the Lord thy God." These words, in their order, we will consider in reference to the church, the whole family of God in heaven and in earth. Let us attend to them. "The soul of my Lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God." First she speaketh of David's soul as the most precious part of his being, which, being delivered from evil, was destined to be kept with the Lord his God in the bundle of life-concealed and hid in the hand or arm of power, and that not apart from, but with the Lord his God. What is a bundle? It is a very simple figure. A bundle contains that which is necessary to a man. The bundle of a traveller contains his necessary articles of comfort and protection; the bundle of a soldier contains all that is necessary for the field of action, or for his journey in an enemy's land; the bundle of the pedlar contains his treasures and goods, all lifeless things. The bundle is that in which the hand of man secures in safety that which is necessary to him, or that upon which he sets a value. A bundle oftentimes contains the gift of a friend, whereby joy of communion and knowledge are increased. In conclusion, it is that in which he shuts and holds fast a treasure or goods of any kind. In the instance of Joseph's brethren their bundles were treasures within a treasure, for when they emptied their sacks they

tumbled out each man the bundle of his money, which

had been returned to him. Now the bundle of which Abigail speaks, in which the souls of the faithful are bound up--it is not the bundle or bag mentioned by Haggai pierced with holes, out of which the treasures of Israel dropped; but it is that secure defence and covering wherewith the Lord God himself secureth the souls of His saints who have served Him faithfully in their day and generation; it is that in which He preserves them in security; as it is written, "The soul of my Lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God." As the souls or spirits of flesh, who have dwelt in the flesh, if they have been faithful servants of God therein, they will be restored to the flesh in that last day. They shall be raised up, and exhibited therein, when Christ who is their life shall appear, for they are now by His hand bound up in the safe bundle of life, and with Him we know they are in safe keeping. And when the man appeareth, his bundle shall appear with him; only that which is within shall not be as it was, or is; but the contents of the bundle shall be discovered by the man who holdeth the same. And how will that which is now secret be revealed? In that day the hidden treasures shall be enclosed, not in the bundle or covering of mortality, but all will be set and encased in the polished

and glorious substance of immortal flesh; precious and incomparable jewels worthy of Heaven's King, who in that day will have brought them forth from their hiding-places, and from their concealment in the earth, to adorn the majesty of His person, as glorious stones of light; and He will rejoice to manifest them with far greater pleasure than any earthly monarch now rejoices to display the costly robes and pompous insignia of royalty.

CHAPTER V.

THE NECROMANCER; OR, SAUL SEEKING TO THE DEPARTED SAMUEL.

Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death.1 SAMUEL XV. 35.

THE end of Saul, and the events which preceded his death, are evidently typical of those events which shall close this dispensation, before the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. Saul represents the powers that be, withstanding the coming of the Lord, the true David. They are, consequently, troubled and vexed in their spirits as antagonists to that hope in others. They would, if possible, expel it from the earth and those who hold it. David's obedience to Saul is our example to submit ourselves to all lawful authority, though it may unlawfully fight against us, as Saul did against David. David, also-being finally driven out of the land-may, in a figure, represent those who have been

driven out of their inheritance in times past, and who wait for the final breaking up of all things, when they may return and show themselves as the kings and priests of God's creation. It is when the grave seems to have closed on our brethren and buried their hopes -when the uncircumcised flesh, like the Philistines of old, thinks to retain possession of David's power, for ever-then we who remain may lift up our heads, for our redemption, and the redemption of the Israel of God draweth nigh.-(1 Samuel xxviii, 1, 2.) It is written, "Now Samuel was dead." Who was Samuel? One who had the vision of God, and who judged Israel and foretold the expulsion of the faithless one, and the advent of the man who should dispossess Saul of his present rule and authority; or rather, see it wither and die before the blasts of the enemy. Samuel was dead-i.e., he who was heard or asked of God, as his name signifies-and all Israel lamented him; every true-hearted Israelite mourned because another of their lights had been quenched in the world; and they buried him in Ramah (which signifies height or elevation), even in his own city, awaiting thence the resurrection. Now, as Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land, so in times past the rulers of Christendom have done. There have been force and