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ged their confidence, the holy prophet delivered to them a solemn charge, in which he laid before them the signal mercies bestowed on their nation at various times, and their sinfulness in asking for a king, like the nations around them, when their theocracy was the highest privilege they could possess. The words of Samuel made a deep impression upon his hearers, who openly acknowledged themselves guilty of a great offence. Having thus brought them to a penitent confession, he began to exhort them to a careful obedience of the laws of GOD; and he encouraged them so to do by an assurance, that "the Lord would not forsake them for his great name's sake, because," says he, "it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people." He then concluded by expressing his tender regard for them, and his resolution of being always attentive to their welfare: "Moreover, as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things he hath done for you. But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king."

Thus did Samuel retire from his public station as a magistrate; but still retained his sacerdotal authority, by virtue of which he denounced the judgments of the Lord againt Saul for various offences.

When that monarch disobeyed the Divine command, by saving Agag, king of the Amalekites, with a considerable part of the spoil, Samuel resumed the regal power, and, after sharply reprehending the monarch for his conduct, proceeded to execute the Divine injunction which Saul had disobeyed.

This was one of those extraordinary actions which, resulting from a particular commission of Jehovah, are neither to be censured nor imitated. From that time Samuel saw the king of Israel no more, during nis life; but it is related that he "mourned, or was afflicted for him." The sins of others, especially of

those from whom the most exemplary conduct is expected, always affect the righteous with sorrow. They are grieved that the honour of GoD is injured, and their compassion for the souls of their fellowcreatures fills them with concern at their inconsiderate conduct.

The Lord having rejected Saul, commanded Samuel to anoint David, the son of Jesse, king over Israel. The prophet, who retained some regard for the man whom he had crowned, was reluctant to obey the Divine injunction. He had besides some fear that Saul's anger would provoke him to take away his life; an apprehension that is surprising, considering the boldness with which he had repeatedly rebuked the king in the sight of all Israel.

The Almighty regarded not the objection of his servant, but repeated his command, and Samuel went as he was directed. On coming to the house of Jesse, he offered a solemn sacrifice; and when he beheld Eliab, the eldest son, who was tall, and of a good countenance, he immediately concluded him to be the chosen person. But the Almighty said to him, "Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature, because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." Seven more of his sons did Jesse cause to pass before the prophet, but neither of them was accepted; on which Samuel asked if these were all his children; and being told that the youngest was keeping sheep, he caused him to be sent for; and when he arrived, the man of GOD "took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren."

Having thus discharged this important commission, Samuel returned to Ramah, where he continued till his death, which happened in the two thousand nine hundred and forty-seventh year of the world.

This great prophet had enjoyed throughout his long life the confidence and affection of his countrymen ; who were convinced of the uprightness of his heart,

and the sanctity of his life. All his actions indeed manifested, that a regard for the public good, and for the honour of GOD, was the ruling principle of his mind. He was sanctified from the womb, and his earliest years were devoted to the service of the Lord. Religion obtained possession of his heart and affections even in childhood, and procured him the favour of GOD and man. This carried him through his public office with unblemished reputation, and secured to him not only inward peace and satisfaction, but the applause and gratitude of his countrymen.

When he died, all Israel "were gathered together, and lamented him," considering his loss as that of their common father. His remains were embalmed by the affectionate tears of a whole nation; and the memorials of his life have been transmitted to us in the Holy scripture, that we may follow the example of his early piety, and constant obedience to the will and commandment of his GOD.

Samuel instituted the schools of the prophets, which were designed to maintain a succession of proper persons for the instruction of the people. He was the first president of this seminary, and therefore in the New Testament he is spoken of as the beginning of that succession of prophets, which lasted till the time of Malachi: "And all the prophets from Samuel, and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have foretold of these days." Acts iii. 24.

There is a circumstance in the sacred history relating to Samuel, of so extraordinary a nature as to have occasioned a great diversity of opinion among divines and commentators.

About two years after his death, the Philistines invaded Israel; and Saul, being alarmed at the numbers of the enemy, had recourse to a famous witch who resided at Endor, near Gilboa.

When the enchantress wished to know whose ghost she should raise, Saul directed her to bring up

that of Samuel. The woman accordingly exerted her magical art; but when she saw the appearance of Samuel, she was frightened, and said to the king, Why hast thou deceived me, for thou art Saul?" The king told her not to be afraid, but to inform him what she beheld; and she answered, "I see gods ascending out of the earth;" and when Saul asked of what form, she said, "an old man covered with a mantle."

The king, being convinced that the apparition was that of the prophet, bowed himself to the earth: and Samuel said, "Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up?" And Saul answered, "I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and GOD is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do." Then said Samuel, "Wherefore dost thou ask of me, seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? And the Lord hath done as he spake by me; for the Lord hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand and given it to thy neighbour, even to David; because thou obeyedst not the voice of the Lord, nor didst execute his wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath he done this thing unto thee this day. Moreover, the Lord will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines; and to-morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me, the Lord also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines."

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Upon this remarkable history various conjectures have been formed. Some have ventured to assert, that the woman imposed upon Saul, by counterfeiting the voice of Samuel, which is sufficiently refuted by the whole narrative, and particularly the fulfilment of the prediction. Others again, of greater name and authority, have maintained, that the appearance was a demon assuming the form and speech of the prophet; to which interpretation an equal objection lies as to the former, on the ground of the actual accom

blishment of the prophetic declaration. Upon the whole, it seems that the safest judgment to be formed of the circumstance is this; that there was no witchcraft in the matter, because the woman was herself surprised at what she saw; but that the spirit of Samuel was specially permitted to appear on this occasion, not so much to satisfy Saul's inquiry, as to convince his attendants, and the people of Israel, that the Lord had chosen David for their king. This appears to have been the opinion of the son of Sirach, who closes an excellent eulogy upon Samuel with this declaration :

"And after his death he prophesied and showed the king his end, and lifted up his voice from the earth in prophecy, to blot out the wickedness of the people." Ecclesiasticus xlvi. 20.

DAVID.

Born Anno Mundi 2919, died 2989.

ALL the characters recorded in the Holy Scriptures are represented with a scrupulous regard to truth, and their actions are related with a simple exactness, which shews there was no design to disguise their failings or to exaggerate their virtues. This is more than can be said of any other history, ancient or modern. All human writers have their partialities and prejudices; and the more they enter into their subject, the more apt are they to be misled by a Deculiar bias. But the sacred historians were under the immediate direction of the spirit of truth, and consequently related facts as they really happened, and delineated characters as they truly were.

Jesse, the father of David, was the grandson of Boaz and Ruth, whose history has already afforded us entertainment and instruction. Jesse was a wealthy man in Bethlehem, and had eight sons, of whom

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