A compleat history and mystery of the Old and New Testament logically discust and theologically improved : in four volumes ... the like undertaking (in such a manner and method) being never by any author attempted before : yet this is now approved and commended by grave divines, &c. / by Christopher Ness ...

1 Sam. CHAP. X.

IN Chapter the Tenth follows the Election, Ʋnction and Inauguration of Saul to the Kingdom, which is twofold. (1.) Private. (2.) Publick. Remarks upon the private Unction first.

The First Remark is, Samuel after this Third private Conference with Saul (as above) Anointed him King by Divine Direction, ver. 1. [Samuel takes a Vial of Oyl, and pour∣ed it upon Saul's Head.]

N. B. Note here, (1.) It was not an Horn of Oyl (as when David and his Posterity were Anointed) but a Vial, or Glass, to signifie (say some) the short continuance of Saul's Kingdom. (2.) His Head was Anointed to shew his Superiority over his Sub∣jects. (3.) With Oyl (which will ever work it self up to the top of other Liquors) to set forth the pouring forth the Gifts of God's Spirit upon him to enable him for the Ad∣ministration of his Regal Office. (4.) Oyl, being of a soft and smooth Nature, was a Symbol of Clemency and Candid Lenity, which he ought to exercise towards his Sub∣jects in the discharge of his Duty.

N. B. Then Samuel kissed him, in token both of his Affection and of his Subjection to him, not grudging to resign the Office of Supream Magistracy to Saul, which he had held in his hands for many Years, and now not disenabled to manage it himself, but only dispossess'd of it by the meer Humours of the Mobile.

N. B. And some suppose that Saul seemed in Modesty to refuse Samuel's Anointing him, till Samuel pacified and perswaded him, saying, ['Tis the Lord that Anointeth thee to be Captain over his Inheritance,] as the Baptist said to Christ, [Suffer it to be so now, &c.] Matth. 3.14, 15. telling Saul, that he was but God's Minister, and that Saul must govern God's People according to God's Will (whose they were) and not according to his own Will.

The Second Remark is, The Three Oracles, or significant Signs, whereby Samuel con∣firmed Saul's Faith concerning the truth of his Call to the Kingdom, when he saw those several Circumstances (all casual and contingent Matters, which none but the true Jehovah could foresee, and none but his true Prophet could foretel) came to pass, v. 2, 3, 4, 5. to v. 14.

The first Sign was the Tidings he should take from the Mouth of two Men at Rachel's Sepulchre, immediately (saith he) after thy departure from me, [That thy Father's Asses are found again,] v. 2.

N. B. 1. Samuel sends Saul (newly Anointed) to Rachel's Sepulchre, to mind him of his Mortality, and to keep him humble, that he might not be too much transported with this new Honour which he was now entring upon.

The second Sign was, The kind Courtesie of three Strangers to him meeting him in the Plain of Tabor, &c. v. 3, 4. [They will (saith he) present thee with two Loaves, by way of Homage to thee as their King, being stirred up hereto by a strange Motion of God's Spirit, who knows thy Bread is spent, chap. 9.7.]

N. B. 2. Samuel had sent him away unfurnish'd with needful Food for his Journey, partly because he would not seem to curry favour with this new King by such Bribes of Bread; and partly because he foresaw those strangers would furnish him with enough.

The third and most certain Sign to assure him of his call from God to Kingly Office, was the Inspiration of God's Spirit upon him in the end of his Journey, v. 5, 6. &c. 9, 10, 11, &c.

N. B. Note well. First, The Accomplishment of the two former Signs are not expresly related, but certainly supposed; for 'tis affirmed in the General, that [all those Signs came to pass that day,] v. 9. and the reason why no more is mentioned of them may well be, because they were only two transient Acts which passed between some few Per∣sons meeting together, and passing by one another, but the accomplishment of this third Oracle is largely insisted upon, and related in a more solemn manner, because it was a more permanent Sign, and of greater Importance, being more pertinent to Saul's Person and his present private Condition.

The Second Note, Here is Stupenda Dei Dignatio, most marvelous Divine Conde∣scension, that God should thus vouchsafe to give Men Signs for fortifying their Faith from future Events; this the Lord hath usually done, as Exod. 3.12. 2 Kings 19.29.

Isa. 7.13, 14. Thus the Lord stooped so low to Saul as to assure him of his extraordi∣nary Call to be a King by many Signs which he saw fulfilled, but more especially in this Third Sign.

