasted and mourned seven days.' 
 
 " ' I hope your kind attentions to the dead afforded 
 some comfort to the distressed widow.' 
 
 " ' So far, my lord,' answered Machir, ' as a broken 
 and desolate heart can receive comfort or consolation ; 
 but she was sinking under a load of sorrows too heavy to 
 be borne. It was soon evident that the foundations of 
 life were giving way; that her tears could not be dried, 
 and that she would not long remain behind her beloved 
 Jonathan. She spoke of him almost continually, when
 
 SCENES AT MAHANAIM. 303 
 
 she spoke at all. Earth seemed to liavc lost all its inter- 
 est to her, and her thoughts and hopes ^vere entirely 
 directed to that future Avorld, where the righteous shall 
 live again, where friends shall meet, and the troubles 
 and woes that surround us here shall be forever un- 
 known.' 
 
 " ' Ah, Machir, Machir,' exclaimed David, warmly 
 grasping his hand, ' that is a glorious hope ; we shall 
 awake in the likeness of our God, and then these hearts 
 will ache no more. Ah, yes, then we shall be satisfied, 
 perfectly and forever satisfied.' 
 
 *• ' Of that glorious hope,' said Machir, ' her soul was 
 full, until the hour when she breathed out her life ; and 
 then I had her body conveyed and buried by the grave 
 of Jonathan, to slumber there till the resurrection of 
 the just.' 
 
 " ' They shall be had in everlasting remembrance,' 
 said David, wiping away the tears that flowed freely 
 from his eyes. 
 
 '• ' There is one circumstance,' said Machir, ' that I 
 must not omit, for I know it will interest you. You 
 have not forgotten the fondness of Jonathan's wife for 
 poetry and music. Often, while I was his armor- 
 bearer, have I witnessed the delight and animation with 
 which she would sing those beautiful psalms you had 
 composed to the praise of God.' 
 
 '"0, I sliall remember it while I live,' said David. 
 ' She hcnself composed a number of sweet odes on the 
 same subject, in the days of their prosperity.' 
 
 " ' You will also remember,' said Machir, ' that all then- 
 children, except Mephibosheth, died whcm young.' 
 
 " ' Ah, yes,' said David, ' I have before my vision
 
 364 SCENES AT MAHANAIM. 
 
 now the cave and that little range of white pillars, that 
 Jonathan set up near their peaceful and lovely home in 
 the plain of Gibeah.' 
 
 " ' We]},' said Machir, ' I was going to mention that 
 a few weeks before she died, she composed a sweet 
 little dirge on the theme of her family bereavements ; 
 for the death of her husband seemed to open again 
 the wounds given by all her earlier afflictions, and cause 
 them to bleed afresh. She would sing it at early dawn, 
 and at the close of day.' 
 
 '"At the dawn ? ' asked David, 
 
 " ' Yes,' said Machir ; ' the freshness and music of the 
 morning seemed but to give a new impulse to the tide 
 of her sorrows.' 
 
 " ' I should be greatly gratified,' said David, ' to hear 
 those lines. Can you repeat them ? ' 
 
 " ' Repeat them ! ' said Machir. ' They are engraven, 
 as with the point of a diamond, on the tablets of my 
 memory. They ran thus : — 
 
 SONG OF THE WIFE OF JO^'TATHAN. 
 
 " How earthly flowers will fade ! 
 How earthly hopes prove vain 5 
 And, O, that promise, how divine, 
 ' That friends shall meet again' I 
 
 II. 
 ' My ruined house and home. 
 
 It thrills my heart with pain ; 
 Ah, broken, scattered family 1 
 Shall we not meet again ?
 
 SCENES AT MAHANAIM. 305 
 
 III. 
 " On sad Gilboa's height 
 
 Brave Jonathan was slain ; — 
 Break not, my heart ; O trust in God ; 
 We'll surely meet again. 
 
 IV. 
 
 " My sweet and lovely babes, 
 Low buried in the plain, 
 Though lonesome now and desolate, 
 I'll meet you all again. 
 
 v. 
 
 " In that blest world above, 
 Redeemed from every stain, 
 We'll be a family with God : 
 O, yes, we'll meet again," ' 
 
 " ' Sweet and mournful,' said Barzillai the Gileadite, 
 turning to the king. ' That is, indeed, a blessed hope, 
 " that friends shall meet again."' 
 
 " ' A blessed hope,' said David, ' and we realize it the 
 more, the farther we adv^ance in the journey of life.' 
 
 '•' ' True,' answered Barzillai ; ' I iind, as I grow older, 
 that those passages in the sacred books become ex- 
 ceedingly precious, which declare that the ancient 
 saints, at death, "were gathered to their people." Of 
 Abraham, it is said, " he was gathered to his people." 
 Of Isaac, of Jacob, and others, they " were gathered to 
 their people." Now, at the age of fourscore, my early 
 friends almost entirely gone, I stand like the lone tree, 
 where the whirlwind has prostrated all around it. But 
 I cherish that blessed hope, '• that friends shall meet 
 again," and I shall be gathered to my people.' 
 
 " ' My lord,' said Machir of Lodebar, addressing the 
 king, ' there is yet one subject I should like to mention 
 to you, though I have been on the point of waiving it.' 
 
 31*
 
 866 SCENES AT MAHANAIM. 
 
 "'I shall be much pleased to liear you,' answered 
 David. 
 
 " ' You know,' continued Machir, ' that the church 
 believes that many of the patriarchs ai,id ancient saints 
 were types or figures of One that is to come. When 
 we read the inspired, history of Adam, of Abraham, of 
 Joseph, we have the impression on our mind, a greater 
 than Adam, a greater than Abraham, a greater than 
 Joseph, is here. Moses said the Messiah should be "a 
 prophet like unto him." ' 
 
 " ' True, most true,' rejoined David, with kindling ani- 
 mation in view of this subject, ' they were types and 
 figures of Him on whom all our hopes are centred.' 
 
 " ' Is not the providence of God, now,' said Machir, 
 ' as wise and as rich with instruction as it was in the 
 day when Abraham, Joseph, and Moses lived? ' 
 
 " ' Beyond all doubt,' answered David. ' Bat to what 
 does your question tend ? ' 
 
 " ' There are a number of facts in the life and char- 
 acter of Jonathan,' said Machir, ' on which I have med- 
 itated for many years, and I think I have been taught 
 by the Spirit of God, tliat they are full of typical mean- 
 ing and instruction.' * 
 
 " ' I shall rejoice exceedingly to hear you give speci- 
 fications,' said David. ' I have long regarded Jonathan, 
 
 * The author is fully aware that some of the expressions in this con- 
 versation belong rather to the times of New Testament saints, than to 
 those under the old dispensation. But the friendship of Jonathan and 
 David affords a beautiful illustration of the affection existing between 
 the great Son of David and his spiritual brethren. The train of thought 
 has interested the author, and may interest others ; while it is not for ua 
 to determine how clearly the Messiah was seen by the Old Testament 
 saints.
 
 SCENES AT MAHANAIiM. 3G7 
 
 in the amiableness of his character, as having had few- 
 equals in the history of Adam's race.' 
 
 " 'First, then,' said Machir, 'his wonderful love to 
 you : so strong, so disinterested, so unwavering, and 
 lasting as his life. Is he not in this a type of One who 
 has loved us with a love "strong as death," — a love 
 unchanging, a self-sacrificing love, a love that shall 
 endure while divinity itself endures ? ' 
 
 " ' There is in the thought,' said David, ' much force, 
 beauty, and sweetness. Go on.' 
 
 " 'Again,' said Machir, 'Jonathan confessed his friend- 
 sliip for you before the king, his father, and the assem- 
 bled armies of Israel. Was he not in this the figure of 
 One who will confess our names before the Great King 
 and the armies of heaven ? ' 
 
 " ' Blessed, blessed hope ! ' ejaculated David. ' Go on.' 
 
 " ' Jonathan,' said Machir, ' arrayed you in that beau- 
 tiful garment that he wore as heir to the crown. Was 
 he not a type of One who is heir of all things, and who 
 clothes us in a spotless robe — One who is " the Lord 
 our righteousness " ? ' 
 
 " ' A truth sublime and glorious ! ' exclaimed David. 
 ' What more ? ' 
 
 " ' Jonathan,' said Machir, ' armed you with his armor, 
 gave you his sword, his girdle, and his bow. Siiould 
 it not remind us of One who, in the spiritual warfare, 
 teaches our hands to war and our fingers to fight ? ' 
 
 " David sprang to his feet, and, with lifted hands and 
 eyes, exclaimed, ' Blessed be the Lord, my strength, 
 who so richly instructs us by his spirit, his word, and 
 his providence.' Then turning to Machir, ' Proceed, 
 my friend, proceed.'
 
 36S SCENES AT MAHANAIM. 
 
 "'You will remember,' said Machir, ' that Jonathan, 
 in order to clothe and arm you, stripped himself. 
 There is a greater than Jonathan, whose " form and 
 comeliness is marred " for our sakes ; for us he became 
 ''a man of sorrows," stripped of his heavenly robe.' 
 
 " At this the king was much agitated ; but he re- 
 mained silent, and Machir continued. 
 
 '• ' Jonathan interceded before the king, his father, in 
 your behalf, A greater thaii Jonathan maketh inter- 
 cession for us before the Great King, 
 
 " ' Jonathan took you into covenant union with him- 
 self ; a covenant most solemnly ratified, and confirmed 
 with an oath ; a covenant that never was violated. A 
 greater than Jonathan takes ns into an everlasting cov- 
 enant with himself, a covenant well ordered hi all 
 things and sure, 
 
 '• ' Once more, my lord,' said Machir : ' Jonathan, in 
 the darkest period of yonr trials, when dangers thick- 
 ened around, visited you in the wilderness of Ziph, and 
 spake words of encouragement and consolation. It 
 should remind ns of that Friend who sticketh closer 
 than a brother, who comforts us even in the darkest 
 hour, and even walks with us through the valley of the 
 shadow of death. And, finally, 
 
 " 'Jonathan promised you a kingdom, — a kingdom 
 over all the tribes of Israel, Was he not a type of Him 
 who will make us kings and priests unto God, and who 
 will bestow on us a kingdom, — a kingdom prepared 
 from the foundation of the world ? ' 
 
 " The king had continued standing until Machir 
 closed his remarks, engrossed by the interest of the 
 subject. He then, with much solemnity, observed, — 
 
 " ' My obligations to him who hath redeemed my soul,
 
 SCENES AT MAHANAIM. 3G9 
 
 grow clearer and stronger the more I learn of his ways. 
 I was long anxious to discharge the debt of gratitude 
 which I owed to Jonathan : what shall I render unto 
 the Lord for all his benefits toward me ? ' 
 
 "' I confessed my obligations to Jonathan publicly, 
 before my whole kingdom. Yes, and I will confess 
 and honor my Redeemer before the world. I will 
 speak of his testimonies also before kings, and will not 
 be ashamed. ** 
 
 " ' I composed and sung beautiful stanzas in honor 
 of Jonathan, and I will sing unto the Lord as long as I 
 live, I will praise my God while I have any being. 
 
 " 'I showed kindness to Mephibosheth for his father 
 Jonathan's sake, and I will show kindness to the chil- 
 dren of my Redeemer, for the love I owe to him.' 
 
 " The conversation of David and his three friends 
 now turned on other topics, and assumed a more lively 
 character. The king now took particular notice of the 
 Ammonite prince, and mentioned the kind attentions 
 he had received from Nahash, his father, during the 
 time he was hunted and pursued by the jealousy of 
 Saul. The Ammonite, in return, with much politeness 
 and propriety, rehearsed the deep and abiding interest 
 his father had taken in David's welfare. ' I was a small 
 lad at the time,' said he ; ' yet well do I remember how 
 often the severity and unreasonableness of my lord's 
 persecutions were the theme of conversation in my 
 father's house, and also the joy that inspired the whole 
 family circle, when we learned that those persecutions 
 were ended, and that my lord liad come to the throne.' 
 
