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CHapter the 15th is a farther and fuller Demonstration of Saul's Hypocrisie and Pro∣phaneness. In his War with Amalek as the principal cause of his Rejection.
The Remarks are, (1.) The Material Cause of Saul's Disobedience to God's Command was concerning Amalek, that licking People, as the Hebr. name signifies, who had not only assaulted Israel with open Hostility, to hinder their March to Canaan, Exod. 17.8, &c. Numb. 24.20. but also had laid lurking Ambushments to lick up and cut off the feeblest of them, Deut. 25.17, 18. Tho' this double Injury was now Four hundred years old, yet the Lord remembred it still, v. 12.
N. B. 'Tis ill angring the Antient of Days; his forbearance is no forgiveness; there∣fore doth he now send Samuel to Saul (the first King Israel had to Revenge their old Injuries) with a charge to cut them all off universally, both Man and Beast, that, as Balaam had prophesied of them, they might perish for ever, Numb. 24.20. Yea, and as the Lord himself had sworn, that it should be done so; Exod. 17.16. Samuel there∣fore lays God's Charge home upon Saul, that at length, after all his so heinous Miscar∣riages heretofore, and after God's so heavy Menaces thereupon, chap. 13.8, 9. saying, Yet the Lord, that made thee King, and whom thou oughtest to obey, is minded to try thee once more; see thou make amends for thy former Errours, and redeem God's Favour,] ver. 1, 2, 3.
The second Remark is, The Formal Cause of Saul's sin, which consisted in the parti∣ality of his obeving God's Command, ver. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Thus far Saul obeyed God. (1.) In Mustering up his Men to a potent Army, ver. 4. (2.) In Undertaking the Expe∣dition, ver. 5. N. B. (3.) In shewing kindness to the Kenites, who had shewed kind∣ness to Israel in Jethro their Father, Exod. 18.9, 10, 19. Numb. 10.29.31. God re∣membred this old Kindness of that Kenite, as Moses Father-in-law is called, Judg. 1.16. to preserve his Posterity from Ruine here, v. 6. as he remembred the old Unkindness of Amalek, so as that their Posterity were under a Divine Doom for Utter Destru∣ction. (4.) In slaying the common People of Amalek, so many as he could meet with, ver. 7, 8.
N. B. But now begins Saul's Sin▪ the dust of Courtship and of Covetousness did so blind his Eyes, that he spared Agag out of Courtship, that his fellow-King might admire his Royal Candour and Clemency.
N. B. It was Saul's Ambition to have this Character put upon him, that a Crowned Head-Conquerour knows how to shew Compassion upon a Crowned Head Conquered. And (2.) He likewise out of Covetousness spared the best and fattest of the Flocks, ver. 9. tho' this was pretended for Sacrifices to God, ver. 15. whereas indeed it was to enrich himself and his followers, therefore is he charged with [Flying upon the Spoil] ver. 19. that is, thy not so much seeking Sacrifices for God as thou didst Booties for thy self, falling on the Fatlings, as the hungry Hawk upon his Prey, and as Achan did upon the Wedge of Gold and Babylonish Garment, to appropriate them to his own use, Josh. 7. Beside, God, having Anathematized, and Devoted all those fat Cattel unto Utter Destruction, he would have esteemed it a more Acceptable Sacrifice, if they had all been destroyed together as Accursed of God, and so offered up to him accord∣ing to his Command; as it was in the case of Jericho, Josh. 6.17. Such Destructions made by a Divine Command, the Lord calleth his Sacrifices, Isa. 34.6. and Jer. 46.10.
N. B. Suppose Saul had indeed Sacrificed unto the Lord any of those accursed Cattel, as he pretended, it would assuredly have been abominable Will-Worship, it be∣ing expresly contrary to God's absolute Command; Therefore Samuel tells Saul from the Lord, that to obey is better than Sacrifice, ver. 22. and Rebellion is as the sin of Witch∣craft, ver. 23. 'Tis better to Sacrifice our Wills to God's Will and Command, than the flesh of the fattest Cattel to him.
The third Remark is, Samuel's Accusing Saul for his sin of Disobedience, wherein sundry Circumstances are considerable. As, (1.) God's Complaint of Saul to Samuel for his sin, saying, [It repenteth me, &c.] ver. 10, 11. which is spoke after the manner of Men, but must be understood according to the Nature of God, who is Ʋnchange∣able and cannot Repent, ver. 29.