Note Thirdly, This Third Sign was a complication of many Signs. As, (1.) His meeting with the Prophets. (2.) His own Prophecying. (3.) His being turned into another Man. And (4.) According as some give the sense, [Thou shalt go down before me to Gil∣gal, where thou shalt tarry for me Seven Days, &c.] v. 8. How a Company of Prophets (both Tutors and Pupils) met him, we are told in, v. 10. as likewise, how the Spirit of Prophecy came upon him and caused him to Prophecy among them, so that he could speak of Divine and Spiritual Matters both above his Natural Abilities and his Civil Edu∣cation; and hereby he became another Man, as Samuel had foretold, v. 6. he now ap∣peared not like a Rude Rustick (fitted only to feed his Fathers Asses) but like a Learn∣ed Prophet, yea, and a Spirit of Government came upon him also, to fit him for the Cal∣ling of a King: He was changed into another Man, but not into a New, or Spiritual Man.

N. B. God gave him another Heart, v. 9. yet not a new Heart; 'twas only a Civil, but not a Sanctifying Change; God gave him not that free and Noble Spirit that David pray'd for, Psal. 51.12. but only common Gifts of a Princely Port, Prudence, Courage and Conduct, &c. had it been Saving Grace wrought in him by the Spirit of Holiness, that fearful Defection into Outragious Wickedness had not appeared in him afterwards: However it was such a Change from a Rustick to a Ruler, as made all his Spectators mar∣vel, v. 11, 12. Insomuch that it became a Vulgar Proverb, [Is Saul also among the Pro∣phets?] when they saw any Rude Man raised up and ranked among Men of Eminency far above his Birth and Breeding: Thus the People wondered at this change in Saul, whom they look'd upon as fitter to look to his Fathers Asses, than to bear his part in the Holy Exercises of the Prophets, until one wiser than the rest supposed to be the Provost of the Colledge) said to them, Wonder not, my Sons, at this Change, for those Gifts come not by Nature, or Art, but by Grace; they come from God who is a free Agent, and inspires whom he pleaseth.

N. B. Thus another Saul was as much wondered at, when of a Persecutor, the Lord made him a Preacher, Acts 9.21. and the other Apostles were no less wondered at, when Illiterate Fishermen were changed into Learned Fishers of Men▪ Acts 2.7, 8. and 4.13. and no less was our Lord himself wondered at, Mark 6.2, 3. John 7.15.

As to the fourth Signal of Saul's tarrying for Samuel Seven Days at Gilgal, (which probably was propounded as a standing Law to him in cases of Emergency, as Invasion of Enemies, &c. v. 8, 9. Though Saul kept this Rule of Samuel exactly, chap. 11.14, 15. yet he basely broke it in chap. 13.8. in not staying to the last hour of the Seventh Day, for which Foolish Action Samuel sharply reproves him, ver. 13. chap. 13, &c. Josephus saith, He fail'd in this constant Rule.

The Third Remark is, Both the Piety and the Modesty of Saul in his Introduction to Royal Dignity, &c.

N. B. First, His Piety appeareth, v. 13. no sooner were his Prophetick Raptures over, but he resorts to the Synagogue or place of Divine Worship, with his Fellow-Prophets, both to Praise God for his Divine Call to such an High Advancement, and to Pray unto him for his Protection and Direction therein, &c.

N. B. Secondly, His Modesty in his Taciturnity and Reservedness towards his Uncle, who being there present, and observing this unexpected alteration in his Nephew, made him the more inquisitive about his Journey; suspecting something extraordinary had happened to him, that had caused this strange change. Saul answers his Ʋncle, that Samuel told him the Asses were found, but not a word of his finding a Kingdom, v. 14, 15, 16. Josephus renders two very good Reasons of Saul's silence in this business.

First, Lest if his Uncle had believed it, Saul had then been matter of envy to his Superior; seeing the Nephew preferr'd before him.

Secondly, If be had not believed it, then would he have jeared Saul for a Proud, Ambitious and Imperious Fool. I Add,

Thirdly, Saul might be moved to silence in obedience to Samuel who had obliged him to secrecy, Chap. 9.25, 26, 27.

Fourthly, This was Sauls Humble modesty, as was that afterward of Hiding himself behind the stuff, when chosen King, v. 22.

Fifthly, And it was certainly Saul's Prudence to be silent in such a case and on good grounds, not to divulge it before the due time.

The Fourth Remark is, Sauls Publick Call to the Kingdom after all those Private Transactions betwixt Samuel and Saul so secretly in order thereunto,

This Publick Work is expressed in Antecedents, Concomitants and Consequents.

