of Man, which I have endeavoured to explain in the preceding tract, as necessary to be known and understood, that we may be enabled to give a proper account of the Principles of Action in Man.

After Saul was anointed he was forewarned by Samuel, that the Spirit of the Lord would come upon him

"Thou shalt come to the Hill of God” (said the Prophet) "where (is) the

Garrison of the Philistines: and it "shall come to pass when thou art come "hither to the City, that thou shalt meet a company of Prophets coming down

from the High place, with a psaliery, "and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp before them; and they shall pro

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phesy. And THE SPIRIT OF THE "LORD will come upon thee, and thou "shalt prophesy with them, and SHALT 66 BE TURNED INTO ANOTHER MAN!” 1. Sam. x. 5, 6.

Such

Such is the glorious effect of God's Spiritual Influence on the mind of Man! It is nothing less than an actual participation of the Divine Nature, whereby all involuntary defects of the Natural Man are so amply supplied for every great and good undertaking, that the disposition and " Principles of Action' as well as the abilities of the favoured Mortal become totally different from what they were before, as Samuel literally declared to Saul," and thou shalt be "TURNED INTO ANOTHER MAN." This should teach us that the Natural Disposition of the Human Soul is but of little consequence in forming the Man, provided he is but endued with a sincere desire to maintain and renew the Divine Influence. Saul had the PROMISE of that glorious change of disposition, from a single Prophet, and indeed as a singular favour bestowed upon the people in his person, to fit him for the public service; but, in these lat

ter

ter times, all Men have the PROMISE of the same inestimable spiritual influence, A PROMISE handed down to us by much greater authority than that of Samuel! Let us therefore take warning by Saul's example, that we do not forfeit the free heavenly gift, as he did, and thereby unhappily render ourselves subject (liké him) to a spiritual influence of a very different nature, though, in his case, it was still called a " Spirit from the "Lord," To be "turned into another "Man" the wrong way, (that is, from good to evil,) how deplorable a state! And yet even the most amiable natural dispositions are liable to it, if they neglect that necessary vigilance and resistance to evil, which our situation in this life requires! The promise by Samuel was punctually fulfilled; for the Text afterwards informs us" that when he

(Saul) had turned his back to go from "Samuel, GOD GAVE HIM ANOTHER "HEART" (a strong expression for the

total

total change in Saul's " PRINCIPLES OF "ACTION"): "and all those signs came "to pass that day. And when they" (that is, Saul and his father's servant) "came thither to the hill, behold, a company of Prophets met him; and THE "SPIRIT OF GOD came upon him, and "HE PROPHESIED AMONG THEM," &c. (1 Sam. x. 9, 10.) This must necessarily be understood as an actual temporary impulse of the Holy Spirit upon the mind of Saul; and not a mere change of disposition, which will more plainly appear by the sequel of the history. It will also appear that the Divine Impulse was not constantly upon him, but only on particular occasions; and that even the Evil Spirit also (which afterwards troubled him) did not possess him without intermission, but left him intervals of rest: so that Saul's natural understanding was by no means deprived of its due power of choice or Free-Will, for otherwise

his disobedience would not have been sinful.

The first coming of the Spirit of God upon Saul was manifested by the Spirit of Prophecy, as I have already shewn. The second instance of an immediate impulse of God's Spirit upon him was when the Liberty of his Country was in the most imminent danger. Nahash the tyrannical Monarch of the Ammonites would grant no peace to the oppressed nation of Israel, but on terms that were disgraceful to human nature. Their reasonable Tender of SERVICE on limited conditions by a Royal Charter, (viz. "Make a Covenant with us" (said they) "and we will SERVE "thee") was disdainfully rejected !· Nothing but absolute submission could satisfy the Tyrant; and this must needs be aggravated by the most cruel badge of slavery that perhaps had ever been devised!" On this (condition) said the haughty