THE PROPHETS.

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that evidence of the Divine support which should give them authority and credibility with the people. As they were the uncompromising denouncers of vice and idolatry, all these favourable influences were needed in their behalf; and all were not sufficient to protect them from the rage of those who were rebuked by their words, or shamed by their examples. Stupendous miracles were performed by them, and for their support, so that while their lives challenged the investigation of man, they were granted also the open and signal approval of Heaven.

The writings of the Prophets are valuable as among the most appreciable evidences of the authenticity and the divine origin of the Sacred Scriptures. That the prophecies were delivered anterior to the events which they describe cannot be denied without setting aside all the rules by which we determine the truth of history; and in the fact that sceptics have laboured to show that some of the most remarkable predictions were no predictions, but narratives written after the events they foreshadow, is an unwilling admission from the enemies of the Bible, to the fulfilment of the prophecies. The fact is conceded that if prophecies they are correct, in the very effort to prove that they are not prophecies but narratives.

In this point of view the writings of the Prophets, primarily addressed to the children of Israel, are as valuable to us as to them. To us, as to them, the fact that "the Word of God came" to Holy Men of old, is one of momentous import. The Prophets are recognised by the Apostles as among the foundations of that church of which Jesus Christ is the chief Corner Stone. The Prophets testified of Him who should

come into the world; and the testimony, commencing when the world began, will not have completed its appointed work until the heavens shall be rolled up as a scroll, and faith, by which we know in part, and prophesy in part, shall be superseded by that knowledge, by which we shall know, even as we are known.

DAVID'S TRIUMPH.*

HANNAH MORE.

!

And the men of Israel said, “Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel."1 SAMUEL Xvii. 25.

And it came to pass, as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music.

And the women answered one another as they played, and said, “Saul hath slain his thou. sands and David his ten thousands."

And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, "They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?"-1 SAMUEL Xviii. 6, 7, 8.

DAVID. Oh King! I would not aught from favour claim,
Or on remembered services presume;

ABNER.

But on the strength of my own actions stand
Ungraced and unsupported.

Well he merits

The honours which await him. Why, oh King,

Dost thou delay to bless his doubting heart

With his well-earned reward? Thy lovely daughter,
By right of conquest his!

See Frontispiece.

SAUL. (To David.) True, thou hast won her,

She shall be thine. Yes, a king's word is past.

DAVID. Oh boundless blessing! When shall she be mine,
For whom contending monarchs might renounce

Their slighted crowns?

[Chorus of Hebrew women heard in the distance.

SAUL. How's this? What sounds of joy

ABNER.

Salute my ears? What means this needless pomp?
This merry sound of tabret and of harp?

What mean these needless instruments of triumph ?

These women who in fair procession move,
Making sweet melody?

To pay due honour

To David are they come.

SAUL. (Aside.)

A rival's praise

Is discord to my ear! They might have spared
This idle pageantry; it wounds my soul!

Prepare! Your festal rites prepare!
Let your triumphs rend the air!
Idol gods shall reign no more:

We the Living God adore!

Let heathen hosts on human helps repose,
Since Israel's God has routed Israel's foes.

Let remotest nations know
Proud Goliath's overthrow.
Fall'n, Philistia, is thy trust,-
Dagon mingles with the dust!

Who fears the Lord of Glory, need not fear
The brazen armour, or the lifted spear.

DAVID'S TRIUMPH.

See the routed squadrons fly!
Hark the clamours rend the sky!
Blood and carnage stain the field!

See the vanquished nations yield!
Dismay and terror fill the frightened land,
While conquering David routs the trembling band.

Lo! upon the tented field,

Royal Saul has thousands killed!
Lo! upon th' ensanguined plain,

David has ten thousands slain!

Let mighty Saul his vanquished thousands tell,
While tenfold triumphs David's victories swell.

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