the next morning they found him again fallen down and broken, so that only the stump of Dagon was left.

And the Lord punished the Philistines with plagues for taking the ark; so they sent it about from place to place, and wherever it went the people were plagued. At last they sent it back in a new cart, with presents, and the people of Israel received it gladly, and it was in the house of Abinadab twenty years.

Questions.---Where did the Philistines put the ark of the Lord? [Ans. Into the temple of Dagon] What was Dagon? Ans. An image.] What happened to the image of Dagon when the ark of God was in the temple? [Ans It fell with its face upon the earth before the ark.] What happened the next day after the Philistines had put the image in its place? Ans. It fell down again and was broke all to pieces.] How did the Lord punish the Philistines for honouring an idol and dishonouring him? [Ans. Sent plagues upon them] What did they resolve to do then? [Ans. To send it back.] Were not the people of Israel very glad to receive it? [Ans. Yes.] Who took it into his house? [Ans. Abinadab.] How long did it remain there? [Ans. Twenty years.] *

LECTURE XVI.

Instruction.--When Samuel was a very old man, the elders of the children of Israel came to him and said, " Make us a king to judge us like all the nations." And Samuel was displeased, and he prayed unto the Lord. But the Lord consented that they should have a king, and commanded Samuel to make Saul, the son of Kish, king of Israel; and Saul thinking of no such thing, came to Ramah, seeking his father's asses, which were lost; then Samuel invited him to his house, and took a vial of oil, and poured it on his head, and told him that the Lord had chosen him to be king, and Saul was taller than any of the people from his shoulders and upwards. And Samuel said afterward to all the people, " See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none

*The eighth portion of Miscellaneous Questions to be asked here.

like him among you." And the people shouted a "God save the king!" And Samuel told Saul the of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book. So Saul over Israel, and at first he ruled the people accordin word of the Lord, and led them out to battle, and t dued their enemies. But when he had reigned years, Saul disobeyed the commandment of the Lo Then the Lord sent Samuel to reprove him for n ing his commandment; and Samuel said to Saul, thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath thee from being king." And as Samuel turned abo away, Saul laid hold of the skirt of his mantle, and And Samuel said unto him, "The Lord hath rent t dom of Israel from thee, and given it to a neighbour who is better than thou." And Samuel came no see Saul, nevertheless he mourned for him."

Questions.-Who was judge over Israel after Eli's [Ans. Samuel.] What was he besides judge? [A phet.] Was he a good man? [Ans. Yes.] What people of Israel desire him to do when he was old To make them a king.] Had they not a king? [An Who was their king? [Ans. The Lord.] Was pleased with this desire to have a king like the n [Ans. No.] What did the Lord command Samuel [Ans. To set a king over them.] Whom did the Lo mand Samuel to anoint as king over Israel? [Ans. S son of Kish.] How did Samuel anoint him king He took a vial of oil and poured it upon his head.]] people approve of Saul as their king? [Ans. Yes.] Saul a valiant man? [Ans. Yes.] Did he gain victor the enenies of Israel? [Ans. Yes.] Did he obey the commands at all times? [Ans. No.] Whom did th send to call him to account for his disobedience? [muel.] What did Samuel tell him the Lord woul punish him for his crime? [Ans. Reject him from king.] What happened when Saul laid hold of th of Samuel's robe? [Ans. It rent.] What did Sam this rending was a sign of? [Ans. That the Lord h the kingdom from him. Did Samuel ever go any see Saul? [Ans. No.]

Instruction.-After Saul was rejected, the Lord re to Samuel that he had chosen another to be king of in the family of Jesse, the Bethlemite; and the Lor manded Samuel to go to Bethlehem, to the house of

and to anoint him whom the Lord should name to him. So Samuel went to Bethlehem, and he called for all the sons of Jesse, and Jesse made seven of them pass before Samuel, but Samuel said, "The Lord hath not chosen these." Then Samuel desired Jesse to send and fetch David, his youngest son, who was looking after his sheep. So Jesse sent for David, and brought him before Samuel. Then Samuel, by the command of the Lord, anointed David in the midst of his brethren; and from that day forwards the Lord blessed David instead of Saul, and David was to deliver Israel from their enemies; but Saul was permitted to appear as the king of Israel till his death.

Questions.---Who had the Lord chosen to be king when he rejected Saul? [Ans. David.] Who was David? [Ans. The son of Jesse.] How was David employed when Samuel was sent to his father's house to anoint him king? [Ans. He was keeping sheep.] Was he Jesse's eldest son? [Ans. No; the youngest.] Was he put in Saul's room as soon as he was anointed? [Ans. No.]

