,of the Lord, &c. And after his death he prophesied, and showed the king his end" (Eccles. xlvi. 13-20). He died-1. In a good old age. At what age we kno1'1 ·not; but long ago he spoke of himself as "old and grayheaded" (eh. xii. 2). Ili~ -protracted life was an evidence of his self-control and piety, a mark of Divine favour, and 11 means of extended usefulness. He was cut down not like "the flower of tl,e field," which blooms for a day and is gone, nor like the spreading forest tree smitten by a sudden blast; but rather like the ripe corn, bending down beneath its golden 'burden and falling under the sickle of the reaper; and "as shocks of corn are brought ,in in their season," so was he "gathered to his people." 2. At the proper tim~. When his appointed work was done, the new order of things firmly established, and ·he could by his continuance do little more for Israel, he was "taken away from the -evil to come" through which the nation was to attain its highest glory. " He was the link which connected two very different periods, being the last representative of .-a past which could never come back, and seemed almost centuries behind, and also marking the commencement of a new period intended to develop into Israel's ideal future" (Edersheim). "If David's visible deeds were greater and more dazzling than Samuel's, there can be no doubt that David's blaze of glory would have been impossible without Samuel's less conspicuous but far more influential career, and that all the greatness of which the following century boasts goes back to him as its real author" (Ewald). 3. In peaceful retirement; removed from public strife, under Divine protection, surrounded by prophetic associates, reviewing the past, contem- plating the present, and awaiting the final change. A holy and useful life is crowned with a peaceful and happy death. 4. In Divine communion, which constitutes the l1ighest life of the good. In God (with whom he had walked from his childhood, ,and whose inward voice he had so often heard) he found his chief delight, to his will he cheerfully submitted, and into his hands he committed his spirit in hope of con- tinued, perfect, and eternal fellowship. The ancient covenant to be "the God'' of his people overshadowed the present and the future; nor did they suppose (however dim their views of another life) that he would suffer them to be deprived by death of his presence and love "All live unto him" and in him. He "died in faith." His decease was like a peaceful summer sunset. '' Not the last struggle of the sun Precipitated from his golden throne Holds, dazzling, mortals in sublime suspense ; But the calm ex:ode of a man, Nearer, but far above, who ran The race we run, when Heaven recalls him hence" (W. S. La.ndor). II. THE MOURNING OF A WHOLE PEOPLE. "And all Israel" (represented by their elders)" were gathered together" ( out of common veneration and love), "and lamented him" (whom a.II knew and none would see again), "and buried him in his house at Ramah" (" the ancient and the manor house," so long his residence, and endeared to him by so many tender associations). It was" a grievous mourning," as when Jacob was buried at Machpelah (Gen. I. 11; Acts viii. 2). The honour rendered to his memory was simple and sincere, very different from that which, it is said, was paid to his dust in later times, when "his remains were removed with incredible pomp and almost one continued train of attendants from Ramah to Constantinople by the Emperor Arce.dins, A.D. 401" (Delany, i. 148). But" of Samuel, as of Moses, it may be said, 'No man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day'" (Stanley). The national mourning was an indication of-1. The high esteem in which he was held, on account of his great ability, eminent piety, and beneficent activity-his integrity, firmness, gentleness, consistency, disinterestedness, adaptability, and living communion with God (eh. ii. 30; Ps. cxii. 6). "A true Christian may tmvel in life under troubles and contempts; but mark his end, and you shall find (as peace, so) honour. Life is death's seed-time; death life's harvest. As here we sow, so there we reap. He that spends himself upon God and man shall at last have all the honour that heaven and earth can cast upon him" (R. Harris). 2. The deplorable loss which had been sus- taintld. "The men who had once rejected Samuel now lamented him; when the light t>f his presence was departed they felt the darkness which remained; when th@ 490 TIIE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. [en. xxv. 1-44.
ac-~na! c-nerg-_,- of hi~ example I_rnd cease? to act they remembered the etrength of his pnn_c1ples, the_ consrnte~cy of its operation. There was a feeling common to. man. Wlnlst we en)OY the gift we ofttnnes forget. the Giver, nrnl are awakened only to the full con_sc10nsness of the value of that winch we ouce pnssessed by finding thut we possess 1t no longer" (Anderson). 3. The unjust treatment which he had received a~d which was now re~re~ted. His \lredic-tions had proved true (eh. viii. 11), and his conrse was folly vmd1cated. "'I he sorrow at his decease was the deeper the· more hea,ily the yoke of Saul's misgovernment pressed on them." 4. The conti~1ted in/foence he e:x:er~ed upon the natio~. "The holy expression etamped by him on the tnbes of Benprnm and Judah remamed for centuries uneffaced. Never was a single man more instrumental in sowing the soil of a district with the enduring seeds of· goodnes~. It seems to h_a"Ve_ been m~inly through his influence that piety found a home m Judal_1 and B~npmm when 1t was banished from the rest of the country. Humanly speakmg Da".1d coul~ never have been king if Samuel had not prepared the way._ He was to Kmg David what John the Baptist was to Christ. Unquestion- ably he 1s to be ranked among the very greatest and best of the Hebrew worthies" (Blaikie). "And he being dead yet speaketh." - " 0 good gray head which all men knew, 0 voice from which their omens all men drew, 0 iron nerve to true occasion true, 0 fall'n at length that tower of strength Which stood four-square to all the winds that blew ! " (Tennyson). Learn to-1. Honour the memory of the good. 2. Praise God for their lives. 3. Imitate their example. 4. Carry out their purposes.-D.