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some of your readers to state what appears to be the true solution, which is given by Dr. Warburton, but not so fully opened by him nor so generally known as it deserves: and I send it you the rather because the omission of those thirty-nine verses in the Vatican copy of the Seventy is urged as an authority for supposing them originally wanting in the Hebrew; whereas I apprehend, when some passages are restored to their proper place, they all form a very necessary and interesting portion of the history of David, and will be found to possess internal proofs of genuineness.

Our account of David, which begins in the sixteenth chapter of 1 Sam. with the relation of his being anointed by Samuel, has, I apprehend, suffered a transposition at the fourteenth verse, which verse, and those that follow to the end of the chapter, should be placed after the ninth verse of the eighteenth chapter. This restores unity to the narrative, and at once frees it from the difficulties with which it is manifestly embarrassed as it now lies in our Bible. It is strange that so ready a solution should be so overlooked, especially as the cause of the confusion may so easily be traced in the transcriber of a very early copy of the original misplacing one of his sheets through an error in numbering them; and the mistake not being immediately detected would be soon propagated: this I think more natural than Dr. Warburton's idea of a designed an'icipation. I proceed to notice some objections he has omitted, or but slightly touched, two of which upon examination appear to me to have arisen (as might naturally be expected), from the translators supposing they had the story in perfect order before them. The first objection that occurs (bat which is not of this description,) is from chap. xvii. 15. "But David went, and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep," which Dr. Warburton observes, "does not mean he left Saul's court where he resided, but that he left Saul's camp to which he had been summoned on the sudden invasion of the Philistines, together with the rest of his brethren, of whom the three eldest were chosen and the rest sent back." It is not improbable that Eliab's unkind words (ver. 28,) may have some reference to David's desire of accompanying his brothers to the battle: they appear to have eyed him, as Joseph's brethren did him, with envy; for Samuel's choice of David, "whom he anointed in the midst of his brethren,"

* The verses omitted in that copy are from the eleventh to the thirtysecond verse of the seventeenth chapter and the fiftieth verse; from the fifty-fourth of the seventeenth chapter to the sixth of the eighteenth chapter, and the ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth, and twenty-sixth verses of the eighteenth chapter: In all thirty-nine.

must have been considered by them as significative of some honourable distinction, though certainly at the time not clearly understood by them. In this order of the story we are not surprised to find, that neither Saul nor Abner knew David when he returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, which, as it now stands, is very unaccountable; and though our translation of ver. two, chap. eighteen, says, "Saul would let him go no more home," the Hebrew, having no such reduplication, should be simply rendered would not permit him to return, but the translators evidently thought he had returned from Saul's court before. When David offered himself to accept the challenge of Goliath, Saul must have accounted him sent of God for the deliverance of Israel, or it would have been inexcusable rashness to have hazarded the fate of the nation on the courage of a youth; but Saul knew that under the theocracy, God had often delivered his people by persons apparently inadequate to the service, and though the nation had revolted from God in desiring a king, yet Samuel had promised the continuance of divine protection upon their repentance and future obedience. (chap. xii.) Saul's admiration of David was, however, soon changed to envy and suspicion by the burden of the songs of triumph which greeted their return. Our version reads, chap. xviii. 9. "Saul eyed David from that day and forward," the word translated eyed should, as Mr. Julius Bate remarks (Critica Hebræa), be rendered humbled, kept him down: in consequence of which it appears, that Saul either sent him back, or David prudently withdrew himself, and it is observable he made no claim to the fulfilment of the royal promise so solemnly given, chap. xvii. 25. This conduct was suited to appease the wrath of Saul, especially as David withdrew to a life of obscurity; for, doubtless, the ground of Saul's displeasure was the apprehension of his being the man whom Samuel had told him God had chosen in his stead, and who was better than him, chap. xv. 28. Hence this displeasure of Saul's was a real opposition to the divine will as declared by the prophet, and it is no wonder that a chastisement from God followed it; for we then immediately read (according to the connexion proposed,) and not till then, that "the spirit of God departed from Saul, and an evil spirit terrified him." It had been said before, chap. xviii. 5, that David was accepted in the sight of Saul's servants; it is, therefore, no wonder that they endeavoured again to introduce him, which they do very warily, by the proposal of music as a cure for Saul's malady, and when they had gained his approbation of the measure, David is described (whilst his name is skilfully omitted) " as a mighty valiant man,

