otherwise in our spiritual combats: sometimes, the same soul dare challenge all the powers of darkness, which otherwhiles gives ground to a temptation. We have no strength, but what is given us; and if the author of all good gifts remit his hand for our humiliation, either we fight not or are foiled.

David hath now lain long enough close amongst his flock in the fields of Bethlehem: God sees a time to send him to the pitched field of Israel. Good old Jesse, that was doubtless joyful to think, that he had afforded three sons to the wars of his king, is no less careful of their welfare and provision; and who, amongst all the rest of his seven sons, shall be picked out for this service, but his youngest son David, whose former and almost worn out acquaintance in court and employment under Saul, seemed to fit him best for this errand.

Early in the morning is David upon his way; yet not so early, as to leave his flock unprovided. If his father's command dismiss him, yet will he stay, till he have trusted his sheep with a careful keeper. We cannot be faithful shepherds, if our spiritual charge be less dear unto us; if when necessity calls us from our flocks, we depute not those, which are vigilant and conscionable.

Ere David's speed can bring him to the valley of Elah, both the armies are on foot ready to join. He takes not this excuse to stay without, as a man daunted with the horror of war; but leaving his present with his servant, he thrusts himself into the thickest of the host, and salutes his brethren which were now thinking of nothing but killing or dying, when the proud champion of the Philistines comes stalking forth before all the troops, and renews his insolent challenge against Israel. David sees the man, and hears his defiance, and looks about him to see what answer would be given; and when be espies nothing but pale faces and backs turned, he wonders, not so much, that one man should dare all Israel, as that all Israel should run from one man.

Even when they fly from Goliath, they talk of the reward, that should be given to that encounter and victory, which they dare not undertake; so those, which have not grace to believe, yet can say, "There is glory laid up for the faithful."

Ever since his anointing was David possessed with God's spirit, and thereby filled both with courage and wisdom: the more strange doth it seem to him, that all Israel should be thus dastardly. Those, that are themselves eminent in any grace, cannot but wonder at the miserable defects of others; and the more shame they see in others' imperfections,the more is their zeal in avoiding those errors in themselves.

While base hearts are moved by example, the want of example is encouragement enough for a heroical mind; therefore is David ready to undertake the quarrel, because no man else dare do it. His eyes sparkled with holy anger, and his heart rose up to his mouth, when he heard this proud challenger; Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should revile the host of the living God? Even so, O Saviour, when all the generations of men ran

away affrighted from the powers of death and darkness, thou alone hast undertaken and confounded them.

Who should offer to daunt the holy courage of David, but his own brethren! The envious heart of Eliab construes this forward. ness, as his own disgrace: "Shall I," thinks he, "be put down. by this puisne? Shall my father's youngest son dare to attempt that, which my stomach will not serve me to adventure?" Now therefore he rates David for his presumption; and instead of answering to the recompence of the victory, (which others were ready to give,) he recompenseth the very inquiry of David with a check. It was for his brethren's sake, that David came thither; and yet his very journey is cast upon him by them, for a reproach; Wherefore camest thou down hither? and when their bitterness can meet with nothing else to shame him, his sheep are cast in his teeth: "Is it for thee, an idle proud boy, to be meddling with our martial matters? Doth not yonder champion look, as if he were a fit match for thee? What makest thou of thyself, or what dost thou think of us? Ywis it were fitter for thee to be looking to thy sheep, than looking at Goliath; the wilderness would become thee better than the field: wherein art thou equal to any man thou seest, but in arrogance and presumption? The pastures of Bethlehem could not hold thee, but thou thoughtest it a goodly matter to see the wars: I know thee, as if I were in thy bosom; this was thy thought, There is no glory to be got among fleeces, I will go seek it in arms; now are my brethren winning honour in the troops of Israel, while I am basely tending on sheep; why should not I be as forward as the best of them? This vanity would make thee straight of a shepherd, a soldier; and of a soldier, a champion: get thee home, foolish stripling, to thy hook, and thy harp: let swords and spears alone to those, that know how to use them."

It is quarrel enough amongst many to a good action, that it is not their own.

