180

RESIGNATION OF ELI.

Catherine. Did the consecration of Samuel oblige his parents to leave him at Shiloh, or did he return home un til his age and education might qualify him for the service of the sanctuary?

Mother. The sanctuary was his home from that hour, and Eli his preceptor. But his parents, who strictly observed the institutions of Moses, had an opportunity of seeing him, and bringing little presents to him when they came to the annual festivals. They had, moreover, the pleasure of seeing him improving in knowledge and virtue, from year to year-the dearest temporal blessing which heaven bestows on a parent, if, indeed, it be not a blessing more exalted than any thing of a temporal nature.

Not such were the consolations of the aged priest. His sons, Phinehas and Hophni, priests of course, dishonoured their holy office, by their iniquitous and even sacrilegious proceedings. With the patience and the piety of a saint, he reproved them; but with the fond indulgence of a father, he neglected to use the authority of a magistrate to restrain or to punish them. The total destruction of his house, and the death of his two impious sons, in one day, was the awful punishment denounced by a messenger who was sent to testify the divine displeasure on his guilty negligence. Soon after, the same revelation was made to the young prophet, as he lay at night in an apartment adjacent to that of his guardian. Tidings so heart-rending, involving both himself and his children, could not be communicated voluntarily to Eli. But, as Eli knew that Samuel had been disturbed in the night by a vision, he besought him next morning, to hide nothing from him; and his charge was, therefore, compelled, though reluctantly, to declare the whole truth! The terrrible denunciation having been previously delivered to himself, the soul of the venerable priest was reduced to the most perfect resignation, and he quietly answered-" It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good!"

Catherine. How could he, who had not fortitude to avert the impending evil, now submit, without a murmur, to the tremendous result? But, perhaps, he thought only of the temporal death of his profligate sons-since "life and immortality are brought to light by the Gospel."

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Mother. They were brought, with clearness, to light by the Gospel. The heathen philosophers were, indeed, in total ignorance of the immortality of the soulaltogether so the ancient people of God. If, however, this eminent saint was acquainted with the punishment reserved for deliberate, unrepenting transgressors, I can only confess, that it is extremely difficult to form an idea of such elevated piety, as resignation, under circumstances so unspeakably agonizing. But let us turn from the painful subject, and contemplate the rising character of Damuel. For many years a prophet had not appeared in Israel, and now that another was sent, it was hailed as an omen of returning prosperity, and Samuel was honoured and obeyed. The favourable interposition of Heaven in their behalf, was joyfully anticipated, and they were once more encouraged to an open resistance of their enemies. War was hastily declared against the Philistines, and hostilities begun-but, to their great surprise, they lost the first battle, and four thousand of their army! they now began to consider why they had been disappointed, and recollected that in former days, when their affairs had been regularly conducted, the Ark of the Covenant was always carried to the field.

This they supposed would now again ensure success, and immediately a messenger was sent to bring the tutelary standard from Shiloh. No hands but the priests' might touch the ark of the covenant; and the sons of Eli were therefore brought with it into the field. We may imagine the vast importance attributed to the presence of the ark, from the words of the historian, who says "the earth rang with the sound of their shouts❞—and the camp of their enemies was filled with dismay when they became acquainted with the rejoicings among the Israelites. "Woe unto us!" said they, "Who shall deliver us from these mighty gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues." "Be strong, quiet yourselves like men," said they, exhorting their soldiers,-" Let not these Hebrews who have been our subjects, become our masters." But apprehension and dismay on the one hand, and joy and confidence on the other, were reversed, when the armies of Israel were again put to flight, leaving Phinehas and Hophni,

with thirty thousand slain on the field of battle, and the sacred ark* in the hands of their enemies. A Benjamite, who escaped, arrived first at the city of Shiloh. His clothes rent, and earth upon his head, (in those days, expressive emblems of excessive sorrow,) declared the fatal tidings. The tumult and cries of the people soon reached the ears of poor old Eli, who, blind and decrepit, had seated himself at the gate of the city, where he might hear the earliest intelligence from the army. His two sons he had already resigned, but the capture of the "ark of God" was unexpected; too feeble to endure so many disasters at once, he fell from his seat; his neck was broken by the fall, and he died; being ninety-eight years of age, forty-four of which, he had been judge and priest. The wife of Phinehas too, fell a victim to the blow-her husband slain-the ark of the covenant taken-and now her excellent father-in-law dead-she survived only to exclaim "the glory is departed from Israel," and to call a son, who was born in that sorrowful hour, by the name of Ichabod, which implied, the glory has departed.

