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when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home. And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.

Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the ta

bernacle of the congregation. And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD'S people to transgress. If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them. And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.

EVENSONG. 1 Samuel III.

And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. There

nistered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax fore Eli said unto Samuel, dim, that he could not see; Go, lie down: and it shall and ere the lamp of God be, if he call thee, that thou went out in the temple of shalt say, Speak, LORD; for the LORD, where the ark of thy servant heareth. So Sa

God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; that the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I. And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the

muel went and lay down in his place. And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall hall tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. For I have told him that I will

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judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.

And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision. Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I. And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not

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from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee. And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.

And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

Or 1 Samuel IV. to verse 19.

and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. And when the ark of the covenant of

ND the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched the LORD came into the camp, in Aphek. And the Philis- all Israel shouted with a not servants unto the He-meaneth the noise of this

tines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.

And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philis tines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies. So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims:

great shout, so that the earth rang again. And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp. And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore. Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, 0 ye Philistines, that ye be

brews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.

And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli. Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see. And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son? And the messenger answered and said, Israel is srael is fled before the Philistines, and there And there ran a man of hath been also a great slaughBenjamin out of the army, ter among the people, and and came to Shiloh the same thy two sons also, Hophni day with his clothes rent, and and Phinehas, are dead, and with earth upon his head. the ark of God is taken. And And when he came, lo, Eli it came to pass, when he sat upon a seat by the way-made mention of the ark of

side watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out. And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What

God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.

The fourth Sunday after Trinity.

MATTINS. 1 Samuel XII.

AND Samuel midojunto received any bribe to blind

have

defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand. And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.

all Israel, Behold, I mine eyes therewith? and have hearkened unto your I will restore it you. And voice in all that ye said unto they said, Thou hast not me, and have made a king over you. And now, behold, the king walketh before you and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I walked before you from my childhood unto this day. Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or advanced Moses and Aaron, whom have I defrauded? and that brought your fathers whom have I oppressed? up out of the land of Egypt. or of whose hand have I Now therefore stand still,

And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that that I may reason with you but if ye will not obey the before the LORD of all the voice of the LORD, but rebel righteous acts of the LORD, against the commandment of which he did to you and to the LORD, then shall the your fathers. When Jacob hand of the LORD be against was come into Egypt, and you, as it was against your your fathers cried unto the fathers.

LORD, then the LORD sent Now therefore stand and Moses and Aaron, which see this great thing, which brought forth your fathers the LORD will do before your out of Egypt, and made them eyes. Is it not wheat hardwell in this place. And when vest to day? I will call unto they forgat the LORD their the LORD, and he shall send God, he sold them into the thunder and rain; that ye hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them. And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, ly feared the LORD and Saand have served Baalim and muel. And all the people said Ashtaroth: but now deliver unto Samuel, Pray for thy us out of the hand of our servants unto the LORD thy

may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people great

God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.

enemies, and we will serve thee. And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and And Samuel said unto the delivered you out of the people, Fear not: ye have hand of your enemies on done all this wickedness: yet every side, and ye dwelled turn not aside from followsafe. And when ye saw that ing the LORD, but serve the Nahash the king of the LORD with all your heart; children of Ammon came and turn ye not aside: for against you, ye said unto then should ye go after vain me, Nay; but a king shall things, which cannot profit reign over us: when the nor deliver; for they are LORD your God was your vain. For the LORD will king. Now therefore behold not forsake his people for the king whom ye have his great name's sake: bechosen, and whom ye have cause it hath pleased the desired! and, behold, the LORD to make you his peoLORD hath set a king over ple. Moreover as for me, you. If ye will fear the God forbid that I should sin LORD, and serve him, and against the LORD in ceasing obey his voice, and not rebel to pray for you: but I will against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God:

teach you the good and the right way: only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. But ye shall be consumed, both if ye shall still do wickedly, ye and your king.

SAUL

EVENSONG. 1 Samuel XIII.

AUL reigned one year; according to the set time that and when he had reigned Samuel had appointed: but two years over Israel, Saul Samuel came not to Gilgal; chose him three thousand and the people were scattermen of Israel; whereof two ed from him. And Saul said, thousand were with Saul in Bring hither a burnt offering Michmash and in mount to me, and peace offerings. Beth-el, and a thousand were And he offered the burnt with Jonathan in Gibeah of offering. And it came to Benjamin: and the rest of pass, that as soon as he had the people he sent every man made an end of offering the to his tent. And Jonathan burnt offering, behold, Sasmote the garrison of the muel came; and Saul went Philistines that was in Geba, out to meet him, that he and the Philistines heard of might salute him. it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear. And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten me, and that thou camest a garrison of the Philistines, not within the days appointand that Israel also was had ed, and that the Philistines in abomination with the gathered themselves together Philistines. And the people at Michmash; therefore said were called together after I, The Philistines will come Saul to Gilgal.

And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from

down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering. And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast

And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude and they came not kept the commandment up, and pitched in Mich- of the LORD thy God, which mash, eastward from Beth- he commanded thee: for aven. When the men of now would the LORD have

Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

And he tarried seven days,

established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be cарtain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee. And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of of Benjamin.

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