and a man of war, and prudent in matters," fitted to attend the king both in court and camp. Now how can it be supposed that Saul's servants should have this knowledge of David previous to his combat with Goliath? Saul, whose anger was subsided, agrees to their proposal, and sends for David, whose skill in music and humble deportment so won upon the king, that he loved him greatly, and desired that he might abide with him. There only remains to be considered the junction of the close of chapter sixteen with the tenth verse of the eighteenth chapter, “ And it came to pass on the morrow," which seems abrupt to the English reader; but the objection disappears on considering the word we render to-morrow, to be the same which occurs, Exod. xiii. 14. Josh. xxii. 24. and Deut. vi. 20. in all which places the sense requires an indefinite future time; and then it only implies, that though David's music was, through the favour of God, a means of relief to Saul, yet, that after a time, his jealousy returned, and he gave himself up to the deliberate purpose of taking the life of that man whom he fully believed God had chosen to fill the throne of Israel, (see chap. xx. 30, 31, where he calls Jonathan's attachment to David perverse rebellion, which would produce his own exclusion from the succession). It is no wonder that this impiety of Saul led him into the evils, and brought down upon himself and his house the calamities* recorded, which ended in the utter extirpation of his family except the line of Jonathan, which was preserved by David in Mephibosheth.

C. L.

ANECDOTE.

AFTER the signal victory off Trafalgar, one of the Spanish ships was taken possession of by the British; on board of which the Spanish captain addressed the Priest as follows: "Father, there has been a serious loss on our part: it appears that God fights for the Protestants!" To whom the Priest gravely replied, "Yes, he has fought for them indeed! and by this battle, it should seem that God himself is a Protestant!"

By evils as distinguished from calamities I mean those great sins, the destruction of the priests, consequent neglect of God's worship, and, at length, seeking to devils for direction, into which Saul fell, and which awfully terminated in suicide: in the outline of his history (as David was a type of the Messiah,) Saul seems to have resembled Judas, both in his election and apostacy.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

A letter from the Directors of the Netherland Missionary Society.

To the Rev. Dr. Ashbel Green, chairman of the standing committee of missions of the General Assembly of the Presb terian church in the United States of America.

REV. SIR,

YOUR very acceptable letter dated Philadelphia, 28th April, 1804, came safe to our hands, and we acknowledge our obligation for the opening you have made for a brotherly correspondence with you. We have learned with pleasure, from the worthy brethren at New-York, with whom we have corresponded since the year 1800, that the missionary spirit increases in all parts of your country; we trust it has been excited by the same spirit which in these last days has, amidst all the commotions of the world, enkindled so much christian zeal for the conversion of the heathen, and for the instruction of destitute christians, especially of those on your own borders, who, in such a multitude, call for help.

We thank you particularly for your minute statement of the furtherance with which this important undertaking has been blessed; and we perceive also with gratitude the communion with our glorified Head, which is the only sure band that can produce brotherly co-operation; and that he has graciously pleased that so many different christians should herein, with one heart and one soul, wish to be the evidence that he will openly approve all who truly engage in this work for the enlargement of his kingdom. This also strengthens the hands of all here in Europe, of different religious societies, and of different ranks, who have united in this weighty undertaking; and it gives us boldness to request your help in mutual love and labour, and by your prayers.

You have the goodness to ask from us some particulars respecting our society about which you have had only some imperfect reports: we shall satisfactorily answer your questions, but it will not be necessary to be very particular, as we must especially refer to the printed pamphlets sent herewith, which we request you to accept in love.

You ask us,

1. How long has your society existed? Answer. Since the month of December, 1797.

2. What were the circumstances and motives which led to its institution? 4. A report from a then lately estaVOL. II.

blished missionary society in London was brought to us, and awoke, in the first place, the learned and pious Mr. I. F. Vanderkemp, who, upon particular infor mation that it was to be sent throughout Christendom, was seized with an ardent desire to go and proclaim the tidings of salvation to the heathen; he made a voyage to London, to visit the English brethren; upon his return, he was stimulated by his zeal, to form a small society here, in Rotterdam, and in other parts of our country, from which our society originated. Then he went again to England, taking with him the pious young teacher, Mr. J. J. Kicherer, which brethren, in the year 1798, made the first voyage to Africa, on account of the London society, and some societies with us. Brother Vanderkemp was ordained a teacher in England.

3. What are your leading religious principles?

A. Our society have wished to establish themselves, simply, upon the Gospel of Grace for sinners, according to the instructions of the Saviour and his apostles, as will be explained to you in a small pamphlet which accompanies this.

