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obligation of justifying every thing that he did, for the scriptures in relating what was done, doth not say that it was well done, and even such as are true servants of God are not to be imitated in all they do. It is the more common opinion of the holy fathers and interpreters that the soul of Samuel appeared indeed, and not as some have imagined, an evil spirit in his shape, not that the power of her magic could bring him thither, but that God was pleased, for the punishment of Saul, that Samuel himself should announce unto him the evils that were falling upon him, that is, in the state of the dead and in another World, though not in the same place.
Sec. 10. The Second Book of Samuel.
David now being ruler and annointed king of Juda, purposed to build a temple, but the Lord forbid him—This prophesy partly relateth to Solomon, but much more to Christ the great son of David, and the builder of the true temple, which is the church of God, his everlasting kingdom, which shall never fail nor be. cast off, for any inpurity of "her children. It appears that the Lord sent Nathan unto David after he had sinned, and told him a parable, and after he had ended, David's anger was kindled against the man, and said, "as the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die, and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and because he had no pity; and Nathan said unto David thou art the man." 2d Sam. 12: 7. David on this occasion wept for his sins, which he knew were the cause of all his sufferings. Ziba, by false suggestions, obtained his master's inheritance. "Shimei, the son of Gera; he came forth and cursed still as he came;" not that the Lord was the author of Shimei's sins, which proceeded purely from his own malice, and the abuse of his free will, but that knowing and suffering his malicous disposition to break out on this occasion, he made use of him as his instrument to punish David for his sins. The people might apprehend lest Absalom should be reconciled to his father and, therefore, they followed him with some fear of being left in the lurch, till they saw such a crime committed as seemed to make a reconciliation impossible. "The God of Israel said, and the Rock of Israel said to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 2d
