The Lord feeth not as Man feeth.

By WILLIAM LOTHIAN, V. D. M.

1 SAMUEL XVI. 7.

The Lord feeth not as Man feeth: for Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

A

N important event in the hiftory of the Jews gave occafion to thefe words. That people were taken under the particular care and protection of God. He delivered to them. a law, prefcribed their form of government, and appointed their kings. Under fuch a conftitution, every tranfgreffion committed by their rulers was immediately punished; and forfeiture of the office, commonly followed any act of difobedience to the divine command. This was the cafe with Saul, whom God himself had chofen to be king over Ifrael. Having "re"jected the word of the Lord," the Prophet Samuel was instructed to tell him, that he was "rejected from being king;" and received a commiffion to invest another with this high dignity. He was directed to the houfe of Jeffe, who caufed feven of his fons to pafs be fore him : none of whom the prophet was allows ed to anoint with oil, and by this accustomed ceremony,

ceremony, to point out the perfon defigned by God to be the chief ruler of his people. David, the youngest, who happened at this time to be abfent, was intended to be raifed to this honour; but being fent for, the Lord intimated his choice of him: and he was accordingly anointed by Samuel. In the review of Jeffe's fons, the prophet was ftruck with the appearance of Eliab, the eldeft. His countenance and ftature, he thought, marked him out for king. Suppofing that beauty and ftatelinefs would well fuit fo elevated a station; the moment he "looked on Eliab," he concluded, this was "furely the Lord's anointed."

The inclination which Samuel difcovered to prefer Eliab, produces a declaration from God himself, containing a truth of great importance, -which I fhall endeavour to illuftrate. I fhall afterwards deduce from it fome practical reflections: The Lord feeth not as Man feeth : for Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

WE are very apt to entertain a high opinion of our knowledge and penetration. We fancy that we can discover, with certainty, the real value of the objects around us, and determine the true character of those with whom we have any correfpondence. No doubt, a natural fagacity, joined with knowledge of the world, may be of use. But there are few who make á juft eftimate, or decide with precision: and even those who have been moft accustomed to obfervation

fervation and reflection, are very often miftaken in their conjectures. How frequently do we err in the judgement we form, and are de ceived by fpecious appearances? How often do our opinions change according as these appearances vary, and the principles which we imagis ned were unerring rules, fail us when applied to particular inftances?

Let us take external cbjects as an example; and think what impreffion thefe generally make upon the mind. As Samuel concluded that Eliab was the Lord's anointed, when he looked on the beauty of his countenance, and the height of his ftature; fo, outward circumftances often influence our judgement. What is addreffed to the fenfes, catches our attention; and, whilst it dazzles our eyes, gains our hearts. Do we fee" a man clothed in purple and fine "linen; faring fumptuously every day;" attended by numbers obfequious to his command, praifing his virtues and courting his favour? what is the conclufion we commonly make? Surely this must be a happy man, who feems to have no anxious cares to disturb his mind; who has no with which he cannot gratify; who is honoured and careffed by multitudes. Say, ye who are placed in lower fta- . tions in life, if you are not difpofed to envy fuch a man? You labour and toil, and perhaps gain but a fcanty fubfiftence: Wealth, and all the luxuries it procures, flow upon bim in the greateft abundance. You pafs along unnoticed and unregarded: Where-ever he ap

pears,

pears, all are forward to pay him refpect. You are obliged to ftruggle with various misfortunes, to fubmit to the violence of the oppreffors, and to bear the contempt of the proud: He must be a ftranger to thofe innumerable troubles which infeparably attend your humble and defpifed condition. Have you never felt, on thefe accounts, the emotions of envy rife in your breafts? Has not a figh burst from your heart when the comparison was made between his fituation and yours ? Have you never thought your happiness would be complete, were you bleffed with the fame advantages? It is from the "outward appearance" you thus judge, and from fo imperfect and partial a view, muft be often deceived. The pomp of greatnefs, the fplendour of affluence, the noify applaufe of a giddy multitude, or the interested flattery of pretended friends, do not conftitute happiness. Care often dwells in gilded palaces; reft forfakes the bed of down; and in midst of treasures the heart may be fad. You are frequently mistaken in the estimate you form of the value of what is external, and cenfure rafhly the con duct of Providence, when, by fuch unfair comparifons, you are difcontented with your own fituation. Could you draw afide that vail with which the pomp and fhow attending a fuperior ftation, conceals what paffes within, a very different scene would probably prefent itself, and exhibit to your view an object deferving, not your envy, but your pity. You might fee behind this fpecious covering; a heart disturbed

with all thofe uneafy feelings which pride and vanity excite; diffatisfied on account of many artificial wants which this very abundance has created; fretting at the fuccefs of rivals in riches or power; and racked with the disappointment of ambitious hopes. But there are few who have difcernment enough to perceive the truth. They look no farther than the outfide, and determine according to external appearance.

In the fame manner, we generally proceed in judging of characters. Here the error is perhaps more natural than in the former inftance. It is only from mens actions, from their external behaviour, that we are capable of judging. This is the only rule: but neither do we always apply it properly, nor is it, in itself, certain and infallible. In justice, a man's character ought to be determined, not by one or a few actions, but by the general courfé of his life, and the tenor of his conduct. But what is more common, than to praise extravagantly, and especial ly to condemn feverely, from perhaps even one action which has come under our obfervation? The appearance this makes in our eyes, whether favourable or unfavourable, regulates our decifion. Were we to examine carefully on what grounds we commonly proceed when we entertain a bad opinion of others, we would find that they are often very flight and fuperficial. Even after all the pains we can bestow, when we have no inclination to decide rafhly, and have no intereft to biafs our judgement, many circumstances may not be taken into the

account,