Of the nature and use of lots a treatise historical and theologicalOf the nature and vse of lots a treatise historicall and theologicall

First civill: and so Saul was by Lot chosen King. Which Lot was not merely divisory, used barely to determine who should govern Gods people, but divinatory rather, used to discover whom God had secretly appointed and set apart for that place as then fittest for the same. The business was thus carried. ^lSamuel that had the chief hand in the ordering of it, caused the people sorted into their several Tribes to appear before the Lord (^m that is, before the Ark of God, and the High-priest, say some) at Mizpah ⁿby the chief heads of their houses: then ^oupon prayer conceived and Lots drawn or cast, the Tribe of Benjamin was taken: and of that Tribe appearing in the heads of her houses, by a second Lot the house of Matri: and the several persons of that Family being put all upon a third Lottery, Saul the son of Kish was taken, and ^pthereby manifested to be the man whom God made choice of to be the Ruler of his people; as he had before signified ^qsecretly so much unto Samuel, and ^rSamuel had likewise afterward imparted to Saul, and had thereunto solemnly, though privily and privately, ^sby a visible sign with ^tsacred oil sanctified and set him apart to that office; as after he did ^uDavid also on the like occasion and in the like case.

First ciuill: and so Saul was by Lot chosen King. Which Lot was not meerely diuisory, vsed barely to determine who should gouerne Gods people, but diuinatorie rather, vsed to discouer whom God had secretly appointed and set apart for that place as then fittest for the same. The busines was thus caried.