THE FIRST KING OF ISRAEL. » 155

repented of those sins which had brought the Philistines’
yoke upon them. They ought to have turned to the
Lord with all their heart; when they did not do so
they did not deserve to win. After they had been de-
feated they ought to have humbled themselves, and
confessed the evil they had done. Instead of which, they
brought the ark into the camp, expecting that it would
save them from being again overcome by their enemies.
Marianne. But was it not good in them to do that ?
Grandfather. No; for they were forbidden to remove
the ark after it was placed at Shiloh; and even had that
not been the case, they would have been wrong, for to
expect that they would be victorious because they had
taken the ark into the camp, was trusting in an action
of their own, and not in the blessing of God. All who
trust in outward forms, without seeking that their hearts
be pure before God, are like these Israelites. Religion
must be in the heart, if it exist at all.
George. Were the Israelites beaten again ?
Grandfather. When the ark came into the camp all
the men of Israel shouted for joy; but the Philistines
feared, and said one to another, ‘ God is come into the
camp. Woe unto us, for there hath not been such a
thing heretofore. Woe unto us, who shall deliver us
out of the hand of these mighty gods? these are the
gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in
the wilderness.” They shewed their ignorance in think-
ing it a strange thing that God had come into the camp,
He who fills all space at all times. Little better could