4. What obstacles or difficulties have you had to surmount?

A. After the first mission to Africa on account of the English brethren, we also engaged some other missionaries, and sent them to those parts, to serve withinland: therein we had no great difficulty; and throughout the whole we have met with more encouragement and assistance than obstruction, both from the pious here and in that country.

5. Have any opposed you by writing, or by governmental influence?

A. Some small pamphlets were published, containing reflections on our undertaking; but none expressly in opposition to it: nevertheless, the government has always been friendly and helpful to us, although it was not necessary for them to countenance it by public authority, which indeed we never asked. Both the English and Dutch governments at the Cape of Good Hope have been very favourable to the brethren.

6. What are your funds?

4. Voluntary contributions, and gifts from devout people, have not been inconsiderable, and have hitherto been sufficient.

7. What is the number of your missionaries?

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4. You will see by the pamphlets sent herewith that the number of the Dutch missionaries is not vet very great; but when we join, from time to time, in the same work with the English brethren, undertakings can be set forward, for which there is great encouragement. We have now also in our employ Dutch brethren from a religious missionary seminary at Berlin.

8. Are they all men of education, or not? A. But few besides Dr. Van lerkemp and Mr. Kicherer have had an academical education; but we require good natural understanding, and an aptness for the missionary work which they undertake; and, above all, a hearty love to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to the souls of their fellow-men.

9. What instructions do you give your missionaries?

A. We instruct them to qualify themselves beforehand as much as possible with all the requisites for christian missionaries, as well with respect to their preaching, as to the conduct of the mission; (such instructions have hitherto been carefully given by our brethren appointed for that purpose at Rotterdam;) and also relating to the common doctrine of salvation by the knowledge of the gospel, and its necessary fruits, without being restricted by the peculiar system of any particular church.

10. What are the places to which you have already sent missionaries?

A. For our own part, we have sent missionaries only to Africa, where the extent of the country, and the prospect of a blessing, afford great encouragement.

11. And what other places do you contemplate for them?

4. If it please God to bless us, we think of Madagascar, or Celon, for which last island also a Holland sister, married to the Dutch brother Palm, is now on a voyage, in the employ of the English company.

12. What has been your success hi

therto?

A. Besides the blessing which has attended our undertaking here in this country, in many awakenings of the pious, and in instructing many of our ignorant countrymen, the favourable reports of our missionaries give us great reason for a thankful acknowledgment of the divine goodness; particularly in the year past, a visit was paid to Europe by the worthy Kicherer, with three converted Africans, which were here, as well as in England, a very acceptable fruit of the labour of this brother, as you will under

stand from the little printed account sent herewith.

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Brother Kicherer, with his friends, went upon a new missionary voyage in October, 1804 we hope soon to receive information of his arrival at the Cape of Good Hope. These brethren have receiv ed new instructions for Africa, with the approbation of the English brethren. 13. What are your hopes and prospects for the future?

A. Our hope is, that our Lord Jesus Christ, who was so evidently with our missionaries, will establish a true church both in Africa and elsewhere, whereby the poor and ignorant natives may em brace the truth, and their lives be thereby truly reformed, and his honour established. We can say but little as to our future prospects: could we once have a general peace and open navigation, we should have prospects from our Asiatic settlements; but this is uncertain. We have reason to stand astonished that, by the blessing of the Lord, so much has been done in so few years; and we wish, moreover, to see what other ways will be opened.

14. What advice can you give to us!

A. Far be it from us to presume to give any advice to your superior know. ledge, and greater experience, especially respecting the places and circumstances of your extensive missions, which differ so much from ours. Prayer, and the con tinual committing our society to the pow er and mercy of the Lord, is our principal mean. Our society has spread itself through all our provinces, and many take part in it in each city and village, where the members meet on the first Monday in every month: as in England they hold meeting for praver, communicate infor mation relating to the spreading of the gospel, and keep alive and strengthen religious impressions. We send you herewith the Report for 1804.

We pray you to receive this little par cel in love, and the rather because it will confirm the foregoing letter. We request an answer, and also some accounts from you of your proceedings, or concerning religious revivals in your country: such will very much oblige us.

We earnestly entreat aremembrance of our society in your addresses to the throne of grace; as we also shall not forget yours; being with great esteen and love,

The Directors of the Netherland
Missionary Society.

In the name of the whole,

B. LEDEBOER, Secretary
Rotterdam, May 20, 1805.

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