Obedience was a fit entrance into sovereignty: the service was homely for the son of a great man; yet he refuseth not to go, as a fellow to his father's servant, upon so mean a search: the disobedient and scornful are good for nothing; they are neither fit to be subjects nor governors.

Kish was a great man in his country; yet he disdaineth not to send his son Saul upon a thrifty errand, neither doth Saul plead his disparagement for a refusal. Pride and wantonness have marred our times: great parents count it a disreputation to employ their sons in courses of frugality; and their pampered children think it a shame to do any thing, and so bear themselves as those that hold it the only glory to be either idle or wicked.

Neither doth Saul go fashionably to work, but does this service heartily and painfully, as a man that desires rather to effect the command than please the commander: he passed from Ephraim to the land of Shalisha, from Shalisha to Salim, from Salim to Jemini whence his house came, from Jemini to Zuph, not so much as staying with any of his kindred so long as to victual himself: he that was afterward an ill king approved himself a good son. there are diversities of relations and offices, so there is of dispositions; those, which are excellent in some, attain not to a mediocrity in other. It is no arguing from private virtues to public, from dexterity in one station to the rest: a several grace belongs to the particular carriage of every place whereto we are called, which if we want, the place may well want us.

As

There was more praise of his obedience in ceasing to seek, than in seeking he takes care, lest his father should take care for him; that whilst he should seem officious in the less, he might not noglect the greatest. A blind obedience in some cases doth well, but it doth far better, when it is led with the eyes of discretion; otherwise, we may more offend in pleasing, than in disobeying.

Great is the benefit of a wise and religious attendant: such an one puts us into those duties and actions, which are most expedient and least thought of. If Saul had not had a discreet servant, he had returned but as wise as he came; now he is drawn in to consult with the man of God, and hears more than he hoped for. Saul was now a sufficient journey from his father's house; yet his religious servant, in this fremoteness, takes knowledge of the place where the prophet dwells, and how honourably doth he mention him to his master! Behold, in this city is a man of God; and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh to pass. God's prophets are public persons; as their function, so their notice concerns every man. There is no reason God should abate arry of the respect due to his ministers under the Gospel: Saint Paul's suit is both universal and everlasting; I beseech you, brethren, know them that labour amongst you.

The chief praise is to be able to give good advice; the next is, to take it. Saul is easily induced to condescend: he, whose curiosity led him voluntarily at last to the Witch of Endor, is now led at first by good counsel to the man of God,

Neither is his care in going less commendable, than his will to go; for as a man that had been catechised not to go unto God empty-handed, he asks, What shall we bring unto the man? What have we? The case is well altered in our times: every man thinks, "What may I keep back?" There is no gain so sweet as of a robbed altar; yet God's charge is no less under the Gospel, Let him that is taught, make his teacher partaker of all. As this faithful care of Saul was a just presage of success, more than he looked for or could expect; so the sacrilegious unthankfulness of many bodes that ruin to their soul and estate, which they could not have grace to fear.

He that knew the prophet's abode knew also the honour of his place. He could not but know that Samuel was a mixed person; the judge of Israel, and the seer: yet both Saul and his servant purpose to present him with the fourth part of a shekel, to the value of about our five-pence. They had learned, that thankfulness was not to be measured of good men by the weight, but by the will of the retributor: how much more will God accept the small offerings of his weak servants, when he sees them proceed from great love!

The very maids of the city can give direction to the prophet: they had listened after the holy affairs, they had heard of the sacrifice, and could tell of the necessity of Samuel's presence: those, that live within the sunshine of religion, cannot but be somewhat coloured with those beams: where there is practice and example of piety in the better sort, there will be a reflection of it upon the meanest it is no small benefit to live in religious and holy places ; we shall be much to blame, if all goodness fall beside us. Yea so skilful were these damsels in the fashions of their public sacrifices, that they could instruct Saul and his servant, unasked, how the people would not eat, till Samuel came to bless the sacrifice.

