1 Samuel 12

Thus we should be as doves for harmlessness: we should not do wrong to others, but rather suffer wrong. Such a dove was Samuel (1 Samuel 12:3), whose ox have I taken, or whose ass have I taken, or whom have I defrauded? He did not get men's estates into his hands, or raise himse…

First men break the tenth commandment by coveting, and then they break the eighth commandment by stealing. It was an excellent appeal that Samuel made to the people (1 Samuel 12:3): Witness against me before the Lord, whose ox have I taken, or whose ass, or whom have I defrauded…

But we must learn, that true faith is especially commended by these fruits, The study and practice of innocence, and the maintaining of peace in Christian estates: for, true faith, and treachery, and contention, will no more stand together than light and darkness. Secondly, Samu…

The word here Creator, their Maker, it is not now meant for God's giving them their being, but God's advancing and blessing of them so as to bring them to that happy condition that now they were in, they have forgotten their Maker, Oh they have forgotten that God that has advanc…

For every religious worship established outside the divine ordinance devastates and confounds the consciences of men, which it ought to cultivate and strengthen. 1 Samuel 12:21, "And do not turn aside after worthless things that will not profit or deliver, for they are nothing."…

3. The Church (Psalm 77) acknowledges such misjudging of God, to be the soul's infirmity (Psalm 77:10): I said, This is my infirmity. Assertion 2. Yet, de facto, David a man according to God's heart (1 Samuel 12:12-13), fell in an old fever, a fit of the disease of the spirit of…

In Elias his time the drought which happened in Syria and Judaea was a calamity which is wont to be produced by natural causes, and from it naturally followed a famine; but both these were peculiar signs of the divine anger, and by these God showed his wrath against the sins of…

This caused Moses to say (Numbers 16): I have not taken so much as an ass from them: neither have I hurt any of them. And Samuel also (1 Samuel 12): You know that I have not taken any man's ox, or ass from him, nor done wrong to any, etc. For if he that has this charge and funct…

Hence the Apostle calls the Idols of the Gentiles, and the Rites used in their Worship, [[original in non-Latin script]], vain things, Acts 14. 15. So he expresses the Hebrew, [[original in non-Latin script]], Jonas 2. 8. lying Vanities; or [[original in non-Latin script]], whic…

But if it be his pleasure, he can honorably show mercy through Christ, to any sinner of you all, not one in this congregation excepted. Therefore here is encouragement for you still to seek and wait, notwithstanding all your wickedness; agreeable to Samuel's speech to the childr…

Hence the Lord brands the Ingratitude of his people, Psalm 106:13 They soon forgat his works. (3.) A due Appreciation and Valuation of every Providence that does us good, 1 Samuel 12:24 That Providence that fed them in the Wilderness with Manna, was a most remarkable Providence…

Look upon the ruined estates and bodies you may every where see, and behold the truth of the Scriptures evidently made good in those sad Providences. The Word tells you, that your departure from the way of integrity and simplicity, to make use of sinful policies, shall never pro…

He that is more frequent in the Pulpit to his people, then he is in his closet for his people, is but a sorry watchman. Moses did not so (Exodus 32:31), neither did Samuel so (1 Samuel 12:23), neither was it the guize of Jeremiah in his days (Cap. 14:17). If the beginning of the…

Answ. The Lord neither casts off his foreknown people nor their prayers, though visible Israel externally called be rejected. 2. God hears wicked men's prayers, and grants them not in a way of promise, but in his wrath (1 Sam. 8:22; 1 Sam. 12:13; Hos. 13:11; Psal. 78. 20, 24, 27…

## HOMILIA 41. 1 Samuel 12:6-9 — "And Samuel said to the people: The Lord who made Moses and Aaron, and brought our fathers out of the land of Egypt. Now therefore stand, that I may plead with you before the Lord concerning all the mercies of the Lord, which he has done with you…

We cannot promise ourselves an utter immunity from desertion; but it is not total. We shall find for his great name's sake, The Lord will not forsake his people (1 Samuel 12:22), and (Hebrews 13:5) I will never leave you nor forsake you. Not utterly, yet in part they may be fors…

The sum of what is spoken, by way of [reconstructed: command], as to Abraham (Genesis 18:19) amounts to this, that he would advise and charge his posterity not to sin. So that of Samuel to Israel (1 Samuel 12:24-25), and that of David to Solomon (1 Kings 2:1-3) etc., indeed to a…

