is a god either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked." Instead, however, of being convinced by this sharp rebuke, the priests renewed their cries and ceremonies, but "Baal heard them not."

When they had spent the greatest part of the day, Elijah arose, prepared an altar, and laid his victim thereon. Then he caused water to be poured three times over the sacrifice, after which he addressed a fervent prayer to Jehovah on the behalf of his people. The prophet had scarcely ended his address, when the celestial fire came down, and wholly consumed "the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water in the trench."

This display of Divine power carried conviction to the hearts of the people, and they cried out, "The Lord he is the GOD, the Lord he is the GOD!"

Elijah then commanded them to execute summary justice upon the priests of Baal, which was done instantly, so that not one escaped; Ahab himself not judging it prudent to interpose his authority to save these deceivers, or to check the zeal of the people.

The man of GOD did not treat him with reproach in the sight of the people, but gave him an assurance that there would soon be an abundance of rain. As Ahab rode on in haste to Jezreel, Elijah ran before him; but on the same day he was obliged to flee from thence to avoid the malice of Jezebel.

At the Divine command Elijah went to Horeb, where he was favoured with a manifestation of the Divine presence in a very remarkable manner. First, a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and tore in pieces the rocks; then an earthquake, and after that a fire. But the Lord was neither in the tempest, the earthquake, nor the fire. After this Elijah heard a still small voice, on which, "he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out and stood in the entering of the cave; and behold there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?"

.

Elijah complained that he had been very jealous for the Lord GOD of Hosts, but that, notwithstanding all his labours, idolatry overspread the land, and that he only of all the prophets was left; "and they seek my life," says he, "to take it away.' From hence it is evident that the prophet began to yield to despondency, and to think the case so hopeless that there was no farther occasion for his services. But the Almighty judged it otherwise, and commanded him to enter the world again, and to anoint Hazael king over Syria, Jehu king over Israel, and Elisha to be prophet in his room. He was also told, that the state of Israel was not so abandoned as he had imagined: for, says the Lord, "I have left me seven thousand which have not bowed their knees unto Baal, nor kissed him. Is not this an encouragement to the virtuous in the worst of times, that, notwithstanding their gloomy apprehensions, the Lord hath his faithful servants, who, in the midst of an evil generation, still retain their integrity, and yield not their hearts to the prevailing abominations?

From this incident we may also learn not to pronounce too hasty a judgment upon any people, or even upon individuals, but to hope for the best, even under the most forbidding appearances.

Elijah departed from Horeb as he was directed ; and on the way he was joined by Elisha, whom the Lord had called to be his successor.

Once more did the man of God present himself before Ahab, but it was on a very shocking occasion. The king having a desire for the vineyard of Naboth, which adjoined his own palace, wanted to purchase it; but as nothing was more disgraceful among the Israelites than to sell their patrimonial land, Naboth refused Ahab's request, which affected him so much that he fell sick. The occasion of his indisposition being discovered by Jezebel, that infamous woman reviled her husband for his weakness, in not wresting by force that which was denied to his intreaty. She then took the management of the

affair into her own hands, and caused Naboth to be put to death as a traitor and blasphemer. When this inhuman act was over, she tauntingly bade Ahab arise, and take possession of the coveted vineyard. But while he was feasting his eyes with his ill-purchased spot of ground, vengeance met him in the person of Elijah, who pronounced this sentence upon him: "In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine."

The answer of Ahab shows the agitation of a guilty conscience in the most striking manner: Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?" The faithful monitor is always regarded by the wicked as a troublesome intruder, and as the enemy of his quiet. Even conscience itself is dreaded; and the guilty wretch endeavours, by every method he can devise, to escape from its remonstrances.

But the voice of judgment will be heard; conviction will some time or other pierce through the avenues of the heart; and fear and terror, in the end, must produce repentance or despair. The prophet replied, "I have found thee;" and then proceeded to denounce the catalogue of woes which should fall on Ahab and his impious consort,

Of Elijah we read no more till after the death of Ahab, when Ahaziah reigned over Israel. This monarch, in a dangerous illness, sent some of his servants to Baal-zebub, the idol of Ekron, to enquire whether he should recover. On the way they were met by Elijah, who commanded them to return to their master with a declaration that his death was. certain, as a judgment for renouncing the GOD of Israel to enquire of a Pagan oracle.

When the king heard this sentence, and understood that it had been delivered by Elijah, he sent a troop of soldiers to apprehend him. But when they came to the prophet, and demanded him to go with them, the fire of heaven consumed the whole company. The king, regardless of this awful event, sent

another troop, who perished in the sarae manner. This judgment also failed to intimidate Ahaziah, though he was afraid of dying himself; and he dispatched a third company. But the leader of this band earnestly supplicating the prophet to spare his life, the Lord commanded Elijah to go with them to the king. In the chamber of the monarch did the prophet repeat his former declaration, and the power of the Almighty shielded him from his malice. This was the last public act in Elijah's most extraordinary life. Warned of his departure, he left the schools of the prophets, and, accompanied by Elisha, went over the Jordan, the water of which he divided with his mantle. On a sudden appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder, "and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven."

On one glorious occasion did Elijah appear upon earth, when, with the illustrious legislator of the Jews, he descended upon Mount Tabor, and held a mysterious conference with the Messiah. It was indeed a glorious sight to behold Moses, the promulgator of the law; Elijah, the great restorer of it, when it lay buried in ruins, and covered with corruption; and Jesus Christ the son of GOD, and the blessed fulfiller of all righteousness, assembled together in. consultation upon the great work of human redemption. Then, indeed, was visibly made conspicuous that beautiful and affecting declaration of the psalmist: "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Psalm lxxxv. 10.

332

ELISHA.

Died Anno Mundi 3163.

WHEN men of extraordinary piety are taken away, we are apt to adopt the complaint of the psalmist: "Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men." Psalm xii. 1. But though our regret may be allowable, as far as it flows from zeal for the cause of religion, yet it may extend beyond justifiable bounds; when by regarding the loss of those persons as irremediable, we seem to betray a want of confidence in the Almighty, who, instead of abandoning his church to the storms of the world, will safely guide it into the desired haven. Nor will he be without a succession of faithful servants to carry on that work which he has planned from eternity, and which must be perfected in glory.

When Elijah was removed from the world, great concern prevailed in the schools of the prophets, and much inquiry was made after him; but it was soon discovered that his gifts were multiplied in his successor, so that they who mourned for Elijah, now rejoiced in Elisha as an inestimable blessing.

This great man was following the plough of his father when Elijah cast his mantle over him, and called him to the prophetical office. Elisha immediately yielded to the mandate; and though it was a time when nothing could be obtained by it but trouble and persecution, he readily renounced father and mother, and house, and friends, for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. From that time "he ministered unto Elijah," or became his disciple