and it is probable his strength might begin to return: However, whether it did or not in that manner, it is very likely that these indignities, offered him by the Philistines, provoked him to the highest degree; wherefore persuading the lad who guided him, to place him so that he might feel both the pillars on which the house rested, on pretence of leaning on them to rest himself, he, with great earnestness prayed to God to strengthen him but this one time, that he might be avenged on the Philistines for the loss of his eyes. God heard his prayers, and gave him such an accession of strength, that taking hold of the two pillars with both his hands, he bowed himself with all his might, and at the same time saying, "Let me die with the Philistines," he exerted his strength in such a wonderful manner, that forcing the pillars from their bases, the house fell down with a dreadful crash on the vast assembled multitude who were in it: so that Samson had a full revenge on his enemies, and put an end to his own miserable condition; slaying more at his death, than in the height of his prosperity.

Thus died Samson, who is said to have judged Israel twenty years; and was rather a scourge to the Philistines, than a deliverer of the Israelites. Yet he may be said to have begun to deliver Israel in this last action, though it cost him his life. When his relations heard of his death,they came and brought him to his father's sepulchre, between Zorah and Eshtaol, where they buried him.*

After the death of Samson, the administration of the government of Israel seems to have devolved upon Eli,

officers of state transact their public offices and distribute justice. Here likewise they have public entertainments, as the lords of the Philistines had in the house of Dagon. Upon a supposition therefore, that in the house of Dagon, there was a cloystered structure of this kind, the pulling down the front or centre pillars only which supported it, would be attended with the like catastrophe that happened to the Philistines."

The example of Samson cannot be pleaded in defence of suicide. He was a public person, the declared enemy of the Philistines, and raised up of God to punish them for the oppression of his people. It was not the destruction of his own life that he sought on this occasion, but that of Israel's enemies, and as a magistrate 3 A

VOL. I.

who was then high-priest. In the beginning of his reign was born Samuel the prophet, the son of Elkanah, a Levite, descended* from Korah. He lived in the city of Ramah, which belonged to the tribe of Ephraim, with his two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. The latter of whom had children, but the first had none. Elkanah, according to the custom, went up to Shiloh once a year, to worship, and sacrifice to the Lord, taking his two wives and his children with him; where, after he had made his offerings, he gave presents to both his wives; but Hannah being his best beloved, he gave her a double share of his favour. This occasioned a difference between the two wives, and Peninnah, priding herself in her children, reproached Hannah for her sterility. Her husband endeavours to comfort her; but Hannah seeks her consolation from abové, addressing herself earnestly in prayer to the Lord, and vowing at the same time, that if he would bless her with a son, she would dedicate him to the Lord all the days of his life, and that no razor should come upon his head. Eli the priest, who was near her, perceiving her lips move, but not hearing her speak, supposed she was intoxicated with wine, and chid her for it; but finding himself mistaken, he turned his reproof into a blessing, praying to God to hear her petition. Being returned to Ramah, she conceived, and was in due time delivered of a son, whom she named Samuel, because she had asked him of God; which his name implies.

and soldier, he "counted not his own life dear, so that he might finish his heroic course" with triumph. The miraculous power with which he was again endued from on high, seems fully to justify this extraordinary action.

Herein also we may discern a remarkable emblem of the Great Deliverer, the Saviour of the world, who destroyed Satan's kingdom as Samson did Dagon's temple; who, when his arms were stretched out on the cross, as Samson's to the two pillars, gave a fatal convulsion to "the gates of hell," and" through death destroyed him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." Heb. ii. 14, 15.

* Levite, descended, &c. Elkanah was descended from that Korah, who in Moses' time, for his rebellion in the wilderness, was swallowed up by the gaping earth, and all that he had with him, Numb. xvi. except his sons, Numb. xxvi. 11, from the eldest of which, named Assir, the genealogy is carried down to Samuel, in 1 Chron. vi. from ver. 22, to 28.

Hannah, having weaned her little son, according to her promise, brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh, with an offering, acquainting Eli that she was the woman, who some time since had prayed to the Lord for a child, and that she came to perform her vow, which was to dedicate him to the service of the Lord. Eli, upon this, gave thanks to the Lord, for having heard and answered Hannah's prayer; and Hannah, in a holy rhapsody, did the same. Elkanah and Hannah, having performed their vow, prepare to return, and Eli pronouncing a blessing upon them said, "The Lord give thee seed of this "woman, for the loan which is lent to the Lord," meaning Samuel; whom they left behind them with Eli, who put on him a linen Ephod, and he served in the house of the Lord, as Eli had directed him. After that, once a year, till he grew up, his mother, when she came up to offer the yearly sacrifice, made him a little coat, and brought it to him.

