man, all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither, peradventure he can show us our way that we should go."

So they went to seek Samuel. And as they came to Mizpeh, they found some young maidens going out of the city to draw water, who told them that Samuel was offering up a solemn sacrifice for the people that day, and that they would surely find him. And directly that they entered the city, they met Samuel going forth to the high place.

As soon as Samuel came near Saul, the LORD said unto him, "Behold the man whom I spake to thee of; this same shall reign over My people." Then Saul went up to Samuel, and asked to be told where the seer (or prophet's) house was? Samuel answered, "I am the seer; go up before me unto the high place, for ye shall eat with me to-day, and to-morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart. And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them, for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on

all thy father's house?"

And Saul answered and said, "Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Is

rael? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Wherefore then speakest thou so to me?"

Then Samuel took Saul to the solemn festival, and placed him in the chief place of honour, and caused to be set before him the best meats. That night the Prophet held long communion on the top of the house with Saul 1; and the next morning, rising very early, about the break of day, Samuel went forth with him, to send him away. When they had passed through the city, Samuel sent Saul's servant forward; but he bade Saul, "Stand thou still awhile, that I may show thee the word of GOD."

Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon Saul's head, and kissed him, and said, "Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be Captain over His inheritance ?" Further he said, "When thou art departed from me today, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah ; and they will say unto thee, "The asses which thou wentest to seek are found; and lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son? Then thou shalt go forward from

thence, and thou shalt come unto the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to GoD to Bethel, one carrying three kids, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine: and they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread, which thou shalt receive at their hands. After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines; and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp before them, and they shall prophesy. And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for GoD is with thee. And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal, and behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt-offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace-offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, until I come to thee, and show thee what thou shalt do."

And it came to pass that when Saul turned and left Samuel, "GOD gave him another

heart." He went on his way, and all the signs Samuel had foretold came to pass. Then at the appointed time, Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh, and said unto them, "Thus saith the LORD GOD of Israel; I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of the kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you: and ye have this day rejected your GOD, Who Himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto Him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and by your thousands."

Then out of all the tribes of Israel, Benjamin was taken, as the tribe from which GOD would select a king for the people. Then the families were chosen, and at length Saul was found to be the appointed king. He was not present, having hid himself, but he was soon brought to the place, and Samuel said to all the people, "See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people?" Then they all raised a mighty shout, "GOD save the king."

Then Samuel wrote a record of all that had

come to pass about the kingdom, and laid it up before the LORD. And Saul returned to Gibeah, and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched. Some of the people who were lawless, bad men, despised the king, and would not serve him. They did not seem to consider that by the Commandment of their Law, (which they all professed to obey,) they were bound to obey those set in authority over them by the LORD whether parents or rulers. "The powers that be," are, as we learn from the New Testament, set before us to obey, by that commandment which says, "Honour thy father and mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the LORD hath given thee."

KING SAUL.

It was true that the people of Israel had displeased GOD by asking for other rulers, when He Himself vouchsafed to be their Ruler and King. But nevertheless, He had now appointed Saul to be their king, and as such He required the people to obey him. Thus when, soon after Saul was anointed, the Ammonites caused great fear among the people, so that they