Now we have seen, how the people of Israel were in a very particular manner God's people; how he had chosen them from among the other nations of the world to serve him; how he had condescended himself to become their king; how he had governed them, first by Moses, then by Joshua, and afterwards by means of other of his servants, whom he raised up for them as occasion required; making known to them his will when necessary, and being ready at all times to deliver them from their enemies, if they would but trust in him. But the children of Israel, like most other sons of men, wanted faith in God; and were more willing to trust to an arm of flesh, than to the invisible, but all-powerful, protection of the Lord God. So when Nahash, the king of the Amorites, came, they remembered not the hand of God, which had so often delivered them from their enemies, but began to wish that they also had a king as the Amorites had.

Such was the state of their minds; and therefore they determined to take occasion, from the ill conduct of Samuel's sons, to complain, and to ask Samuel to make them a king to judge them like other nations; when the Lord their God was their king. How wrong and foolish was this ! Did they not as much as say, “ We will not have our God to reign over us; we will not trust in his almighty arm: we will be like all other nations, and have a king like ourselves to reign over us."

We do not wonder that the people were alarmed at the approach of danger; and it was wise to look for help. But was there no help in God their king! Could they not have gone to Samuel, and confessed

the time of danger and distress, and trust in him to deliver us in his own way, without at least seeking to deliver ourselves in a sinful or unchristian manner ? Alas ! my child, there are too many even among those who are called Christians, who sometimes say, by their conduct,“ We will not have the Lord Jesus Christ to reign over us; we will not be his people ; we will not do his will, nor trust in him to save and bless us : we will have a way of our own and trust in ourselves." Oh ! let not our conduct be like this!

E. Did God give the Israelites a king, mamma?

M. He did, my love; but not without showing how much he was displeased with them for asking for one, and telling them by his prophet Samuel, that by asking for a king they would bring down heavy evils upon themselves. But the people would not listen to Samuel, and “ they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us.” Then when God saw how obstinately they were bent upon it, he did not refuse their request, but granted it, that it might be the means of punishing them, as they afterwards found. For the king which God gave them, and most of those that followed him, were far from being good kings. Some of them were very wicked, and made their people very unhappy. Thus it will always be with those who set their will against the will of God, who go on obstinately wishing for what their heavenly · Father in his mercy sees best to keep from them. If they get what they want, it will be given to them in anger; and instead of being a blessing to them, it will only make them unhappy. But we must go on with our story.

As soon as Samuel found that they would not VOL. II.

E

M. Yes, my love, they went on from time to time annoying them as much as they could; and Saul was permitted by God to deliver them several times from them and their other enemies round about. But Saul was far from being a good king. He was brave, but not religious. He forgot that, though a king, he was still God's subject and servant; especially as he was a king of God's own people.

There is no station, my child, so high, but God is higher still. He is King of kings, and Lord of lords. All men are his subjects, from the humblest cottager to the greatest king upon earth. We must every one of us make God's word the rule of our lives. But this lesson Saul forgot; and more than once he dared to disobey the commandment of God, given to him through the prophet Samuel.

But what was the consequence? Did king Saul dare to disobey the Word of God, and not suffer for it? No: God took his kingdom from him because of his disobedience, and gave it to another.

The Almighty never speaks in vain. His word must not be made light of. Those who will not obey it must expect to be punished. Were we ever so powerful, our strength would be of no use to us against God. Before Him all the power of man is but weakness; and all human cunning is only folly : so that there is no escape from his anger, if we rebel against him. The first time that Saul openly disobeyed God, Samuel said unto him, “ Thou hast done foolishly; thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee ; for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

But now thy kingdom shall