LIB. XI. EL 1 and hi8 Sonnes. A wakes s.,.uel, to tell himwhat he1vould doe ,vith his ma!ler. He which was wonr to he the mouth of God to the people, muft now receive the Melfage ofGoJ from the mouthof another; As greatperfons will not fpeake to thofe with whom they are highly offended, but fend them their checks by others. The lights ofthe Templewere now: dim,& almo!l ready to gi1e place to the morning,when God called Samutl;to figmfic,perhaps,thatthofe wluch !hould have been the liahts oflfrael,burned no le!fedirnly,and were neere their going out, & {hould he fu~ceeded with one, fo much more lightfome than they, as rhe Sunne was more bright than the lamps.Godohad good leafure to have delivered rhis melfage by day· bur he meant to makeufe of Samuels mi!laking;and rherfore fo fpeaks, that e!y may he asked for an anf,vcr,& perceive himfelfboth omitted& cenfured.He that meant B tou[esamuels voice to £/y,imitates the voiceof Ely to Samuel;Samuel had foaccu!lorned himfelfro obedience and to anliver the ea! of Ely, that lying in the further eels ofthe Levir~,he is eafily raifed from his_lle~p; and e~en in rh~ ni(!;ht runnes for his rnelfage to htm, IYhowas rather to recetve tt from !urn. Thrtce ts the oldman difq_uieted with the diligence of his fervant ; and, though vifions were rare in his dayes, yet is he not fo unacquainted with God, as not to attribute that voyce to him, which himfclfe heard not. Wherefore, like a better Tutor than a Parent, bee teaches Samuel what he !ball anfwer, Spe.Xe Lord, for thy [erva1<t beareth. Itmigbr have pleafed God at tbe lir!lcaU, to have delivered his me!fage roSamuel, nor expecting the anfiver of a novice unf<>en in the vifions of a God;yet doth C herarher deferre ir till rh• fourth fummons, and will nor fpeake till Samuel confelfed his audience. God loves ever to prepare his fervants for his imployments andwil not commit his errands, but to thofe, whom he addre!ferh bothbywonder' and attention and humility. ~ ' . Eli kne\f we! the 11racious fa!hion ofGod,tbat where he tended a favour, prorogation could be no h1~derance,and therefore after the call ofGod thrice anfwered wirh lilence, beinlhuas Samuel to he ready forthefourth: If Samuels ftlence had been wilfull, I doubt whether he had been againe follicitcd; Now God doth both pitty his error, and requite his diligenceby redoubling his name atlaft. Samueilladnow many yeares mini!lred before the I:ord,bur never till now heard his voyce; ~nd now heares it withmuch terrour; for,the firft word that he heares D God Ipeak<, is threatning, and that of ve~geance to his Ma!ler. What were thefe menaces, but fo many premonitions to himfelfe that !hould fucceed Eli I God hegins early ro feafon their heartswith feare, whom he meanes ro make eminent in- !irumeuts of his glory. It is his mercy to make us witnelfes of the judgemeots of others ; that we may be forewarned, erewe have the occafions offinning. . I doe not beare God bid Samuel deliverhis melfage toE li; He that wasbut nO\'r 111ade a Prophet, knowe1that1:he errands ofGod intend not filence; and that God wouldnot have fpoken to him ofanother, if he had meant the newes !hould hereferved ro him(e!fe : Neither yet did he run with open mouth unto Eli, to tell him this vilion unasked. Nowife manwill he ba!ly to bring ill tidings tothe great; rather doth he ftay til the importuaity of his Ma{\cr !houldwring it from his unlvilE lingne!fe; and then as his concealment !hewed his love, fo his full relation lhall apprave his fidelity. Ifthe heart of eli bad not told him this newcs, before God told it Samuel, he had never been fo in!lant with Samuel, not to conccal.e it; His confcience did well prefagethat it cencerqed himfelfe; guiltinelfc needs no Prophet to alfure it of punifhment. The mind that is troubled, projetleth terrible things: and though it cannot fingleout the judgementallotted to it, yet it is in a confufed expe&arion of fome gnevous evi!l. )Surely, eli could not think-it worfe ti)an it was; The fentence was fearefull,and fuch,as I wonder,th~ neck,or the heart Qfold Eli could hold out the report of;That God fweares he wil judge flies houfe, and thatwith beggery, with death,lfith defolatiop, and that the wickcdnelfe of his houfe !halnot be purgedwith facrilice,or offrings for ever:andyet this which every • lfraelites 11005
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