haughty Monarch will I make (a covenant) with you, that I may thrust "out all your right Eyes, and lay it

(for) a reproach upon all Israel:” (1 Sam. xi. 1, 2.) An Idea so inimical to Human Nature, .could not enter the heart of Man but by the suggestion or inspiration of the grand spiritual Enemy of Mankind: and it is very remarkable that the Tyrant himself was marked not only in his disposition but even by his very name, (for Nabash literally signifies, a Serpent) was marked, I say, as an Enemy to Mankind, and thereby was a true representative on earth of that diabolical Serpent whom he worshipped, and by whom his councils were apparently directed. But National Oppression cannot escape the just indignation and vengeance of the Almighty, who will not endure a manifest breach of the eternal Laws of Natural-Right, and brotherly Love among men, without rendering a severe tempo

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ral retaliation upon the offending Nation, many striking Examples of which are collected in my tract on the Law of Retribution. The immediate consequences therefore, of such monstrous national oppression were, that "SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME UPON

"THE

SAUL when he heard those Tidings" (viz. the arbitrary demands of King NAHASH) " and his Anger was kindled

greatly." The inspired SAUL collected the Hosts of Israel; and the immediate interposition of Jehovah Tsabaoth ("THE LORD OF HOSTS") was manifested by a total defeat of the Tyrant and his Army.

By this extraordinary event, Saul was established in his kingdom. But as the Divine Inspiration did not restrain the natural Free-Will and Choice of the Monarch, he reigned no more than two Years before he resisted the Divine Influence of God's Spirit,

and

and yielded himself a Slave to false worldly policy in the administration of his government; for he presumptuously usurped the office of the Priest and Prophet, in direct opposition to the Laws of God merely to serve a political purpose, as if an imaginary necessity of State was sufficient to justify the breach of a positive Law! Yet Saul, like other temporal Monarchs, pleaded the political necessity in answer to the Prophet's charge-" What hast thou done?"-"Because" (said. Saul), "F saw that the people were scattered

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from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that "the Philistines gathered themselves

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together at Michmash; therefore "said I, the Philistines will come “down now upon me to Gilgal, and I "have not made supplication unto the " Lord: I FORCED "FORE" (that is, on account of the political Necessity before described)

MYSELF THERE

" and

"and offered a burnt Offering."-Such was his offence; and such his excuse, which latter was indeed more plausible than any thing that can be justly alledged in favour of the political arrangements of some modern Governments; and yet THE REAL EFFECT of the Monarch's Policy was diametrically opposite to the END PROPOSED, as it generally happens when men presume to dispense with the the eternal Laws of God, howsoever pressing the supposed Necessity!" Thou hast done foolishly" (said Samuel to Saul)— "Thou hast not kept the commandments

of the Lord thy God which he com“manded thee: for now would the "Lord have established thy Kingdom

upon Israel for ever," (that is, if he had endured the temptation of those precarious times, and trusted in God to the last moment of POLITICAL NECESSITY, submitting with due resignation to such misfortunes as could not be avoided

avoided without injustice or Corruption of the National Laws) But now" (said the Prophet) "thy Kingdom shall “not continue:” (the very evil, of all others the most dreaded by the anxious Monarch, and which he hoped to avoid by meanly yielding to THE SUPPOSED NECESSITY) "The Lord" (continues the Prophet) "hath sought him

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a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him (to be) Captain over his people, because "thou hast not, kept (that) which the "Lord commanded thee." (1 Sam. xiii. 1-14.) A more remarkable Example of the bad policy and extreme danger of dispensing with the Laws of God for purposes of State cannot easily be found!

Nevertheless, even after this, the mercy and forbearance of GOD to Saul was' inanifested in many reinarkable instances; and the anointing of the

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