按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
much； that he thought him worthy of preservation。 Yet was not
this done however according to the will of God； but by giving way
to human passions； and suffering himself to be moved with an
unseasonable commiseration； in a point where it was not safe for
him to indulge it； for God hated the nation of the Amalekites to
such a degree； that he commanded Saul to have no pity on even
those infants which we by nature chiefly compassionate； but Saul
preserved their king and governor from the miseries which the
Hebrews brought on the people； as if he preferred the fine
appearance of the enemy to the memory of what God had sent him
about。 The multitude were also guilty； together with Saul； for
they spared the herds and the flocks； and took them for a prey；
when God had commanded they should not spare them。 They also
carried off with them the rest of their wealth and riches； but if
there were any thing that was not worthy of regard； that they
destroyed。
3。 But when Saul had conquered all these Amalekites that reached
from Pelusium of Egypt to the Red Sea； he laid waste all the rest
of the enemy's country： but for the nation of the Shechemites； he
did not touch them； although they dwelt in the very middle of the
country of Midian； for before the battle； Saul had sent to them；
and charged them to depart thence； lest they should be partakers
of the miseries of the Amalekites； for he had a just occasion for
saving them； since they were of the kindred of Raguel； Moses's
father…in…law。
4。 Hereupon Saul returned home with joy； for the glorious things
he had done； and for the conquest of his enemies； as though he
had not neglected any thing which the prophet had enjoined him to
do when he was going to make war with the Amalekites； and as
though he had exactly observed all that he ought to have done。
But God was grieved that the king of the Amalekites was preserved
alive； and that the multitude had seized on the cattle for a
prey； because these things were done without his permission； for
he thought it an intolerable thing that they should conquer and
overcome their enemies by that power which he gave them； and then
that he himself should be so grossly despised and disobeyed by
them； that a mere man that was a king would not bear it。 He
therefore told Samuel the prophet； that he repented that he had
made Saul king； while he did nothing that he had commanded him；
but indulged his own inclinations。 When Samuel heard that； he was
in confusion； and began to beseech God all that night to be
reconciled to Saul； and not to be angry with him； but he did not
grant that forgiveness to Saul which the prophet asked for； as
not deeming it a fit thing to grant forgiveness of ＇such＇ sins at
his entreaties； since injuries do not otherwise grow so great as
by the easy tempers of those that are injured； or while they hunt
after the glory of being thought gentle and good…natured； before
they are aware they produce other sins。 As soon therefore as God
had rejected the intercession of the prophet； and it plainly
appeared he would not change his mind； at break of day Samuel
came to Saul at Gilgal。 When the king saw him； he ran to him； and
embraced him； and said； 〃I return thanks to God； who hath given
me the victory； for I have performed every thing that he hath
commanded me。〃 To which Samuel replied； 〃How is it then that I
hear the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the greater
cattle in the camp？〃 Saul made answer； That the people had
reserved them for sacrifices； but that； as to the nation of the
Amalekites； it was entirely destroyed； as he had received it in
command to see done； and that no one man was left； but that he
had saved alive the king alone； and brought him to him；
concerning whom； he said； they would advise together what should
be done with him。〃 But the prophet said； 〃God is not delighted
with sacrifices； but with good and with righteous men； who are
such as follow his will and his laws； and never think that any
thing is well done by them but when they do it as God had
commanded them； that he then looks upon himself as affronted； not
when any one does not sacrifice； but when any one appears to be
disobedient to him。 But that from those who do not obey him； nor
pay him that duty which is the alone true and acceptable worship；
he will not kindly accept their oblations； be those they offer
ever so many and so fat； and be the presents they make him ever
so ornamental； nay； though they were made of gold and silver
themselves； but he will reject them； and esteem them instances of
wickedness； and not of piety。 And that he is delighted with those
that still bear in mind this one thing； and this only； how to do
that； whatsoever it be； which God pronounces or commands for them
to do； and to choose rather to die than to transgress any of
those commands； nor does he require so much as a sacrifice from
them。 And when these do sacrifice； though it be a mean oblation；
he better accepts of it as the honor of poverty； than such
oblations as come from the richest men that offer them to him。
Wherefore take notice； that thou art under the wrath of God； for
thou hast despised and neglected what he commanded thee。 How dost
thou then suppose that he will respect a sacrifice out of such
things as he hath doomed to destruction？ unless perhaps thou dost
imagine that it is almost all one to offer it in sacrifice to God
as to destroy it。 Do thou therefore expect that thy kingdom will
be taken from thee； and that authority which thou hast abused by
such insolent behavior； as to neglect that God who bestowed it
upon thee。〃 Then did Saul confess that he had acted unjustly； and
did not deny that he had sinned； because he had transgressed the
injunctions of the prophet； but he said that it was out of a
dread and fear of the soldiers； that he did not prohibit and
restrain them when they seized on the prey。 〃But forgive me；〃
said he； 〃and be merciful to me； for I will be cautious how I
offend for the time to come。〃 He also entreated the prophet to go
back with him； that he might offer his thank…offerings to God；
but Samuel went home； because he saw that God would not be
reconciled to him。
5。 But then Saul was so desirous to retain Samuel； that he took
hold of his cloak； and because the vehemence of Samuel's
departure made the motion to be violent； the cloak was rent。 Upon
which the prophet said； that after the same manner should the
kingdom be rent from him； and that a good and a just man should
take it； that God persevered in what he had decreed about him；
that to be mutable and changeable in what is determined； is
agreeable to human passions only； but is not agreeable to the
Divine Power。 Hereupon Saul said that he had been wicked； but
that what was done could not be undone： he therefore desired him
to honor him so far； that the multitude might see that he would
accompany him in worshipping God。 So Samuel granted him that
favor； and went with him and worshipped God。 Agag also； the king
of the Amalekites； was brought to him； and when the king asked；
How bitter death was？ Samuel said； 〃As thou hast made many of the
Hebrew mothers to lament and bewail the loss of their