60. What a virtuous action was that, when David wished rather to spare the king his enemy, though he could have injured him! 1 Sam. [1 Kings] xxiv. 10. How useful, too, it was, for it helped him when he succeeded to the throne. For all learnt to observe faith to their king and not to seize the kingdom, but to fear and reverence him. Thus what is virtuous was preferred to what was useful, and then usefulness followed on what was virtuous.