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And ye shall cry out, in that day, because of your king which ye have chofen you: And the LORD will not hear you, in that day.

This, it must be confefs'd, was fair Warning; and left thofe, to whom it was given, inexcufable for not complying with it. Nevertheless, as the Hiftory proceeds, the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they faid, Nay, but we will have a king over us: That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. And Samuel beard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD; calling God to witness that it was all their own Act and Deed: And the LORD faid unto Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel faid unto the men of Ifrael, Go ye every man unto his city.

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This fine Picture of arbitrary Government, and an unlimited Monarchy, is well worth tranfcribing; as it enhances the Pleafure of all those who are fo happy as to live under a legal Establishment, and cautions them against permitting it to degenerate; by presenting to their View the

feveral

several Mischiefs they are to expect, whenever they give up their Liberty.

However, it plainly appears that God was fo gracious, upon this Occafion, as not utterly to forfake his People, though they I had forfaken him, and were determin'd to - act in thorough Oppofition to his monitory Cautions. For He, not only reveals to Samuel, the Perfon, who, at that Time, was proper to be anointed King over them, but, afterwards influences the Election, in fuch a manner, as to contrive that this very Perfon fhould be chofen accordingly.

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Saul, having Occafion to attend Samuel about a private Affair, as they were then utter Strangers to each other, The LORD 1 Sam. ix, had told Samuel, faying, To-morrow about 16. this time, I will fend thee a man out of the land of Benjamin; and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Ifrael, that he may fave my people out of the hand of the Philistines: For I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.

Samuel, accordingly, when they met, after having fhew'd him some peculiar Marks of Distinction by an extraordinary civil Reception, at a proper Opportunity, when

17, &e.

I.

---X. 1. they were alone together, took a vial of oyl and poured it upon his bead, and kissed him; and faid, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inberitance?

Soon after this, Samuel called the people together, unto the LORD, to Miz peh. And faid unto the children of Ifrael, Thus faith the LORD God of Ifrael; I brought up Ifrael out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the band of the Egyptians, and out of the band of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you. And ye have, this day, rejected your God, who Himself faved you out of all your adverfities and your tribulation, and ye have faid unto Him, Nay, but fet a king Now therefore present your felves before the LORD, by your tribes, and by And when Samuel bad your thousands. caufed all the tribes of Ifrael to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken. When he bad caufed the tribe of Benjamin to come near, by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the fon of Kish wes taken. And, when Saul was brought and appeared to be higher than any of the people from his fhoulders and upward, Samuel said

over us.

to

to all the people, See
ye him whom the LORD
bath chofen, that there is none like him a-
mong all the people? And all the people shout-
ed and faid, God fave the king. Then Sa-
muel told the people the manner of the king-
dom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it be-
fore the LORD. And Samuel fent all the
people away, every man to his house.

After this, Saul having led them out to Battle against the Ammonites, with good Succefs; and gain'd their Efteem and Affection by it; then eníues another Solemnity, after the Manner of a Coronation. Samuel faid to the people, Come, and let us go ---xi. 14. to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there. And all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king, before the LORD in Gilgal; and there Saul, and all the men of Israel rejoyced greatly.

And, at this Solemnity it is, that their old Judge, the illuftrious Prophet Samuel, refigns his Truft, and takes his Leave of the People, in a very moving Speech; too long to be wholly transcrib'd, but very well worth the Reading. Amongst other Things, he fays, Behold, here I am, witness against --- xii. 1, me, before the LORD, and before his anoint

ed:

&c.

ed: Whofe ox have I taken? or whofe afs bave I taken? or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? or, of whofe hands have I received any bribe, to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will reftore it you. And they said, Thou haft not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither haft thou taken ought of any man's hand; The LORD is witness.

Then he proceeds, in recapitulating the Mercies and Favour of God toward them, fhewn, upon various occafions, under the Conduct of feveral of their Judges; and, by Way of Inference, again reproaches them, for having rejected God, and defir'd a King. And, the more effectually to convince them, that God was difpleas'd with their Behaviour upon this Occafion, he gives them a Sign from Heaven. Now therefore, (to confirm what I have faid) ftand and fee this great thing which the LORD will do before your eyes. Is it not wheat-harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and He fball fend thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and fee that your wickedness is great which ye have done in the fight of the LORD, in asking you a king. So Samuel called unto the LORD, and the LORD fent thunder

and

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