rebuke, when, as a judge in Israel, he should have turned them out of the priesthood, and as a father, have laid before them their great wickedness, in very strong expostulations; and as a priest, should have shewn his authority for the peace of the people; but he only said, "If a man sin against the Lord, who shall intreat for him?” intimating that they had sinned against the Lord, in despising his sacrifice, and in profaning his house: then what entreaty could there be made for them; what days-man, or mediator, could there be found? for "there remained no other sacrifice for sin," but what these typical sacrifices pointed to: yet he continues them. In which Eli was too fond a father, and too indulgent a judge, and too remiss a priest, of the Lord; for which the Lord punished him and his family. Note, love to the Lord, and zeal for his glory, should ever be prevalent and uppermost with the christian.

Ver. 30. "Them that honour me, I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed."]-That is, those that honour the Lord, by obeying his commands, and in their thoughts, affections, love, and adoration of his person, name, and faithfulness; that honour him by trusting their life, their soul, their all, to him; them will God honour with his presence, blessings, love, and power, in supporting, comforting, and relieving them in every time of need; but they that despise the Lord Jesus Christ in his person, blood, righteousness, and salvation, or in his ordinances and commands, shall be "lightly esteemed:" which shews the delight that the Lord takes in those that honour him in his word and ways, and are zealous for his glory.

Ver. 32. "And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation."]-That is, Eli should see the ark, which was God's habitation, in the hands of his enemies. This came to pass when it fell into the hands of the philistines; and it may be observed, that the ark was the glory of the whole tabernacle, and centre of all religious service, under the law, because it was the seat or dwelling-place of the divine presence, therefore called, "the ark of God," and "the ark of his presence:" and this symbol of the divine majesty being in the hands of Israel's enemies, what could possibly be a greater distress to Eli, the priest of the Lord? for as Eli had dishonoured the sanctuary of God by indulging his sons, so God was pleased not to honour him as a priest, in appearing before the ark in the tabernacle.

"And there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever."]-The Jews in after years remarked that in Jerusa

salem there was one family, and none of them lived to be twenty years old; and upon enquiry they found it to be the family of Eli.

CHAPTER III.

In the foregoing chapter we had Samuel a young priest, though by birth a Levite only, for he ministered before the Lord in a linen ephod; in this chapter we have him a young prophet; God in an extraordinary manner revealing himself to him, and in him reviving, if not commencing, prophecy in Israel. Here is, (1.) God's manifestation of himself in an extraordinary manuer to Samuel, ver. 1-10. (2.) The message he sent by him to Eli, ver. 11–14. (3.) The faithful delivery of that message to Eli, and his submission to the righteousness of God in it, ver. 15-18. (4.) The establishment of Samuel, to be a prophet in Israel, ver. 19-21.

VER. 1. "And the word of the Lord was precious in those days."]-The sacred scriptures have a singular and eminent excellency above all other writings; for they reveal and make known to us a precious Messiah and Saviour, peace, righteousness, pardon, and salvation: likewise they contain precious promises, blessings, and a sure covenant, for the support of our faith, hope, and joy in God.

"There was no open vision."]-That is, there was no prophet appeared with any message from the Lord; which messages by the prophets were esteemed the opening of the vision of heaven, as the Lord often revealed himself to his servants the prophets by visions of the night.

Ver. 3." And Samuel was laid down to sleep."]-It seems that he was to sleep near the holy place, and probably near the light of the lamps, or branches of the golden candlestick; for though the lamps in the branches went out, yet the main lamp was to burn continually before the Lord, Exod. xxx. 8. which burning lamp was figurative of the final perseverance of the saints, or signified that the light of grace is never totally extinguished in them, though like a lamp it may be low, dwindling and declining; yet as the lamps were supplied with fresh oil to keep them burning continually before the Lord, so the heart of the christian is supplied with fresh oil from the divine anointings of Christ, the head of the church, which keeps the lamp of love and life burning in his soul to the Lord, for as oil was to the lamps under the law, so is grace to the soul.

Ver. 7. "Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord."] That is, he did not yet know the Lord, by any particular revelation to him as a prophet in Israel; though Samuel was the Lord's, and was known of him, yet he had not enjoyed the testimonies of his favour, that is, his prophetic office was not sealed to him by any vision from God: and this is often the case of the children of God, who are interested in his love and favour, but yet have not had a manifestation of it to their souls-Ver. 8. The Lord often manifests himself to his people when they do not know that the manifestation is from him: see Job xiii, 14.

Ver. 10. "And the Lord came, and stood and called.". -That is, the divine Shekinah, the God-man, the ancient of days, came and stood upon the mercy-seat, the ark of the covenant, which was his dwelling-place in the tabernacle and in the temple, from whence the Lord revealed his will, and shone forth in his glory, but Samuel saw not his glory, but heard the Lord's voice, who spake from off the mercyseat; which voice the Jews call Bath-kol, the daughter of a voice; but I rather apprehend it to be a clear, distinct, articulate voice, which the Lord spake to Samuel, which voice was frequently heard from off the mercy-seat, Numb. vii. 89. where it is said that the Lord spake to Moses, and may be figurative of those clear discoveries of divine love to the soul, in the application of divine promises, which are clear and satisfying to the soul, precious, from the mercy-seat, and powerful, as it comes from the Lord, which is, saith the apostle," the earnest of our redemption," &c.

