in that way, Ruth was an ancestor of the promised Messiah.

We see in the story of Ruth how good and pleasant it is for relations to love each other. It is not very common to find people "cleaving" to those that belong to them, and willing to follow them to strange countries, but still less common is it, to find children ready to work for their parents, as Ruth did to obtain corn for her motherin-law.

And we have an example of a kind and liberal master in Boaz. When he told the reapers to leave some ears for the gleaners, we perceive that he was not one who would exact the last penny, or be oppressive to the poor. If any of you rise in life and employ people to work for you, remember Boaz, and do not try to make hard bargains with those that serve you. Some people who fancy themselves charitable, and give away money to the poor, yet think that they are imposed upon, unless they pay the very lowest price for all they want.

SAMUEL.

WE come next to the Books of Samuel.

Samuel was the last of the judges of Israel, and one of the first of that "goodly fellowship of the Prophets who foretold things to come. The original meaning of the word prophet is, one who speaks for another. And God at this time chose men on whom He

bestowed his Spirit, to make known his commands and intentions to his people.

We read that the mother of Samuel prayed earnestly that she might have a son, and made a vow, or promise, that if one was born to her, she would "give him unto the Lord." So when her prayer was heard, she named the child Samuel, signifying "asked of the Lord," and she took him, when old enough, to the house of the Lord in Shiloh, and left him in the care of Eli the high priest. "He ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linen ephod," which was part of the dress of a priest; it was made of fine linen, and went over the shoulder and round the waist as a girdle. Moreover, it is said, "his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice."

At this time the Israelites had sunk into a very bad state. Even their priests were given to idolatry. Eli seems to have been a weak old man, and though he kept to the true faith himself, he was utterly unable to stop the dreadful wickedness of his two sons Hophni and Phinehas. He gently told them that "it was no good report" he had heard of them, and that their "evil dealings" were known to all the people. One can fancy a foolish, indulgent father or mother, talking in this way to their bad children, making light of their sins, and chiefly blaming them because what they did wrong made people talk of them. But Eli was terribly punished for his neglect, as we shall see.

Samuel could have had no good example set before him, but we are told that he "ministered unto the Lord before Eli." One night when Eli's "eyes began to wax dim, so that he could not see, and ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, Samuel was laid down to sleep," and "the Lord called Samuel, and he answered, Here am I." And he ran to Eli, supposing he had called him; but Eli said he had not done so, and told him to lie down again. But the Lord called again, "Samuel." And Samuel again went to Eli, saying, "Here am I, for thou didst call me." And he answered, "I called not, my son, lie down again." And the Lord called Samuel the third time, and he went to Eli, who "perceived that the Lord had called the child, and said, Go lie down, and if He call thee again, thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth."

Samuel did as he was desired, and God then made known to him, that He was going to bring dreadful punishments on the house of Eli. He naturally feared to give such a message to the high priest, till Eli desired him to hide nothing from him. And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, "It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good." Then we are told "the Lord was with Samuel, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord." From Dan even to Beersheba, as you will see in the map of Palestine, means from the extreme north to the extreme south-in fact, throughout the whole country.

THE ARK OF THE LORD.

THE great enemies of the Israelites at this time were the Philistines, a mighty nation, and very warlike. Though this rebellious people were for ever going after strange gods, they had a superstitious feeling that the Ark of the Covenant was possessed of some charm that might give them the victory. But a covenant means an agreement between two parties. If they broke their promise to keep to the true God, how could they expect that He would befriend them in the day of battle? People now often feel comfort from the use of some sort of religious observances, but if at the same time they are serving strange gods, that is, if they are given to vice, and selfishness, or covetousness, their outward acts will do them as little good as the Ark of the Covenant did the Hebrew camp.

"So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of Hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were then with the Ark. And when the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again. And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood, that the Ark of the Lord was come into the camp. And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp, and they said, Woe unto us! Who shall deliver us

out of the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Quit yourselves like men and fight.”

The days were past when the Ark of the Lord would have power given to it to make the waves roll back, and dry land to appear. The mere outward appearance of the Holy Place had no strength when God withdrew his blessing. So the Ark was taken, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

Eli seems to have feared the worst; he "sat upon a seat by the wayside watching, for his heart trembled for the Ark of God." And a man came with his clothes rent, and earth on his head, two signs of mourning for bad news that are observed now in the East. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out. And Eli asked, "What meaneth the noise of this tumult. And the man came in hastily, and told Eli. Now Eli was ninety and eight years old, and his eyes were dim, that he could And he said, What is there done, my son? And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines; and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the Ark of God is taken. And it came to pass when he made mention of the Ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward, and his neck brake, and he died, for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years."

not see.