1 Rom. iv. 20, 21. and Heb. xi. 17, 19.
305.] David's forbearance towards saul. 217
our preparation for the eternal state ! We would call on all of you ; the aged, who know for a certainty that their time cannot be long ; the sick, who are warned by the disorders that are yet upon them ; the young, who are in the prime and vigour of life ; we would entreat all without exception to stand ready for death and judgment. O beloved, " prepare to meet your God." Think of the multitudes that have been sum- moned to liis tribunal unprepared ; and be thankful that there is yet one step between you and death. The Lord grant that, whenever that step be taken, you may have an abundant en- trance into the realms of bliss "^ !]
m Mark xiii. 33 — 37.
cccv.
David's forbearance towards saul.
1 Sam. xxiv. 4 — 6. And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee. Behold, I ivill deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.
KNOWING what we do of the depravity of human nature, we should scarcely conceive that men could attain to such heights of virtue as are recorded in the Holy Scriptures, if we did not know that those records are of divine authority. This observation is verified in the history of Abraham, of Moses, and of David also, who, though a very faulty character in some respects, was in other respects a star of the first magnitude. We are called on the present occasion to notice his conduct towards Saul; and to consider him under a three-fold relation; I. As a subject towards his prince —
[Never had man more just occasion to withstand his prince than he : the inveteracy with which Saul laboured to destroy
him was incessant^ Yet how did David act towards
him ? God had now placed Saul within his power ; (for Saul lay down to sleep in a cave where David and his men were
a See the three preceding chapters.