 " The afternoon passed away in agreeable and varied 
 conversation ; but we must leave them, to notice another 
 class of persons who demand our attention."
 
 370 THE RETURN TO JERUSALEM. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 THE RETURN TO JERUSALEM. 
 
 9 
 
 '' Lv a few days after the overthrow of Aosalom, 
 Phinehas the Levite departed from Mahanaim on his 
 return to Bahurim. Tamar returned with the family, 
 and they were accompanied by Ahimaaz and Jonathan, 
 whom King David had sent with some important mes- 
 sage to their fathers. Zadok and Abiathar. 
 
 " They had crossed Jordan in safety, and were re- 
 joicing in the prospect of reaching their beloved home, 
 when Phinehas remarked to Jonathan, ' Our neighbor 
 Shimei is now, no doubt, in great perplexity.' 
 
 •' ' Very likely,' answered Jonathan. 
 
 " ' I learn,' said Phinehas, ' that he went to Absalom, 
 and told him how he had cursed David, and how he 
 had discovered where you and Ahimaaz were hid at 
 Bahurim, and urged Absalom to promote him to some 
 important office.' 
 
 " ' And how did he succeed ? ' asked Jonathan. 
 
 "'But indilferently,' said Phinehas. 'Absalom knew 
 something of his history, and spoke of Michal deceiv- 
 ing him with the image, and Saul losing the skirt of his 
 robe, while Shimei was guarding him, and some other 
 mishaps in his early life ; and presently the news was 
 brought that xihithophel had despaired of their cause,
 
 THE RETURN TO JERUSALEM. 37 1 
 
 and had hanged himself. This alarmed Sliimei, and 
 he drew off. He thought, no doubt, that if there was 
 any danger of Absalom's failure, he had gone too far 
 already. Shimei would gladly know whether summer 
 or winter is coming, before he decides what coat he will 
 put on. But he must be in great perplexity now.' 
 
 " With such conversation the party hied along till 
 the buildings of Bahurim rose in view. 
 
 " Frightful rumors of the" vengeance which the king, 
 now restored, would inflict on the authors of the dis- 
 grace and the calamity which had befallen the coun- 
 try, had been spreading and increasing from day to 
 day. Never did Fame show off her diversified talents 
 on a larger scale than now. Appalling reports of the 
 hot treasures of royal wrath, that were reserved and 
 ready for the leading actors in this wide-spread mis- 
 chief, had come on the wings of every breeze. And 
 they multiplied and magnified, and gathered gloomi- 
 ness in their progress. The fears of Shimei told him 
 that this black tempest must discharge its principal 
 fury on his devoted head. He was of the family of 
 Saul ; and busy fame had not omitted to circulate 
 that the storm of the rebellion, that burst so suddenly 
 on the land, had originated in a secret influence exerted 
 from that quarter. Shimei himself had publicly de- 
 clared more bitterness against David tiian any man 
 alive. And worse still, he was right on the road along 
 which the king would return. So he must fall into 
 the lion's mouth in the first moments of his devouring 
 fury. Could he have been kept out of sight till public 
 vengeance was glutted and gorged with the blood of 
 others, tlierc might be mure hope. Bui this was im-
 
 372 THE RETURN TO JERUSALEM. 
 
 possible. He thought of flight. Bat it would not do ; 
 for the whole country was full of persons anxious to 
 recommend themselves to the king on his return. And 
 Shimei saw, that should he attempt to fly, he would 
 certainly be pursued and brought back by those who 
 were anxious to make their own peace with the king. 
 
 " To follow Ahithophel's example seemed the only 
 resort. But the idea of hanging had always been hor- 
 rible to him. He thought of running himself through 
 with a sword, throwing himself from a precipice, and 
 other forms of self-destruction. But his heart failed 
 and recoiled at the prospect of each. 
 
 " Just in the height of his perplexity, he cast his eye 
 on the Jordan road, and discovered Phinehas the Le- 
 vite and his company returning home. Here, he saw, 
 was an opportunity of learning accurately the real state 
 of things around David, and what must be anticipated. 
 
 '' He had aimed, it is true, to injure Phinehas, and 
 also Jonathan and Ahimaaz, in his report to Absalom. 
 But this was no time to stand upon trifles. He has- 
 tened, therefore, and met his old acquaintances with a 
 most rueful countenance — the very picture of extreme 
 terror and despair. 
 
 " Cruelty had no place in the heart of Phinehas. 
 And though in Shimei's days of vaporing, and putting 
 on airs of consequence, Phinehas had indulged his 
 humor freely at the expense of the man of the house 
 of Saul, yet now, when Shimei stood before him, hag- 
 gard and trembling in every limb, and evidently tor- 
 tured with horrible anticipations, the sympathies of 
 Phinehas were strongly moved ; for the object before 
 him was most pitiable.
 
 THE RETURN TO JERUSALEM. 373 
 
 " ' Neighbor Shimci, how are you to-day ? ' asked 
 Phinehas. 
 
 " ' Rumed,' said Shiniei, ' utterly undone.' 
 
 " ' Not so bad as that, I hope,' said Phinehas. 
 
 '"ButDavidis coming back triumphant,' said Shimei. 
 
 " ' Certainly he is, and as he was a good king before, no 
 doubt he will be a good king again,' answered Phinehas. 
 
 " 'Ah, but what of those that rose up against him ? 
 What can they do ? ' ^ 
 
 " ' They are defeated,' said Phinehas, ' and many of 
 them dead, and the rest have fled, every man to his tent.' 
 
 " ' O, had I known the matter would turn, out thus,' 
 said Shimei, ' I should have acted very dillercntly.' 
 
 "No doubt of that,' answered Phinehas ; ' but mor- 
 tals are blind to the future.' 
 
 " ' O, I have been so imprudent ! ' said Shimei : 
 ' there was no necessity for my coming out so publicly, 
 and saying so much that was provoking to King David 
 at that time. I might just as well have been quiet, till 
 1 could have seen how things would go. I am vexed 
 with myself.' 
 
 " ' It is too late to correct that now,' said Phinehas. 
 
 " ' I have heard that the king has slain all that joined 
 in^ the rebellion,' said Shimei, 'who have fallen into 
 his hands since the overthrow of Absalom.' 
 
 " ' Few have been taken as yet,' said Phinehas : ' I 
 think they have mostly fled; but certain it is, none 
 have been slain since the battle.' 
 
 " ' But has ho not said, that all who took part in the 
 rebellion shall be put to death ? ' 
 
 " ' Not that I have lieard,' said Phinehas ; ' and I have 
 no idea he will adopt such a course.' 
 
 32
 
 374 THE RETURN TO JERUSALEM. 
 
 "'But the ringleaders will certainly be sorely pun- 
 ished,' said Shimei. 
 
 " ' That depends, I should think,' answered Phinehas, 
 ' on whether they promptly return to their duty as loyal 
 subjects.' 
 
 " ' Did you hear the king say any thing about my 
 cursing him, as he went through Bahurim ? ' 
 
 " ' Not a word,' answered Phinehas. 
 
 " ' Do you think he looks^ upon me as one of the 
 ringleaders in this rebellion ? ' 
 
 "'I should think not.' said Pliinehas, scarcely resist- 
 ing the temptation to smile. 
 
 " ' I'm in a most liorrible situation,' said Shimei : 
 'Ahithophel's plan appears all that is left to me.' 
 
 '''Be not so rash,' said Phinehas: 'you have cer- 
 tainly done not only foolishly, but wickedly ; but don't 
 make your case worse by acting more wickedly still. I 
 would gladly help you if I could. I am just returning 
 home : come to see me after an hour, and I will give 
 you the best counsel I can.' 
 
 " ' If you can help me, or advise me for the best,' said 
 Shimei, ' you will lay me under everlasting obligations. 
 If I were only out of this difficulty, I am resolved king- 
 doms may rise and fall as they please ; my political career 
 shall be closed. No kingdom has fallen in Israel since I 
 was born, but I have been involved in serious injury ; but 
 Saul and Ishbosheth together brought me into no such 
 jeopardy as this failure of Absalom. If I were fairly 
 rid of it, I say again, my political career is ended.' 
 
 " ' Come to me after an hour,' said Phinehas, ' and 
 you shall have my best counsel.' 
 
 " So saying, the company went on to the house of 
 Phinehas.
 
 THE RETURN TO JERUSALEM, 375 
 
 " ' What will yon attempt in belialf of tliat poor, 
 distracted fellow ? ' said Jonatlian to Phinehas, after 
 they had entered the house. 
 
 " ' You see,' answered Phinehas, ' that he is trem- 
 bling in an agony of terrible apprehension. He has 
 done badly, but I suppose that since he has heard of 
 Absalom's downfall, he has sufiered tenfold more than 
 a brave man endures in being actually put to death. 1 
 learn that a large company of young Benjamitcs are 
 preparing to go as far as Jordan, to meet the king on 
 his return. Now, I have thought of advising Shimei 
 to join the company, and go to meet the king, make a 
 full confession of his fault, and implore forgiveness. I 
 think the king, in that case, would overlook his oftence, 
 and let him live ; and moreover several of the young 
 men that are going, are very fond of amusement. I 
 shall suggest to them — and I think it will take — to 
 give Shimei a kind of temporary commission : let him 
 march at their head, and come before the king with the 
 honor of having brought a large company to meet him 
 and welcome him back. If it strikes the young men 
 favorably, it will bo a capital thing. It will be an old 
 soldier in the last of his fields. Should the arrange- 
 ment take, and the king restore him to favor, it will bo 
 a fine winding up of his political career, as he calls it. 
 And I think he has been sufficiently frightened, to l)c- 
 have quietly the remainder of his life.' 
 
 " Ahimaaz and Jonathan were liighly pleased with 
 the proposed plan, and soon departed on the mission to 
 Jerusalem, intrusted to them from the king. Zadok 
 and Abiathar joyfully received their two sons, who had 
 acted so wisely, and been so serviceable to David, and
 
 376 
 
 THE RETirRN TO JERUSALEM. 
 
 to Israel, at this critical and trying period. After the 
 greeting and congratulations were over, — 
 
 " ' Have you any charge from the king ? ' said Zadok. 
 " ' We have,' answered Ahimaaz ; ' many requests 
 have been sent to the king, that he would return to 
 Jerusalem, and take charge of the government again ; 
 but these requests, as yet, have all come from other 
 tribes, and Judah has kept silent. 
 
 " ' The princes of Judah,' said Zadok, ' have so gen- 
 erally and decidedly taken part with Absalom, that 
 they are ashamed to make any public move for David's 
 return.' 
 
 •'' ' The king thought,' answered Ahimaaz, ' that it 
 would be proper for you and Abiathar to speak to the 
 elders of Judah, and urge them not to be the last to 
 invite the king to return to his palace and kingdom, 
 as he is now disposed to overlook and forget the part 
 that each has taken in the recent rebellion.' 
 
 " ' We will do so with pleasure,' replied Zadok ; 
 ' and there is no doubt that the assurance of forgive- 
 ness will greatly influence them to act promptly.' 
 
 " ' Our further commission,' said Ahimaaz, ' touches 
 a more delicate and critical matter.' 
 
 " ' How so ? ' asked Zadok and Abiathar at once. 
 
 " ' It relates to Amasa,' said Ahimaaz. 
 
 " ' I understand,' said Abiathar, ' that Amasa looks on 
 his case as desperate, as he was commander-in-chief 
 under Absalom, and headed the rebels in the battle.' 
 
 " ' What does the king say of him ? ' asked Zadok : 
 ' is there any hope of pardon for him, if he submits to 
 David ? ' 
 
 " ' Yes, pardon and promotion to the highest honors,' 
 answered Ahimaaz.
 
 THE UF.TTTRN TO JERUSALEM. 377 
 
 " ' Promotion ! How ? ' 
 
 " ' The king says Amasa shall be commander-in-chief 
 instead of Joab.' 
 