There is no enemy so ready, or so spiteful, as the domestic : the hatred of brethren is so much more, as their blood is nearer: the malice of strangers is simple, but of a brother is mixed with envy. The more unnatural any quality is, the more extreme it is: a cold wind from the south is intolerable.

David's first victory is of himself; next, of his brother: he overcomes himself, in a patient forbearance of his brother; he overcomes the malicious rage of his brother, with the mildness of his answer. If David had wanted spirit, he had not been troubled with the insultation of a Philistine. If he had a spirit to match Goliath, how doth he so calmly receive the affront of a brother? What have I now done? Is there not a cause? That, which would have stirred. the choler of another, allayeth his: it was a brother, that wronged him, and that his eldest; neither was it time to quarrel with a brother, while the Philistines' swords were drawn, and Goliath was challenging. Oh that these two motives could induce us to peace! If we have injury in our person, in our cause, it is from brethren, and the Philistines look on. I am deceived, if this

conquest were less glorious than the following. He is fit to be God's champion, that hath learned to be victor of himself.

It is not this sprinkling of cold water, that can quench the fire of David's zeal; but still his courage sends up flames of desire; still he goes on to inquire, and to proffer: he, whom the regard of others' envy can dismay, shall never do aught worthy of envy: never man undertook any exploit of worth, and received not some discouragement in the way.

This courageous motion of David was not more scorned by his brother, than by the other Israelites applauded. The rumour flies to the ears of the king, that there is a young man desirous to encounter the giant. David is brought forth.

Saul, when he heard of a champion, that durst go into the lists with Goliath, looked for one as much higher than himself, as he was taller than the rest, He expected some stern face and brawny arm: young and ruddy David is so far below his thoughts, that he receives rather contempt, than thanks. His words were stout; his person was weak. Saul doth not more like his resolution, than distrust his ability: Thou art not able to go against this Philistine, to fight with him; for thou art a boy, and he is a man of war from his youth. Even Saul seconds Eliab in the conceit of this disparity; and if Eliab spake out of envy, Saul speaks out of judgment: both judge (as they were judged of) by the stature.

The

All this cannot weaken that heart, which receives his strength from faith. David's greatest conflict is with his friends. overcoming of their dissuasions, that he might fight, was more work, than to overcome his enemy in fighting. He must first justify his strength to Saul, ere he may prove it upon Goliath. Valour is never made good but by trial. He pleads the trial of his puissance upon the bear and the lion, that he may have leave to prove it upon a worse beast than they; Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear; therefore this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them. Experience of good success is no small comfort to the heart: this gives possibility and hope, but, no certainty.

Two things there were on which David built his confidence, on Goliath's sin, and God's deliverance; Secing he hath railed on the host of the living God: the Lord, that delivered me out of the pares of the lion and the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. Well did David know, that if this Philistine's skin had been as hard as the brass of his shield, his sin would make it penetrable by every stroke. After all brags of manhood, he is impotent that hath provoked God. While others labour for outward fortification, happy and safe were we, if we could labour for innocence. He, that hath found God present in one extremity, may trust him in the next. Every sensible favour of the Almighty invites both his gifts and our trust.

Resolution thus grounded makes even Saul himself confident: David shall have both his leave and his blessing. If David came to Saul as a shepherd, he shall go toward Goliath as a warrior: the

attire of the king is not too rich for him, that shall fight for his king and country. Little did Saul think, that his helmet was now on that head, which should once wear his crown. Now that David was arrayed in the warlike habit of a king, and girded with his sword, he looked upon himself, and thought this outside glorious; but when he offered to walk, and found that the attire was not so strong as unwieldy, and that it might be more for shew than use, he lays down these accoutrements of honour; and, as caring rather to be a homely victor than a glorious spoil, he craves pardon to go in no clothes but his own: he takes his staff instead of the spear, his shepherd's scrip instead of his brigandine, and instead of his sword he takes his sling, and instead of darts and javelins he takes five smooth stones out of the brook. Let Saul's coat be never so rich, and his armour never so strong, what is David the better, if they fit him not? It is not to be inquired, how excellent any thing is, but how proper. Those things, which are helps to some, may be incumbrances to others. An unmeet good may be as inconvenient, as an accustomed evil. If we could wish another man's honour, when we feel the weight of his cares we should be glad to be in our own coat.

