Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-22

one hungry for that which love has to
oestow Jonathans sorrow was partly
Ior MS father. but chiefly for David,
whom he admired and loved for his ex-
ceiient qualities and for his undoubted
future as the servant of God. But David's
sorrow, while ii may have been tinged
py regret for the king, was chiefly due to
ms own misfortunes. He Considered him.
sell an exile. destined to wander from place
10 pace. at every moment EXPOSED TO the
KING wrath. He must leave HIS wife and
children. and he must be excluded from
inc ordinances of religion. IL was indeed
an hour OF sore trial TO one who a few
years before had been anointed king
How strange TO him must have appeared
me ways of Providence. And so the two.
IN sorrowful affection. stood folded in each
Urne- .. emnrare. weeping together ACTS.
NA:3p until David exceeded
OMFORT.-Jonathan first gained
cohtroI or his emotions and sought to
strengthen the heart OF his friend When
the FOUNTAIN of tears is opened the mind
Is clearer and the speech is sweeter.
After such exchanges the son of tho king
may utter what the trembling heart OF
the prosecuted will receive like cordial
forasmuch as We have sworn both OF
us In the name of the Lord Jonathan
Degah, recalling that covenant which they
had made at their first acquaintance ex-
planning and renewing IL. BY this il APP
pears that they were bound together be-
cause of their loyalty to God. Their
I'll
i:22) No other would have endured the
strain. Jonathan proceeded. The Lord
be between me and thee and between my
seed and thy seed forever" In the most
soiemp manner he assumes and enjoins
a perpetual obligation-he to be David
friend. David to be his friend, that reia-
ton TO be extended to their posterity,
witnessed and approved and blessed by
the God of Israel
SEPARATION.-"Go in peace" said
Jonathan. dismissal wit
a good heart trust in the Lord, all will
be well. he intended to say, encourag-
ingly. David in tears needed such a part
ing blessing. for his heart chung to his
benelactor like the storms haken vine to
the oak. They separated never to meet
again in this world. save once to reas-
| sure each others hearts and reaffirm their
vows (Ch., xxiii:1S) Jonathan returned
to the city. to his home. to share the for
tunes of his father: ultimately with that
| father to die on the field of battle Och.
xxxi:2 at the hand Of Philistine. And
David went forth to Mob (Ch., xxi:D, a
priests city in Benjamin. and thence a
wanderer from place to place. a fugitive
from the wrathful King. Sustained by
! his faith in God and by the last words of
Jonathan. he waited patiently while the
weary years passed, never doubling that
| the day Of his hopes would dawn, and he
should find his appointed place and mis-
| sion, learning meanwhile in the hard
school of affiiction those wholesome les
sons that prepare for service I'll Corr
| iv:1O.
CONCLUSION.-Frien contract
ed by the wicked decreases from hour to
| hour. like the early shadow of the morn
| ing. but friendship with the virtuous will
| increase like the shadow of the evening,
|. till the sun of life shall set. Historians
and poets have delighted to recount the
| instances in which men have been made
| to love and trust each other. The school
children have read the story of Epaminon-
| das and Palopidas, of the Scythians: OF
| Damon and Pythias. two celebrated SYRIA
cusans. But these, the brightest examples
| of what is possible to unrenewed hearts.
are not worthy to be compared with the
| exhibition of mutual regard between Da-
| vid and Jonathan This shows what di-
vine grace can do, and what a world OF
| blessedness would be ushered in IL all
hearts were subject to- that grace. What
| the heather world has admired Chris
| tianity is designed to produce (Acts.
iy:32) What every heart needs the Cos
pei will supply prov, xviii:9. This 10
| part of the feast to which all are in
| vited Il John. i:3).