The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-16
Life of Samuel.

The life of Samuel, the father and
founder of the Prophetic order, is one
of the grandest. most romantic records
to be found in the history of humanity.
From the first page to the last of his
wonderful biography there is not page
THAT is not worthy of careful study. AS
the Judge and ruler of great people.
who as yet had not become consolidated
into a nation, he commands the Tever-
ence of the world. AS the prophet of
God with words of thu,.der on his lips,
we stand in awe OF him. AS the
founder of the schools Of the prophets
educator. The magnanimity with
which he girds the brow OF Saul with
lsrael's first kingly crown and then
retires uumurmuringly into the
quietude Of private life presents an ex-
ample of dignity OF character almost
unequalled in the history of the
ages. But we are just now con-
cerned with a familiar episode of
his early boyhood. The child Samuel
was, in a special and significant sense.
what we call a child of prayer. All
the world knows by heart the beauti-
full story of the yearning, prayerful
mother. The music of her songs of JOY
when Samuel was born ever breaks
through all the years, and the tender,
gracious conservation of her child TO
God has inspired the hearts of mothers
the wide world over with a similar
spirit of gentle love. The story of the
annual visit to the temple with the
newly broidered coat is as beautiful as
it is simple. Samuel's young life in
the temple at Shiloh is as beautiful as
an angels dream. One night in the
sacred silence Samuel hears voice
calling him by name, and thinking
this was Ellis voice, he goes to the
venerable priest and says: Here ]
anu" And Eli says, Il called thee not,
my child; go lie down agaiu." a sec
ond and third time Samuel hears the
voice, and goes TO Eli. AT last il
dawns on Eli that God is speaking to
the child. The rest of the story we
know. How God in wonderful words
revealed to this child what should come
TO pass. But let us pause here moment.
made mistake. He thought it
was Eli calling when, i'll fact, it was
God. What could be more natural |?
This boy was accustomed to be reused
by XII, and was he not ever ready when
that voice broke the silence TO hasten
and obeyy What boy, however de-
voted TO the service of the temple.
would expect to hear God calling him
when the High Priest was near at handf
II we read carefully the Old Testament
weI shall find how over and over
again God lays his hand upon the young
and speaks with solemn commands to |
mere boys. jeremiah was but fifteen /
Years of age when God called him to
confront sinful and perverse genera
ion. We should teach our children that /
hey are never too young for God to call |
hem. Never TOO young for His sacred |
service. Samuel thought it was Eli |
,alling, but he was mistaken; God was |
,alhng. God often calls when we think |
he voice is another's. In the common
md ordinary experiences of life we |
make these grave mistakes. God is |
peakiDg to us through the voices of our
owed ones. Our fathers and mothers
ire often the medium through which
sod is calling. The voice from the pull
pit is very often the voice of God.
all sorts of experiences of
lealth and sickness, of JOY and sorrow.
rod is calling and we know il not.
mistake was corrected. He
vas IN the line of duty. lie was the
10Y of the listening ear and the obedi-
mt mind. And ii is to the listeners, to
hose who watch and wait. and VINO at
he first call are ready to obey. that
rod grants the revelations of His will:
I'D TO such he appoints the noblest des- ,
mes VI sacred service. Inter Ocean. ,