all that he was himself, and more; and therefore he loved him as his own soul. And therefore I said, that it is only noble and great hearts who can have great friendships; who admire and delight in other men's goodness; who, when they see a great and godlike man, conceive, like Jonathan, such an affection for him that they forget themselves, and think only of him, till they will do anything for him, sacrifice anything for him, as Jonathan did for David.

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For remember, that Jonathan had cause to hate and envy David, rather than love him; and that he would have hated him if there had been any touch of meanness or selfishness in his heart. Gradually he learnt, as all Israel learnt, that Samuel had anointed David to be king, and that he, Jonathan, was in danger of not succeeding after Saul's death. David stood

between him and the kingdom.

And yet he

did not envy David-did not join his father for a moment in plotting his ruin. He would oppose his father, secretly indeed, and respectfully; but still, he would be true to David,

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though he had to bear insults and threats of death.

And mark here one element in Jonathan's great friendship. Jonathan is a pious man, as well as a righteous one. He believes the Lord's messages that he has chosen David to be king, and he submits; seeing that it is just and right, and that David is worthy of the honour, though it be to the hurt of himself and of his children after him. It is the Lord's will; and he, instead of repining against it, must carry it out as far as he is concerned. Yes those who are most true to their fellowmen, are always those who are true to God: for the same spirit of God which makes them fear God, makes them also love their neighbour.

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When David escapes from Saul to Samuel, it is Jonathan who does all he can to save him. The two friends meet secretly in the field.

'And Jonathan said unto David, O Lord 'God of Israel, when I have sounded my 'father about to-morrow any time, or the third 'day, and, behold, if there be good toward

'David, and I then send not unto thee, and 'show it thee; the Lord do so and much 'more to Jonathan.'

Then David and Jonathan agree upon a sign between them, by which David may know Saul's humour without his bow-bearer finding out David. He will shoot three arrows toward the place where David is in hiding; and if he says to his bow-bearer, The arrows are on this side of thee, David is to come; for he is safe. But if he says, The arrows are beyond thee, David must flee for his life, for the Lord has sent him away.

Then Jonathan goes in to meat with his father Saul, and excuses David for being

absent.

'Then Saul's anger was kindled against

Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son 'of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I 'know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse 'to thine own confusion, and unto the con'fusion of thy mother? For as long as the

son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom.

'Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me;

'for he shall surely die.

'And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be 'slain? what hath he done?

'And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was 'determined of his father to slay David.'

He goes to the field, and shoots the arrows, and gives the sign agreed on. He sends his bow-bearer back to the city, and David comes out of his hiding-place in the rock Ezel.

'And as soon as the lad was gone, David ' arose out of a place toward the south, and 'fell on his face to the ground, and bowed 'himself three times and they kissed one

another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.

'And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace,

forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in

the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord be 'between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed and Jonathan went into the city.'

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And so the two friends parted, and saw one another it seems, but once again, when Jonathan went to David in the forest of Ziph, and strengthened his hand in God,' with noble words.

After that Jonathan vanishes from the story of David. We hear only of him that he died fighting by his father's side, upon the downs of Gilboa. The green plot at their top, where the Israelites' last struggle was probably made, can be seen to this day; and there most likely Jonathan fell, and over him David raised his famous lamentation :

O Jonathan, thou wast slain upon thine 'high downs. My soul is distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan : very pleasant hast thou

been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, 'passing the love of women. How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

So ends the beautiful and tragical story of a truly gallant man. Seldom, indeed, will there be seen in the world such perfect friendship between man and man, as that between Jona