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flesh to satisfy the need of a creature much | temple. There is a God who “seeth in secret, more criminal than themselves; and, as if and will reward openly." that were too little, subjected to the cruelty and caprice of rational beings, become greater brutes than themselves.

With the confidence of true goodness Hannah now addresses Eli, and reminds him of what he had probably forgotten, but was of too much moment to herself ever to be permitted to fall into oblivion. Eli had only seen her lips move, but heard not the words she pronounced; and the violent emotion in which she was, Irad conveyed very foul suspicions to his mind. These with the dignity and calmness of conscious innocence, she repelled; and assured him in general terms that what he had unkindly mistaken for the effect of wine, was the agitation of an afflicted spirit, pouring out its anguish before God; but the subject of her prayer she still kept within her own breast. There was then no witness of her vow but God and her own conscience; and that was enough; it was recorded in heaven; and an honest mind will find itself equally bound by a resolution formed in secret, as by an oath administered in the face of an assembled world. With what holy exultation does she now declare her engagement, exhibit the sacred pledge of it, and proceed to the public and solemn discharge of it! "She brought the child to Eli, and said, O my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord. For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him."* How sweetly affecting are the effusions of nature, when aided and animated by devotion! How religion ennobles and dignifies every character, how it places every other quality in its fairest and most favourable point of view! How well it is adapted to every season and situation of life! It was this which fortified Hannah against the bitter insults and reproaches of her merciless adversary, and preserved her from rendering railing for railing. It was this which taught her self-government, so that she disturbed not the solemnity of the feast with womanish complaints, but covered a sorrowful heart with a serene countenance. It was this which carried her to the house of the Lord, for light, comfort, and relief. It was this which carried her with reputation and advantage through the first duties of a mother; and exhibited, in one, the affectionate wife, the tender parent, the devout worshipper. This filled her heart and inspired her tongue, in presenting her offering, in addressing the high priest, in raising her song of praise. And this will communicate lustre, value, and importance on every female character, whether known to the world or overlooked by it; in the secrecy of the family or in the celebrity of the

* 1 Samuel i. 25-27.

Eli repeats a cordial Amen to her pious purpose, accepts the precious trust committed unto him, and bends his knees in joyful acknowledgment of that God who had been multiplying his mercy to this family, and building up the house of Israel. And it is not long before he finds that this young Na zarene was provided of God, and instructed of his mother, to rectify the disorders of his own house, and to supply the place of a degenerate race of priests, ripe for destruction and doomed to it, and ready to bring down a "father's gray hairs with sorrow to the grave."

Hannah's song of praise, which follows at length in the opening of the next chapter, merits on many accounts, a separate and particular consideration. It possesses all the majesty, grace, and beauty of ancient oriental poetry. It is one of the happiest effusions of an excellent female heart labouring under a grateful sense of the highest obligations. It presents and impresses some of the justest and most interesting views of the Divine Providence, and what is above all, it discloses one of the clearest and most distinct prospects of the coming, person, and character of Messiah, the Prophet of prophets, King of kings, Lord of lords. Yes, Christians, for this prophetess was reserved the honour of first pronouncing in sacred song, that name which is as ointment poured forth,” which angels mention with wonder and reverence, and which the whole company of the redeemed shall one day proclaim with "joy unspeakable and full of glory;" MESSIAH the anointed of the Lord-whom the world so long expected, who in the fulness of time appeared, whom unbelieving Jews refused to acknowledge; whom they despised, rejected, crucified, and put to death: whom "God has exalted a Prince and Saviour to give repentance and the remission of sins;" to whose second coming the course of nature, the evolutions of providence, the hopes and fears of every heart of man, the earnest expectation of the creature, and the handwriting of God in scripture, all, all directly point.

The next Lecture will be an attempt to illustrate, and practically to improve Hannah's song of praise. May we bring to it a portion of that spirit which inspired the lips of her who sung and directed the pen of hira who wrote. Let me conclude the present, with calling on every one present, to recol lect personal obligations, and to walk suitably to them. Call to remembrance vows formed on a bed of languishing, in the hour of difficulty, in the instant of danger, at the table of the Lord; and thankfully pay them: as knowing that "it is better not to vow than to vow and not to pay."

Desire more earnestly the best gifts; spiri- | stowed; and with Jabez calling on the God tual, heavenly, eternal blessings. By all of Israel, saying, "Oh that thou wouldest means, in your vows, stipulate for your por- bless me indeed, and that thine hand might tion of present and temporal good things, be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me saying with Jacob, " If God will be with me, from evil that it may not grieve me.' and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then shall the Lord be my God;"* —and with Hannah, pouring out the bitterness of an oppressed heart before God, and begging relief of the Father of mercies, say ing, "O Lord of Hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid." But forget not withal, to stipulate, with Solomon, for "an understanding heart," to prize and to improve mercies already be

* Gen. xxviii. 20, 21,

Hannah promised to devote to the Lord the child which should be given her; and ye have solemnly engaged to yield yourselves unto God; and "ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price." "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."*

*Rom. xii. 1, 2.

