- and to morrow:
- There is considerable diversity of opinion, both among learned and pious men, relative to this appearance to Saul. But the most probable opinion seems to be, that Samuel himself did actually appear to Saul, not by the power of enchantment, but by the appointment and especial mercy of God, to warn this infatuated monarch of his approaching end, that he might be reconciled with his Maker. There is not the smallest intimation of chicanery or Satanic influence given in the text; but on the contrary, from the plain and obvious meaning of the language employed, it is perfectly evident that it was Samuel himself, Shemooel hoo, as it is expressed in "And he saidª° unto her, What¹ formª [is] he of? And she said,ª° An oldª manª cometh up;ª° and he¹ [is] coveredª° with a mantle.ª And Saulª perceivedª° that¹ it [was] Samuel,ª and he¹ stoopedª° with [his] faceª to the ground,ª and bowed²° himself.¹" {1Sm 28:14}. Indeed the very soul of Samuel seems to breathe in his expressions of displeasure against the disobedience and wickedness of Saul; while the awful prophetic denunciations which accordingly came to pass, were such as neither human nor diabolical wisdom could foresee, and which could only be known to God himself, and to those to whom he chose to reveal them. "Behold,¹ to morrowª about this timeª I will cause it to rainª° a veryª grievousª hail,ª such¹ as¹ hath not¹ been²¹ in Egyptª sinceª¹ the foundationª²° thereof even until¹ now.¹" {Exd 9:18} + "Therefore¹ thus¹ saithª° the LORD;ª Behold,¹ I will castª° thee from off¹¹ the faceª of the earth:ª this yearª thou¹ shalt die,ª° because¹ thou hast taughtª° rebellionª against¹ the LORD.ª ... So Hananiahª the prophetª diedª° the same¹ yearª in the seventhª month.ª" {Jer 28:16-17} + "And thisª [is] the writingª that¹ was written,ª° MENE,ª° MENE,ª° TEKEL,ª° UPHARSIN.ª° ... PERES;ª° Thy kingdomª is divided,ª° and givenª° to the Medesª and Persians.ª" {Dan 5:25-28} + "² The¹ Sonª of manª goethª° asª it¹ is writtenª° ofª him:ª butª woeª unto thatª manª byª whomª the¹ Sonª of manª is betrayed!ª° it had beenª° goodª for¹ thatª man²¹ ifª he² had²° notª been born.ª°" {Mtt 26:24} + "Andª Ananiasª hearingª° theseª wordsª fell down,ª° and gave up the ghost:ª° andª greatª fearª cameª° onª allª them that heardª° these things.ª" {Act 5:5} + "Thenª Peterª saidª° untoª her,ª Howª is it thatª yeª have agreed togetherª° to temptª° the¹ Spiritª of the Lord?ª behold,ª° the¹ feetª of them which have buriedª° thyª husbandª [are] atª the¹ door,ª andª shall carry²° thee² out.ª°¹ ... Thenª fell she downª° straightwayª atª hisª feet,ª andª yielded up the ghost:ª° andª the¹ young menª came in,ª° and foundª° herª dead,ª and,ª carrying [her] forth,ª° buriedª° [her] byª herª husband.ª" {Act 5:9-10}
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