Ver. 18. "And he said, It is the Lord; let him do what seemeth him good."]-Observe Samuel's humility and concealment of this vision. First, he lay till the morning, and we may well suppose he lay awake, pondering on what he had heard, repeating it to himself, and considering what use he must make of it. After we have received the spiritual food of God's word, it is good to compose ourselves, and give it time to digest. Secondly, "He opened the doors of the house of the Lord," in the morning, as he used to do being up first in the tabernacle. That he should do so at other times, was an instance of an extraordinary towardliness in a child, but that he should do so this morning, was an instance of great humility. God had highly honoured him above all the children of his people, yet he was not proud of the honour, nor puffed up with it; did not think himself too great and too good to be employed in these mean and servile offices, but, as cheerfully as ever, went and opened the

doors of the tabernacle. Note, those whom God manifests himself to, he makes and keeps low in their own eyes, and they are willing to stoop to any thing by which they may be serviceable to his glory, though but as door-keepers in his house. One would have expected, that Samuel should have been so full of his vision, as to forget his ordinary service; that he should have gone among his companions, as one in an ecstacy, to tell them, what converse he had had with God this night, but he modestly keeps it to himself, tells the vision to no man, but silently goes on his business. Our secret communion with God is not to be proclaimed upon the house-top. Thirdly, "He feared to shew Eli the vision." If he was afraid Eli would be angry with him and chide him, it will give us cause to suspect that Eli used to be as severe with this towardly child, as he was indulgent to his own wicked sons, and that will bear hard upon him. But we will suppose it was rather because he was afraid to grieve and trouble the good old man, that he was so shy. If he had run presently with the tidings to Eli, it would have looked as if he had desired the woful day, and hoped to build his own family upon the ruin of Eli's, therefore it became him not to be forward to do it: no good man can take pleasure in bringing evil tidings, especially not Samuel to Eli, the pupil to the tutor, whom he loves and honours.

Ver. 21. "For the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh, by the word of the Lord."]-This shews that the word of the Lord is the ground of all divine manifestations of his love to us, and that ecstacy and joy, or as many call it, manifestations of the love of God, that do not come in to onr hearts by the entrance of his word, may justly be called in question; for it is to be feared that many at this day, who seem at times full of rapture, have only a flight of fancy, and that their joy is not grounded on the word of truth, and that they did not, like Samuel, receive it by the "word of the Lord."

First, God did him honour: having begun to favour him, he carried on and crowned his own work in him, ver. 19. "Samuel grew, for the Lord was with him." All our increase in wisdom and grace is owing to the presence of God with us; it is all in all to our growth. God honoured Samuel, first, by farther manifestations of himself to him. Samuel had faithfully delivered the message he was entrusted with, and therefore God employed him again in his service, ver. 21. "The Lord revealed himself again to Samuel in Shiloh." Note, God will graciously repeat his visits to those that receive them aright. Secondly, by ful

filling what he spake by him, ver. 19. "God did let none of his words fall to the ground; whatever Samuel said, as a prophet, it proved true, and was accomplished in its season. Probably there were some remarkable instances of the truth of Samuel's predictions that happened presently, which confirmed those that were afterwards to be fulfilled, and gave general satisfaction of his mission. God will "confirm the word of his servants, and perform the counsel of his messengers," Isaiah xliv. 26. and will do what he hath said.

Secondly, Israel did him honour. They all knew and owned that Samuel was established to be a prophet," ver. 20. First, he grew famous; all that came up to Shiloh to worship took notice of him, and admired him, and talked of him when they came home. Early grace will be the greatest honour of young people, and bring them soon into reputation: those that honour God he will honour. Secondly, he grew useful and very serviceable to his generation. He that began betimes to be good, soon came to do good. His established commission from God, and established reputation with the people, gave him a great opportunity of shining as a light in Israel. When old Eli was rejected, young Samuel was established; for God will never leave himself without witness, nor his church without a guide.

CHAPTER IV.

The predictions in the foregoing chapters, concerning the ruin of Eli's house, here begin to be fulfilled; just how long after doth not appear; but it was not long. Such sinners God often makes quick work with. Here is, (1.) The disgrace and loss Israel sustained in a reucounter with the philistines, ver. 1, 2. (2.) Their foolish project to fortify themselves, by bringing the ark of God into their camp, upon the shoulders of Hophni and Phinehas, ver. 3, 4. which made them secure, ver. 5. and struck a fear into the philistines, but such a fear as animated them, ver. 6-9. (3.) The fatal consequences of it, Israel was beaten, and the ark taken prisoner, ver. 10, 11. (4.) The tidings of this brought to Shiloh, and the sad reception of those tidings. 1. The city was put into confusion, ver. 12, 13. 2. Eli fainted away, fell and broke his neck, ver. 14-18. 3. His daughter-in-law fell in labour upon it, bore a son, but died presently, ver. 19–22. These were the things which would make the ears of those that heard them to tingle.

VER. 3. "That the ark may save us out of the hand of our enemies."]-Note, the ark of the Lord was the glory of the tabernacle, where the divine Shekinah dwelt, and from whence the glory of the Lord shone forth, and was so formed as to be carried by itself: and it being a symbol