Those, that depend upon the strength of faith, though they neg lect not means, yet they are not curious in the proportion of outward means to the effect desired. Where the heart is armed with an assured confidence, a sling and a stone are weapons enough: to the unbelieving, no helps are sufficient. Goliath, though he were presumptuous enough, yet had one shield carried before him; another he carried on his shoulder: neither will his sword alone content him, but he takes his spear too. David's armour is his plain shepherd's russet, and the brook yields him his artillery; and he knows, there is more safety in his cloth than in the other's brass, and more danger in his pebbles than the other's spear. Faith gives both heart and arms. The inward munition is so much more noble, because it is of proof for both soul and body: if we be furnished with this, how boldly shall we meet with the powers of darkness, and go away more than conquerors!

Neither did the quality of David's weapons bewray more confidence, than the number. If he will put his life and victory upon the stones of the brook, why doth he not fill his scrip full of them? Why will he content himself with five? Had he been furnished with store, the advantage of his nimbleness might have given him hope; if one fail, that yet another might speed: but now this paucity puts the dispatch to a sudden hazard, and he hath but five stones' cast either to death or victory. Still the fewer helps, the stronger faith. David had an instinct from God, that he should overcome: he had not a particular direction, how he should overcome; for had he been at first resolved upon the sling and stone, he had saved the labour of girding his sword. It seems, while they were addressing him to the combat, he made account of hand-blows; now, he is purposed rather to send than bring death to his adver sary in either, or both, he durst trust God with the success, and before-hand, through the conflict, saw the victory. It is sufficient,

that we know the issue of our fight. If our weapons and wards vary according to the occasion given by God, that is nothing to the event; sure we are, that if we resist we shall overcome, and if we overcome we shall be crowned.

When David appeared in the lists to so unequal an adversary, as many eyes were upon him, so in those eyes divers affections. The Israelites looked upon him with pity and fear, and each man thought, "Alas! why is this comely stripling suffered to cast away himself upon such a monster? Why will they let him go unarmed to such an affray? Why will Saul hazard the honour of Israel on so unlikely a head?" The Philistines, especially their great champion, looked upon him with scorn, disdaining so base a combatant; Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? What could be said more fitly? Hadst thou been any other than a dog, O Goliath, thou hadst never opened thy foul mouth to bark against the host of God, and the God of Hosts: if David had thought thee any other than a very dog, he had never come to thee with a staff and a stone.

The last words, that ever the Philistine shall speak, are curses and brags; Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field. Seldom ever was there a good end of ostentation. Presumption is, at once, the presage and cause of ruin.

He is a weak adversary, that can be killed with words. That man, which could not fear the giant's hand, cannot fear his tongue. If words shall first encounter, the Philistine receives the first foil, and shall first let in death into his ear, ere it enter into his forehead; Thou comest to me with a sword, and a spear, and a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the host of Israel, whom thou hast railed upon this day shall the Lord close thee in my hand, and I shall smite thee, and take thine head from thee. Here is another style, not of a boaster, but of a prophet: now shall Goliath know, whence to expect his bane, even from the hands of a revenging God, that shall smite him by David; and now shall learn too late, what it is to meddle with an enciny, that goes under the invisible protection of the Almighty.

No sooner hath David spoken, than his foot and hand second his tongue. He runs to fight with the Philistine. It is a cold courage, that stands only upon defence. As a man, that saw no cause of fear and was full of the ambition of victory, he flies upon that monster, and with a stone out of his bag smites him in the forehead. There was no part of Goliath that was capable of that danger, but the face, and that piece of the face; the rest was defended with a brazen wall, which a weak sling would have tried to batter in vain. What could Goliath fear, to see an adversary come to him without edge or point? And behold, that one part hath God found out for the entrance of death: he, that could have caused the stone to pass through the shield and breast-plate of Goliath, rather directs the stone to that part, whose nakedness gave advantage. Where there is power or possibility of nature, God uses not to work miracles, but chuses the way that lies most open to his purposes,