Welsh Journals

m> 9 q, No. 8. AUGUST, 1864. Pricb 2d. rrti atttr f){mw{rast 'OPHNI and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, are first referred to in Holy Writ, in the 3rd verse of the 1st chap, of the 1st Book of Samuel, where they are spoken of as priests of the Lord, and as being present at Shiloh, when Elkanah, the father of Samuel, went up yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord. This statement would lead our thoughts to two men who were highly favoured through being sons of a high-priest, and through having been brought up in connexion with the service of the tabernacle. They were at this time priests themselves, fully inducted into their office; and were it not for the further light thrown upon their history, in succeeding chapters of the book of Samuel, we might fondly picture them as two young men standing before the altar of the Lord, delighting themselves in His service, doing all things possible to aid their father in his official duties, wishful to know his will, and anxious to please him. But the very first reference to them, after the above, shows that our picture, in its most important points, is purely imaginary; for, it is therein (1 Samuel ii. 12) stated that they "were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord." They had had early religious advantages ; they had lived in the atmosphere of prayer, and praise, and sacrifice; they had been brought up under the guidance of a pious God-fearing father; but their connexion with religion was merely a connexion of flesh and blood. Their father was an official, and they sought to follow his steps as a means of livelihood. Cir¬ cumstances had brought them into a position which they rather liked for its ease and enjoyments; but they had no regard for God r>r His laws, neither had they any sympathy with His service.