From the close of the history we learn,
III. The misery he brought upon his own soul —
Great indeed were his disappointment and dis- tress—
[Behold the melancholy train; dejection, desperation, suicide ! He fainted and fell as soon as ever he heard the fate that awaited him : and was with jgreat difficulty persuaded to take such refreshment as was necessary for his support. But no humiliation of soul did he manifest ; nor, as far as we see, did he present to God one single petition. He sank down in sullen desperation, determining to meet his fate, but using no effort to obtain mercy at the hands of God. The battle termi- nated according to the word of Samuel ; and Saul himself, to prevent the mortification of falling alive into the hands of his enemies, fell upon his own sword, and put a period to his own existence*^.]
But such are generally the effects of seeking in the creature what can be found in God alone —
[Many are oppressed ^vith great dejection of mind: but if they would search out the causes of their trouble, they would find it generally to spring from lusts unmortified, and iniquities unrepented of. And how often does dejection lead to despair! Strange as it may seem, it is easier to abandon oneself to an hopeless despondency, than to renounce beloved sins, and per- severe in an earnest inquiry after God. Yes; the heart, instead of relenting, is more generally " hardened through the deceit- fulness of sin;" and when we begin to say, " There is no hope," then we add, " I have loved idols, and after them will I go." The close of all is, in too many cases, suicide : men finding no relief in God, fly to death itself as the only remedy for the troubles of life. Ah ! unhappy men, who venture thus to rush into the presence of that God, who has hid liis face from them !]
Let us LEARN then to beware,
1. Of impenitence in sin —
[Many who, like Saul, have been hopeful in their begin- nings, fall from one sin to another, till they set both God and conscience at defiance. But however sweet sin may be in the mouth, it will prove as gall in the stomach. It will destroy all peace of mind, all hope in God, all prospect in eternity. O let it not be harboured in our hearts! Whatever our besetting sin be, let us never rest tUl we have repented of it, and washed it away in the Redeemer's blood, and obtained the victory
g 1 Sam. xxxi. 4.