and the afflicted parent thought himself obliged to do unto her according to his

The

There is reafon to believe, that the victim of this rafh vow was not offered as a human facrifice to God; because such facrifices were exprefsly forbidden by the law, as odious and deteftable in his fight; and Jephthah mult have known, that no oath can be binding and obligatory, where the matter of it is clearly unlawful. words alfo may be understood in a morè favourable fenfe, as implying only that the was to be the Lord's, that is, to be devoted wholly to the fervice of God, and to lead a fingle reclufe life. The discharge of the vow, however, according to this mild construction, muft have occafioned great anxiety and grief to Jephthah, becaufe thus he fecluded his beloved daughter from all fociety; he was deprived for ever of her company; and, as fhe was his only child, could have no expectation of any posterity to inherit his fortune and perpetuate

his name.

Vows are not to be made without great caution and deliberation. When we prefume, as it were, to make bargains with God, and engage concerning temporal affairs, that if He will do fuch a thing for

us, we will do fuch a thing for Him; we do but tempt God, and lay a fnare for ourfelves.-All vows, however, which are formed merely to bring us nearer to God, and oblige us to a more stedfaft obedience, are not only lawful, but prudent and expedient. We fhould endeavour to bind our treacherous hearts to him with the most folemn ties, and firmly refolve to be and to do nothing but what is agreeable to his will. Particularly every Chriftian fhould feriously reflect upon his baptifmal vow, and frequently renew that covenant with God in the facred ordinance appointed by Him, through whofe mediation our fincere, though imperfect, obedience will be accepted, even Jefus Chrift.

After Jephthah, Ibzan, and Elon, and Abdon fucceffively judged Ifrael, of whom nothing remarkable is recorded. God then Before raised a deliverer in an extraordinary Chrift manner, named Sampson. His birth

1155.

was miraculous, and foretold by an angel, and he was endowed with an uncommon degree of ftrength. He rent a lion as he would have rent a kid. He killed a thoufand Philiftines with the jawbone of an afs; and being fhut up in the city Gaza,

H

carried off the large heavy gates, and efcaped. He became a flave however to fenfual pleasure, and was at length perfuaded by the artifices of a treacherous woman, named Dalilah, to difcover the fatal fecret concerning his ftrength, that it confifted in his hair. The lips of a wicked woman drop as a honey-comb, and fhe flattereth with her words; but her end is bitter as wormwood, and her feet go down to death.-Dalilah foon took an opportunity, while he was fleeping, of cutting off his hair, and delivering him into the hands of the Philistines, who confined him in prifon and put out his eyes. The gifts and advantages, with which God diftinguifhed the Judges and others, according to the exigencies of his people, did not exempt them from human frailties: they might be furnished with miraculous endowments, and yet fall short of thofe moral graces and virtues, which are the objects of his fpecial favour. Many will plead in the laft awful day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophecied in thy name? and in thy name done many wonderful works? to whom however he will anfwer, Depart from me ye workers of iniquity.

When Sampson had paffed fome months

in miferable fervitude, (in which time his hair was grown again, and his ftrength returned) he was brought forth by the Philiftines, upon a great feftival, as an object of their mockery and fcorn. Full of indignation at this infult, he cried unto the Lord for help, that he might be avenged for the lofs of his eyes; and having taken hold of the pillars of the house, in which the princes and nobles were affembled with many others, he bowed himself with all his might; upon which the house fell, and Samplon and the Philistines were buried together in the ruins.

Eli, the high-prieft, fucceeded as Judge; who, though of good difpofitions, was very indolent and remifs in the government both of the nation and his own family. His two fons, Hophni and Phineas, who officiated under him, were guilty of the most infamous crimes; and by their example led the people, who were naturally prone to wickedness, into the greatest abominations. Because his fons made themselves vile, and he refrained them not, the Lord threatened to take the priesthood from his house, and to deftroy his family. Not long after this, the Philistines attacked and defeated the Ifraelites; Hophni and Phi. neas were flain, and the ark of the cove

nant, which had been brought into the camp in order to encourage the people, and terrify the enemy, was taken.-God fuffered that fpecial token of his prefence to be removed from his people, because their minds were eftranged from him, and he was not in all their thoughts.-Eli was impatient to know the event of the battle; and as soon as he heard, not only that his fons were flain, but also that the ark was taken away, he fell backward from his feat and died.

Before The Philistines carried the holy ark Chrift to the city Afhdod, and fet it in the house 1118. of Dagon their god; but the vain image fell upon his face before the ark, as it were in obeifance; and God fent a fevere affliction and plague among the people, fo that they gladly fent it back to the Ifraelites, who placed it in the houfe of Abinadab in Gibeah.

Samuel, who had been dedicated to the Lord in a remarkable manner, and bred up under Eli from his infancy, fucceeded to the government, and acted both as prophet and judge. He was favoured by the Almighty with frequent revelations of his will: he preached to the people with great affection and zeal, and prevailed on them to put away their ftrange gods, to confefs