the interpofition of Providence in his behalf (ver.11.); By this I know, that thou favoureft me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me; and as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and fetteft me before thy face for ever.

IF it be urged, That all this is only a comment upon a Psalm, not grounded upon any historical relation; I anfwer, That this Pfalm is plainly hiftorical; is confeffedly written by David, and perfonally applied to himself; and confequently muft refer to fome circumstance of his life; and can refer to no other but this; and when applied to this, gives, as I apprehend, new light to the facred hiftorian's account of Abfalom's rebellion.

Now the facred hiftorian informs us, (2 Sam. xv.) That when the people reforted to the king for juftice, on occafion of any controversy which had arisen between them, Abfalom was early up, and intercepted them as they came to the gate where the king's tribunal was held; and as they approached, inquired of each of them, What tribe, city, and family they were of, that he might proportion his compliments and civilities accord

ing to their quality, and confequence: careffed, and deluded them with glofing lyes: pretended to inquire into the merit of their cause; and always found it good and just : fadly lamenting, at the fame time, that no man was deputed of the king to hear them: and earnestly wishing, that he were authorized, and in capacity of doing them justice: O that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any fuit or cause, might come unto me; and I would do bim juftice! And what was this, in effect, but faying, O that I were in my father's place, I would do justice ! Plainly infinuating, that he would do what others did not.

-

Now we learn from the preceding part of this hiftory, that David was wont to administer justice to his people in perfon: Why then does Abfalom lament, that no one was deputed of him, to hear the grievances of his fubjects *? The reafon is plain, from the forty-first Pfalm. The king was fick, and could not attend in perfon; and the people knew it: otherwise Abfalom's calumny

*It must be owned, that this could only be meant of fome important caufes and appeals, referved for the king's hearing; for there were ordinary judges enough, to hear the ordinary courfe of causes.

VOL. III.

I

would

would naturally have been, that the king was grown proud and haughty, and above his business; or elfe, old and indolent, and negligent of his subjects.

Now, is it to be believed, that Abfalom could carry on this train of delufion and lyes, with the people, for any time, without the king's being informed of it? That is not to be imagined the proceeding was too public to be concealed. Let us then take it for granted, that the king was quickly informed of it; and found, that a fon, who vifited him conftantly in his ficknefs, and pretended great folicitude for his health, was at the fame time plotting against him; deluding his people with lyes, to his disadvantage; and wishing to be in his place; which was, in effect, wishing him dead. How could he more naturally exprefs himself upon that head, on fuppofition that he knew all this, than he does in these words of the forty-first Pfalm (part of which hath been already recited); ver. 5. Mine enemies * Speak evil of

* Here we fee David speaks, ver. 5. indefinitely, of his enemies in general, being loth to brand a favourite fon; but yet, in the next verfe, he limits his reflection to a particular perfon, who could be no other than Abfalom.

me:

me: When shall be die, and his name perish?

VER. 6. And if he come to fee me, he Speaketh vanity. His heart conceiveth falfbood within himself: when he goeth abroad, he telleth it. But fuppofe the king in health, and Abfalom's crime no more than that of shutting out complainants from his presence, and then lamenting his neglect of adminiftring justice; Could there be a greater villainy, than thus to abuse his father, and his prince, in his noblest character, of doing justice and judgment; turning his most valuable talent, and highest merit, as a monarch, into the most crying guilt a governor could fall into? How execrable is ambition, thus building itself upon the basest ingratitude, and cruellest calumny! O that I were made judge in the land!exclaims the abandoned mifcreant. Rare character of a judge, compounded of falfhood and flattery, inspiring rebellion, and meditating parricide, and covering his ambition under the fpecious guise of an humble familiarity! He would not suffer himself to be adored, as his father did; but when any one came to proftrate himself before him, he prevented him; and before

he could reach the earth, caught him in his arms, and embraced him: When any one, fays the text, came nigh to him, to do him obeyfance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kiffed him: rather paying court, than receiving it. As Tacitus tells us, Otho adored the people, ftretched out his hands, lavished his kifles, and did every thing in the most fervile manner, for the fake of fway. And in this manner, fays the facred historian, did Abfalom to all Ifrael, that came to the king for judgment. So Abfalom stole the bearts of the men of Ifrael.

ABSALOM robbed his father of the affections of his people, as Cyrus the younger did his brother: but parents are more indulgent, more eafily deluded, and induced to forgive, than brethren; as will be seen in the fequel of this history.

It must be owned, that Abfalom, befides his arts of popularity, now recited, had two great natural advantages; which, if they are attended with civility, never fail to win the affection and veneration of the vulgar; a graceful perfon, and an high birth; being, at once, remarkably beautiful, and royally defcended, both by his father and

mother.