 •' ' Instead of Joab ! ' exclaimed Zadok. ' I fear that 
 will be a new sonrce of trouble.' 
 
 " • Surely,' said Abiathar, ' Amasa will have more 
 decency and sense of propriety, than to be willing to 
 supplant the man who was the great instrument in 
 saving the kingdom and the throne of David.' 
 
 " ' I am not sure of that,' said Zadok. ' Amasa loves 
 office, and if the king makes him this otfer, I think he 
 will be glad to accept it.' 
 
 " ' It is much to be regretted,' said Ahimaaz, ' that 
 David resents the death of Absalom so deeply, when it is 
 plain that nothing short of it could have quelled the re- 
 bellion. Joab will endure any thing from his uncle, but 
 Amasa had better beware how he crosses the lion's path.' 
 
 " ' The attempt to put Amasa in Joab's place,' said 
 Abiathar, ' would be most unpopular with the army, 
 and indeed with the whole country that favors David. 
 And I fear it will increase the complaints often made 
 against the king, that he wrongs tried and faithful 
 friends, in order to win over and conciliate the doubtful 
 and the disaffected.' 
 
 " There was now much bustle and preparation in 
 reference to the king's return to his palace and throne, 
 
 "Barzillai the Gileadite, and many friends beyond 
 the river, accompanied the king as far as Jordan on liis 
 return. The king, with a heart full of gratitude, urged 
 Barzillai to come with him to Jerusalem, and give him 
 an opportunity of showing his high sense of his gen- 
 erous and timely assistance. But the worthy old chief 
 
 32*
 
 378 
 
 THE RETURN TO JERUSALEM. 
 
 said he had done only his duty, and wished no com- 
 pensation. After seeing the king safe over Jordan, he 
 said 'he wished to return to his home, that he might 
 die there, and be buried by the grave of his father and 
 his mother.' King David was much affected by the 
 sincere and warm-hearted friendship of this venerable 
 man. He dismissed him kindly, that he might return 
 home according to his wish. But the king took Chim- 
 ham, the son of Barzillai, with him to Jerusalem, and 
 bestowed on him many tokens of his favor. 
 
 " Before concluding this narrative," said Belial, " I 
 would observe, that the period David remained in exile 
 at Mahanaim became a memorable era in the annals of 
 that city. The incidents that took place there were 
 long the favorite themes of conversation among the 
 plain people in that sequestered part of the country ; 
 and many years afterward, when Abijam, the grandson 
 of Solomon, visited that section of the kingdom, there 
 were still living those who could rehearse interesting 
 traditions, and point out the house where the king was 
 lodged while he sojourned there, and the couch on 
 which he reposed ; the position he occupied when giv- 
 ing charge to the officers and the soldiers to deal gently 
 with Absalom ; the field where the battle was fought ; 
 the tree on which Absalom was hanged ; the great 
 heap of stones that were piled over him ; also the place 
 where the king stood while Ahimaaz and Cushi were 
 seen running over the plain, bringing news of the result 
 of the battle ; and the chamber into which he retreated 
 and wept, when told that Absalom was dead. From 
 parent to child, these traditions were handed down for 
 many generations."
 
 SCENES AFTER THE RESTORATION. 379 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 SCENES AFTER THE RESTORATION. 
 
 Two demons now arose at the same moment, with 
 strong expressions of interest, and each addressed the 
 speaker — "A question." 
 
 " Speak one at a time," said Belial. 
 
 1st Demon. I wished to ask if the princes of Judah 
 came to meet the king at Jordan, and welcome him 
 home. 
 
 " Most of them did," answered Belial. " They now 
 saw that Absalom's attempt was rash, foolish, and 
 wicked ; and now that he was dead, they were glad to 
 have David return to the throne again. They were 
 conscious they had done wrong in favoring Absalom. 
 They were David's old friends, and received him with 
 much cordiality. David, on his part, met them with 
 kindness and reconciUation." 
 
 2,d Demon. I wished to ask, if the princes of 
 Israel now generally returned to their allegiance. 
 
 " Many of them did," said Belial ; " but a disagree- 
 ment arose between the princes of Judah and those of 
 Israel, respecting their claims to the king's favor. And 
 I tempted an ambitious man, Shcba, the son of Bichri, 
 by name, to make an effort to Icacl off in a new rebel-
 
 380 SCENES AFTER THE RESTORATION. 
 
 lion, though I had but little hope of success. Some of 
 the princes of Israel, however, took part with him." 
 
 " Who was Sheba, the son of Bichri ? " inquired one. 
 
 " He was a Benjaraite, of some distinction, who had 
 been an officer in the army of Absalom, and, hearing 
 that Amasa was to be promoted in David's favor, came 
 to meet the king at Jordan, calculating that he too 
 would receive some office or mark of special regard. 
 Being disappointed, he blew a trumpet, and said, ' We 
 have no part in David, neither inheritance in the son 
 of Jesse ; every man to his tent, O Israel.' (iuite a 
 number of princes and people followed him." 
 
 "I was anxious to inquire what became of Shimei," 
 said another. 
 
 Belial smiled ; indeed there was a general disposition 
 to laugh manifested through the assembly, and voices 
 were heard, "Good, good; let us hear of Shimei." 
 
 " Shimei," said Belial, " according to the plan of 
 Phinehas the Levite, had thrown himself into the com- 
 pany of the young Benjamites who came down to Jor- 
 dan to meet the king. They allowed him to march at 
 the head of their column, which greatly delighted 
 Shimei, and caused his old military habits to revive, 
 and flourish in fine style. But at the sight of the king, 
 with Abishai at his side, the heart of Shimei was like 
 to fail. However, he crossed the river, threw himself 
 at the feet of the king, confessed his fault, and im- 
 plored forgiveness. David was now disposed to be 
 reconciled to all who had injured him. He spoke 
 kindly to Shimei, and promised him forgiveness. Thus 
 Shimei escaped the vengeance he had dreaded, and de- 
 termined to meddle with political revolutions no more.
 
 SCENES AFTER THE RESTORATION. 381 
 
 '•' It was not long till his resolution on this subject 
 was put to the test, for when Sheba, the son of Bichri, 
 had resolved to head a new rebellion, among the men 
 he spoke to soliciting aid in his intended enterprise, 
 was Shimei, who had now resumed his station at the 
 head of the company of Benjamites. 
 
 " ' Excuse me,' said Shimei, * excuse me ; a burnt 
 child dreads the fire. I have just made a narrow escape 
 from the bitter consequences of one sad mistake. My 
 head is positively turned gray with agony. I am 
 resolved to meddle with revolutions no more ; at least, 
 while their success is doubtful.' 
 
 " Soon after the king reached Jerusalem, tidings came 
 that a large multitude was still following after Sheba, 
 the son of Bichri. So he commanded Amasa, to whom 
 he was still resolved to transfer the chief command of 
 the army, to assemble the men of Judah,* within three 
 days, to pursue and disperse the rebels. Amasa, highly 
 gratified and flattered, set out on his mission. 
 
 " The state of public sentiment in reference to Ama- 
 sa's new position," said Belial, " may be illustrated by 
 relating what took place at Bahurim, where he made 
 an attempt to recruit soldiers. 
 
 " Fame soon proclaimed, through the entire commu- 
 nity of Bahurim, the arrival of Amasa, and the object 
 for which he had come. The consequence was, that 
 from one end of the town to the other, the men disap- 
 peared with astonishing celerity. Amasa went along 
 the principal street, till near the centre of the popula- 
 
 * It appears from the sacred history, that from this period Benjamin 
 is always included with Judah, when a distinction is made between 
 Judah and Israel. The men of Israel claimed "ten parts" in the 
 king ; that Is, ten out of twelve,
 
 3S2 
 
 SCENES AFTER THE RESTORATION. 
 
 tion. There he blew a trumpet, and proclaimed that 
 the citizens were called on to embody and join the 
 army of the king, in order to follow Sheba, the son of 
 Bichri. But none responded to the call ; not a man ca- 
 pable of bearing arms appeared, and the streets looked 
 deserted, and even the houses seemed but sparsely 
 inhabited ; here and there a lone woman, or a small 
 boy, might be seen, taking a momentary peep from a 
 door or Mandow ; but plainly, from some cause, there 
 was small likelihood of recruiting an army hers. 
 
 " ' What can be the meaning of this ! ' exclaimed 
 Amasa, in a tone of fierce displeasure. < Has the spirit 
 of rebellion become universal here ? ' 
 
 " 'Who talks of the spirit of rebeUion? And who 
 are you, disturbing our quiet and peaceable town ? ' 
 
 " These words were spoken loud by a shrill, firm, 
 female voice, that seemed to challenge debate. 
 
 " Amasa turned to see the speaker, and beheld, in the 
 door of one of the nearest buildings, a tall, slender 
 woman, of narrow visage, and remarkably small, pier- 
 cing eyes. Her nimble tongue, which showed itself 
 repeatedly between a pair of uncommonly thin lips, 
 seemed keeping time with the penetrating twinkle of 
 those keen, courageous eyes. Her age might be that 
 of a grandmother ; but her form was erect and her 
 manner firm and undaunted. Indeed, there was that 
 in her whole attitude and demeanor, which showed 
 that she stood forth as the advocate of the town of 
 Bahurim, and that she felt herself fully competent to 
 the task. 
 
 " ' Who talks of the spirit of rebellion ? ' she repeated, 
 looking Amasa full in the face; 'and who are you, 
 disturbing our quiet and peaceable town ? '
 
 SCENES AFTER THE RESTORATION. 383 
 
 " ' I am commander-in-chief of the king's army,' 
 answered Amasa, ' and I have come to raise soldiers for 
 his service.' 
 
 " ' You commander-in-chief of the king's army ! ' 
 said the grandmother, in accents of displeasure mingled 
 with scorn ; ' you are not Joab.' 
 
 " ' No, I am Amasa. who have succeeded Joab in the 
 command.' 
 
 " ' Amasa ! ' exclaimed the old woman ; ' Amasa ! 
 what, not that man who was the leader of Absalom's 
 army in the rebellion ! ' 
 
 " ' Yes, the same,' said Amasa, though with evident 
 shame and mortification. 
 
 " ' What,' said the old woman, ' can it be possible 
 that you are that Amasa who led Absalom's large army 
 through our town, five or six days ago, pursuing King 
 David over Jordan, in order to slay him. You were 
 calling for soldiers then, were you not ? ' 
 
 "' Yes,' replied Amasa; 'I think we were beating 
 up for volunteers, as we passed through Bahurim.' 
 
 " ' Your army was very large. I was told you had 
 one hundred and fifty thousand men by the time you 
 reached Jordan.' 
 
 " ' We had a very large army,' answered Amasa. 
 
 " ' And where is that army now ? ' asked the woman, 
 bitterly. 
 
 " ' I suppose,' answered Amasa, ' you know we were 
 defeated.' 
 
 " ' And why did not you stand by your men, and by 
 your young king ? You left him hanging in an oak ; 
 and left them to be slaughtered by the servants of 
 David, while you tied to secure inglorious safety to
 
 384 SCENES AFTER THE RESTORATION. 
 
 yourself — and now you come here calling for more 
 soldiers. I tell you, Bahurim has furnished you with 
 too many soldiers already. There is Rachel, my next 
 door neighbor, poor woman ! three of her sons were 
 beguiled to follow you when you came through here, 
 pursuing after David, and only one of them has re- 
 turned. Two of them died on the field of battle, while 
 you were flying to save your worthless life. Go on ! 
 go on ! ' she exclaimed, shaking her long, skinny finger 
 at Amasa, while her whole frame quivered with violent 
 emotion. ' Go on ! go on ! you'll find no more soldiers 
 here. No mother is going to send her sons with such 
 a commander as you.' 
 