HISTORY OF HANNAH,

THE MOTHER OF SAMUEL

LECTURE CIV.

And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord: mine horn is exalted in the Lord, my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies: because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased; so that the barren hath borne seven and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them. He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness: for by strength shall no man prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces: out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.-1 SAMUEL ii. 1-10.

IN man, the masterpiece of creation, are discernible various kinds of life, distinct from each other, yet most wonderfully blended and united, so as to form one great and astonishing whole. The animal, the intellectual, the moral life; to which we add, in man as he came from the hands of his Creator, and in man" renewed" by grace “in the spirit of his mind," the spiritual and divine life, the dawning light, the earnest and pledge, the celestial foretaste of everlasting life.

The first of these we enjoy in common with the beasts that perish. Like theirs, our bodies grow and decline. Like them we are led by sense and appetite, and are susceptible of pleasure and pain. And, like them, we arose out of the earth, are supported by it, and feel ourselves returning to it again.

The second or intellectual life, raises man far above every other animal He possesses

the power of thought, that productive faculty of the Almighty; that image of God in our nature. He contemplates, compares,eflects, reasons, plans, performs. By means of this he exercises dominion over all other creatures. Inferior to many, in some respects, by this he renders himself superior to all; and reduces all their powers to the subjection and obedience of himself.

The moral life places man in society; connects him with intelligent beings like himself; opens a capacious field of duty and of enjoyment; stamps him an object of approbation or blame, of reward or punishment.

The divine life unites man to the Author and supporter of his existence, the source of all his comforts, the foundation of all his hopes; the witness and the judge of all his actions; the avenger of all unrighteousness, "the rewarder of them who diligently seek him."

To Adam, as an animal, God said, "Be | shall we look for an example of the highest fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth; life of man, the life of God in the soul! behold I have given you every herb bearing Nature stands silent, the whole world lies seed, which is upon the face of the earth; dead; it presents every kind of life but this. and every tree in which is the fruit of a tree, Where is the model to which we refer ! yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.' Where is the idea of this most exalted exIn Adam the intellectual life discovered cellence of our nature! It is to be found. itself, when the Lord God brought unto him "I came not to do mine own will but the "every beast of the field, and every fowl of will of him that sent me." "I seek not the air, to see what he would call them; and mine own glory, but the glory of him who whatsoever Adam called every living crea- sent me." Read and ponder the seventeenth ture, that was the name thereof." chapter of John's gospel, and discover the author, the example, the giver of this divine life; and aspire after a participation of it.

God having implanted a principle of moral life in man, said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him;" he took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it; and commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it. For in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die."

We have some of these holy aspirations in the passage now read. We behold a spirit alive unto God; sinking the creature in the Creator; discerning God in every object, and in every event that arises; referring all things to Him "who doth according to his will in the armies of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth." Let us blend our spirits, with that of pious Hannah, and may God grant us to know and feel the happiness of having fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

In Adam the spiritual and divine life was perfected, when "God created man in his own image." It was extinguished and lost when by transgression he fell; it was re- "Hannah prayed." In affliction she prayvived by the promise of the Messiah and ed: and in prosperity she prayed. Tears salvation through his blood; and it will be and smiles are not more the expression of completely recovered when the image of God their corresponding emotions, than supplicais restored through the spirit of sanctification. tion and thanksgiving are of that life which All these different kinds of life have their dictates them, in a suitableness to the variseveral and corresponding expressions; and ous aspects of Divine Providence. Sorrow according as any one prevails, such is the is no longer sorrow when it is poured out incharacter of the man. When the habitual to the bosom of sympathy and tenderness. ery is, "What shall I eat, what shall I drink, Every joy is multiplied an hundred fold by and wherewithal shall I be clothed?" it is every communication of it to the ear and the easy to determine what life is predominant: heart of friendship. Hannah prays, “and it is easy to discern when the brute runs her countenance is no more sad." She reaway with the man. Solomon may be given stores her earnestly expected son to God; as an instance of the prevalence of intellec- and is infinitely enriched by the restitution. tual life. He looked through nature, and Whether the child cry for relief, or express "spake of trees, from the cedar-tree that is its gratitude by caresses and looks with satisin Lebanon, even unto the hyssop that spring-faction, it is equally grateful and scothing to eth out of the wall; he spake also of beasts, the parental heart. And will the great God and of fowls, and of creeping things, and of in the very deed vouchsafe to make himself fishes." "His wisdom excelled the wisdom known to us by the name of the hearer of of all the children of the east country, and prayer? Is he exalted to show mercy! Can all the wisdom of Egypt." The psalmist he be pleased with the effusions of a thankhas presented us with an exquisite repre- ful heart? Thoughtless, inconsiderate creasentation of the moral life of man, (would tures that we are; blind to our highest into God it were more frequently realized) interest, dead to our purest joy! We see the fifteenth psalm; "He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour; in whose eyes a vile person is contemned: but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved,"* Where

