bracing her beloved child, when she went up with her husband to the public sacrifice in Shiloh. On these occasions it was her custom to "make him a little coat :" and let not this simple circumstance be considered as beneath the pen of the historian, or as detracting from the gravity of sacred writ. This little coat, like that which Jacob gave to Joseph, was the effect of parental affection: but this was not a gaudy vestment calculated to excite vanity in the mind of the child, and envy in that of his brothers; it was merely a needful garment, to be worn on a solemn festival in his official capacity, as the attendant on the high priest.

With what pleasing satisfaction did his mother work upon "this little coat," which was to adorn the person of her child, who was the gift and the servant of GOD! Many grateful reflections on the mercies she had experienced arose in her mind while she was thus employed, and many expectations did she entertain of the future eminence of one who already gave a promise of distinguished piety and usefulness.

The high priest was very fond of Samuel, whose turn of mind exhibited an affecting contrast to that of his own children. He saw in this child the seeds of wisdom and virtue expanding into full bloom, and promising the highest advantages to the church of GOD. When, therefore, the parents of Samuel came up to Shiloh, the venerable man with great goodness of heart "blessed them for the loan which they had lent to the Lord," and he prayed that Hannah might bear more children to Elkanah, The devout wish of Eli was answered, and this excellent woman became the mother of three more sons and two daughters.

The high priest was sincerely religious himself, but he wanted zeal and fortitude to correct abuses. He was well informed of the shameful conduct of his sons; but instead of punishing them as the enor

mity of their crimes deserved, he contented himself with slightly reprimanding them.

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The rebukes of the aged are never respected by debauched libertines and Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, were young men of the most abandoned principles. Yet he suffered them still to administer in sacred things; and by so doing, the solemn service of the sanctuary became of little esteem among the people. For this neglect of his duty, the anger of the Lord was kindled against Eli, and the Divine displeasure was denounced against him by a prophet specially commissioned for the purpose. Notwithstanding this, the indolent old man relapsed into his lethargy, and took little notice of the crying evils which called for the administration of justice. The sacred historian informs us, "that the word of the Lord was precious in those days, for there was no open vision." vision." It was a time of darkness and ignorance, and " every one did that which was right in

his own eyes."

So deplorable was the condition of the church and state of Israel, when Samuel was called by the Almighty to deliver his judgments to Eli. At the silent and solemn hour of midnight, when the lights of the temple were become dim, and all the Levites were sunk into a deep sleep, the voice of the Lord called upon Samuel. Eli had neglected to act for the honour of GOD as became his office, and therefore he must receive his sentence from the mouth of a child. Samuel, on hearing the voice, started from his couch, and ran to the chamber of the high priest, saying "Here am I." He had so habituated himself to obedience, that though he lay at a distance from Eli, he rose instantly at the call, and repeated it three times, declaring constantly that he must have been called by the high priest. Eli, surprised at the diligence of his servant, began to think there was something more than human in the circumstance, and therefore he told him to lie down again, and when he heard the voice to say, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant

heareth." Samuel did as he was instructed; and the Lord declared to him the judgments which should speedily befall Eli and his family. The youth was not willing to wound the feelings of his aged lord, by revealing to him the message he had received; and indeed his modesty, piety, and affection, are admirably displayed in the whole of this transaction.

He arose in the morning, opened the doors of the temple, and went about his ordinary business, like a faithful servant, no way elated at the distinguished honour which had been conferred upon him, or officiously zealous to relate the particulars to Eli. The old man, however, was convinced that Samuel had been favoured with a Divine communication; and his misgiving heart forboded that he had a deep interest in the message which had been delivered. He therefore called the youth to him, and in a solemn but affectionate manner adjured him to declare all that he had heard. Samuel, without any prevarication, related every part of the Divine message; which Eli heard with patient attention, and then meekly exclaimed, "It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good."

All the words of Samuel were litera y accoinplished. A war broke out betwecu Israel and the Philistines, in which the former were defeated; the ark of the Lord was captured, Hophni and Phinehas fell among the slain; and Eli, on hearing of this disaster, fell from his seat, and expired.

The fame of Samuel was now spread throughout Israel, and he was considered as a prophet of the Lord. But it was a time of great degeneracy, and many years elapsed before this eminent man could effect a reformation. At length his labours began to prosper, and he had the satisfaction to see a spirit of repentance begin among the people.

A general assembly was convened at Mizpeh, where all the superstitious relics of idolatry were renounced, the worship of Jehovah was restored,

and Samuel was publicly acknowledged as the judge of Israel.

The Divine favour now shone again upon this people, and they succeeded in repelling the insults of their neighbours, the Philistines, who were the most potent of all their enemies.

Samuel resided at his patrimonial house in Ramah; but he made a regular circuit once a year throughout Israel for the purpose of administering justice. But when the infirmities of old age seem to have rendered this annual progress too burthensome, he appointed his two sons to act in his stead, as the judges of Israel.

In this act Samuel appears to have consulted his own inclination and partiality, rather than the Divine will. The office which he filled was of the highest importance, and required equal integrity and ability; but whatever might be the talents of these young men, their principles were bad. It was

therefore an imprudent act of indulgence in their father to vest them with an authority which was easily abused, and which exposed those who enjoyed it to many strong temptations. The stream of justice was soon polluted by bribery and extortion; and so flagrant was the wickedness of Samuel's sons, that the elders of Israel came to a resolution or changing their form of government. They waited upon the aged prophet, and, after setting before him the bad conduct of his children, they desired him to "make them a king, that they might be like other nations."

A public spirit of dissatisfaction at the conduct of rulers, generally produces a dislike of all their connexions. But this was not the case here: though the elders of Israel were highly and justly offended with the behaviour of Samuel's sons, they had the profoundest reverence for the prophet. The language of their complaint is an honourable encomium upon the character of this holy man: "Behold thou N3

art old," say they, "and thy sons walk not in thy ways.'

While Samuel was in his full strength, and capable of exercising the duties of his office, the people were satisfied under his government, because they were conscious of his integrity; and had his sons pursued his steps, it is not probable that they would have wished for a change. Samuel, however, took this application as an injury to himself, and he was displeased with the request of the elders. But this did not prevent him from consulting the Divine direction.

By the command of GoD, the prophet anointed Saul king over Israel; and this he did with a ready submission, for no man was ever more prompt to obey the word of the Lord than Samuel, "even from his youth." When Saul was crowned, the man of GOD collected the statutes for the government of the kingdom into a book, and deposited them in the holy place after which, on resigning his judicial authority, he made this declaration to the people : "Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you. And now behold the king walketh before you; and I am old and grey-headed, and behold my sons are with you, and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day. Behold, here I am: witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed, whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind my eyes therewith, and I will restore it you."

What a noble challenge on laying down so responsible an office, and how becoming an upright magistrate! Samuel spoke the language of conscious innocence, not that of petulant ostentation; and the people frankly replied to their venerable leader, "Thou hast not defrauded us, neither hast thou taken aught of any man's hand." Having thus enga