Charles. These infidels would not value the ark what did they do with it?

Mother. They not only knew how highly it was es teemed by their adversaries, but had themselves feared its influence they, therefore, carried it as a proud trophy to the temple of their idol in Ashdod, and placed it before his image. Day after day the god Dagon was found prostrate before the ark: and at length broken in pieces! The citi zens of Ashdod, too, were visited with disease, until, persuaded that it was inflicted by the God of Israel, for their profanation of his dwelling, they sent it away from them to the city of Gath. Here, too, the same effects were produced, and the ark was in consequence carried thence to Ekron, but universal terror preceding the mysterious repository, the people of Ekron refused to admit it within their borders. The princes and priests of the Philistines then held a council, and determined to appease the God of Israel, by sending home the ark, which had now been with them seven months. Fearing, however, to approach

* Above three hundred years after Joshua had fixed the ark at Shiloh.

ARK REMOVED TO KIRJATH-JEARIM.

183 this tremendous scourge, yet unwilling to acknowledge its agency in the evils they had suffered, they settled the question by sending it off in a cart without any visible guide. If the cattle, which drew the vehicle, were directed by instinct straight forward to the land of Israel—then sacrilege had been committed, and a trespass offering was accordingly laid beside the sacred shrine; but if otherwise, then their sufferings had been accidental. Five lords of the Philistines followed at a distance, and returned the same day to Ekron with the report, that the kine had taken the direct road to Beth-shemesh, a levitical city, on the border of Judah; and had halted in a field of wheat. This was the fact. It was harvest-time, and the field was full of reapers. Many crowded from the town to behold this wonderful thing, and many indulged their curiosity by looking into the ark: these were immediately smitten to death, for their presumption. Rejoicing was now changed into lamentation, and the awe-struck spectators, desirous only to remove from them a monitor so holy, so jealous, sent off to Kirjath-jearim, entreating the inhabitants to receive the ark. To that place, therefore, it was removed, and set up in the house of Joshua, whose son Eleazar was consecrated to take charge of it; and there it remained the fifty succeeding years with but little interruption.

Meanwhile, Samuel, who had succeeded to the civil administration on the death of Eli, improved all these events to awaken Israel to a sense of their heartless superstition. The visible emblem of Jehovah, and the exterior observance of rites, he told them, would avail them nothing, without repentance, and reformation: the altars of Balaam and Ashteroth must be cast from them, and the God of Israel alone must receive their homage. Animated and encouraged by a man whom they venerated, to set about the business in earnest, the work of destruction was soon completed, and all Israel obeyed his summons to observe a day of fasting and prayer, at Mizpah.

While the nation was assembling from all quarters, the Philistines heard of the solemn convocation, and rejoiced in the opportunity it afforded of surprising them. The experiment was made; but the Israelites, now in the exer

184

ISRAELITES ASK A KING.

cise of faith and penitence, were fit subjects for mercy, and their deliverance was effected by a dreadful storm of thunder, which completely discomfited their confident enemies. Pursued and driven into their own territory, they did not venture again to disturb the Israelites all the remaining days of Samuel.

This interval of peace and freedom, obtained by the piety and patriotism of the prophet, was faithfully devoted to the improvement of his people. Taking an annual circuit round the country, inquiring into their condition, and hearing their causes, he instituted among them those seminaries, that were afterwards known by the name of Schools of the Prophets—so that he was in letters, as in religion, a public benefactor.

Catherine. We, who are so happy as to live at a time when literature, both sacred and profane, is so highly cultivated, may be able to estimate the value of such a man in a less favoured age.

Mother. There is not a more estimable character in the sacred records than that of Samuel. Administering the laws with integrity, and teaching the Israelites their duties, he maintained an ascendancy over all classes of the people, and they were contented under his government, until the feebleness of old age induced him to associate with him his two sons, in the performance of his extensive work. Joel and Abiah, like the sons of good old Eli, were degenerate men, and undermined, by their misconduct, the fair edifice their upright father had erected. Instead of imitating his probity, they took bribes of the suitors, and the people became greatly dissatisfied.

The elders of Israel, seeing the laws daily perverted, and becoming contemptible in the eyes of the nation, consulted together how the licentiousness and anarchy which they apprehended, on the death of their judge, might be averted. But the authority which his virtue had obtained, restraining them from taking any important step without his concurrence, they repaired to him, and, representing the disorders occasioned by the irregularities of his sons, entreated that he would provide for their future safety, by making them a king, whilst yet he lived.

Confiding in that gracious Providence which had hitherto