The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-20
Mr.. Roosevelt will find it out before
his public career shall have ended 1lti' q


L 80
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SAUL
(Seiected for the Times)
't'God gave him another heart sam
uel. *, 8.
The threads OF daily life often appear
to be either loose or hopeiessly entangled O.
At times we seem to have nothing to do
with each other. We go on our separate
ways. It is only now and them that we
find our lines touch. and see that under
the apparent simplicity of daily affairs,
there are wrought out strange destinies.s
A man climbs a hill, that in solitude he
may revel in the landscape, and 10! a
little child meets him and it forms turn
ing point in his career. a traveller turns
aside that he may drink OF the well by the
way, and behold, one is there before him,
who in moment more will be gone and
he becomes the Joy Of his life, the ruler Of
his future. So it ever is. We know not
what we do. We go and know not how
we shall return. We lie down, not know
ing what the morning shall bring US. we
speak, and our word lifts some listening
soul almost to Heaven. Thus our life IS a
mystery; we are strangers; yet triends'
closely found together.
The circumstances in connection with
the text leads US into this strain OF re-
flection The Lord had determined to
grant the request OF Israel for q KING.
instructions to that end were given Sam
uel.
And the asses of Kish sauls father,
were lost
This is che of what might be called the
vexatious and stupid affairs OF daily HE.
It seems most paltry statement TO De
found in a book which is revelation
from Heaven. The asses were lost; what
then? Who cares? Yet out OF this SIM
pie event God was preparing a way for
Israel The asses being lost, kish COM
manded his son Saul to take with nm q
servant and go in pursuit. Saul instantly
responded and this is the more remark
able seeing that he is described as a
choice Young man and a goodly; and there
was not among the children OF lsrael d
goodlier person than he; from ms sIo''i-
ders and upward he was higher than any
of the people, Shall he be sent on TINS
mental errand? Might he not regard tho
request of his father as imposing on nm
8, hunaiiiatins duty? Contrast the majesty
of his person with the contemphoieness
OF his errs1d, and say if there is not
great disproportion
Yet Saul so Imperial in bearing, so
choice and goodly in all physical man
hood, appears to have obeyed Instantly
tn behest of his father The tiilal spirit
never sees anything contemplate IN the
paternal desire. Men should rule their
lives not by the insignifcance of the ser
vice but by the sublmity of the one Ruler
who commands. Saul might nave resaro-
ed the asses only; instead of that, ne iooh-
ed at his father, and in that LOOK we mo
~. secret Of his obedience and his alac-
rity.
For three DAYS were the asses sought
,,,era are men to-day who are repeating
hi, experience with painful falthtuiiess.
Go where they will, they find no. the op-
ject OF their search. They cilmo' thes
speed along, they rise with the sum- sel
tho desire, of their eyes is Withheld from
them. Look at Saul, YEARLY wandering
from place to place, inquirins, looking
hoping, yet finding all his efforts endlhs
in disappointment. The road to honor is
often long and hard. Men have to endure
the discipline Of disappointment before
+hay can bear the reward of success.
When Saul had found his way to sam
uel, Samuel said to him: AS Tor those
asses that were lost three days ago, set
not thy mind on them, for they are
found, A wonderful kingdom is the
Kingdom of God Doth anything escape.
the care Of God? Doth not God care for
oxen? Doth a, sparrow fall to the ground
without our Fathers notice? If we give
the great concerns OF our life INTO the
hands of God. nothing that belongs to us
shall be unworthy of His notice, for the
very hairs OF your head are all number
ed"
Mark the consideration and the fore
thought of the great prophet. Though
Samuel had before him the future King
of Israel, and he himself was about to be
deposed from MS supremacy; yet he COM
municated to Saul first the Intelligence Of
the lost asses. Though about to dazzle the
eyes of Saul with a strange new bril-
lance, yet he paid attention to the family
concerns in which Saul was interested.
The lesson is great to those who have
hearts to understand!
Having had this momentous Interview
with Samuel in which the Whole course
Of his life was changed, Saul started on
his homeward way. and he read that
when he turned his back to go from Sam
uel, God gave him another heart
Observe, not increased intelligence, not
additional personal stature, nor any sign
that that he was elected to be King Of
Israel; God gave him another heart"
This is the question Of life. There are
many who know theologically the way of
salvation; there are many who know the
difference between falsehood and truth;