Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-08-01
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON FOR AUGUST FOURTH.
SAUL CHOSEN OF THE LORD.IsAM. tx, Is

From the New York Independent.
NOTES.-HGd recedIed unto Samuel
Literally uncovered the ear of Samuel
This expression originated probably from
the habit the Eastern people had of lift
ing the lock of hair or turban when they
whispered to each other a secret."In
the gGte.-The common place of meeting
like a market place or club.-I am the
Seer-The simplicity of that patriarchal
life in contrast with the pOmp of the later
kings is evident Samuel the foremost
man in Israel was not to be distinguished
in dress, nor attendants above any other
wayfarer.-GO up before me-A great
honor to an unknown man.-UntO the
high place.-Probably the priests resi-
dence that was in direct connection with
the sacred edifice; or, perhaps, it was a
public hall where sacrificial festivals were
held.-AS for thine dSSeS.-Refer to tx,
3-l5.-A4ld the cook took up the thigh
:. and set 1t before SGuI.-Everything
had been provided beforehand by Samuel.
This was no chance piece of meat, but
was the royal portion of the sacrifice
usually set apart for the officiating priest.
1t was the greatest public act of honor.
Upon the hOlLse-tOp.-It was the most
elevated public place in the city. All the
people could see Samuel and his now dis
tinguised guest talking together, though
i'll fact the conversation could be private.
About the spring Of the dGy.-Per-
haps the most poetic translation of the
Hebrew in the Old Testament. This was
the dawn, when the sun arose in all its
| Oriental Splendor-Andh he passed on.
When they were left alone the man of
God poured forth the vial of oil, kissed
the astonished man, who all of a sudden
was raised from dense ObScurity into a
leader, an idol and king.
INsTRUCTION.-It is good thing in the
rush of this busy age, when man feels
that it is his own strong right arm or
finely tempered brain that gains him his
souls desire; it is good thing to remem-
Der that there is God and that he has
something to say about affairs. PrOUi-
dence is a word we are too apt to slight
unless it refers to city in New England
God does .tOreSee your course i'll life as
easily as you do yourself, and probably
more sO He will not make ice i'll New
York harbor in summer to please your
prayers; but who knows what he does
not, nay, will not do when decently asked
AS any other personal friend is apt to
take an interest in mans career; so God
personally, perhaps through the agency
of Christ, will plan for and help any one
in his life, though the favored one may
be ignorant of the fact. Saul was chosen
and cared for by the Lord long before he
suspected 1t.
1t is an interesting bit of history that
though the later Jews paid excessive at
tentiOn to ecclesiastical dress, Samuels
attire must have been exceedingly simple
and unassuming if Saul did not, at first
glance, recognize him as the chief priest
of the nation. 1t is in some respects a
healthful sign that ministers are content
to dress as other people and do not affect
professional clothes. They are to be men
among men, eminent not for their gar
ments bat for high qualities such as
marked the life of their Master. Atfec-
tatiOn and SanctimOniOusneSs in dress
are as much to be bewailed nowadays
when decorations and badges are the
order. as parSimOny of spirituality.
Saul was led by states to wonder and
aspire. His attention was turned from
his hOmely search to the desirable in
Israel" 1t is often worth while III polite
conversation to strike high plane, even
the spiritual 1t may not be the thing at
that moment to ask man the condition
of his soul: but there is no more Stimula-
tive topic than the philosophy and COM
parison of religions. The life of Christ
can be discussed and treated so that a
mind sluggish with ball games, yacht
races and prize fights shall be renewed
for better contest. The supreme ques-
ton as to who shall rule your body and
soul, whether it be your employer, phySi-
clan, your friend or the touch of Christ's
fascinating life, is enough to stir the most
inactive to conversation and perhaps con-
version.
After all Saul had good spice of mod
esty in him to start with. Am | not
Beniamite?" The recognition of the
fact that he was the least made him the
better fitted to become the greatest
ModeSty does no harm. 1t, too, is Christ
ian virtue True mOdesty need not carry
a man to the excess of self-depreclatlon.
The house-tOp in Eastern houses was a
secluded spot in spite of its publicity. A
conversation alone with good and great
|
career. If men who were eminent fol
their goodness would search out Oppor-
tunities oftener to speak with what are
called lower classes one at time, man
to man. and not hide the interview, the
spiritual effect might be prodigious on
either side.
Samuel was alone with Saul during the
coronation ceremony. Even Sauls init
mate servant was sent on, and undoubt-
edly he was devOured with curiosity as
are the majority of his guild. 1t is very
natural and human to want to see every
thing that is going on. Three thousand
men travel thousand miles or more to a
horse race or to see an actress. More
time is consumed and curiosity unSatlS-
fed running after celebrities or great fairs
than can be imagined. New y Ork swarm
ed with sipht-seers during Washington
celebration. multitudes of whom lost
money. comfort and patience and even an
opportunity of seeing the pageant they
hOped to witness. Does it pay?" is a
question that is asked afterward in all
solemnity when the pocket-bOOk is empty
and dyspepsia as a mild form result sets
in. One test of character is to hold up
on the rein and wait when the mad rush
begins Two cents invested in news
paper generally gives you more than you
could possibly see, and the great gain
comes in attending to business at home
and doing nObler work, and saving val
liable time, all of which would be lost IN
profitless gadding. Enough calls come &c
snatch us from the duty of life without
taking every plausible excuse to get uI
and go.
TITArT IA Mt ANKEROTTS
Old woman described in the nursery bal
lad, who lived upon nothing but victual'
and drink and yet would never
, be quiet" was undoubtedly troubled
with chronic indigestion. Her ylctuals
like those of many other elderly persons
whose digestive powers have become i'm