, 1876-01-02

sheep, Vilose noise no heard. had been reserved
fos !. liberal sacrifice OF thanksgiving to God
Samuel rebuAcd him for his slulifluy and lying
spirit; that tho deatinatlon OF the spoll to tho
altar was fillnsv pretensoi that no n as gross
decaiyer attempting to conceal hi8 ambition ,ln-
der tho cloak Of religious Zoal. Then Saul
chauged tho ground OF hia defense by saying,
IL feared the poop!a and was compelled to
listen to them" This wan another lia. Ha
sins had driycn him 70 exsremlsies. No learn
from this history OF Saul that he ,,araisted in
dizobeying Gotl, who had raised him from very
humble position. SO ho did not answer Gods
purposes. lie had r1auy o2csllens traits OF
character al d military leader. Dus he WAS in
want Of moral principle. Ho persisted in tell
ing lies aud in expressing gross insratitudo.
Ho needed one thing OF tho greatest importance
in Gods government, or any other. viz: CON-
plete obedience. Saul forgot tho source of his
nis oSn psowess and ski. Samuel 1o-
minds him OF tie command given him
that be had not regarded. sIaui lies
about what he Lad dona. lie was prompt
in action, but did NIT obey. LIS VAS. by Divine
appointment, commander OF the grand army OF
the Jordan. lie was disciplinarlau Of the dr6t
cluss, and could lead his army wiers aud when
lie pleased. How weak aud moan for him to
throw the gin OF diEooeyiny tue King OF Kings
upon the people, who wore completely under hs
power! Ho that he vas Responsible for what his
suldorB did. What iaisei,ood, what d mean-
ness, to e;eu hint that tile people, or tue army
had anything to do with the stoa.ingi lie cou!I
lead them in hard fight against the A1n4ioklte,
but lie could no. restrain them from stealing and
rtllagiag! He buasting!y reported. II destroyed
tho Amalekites.' Aud then he adds another lie
to NIL hs other falsohoods. lis coufesaos ut last.
to Samuel, TINT Ae had nut oxcca:ed tha orcots
of Heaven. Il hn7e siancd and trausgressed
tho commandment. !" but ho adds apologies for
his 30 doing. Ho wished TO atone for his sins.
So be made show Of h's s3ol!s by way OF q SAC
ri,ics, which he intended TO be an equivalent ter
obedience. IIe had forgotten tia. a sacrifice
eau never be equivalent for Implicit
obedience. which is always in the mind
OF the King Of Kings infinitely better than burnt
offerings. So Ills sacrifice of tat sheep and oxen
suh-offcors did not obey his orders,
the substitute WIS to put in bet
ter men, who would DO moro
o5ediont. who would execute his orders at once
and in every minEto particular men on whom
he could implicitly depend, men who wcto not
afraid OF tue soldiers under thelr command. So
God thought tia. Saul WAS NOS worthy OF HIS
contideuco. ue had tried him. and found him
totally wanting in those qualities Of mannood
that could recommend him as the Captain of the
army of Israel. uo w:.s disobedicnt. mean, dis
honest, dlshouoreb!o, aud untrustworthv. He
IVES liar, n rebel, a usn.per, aud murlefer. =
His Great Commander l1upeached him. Sam
ue! felt compelled to investigate and present tho o
casa in is truo light. Saul tried 10 defend him
self. Tho more be said III his owa behalf tue
mora hopeless his case appeared. Even iiis plea
OF innocence demonstrated his deep guilt.
The Chief Justice Of High Heaven decroed
that King saul had repeatedly disooeyed Him !;
had repeatedly uttered f4Isehoods, WIS entirely
unworthy the coatidance Of Heaven or even OF
mankind, aud therefore that he had forfeited
his throne. IL