The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-26
SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON.
DIR. EDWARD T.. PELL on "TAE
CHILD SAMUEL"
The International Sunday school Lesson
for To- Morrow Ably ExpOunded.
The Warning.
OCTOBER E--The Child Samuel.-i SAM
uei ill.,. f-i3.

A woman in bitterness OF sout' stooo
praying An old priest sitting by post
OF the temple marked her mouth and
hearing no words. concluded that she was
drunk. Straws show which way the
winds blow. Not even the story OF Elfs
sons reveals more clearly the low state
into which Israel had fallen than does
this simple incident which introduces the
biography OF Samuel 1t did not hurt
Hannah. but it was a sad reflection upon
the age in which she lived that her fervor
in prayer should have been mistaken for
drunkenness.
Old Eli had seen so much wickedness
that it was "a natural supposition. HIS
own sons had gone their full length In all
manner of iniquity before his eyes, and
they were still filling up their cup, for
the old man. like a good many leaders
since his day, could rule Israel better
than he could rule his own household.
He was not the contemplate man that ne
has been SO often painted. lie was
amiable, unselfish, noble, magnanimous.
He could submit TO God without MIR
muir. The ark of God was his supreme
care. but lie WAS Ntdks ne "
restrain his sons. He said, You ought
not: he was afraid TO say. You shall not.
He should at least have turned them
out of office; he contented himself with
expressing his disapprobation. Like
great many parents or our time, ana OF
every time, his parental cure consisted In
telling his sons what they ought not 10
do he did not bring his fist down hard.
and tell them they had to quit-that
they should not bring the cause Of God
into contempt.
Time passed and again the woman Eli
had so cruelty misjudged stood before
him. Her prayer had been answered.
and she had come to present the little
fellow at her side TO God, as
she had vowed she would even
before ne was born. Dedicated 10
God before his birth-will II not be strange
II we never hear of that boy again? Han
nah had done two things TO make her
name worth remembering. She had ded-
icated her child 20 the Lord before ne
was born. and she had come TO give him
up to the Lord according TO her vow
There are multitudes OF mothers VINO
never dedicate their children to God before
or after birth, and of those who do how
few are ready to perform their VOW when
the time comes to give them up
The great Offering was made ard Han
nah. with empty hands and a full heart
turned homewari. Little Samuel passed
within the gate and for years We do not
hear his name mentioned except when
the mother comes up to the feast once
a year and brings him a little coat OF
her own making. Who can tell now
much Of her own spirit the mother wove
into the coat, and how much of IT the
boy caught? And who can tell what
struggle the little fellow had 10 resist the
devil in the form of Eli's sons, who must
have been an unceasing torment to MN
But he was a child of prayer; he had
been given TO God by one OF Gods own
children; and mothers prayers went
up hourly from Ramah. and mothers
love came TO him once year In his new
coat. And the child Samuel grew on.
and was In favor both with the Lord and
also with men" Is IL any wonder that
when God wanted a man 10 start new
order In Israel he should choose this enid
OF prayer. who had grown up In the house
OF the Lord and had 'mnlstered unto the
Lord before Ell?'
II was Just before dawn. and Samuel
was laid down 10 sleep Suddenly
voice called him. Doubtless the boy
had often been aroused from his slumbers
by the sleepless, dim-eyed Old priest.
and he naturally supposed that Ell had
ttlltl flfiis ~ lfi H' 100 ''fHNt'''''fN
ed with the visions Of the Almighty
But the alacrity with which he ran IN
answered to the call was good EVIL
dence that he would have been os obedi-
ent If he had known the call
was from God The boy VINO
Will not obey his parents or those
who are over him, will not obey the call
OF the Almighty. Eli imagined the boy
had been bloomington visions were
rare in those days-and sent him back to
bed Again the voice called and the boy
ran back to Eli. The third time the call
was repeated and the boy was just as
quick to obey as at the first. Wonderful
boy not 10 grow impatient, not 10 fret.
not to argue matters, just simply TO obey.
Simple as II seems how few OF us are
equal 20 such a test
What must have been the cbild's feel
ings as ne went back with the thought
filling his little head almost TO bursting
that it was the Almighty himself who was
speaking to him. God had made no mis-
take: he had chosen a hero. As we watch
ed the hoy lying there waiting again for
the voice with the answer ready on his
iips. we see not merely a pattern Tor
children but an example for men ana
women who are the children OF COD.
We learn how 10 wait on God, how 10
receive his call Samuel went back 70
his place; how many would nave run
away He lay there waiting READY
TO hear God speak, though he did not
know what God was going 10 say ready
10 take Gods orders, though he had no
idea how hard a thing God would re-
auire of him. when the call came. ne
vas prepared for IT. Speak, Lord, Tor
thy servant heareth," rang out the child
lsh voice. Most OF us would have been
frightened out OF our wits. Are we not
now when God calls us-when we are
called TO sacrifice, 10 conservation. 70
hard duty. 10 speak word OF warning
Samuel knew that be had been dedicated
10 the Lord and he had learned the ART
OF obedience: II We felt tnat We are not
our own-that we are bought with a
price-if We were IN the habit OF obeying
a call from God would not frghten US
any more than 1t frightened samuel.
III was a sad message that this young
prophet received from the Lord. HIS ola
teacher had dsplcased God. and vas
about to be judged. because his sons
made themselves vile, and he restrained
them not" We are not told that he
WAS ordered 20 deliver the messaFe.
but a message from God which concerns
others burns In the heart until The pro-
phet gets rid OF IT, Still he was but
child: he Old not feel called 10 90 unhid-
den into the presence Of his old teacher
with a Thus saith the Lord" lie was
not conceited He had not been pulled
up by the vision. God would not have
him act as some callow youths of our DAY
who feel called upon 10 reDuke aged
saints. and to give their pastors the
benefit of their superior Judgment, ara
so he put II In the heart Of Eli 70 COM
mand the boy TO tell him all that the Lord
had said.