*** Pretensions to divinations continue to this day, though, in the opinion of reformed churches, all prophesying and miracles have long since ceased. These modern prophets are drolly ridiculed by our facetious countryman, Butler, in the person of Sydrophel, a dealer, "In Destiny's dark counsel?, Who sage opinions of the moon sells; To whom all people, far and near, On deep importances repair. When brass or pewter hap to stray, Or linen slinks out of the way; When geese and pullen are seduc'd, And sows of sucking pigs are chous'd: When cattle feel indisposition, And need th' opinion of physician; When murrain reigns in hogs or sheep, And chickens languish of the pip; When yeast and outward means do fail, And have no power to work on ale; When butter does refuse to come. And love proves cross and humoursome; To him with questions and with urine, They for discov'ry flock, or curing. It has been said, that this is the only instance recorded of a prophet being applied to for purposes of this nature; but it appears that it was usual for men to have recourse to prophets, and that the phrase was, "Come, and let us go to the seer;"* and that prophetical intelligence was paid for, is evident from the inquiry between Saul and his servant, concerning their ability to gratify him.** But, to proceed: Saul not only found his asses, but a kingdom into the bargain; and had the spirit of the Lord given;*** to him which we find taken away**** again, when he proved untractable: though it seems somewhat odd, how he could possibly prove disobedient, while he acted under the influence of this Divine Spirit! For, the possibility being admitted, the advantage of inspiration is difficult to be conceived. After Samuel had in private(5) anointed Saul king, and told him his asses were already found, he dismissed him for the present. He then assembled the people for the election of a king: at which assembly, behold, the lot fell on the tribe of Benjamin; and in that, on the family of Matri; and finally, on Saul, the son of Kish.(6) An election somewhat resembling consistories for the appointment of bishops; where the person being previously fixed on, God is solemnly prayed to for a direction of their choice. * 1 Sam. ix. 9. ** Ver. 7, 8. *** Ch.x. 6. **** Ch. xvi. 19. (5) Ch. x. 1. (6) Ch. x. 20, 21. It is not intended here to give a detail of the reign of king Saul; the notice hitherto taken of him being merely because the life of David could not be properly introduced without mentioning the alteration of government, and the manner in which monarchy was established in Israel: since Samuel's disappointment in Saul, naturally leads to his similar choice of David.