D

ON THE

MORAL and RELIGIOUS CHARACTER

O F

DAVID,

King of ISRAEL and JUDAH.

WHEREIN

The ASPERSIONS thrown upon him by a Modern Author, are proved to be falfe and malicious: And the Right the Royal Patriarch has, not only in a political, but likewise in a moral and religious Sense, to the Title of being THE MAN AFTER GOD'S OWN HEART, is impartially stated and confidered.

By JOHN FRANCIS, M. A.
Vicar of Lakenham, 'near Norwich.

Nevertheless for DAVID's Sake did the Lord bis God give him a
Lamp in Jerufalem, to fet up his Son after bim, and to efta-
blifh Jerufalem: Because DAVID did that which was right
in the Eyes of the Lord, and turned not afide from any thing
that he commanded him all the Days of his Life, fave only in
the Matter of URIAH the Hittite. I KINGS XV. 4, 5·
He was a Man of wonderful Goodness, and endued with all the
royal Excellencies that might qualify a Prince for the Difcharge
of fo great a Truft. He was temperate and fober; affable to
all; tender towards People in Diftrefs; righteous and humane;
which are all princely Virtues. He was a Prince, in short, that
never made an ill Use of bis Power, faving only in the Cafe
of the Wife of URIAH. JOSEPHUS ANTIQ. B. vii. Ch. 12.

LONDON:

Printed for J. NEWBERY, in St. Paul's Church-yard: And Sold by the Bookfellers in Town and Country.

M DCC LXIV.

To The Reverend Christopher Smear. M. As Fellow of Gonville of Caius College Cambridge

GEORGE SANDBY, D, D.

MASTER of MAGDALEN College
in CAMBRIDGE.

REVEREND SIR,

HE following Sheets beg leave to fhelter themselves under the Patronage

TH

of Your Name, as their Author's Obfcurity, and their own Inaccuracy, would elfe almost incapacitate them from making, their Appearance in public, without fuch a Support. Many may, indeed, think it a needlefs Piece of Vanity in me, to attempt offering to the Public any Production of mine upon a Subject, which has already been copiously handled by Pens much superior. This I am very confcious of; but as, I think, I have confidered the Character of the Royal Patriarch in a Light fomewhat different to what other Authors have already done, I am in Hopes the following Pages may contain fome Arguments paffed over in Silence by those learned Writers; which may, however, tend to advance the Glory of God, and A 2 thereby