Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-10-19

hen he reached the gate the nTst
question they asked was" Have you
come on a peaceable Grand? He said,
" Yes, | have"
God had sent him to Bethlehem, as /
he had been in the habit Of going to
other cities in the land, to offer a burnt
| offering. Samuel invited several citi-
zens to come to the sacrifice, and to the
feast after it, and among these espe-
cialIy Jesse and his sons.
Why was he so particular in asking
Jesse and his Sons to come? Because
God come to him one day, and said
" & have resolved to remove wicked
Saul from the kingdom of Israel, ard
appoint a good and pious king in his
ROOM" He had told him, moreovet
to take his horn and fill it with olive
oil, and proceed to Bethlehem, for He
had fixed on one Of the sons of Jesse,
a great grandson of Ruth-to be the
future monarch of His people
Samuel did exactly as God had told
him. He first offered his sacrifice,
and then before they sat down to the
feast, he asked Jesse to make all his
sons pass before him.
The first was Etiab. He was tall
and king like. Samuel felt almost
fsure that this was the one God had Sc
lected. He was proceeding to take
his horn of oil to pour it upon his
head, when, God said to him. No,
this is not the one"
God does not look to the mere
outward appearauce-to people being
tall or handsome-but He looks to the
heart. When the heart is right in his
sight, it matters little what We are
outwardly. He told Samuel SO. Saul,
the present king of Israel, was strik-
ing in person, he lowered in height
above all the rest of the people, and
the Israelites were proud of his ap-
p~earance. But God was now to show
them hat goodness and piety were
better far than sill other attractions.
The second came next, and stood
before Samuel. God said, Neither
is this be-"
The third son came next, and God
said, "Neither is this he" Other
four that were present did the same
But Ged said to Samuel, 1t is none o.
these"
Samuel wondered. He said to Jes
Sc" Are these all your sons Z"
Jesse said, "These are all, except
one lttleboy, and he is not at home.-
He is out in the valley, taking care .
= the sheep"
Samuel said, ct must see him.
{, So a messenger was sent to David te
: come as fast as he could: He was soor
a in Samuel's presence with his shep-
/ herds crook, and his blooming face
God whispered to Samuel, "This i
the favored ore now arise and anoint
:, him
: How David must have wondered
s when, in presence of all his brothers
r he saw this prophet of God take tn
holy oil which be knew was used on
- ly for amounting kings and priests, an
pouring it upon his head. How strang
" must have been the feelings of tn
,, shepherd boy as he went back anon
bis sheep "The Spirit Of the Lord,
n W are told, "came upon David frol
f that day forward" God probably re
vailed to his young servant the gres
g honor in store for him. But did it nc
- make him proud, or selfish, or haugh
!. ty? Did it lead him to give up th
d keeping ofhis sheep, Or to despise b
= brothers, or forget God? No. It on
n ly made him leve and trust God NOR
o and seek more to please Him.
e David often took a harp with hil
g as be fed mis- flock by the green pa
is lures and still waters /; and when /
g was watching under the clear stars /
e night, and the moon tipped the rocl
d around with its silvery glory,
y would sing what be afterwards wro
If out In beautiful Hebrew
When I consider Thy hesvens, the work
a Thy fingers,
The moon and the stars which Thou hast
- dained
!. What is man. that Thou art mindful Of hime
- And the son of man, that Thou ~visitest him 2
n PsALM viii: 3, 4
Although David did become Kin
is as God had promised though he b
a vast army and brave soldiers, a
Is built for himself a grand palace wi
r cedar galleries, in Jerusalem, | am L
in sure that be was ever SO happy