192 BATTLES OF THE BIBLE.

THE SON OF JESSE ON THE THRONE.

“ How blest the sacred tie that binds,
In union sweet, according minds ;—
How swift the heavenly course they run,
Whose heart, whose faith, whose hopes are one.

“ Nor shall the glowing flame expire,
When nature drops her sick’ning fire ;—
Then shall they meet in realms above,
A heaven of joy, because of love.”
Mrs BARBAULD.

Grandfather. On Mount Gilboa armies were ranged
for battle ; the hosts of the Philistines and of the
Israelites fought there. It went hard with the sons of
Jacob ;—many fell, and many fled. Three of the
princes, sons of the king, were slain, and Saul himself
was sorely wounded. Afraid of the insults of his ene-
mies, the wounded king requested of his armour-bearer to
put an end to his miserable existence. His follower
feared to do this; so the king took a sword and cast
himself upon it. Thus he died, poor miserable man !
The wretched end of this weak and jealous sovereign
teaches us to pray that we may not die the death of
the wicked. His whole care in dying was for his body.