This meeting was not more a sacrifice, than it was a feast: these two agree well: we have never so much cause to rejoice in feasting, as when we have duly served our God. The sacrifice was a feast to God, the other to men: the body may eat and drink with contentment, when the soul hath been first fed, and hath first feasted the Maker of both; Go eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy drink with a merry heart, for God now accepteth thy works.

The sacrifice was before consecrated, when it was offered to God; but it was not consecrated to them, till Samuel blessed it: his blessing made that meat holy to the guests, which was formerly hallowed to God. All creatures were made good, and took holiness from him which gave them their being our sin brought that curse upon them, which, unless our prayers remove it, cleaves to them still, so as we receive them not without a curse. We are not our own friends, except our prayers help to take that away, which our sin hath brought, that so to the clean all may be clean: it is an unmannerly godlessness, to take God's creatures without the leave of their Maker; and well inay God withhold his blessing from them, which have not the grace to ask it.

Those guests, which were so religious, that they would not eat their sacrifice unblessed, might have blessed it themselves: every man might pray, though every man might not sacrifice; yet would they not either eat or bless, while they looked for the presence of a prophet. Every Christian may sanctify his own meat, but where those are present that are peculiarly sanctified to God, this service is fittest for them. It is commendable to teach children the practice of thanksgiving; but the best is ever most meet to bless our tables, and those especially, whose office it is to offer our prayers to God. Little did Saul think, that his coming and his errand was so noted of God, as that it was fore-signified unto the prophet; and now, behold Samuel is told a day before of the man, time, and place of his meeting. The eye of God's providence is no less over all our actions, all our motions. We cannot go any whither without him; he tells all our steps: since it pleaseth God therefore to take notice of us, much more should we take notice of him, and walk with him in whom we move!

Saul came beside his expectation to the prophet: he had no thought of any such purpose, till his servant made this sudden motion unto him of visiting Samuel, and yet God says to his prophet, I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin. The -overruling hand of the Almighty works us insensibly and all our affairs to his own secret determinations; so as while we think to do our own wills we do his. Our own intentions we may know; God's purposes we know not: we must go the way that we are called, let him lead us to what end he pleaseth: it is our duty to resign our selves and our ways to the disposition of God, and patiently and thankfully to await the issue of his decrees.

The same God, that foreshewed Saul to Samuel, now points to him, See, this is the man; and commands the prophet to anoint him governor over Israel. He, that told of Saul before he came, knew before he came into the world, what a man, what a king the would be; yet he chuseth him out, and enjoins his inunction. It is one of the greatest praises of God's wisdom, that he can turn the evil of men to his own glory. Advancement is not ever a sign of love, either to the man or to the place. It had been better for Saul, that his head had been ever dry: some God raiseth up in judgment, that they may fall the more uneasily: there are no men so miserable as those, that are great and evil.

It seems that Samuel bore no great port in his outside, for that Saul, not discerning him either by his habit or attendants, comes to him, and asks him for the seer: yet was Samuel as yet the judge of Israel: the substitution of his sons had not displaced himself. There is an affable familiarity, that becometh greatness: it is not good for eminent persons to stand always upon the height of their state, but so to behave themselves, that, as their sociable carriage may not breed contempt, so their over-highness may not breed a servile fearfulness in their people.

How kindly doth Samuel entertain and invite Saul! Yet it was he only, that should receive wrong by the future royalty of Saul,

Who would not have looked, that aged Samuel should have emulated rather the glory of his young rival, and have looked churlishly upon the man that should rob him of his authority? Yet now, as if he came on purpose to gratify him, he bids him to the feast, he honours him with the chief seat, he reserves a select morsel for him, he tells him ingenuously the news of his ensuing sovereignty; On whom is set the desire of all Israel? Is it not upon thee and thy father's house? Wise and holy men, as they are not ambitious of their own burden, so they are not unwilling to be eased when God pleaseth to discharge them; neither can they envy those, whom God lifteth above their heads: they make an idol of honour, that are troubled with their own freedom, or grudge at the promotion of others.

