great bitterness of soul, she prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said; O Lord God of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look upon the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me for good, then will I give thee the son whom thou shalt vouchsafe unto thine handmaid, to be the Lord's for ever, even all the days of his life. This solemn engagement was not made without a due sense of its vast importance, and a deliberate view of the difficulties which must necessarily attend its fulfilment. Few mothers would be disposed to act as Hannah was moved to do, on this occasion: but her purpose was unalterably fixed, to honour God in the choicest of his gifts, and thankfully to devote to his service the most precious things, with which he should be pleased to enrich her. Were such holy vows and serious purposes more frequent among the professed disciples of Christ, there is abundant reason to believe, that they would have an extensive and desirable influence upon the christian world. The orderly character of families would, in that case, be more generally secured, and the prosperity of the church more effectually

advanced. But, alas, how poor and degrading are the views of parents, for the most part, with respect to the future condition of their children! Instead of devoting them to God, and training them up to act in his name, and for his honour, in the stations which they may be called to occupy; we find even affectionate fathers and tender mothers prepared to surrender and part with them, upon any terms appearing likely to secure their credit among men, or calculated to increase the splendour of their family establishments. With these hopes they will not hesitate to dispatch their sons and their daughters to the most distant parts of the earth, cutting them off from all the sweetest enjoyments of early life, and unfeelingly giving them up to all the unknown varieties of wind and tide, time and chance. May the period speedily arrive, when the maternal example of Hannah shall be more thoroughly understood, and more generally imitated!

And it came to pass, as Hannah continued praying before the Lord, that the attention of Eli was drawn towards the woman, as he sat near a pillar hard by the tabernacle. So

sincere and devout a worshipper, especially one whose spirit was so touched and whose heart was so melted, presented an unusual appearance even in that sacred place: for Hannah spake secretly before the Lord in her heart; her lips indeed appeared to move, but her voice was not heard. Perceiving, therefore, the extraordinary discomposure of the woman, and marking the strange peculiarities of her countenance and manner, Eli was led to entertain some suspicion concerning the sobriety and reasonableness of her conduct. Under these views, he considered it as his duty to accost her in the language of severe rebuke-And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? Put away thy wine from thee.

Never was a reproof more painfully misplaced, or more calculated to inflict an unnecessary wound, than that which the high priest directed to this disconsolate stranger. That she felt it keenly, the whole turn of the passage very clearly implies: but, at a season of so great solemnity, it could awaken in her no resentment. She had withdrawn from the festive table of her family, that she might converse with God in secret, and

give free vent to those oppressive feelings, which could be no otherwise expressed than in groanings too big for utterance. In such circumstances, therefore, to be assailed by the voice of unmerited reproof; and from a quarter whence she had looked for nothing but condescension and tenderness; this might well be considered as sufficient to overwhelm her struggling spirit with confusion and anguish. Without, however, the smallest mixture of pride or exasperation, she mildly replied-Not so, my Lord; I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drank neither wine nor strong drink: but have poured out my soul before the Lord. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial; for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

Such a reply, so modest, so serious, and so respectful, could not fail to produce in Eli an instantaneous change of feeling. This was the language of grace, and amounted to a convincing proof, that she who used it could be no stranger to divine things. The venerable man's injurious suspicions were immediately succeeded by a parental regard

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for the humble suppliant. His warmest
sympathy was excited; and, turning upon
her a look of tender compassion, he answered
her thus-Daughter, go in peace; and the
Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou
art come to take refuge, preserve thee from
all evil, and perform all thy petitions. And
Hannah said, Let thine handmaid find grace
in thy sight. So the woman went her way,
and did eat, and her countenance was no more
sad. The high priest's gracious manner,
and the solemn benediction he pronounced
the unknown mourner, produced upon
upon
her mind a very extraordinary effect. She
listened to his words as to the voice of God.
And, as though an angel had spoken to her
from heaven, she instantly wiped away her
tears, and returned to the society of her
rejoicing friends.

My brethren, our text called upon me to
say something concerning Hannah's song of
thanksgiving and praise. But wishing to
communicate to you some little information
respecting the previous state of her mind,
and the peculiar circumstances of her family,
I have scarcely left myself time to offer one