SERMON XV.

Folly illuftrated by the Character of Saul.

I SAM. xiii. 13.

And Samuel faid to Saul;

"Thou haft done

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foolishly thou haft not kept the com"mandment of the Lord."

WHEN the children of Israel, diffatis

fied with their fituation under the

immediate fovereignty of the Moft High, perfisted in requiring to be governed, like the neighbouring nations, by aking; Saul, a young man of the tribe of Benjamin, was the person whom God placed upon the throne. We perhaps, had we poffeffed no ulterior information, might have been disposed to expect that, when the Searcher of hearts cast his eye over the twelve tribes in quest of a man whom he might appoint to be ruler over his people; He would select

one

one confpicuous for piety, and prepared by stedfast faith to meet the trials with which his exaltation would be attended. Yet why fhould we have expected such a choice? Is it the established order of Providence that piety fhould be recompenfed by elevation to dignity and power? Are the rulers of the earth, whether in Pagan or in Christian lands, whether God raises them to empire by the fettled course of fucceffion, or by the ftorms of warfare and revolutions, ufually eminent for religion beyond the mafs of their fubjects? Was it to be prefumed that when He gave to his people a king in His anger (a), in His anger at their rebellious rejection of His own regal sway, the individual fingled out fhould be one whofe excellence might lull them into forgetfulness of their crime; rather than one who through misconduct flowing from wilful perverfeness of character might be the inftrument of convincing them of their guilt, and of the worth of the pre-eminent dstinction and peculiar happiness which they had renounced? The thoughts of the Most High are not as our thoughts. He knows by what governor, (4) Hofea, xiii. 11,

in any particular nation and at any particular time, His own fecret and righteous purpofes, whether of mercy or of vengeance, will be most efficaciously promoted. He knew what king was most fitting for the Ifraelites and that king he gave to them.

I purpose to lay before you the leading circumstances in the conduct of Saul: and afterwards to deduce, for your edification, fome of the inferences which they suggest.

I. In the early behaviour of Saul, after the period when he is introduced in the Scriptures to our notice, there is much to prepoffefs us in his favour (x). When he is addreffed by Samuel as the person on whom the defire of Ifrael fhould speedily be fixed; his reply bears strong indications of modesty. The fame modefty is afterwards difplayed, when he hides himself among the furniture of the tents from the choice and admiration of the people. When, by the cafting of the lots before God, his appointment to the throne has been announced to the affembled tribes of Ifrael; he unostentatiously returns to his father's house, and disdains not to occupy himself as heretofore in the fuperintendence of the (x) 1 Sam. ix, x, xi. flocks

flocks and herds. When the children of Belial, wicked and rebellious men, contemptuously demand; How shall this man fave us? and despise him and offer to him no presents, no teftimonies of the refpect due to the chief of the nation, the delegate of Heaven: he fuftains the infult with patience: he holds his peace. When the rest of the people, warmed in their attachment to their new monarch by his victory over the Ammonites, exclaim, Who is he that faid, Shall Saul reign over us? Bring the men, that we may put them to death: he ftrenuously interpofes to fave the offenders; and interposes, apparently, from motives of reverence and gratitude to God. There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to-day the Lord bath wrought falvation in Ifrael.

of

The fruit, however, corresponds little with the bloffom. The impreffions pro ́duced by early symptoms in Saul of moderation and of respect for his fovereign Benefactor are foon to be effaced. The hour of ferious trial comes on. A vast army Philiftines invades the land. The inhabitants conceal themselves from the enemy in caves, in thickets, and among the rocks. Saul with difficulty affembles a fcanty body of troops almoft deftitute of weapons of

war

war. He has been directed not to march towards the invaders until a folemn facrifice unto God fhall have been celebrated in the camp by Samuel, who has previously fixed seven days as the period within which he shall arrive (b). For the purpose, as we may conclude, of exercising and putting to proof the faith of Saul, the approach of Samuel is delayed. The seventh day is past; and Samuel appears not. The foldiers of Saul, weary and difpirited, melt away. What measures fhall the king adopt? Shall he liften to the voice of duty, which commands him to wait with patience for the arrival of Samuel to whom it belongs to offer the facrifice; and in pious confidence to leave the event to God? Or fhall he liften to political expediency, which tells him that he has tarried feven days, according to the fet time that Samuel appointed (c) that the absence of the prophet beyond the appointed time will be a fufficient apology, though he should perform the facrifice himself: and counfels him to perform it immediately, left the forces which yet remain fhould defert him? Saul, impatient and weak in faith,

(5) See ch. x, 7, 8.

(c) Ch. xiii. 8.

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