The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-10-13
THE DAILY TIMES SUNDAY. OCTOBER 10. 1882.

Of that service. Natural disposition,
parental influence, and early associa'
tions are prime factors in the construc'
ton Of character. Childhood and youth
are the periods in which character 10
formed. Few characters change mate
terially after the age Of thirty. BY
that period habits become formed, I'M
pressons fixed, and the future charac-
ter Of the man made. The truth OF these
statements is clearly shown by contrasts
in the lives Of Samuel. Saul and David.
Samuel entered Gods service in
childhood, David in youth, Saul IN
manhood. Samuel's natural DISPOSE
ton was gentle, loving, and obedient.
Dlvid's was tender, bold. and aggres-
sive. Saul's was fierce, jealous, and
obstinate.
Samuel was blessed with a praying
mother. who dedicated him TO God in
infancy. David was afflicted with an
Indifferent father. who looked upon
him as hardly one Of the family, but
rather an attendant upon the rest.
Saul was cursed with a rich father.
Samuel first personal acquaintance
with the Lord occurred in the temple,
in the stiffness of the night. David
was Amounted at home, in the presence
Of the family. Saul received new
hean on the highway as he was return
ing home.
Spiritual and sanctuary privileges
enabled Samuel to grow up man OF
prayer. The influences of wealth in
childhood caused Saul to grow covetous.
Pastoral duties developed David into
man Of perseverance, persistence, and
pluck.
An errand led Saul to kingdom. A
shepherd = sling raised David from OBJ
security to fame. a mother prayer
gave Samuel to Israel. Samuel knew
no motive but the will of God. Sauls
incentive was self-interest.
Samuel obeyed the voice Of the Lord
Saul. the voice of the people. Samuel
craved the favor of God; Saul, the
praise Of Israel. Samuel brought Israel
out of idolatry, Saul clothed the
daughters Of Israel in scarlet delicately
and put ornaments of gold upon their
Samuel delivered Israel out of the |
hands of the Philistines by prayer
Saul took his own life, being more |
afraid of the pursuing Philistines than
of an avenging God.
Prayer, repentance, and Divine inter
position was the solid foundation on
which Samuel built his Ebenezer, say
ing, Hitherto hath the Lord helped US.
Unbelief, impenitence, and popular APP
plause was the sandy soil on which Saul
built monument to his own yaiDglOry,
saying, The people spared.
Samuel cried unto to the Lord all
night for Saul, and David generously
spared his life; but Saul deliberately
lied to Samuel, and traitorously tried
to kill David
Samuel's most successful weapon was
prayer; David's was faith. Saul lost
a kingdom and defeated himself by
self reliance; Samuel ruled without
ambition, and resigned his office with
cut reluctance. Saul was ambitious for
power. and even encroached upon the
pricstly Office.
Samuels record proved him to be the
ideal judge of irreproachable integrity
Saul's history that Of disobedient, dis
honest, and deceitful king.
Physically, Saul was giant, David
was a stripping. Morally, Saul was a
cowars, David hero. Spiritually, Saul
was a stripping, David a giant.
Samuel is the great example of ali
ancient saint growing up to old age
sudden conversion. Saul
was q direct example Of the mixed
character often produced by conversion
in the midway of life.