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that the Greek word Sophos, which was or ginally the title of Aftronomers, might be derived from Zoph, which in Hebrew fignifies a Prophet. Nor is this an irrational conjecture; especially when we confider, that the prophets generally fixed their refidence upon the tops of hills, where, if they studied not astronomy, yet were they always at hand to preach a better knowledge of heaven to the people that delighted to sacrifice on high places.

ONE thing we certainly know, that in these schools they ftudied and practifed mufick in great perfection; and as the praises of God made a confiderable part of their business, it is not to be imagined that their mufick was without song.

To conclude: "Here (fays the learned "Dr. Trapp) was profeffed the true philo

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fophy; which, according to Ariftotle, is

a divine and heavenly doctrine indeed *; "far different from that vain and deceitful "philosophy which the apostle inveigheth

against (Col. ii. 8.), and which is in truth "nothing but fophiftry; which Ariftotle

* Θεῖον καὶ δαιμόνιον ὄντως χρῆμα.

"calls

"calls a feeming, but not a fubftantial "wisdom *"

Of this order of men was Samuel, an eminent prophet, and patriot! a prophet, and the fon and father of prophets ! the child of piety and prayers, and the man of GOD.

CHA P. III.

What enfued upon DAVID's being anointed to the Succeffion of the Throne, together with the Occafion of his being called to SAUL'S Court.

AVID, elected and anointed to the

D throne +, in the manner already

mentioned, became from that day eminent for fortitude, prudence, and piety, beyond any man of his own, or perhaps of any suc

* Φαινομένη σοφία, ὅσα δὲ μή.

It is hardly to be fuppofed (fay the authors of Univerfal Hiftory, p. 763, note E) that Samuel did then explain the whole myftery of his anointing of David; which might have had fome fatal confequence, had it come to Saul's ears: but as it was ufual to anoint men to the office of prophet, as well as to the regal dignity, it is more likely that he left them to fuppofe the former.

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ceeding age. It is true, they that credit the fcripture history in this affair, will eafily account for all these extraordinary accomplishments and improvements; for that affures us, that the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward *.

And

I should be glad to learn from those who do not credit this History, how otherwise they can account for thofe extraordinary effects and endowments, which immediately enfued David's defignation to the throne.

I SHOULD be glad to learn from these gentlemen, how a defignation to empire, which, in its ordinary courfe, is too apt to corrupt, debase, and over-fet with vanity, should raise an obfcure youth, uneducated, and little accounted of even in the esteem of a parent's partiality, in an obfcure age and country, without the advantage either of instruction or example, into the greatest mufician, the nobleft poet, and the most con

*Tho' his outward circumstances were not changed in the mean time, for he continued keeping his father's flock; yet the anointing was not an empty ceremony: a divine power went along with the inftituted fign, and he found himself inwardly advanced in wisdom, courage, concern for the publick, and all qualifications proper for a prince; to fatisfy him, that his election was of God. Millar's Hift. of the Church, &c. p. 146.

fummate

fummate hero of all antiquity; for that David was all thefe, and more than these, will, I hope, be one day out of all doubt with the candid reader.

IN the mean time, until they explain, it is not, I think, unreasonable to hope that the candid reader will believe.

WHEN Samuel's important business at Bethlehem was over, he returned again to his ufual refidence at Ramah, and David to his flock; where his great abilities and endowments quickly became fo confpicuous, that they recommended him in a very diftinguished manner to the fervice of Saul, whofe mind now became disturbed by all the black. and malignant paffions, without any reason, that we know of, but that which the text tells us, that the Spirit of the Lord was now departed from him, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him *.

WHETHER any more be meant by this, than that GOD, for Saul's hardened impenitence, withdrew his restraining and guiding

*Jofephus relates, that he fometimes became like a demoniack; he having forfaken God and his duty, (fays Mr. Millar, ibid.) the Lord, in his righteous judgment, withdrew from him thofe affiftances of the good Spirit which formerly fitted him for the government.

grace,

and left him a prey to his own pafgrace, fions, I cannot take upon me to say. This Only I am fure of, that no man living needs a heavier chastisement from Almighty God, than the letting his own paffions loose him: The confequence to the mind, I apprehend, would, in that cafe, be much the fame, as it would be to the body, if the restraining preffure of the air were removed, and all the mufcles, veffels, and humours, left to the full freedom of their own powers and tendencies.

upon

On the other hand, I cannot fee upon what principles of reason, religion, or philofophy, we should take upon us abfolutely to preclude the agency of evil spirits in this cafe; or why GOD fhould be any more restrained in the use of their powers, on this or the like occafions, than in those of bears, lions, fcorpions, or noxious animals of any kind, fome of which, we know, he hath employed, for chastifing or restraining the enormities of his creatures. And befides, there is this prefumption in favour of this latter opinion, that Saul's physicians, who knew their own business beft, and could best judge whether the disorder of his mind

lay

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