A rankling sore is hardly cured, and with much heartache when it is. Surfeit of long continuance is recovered with much difficulty (1 Samuel 12:19): that which they would not acknowledge and reform before is now most dreadful, pray for us to the Lord that we die not, for we have…

Indeed, much more says the Apostle, he gets upon the higher ground and triumphs over all the enemies of our salvation, as knowing he should certainly be assisted against them all. Thus Samuel shored up the dismayed and sinking hearts of the rebellious Israelites, when the Lord h…

They may sing after the Psalmist (Psalm 124, begin.): "Had not the Lord been on our side," etc. Nor is it any deserving of theirs, who have often provoked him to lay them open; but only because they are his, and it has pleased him to make them his people (1 Samuel 12:22). 2. Tha…

Men have fleeced others to feather themselves. What a brave challenge did Samuel make (1 Samuel 12:3): Behold, here I am; witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken?

For to walk before the Lord required in Abraham's Covenant (Genesis 17:1) is to walk in all the ways of the Lord, to fear and love him (Deuteronomy 10:12-13). And Samuel (1 Samuel 12:22), Joshua (Joshua 24:22-25), and Mary (Luke 1:55), and Zechariah (Luke 1:70, 72, 73) refer to…

(2.) From Covenant mercy to the thousand generation — contrary to (Genesis 17:7; Exodus 20:5). (3.) From Covenant prayers and church prayers — contrary to (1 Samuel 12; Psalm 28:9; Psalm 67:1-2; Psalm 103:4-5). (4.) From the blessing of the Lord's Covenant-presence, who dwells i…

Therefore it is speaking grace, to close with the sweetness not only of the law written in the heart, and these inbred principles of honesty and truth, to hurt none, to obey God, (for Satan raised not the first dispute about these) but with all the judgments and testimonies of G…

Paul (2 Corinthians 8-9): For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor: He had a greater mind than that he could live to riches. Paul (Acts 20:33) says not I have sought neither silver nor gold, as the godly judge, Wh…

But now come again to the Lord, being assured of good success. This use we see made of it by Samuel in a like case to the people of Israel (1 Samuel 12). When the people had committed that great sin, in which, as he told them, they had not only cast away him but the Lord — and G…

And the Children of Israel cryed to the Lord, saying, We have sinned against you, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Balaam. We have sinned, there is a general complaint: but we have also served Balaam; they singled out their idolatry more especially,1 Samuel…

His laborers also have, by the direction of his Majesty’s surveyors, been for above this sixteen hundred years employed about this patch of ground, if perhaps it might have been mended: indeed, and to my knowledge,” said he, “there have been swallowed up at least twenty thousand…

The consideration of God's goodness, is a powerful motive to obedience to his laws, and as the Apostle expresseth it, to walk worthy of the Lord to all well pleasing, being fruitful in every good work. This argument Samuel useth to the people of Israel, to persuade them to obedi…

First, his eye is ever upon it, his mouth is ever speaking of it, and he is always complaining against it, and he is readily content to take shame to himself for it. If a man has a sore place in his body, his eye and his finger will ever be upon it: so it is with the soul; as th…

What sin do they now see? They first see the greatness of that particular sin, but this came not to mind alone, but they cried out (1 Samuel 12:19), We have added to all our evils this, in asking to ourselves a King. Look upon the woman of Samaria (John 4).

But secondly, there was more than hearing the word; the word was applied to the conviction of their particular sin, by which means their hearts came to be pricked: it is the nature of the word applied to convince a sinner, that you are the man; so these hearers, they knew assure…

This is the life of faith in the upshot of a man's calling — he lays it down in confidence of God's acceptance: and for man, he has this boldness in his dealings with men, he boldly challenges all the sons of men, of any injury done to them, and he freely offers them restitution…

But if ever God give a man a spirit of grace, these are not the things that he looks most at, but this above all the rest, that he has sinned against God's grace, against the ordinances of his grace, against Christ that has been revealed for his salvation, and these draw his eye…

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you (Ezekiel 36:36). If you will fear the Lord, and serve him, then shall you continue following the Lord your God (1 Samuel 12:14). And I will put my fear into your hearts, that you shall not depart from me (J…