 " ' Deliver us ! ' exclaimed Phinehas the Levite, look- 
 ing cautiously from the window, for his house was 
 nearby — ' deliver us ! if Amasa has not run upon a 
 set of edged tools this morning. Here is old aunt 
 Deborah, in the open street, pouring upon him the full 
 tide of one of her most eloquent orations. Retreat, 
 man ! retreat ! ' he continued, apostrophizing Amasa ; 
 ' you'll find her lips and tongue keener and sharper than 
 the weapons from which you fled at the field of Maha- 
 naim.' 
 
 " ' I think,' said the wife of Phinehas, leaning on 
 the shoulder of her husband, and looking out through 
 the window. ' I think he will find the tide of her elo- 
 quence not only strong, but scalding hot. See, she 
 begins again ! ' 
 
 " ' You said you had the orders of the king,' cried 
 the shrill voice of old Deborah, again addressing Amasa. 
 ' And how comes it that you, who a few days ago 
 were pursuing King David to take his life, are now
 
 SCENES AFTER THE RESTORATION. 385 
 
 carrying his orders through the country to recruit sol- 
 diers for his army ? ' 
 
 " ' The king has made me his chief commander, and 
 I have his authority,' said Amasa. 
 
 " ' Well, if an old woman may speak her mind freely, 
 he must have been scant of material for manufacturing 
 commanders, when he took the ringleader of the rebels 
 and put him at the head of his own army. But where 
 are his old faithful commanders that have led his armies, 
 and fought his battles, and gained his victories, for 
 more than twenty-five years past? Where are the two 
 sons of Zeruiah ? In short, where is Joab ? ' 
 
 " 'Joab,' said Amasa, 'is put out of office for killing 
 Absalom.' 
 
 " ' Yes, and he did it to save his uncle's throne and 
 kingdom, when he saw that the rebellion was so 
 general, that nothing but the loss of their leader could 
 quell' it, and make the princes return to their duty ; 
 and he knew, at the same time, that he was risking 
 himself, not only his office, but his life. And to speak 
 the truth, I think it the most exalted deed of patriot- 
 ism that I ever heard of in all my days ; and what is 
 more, the whole country think so too. Few men, 
 Amasa, will risk themselves for the support of another 
 in a case like this. But we know the king. He is a 
 good, tender-hearted father, and if he was even unrea- 
 sonable while grieved for the death of his son, we can 
 make allowance for him. Bat for you, Amasa, wliat 
 shall we say of you ? Were not you ashamed, during 
 the king's paroxysm of grief and displeasure, to allow 
 yourself to be made a tool for dishonoring the most 
 brave and faithful officer lliut ever stood by the side of 
 
 33
 
 386 SCENES AFTER THE RESTORATION. 
 
 a throne? You should have showed yourself a man, 
 Amasa — you should have spurned the suggestion. 
 You should have told his majesty, "No, I can't think 
 of it ; I, Avho have heen so deep in the guilt of rebel- 
 lion, I can't think of supplanting the brave and faithful 
 commander who saved your throne and kingdom." 
 That would have been acting like a man. I'm sorry 
 for you, Amasa, I'm truly sorry that you have degraded 
 yourself by showing such a total want of a generous 
 and honorable spirit.' 
 
 '•' Amasa looked abashed, confused, mortified, and 
 after one or two unsuccessful attempts to frame a reply, 
 remained silent, with eyes fixed on the ground. 
 
 " ' One thing more, Amasa,' continued the seemingly 
 inexhaustible Deborah ; ' one thing more. You said 
 you wanted soldiers to pursue after Sheba, the son of 
 Bichri. And who is Sheba, the son of Bichri ? ' 
 
 " Amasa was silent. 
 
 " 'Ah, you need not try to disguise or deny it, for 
 the whole country knows it. This Sheba, the son of 
 Bichri, was one of the officers in Absalom's army, 
 under you, Amasa, one of your fellovv^-soldiers. Yes, 
 he was flourishing and flaunting by your side, as you 
 went through Bahurim, a few days ago, in pursuit of 
 David, with a hundred and fifty thousand men at your 
 heels, shouting, " Down with old David ! Hurrah for 
 the revolution ! Hurrah for Absalom ! " 
 
 " ' And now,' said Deborah, with another eloquent 
 shake of her long finger, at Amasa, ' you want mothers 
 to send their sons and grandsons with you after your 
 fellow-officer, that was cheek by jole with you in Absa- 
 lom's rebellion. Away with you ! away with you !
 
 SCENES AFTER THE RESTORATION. 387 
 
 I'm ashamed to look upon such a thing in the shape of 
 a man.' And turning suddenly, she entered the house, 
 and closed the door with a violence that started Amasa 
 as from a dream, while it brought the welcome con- 
 sciousness that he was now delivered from those irk- 
 some visitations, that so strongly illustrated the perfect 
 discipline and training of her tongue." 
 
 Here one of the assembly inquired, " How did 
 Amasa succeed in his new station ? "' 
 
 '' But inditferently," said Belial : " old Deborah's state- 
 ment of public opinion was correct. Many, indeed the 
 vast majority of the people, were reluctant to follow 
 him. Some alleged that his total defeat, when acting 
 as Absalom's commander, was evidence of incompe- 
 tency ; and others thought that his willingness to sup- 
 plant Joab was a proof of a low and dishonorable spirit. 
 These and other difficulties created so much tardiness 
 in Amasa's movements, that David became alarmed 
 lest Sheba, the son of Bichri, should be able to mature 
 and strengthen his plans of insurrection. David, there- 
 fore, despatched Abishai, with such troops as were at 
 hand in Jerusalem, to pursue the rebels. When they 
 had gone as far as Gibeon, Amasa appeared and claimed 
 the command. 
 
 " Joab had borne in silence the frowns of the king ; 
 for though he considered David's anger unreasonable, 
 yet he made great allowance for the bereaved father 
 while agonizing under the loss of his son. As to his 
 office, he considered it belonged to him by purchase. 
 It was not the king's gift. It had been offered as the 
 stipulated reward of the conqueror of the Jebnsites, at 
 Jerusalem. He had rendered the service, and claimed
 
 388 SCENES AFTER THE RESTORATION. 
 
 the office as his right. Yet from his uncle, the king, 
 he would submit to any thing. So he made no com- 
 plaint. But when he saw Amasa, the late leader of the 
 rebel host, come up at the great stone in Gibeon, and 
 claim the command of the Cherethites and Pelethites, 
 and attempt to push himself into the most conspicuous 
 station in David's army, his indignation was roused. 
 He smote Amasa with the sword, a single blow. It was 
 decisive. Amasa died — and Joab at once resumed the 
 command. He then pursued after Sheba, the son of 
 Bichri." 
 
 " And did the insurgents give him battle ? " asked 
 one of the audience. 
 
 " Not exactly," said Belial : " many of the followers 
 of Sheba as soon as it was known tliat Joab was in pur- 
 suit, deserted, and made the best of their way home. 
 Sheba himself, however, was resolute and determined, 
 and went through all the tribes of Israel, exciting them 
 to rebellion. At length, he made a stand at the city of 
 Abel, in the extreme north part of the kingdom. Joab 
 overtook him there, and concluding that the city which 
 had received Sheba had joined with him in the rebel- 
 lion, he began to make preparations to batter down the 
 wall. The men of the city were terrified, and sought 
 concealment behind their ramparts ; and even Sheba 
 and the troops which he led, showed no disposition to 
 meet the besiegers in battle. The engines of war had 
 already begun to play, and the wall to totter, when the 
 venerable form of an aged woman appeared, standing 
 erect and undaunted on the trembling wall. 
 
 " ' Hear ! hear ! ' she cried, in a voice that betokened 
 courage mingled with care for the public good : ' where 
 is Joab ? '
 
 SCENES AFTER THE RESTORATION. 3S9 
 
 U i 
 
 At the head of the army,' was the reply. 
 
 " ' Tell him to come near liither, that I may speak 
 to him.' 
 
 " When the commander appeared, 
 
 " ' Art thou Joab ? ' said the woman. 
 
 " ' I am he,' was the answer. 
 
 " ' What is the meaning of all this ? ' said the woman. 
 'I thought you were the friend and defender of Israel. 
 This is a peaceable city, and a peacemaker among the 
 surrounding towns and villages. When disputes arise 
 among the people, they come and ask counsel at Abel. 
 Our arbitrations and advice end and settle matters of 
 strife through all the region round. I am among the 
 peaceable and faithful in Israel. Thou 'seekest to 
 destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why wilt thou 
 swallow up the inheritance of the Lord ? ' 
 
 " Joab answered, ' Far be it, far be it from me, that I 
 should swallow up or destroy. The matter is not so ; 
 but a man has found shelter here, Sheba, the son of 
 Bichri, by name, who has lifted up his hand against 
 the king, even against David. Deliver him only, and 
 I will depart from the city.' 
 
 " ' Behold,' said the woman, ' his head shall be thrown 
 to you over the wall.' 
 
 " ' That will do,' said Joab. 
 
 " Then the woman went unto all the people in her 
 wisdom, and they cut off the head of Sheba, the son 
 of Bichri, and cast it over the wall to Joab, and he 
 blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, and 
 Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem. And such was 
 the power of pul)lic sentiment in the army, and indeed 
 throughout all the country, that the king quietly 
 
 33*
 
 390 SCENES AFTER THE RESTORATION. 
 
 acquiesced, and Joab remained commander-in-chief of 
 the army during the life of David. 
 
 "Near the close of David's reign," said Belial, "an 
 occurrence took place that strongly illustrates the sound 
 judgment, the enlightened patriotism, and fidelity to 
 the king, that so eminently distinguished this great 
 commander. I had tempted David with motives of 
 ambition, and new plans of conquest, to say to his 
 captains, ' Go now through all the tribes of Israel, 
 from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, 
 that I may know the number of the people.' Joab 
 saw that the king was in an error, and that wrath 
 might be brought upon Israel. He, therefore, in the 
 most earnest and eloquent style, remonstrated with the 
 king — ' Now the Lord thy God add unto thee people, 
 how many soever there be, a hundred-fold, and that 
 the eyes of my lord the king may see it. But why 
 doth my lord the king delight in this thing ? Why 
 will he be a cause of trespass to Israel ? ' (2 Sam. 
 xxiv. 1 — 4.) 
 
 " This affectionate and earnest remonstrance, how- 
 ever, was unavailing. The king persisted, and the 
 people were numbered. But soon afterwards the king 
 saw his error ; a dreadful plague scourged the land, 
 and the king deeply lamented that he had not heark- 
 ened to the counsel of his sister's son." (1 Chron. xxi.) 
 
 A prince of the assembly now arose and spoke. " I 
 was anxious to inquire," said he, " what became of 
 Abishai." 
 
 " Abishai," answered Belial, " continued to sustain 
 his great military reputation to a good old age. Indeed, 
 I may say, one of the most notable exploits in his long
 
 SCENES AFTER THE RESTORATION. 391 
 
 and brilliant career, was performed about four years 
 after the period of Absalom's rebellion." 
 
 At mention of this, there was a rousing up in the 
 assembly" of rebel angels, giving proof of awakened 
 attention and interest. " Biehearse it, rehearse it," was 
 repeated by a number of voices. 
 
 " The Philistines," said Belial, " had declared another 
 war against Israel. David determined to lead his ar- 
 mies in this campaign in person. 
 
 " The Philistine host was headed by the giant Ishbi- 
 benob. He was the son of Goliath of Gath, whom 
 David had slain. Ishbi-benob was famous as a warrior. 
 He had led the attack on Saul at Mount Gilboa. He 
 had often boasted of his success at Gilboa, when Saul 
 was slain ; and learning now that David commanded 
 his army in person, he resolved to avenge the death of 
 his father, and secure new laurels for himself by the 
 slaughter of the king. He arrayed himself in a new 
 suit of superior armor. It was considered absolutely 
 impenetrable, and the plates of brass and steel, of which 
 it was composed, were burnished and bright, and 
 flashed back the rays of the sun, and made his appear- 
 ance terrible. The head of the spear which he bran- 
 dished weighed three hundred shekels of brass. 
 