Doubtless Saul was much amazed with this strange salutation, and news of the prophet; and how modestly doth he put it off, as that which was neither fit nor likely! disparaging his tribe in respect of the rest of Israel, his father's family in respect of the tribe, and himself in respect of his father's family. Neither did his humility stoop below the truth; for as Benjamin was the youngest son of Israel, so he was now by much the least tribe of Israel. They had not yet recovered that universal slaughter, which they had received from the hands of their brethren, whereby a tribe was almost lost to Israel; yet even out of the remainder of Benjamin doth God chuse the man, that shall command Israel; out of the rubbish of Benjamin doth God raise the throne. That is not ever the best and fattest which God chooseth, but that which God chooseth is ever the fittest: the strength or weakness of means is neither spur nor bridle to the determinate choices of God; yea rather he holds it the greatest proof of his freedom and omnipotency, to advance the unlikeliest.

It was no hollow and feigned excuse, that Saul makes to put off that which he would fain enjoy, and to cause honour to follow him the more eagerly: it was the sincere truth of his humility, that so dejected him under the hand of God's prophet. Fair beginnings are no sound proof of our proceedings and ending well: how often hath a bashful childhood ended in an impudency of youth, a strict entrance in licentiousness, early forwardness in atheism! There might be a civil meekness in Saul, true grace there was not in him. They, that be good, bear more fruit in their age.

Saul had but five-pence in his purse to give the prophet; the prophet, after much good cheer, gives him the kingdom: he bestows the oil of royal consecration on his head, the kisses of homage upon his face, and sends him away rich in thoughts and expectation; and now, lest his astonishment should end in distrust, he settles his assurance, by forewarnings of those events which he should find in his way he tells him whom he shall meet, what they shall say, how himself shall be affected; that all these and himself might be so many witnesses of his following coronation. Every word confirmed him; for well might he think, "He that can foretell me the motions and words of others cannot fail in

CONTEMPLATIONS.

mine" especially when, as Samuel had prophesied to him, he found himself to prophesy; his prophesying did enough foretell his kingdom.

gave

No sooner did Samuel turn his back from Saul, but God him another heart; lifting up his thoughts and disposition to the pitch of a king: the calling of God never leaves a man, unchanged; neither did God ever employ any man in his service, whom he did not enable to the work he set him, especially those whom he raiseth up to the supply of his own place, and the representation of himself. It is no marvel, if princes excel the vulgar in gifts, no less than in dignity: their crowns and their hearts are both in one and the same hand; if God did not add to their powers as well as their honours, there would be no equality. Samuel ix.

THE INAUGURATION OF SAUL.

GOD hath secretly destined Saul to the kingdom: it could not content Israel that Samuel knew this; the lots must so decide the choice, as if it had not been predetermined. That God, which is ever constant to his own decrees, makes the lots to find him out whom Samuel had anointed. If once we have notice of the will of God, we may be confident of the issue: there is no chance to the Almighty; even casual things are no less necessary in their first cause, than the natural.

So far did Saul trust the prediction and oil of Samuel, that he hides him among the stuff: he knew where the lots would light, before they were cast: this was but a modest declination of that honour, which he saw must come. some expectation; why else should he have hid himself, rather His very withdrawing shewed than the other Israelites? Yet could he not hope his subducing himself could disappoint the purpose of God: he well knew, that he, which found out and designed his name amongst the thousands of Israel, would easily find out his person in a tent. When once we know God's decree, in vain shall we strive against it: before we know it, it is indifferent for us to work to the likeliest.

I cannot blame Saul for hiding himself from a kingdom; especially of Israel. Honour is heavy when it comes upon the best terms: how should it be otherwise, when all men's cares are cast upon one? but most of all in a troubled cstate? No man can put to sea without danger; but he, that launcheth forth in a tempest, can expect nothing but the hardest event. Such was the condition of Israel, Their old enemy the Philistines were stilled with that fearful thun. der of God, as finding what it was to war against the Almighty. There were adversaries enough besides in their borders: it was but a hollow truce, that was betwixt Israel and their heathenish neighbours; and Nahash was now at their gates.

Well did Saul know the difference, between a peaceful government, and the perilous and wearisome tumults of war. The quietest