Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/269

 and  they  that  fear  the  Lord  shall  find  him”  (Ecclus.  6,  15.  16). True friendship can  only  exist  between  good  people. He who  is  not  faithful to God  and  does  not  love  and  fear  Him,  will  only  be  faithful  to  his friend as  long  as  he  hopes  to  gain  something  by  his  friendship. Friendship and  intercourse  with  the  good  exercise  an  ennobling  and elevating influence,  but  intercourse  with  the  wicked  is  a great  source of danger  both  to  faith  and  morals. “Evil communications  corrupt  good manners.”

You should  be  friendly  with  all  your  schoolfellows, but  make  friends  of  the  good  only. How has  it  been with you  hitherto? Have you  taken  pleasure  in  being  with  bad companions? Many a good  child  has  been  corrupted  and  led  into committing grievous  sins  by  associating  and  making  friends  with bad children. Therefore, form  friendships  with  only  good  and well-behaved children,  and  avoid  anything  like  intimacy  with  bad children.

AVID seeing  that  he  could  no  longer  live  in  safety  near Saul, fled  to  the  mountains  of  Juda. Even there  death threatened him  on  every  side,  but  his  courage  never  forsook  him. He consoled  himself  with  the  thought  that  he  who  places  himself under the  protection  of  God,  is  in  safety  everywhere,  and  has nothing to  fear. His trust  in  God  was  rewarded.

Now the  men  of  Ziph  came  to  Saul  and  said: “Behold, David is  hid  in  the  hill  which  is  over  against  the  wilderness.” Immediately Saul  arose,  having  with  him  three  thousand  chosen men, and  encamped  in  the  way  of  the  wilderness. As soon  as  David had heard  that  Saul  had  come  after  him,  he  sent  out  spies  to  see where the  king  had  pitched  his  tents. David, on  learning  where Saul was,  arose  and  came  secretly  to  the  camp  of  his  enemy.

And David  said  to  his  followers:  “Who  will  go  down  with me into  the  camp  of  Saul?”  Abisai  answered:  “I  will  go  with thee.” So  David  and  Abisai  came  upon  the  tents  by  night,  and found Saul  sleeping  on  his  couch,  and  his  spear  fixed  in  the  ground near his  head. Moreover all  the  soldiers  were  sleeping  about. And Abisai  said  to  David:  “Now  then,  I will  run  thy  enemy through with  my  spear,  and  there  shall  be  no  need  of  a second