And now, methinks, some gentlewoman, of more than feminine patience, whose curiosity may have prevailed with her to proceed thus for, may here exclaim; "It must be granted, Sir! that David had his faults; and who has not? but what does that prove? only that he was a man. If he was frail, his repentance was exemplary; as you may perceive, if you can prevail with yourself to read some of his psalms. Indeed, after your ill-treatment of the scripture, it will avail little to tell you that you contradict those inspired penmen, who expressly stile David, _the Man after God's own heart_. Nay, your writing against him, under that epithet, shews sufficiently the rancour and impiety of _your heart_; so that I am fearful there are small hopes of reclaiming you."--Good Madam! hear me calmly, and we shall part excellent friends yet. Had David not been selected from the rest of mankind, why then--it is possible--hardly possible--he might pass in the gross, with the rest of the Jewish kings. But, when he is exalted and placed in a conspicuous point of view, as an eminent example of piety! he then necessarily attracts our notice in an especial manner, and we are naturally led to wonder, that a more happy subject of panegyric had not been chosen. If he was an holy psalmist; if he is styled the Man after God's own heart; he also lived the life here exhibited: and his capability of uniting such contrarities, does but augment his guilt! Yet, even in his psalms, he frequently breathes nothing but blood, and the most rancorous resentment against his enemies. Of these take a specimen or two, from the elegant _ekeings_ out of that transcendent pair of geniuses, Messrs. Thomas Sternhold and John Hopkins; in recommendation of whose version, and the taste of our countrymen, it may be truly affirmed, that their psalms have gone through more editions than the works of any other poet, or brace of poets, whatever. Psalm lxviii. 22-24. And he shall wound the head of all His enemies also, The hairy scalp of such as on In wickedness do go. From Basan 1 will bring, said he, My people and my sheep, And all my own, as I have done. From dangers of the deep. And make them dip their feet in blood Of those that hate my name; The tongues of dogs they shall be red With licking of the same. Again, in Psalm lxix. 24--27. Lord, turn their table to a snare, To take themselves therein, And when they think full well to fare, Then rap them in their gin: And let their eyes be dark and blind, That they may nothing see; Bow down their backs, and let them find Themselves in thrall to be: Pour out thy wrath as hot as fire, That it on them may fall, Let thy displeasure in thine ire Take hold upon them all. As desarts dry their house disgrace, Their seed do thou expel, That none thereof possess their place, Nor in their tents once dwell.