First, the Antecedents be two, (1.) Samuel the Judge calls a Parliament at Mizpeh, v. 17. where all Israel had met before upon a solemn ocasion, Chap. 7.5. and some suppose that the Ark was carryed thither, and the High Priest with the Ʋrim and Thummim was present to consult about the New King, because it is said here, [Ʋnto the Lord, &] But God is present in all the Assemblies of his Saints, 2 Chron. 19.6. Psal. 82.1, &c. (2.) Samuel's Expostulation with this Parliament in the Name of the Lord, wherein he opposeth the transcendent favours of God (who had hitherto been their King both Governing and Defending Israel) with the Ingratitude, Incredulity, and Folly of Israel, v. 18, 19. As if he had said thus, [What a Company of Fools are ye, that will rather place your confidence in a Man, whom you know not how he will prove, than in God, whose power and goodness you have so much and so long experi∣enced; and you still persist in rejecting Gods Government, refusing to be ruled by any Reason, but still call for a King upon any condition.]

Secondly, The Concomitants. (1.) Lots (of the Lord's ordering, Prov. 16.33.) are cast upon the Tribes; and Benjamin was taken, though God had promised it to Judah; to whom the Kingdom was after given by God in love, yet now it is given to Benjamin in Anger, Hos. 13.11. The Foolish People (as it were) did now force it from God, so it was given to this obscure Tribe, to an obscure Family, to an ob∣scure Houshold, and to an obscure Person, v. 20, 21. Saul was pitched on by Lot, as Achan had been, Josh 7.14. but for another end. (2.) When Saul should have been presented, great out-cries were made for him, but he could not be found, until either the High-Priest by the Urim (if the Ark was there) or rather Samuel the Prophet obtained by Prayer a discovery where he lay lurking; the Oracle told him [He lay hid among the Carriages] V. 22. which Saul did, both Modestly, as sensible of his own unworthiness; and Prudently as one that would be Passive in his own prefer∣ment, which (he well knew) would so much, the more commend him to the People. Who (3.) Ran to fetch him forth, and received their new King with loud Acclamations; and the louder when they saw him more personable and overtopping than any of the People, v. 23, 24. (4.) Samuel then drew up a Magna Charta to keep the Beam even be∣twixt Soveraignty and Subjection, shewing not the manner of a King, of which he had spoken before, Chap. 8, 9, 10, &c. what a King would commonly prove to be, when he degenerates into a Tyrant, thinking it not enough to be above man only, but to be above all Mankind also, ruling so absolutely as if they were Gods: But here it is, The manner of the Kingdom, v. 25. Namely, the Laws of God limiting Kingly power in Man, and declaring what a King ought to be, according to Deut. 17.14, 15, 16, &c. Ezek 45.9, 10, and 46.16. Rom. 13.1. 1 Tim. 2.2.

Thirdly, The Consequents hereof were (1.) The Dissolution of this Parliament after they had concurred with both Samuel and the People in King Saul's Election. (2.) Saul's departure, and living privately at Gibeah, (having only a Royal Guard to conduct him thither,) where he waited for an opportunity of shewing himself a King rather by his Actions than by his Words, to the silenceing of those Male-contents that opposed him at his Election: And ••uch an opportunity Saul soon obtained, Chap. 11. (3.) The two factions among the P••••••e.

The First, Was those that owned Saul for their King, and the Reason is rendred, [Because God had touched their Hearts,] v. 26. Those were the most Conscientious of Israel that had not been so over-desirous of a King with the generality, but now when they saw God himself had set a King over them, they made Conscience of their Duty in obeying him.

Secondly, The Second sort were no men of Conscience, therefore are they branded for Belialists, v. 27. that is, Awless, Lawless, Yokeless men, that taunted him as if a King of Clouts; saying, [quid faciet hic longolius? quid praestabit turris haec carnea, non est intanto corpore mica Salis:] This Long-shank and Lofty Lubber, An Insipid lump, can never save us?

N. B. They therefore thought him, unworthy of any Homage, whereas the meaner he was in their Eyes, the more need he stood of their presents.

The fourth and last Consequent was, Saul's Remedy to those Reproaches; 'tis said, [Hebr. he turn'd the Deaf Ear to them] using no remedy but patience, well knowing what then could not possibly be cured, must patiently be endured; this was King-like in∣deed to see and say nothing: 'Twas his great prudence to hold his Peace, being no bet∣ter settl'd in his Kingdom; had he now hector'd those Male-contents, it might have bred a Mutiny, &c. his Humility here in the beginning of his Government, conduced much both to his Honour and Establishment, &c.