heart, Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like bis. Num. xxiii, 10. I foon felt the lofs of the fweet Pfalmift of Ifrael; and found, by woful experience, what a dreadful thing it is to cherish enmity against a favourite of heaven whom God is determined to blefs. But in reading my royal mafter's writings, which God was pleased to blefs, I felt my foul revifited with the bleffings of real repentance for my past folly, for which I muft ever remain a debtor to the unchangeable love of God. I found my mind fit for nothing but filent folitude, and therefore I took David's book of Pfalms in my hand, and determined to tread in all the footsteps (if poffible) that he had gone; and when I came to any spot where he had been vifited by the Lord, and delivered from any particular trouble, my foul felt such an unutterable love to him as cannot be expreffed; indeed I never knew his worth till I felt my lofs. And verily God made me feel all that I read of his writings, just as if it was all my own experience; furely this is going forth by the footsteps of the flock. Song i. 8. I went and wept over his fepulchre by the hour, and felt an affection to his remains, as I believe the fleeping duft of Samuel and other holy prophets had often affecd David himfelfHe had took pleafure in the flones of Zion, and favoured 6 favoured the duft thereof. Pfalın cii. 14. From thence I came into the valley of Beca, and read what David faid of that; and 1 am fure I enjoyed and felt every word of it, until I took his words as my own, and fpoke to my longfuffering and propitious Redeemer in the language of his eminent type and faithful fervant David; and, through the fuper-abounding and recovering grace of my covenant God, I am arrived at Hermon. Bleffed be God, I have been now for fome weeks under the fweet teaching of that divine inftructor that taught me the path of life at firft, and God grant that I never may fall, nor ftray from him again, neither in heart nor in life. Abimaaz. Wonderful are the works of God, and wonderful has his mercy been to thee, my brother; I think the union you have found with David's fpirit in his writings, is what another means when he fays, We are come to mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerufalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the fpirits of just men made perfect, &c. Heb. xii. 22. The real believer, that has fellowship with the Father and the Son, by the Holy Ghoft, is of one fpirit with all the heavenly family; for we find a union of fentiment with them-we fee as they faw,-and are in the fame path of tribulation that they were in,—are under the influence of the fame fpirit, and find a love to to them, a union with them, and a hope of joining them, and enjoying their company to all eternity. Cufbi. It certainly is the apoftle's meaning; for we are united to the fame head of influence that glorified fouls enjoy above; there is but one bleffed Spirit that unites the elect family both of heaven and earth to one head; only we have but the firft-fruits of the Spirit, Rom. viii. 23, while they enjoy the inheritance of the faints in light, Acts xxvi. 18; for, as a good man fays, Grace is glory begun below, and glory is grace in perfection. But let me hear a little of the dealings of God with thee, my brother. Abimaaz. Pray do not you know me? Abimaaz. Do not you remember a person that preffed upon Joab to carry tidings after the death of Abfalom, when the rebels were routed in the woods of Ephraim? Cufbi. Yes, I do, his name was Ahimaaz, a freshcoloured young man. He was one that brought the wretched counsel of Ahithophel to David. · Abimaaz. You are right; and I am the man. Hufbai the Archite fent me with tidings to the king, 2 Samuel xvii. 14, and I was obliged to stay by Enrogal, the king's gardens, for fear of being taken by Abfalom's fpies; and at last I was hid in a well by a good woman who was a lover of David. 2 Sam. xvii. 17, 18, 19. Cufbi. Why you are much altered fince that time. Abimaaz. Yes; I have had a good deal to humble me fince that, and bleffed be God for it ; for though I have been forely afflicted, yet it' has been for the good of my foul; for I find where there are no inward nor outward trials there is no growth in grace; but when once an heart has been thoroughly humbled, a little crofs' will bring it low. Cufbi. I am glad at my heart to see thee, my brother; and especially to find thee a lover of the great and bleffed Meffiah. Abimaaz. Not more glad than I am to fee thee, and especially to find thee a scribe so well inftructed. Cufbi. But do tell me how thou cameft acquainted with David at firft, for I almost forget thee; for, to the best of my remembrance, thou didft not abide long in the king's fervice; nor do I remember the cause, nor the time of thy going out. Abimaaz. My father's name was Zadok, a priest and a Levite, 2 Sam. xv. 24; and he received a charge from David to carry the ark from following him back to the city, ver. 25. My father being a prieft, and a Levite, he was much in favour with the king; and indeed David fometimes ftiled him a feer or prophet; and therefore, as David's confidant, he fent him back as a spy over the confpi rators, rators, and I went with him, as you read: The king faid also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a feer? Return into the city in peace, and your two fons with you, Abimaaz thy fon, and Jonathan the Jon of Abiathar. 2 Sam. xv. 27. My being the fon of a pious prieft, as well as a feer, I learnt to talk of religious matters fluently; and being kept close to the worship of the Jews, as well as to family prayer, I was capable of fpeaking in prayer, and had an outside appearánce of fanctity; and indeed thought at times that I was a real faint and prophet of God, as well as my father: but, alas! I have found fince, that grace is not hereditary; it is the gift of God, and from God we must receive it for ourselves, if ever we are faved. Cufbi. All the principles of religion that children learn by rote from their parents, be they ever so found, they will give them all up when they are brought under deep convictions; and be juft as felf-righteous and as felf-willed as the moft ftubborn Pharifee in the world, until God brings them out of bondage, and then he will apply those wholesome truths to their heart, which before had only a lodging in their head. Abimaaz. Indeed, my brother, that is a true affertion, I know it by experience; whatever doctrines are instilled into people's heads by men, will eafily be drove out by men, unless God apply them by the Holy Ghost. But, |