gave security to those who were quiet in the land. His know- ledge of the laws inspired all with confidence: his known in- tegrity disposed all to a ready acquiescence in his decisions: his authority silenced opposition, where unreasonable selfish- ness would otherwise have maintained and perpetuated discord: and his taking a circuit, annually, for the express purpose of dispensing justice, facilitated the access of all to his tribunal ; when, if he had remained at home, multitudes would have been constrained to go without redi-ess, through an incapacity to bring before him all the witnesses that should be necessary to substantiate their claims.]
2. In the maintenance of true religion —
[Whilst the ark was at Shiloh, he would probably have not felt himself authorized to build an altar at Ramah : but now that it had been many years removed from the Tabernacle, in which, till it was taken by the Philistines, it had been kept — and, consequently, the worship of Jehovah, as appointed in the Law, had been neglected — he, as a prophet of the Most High God, and doubtless by inspiration of God, raised an altar at Ramah, where the seat of government was; and thus pro- claimed through the land, that Jehovah, and Jehovah alone, was to be worshipped. To see this in a proper light, we must recollect, that the whole people of Israel had been addicted to idolatry, worshipping everywhere strange gods, even Baalim and Ashteroth^. For this, God had given them up into the hands of the Philistines for several years ; till, upon their re- penting and turning to the Lord, he had delivered them by the hands of Samuel. It was under these circumstances that Samuel built an altar to the Lord, that so the people might be kept steadfast to the faith they had received. And this was doubtless a great benefit conferred upon the land ; because his example, supported and enforced as it was by his authority, could not fail to deter many from relapsing to idolatry, and to encourage everywhere the worship and the service of the one true God.]
Perceiving, as we now must, how happy that people was under such a governor, we yet are only the better prepared to see,
II. The superior advantages which we enjoy under our government —
We will mark this in both of the preceding parti- culars : for it is certain that we far, very far, excel them,
b 1 Sam. vi. 3, 4. '
291. J Samuel's judicial character. 157
1. In our legal proceedings —
[We have an order of persons expressly for the purpose of maintaining, and enforcing, and executing the laws. For this office they are qualified, by a long and most laborious educa- tion ; and are chosen from amongst their competitors on ac- count of their superior proficiency : and, so far from having their time occupied with poHtical engagements, they are abso- lutely prohibited from entering upon the great political arena of the nation, in order that they may be kept free from any undue bias, and be enabled to devote all their time and all their talents to the prosecution of their one object of dispensing justice through the land. And these persons take a circuit, not through one district only, (like Samuel, who went not be- yond the country belonging to the tribe of Benjamin,) but through the whole kingdom; and that, not once only, but twice in the year, and in some part even thrice : and in respect of impartiality and integrity, they were not exceeded even by Samuel himself. Under the whole heavens there never was a country where the laws were more equitably, more impartially dispensed. Even religion itself, which, as an object of aver- sion, is more likely to warp the judgment than any thing else, is sure to find support according to the laws ; and, if it is on any occasion oppressed, it is only in conformity with laws that have been unadvisedly enacted, and not in opposition to laws that have been made for its support.