Instruction.---David was very young when he was anointed by Samuel, and he returned back to look after his flocks till the Lord should see fit to call for him. And there was war betwixt the Israelites and Philistines; and there was amongst the Philistines a monstrous and mighty giant, named Goliath, who came out every day, clothed in armour, with a great spear in his hand, and cried to the armies of Israel, "Send me a man to fight with me, and if he be able to fight with me and to kill me, then will we (meaning the Philistines) be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us." When Saul and all the men of Israel heard these words, they were greatly afraid; and Saul said," that if any man would fight the giant and kill him, he would give him his daughter for his wife."

Amongst those who followed Saul were the three eldest sons of Jesse; and Jesse sent David to the camp to carry a present to his brethren. So David left his sheep with a keeper, and he came to the field just as the giant came out, as usual, to defy the armies of Israel; and as David inquired about him of the men that stood by, the Lord put into his heart a desire to fight this Philistine; and when David's words were told to Saul, he sent for him; and David said, "Let no man's heart fail because of him, for thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine." So Saul armed David

with his armour, but David said, "I cannot go with these," and he put them off; then David took bis staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag; and his sling was in his hand. And when the Philistine saw David he despised him, and cursed him by his gods. Then David took a stone from his bag and slung it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, and he fell upon his face to the earth. And David took the giant's sword from his side and slew him, and cut off his head. When the Philistines saw their champion dead they fled, and the Israelites pursued after them, and gained a great victory. Then David took the head of the Philistine and carried it to Saul, and there were great rejoicings in Israel.

Questions-How was David employed when he was not with Saul? [Ans. In keeping his father's sheep.] Who defied Israel in Saul's days? [Ans. Goliath.]. What was he? [Ans. A great giant.] What nation did he belong to? [Ans. The Philistines.] Were the Israelites and the Philistines at war at that time? [Ans. Yes.] Was there a man in the camp of Israel who had courage to accept Goliath's challenge? [Ans. No.] Was Saul as well as the people frightened by the threats of the giant? [Ans. Yes.] On what errand did Jesse send David to the camp? [Ans. To carry a present to his brethren.] For how many days had Goliath defied Israel when David arrived in the camp? [Ans. Forty days.] Did David see the giant? [Ans. Yes. What did David wish to do as soon as he heard him defy Israel? | Ans. Fight him:] Who put it into his desire to fight this mighty giant? Ans. God.] Did Saul consent to David fighting the giant? [Ans. Yes. Did David go armed like Goliath? [Ans. No.] What weapons did he take? [Ans. Only a sling and some stones.] Did not the giant scorn such a weak combatant as David appeared? [Ans. Yes] What did he do? Ans. He cursed David by his gods.] What did the giant mean by his gods? [Ans. Idols.] Who gained the victory? [Ans. David.] How did he kill the giant? [Ans. He struck a stone into his forehead.] Did he fall down immediately? [Ans. Yes.] What did David do then? [Ans. He took the giant's sword and cut off his head.] To whom did he carry it? [Ans. Saul] Was there not great joy in Israel when the giant was killed? [Ans. Yes.]

LECTURE XVII.

Instruction.-Jonathan, Saul's son, became the friend of David, but Saul was jealous of him and became his enemy,` because the people preferred David to him; and he was afraid he would get the kingdom from him. So Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David; but Jonathan persuaded him to flee away, and they took an oath to be true and faithful friends to each other.

Then David was obliged to flee from place to place, for when Saul heard where he was, he sent people to take him. And when David escaped to the cave of Adullam, many persons who were distressed or discontented with Saul's government resorted to him; and among them were some of Saul's most valiant officers; but David would not try to get the kingdom during Saul's life, because Saul had been anointed king by the command of the Lord; and while Saul was seeking every where for David that he might kill him, David saved Saul's life twice, even when he might have put him to death. It happened once that Saul went by himself into a cave where David and his men were hid, but he would not suffer him to be hurt; he only cut off a piece of Saul's robe, to shew him that he had had him in his power. And afterwards David and Abishai, one of his captains, found Saul asleep in his tent, and all his guards asleep; then Abishai entreated David to let him smite Saul to the earth at once, but David would not consent; but to shew Saul that he had again spared his life, David took the king's spear and a cruse of water which were at his bolster, and departed. And when Saul knew this, he promised David that he would never more seek to hurt him.

Questions.---Which of Saul's sons loved David? [Ans. Jonathan.] What was Saul afraid of when he heard the people praise David? Ans. That he would take the kingdom from him.] What did Saul desire his son and his servants to do? [Ans. To kill David.] What did Jonathan advise David to do? [Ans. To go away from Jerusalem.] Was it not great grief to these two friends to be separated? [Ans. Yes.] What became of David afterwards? [Ans. He was obliged to flee from place to place.] What did Saul try to do? [Ans. To take him.] Did David try to get the kingdom away from Saul? [Ans. No.] Why did he not? [Ans. Because Saul had been anointed king.] Had not David