 " David was conspicuous by the ensign of the tribe 
 of Judah,- which he always had by him in the martial 
 field. The battle had been in progress for some time, 
 and was most obstinately contested. David, overcome 
 with the exertions of the day, was now exhausted and 
 faint. He had fallen back somewhat from the leader 
 of the life-guards, and was incapable of either flight or 
 resistance.
 
 302 SCENES AFTER THE RESTOIIATIOX. 
 
 " Ishbi-benob now reared his gigantic form in the 
 front rank of the Phihstine army, and stood like a blaz- 
 ing pillar of fire, till he had marked definitely the place 
 where David was. Then, confident in his armor of 
 proof, he rushed through the ranks of war, right upon 
 the k'ng. The life-guards gave back as the huge giant 
 came on. He now raised his tremendous spear, poised 
 it deliberately, aiming at the king a blow that must 
 have proved fatal. 
 
 " Ahimaaz saw the danger, and called aloud, ' Abishai, 
 save King David.' 
 
 " The son of Zeruiah sprung like a roused lion past 
 three files of retreating soldiers, and wielded his keen 
 sword twice, with the speed of the lightning's wing. 
 First, the enormous head of the spear, severed from 
 the long wooden shaft, dropped harmless to the earth. 
 Next, the head of Ishbi-benob flew off", and rolled to a 
 distance, at the feet of the firmed men. The body of 
 the giant remained for a moment standing, still aiming 
 the pointless weapon, then pitched forward prostrate, 
 flooding the earth and staining all his armor with the 
 gushing tide of blood. 
 
 " 'Abishai forever! ' shouted the life-guards, with an 
 enthusiasm that rent the air. The shout was caught 
 up and pealed again and again, by the extended ranks 
 of the army. The Philistines, astounded at the anni- 
 hilation of their champion, fled in wild confusion, 
 while the men of Israel and Judah pursued them up to 
 the gates of Gath." 
 
 One of the audience now arose, in whose visage was 
 a large development of curiosity. '^ I would ask," said 
 he, " what is the conclusion of the history of the Danite 
 captam ? "
 
 SCENES AFTER THE UESTORATION. 393 
 
 "Our story,'' said Belial, "left the captain at Maha- 
 naim, in the house of Merari the Levite, disabled by a 
 wound. The mortal career of Slieba, the son of Bichri, 
 and Amasa too, had been brought to a close, and peace 
 and public tranquillity had now established their reign 
 through the length and breadth of the land, for several 
 weeks, when, at the close of a beautiful day, Phinehas 
 the Levite, with his wife and two little sons, had been 
 taking a pleasant evening walk. The weather was so 
 fine, and the summer scenery so lovely, that they had 
 extended their walk considerably beyond the limits of 
 Bahurim, on the Jordan road. They had paused, and 
 were in the act of turning towards home, when a soli- 
 tary traveller was seen coming from towards the land 
 of Gilead. In those plain and primitive times, men 
 of wealth and worth often travelled on foot. The 
 daylight was fading, and the traveller, though not dis- 
 tant, was but indistinctly seen. 
 
 " ' Has not that man a slight halt in his gait ? ' said 
 the woman to her husband. 
 
 " ' I did not observe it,' said Phinehas, 
 
 "'Yes, he has,' said little Joseph. 'I see plainly 
 that he walks lame.' 
 
 " 'Why,' said Phinehas, looking earnestly for a mo- 
 ment, ' it is our old friend. Captain Ben Huppim.' And 
 the whole party rushed to meet him. 
 
 " ' Why, captain, the blessings of the evening upon 
 you. How do you do ? ' 
 
 ic i Very much recovered since I saw you, and I am 
 now trying to get home ; important business has 
 brought me this way.' 
 
 '"Well, you must come and spend the night with
 
 394 SCENES AFTER THE RESTORATION. 
 
 US,' said Phinelias, ' and should it suit "your conveni- 
 ence, we should be delighted to have you remain with 
 us a number of days.' 
 
 " ' I shall be liappy to accept your invitation for the 
 night,' said the captain ; ' but I have been long from 
 home, and sad changes have passed over me, and over 
 many of my friends, in the time, and I am anxious to 
 get back as soon as practicable.' 
 
 "'No doubt, no doubt,' answered Phinehas ; 'but 
 you know the good old maxim, " One thing at a time." 
 You shall rest with us to-night, and the other proposi- 
 tion we will discuss more at our leisure.' 
 
 " The company went on till they entered the house 
 of Phinehas, where a plentiful supper was soon served 
 up, and they partook of their evening meal, intermin- 
 gled with familiar and cheerful conversation. 
 
 " ' Do you find travelling fatigues you much, cap- 
 tain ? ' said Phinehas, when supper was concluded. 
 
 " ' I have to proceed cautiously and slowly, as my 
 strength is not yet entirely restored.' 
 
 " ' You had better remain with us a few days ; it will 
 recruit your strength, and we shall be very glad of the 
 opportunity of further acquaintance.' 
 
 " ' The heat of the weather had made me prefer the 
 early hours of morning for travelling. However,' said 
 he, with the good-humored smile of an old soldier, and 
 a glance at the mother, ' I learn that you have one very 
 cool apartment about your establishment, where the 
 good wife sometimes shelters her visitors.' 
 
 <" Ah, when the heat without is too vehement,' said 
 Phinehas, smiling. ' I see, captain, you cannot forget 
 your first visit to our poor house.'
 
 SCENES AFTER THE RESTORATION. 395 
 
 " ' I think you, too, will have cause to remember it,' 
 rejoined the captain. ' I see,' said he, pointing to the 
 scaled and scarred places on the furniture, which had 
 been overturned in the hasty search for Ahimaaz and 
 Jonathan, — ' I see that my rough Danites have left 
 specimens of their handwriting with you. They have 
 made their "forget me not " a little more conspicuous 
 than I could wish.' 
 
 " * Not at all, not at all,' said Phinehas : ' we shall pre- 
 serve and exhibit these memorials with all the pleasure 
 and pride with which an old soldier displays the wounds 
 and scars he has received in the battles of his country.' 
 
 "' And this furniture,' said the wife, ' with all these 
 marks upon it, I intend shall be handed down to our 
 children and our children's children. They will 
 relate the story in years to come.' 
 
 " ' Captain,' said Phinehas, ' to be frank with you, I 
 tell yon we value your acquaintance very highly, not- 
 withstanding the singular and somewhat unceremoni- 
 ous manner of your first introduction. And I shall 
 insist on your being our guest, until you are recruited 
 and in better condition for travelling.' 
 
 " ' I think,' said the captain, in the same humorous 
 vein, ' that it would be a little ungenerous for me to 
 be long a consumer of bread in your house, consider- 
 ing the waste of good provisions which my first visit 
 occasioned.' 
 
 " ' Poh ! poh ! ' said Phinehas ; ' the meal ! I tell you, 
 captain, there never was a grist of meal better appropri- 
 ated in Israel, since the day that good old father Jacob 
 packed his corn from Egypt. Why, that meal was 
 instrumental in restoring peace and plenty of bread to
 
 396 SCENES AFTER THE RESTORATION. 
 
 the many ten thousands between Dan and Beer- 
 sheba.' 
 
 " ' You speak of the story gomg down to succeeding 
 ages,' said Ben Huppim. ' That is not the worst of 
 it. It has spread abroad, and will spread abroad tre- 
 mendously in the present age. It has gone ahead of 
 me, no doubt, to the land of Dan. The whole country 
 is full of it by this time. I shall never hear the last of 
 it. But I am resolved what to do. I shall act in self- 
 defence. I'll tell the story myself. Yes, and tell it 
 better than Madam Fame can tell it, with all her hun- 
 dred tongues.' 
 
 " Thus pleasantly passed the evening away. The 
 captain very cordially accepted the kind invitation of 
 Phinehas, and remained with the family a number of 
 days, to the great delight of all, not forgetting the little 
 boys, who became familiar with him, and questioned 
 him late and early concerning battles, and bear-hunts, 
 and lion-fights, and strange adventures in which he had 
 beeh engaged. 
 
 " At length, he took an affectionate leave of the hos- 
 pitable family, and proceeded to his own home. His 
 anticipations were found fully t^erified. The whole 
 story of the surrounding and search of the building at 
 Enroffel, the chase of Jonathan and Ahimaaz over the 
 Mount of Olives, and the scenes and doings at Bahu- 
 rim, with divers additions, amendments, enlargements, 
 and various readings, were spread through all the coun- 
 try. Envy and jealousy, however, were greatly disap- 
 pointed in their hopes of some stain or diminution of 
 the lustre of the captain's military fame. As soon as 
 he reached home, it was admitted, on all hands, that
 
 SCENES AFTER THE RESTORATION. 397 
 
 the very best version of the whole story was that which 
 the captain told himself, to admii'ing circles of delighted 
 auditors. 
 
 " He lived, honored, useful, and happy, to a good old 
 age. And even when gray-headed and far advanced 
 in life, at social assemblies of the people of the land, it 
 was a favorite entertainment with the younger persons, 
 to form a cheerful circle around the old captain, and 
 prevail on him to relate the story of his pursuit of Ahim- 
 aaz and Jonathan, and his rough and unceremonious 
 introduction at Bahurim, and the cordial and lasting 
 friendships afterwards formed with the kind and worthy 
 family of Phinchas the Levite. 
 
 "Belial," said another of the audience, "what be- 
 came of Ahimaaz and Tamar ? " 
 
 " Not long after David's restoration," answered Belial, 
 " the marriage of Ahimaaz and Tamar was celebrated, 
 in Jerusalem, with circumstances of unusual joy. The 
 number of invited guests was very great. Many of 
 the heads of the tribes were there, and the large circle 
 of friends connected with the house of Zadok and the 
 house of Abiathar. But among all the guests, none 
 entered with greater zest into the lively festivities of 
 the occasion, than their old friend, Hushai the Archite. 
 
 " Hushai's colloquial powers were extraordinary, and 
 his sociability inexhaustible. And for these reasons, 
 connected with his great moral worth, he had long 
 been King David's chosen companion and friend. To 
 the unlimited entertainment of the company now con- 
 vened, Hushai told his finest anecdotes in his finest 
 style. At length, a general wish was expressed that 
 he would repeat the particulars of Tamar's famous 
 
 34
 
 398 SCENES AFTER THE RESTORATION. 
 
 adventure to Enrogel. This chimed in with the humor 
 of the old lawyer to a jot and tittle. The eager audi- 
 tors thronged around him, while he depicted, first, the 
 perplexity and despair of Zadok, Abiathar, and him- 
 self, when it was ascertained that the gates of Jerusa- 
 lem were guarded by Absalom's friends, and that to be 
 detected in any attempt to favor David, would be in- 
 evitable death. He then described the calm courage, 
 and sublime heroism, with which the tender, delicate 
 girl entered the room, and volunteered to become their 
 messenger, — told of the palpitating anxiety with which 
 they watched her progress down the street, and her 
 successful attempt to pass the guard at the gate ; and 
 then the long hours of painful uncertainty, until they 
 heard of the report of the Danite pursuers that Jona- 
 than and Ahimaaz had escaped. He next rehearsed 
 the distress of the family, and particularly the mother, 
 when the night began to grow late, and Tamar did not 
 return, — the careful search made next morning around 
 the walls of Jerusalem, and as far as the town of Bahu- 
 rim, and yet no tidings of their dauntless heroine could 
 be learned. Anxiety and troubled apprehensions in 
 the family circle rose higher and higher, from day to 
 day, until, on the downfall of Absalom, Tamar was re- 
 conducted, in honor and safety, to her father's house, 
 by Phinehas the Levite. 
 
