own.

fail to love him who fears not to expose his own person to danger; who, though sparing of the blood of his people, is prodigal of his This was strikingly exemplified on the very day on which the Philistines were defeated. For when the king drew the people together, in order to discover who had made them to sin by tasting food, contrary to his express charge, they, at first, refused to reveal the person who had committed the crime, and when it was found out by lot, that, Jonathan had unwittingly transgressed his father's commandment, and was sentenced to die, the people interposed and said unto Saul, "shall "Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great "salvation in Israel? God forbid as the Lord

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liveth, there shall not one hair of his head "fall to the ground: for he hath wrought "with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not."

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But, farther, we behold in Jonathan the disinterested patriot. Patriotism, among the ancient moralists, was reckoned the first of virtues. The maxim was deeply engraven on the minds of the old, and endeavoured to be impressed on the young that "it is pleasant and honour"able to die for one's country." Under the

christian dispensation this principle, as well as that of private friendship, though not entirely forgotten, seems, in a great measure, to be superseded by that more exalted one of love to God, or absorbed in that more enlarged and comprehensive precept of universal love to mankind, whether friends or foes, countrymen or foreigners. Compared with this new commandment, the love of one's country is a narrow and contracted principle. In the ancient world, it served, for the most part, as a cloak to ambition and a love of conquest: it inspired a hatred and contempt of all other nations; and, it too often usurped the place of that love which we owe to the Supreme Being. I do not mean, however, to disparage this virtue. Decent and honourable and glorious it certainly is, to sacrifice our peculiar interest, our happiness and our life for the good of the whole, in a proper cause. This principle has been the parent of many a noble and virtuous deed. It has strengthened the warriour's arm in the day of battle; it has lightened the labours of the legislator; it has roused the statesman in the hour of danger, and awakened the slothful from the lap of repose to listen to the call of honour and of glory.

In the days of Jonathan the Philistines were yet numerous in the land of Canaan. The Israelites lived in continual fear of them, and subjected to their yoke, often suffered the most grievous oppression. But Jonathan stood forward as the champion of his native land. In him his countrymen found a gallant leader, and their enemies a formidable foe. His patriotism, too, was of the purest and most disinterested kind. If we examine the principles and motives of the actions of many who appear patriots and zealous lovers of their country, we will often find some degree of selfishness connected with those which are reckoned most generous and disinterested. Many have fought and risked their lives for a country which they have afterwards enslaved.

Among all the characters to which history has given a name, Jonathan was perhaps the most devoid of this selfishnes. No future prospect of personal advantage entered into his views. To avenge his country's wrongs and to defend it from the oppression of its enemies, was all his ambition, and all his reward.The tribe from which he sprang had been attacked and almost annihilated by the other tribes. But former injuries and particular re

sentment were lost and forgotten in the common cause, and his country's call repressed every emotion of revenge. On account of the wickedness of his father, the kingdom which Saul had obtained by lot, was taken from him and from his family, and bestowed upon another whom the Lord had chosen. This, however, did not in the least diminish the ardour of Jonathan's patriotism, or prevent him at last from sacrificing his life in defence of the national honour, and in support of a kingdom which he knew he was not to inherit,

Again, we behold in Jonathan the pious and good man. Piety to God is a mingled sentiment of love and reverence for the Supreme Being. It leads to worship and obedience, and, above all, to resignation and humble submission to the decrees of heaven. This part of Jonathan's character appeared in the readiness with which he submitted to the will of God, in a point which men have reckoned most valuable, and about which they have contended with the greatest violence. Who can read of the many evils which the love of power has produced in the world, of the many men who have shut the gates of mercy on mankind, and waded through slaughter to a

throne, and not behold with admiration and delight the pious submission and calm indifference of Jonathan, who resigned a crown to which he had been born, and which he was well qualified to wear, in favour of another; because God had determined to take the kingdom from the family of Saul, and give it to a neighbour of his who was better than he. No impious murmuring is heard against the decree of heaven. No open combination or secret intrigue is formed to defeat it's operation. On the contrary, Jonathan does every thing in his power to promote the designs of the Almighty. For often did he save the life of David from the fury and malice of his father; and often did he supply his necessities, and encourage his heart, when forced to wander, as a fugitive, in the desert. "And Da"vid saw that Saul was come to seek his life : "and David was in the wilderness in a wood. "And Jonathan, Saul's son, arose and went "to David into the wood, and strengthened "his hand in God; and said unto him, "Fear not, for the hand of Saul, my father, "shall not find thee: and thou shalt be king "over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee. "And that, also, Saul, my father, knoweth.