Page:Aelfric's Lives of Saints Vol 1.djvu/397



AUL was  the  name  of  the  first  king  who  reigned  over  God's people.

He was  raised  to  be  king  rather  by  the  people's  choice

than by  God's  counsel. Many other  kings

had reigned  before  throughout  the  whole  world  over  heathen  nations;

but over  the  people  of  Israel,  who  believed  in  God,

there was  no  earthly  king  before  that  Saul

(as they  had  themselves  chosen)  assumed  the  dominion  over  them.

He turned  quickly  aside  from  the  will  of  Almighty  God,

and would  not  walk  by  His  instruction  and  by  the  teaching  of His  prophets,

and the  evil  Spirit  troubled  him  with  diabolic  instigations,

and turned  his  reason  into  madness.

Then at  last  Almighty  God  rejected  this  Saul,

and cast  him  out  of  his  kingdom  according  to  his  own  deserts,

and chose  for  Himself  as  king  the  brave  David,

who without  weapons  had  conquered  the  lion,

and had  rent  the  bear's  jaws  with  his  hands,

and had  delivered  the  captured  sheep  from  his  sharp  teeth.

He likewise  overthrew  afterward  the  mighty  giant,

Goliath the  cruel,  who  blasphemed  God's  name,

and with  threats  cried  shame  upon  God's  people,

armed for  single  combat  with  exceeding  great  weapons.

Lo then! David went  against  the  giant,

and with  his  sling  struck  the  unbelieving  giant

above the  eyes,  so  that  he  bowed  to  the  earth.

Then he  took  from  the  giant  his  own  sword,

and struck  off  his  huge  head  therewith,

and so  won  the  victory  for  his  people.

Concerning this  David  spake  the  Almighty  Ruler