sure, or the prospect of some advantage, credit or support to be derived from those whose acquaintance we court, has given rise to the greatest number of friendships which exist in the world. No such motive influenced the friendship of Jonathan for David. David was introduced into the court of Saul in a capacity extremely well calculated to recommend him to a young man, and especially to a young prince. "David," says the sacred narrative,

came to Saul and stood before him, and took "a harp and played with his hand, and Saul "loved him greatly, and he became his ar"mour-bearer. While he remained in this situation, though he was not an object of envy or emulation, and, at the same time, had the fairest opportunity of displaying agreeable qualities, Jonathan distinguished him not; and, it is likely, if he had continued in this station, his heart would never have honoured him with it's affection. David was of too great and independent a soul to become a courtier. He would not gain the favour even of a prince, by trifling circumstances of attention, or by the mean arts of flattery. He would not stoop to recommend himself, by encouraging the vices, or ministering to the

pleasures of his patron. Jonathan, moreover, was too wise and discerning a prince to be imposed on by the flattery of an armour-bearer, or to be attracted by the superficial qualities of a musician. There is a congeniality of soul, a similarity of feeling necessary to the existence of true and steady friendship. Jonathan was a brave and great man, and admired and loved in others those qualities which he possessed himself. The champion of the Philistines had defied the host of Israel. The mighty in battle shrunk back from his superiour strength. Even the king's son declined the unequal combat. In this situation David stept forth, and, in the strength of his God, slew the Philistine. Judging from the practice of the world, we would naturally expect, that the splendour of this action should excite envy in those who had not performed it. A person less magnanimous than Jonathan, instead of receiving the successful hero into his favour and friendship, would have viewed him with illiberal, jealous and hostile eyes, and would have done every thing in his power to suppress his rising greatness. But Jonathan was superiour to envy, which is the vice of little minds, and felt in his heart what one brave

man feels for another. This was the very time when he conceived the first affection for David. "For when he returned from the

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slaughter of the Philistine, Saul inquired at "him, whose son art thou? And it came to 66 pass, when he made an end of speaking un"to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit "with the soul of David; and Jonathan lo❝ ved him as his own soul." And, as a token of his esteem, as a pledge of his friendship, "he stript himself of the robe that was upon him, and and gave it to David, and his gar"ment, even to his sword, and to his bow, and "to his girdle."

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Unlike the friendships of the world, which, for the most part, have some selfish object in view, the friendship of Jonathan was most pure and disinterested. This appears most evidently from his sacrificing the fairest prospect of greatness and power to his attachment to his friend. He knew that David was to succeed to the sovereign power. For when they wished to know how far the wrath of Saul was carried against David, the king upbraided his son for his attachment: "Thou son of the

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perverse rebellious woman," says he," do "not I know that thou hast chosen the son of

"Jesse to thine own confusion? For as long "as the son of Jesse liveth on the ground, "thou shalt not be established, nor thy king"dom." But the affection of Jonathan was not changed or diminished. He saw David grow in favour with the people. He knew that he was to succeed to the throne. Every thing which men reckon good and valuable was at stake. The man of his choice was his competitor in these fair prospects, but his friendship for him remained stable. He submitted to be the second in that kingdom in which, from the possession of his father, he had the best claim to be the first. He made the sacrifice, too, at the time when the sacrifice was greatest: when he had not experienced the uneasiness of power, and when the expectation of it is most apt to flatter the youthful imagination.

Finally, the friendship of Jonathan was zealous, constant and unshaken. The surviving friend extols the strength and ardour of his affection in these beautiful strains: "I am dis"tressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: ve

ry pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy "love to me was wonderful, passing the love "of women." Nor was this a momentary

glow of affection, which disgusts and disappointments and reverses are apt to cool. The friendship of Jonathan was not, like the friendship of too many in the world,

"A shade which follows wealth or fame,
"But leaves the wretch to weep."

His admiration and love were not confined to the day on which he beheld David returning, loaded with the spoils of the Philistine, and heard him celebrated in the songs of the daughters of Israel. In every situation, even the most distressful and adverse, he was to David a firm and unshaken friend. When driven in disgrace from the court, and forced to flee for his life; when wandering in the wilderness, destitute of every necessary, and forsaken by his attendants; Jonathan's friendship was not abated. And, whenever his duty to his king, and his respect for his father, permitted him, he flew with eagerness to his assistance and relief. David and Jonathan were actuated, as it were, by one soul. They burned with the same love, and glowed with the same resentments. They felt each other's pains, and shared in each other's sorrows. What can be more