* Psalm xv. 2-5.

nothing of God in that distress, in that deliverance. We attended to the creature only, and therefore found no comfort. We endured without hope, and we enjoyed without relish. Happy soul that can command itself to peace, and say, I have poured out my anguish before the Lord, I have cast all my care upon him, my burden is no longer mine, but his. "Return unto thy rest, O my soul, for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. He hath delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from failing."

In the first transports of her joy, Hannah

forgets every thing but the glorious object of it. The insults of Peninnah, her delight in Samuel, stand for a while suspended; they are lost and forgotten in the contemplation of Him, who had delivered her from the one, and bestowed the other upon her. But God, as he is in himself, cannot long be an object of contemplation to mortals. It is only by what he doth, that he can be known, and loved, and enjoyed by us. The soul springs up to God, is instantly repelled and overwhelmed by "light inaccessible and full of glory," and seeks relief and employment in surveying the ways and works of God.

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ture. It is his glory to be single and alone; to defy and prevent every idea of resemblance or comparison. When the whole world of nature is explored, when all the powers of nature are exhausted, the soul falls back upon itself, shrinks into nothing from the da ring attempt, and exclaims, "There is none beside thee," "there is none holy as the Lord." “Who can find out the Almighty to perfection!"

Hannah awakes from this holy rapture, to contemplate this, incomprehensible Jehovah, as exercising an intelligent uncontrollable, irresistible authority over all the ways of men; My heart rejoiceth in the Lord." But as the wise and righteous Governor of the "who is this king of glory?" The spirit world whom none can successfully oppose, shrinks with reverence from the inquiry; and from whose notice none can possibly conceal the heart sweetly slides into the observation himself. "Talk no more so exceeding proudand acknowledgment of what an incompre-ly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: hensive Jehovah hath done. "Mine horn is for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by exalted in the Lord." "The horn," in scrip-him actions are weighed. The bows of the ture language, is the emblem of strength mighty men are broken, and they that stumand empire. She was till now undistin-bled are girded with strength."* Behold the guished, unprized, unimportant in Israel; a cure of pride. There is a God on high, from wife, without the honour of being a mother. whom descended every advantage which one But now she has risen into lustre, and place, possesses above another, who carefully notes and pre-eminence. Her Samuel is to her the use that is made of his benefits, and will a crown of glory, and a diadem for beauty!" demand an account of them; who "seeth the She had power with God and prevailed; she proud afar off, but hath respect unto the lowasked, and God granted her request. This ly." "By him actions are weighed ;" they is naturally blended in her mind, with the are judged, not according to their apparent derision and cruel mocking which she had circumstances, nor the maxims of the world, endured. For the very devotions of fallen nor the rank of the parties concerned, but creatures must savour of the calamities to according to truth, according to the real which they are exposed, and the imperfection | merit or demerit of the action, according to`, in which they are involved. Both nature the thoughts and intent of the heart. Thus and piety accordingly concur in dictating the expression of thankfulness which follows; "My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies:" Here the woman speaks; but the saint instantly subjoins, "because I rejoice in thy salvation."

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When the life of God is completely formed in the soul, every particle of human corruption shall be purged away. There shall be no feeling, nor recollection of unkindness or enmity. And in proportion as evil affections are rooted out, and kind affections are implanted, cherished, and promoted, so is the image of God impressed, renewed, and preserved. The love of God perfected shall obliterate and efface every trace of resentment against man.

is the mouth of arrogancy effectually shut, and the whole world laid low in the dust before a holy and righteous God. "The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girt with strength." Even in this world, "the Lord maketh himself known by the judgments which he executes;" and causeth men to change conditions, and turneth the world upside down. The affairs of men, like the frame of nature, are in a state of perpetual revolution, and the history of mankind is simply an account of the rise and depression of wretched mortals by means not of their own contrivance, by events which they could not foresee, and over which they had no power. The victor of to-day is tomorrow a captive, and he who now lieth "among the pots, shall come forth as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her

