of the kingdom, we do not find that he was grieved either for himself or his children : but for Saul and his children he deeply grieved. In his own case, Samuel had nothing to de- plore : whilst he fell a victim to the ingratitude of man, he had a testimony from the whole nation, and from God himself, that he had discharged his duty towards them with fidelity : but in the case of Saul, he saw the man who had been specially called by God to the kingdom, now dispossessed of it by that very God who had appointed him, and under his heavy and merited displeasure. In a word, the sin and the punishment of Saul formed in the mind of Samuel one ground of deep and undis- sembled grief.]
2. The expression of it —
[By God the sentence against Saul had been pronounced; and none but God could reverse it. But so often, and in such astonishing instances, had God condescended to the prayers of his servants, yea, to the prayers of Samuel himself, that this holy man did not despair of yet obtaining mercy for his vmhappy prince. He, therefore, betook liimself to prayer, and continued in it all the night, hoping that, like Israel of old, he should at last prevail. With what " strong crying and tears" may we suppose he urged his suit ! And what an extra- ordinary measure of compassion must he have exercised, when he could continue in supplication for a whole night together ! Such had been his feelings towards the people at large, after they had rejected him: " God forbid that I should sin against the Lord, in ceasing to pray for you ^." And such is the pro- per expression of love, whether towards God or man : for God it honours as a merciful and gracious God ; whilst it seeks to benefit man, by bringing down upon him the blessing of the Most High.]
But, in contemplating his example, we are chiefly called to notice,
II. The instruction to be derived from it —
In this record we may see what should be our
conduct,
1. In reference to the sins of others —
[It is amazing with what indifference the universal preva- lence of sin is beheld by the generality of mankind. Those evils which tend to the destruction of aU social comfort are indeed reprobated by men of considerate minds : but it is in that view alone tliat they are reprobated. As offending God, they are scarcely thought of: men may live altogether as
•^ i Sam. xii. 2.3.