 " As the thrilling narrative of Hushai, in his pecu- 
 liarly happy manner, brought up these various inci- 
 dents, there appeared in the circle of listeners, now, a 
 breathless attention ; now, a pleasing smile that man- 
 tled every visage ; and now, the big tear, that stood and 
 trembled in every eye. He seemed to command the
 
 SCENES AFTER THE RESTORATION. 399 
 
 passions of his liearers, as the skilful player manages 
 the strings of a well-tuned instrument. 
 
 '' I would only remark further,"' continued Belial, 
 " that Hushai concluded his narrative with one of those 
 playful turns that often varied his discourses. ' I have 
 heard,' said he, ' of a wheel within a wheel ; and the 
 events of this evening,' glancing his eye towards the 
 bride, ' have led me to conclude that my little messen- 
 ger to Enrogel may have had another motive for the 
 hazardous undertaking, beyond her anxiety to save the 
 life of her brother Jonathan, and even the life and 
 kingdom of David.' 
 
 " Ahimaaz and Tamar lived long and happily 
 together, and long was their family blessed and hon- 
 ored in Israel." 
 
 Here Lucifer erected his stately form, and turned to 
 the speaker. " I also would ask a question or two 
 further respecting the history you have sketched. My 
 first question is this : — 
 
 " AVhy have commentators on the Bible generally 
 represented the character of Joab so differently from 
 the view that you have now given ? You know they 
 are mostly severe and harsli in their censures of that 
 great commander." 
 
 " An excellent question," said Belial, " and one easily 
 answered. Commentators on the Bible have generally 
 been men who had little sympathy with military life. 
 Joab was eminently a military man. To this he was 
 devoted from early youtli. To this he considered him- 
 self called, in the providence of (jiod. To do him 
 justice, he nmst be weighed in military scales. This 
 is essential to a proper understanding of his character.
 
 400 SCENES AFTER THE RESTORATION. 
 
 Had it not been for the prejudice the world has enter- 
 tained against the Bible, or had this man's history 
 been detailed in any other book, he would have ranked 
 among the very foremost military leaders that have 
 appeared in any age or nation. Iq fact, the Macedo- 
 nian phalanx of Alexander, the Roman legion of 
 Julius Caesar, or the far-famed Legion of Honor of 
 Napoleon, never surpassed, if indeed they equalled, 
 the Cherethites, and Pelethites, and life-guards, when 
 headed by this great captain of Israel. A correct esti- 
 mate of the character of Joab is only obtained by 
 taking into view the circumstances of the age in which 
 he lived, and the military life to which he considered 
 himself called, in divine providence, 
 
 " Again, the expression applied to David, in the first 
 book of Samuel, that the Lord had sought a man after 
 his own heart, seems to have led some commentators 
 to suppose, that not only the main tenor of his life, but 
 that all the acts of David were to be justified. Hence 
 some writers have labored much to excuse or varnish 
 over the conduct of David in relation to Uriah. This 
 is plainly a mistake. Yet, influenced by this, many 
 have thought that when David difi"ered with Joab, the 
 commander, not the king, was always in the wrong. 
 One commentator censures Joab for so readily giving 
 battle to Abner, at the pool of Gibeon ; though it is 
 evident that all his firmness and valor were necessary, 
 on that occasion, to sustain the throne of David. 
 Another attempts to blame him for obeying the posi- 
 tive orders of David, in reference to Uriah, though 
 Joab was evidently unacquainted with the motives of 
 the king, and knew not but he had good reasons for
 
 SCENES AFTER THE RESTORATION. 401 
 
 the orders he had sent. Moreover, as a soldier, he felt 
 bound to obey the orders of his superior, without 
 inquiring into all the reasons on which those orders 
 were founded. The only instance on record where he 
 disobeyed the orders of David, is in the case of Absa- 
 lom ; and there he considered the judgment of the king 
 deluded by the affection of the father, and that the 
 death of Absalom was essential to the safety of the 
 throne and kingdom ; and public opinion in Israel and 
 Judah confirmed the correctness of his opinion, and 
 applauded the patriotism of his act." 
 
 " But what do you say of the death of Abner ? " 
 inquired Lucifer. 
 
 " The spirit and circumstances of the age," said 
 Belial, " must be considered, in order to understand the 
 case correctly. Abner had slain Asahel, the brother of 
 Joab, in his retreat from the battle of Gibeon. The 
 writer of the Second Book of Samuel declares, ' So Joab 
 and Abishai, his brother, slew Abner, because he had 
 slain their brother, Asahel.' Abishai is mentioned as 
 consenting and approving, though Joab, alone, did the 
 deed. The ideas prevalent in Israel, at that time, con- 
 cerning the duty of avenging a brother's blood, may 
 be understood by turning to their law, providing cities 
 of refuge for tlie manslayer. (Dent. xix. 4 — 6.) 
 
 " ' And this is the case of the slayer which shall flee 
 thither, that he may live. Whoso killeth his neighbor 
 ignoraiitly, whom he hated not in time past; as when 
 a man goetli into the wood with his neighbor to hew 
 wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to 
 cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the 
 helve, and lightetli upon his neighbor, that he die ; he 
 34*
 
 402 SCENES AFTER THE RESTORATION. 
 
 shall flee unto one of those cities, and live : lest the 
 avenger of blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is 
 hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and 
 slay him.' 
 
 " Now, such being the state of the public mind in 
 Israel, respecting the avenging of a brother's blood, it 
 is difficult for those who live in a very different state 
 of society, to decide how far Joab and Abishai, as pub- 
 lic men, and military men, might feel themselves con- 
 strained to go, in order to maintain their standing with 
 the communit}^ Abner was a vile, depraved man." 
 
 "One question more," said Lucifer. " Why does 
 David seem often harsh towards Joab, and at last order 
 Solomon to have him put to death ? " 
 
 " It is no uncommon thing," said Belial, " for great 
 and successful servants of kings to fall under their dis- 
 pleasure. Did not Columbus, the discoverer of a new 
 world, die in prison, because the splendor of his success 
 was greater than the king he served could bear ? This 
 is no rare occurrence among the sons of men. David 
 was but a man, and if the great reputation of his chief 
 commander rose beyond what was agreeable to the 
 king, need we be astonished at it ? David himself had 
 great military reputation in the earlier part of his life ; 
 and if, when his sister's son, by brilliant deeds, was 
 thought by many to have eclipsed those of the king, 
 need we wonder if he failed to show the meekness of 
 Jonathan, in like circumstances ? The defeat of Abner 
 at the pool of Gibeon was pronounced a most consam- 
 mate military exploit in that age. Abner himself was 
 a great general. He had a host of veteran wariiors. 
 He had made the most careful and thorough prepai'a-
 
 SCENES AFTER THE RESTORATION. 403 
 
 tion. Abner's forces were by far the most numerous, 
 and the battle was fought m the open plain ; and yet, 
 in every manoeuvre, military evolution, and stratagem 
 of war, Abner was surpassed, out-generalled, over- 
 matched ; and his loss in the engagement over that of 
 Joab was eighteen to one. You could not keep the 
 minds of men, nor the tongues of men, still, in that 
 age, more than in this. And the fame of Joab, as an 
 unequalled general, was blazed abroad over the whole 
 land. To say that David felt this, is but to say he 
 was a man. And that it sometimes appeared in his 
 conduct, is no way strange. Certain it is, Joab tried 
 to guard against this feeling of rivalry in military 
 fame, on the part of the king. An instance of this 
 is recorded in the twelfth chapter of second Samuel. 
 
 " ' And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children 
 of Ammon, and took the royal city. 
 
 " ' And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I 
 have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city 
 of waters. 
 
 " ' Now, therefore, gather the rest of the people to- 
 gether, and encamp against the city, and take it : lest 
 I take the city, and it be called after my name. 
 
 " ' And David gathered all the people together, and 
 went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.' 
 
 " But it is time," said Belial, " to close this sketch 
 of the character of Joab. He was regarded, in the age 
 in which he lived, by the great body of the peojole, as, 
 
 " 1. The dutiful son. 
 
 " 2. The affectionate brother. 
 
 " 3. The man of chastity. The -want of which was 
 the disgrace and ruin of Abner. (2 Sam. iii. 6 — 10.)
 
 404 SCENES AFTER THE RESTORATION. 
 
 " 4. The man of truth and justice. This was the 
 basis of his great popularity in the army for forty years. 
 
 '•' 5. The faithful servant of his king. 
 
 " 6. The warm and wakeful patriot. (2 Sam. xx. 20.) 
 
 " 7. One generous and kind to those in distress. 
 (2 Sam. xiv. 1 — 3; also verses 28 — 33.) 
 
 " 8. Anxious to avoid needless bloodshed. (2 Sam. 
 ii. 28 ; xviii. 16, and xx. 20—22.) 
 
 " 9. Wise among counsellors. (2 Sam. xxiv. 3. 
 1 Chron. xxi. 3.) 
 
 " 10. Pious towards God. (2 Sam. x. 12.) 
 
 " 11. Unrivalled as a disciplinarian ; and, 
 
 " 12. Matchless in the field of battle. 
 
 " But the king never could forget his killing of Absa- 
 lom. Such was Joab. Long will the soldier honor his 
 memory. Our narrative takes leave of him here, with 
 the single remark, that having sustained himself in 
 public life for the period of forty years, at length, old 
 and gray-headed, he laid down his life, where, often in 
 the prime and beauty of manhood, he had worshipped, 
 at the altar of his God."* 
 
 * Many Bible readers have been greatly perplexed to account for 
 David's order, that Joab should be put to death. Now, observe, the 
 Bible was never designed to sanction despotism. David's government 
 was despotic. There was no trial by Jury, when the kuig was oifended. 
 " Whom he woiildhe slew, and whom he would he kept alive." Israel 
 sinned grievously in asking a king. The venerable prophet Samuel 
 fore■^^•arned them of the sore aggressions which a king, when clothed 
 with supreme power, would perpetrate on their dearest rights. (1 Sam. 
 viii. 9 — 18, and xii. 19.) Now, it required no revelation fi-om heaven 
 to teach men that despotic power in the hands of a bad 7nan is dread- 
 ful. But the Bible teaches that even in the hands of a good man it is 
 liable to horrible abuse. Had the case of Joab come before an impar- 
 tial jury of his countrymen, the verdict would have been essentially 
 different.
 
 David's true greatness. 405 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 DAVID'S TRUE GREATNESS. 
 
 " There is yet another question," said Lucifer, '' I 
 wish to have solved. You have mentioned several de- 
 fects in the character of David, as a man and as a prince. 
 How is it that his name has come down Avith such 
 great reputation in the church till the present day? " 
 
 "I have before observed," said Belial, "that the 
 Bible records the imperfections, as well as the excel- 
 lences, of ancient saints. Some have thought that the 
 design is to show that the salvation there revealed is a 
 salvation not for those who are without fault, but for 
 sinners, who have much to mourn over, but who, on 
 repentance, find acceptance through the merits of a di- 
 vine Redeemer. As to David, though he was great as 
 a man, and great as a pious prince, yet he had his im- 
 perfections. But there are two reasons, — and they are 
 ample, — for the great reputation of David, in the church, 
 from the day in which he lived until the present time. 
 First. His uniform rejection of idolatry, and his firm, 
 unwavering adherence to the worship of the true God. 
 Idolatry, the worship of false gods," said Belial, ad- 
 dressing himself particularly to Lucifer, "is the master 
 device of hell ! " 
 
 " Yes ! " exclaimed the chief, with kindling anima-
 
 406 David's tkue greatness. 
 
 tion, "it is the great engine of destruction to Adam's 
 race. Egypt, Nineveh, Babylon. Greece, and Rome 
 we're taken in this snare. It is the most successful 
 device we have ever employed to turn the nations into 
 the broad road. It is the sheet anchor of our kingdom 
 in the world. At this hour, millions are led by its in- 
 fluence in the way of perdition." 
 
