Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-08-08

MI, l-l0.
From the New York Independent.
NOTES.-The battle had been fought
Saul had won splendid victory And
now the bulk of the people assembled at
Gilgal, (the rolling place., according to
JoSephus, two miles from Jericho, where
the ark seemed to be, and which was now
the important center of the new kingdom.
was publicly acknowledged by all the
petty chiefs and princes to be King, and
Samuel laid down his temporal power,
his judgeship, though still retaining his
priesthood Il am old and gray headed.
1t is supposed that he was about seven
ty years old at this time, and perhaps by
reason of his great responsibilities more
worn than many people of that age.-
| Whose O.c -. 1CIOSe GSS.-AmOng this
agricultural people, as yet simple in their
means of living, these animals represent
ed the most important medium of ex-
change. a rGllSOm.-A bribe. From
the sixth verse on we have a review of
the history of Israel showing how their
prosperity was proportioned to their ser
vice of God. Samuel sees that the critical
period of Jewish history has come. He
may distrust the spiritual power of Saul;
but he keeps his peace and warns Israel
to GOd-I1ltO the hand Of SiSera.-The
first opposition by the hand of Sisera
General of the Canaanitic forces under ia
bin, lasted twenty years and was wofully
severe .-And into the hand Of the Phil
istif1es.-This was, according to Samuel.
the second opposition, which was so severe
that implements of all kinds were with
held from the Jews. They were COM
pletely at the mercy of their foes.-In-
to the hand of the King Of Moa6-This
was under EglOn. 1t lasted eighteen
years, from which they were delivered by
Ehud--Je1ub6eal Gideon who deliY-
cred them from the Midianites.- Bedan.
An error for Barak, who delivered Is
rael from the Canaanites. -Jephthah.-
Who freed them from the AmmOnites.
-Samuel-WhO freed them from the
Philistines. Samuels vigorous speech
was followed by a sign from God, The
student should read to the end of the
chapter.
INsTRUCTION.-Sam faced the ma
ton by reason of his virtue, Justice and
godliness, and they found no cause for
him to lower his eyes or blush for shame.
AS public ruler he stands conspicuous
model for all time
Samuel had lived blameless and open
life from his youth up. AT time when
people would be apt to find flaw in his
h li0 hnx in,
election time a candidate for the PreSi-
dency has to have pure record behind
him indeed if he can hope to run the
gauntlet of public scrutiny in triumph
Our representative men should be picked,
not only because of eminence in executive
ability or craftsmanship, but because
they have at the base of their necessary
qualifications an integrity and high man
illness that is without fear and without
reprOach.
If any nation can demonstrate the fact
that the undivided worship of God is
necessary to public veal, ours is that peo-
pie. 1t is matter of easy statistics to
prove that i'll proportion as we depart
from the strict ObSerVanceS of our Puri-
tan fathers we are entangled in all the
troubles that breed civil discomfort, from
intemperance in drink to anarchism and
murder. If education, not only of BRAIN
cells but also of moral impulses, could be
made compulsory to every one that VIC
lates the law, if the same education could
be forced on vicious paupers who are
cast upon our shores, and their children,
if the reverence of the Lord and the art
of initiating Christ could be taught with
overwhelming enthusiasm, our country
would be always safe. Christianity, in
spite of its social claim in certain sec
tions, needs to gain more popularity
among the most degenerate class. This
is one of the problems of the day.
After all, man like Samuel was worth |
more to the cause of purity and truth
than great part of the Levitical law A
teacher fails any one fails in his profess
sions, if he cannot face the world and
challenge it to prove that he has required
of others what he has not enforced ON
himself
The fear of the Lord is also the fear of |
violating the moral law that God repre-
sents to us.
One cannot obey without hearing the
voice of command. Search the Bible;
consult God in prayer; also, do not hesi
tate to consult godly men. Be thus earn
est and the overwhelming sense of what
your duty is will not be long coming.