place, judging Israel, returning to Ramah, for there was his house, and there he judged Israel, and there he built an altar unto the Lord.

Samuel was very happy in being called so early to the special service of God. He seems to have been a very obedient child. When he heard his name called, as he thought by Eli, although it was in the dark night, he got up directly and ran to see what Eli wanted. And this he did three times, though Eli told him each time he had not called him. Then Samuel was told it was God Himself who had spoken, and he listened to the words of God, and told the sad message to poor old Eli. If Eli had taken pains to make his own two sons obedient when they were as young as Samuel, he would not have had such heavy sorrow in his old age. Dear children, try always to submit patiently, and even cheerfully, to the restraints your fathers and mothers lay upon you. We are told that the reason of God's anger with Eli was that "his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.” So that if fathers and mothers were to let children go their own way without reproof,

they would disobey God, and bring sin upon their own heads.

Whose son was Samuel?

How came he to be taken to serve so early in God's house?

Who was Eli? and what message did God send him by Samuel?

What punishment came upon Israel through the sins of Eli's sons?

Who took the ark of the Lord from Israe!?

What happened to the idol Dagon ?

Did Samuel judge Israel?

Saul is made King over Israel.

SRAEL grew weary of the Lord,

And, full of murmuring,

They would not hear good Samuel's word,

But still desired a king.

He said, It is not for your good :

A king will work you woe;

But to their wicked will they stood-
Nay, we will have it so.

And so it was-God heard their prayer,
And granted all they sought;
Samuel young Saul anointed there,
And he their battles fought.

At first he kept God's holy will,
Was humble, and obeyed;

Whilst Samuel taught all Israel still,
And for them watched and prayed.

But when the hour of trial came,
In spite of Samuel's word,

Saul feared the voice of human blame,

And disobeyed the Lord.

Then Samuel cried, O king, the price

Is heavy thou must pay;

For, far above all sacrifice,

'Tis better to obey.

Israel desires a King. Saul is anointed by Samuel. Saul disobeys God's Command.

OW when Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel. But they walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and said unto him, Make us a king to judge us, like all the nations. But this thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Make us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee, for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I

brought them up out of Egypt unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken Me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. Now, therefore, hearken unto their voice. Howbeit, yet protest solemnly unto them, and show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked of him a king, and explained to them how a king would oppress them. And he added, And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen; and the Lord will not hear you in that day. Nevertheless, the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel, and they said, Nay, but we will have a king over us, that we may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the Lord. And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.

Now, there was a man of Benjamin, whose