2. In an association for mutual relief, men of all classes and conditions enter into a covenant, or contract, or bargain, to help and support, to protect and defend, to advise with and admonish each other.

Such an association is surely needed; for the strongest, the wealthiest, or the most prosperous man may, in a moment, be crushed by adversity.

There are many pleasing associations in the idea of a covenant. GOD himself has made a covenant with man; he has told us that the rainbow is the seal of that covenant; and he thereby assures us, through the patriarch Noah, that this earth shall no more be deluged by the waters. He also entered into other covenants with his people-evidences of his love and regard for them, amid their murmurings and disobedience, which prove the boundlessness of his goodness and mercy.

Covenants have existed in all nations, among all people. We find them in every walk of life. Men bind themselves to each other in various business relations: nations make treaties or covenants of peace; young men and maidens enter into covenants of marriage.

These, however, are mere compacts of business : the covenant of brotherhood is one more holy and

sublime; it is designed to remove the obstacles that interpose between the hearts of men.

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3. David and Jonathan pledged themselves in a covenant of friendship and love, the history of which is most interesting and affecting. David, an humble shepherd, without title or honors, and Jonathan, the son and heir of a powerful Hebrew king, were bound to each other in the equality of friendship by a tie which no power could sever. When the envious king, who was jealous of David, because of his noble and daring exploits, sought to kill him, Jonathan warned his friend of his danger, and determined to arrest it. Now, therefore, I pray thee," said he to David, "take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself: and I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee." And Jonathan, in accordance with his covenant, did speak well of David to his father; he reasoned with him, and persuaded him, until he obtained a promise from him that David should not be slain. And he brought David to his father, and he was in his presence as in times past.

But the evil spirit of envy and jealousy came again over Saul the king, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand, and he sought to smite David to the wall with his weapon. That night David fled to his house, where Saul pursued him; but he escaped by a stratagem of his wife, and went to Ramah, where he met the prophet Samuel, who accompanied him to Naioth, in Ramah. Saul sent messengers after him there, and at length went himself, but the Spirit of God constrained both his messengers and himself, and protected David.