 " Kings and potentates," said Belial, " priests and 
 people, almost without number, have fallen before the 
 power of this mighty delusion. But King David, to 
 the utter astonishment of the hosts of hell, was reso- 
 lute and unbending in his opposition to idolatry. Nei- 
 ther in prosperity nor in adversity, neither in youth nor 
 in advanced age, would he listen to its allurements, or 
 have any communion with its bewitching observances. 
 In the worship of the true God, he was steadfast and 
 immovable through his entire earthly history. In this 
 light, the sacred writers, with great frequency, hold 
 him up as a pattern to the kings of Israel and Judah. 
 In this light, he is very often commended as having 
 ' followed the Lord with a perfect heart.' 
 
 " The second reason for the high and lasting reputa- 
 tion of David, is this : as a sacred poet, he stands be- 
 fore the church and the world, in all the grandeur of 
 unrivalled superiority. The psalms, hymns, and spirit- 
 ual songs which he composed for the use of the church, 
 have been sung in every language where the Bible has 
 gone, for near three thousand years. Their spread and 
 extent is greater in this age than ever before. They 
 now bid fair to become, shortly, the principal chaimel 
 through which every kindred and people under heaven 
 will offer up their gratitude and praise to God. It is
 
 David's true greatness, 407 
 
 one of the most dreadful influences with which the 
 hosts of hell have to contend. 
 
 " The power of song over the human mind is great. 
 This is found in the experience of almost every nation. 
 But when the great truths of religion are combined 
 with the charms of poetry and the enchantment of 
 music, their influence is almost resistless. 
 
 " David, as a sacred poet, has never yet been equalled. 
 The perfections of Jehovah are at one time his theme, 
 — the wisdom, power, and goodness of the Lord, as they 
 appear in the wide earth, and wider heaven. At 
 another time, he celebrates the wonderful works of 
 God in behalf of his church, in days of old. At 
 another time, he expatiates on the designs of mercy 
 that are to be unfolded in ages to come — the incar-" 
 nation, obedience, death, resurrection, and eternal king- 
 dom of the Messiah, with the kindred truths embraced 
 in the system of God's revelation to man. When these 
 psalms and sacred hj^mns first came abroad, the effect 
 was tremendous. They were not only sung in the 
 sanctuary, and in the large worshipping assemblies, but 
 they were sung in the family, and committed to mem- 
 ory by individuals all over the land. The mother 
 taught them to her children around the fireside ; and 
 in the social circle they were often the medium of 
 friendly intercourse. Thus the great truths of religion 
 were presented in a form that took a mighty hold of 
 the attention, and made powerful appeals to the con- 
 science and the heart." 
 
 Here Belial rose to his feet, while uncommon ani- 
 mation shone in his countenance. He swung his arm 
 aloft, and in an elevated voice called out, " Powers
 
 408 
 
 PSALMS AND HYMNS. 
 
 of darkness, if you would successfully war against the 
 church of God, guard this point with the utmost vigi- 
 lance. Arm yourselves with every artifice which the 
 magazines of the bottomless pit can furnish." 
 
 " Belial," said Lucifer, " I am fully aware of the great 
 importance of the point on which you are speaking. I 
 wish the armies of hell to be most thoroughly drilled 
 in reference to it. And therefore, I particularly desire 
 you to relate the plans and schemes you employed in 
 the age of David, and the periods immediately fol- 
 lowing." 
 
 " The tide was too strong," said Belial, " to be met by 
 open and direct resistance. Long before the close of 
 David's life, many of these plain and powerful psalms 
 and spiritual songs were memorized by thousands 
 throughout Judah, Ephraim, Benjamin, and indeed all 
 the tribes of Israel. In the family, they were the means 
 of imparting instruction; in the sick chamber, they 
 were the instrument of consolation to the afflicted, and 
 often those who were about to die would express their 
 hopes and their confidence by quoting some appropriate 
 line or stanza from one of those sacred odes. 
 
 " The poetical powers of the Psalmist were of the 
 very highest order. The darling theme on which he 
 sung, was the redeeming love of God. We need not 
 wonder if such truths, with such accompaniments, be- 
 came the fire and the hammer that breaketh the rock 
 in pieces. There was a mighty impulse given to reli- 
 gion in Israel, by this means ; you see it clearly in the 
 recorded history of that people in the reign of David 
 and of Solomon. Let me only remark further, that 
 when the queen of Sheba came to Jerusalem, she was
 
 PSALMS AND HYMNS. 409 
 
 overwhelmed with tlie grandeur of those songs of 
 praise to the God of Israel, composed by David for the 
 use of the church. But," said Belial, addressing Lu- 
 cifer, " your majesty has asked for the devices I em- 
 ployed to counteract these influences. 
 
 " Long and laboriously did I investigate and revolve 
 that matter in my mind, before any eflectual method of 
 counteracting the influence of these sacred songs could 
 be found. But at length I hit on the plan of ' revising, 
 improving, and modernizing,' and found, that if it could 
 be carried out, it would accomplish all I desired." 
 
 "Revising, improving, and modernizing," said Luci- 
 fer; " tell us what you mean." 
 
 "Your majesty is well aware," said Belial, "of the 
 havoc and destruction that has been perpetrated amidst 
 the sacred poetry of Watts, Cowper, Newton, and other 
 standard writers in the Christian church, within the 
 last generation." 
 
 Lucifer bowed and smiled with much apparent de- 
 light. " Success to it ! " said he ; "it has rejoiced me 
 exceedingly. Is that what you mean by 'revising, 
 improving, and modernizing ? " I hate the praising 
 of God by the church. It is that service in which the 
 church below most nearly approaches the employment 
 of the church above. It peculiarly honors God. Suc- 
 cess to every attempt that will mar the praises of the 
 saints, or render them indilferent to the commands that 
 enjoin the praising of God." 
 
 " I heartily sympathize with you," answered Belial ; 
 " and I discovered that the most effectual method to 
 ruin, and, indeed, annihilate the sacred poetry used by 
 the churcl) in offering up her praise to God, was to 
 
 35
 
 410 PSALMS AND HYMNS. 
 
 instigate a class of incompetent men, who were not 
 capable of seeing the beauty of the original composition, 
 to 'revise, improve, and modernize.' This class of 
 men abound in every age. They can produce nothing 
 original that is worth publishing, and yet they have a 
 constant itching for authorship. Their only expedient, 
 therefore, is to pounce on the writings of some valuable 
 author, work up a new edition, 'revised, improved, and 
 modernized,' and have themselves towed into public 
 notice by the power of the author's name, whose writ- 
 ings they have crippled and cut to pieces." 
 
 " Admirable ! admirable ! " exclaimed Lucifer ; " and 
 now tell us how you put your plan in execution." 
 
 "My first care," said Belial, " was to find the suita- 
 ble person. It is only an inferior mind that will em- 
 bark in such an undertaking. A first-rate intellect will 
 not spend time ni such employment. It was not long, 
 however, till I was suited exactly in the person of Ben 
 Adoni-bezek." 
 
 " Ben Adoni-bezek ? " said Lucifer: " who was he ? " 
 
 " He was a lineal descendant of that old Canaanitish 
 king, mentioned in the first chapter of the book of 
 Judges, who cut oft' the thumbs and great toes of the 
 threescore and ten kings, who gathered their meat 
 under his table." 
 
 " A most suitable person, I should think," said Lu- 
 cifer, " as a fondness for mutilation ran i!i the family." 
 
 " This memorable individual came before the public 
 soon after the death of David. He was under the im- 
 mediate direction of the demon of ' Science, falsely 
 so called.' He maintained, that the age in which he 
 appeared was an age of light, improvement, and great
 
 PSALMS AND HYMNS. 411 
 
 intellectual elevation. He affirmed that the writings 
 of the fathers were obsolete, old-fashioned, and behind 
 the spirit of the times. He appeared fully conscious 
 that he was incapable of producing any thing original 
 that was worthy of public notice ; but he made great 
 pretensions to capacity for improving the writings of 
 valuable authors who were dead. He could modernize 
 their language, strike out objectionable passages, and 
 now and then make additions from his own brain, 
 causing them to speak a language when dead which 
 they had never spoken while living." 
 
 "Well," said Lucifer, "and how did he succeed?" 
 " I suggested to him," said Belial, " that his first 
 innovations should be made with caution, and the mu- 
 tilations be but few ; one word in a line, perhaps, only 
 chansed : affain two or three Avords in a stanza. But 
 though the mutilations at first appeared small, yet I 
 saw that the effect would be great, as it would create 
 confusion and jar when several persons attempted to 
 sing together, and thus the attention would be dis- 
 tracted, and the impression of truth on the mind, in a 
 great measure, prevented. 
 
 " If I found that the public would bear these inno- 
 vations and corruptions of the original text, I designed 
 then to urge Ben Adoni-bezek to become more bold 
 and daring, and to strike out whole lines of the origi- 
 nal, and supply their place with vapid and stupid con- 
 ceits of his own. Essential doctrines could thus be 
 disguised, or thrown out, powerful paragraphs marred 
 or omitted, and, in short, such mutilations introduced, 
 that the character of the original publications would be 
 wholly changed and their value destroyed. 
 
 " I will remark further, that this favorite device for
 
 412 PSALMS AND HYMNS. 
 
 a time seemed to grow upon my hands, and promise to 
 become magniiicent. I saw that I need not confine it 
 to sacred poetry, bnt that it could be extended to those 
 who had written in prose. I thought of having works 
 issued with sucli titles as the following : ' The Book of 
 Genesis, a new edition, greatly improved since it came 
 from the hand of Moses ; ' ' The Book of Exodus, 
 improved edition, language modernized, and adapted to 
 the refined taste of this enlightened age ; ' ' The Book 
 of Joshua, greatly improved, objectionable passages 
 struck out, and valuable additions, by a modern au- 
 thor ; ' and, to crown the whole, ' The Psalms of 
 David, revised, embellished, and improved, by Ben 
 Adoni-bezek,' " 
 
 Here Lucifer laughed heartily, and seemed to have 
 immense delight in the survey of this device of hell, 
 when a demon, who had not spoken before, rose and 
 remarked, that the statements just made reminded him 
 of a scene he had witnessed just before the death of 
 the apostle John. 
 
 " Let us have it," exclaimed Lucifer : " this is a sub- 
 ject of great interest, and it is one I wish all the powers 
 of darkness to understand and appreciate fully." 
 
 " Well," said the demon, "John, the beloved disciple, 
 had just returned from the Isle of Patmos, where he 
 had written the book of Revelation. John was now 
 very aged and infirm. Pie was reclining on a couch, 
 and from his emaciated aspect, and the paleness that 
 was on his cheek, it was evident that he was drawing 
 nigh to the end of his earthly pilgrimage. Polycarp, 
 one of his disciples, whom he greatly esteemed, came 
 into the room. John handed him the manuscript of 
 the book of Revelation, which he had now completed.
 
 PSALMS AND HYMNS. 
 
 413 
 
 Polycarp looked over it, wholly absorbed, for a long 
 time, and then observed, ' A prophetic view of the 
 church until the end of time ! A book of great value; 
 but, ah ! how can it be preserved in its purity, that it 
 may be a blessing to succeeding generations ? O, these 
 book-rats, M'hat a pest they are ! ' 
 
 '<'What is it that troubles you, Polycarp? ' asked 
 John. 
 
 " ' Why,' said Polycarp, ' I see that this is a book of 
 great vahie to the church, and I was grieved to think 
 that as soon as you are dead, it will be assailed by that 
 intolerable class of mutilators, called book-rats, who will 
 gnaw and nibble, mar and masticate, until scarcely 
 any thing of value will be left.' 
 
 " ' What ! ' exclaimed John, rising up suddenly ; 
 ' do you think they will alter my book when I am 
 dead ? ' 
 
 " ' Alter it ! ' said Polycarp, ' certainly ; and the greater 
 its value, the greater the number of those hungry mu- 
 tilators who will be eager to take hold of it.' 
 
