Samuel's encounter with Saul. I Sam. chap. 15 from ver. 13 to ver. 30.…Samuels encounter with Saul. I Sam. chap. 15 from ver. 13 to ver. 30.…

We have heard how Saul prayed Samuel, to go with him, that he might worship God, and beseech him for pardon of his sin, and it is said here that Samuel refused to go with him: this was a strange answer of Samuel, this sternness and tetchiness of his, (some will be ready to say) is not to be borne, for what could he have of him more, when he had confessed his ⟨p. 311⟩sin, desired him to pray for him, and to go with him, that he might call upon God? I say Samuel (God revealing it to him) so all this was but daubing with untempered mortar, Answer. and that he did all this, but for the fear of loosing his kingdom, not for any weariness and detestation of his sin, for that he extenuated, and laid it upon the people: he did not as David when the Prophet Nathan came unto him, for he freely confessed his sin against the Lord, and did not lay it upon any other: therefore the Prophet answered, the Lord hath forgiven thy sin. So durst not Samuel say to Saul, yea, rather therefore he refused to go with him, seeing he did ⟨p. 312⟩not repent, but dealt hollowly, least he should have allowed him in his sin. I grant, that which Saul said was enough to satisfice men, who look but to outward signs of repentance, and have not authority to search the heart; but God by his spirit revealed to Samuel a further thing, which when he saw, namely Sauls hollow dealing, he might not conceal it, therefore he bewrayed it to him, saying, for all his confession, thou hast cast away the word of the Lord.

WEe haue heard how Saul prayed Samuel, to goe with him, that hee might worship God, and beseech him for pardon of his sinne, and it is said here that Samuel refused to goe with him: this was a strange answere of Samuel, this sternenes and techenes of his, (some will be ready to say) is not to be borne, for what could he haue of him more, when hee had confessed his ⟨p. 311⟩sinne, desired him to pray for him, and to go with him, that hee might call vpon God? I say Samuel (God reuealing it to him) so all this was but dawbing with vntempered morter, Answere. and that hee did all this, but for the feare of loosing his kingdome, not for any wearines and detestation of his sinne, for that he extenuated, and layd it vpon the people: he did not as Dauid when the Prophet Nathan came vnto him, for he freely confessed his sinne against the Lord, and did not lay it vpon any other: therfore the Prophet answered, the Lord hath forgiuen thy sinne. So durst not Samuel say to Saul, yea, rather therefore he refused to goe with him, seeing he did