Eli, the priest, had two sons, who were extremely wicked; for, valuing themselves upon the authority and dignity of the priesthood, they domineered over the men, and debauched the women. And to such a degree of insolence had they arrived, that not content with the portion of the flesh of the sacrifice, which God, in the law had assigned to them, they would seize what they liked best, and at what time they pleased. By these means, the service of God grew contemptible in the eyes of the people; who were indifferent whether they offered or not. But how heinous soever the sins of the priests might be, they did not excuse the people from guilt in neglecting the service of the Lord.

Eli himself had often been informed of the wickedness of his sons, yet did not restrain or punish them as he, who was both their father and a magistrate, ought to have done, giving them only a slight reproof, which was so far from dissuading, that they still persisted in their wicked practices. At last a Man of God* came to Eli, with a mes

Man of God. Who this man of God was, that brought this unwelcome message to Eli, is very uncertain. Tremellius and Junius in their notes upon the place take him to be Samuel. Which is very strange, and very unlikely to

sage that threatened him and his household with ruin, for his mild but careless administration: first upbraiding him with ingratitude for slighting the honour done his family, by investing the priesthood in it; threatening his sons, Hophni and Phineas, with death, which he foretells shall happen at one and the same. And to shew Eli the wretched poverty into which his posterity should be plunged, he added, That every one that should be left in his house should come and crouch to a more faithful priest, whom the Lord would set up, for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread; and should say, "Put me, I pray thee, "into one of the priests' office, that I may have a peice of "bread to eat."

Soon after this, the Lord gives Eli another denunciation of his judgment by a younger messenger. Samuel being lodged in the further part of the tabernacle, among the Levites, the Lord in the night called him by his name; who, as the manner was, answered, "Here am I;" and starting up, ran to Eli's apartment, supposing he had called him: but when Eli told him he had not called him, he went and lay down again. This was repeated three times; and Samuel began at last to be positive with Eli, that he certainly did call him. This roused Eli, and Jed him to think there must be something extraordinary in it; which thought he communicated to Samuel, bidding him retire to his bed again, and directed him, that if the Lord should call him again, he should say, "Speak "Lord; thy servant heareth." As Eli expected, so it happened; and Samuel did as he was directed. Then said the Lord to Samuel, "All that I have spoken concerning Eli and his house I will perform; for I have "assured him that I will judge his house for ever, for the iniquity to which he is privy: because his sons made

be true, for Samuel was then too young, and in the 1st. verse of 3d. ch. 1st. of Samuel, he is set forth as one not yet acquainted with the voice of God; and also, that the Lord, when he had spoken to Samuel, tells him as a thing he knew not before, that he had denounced a judgment against Eli and his house. It is certain, that it was a very dark time; there was no open vision, no certain known prophet, such as Moses had been before, and as Samuel, Nathan, Elijah, and others were afterwards.

"themselves vile, and he did not restrain them there"fore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice, "nor offering for ever."*

This sentence was so terrible, even to Samuel, who had no share in it, that he was afraid to inform Eli; but Eli now thoroughly awakened by the message he had before received, and the apprehension he now entertained that the Lord had revealed something like it to Samuel, obliged him to repeat what the Lord had said to him. Samuel obeys, and tells him the very worst.. To which afflicted Eli humbly submitted, saying; "It is the Lord, "let him do what seemeth him good."

And now, to the great comfort of Israel, God was pleased to appear again in Shiloh, revealing himself to Samuel there. For as Samuel grew up, both in stature as a man, and in grace as a man of God, the Lord was

The example of Eli suggests an affecting lesson to Parents, Magistrates, and Ministers. In each of these stations, important duties are required, for the due performance of which they are responsible, and the rule laid down in the case of Eli, will be found by experience to be generally adopted in the conduct of Divine Providence. "Them that honour me, I will honour; and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed." A large degree of tender affection is due to children; but if we resign our authority to them, and permit them, unrestrained, to follow their corrupt inclinations, we are chargeable with the guilt of provoking God, betraying his cause, and bringing a curse, both on ourselves and them. It is true that the most pious parents cannot bestow grace upon their children; but they may and ought to" restrain" them, when they begin to "make themselves vile," and not be too indulgent, lest they make themselves accessary to their crimes and their ruin. Human nature is depraved, and education must be adapted to it as such; much instruction, caution, and advice, is necessary. The vicious inclinations of youth, their love of vanity and of vain company, must be opposed and repressed, and moderate restraint and correction must be employed. (Prov. xiii. 24, and xxiii. 14.) Without this care, the pretended fondness of parents is, in reality, cruelty of the worst kind. And though, in some few cases, the faithful discharge of parental duties is not attended with the usual success; yet, when the children of good men, are, like Eli's, “sons of Belial, who know not the Lord," it will generally be found that there has been some gross carelessness and deficiency in their education. "Train up a child," said the wisest of men, "in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Prov. xxii. 6.