 '• The visage of the aged apostle now kindled up 
 with holy indignation. The strength of his emotion 
 appeared in his eye, cheek, and brow, as he stretched 
 out his long, emaciated arm and hand towards Poly- 
 carp. ' Reach me the book. Did you read the last 
 paragraph ? ' 
 
 " 'No,' answered Polycarp ; ' I have read only about 
 three fourths of the book.' 
 
 " ' I will turn to the last paragraph, and read it.' 
 
 <' He did so, and read aloud : ' For I testify unto 
 every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of 
 this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God
 
 414 
 
 PSALMS AND HYMNS. 
 
 shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this 
 book. And if any man shall take away from the words 
 of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his 
 part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, 
 and from the things which are written in this book. 
 
 " ' That is,' said he, fixing his eye on Polycarp, ' do 
 not alter my book when I am dead; even so, amen.' 
 
 "Thunder and lightning !" said Lucifer; " the old 
 apostle would speak for himself. But, Belial, you have 
 not yet told what was the success of Ben Adoni- 
 bezek." 
 
 "I must confess," said Belial, '-that his success in 
 that age was but limited. The good taste and judg- 
 ment of the church were decidedly against his innova- 
 tions. Many alleged that, as he had not capacity to 
 write a single stanza of original poetry, it was absurd 
 for him to pretend to improve the poetry of the great 
 Psalmist. So they adhered firmly to the original com- 
 positions." 
 
 ''They viewed it, I presume," said Lucifer, "very 
 much as the community would now look on the pre- 
 sumption of one who cannot paint even a common 
 portrait, should he undertake to ' revise and improve ' 
 some great work of one of the masters of the art, such 
 as ' Christ Healing the Sick,' by Benjamin West, or 
 those powerful paintings by another hand, ' The Temp- 
 tation,' and ' The Expulsion from Eden.' A third or 
 fourth rate man makes wild work when he presumes 
 to thrust himself amidst the fine arts — statuary, sculp- 
 ture, painting, and poetry — and conceits, forsooth, that 
 he is competent to ' revise and improve ' the produc- 
 tions of exalted genius. I saw much of this when the 
 Goths and Vandals overran the Roman empire. Beau-
 
 PSALMS AND HYMNS. 415 
 
 tiful statues, of exquisite finish, symmetiy, and propor- 
 tion, the offspring of the most consummate and towering 
 talent, were 'revised and modernized' by the ruthless 
 hands of those who had no capacity to perceive the 
 perfection and grace of the monuments which they 
 thus destroyed. Not only were thumbs, fingers, and 
 toes, great and small, broken off, but ears, noses, cheeks, 
 and chins, were demolished by those who were so 
 utterly destitute of taste, that they were wholly uncon- 
 scious of the destruction which they perpetrated. 
 Your aim was to expose the sacred poetry of the 
 church to the same fate." 
 
 " Exactly so," answered Belial ; ' and notwithstand- 
 ing the failure of Ben Adoni-bezek, I regarded the pla7i 
 as admirable ; I resolved not to abandon it. And I 
 have the pleasure to inform you that of late years that 
 same plan has succeeded finely, through the manage- 
 ment of the Demon of Science, falsely so called." 
 
 " Where is the Demon of False Science ? " 
 
 " 1 will call him forward," said Belial. 
 
 The Demon of False Science was accordingly called 
 forward. He was a restless, meddling, fidgety-looking 
 demon. He was blind of one eye, and the other seemed 
 set almost crosswise in his head. 
 
 " You are the Demon of False Science ? '' said liUcifer. 
 
 '' Your majesty," said he, " will please to call me so." 
 
 " Very well," said Lucifer : " I wish to be particularly 
 informed of your success in molesting the church by 
 destroying valuable books." 
 
 *' My labors in that line," said the demon, "have been 
 continued for many ages, and my success of late has 
 been very gratifying. I attempted mutilations in the 
 writings of the ancient prophets, of which your majesty
 
 416 PSALMS AND HYMNS. 
 
 has just been told, that would have eclipsed the light 
 of religion, had I succeeded. But never, since I em- 
 barked in the business of destroying valuable authors 
 by ' revising and modernizing,' have I found so fine a 
 field for my enterprise as in the United States of Amer- 
 ica. The ancient Greeks and Romans would have risen 
 up at once against an attempt to mutilate Homer or 
 Virgil. The English would frown on any mischief of 
 this kind in reference to Milton or Shakspeare ; but in 
 the United States it is wonderful how tamely the church 
 has submitted to the most palpable outrages, perpetrated 
 under my supervision, upon Watts, Newton, Cowper, 
 Steele, and other standard writers of sacred poetry." 
 "Have you accomplished all you design ? " 
 " Not as yet," answered the Demon of False Science. 
 " I must proceed gradually. It will require two or three 
 generations to fully carry out my purpose. Adoni-bezek 
 would cut off the thumbs and great toes. Ben Adoni- 
 bezek would go a step farther, and the son of Ben Adoni- 
 bezek would go farther still. By the mutilators of this 
 generation, I have greatly disfigured many of the finest 
 of the hymns of Watts and others. Now, after a little 
 breathing spell, I design to set another generation at the 
 same work, and then another ; and it will not be long 
 till I shall ' revise and modernize ' all that is valuable 
 out of them. But I must tell your majesty that my 
 great success, of late, has excited a hope far beyond all I 
 had in view when I first embarked in this business." 
 " Ah," said Lucifer ; " what hope is that ? " 
 " In marring the works of departed authors," said the 
 demon, " I had only thought of annoying the church 
 on earth: but as the intercourse between earth and 
 heaven is so intimate and constant, and as departed
 
 PSALMS AND HYMNS. 417 
 
 saints often visit the church below, I have begun to 
 hope that they too may be interrupted and grieved by 
 what I have done, Isaac Watts declared, before his 
 death, that *he regarded his Psalms and Hymns as the 
 most valuable service he had been able to accomplish 
 for the church during his whole life.' Now, if he and 
 other sacred poets are apprised of the mischief and de- 
 struction that have been perpetrated on their favorite 
 works, under my supervision and direction, I cannot 
 see how it is possible for them to avoid being troubled 
 and grieved at the heart, even in the world above." 
 
 "It will be good policy," said Lucifer, " to keep up 
 a bold pretence that your mutilation is improvement." 
 
 '' Yes," said the demon, " though it be the improve- 
 ment experienced by the towering eagle, when those 
 strong pinions that have borne him in triumph to the 
 clouds are singed or shorn ; the improvement ex- 
 perienced by Samson, when his abundant locks had 
 been ' revised ' by the scissors of Delilah." 
 
 " Success to it ! " exclaimed Lucifer ; " success to the 
 business of ' revising, improving, and modernizing.' It 
 has relieved my mind on a point where it has labored 
 Inuch and long. Since the translation of the Bible by 
 John Wickliffe, no other book has been published in the 
 English language that has exerted a religious influence 
 so extensive and powerful as the Psalms and Hymns 
 of Isaac Watts. The ablest writings of Baxter, Henry, 
 Owen, or Edwards, have not reached half so many 
 minds, nor effected sucli deep and lasting impressions. 
 In revivals of religion, their agency has been tremen- 
 dous. Often have I seen, in great congregations, the 
 rich and the poor, the aged and the young, melted and 
 bowed by the omnipotent gospel truth embodied in
 
 418 PSALMS AND HYMNS. 
 
 those Sacred Songs. They have sent quaking and 
 terror to the very heart of the empire of hell. 
 
 " But since incompetent men have laid rash hands on 
 these standard hymns, I am glad to find that they have 
 lost much of their power ; their religious influence is 
 greatly diminished, and may soon be wholly destroyed. 
 Our cause has little to apprehend from that quarter 
 hereafter, if these sons of Adoni-bezek are allowed to 
 practise and prosper." 
 
 To the Demon of False Science these statements 
 seemed to impart the highest gratification. He stood 
 in a conspicuous station, and cast his one-eyed glances 
 to the right and left over the multitude, as if dizzy 
 with the height to which fame had exalted him. 
 
 Lucifer now arose. " Let all the powers of darkness 
 favor this master device. It promises much in be- 
 half of the empire of hell. I should deeply regret to 
 see the church wake up, and reject those crippled 
 copies of her songs of praise, and return to the use of 
 her standard hymns in their primitive perfection. 
 
 " Now," continued he, " it is time to close this ses- 
 sion. We will soon meet again, and resume our delib- 
 erations. I will, in conclusion, give a sentiment in 
 which I am persuaded you can all heartily join. 
 
 "Long life and prosperity to the sons of Adoni- 
 bezek!" 
 
 One universal shout arose, and the sentiment was 
 reiterated by ten thousand voices. In a moment the 
 vast hall was empty; and the mighty congress was 
 gone. 
 
 THE END.
 
 419 
 
 LINES ON THE MISSOURI RIVER. 
 
 MissoTTRi, Missouri, I gaze on thy stream, 
 And fancies thick rising enchant like a dream ; 
 As thy restless, bold surges go foaming along, 
 I make thee the burden and theme of my song. 
 
 II. 
 
 Old records rehearse how the great son of Nun, 
 Made a famous address to the Moon and the Sun ; 
 Thou Monarch of Rivers, no reason I see. 
 Why the bard may not dedicate stanzas to thee. 
 
 III. 
 From the snow-covered mountains piled up in the north, 
 Thy waves, like an army, come thundering forth ; 
 A continent owns thy dominion, and brings 
 Thee her tribute from thousands of beautiful springs. 
 
 TV. 
 
 A wonderful empire by thee is possessed, 
 Thou strong and unparalleled son of the West ; 
 No rival nor equal has dared thee oppose. 
 Since earth at creation from chaos arose. 
 
 While Nineveh, Babylon, Athens, and Rome 
 Rose, flourished, and faded, and sunk to the tomb, 
 Thy beauties remain, and as youthful now seem 
 As when fii-st the wild buffalo drank of thy stream. 
 
 YI. 
 
 In the deep and inscrutable counsels of God, 
 
 Thy realm lay concealed during ages of blood : 
 
 'Twas the will of high Heaven that thy plains should be free; 
 
 No Nimrod or Caesar e'er trampled on thee.
 
 420 LINES ON THE MISSOURI RIVER. 
 
 Wliile bloodthirsty monarclis their banners unfurled, 
 And crushed groaning nations throughout the old world, 
 The guardian of Israel, as at the Red Sea, 
 Kept a "pillar of cloud" betwixt tyrants and thee. 
 
 VIII. 
 
 But the long-promised mandate of Heaven comes now — 
 •' Beat spears to a pruning-hook, swords to a plough ; " 
 And as the blest gospel diffuses its light. 
 Like Canaan to Moses thy plains come in sight. 
 
 ix. 
 
 To the eye of the prophet on Pisgah's high top, 
 
 First " Gilead," then " Ephraim," then " Judah " came up ; 
 
 And thus in succession, before our glad eyes, 
 
 Thy rich and extended savannas arise. 
 
 X. 
 
 Missouri, Missouri, I rie-w thee with pride : 
 
 What cities, what temples shall garnish thy side ! 
 
 Ai\d to millions of millions a home thou'lt afford, 
 
 "When the kingdoms of earth shall have turned to the Lord. 
 
 XI. 
 
 "When Satan is bound, and the Spirit of God 
 
 Has established with men his perpetual abode. 
 
 From both thy long shores, from thy source to the main, 
 
 Hallelujahs shall rise to the Lamb that was slain. 
 
 XII. 
 
 'V\Tien the wolf and the lamb shall lie down on the green, 
 And the trail of the serpent no longer is seen. 
 For the worship of God, on the sweet day of rest, 
 "What assemblies shall meet on these plains of the West. 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Boll on, matchless river ; thy grandeur display : 
 Though we who now view thee must soon pass away, 
 Thy restless, bold surges shall dash on thy shore, 
 TUl the mighty archangel shouts, " Time is no more ! "
 
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