over Israel, and that He had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake."

David's family, too, was still increasing. After getting settled at Jerusalem, he added to his number of wives and concubines, and had, in all, thirteen sons born to him in that city.

About this time, the Philistines, having heard that David had united all the tribes in his favor, and become king of the whole nation, began to dread this increase of the strength of the Israelites. They thought it expedient to commence an attack upon the new monarch before he should become still more powerful, and collect his forces to expel them from the land. Assembling in large numbers, their troops spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim, not far from Jerusalem.

David, in the meanwhile, having received intelligence of these movements, withdrew with his men, before the arrival of the Philistines, into a strong hold some little distance from the city, to deliberate upon such measures as might seem to be expedient, and especially to be the more secure against an assault. Here he inquired of the Lord, whether he should go forward and attack the Philistines, and if he did, whether they would be delivered into his hand. The reply was; "Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand." He did so, and gained a complete victory over them. The survivors fled,

leaving their idols behind them, which the Israelites consumed with fire.

It was not long before the enemy, with a new reinforcement, appeared in the same place. On David's again inquiring whether he should go out and attack them, he was directed not yet to do it, but to fetch a compass behind them, and to come upon them over against some mulberry trees. There he was to remain quiet, with his men, till he heard the sound of a going in the tops of the trees, when he was to rush forward, assured of success. He followed the direction, and defeated the Philistines, pursuing them, with great slaughter, for a considerable distance. This providential, and probably miraculous interposition in his favor, was well adapted to teach him his dependence on God, and to inspire him with increased confidence in the di vine protection. His fame, we are told, was now widely extended, "and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations."

We, too, should inquire of the Lord, continually, what our course of duty is. We can do this in humble and earnest prayer. We can beseech him to give us his Holy Spirit, to enlighten us into the knowledge of divine truth, and to sanctify the affections of our souls; to bring us under the influence of love to God, and to our fellow-men; to purify and elevate our motives of conduct, and plans of action; and to

lead us to live for the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom. We can implore the influences of the same Spirit, to open the eyes of our understandings, so that the revealed Word may be a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path, and that the language of God's providential dealings with us may be more and more intelligible. We can ask, even, for special direction in particular cases. Not that we can resort to any high-priest, as of old, with the Urim and Thummim, and receive the divine response; nor that we can hope for a miraculous agency in our behalf. But having our hearts right with God, and our principles and motives what they should be; acting under the guidance of the general truths and precepts of the sacred Scriptures; watching the indications of providence; taking counsel of the experienced, wise, and devoted disciples of Christ; striving to keep a conscience void of offence; and then exercising our best judgment, we may expect and believe that we shall go right, that we shall act so as to promote the honor of God, and secure his favor and blessing.

Do you, my young friend, seek direction of the Lord, with this spirit, and in the use of these means? Happy, indeed, are you, if you do; for the meek will He guide in judgment, and the meek will He teach his way.

CHAPTER XXIV.

David brings the ark to Jerusalem.

David before this time, and probably soon after getting possession of mount Zion, had consulted with his principal men, and with the great body of the people around him, who were assembled for that purpose, respecting an object which lay very near his heart. "If it seem good unto you," said he, "and that it be of the Lord our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto me: and let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul."

This symbol of the divine presence, it will be recollected, was now at Kirjath-jearim, a city about nine miles from Jerusalem, in a northwestern direction. It was placed there, at least seventy years before, after having been restored by the Philistines, in the house of Abinadab, and entrusted to his care. David well knew the importance of having it at Jerusalem, the seat of his government, that he might thus inspire both himself and his people with renewed confidence

in the divine guidance and protection. His proposal for its removal met with universal approbation; but the incursions of the Philistines, and his battles with them, prevented him, at the time, from carrying his pious design into effect.

Now, feeling secure against any fresh attack, and having, as we have every reason to believe, obtained the divine direction so to do, David made the necessary preparations to bring up the ark to Jerusalem. He summoned together "all the chosen men of Israel," the chief priests, with the high-priest at their head, the princes, the rulers, and the leaders of the tribes, to go with him on this momentous errand. It was not long before they were all assembled, to the number of thirty thousand, and on their way, in solemn procession, to the place of their destination.

Having arrived at Kirjath-jearim, they soon. found the ark; "the ark of God," as it is termed,

whose name is called by the name of the Lord of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims." They placed it on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab which stood on an eminence; his sons, Uzzah and Ahio driving the oxen. The occasion was one of great religious joy, and as a manifestation of it, those who attended the ark on its way filled the air with their sacred songs and music. The king himself, we are told, "and all the house of