After a short vibration on this string, the heart of the worshipper seems to recur with increased complacency and delight to a wor-feathers with yellow gold." thier subject of meditation, and loses itself The greater part of Hannah's song of in infinite perfection. "There is none holy praise is employed in making a more enas the Lord; for there is none beside thee; larged display of the wisdom and justice of neither is there any rock like our God." the Divine Providence in the government of When we attempt to meditate upon God, the world. "They that were full have hired thought fails. When we attempt to address themselves out for bread." Some are born ourselves to him, language fails. In vain do to ease and affluence, and through indolence, we look round for a similitude that may ena- inattention, or prodigality reduce themselves ble us to form a clearer perception of his na

* 1 Samuel ii. 3, 4.

to want. Some acquire wealth by frugality | be silent in darkness; for by strength shall and industry. But however gotten, it is but no man prevail."* an uncertain possession, and we daily see multitudes, not through any apparent fault of their own, "waxing poor and falling into decay." Others, as unaccountably rise into distinction and opulence. There is an un-issuing in the establishment of universal orseen hand which gives and takes away. In prosperity there is no ground of insolence and triumph; in adversity no reason to despair.

Her own peculiar felicity again presents itself to view, and the incense of praise ascends to heaven. "The barren hath borne seven, and she that hath many children is waxed feeble." There is a Jewish legend which saith, that for every child that Hannah bore, one of Peninnah's died. It is a mere conjecture; Hannah's triumphant song is rather a proof of the contrary. She discovers a spirit too excellent, in other respects, to permit us to suppose her capable of rejoicing in the devastation which the hand of God had wrought, much less in the destruction of her own husband's family. That heart must be lost to every feeling of humanity, lost to decency, "lost to the fear of God, who can make the calamity of another, especially such a calamity, a ground of self-gratulation and complacency, or a subject of thanksgiving to a holy and merciful God, as if he could become a party to our petty jealousies and contentions. No, a spirit so regulated as hers, so patient under mortification, so long nurtured in the school of affliction, so observant of, and submissive to the will of Providence, could not taste the mortality of even Peninnah's children as a source of joy. Her expressions amount to no more than a devout and humble acknowledgment of unerring wisdom, of unimpeachable justice in conducting all the affairs of this world; in building up families, and in bringing them low; in exercising an absolute right of sovereignty, which will not be compelled to give account of its matters to any one. The gift of children is not always withheld in anger, nor bestowed in kindness, as the character and history of Eli's family will shortly evince.

She proceeds to pursue the same idea of a divine superintendence in every thing, through a variety of particulars strikingly contrasted one with another, all aiming at the same end, all calculated to enforce the same practical lesson. "The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them. He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall

In the conclusion of her song, Hannah, rapt into futurity, no doubt by the spirit of prophecy, contemplates the final consummation of the great mystery of Providence, as der: in the suppression and punishment of vice; and in the unchangeable and permanent glory of a Redeemer's kingdom. The same hand which balances the spheres, which conducts all the affairs of men, which preserves harmony and prevents confusion, in both the natural and moral worlds, shall at length, by another almighty fiat, "make all things new." Then "the adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces: out of heaven shall he thunder upon them." "But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire; and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." Chastisement shall, therefore, be preceded by righteous judgment, that every mouth may be stopped before God. "The LORD shall judge the ends of the earth." Now these words of the prophetic mother of Samuel, taken in connexion with the clearer and fuller display of a judgment to come, in the writings of the New Testament, clearly point out that glorious and divine person, in whose hallowed name the song terminates-God's Anointed. A woman was honoured first to announce the Saviour of the world, under that description; and a succession of prophets henceforward hold it up to the eyes of succeeding generations, as "all their salvation, and all their desire." Samuel, David, Isaiah, Daniel, Habakkuk, each in his day proclaims the approach of this King of glory, of whom all who were anointed with material oil, whether as priests, or prophets, or kings, were but a shadow; and in whose superior lustre they disappear, as the light of the stars is absorbed in the splendour of the sun. The prophetess celebrates JEHOVAH Who "shall judge the ends of the earth," as that "King to whom all authority is committed, to whom all "strength is given," as that "anointed" One, Messiah the prince, whose "horn," should be finally "exalted," and before the brightness of whose coming, all disorder, iniquity, and misery shall flee away; who shall first "judge the ends of the earth," and then reign for ever and ever.

And thus is the voice of this holy woman, near twelve hundred years before Messiah's day, in perfect unison with the tongue of Christ himself, and of the apostles of the Lord, after his ascension into heaven, and the descent of the Holy Spirit. "The Father judgeth no man; but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the

* 1 Samuel ii. 6-9,

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