SAMUEL.

The story of Ruth, the subject of our last conversation, may be considered as an episode in the history of the Judges, for although we have dismissed the book bearing that title, we find the Israelites still subject to their government, in the commencement of Samuel, the book which immediately follows.

Indeed it

The brief annals of the Judges, afford but an indistinct idea of the nature of their administration. would seem to have had no uniform character.

With respect to their military chiefs, it is distinctly related that they were animated by the "spirit of the Lord," to deliver their country on various occasions; but how, or in what manner, they exercised the civil authority in times of peace, we do not learn. Samson, the most conspicuous of them all, we are told," judged Israel twenty years," yet in all that time, he never appears in a judicial proceeding. Nor is he seen, like others, at the head of their armies; nor did he, like Gideon, and Deborah, and Ehud, obtain liberty and peace for his country, by completely subduing their oppressors.

Samson was rather a scourge to the Philistines, and prepared the way for the emancipation of the Israelites, by spreading terror and dismay wheresoever he went. By the

exercise of his supernatural strength he taught the heathen to fear the God of Israel, when he was pleased to display his omnipotent arm in behalf of his people.

After the death of Samson, we find the government vested successively in two very different characters—Eli, the high priest, and Samuel, the prophet and historian: but whether by command of the divine oracle, or by the election of the people, we are left to conjecture.

During the administration of Eli, a Levite named Elkanah (a descendant of the rebel Korah, who perished in the wilderness) came up to Shiloh with his wife Hannah, to attend an annual sacrifice, and to devote their infant son Samuel to the service of their God. Elkanah was the husband of two wives, Penninah and Hannah. Penninah was the happy mother of sons and daughters, but Hannah had no child. The latter, however, being the more amiable, was, nevertheless, the more beloved wife: but the partial fondness of her husband did not console Hannah, whilst her proud rival continually taunted her with scornful exultation on her own maternal riches. This cruel bane to her domestic peace, augmented in the suffering Hannah the desire that prevailed among the Hebrew women for the blessings of children-each one indulging the proud hope, that she might herself become the mother of the promised Benefactor, so universally expected. The ardent prayer of Hannah was, therefore, for a son, whom she vowed she would devote to the Lord. Her prayer, at length, was heard, and she called her son, Samuel-a name implying-one devoted to God. "For this child I prayed," said Hannah, when she presented him to Eli, "promising to lend him to Jehovah as long as he lived. He hath answered my petition, and I am come to perform my vow."

The devout effusion of the mother's grateful soul on this interesting occasion, recorded in the second chapter of this book, is classed amongst the finest specimens. of Hebrew poetry. Hannah, possibly, imagined that her ardent supplication had obtained the promised Messiah, who, it has been observed, is here first spoken of as the anointed of the Lord-but it is certain, that her virtue was rewarded by a son, who became an eminent blessing to the nation.

The precious offering was received gladly by the good priest, who immediately arrayed him in the dress of the Levitical order: and the joyful parents returned home with the blessings of Eli on their exemplary piety.

CATHERINE. Did the consecration of Samuel oblige his parents to leave him at Shiloh; or did he return home until his age and education might qualify him for service?

MRS. M. The sanctuary was his home from that hour, and Eli his preceptor. But his parents, who strictly observed the institutious of Moses, had an opportunity of seeing him, and bringing little presents to him when they came to the annual festivals. They had, moreover, the pleasure of seeing him improving in knowledge and virtue, from year to year-the dearest temporal blessing which Heaven bestows on a parent, if, indeed, it be not a blessing more exalted than any thing of a temporal nature.

Not such were the consolations of the aged priest. His sons, Phinehas and Hophni, priests of course, dishonoured their holy office, by their iniquitous and even sacrilegious proceedings. With the patience and the piety of a saint, he reproved them; but with the fond indulgence of a father, he neglected to use the authority of a magistrate to restrain or to punish them. The total destruction of his house, and the death of his two impious sons, in one day,

was the awful punishment denounced by a messenger, who was sent to testify the divine displeasure on his guilty negligence. Soon after, the same revelation was made to the young prophet, as he lay at night in an apartment adjacent to that of his guardian. Tidings so heart-rending, involving both himself and his children, could not be comBut, as Eli knew that Sa

municated voluntarily to Eli. muel had been disturbed in the night by a vision, he besought him next morning to hide nothing from him; and his charge was, therefore, compelled, though reluctantly, to declare the whole truth! The terrible denuuciation having been previously delivered to himself, the soul of the venerable priest was reduced to the most perfect resignation, and he quietly answered-"It is the Lord let him do what seemeth him good!"

CATHERINE. How could he, who had not fortitude to avert the impending evil, now submit, without a murmur, to the tremendous result? But, perhaps, he thought only of the temporal death of his profligate sons-since "life and immortality are brought to light by the Gospel."

MRS. M. They were brought, with clearness, to light by the Gospel. The heathen philosophers were, indeed, in total ignorance of the immortality of the soul: not altogether so, the ancient people of God. If, however, this eminent saint was acquainted with the punishment reserved for deliberate, unrepenting transgressors-I can only confess, that it is extremely difficult to form an idea of such elevated piety, as resignation, under circumstances so unspeakably agonising.

But let us turn from this painful subject, and contemplate the rising character of Samuel. For many years a prophet had not appeared in Israel; and now that another

was sent, it was hailed as an omen of returning prosperity, and Samuel was honoured and obeyed. The favourable interposition of Heaven in their behalf, was joyfully anticipated; and they were once more encouraged to an open resistance of their enemies. War was hastily declared against the Philistines, and hostilities begun :-but, to their great surprise, they lost the first battle, and four thousand of their army! They now began to consider why they had been disappointed; and recollected that in former days, when their affairs had been regularly conducted, the Ark of the Covenant was always carried to the field.

This they supposed would again ensure success; and immediately a messenger was sent to bring the tutelary standard from Shiloh. No hands but the priests might touch the Ark of the Covenant: and the sons of Eli were therefore brought into the field. Loud shouts expressed the transports of the Israelites on the arrival of their guardian angel, and filled the camp of their enemies with amazement. The cause of this exultation was soon published abroad. The Philistines were considerably disheartened; and went to the next engagement, exhorting their men to more than common exertion; for the God who had fought against their forefathers, and sustained the destroying arm of Samson, was now in the ranks of their antagonist. "Let not these Hebrews, who have been our subjects, become our masters," said they. But apprehension and dismay on the one hand, and joy and confidence on the other, were reversed when the armies of Israel were again put to flight, leaving Phinehas and Hophni, with thirty thousand slain on the field of battle, and the sacred Ark, in the hands of their enemies. A

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