him to fpare her life, (though fullied with fuch various guilt) in pity to her age, and the dignity with which she was invested? Will fhe not petition for her yet-furviving children? Far otherwise. Her proud heart is incapable of fubmiffion. She collects her haughty fpirits, and, instead of humbling her foul by repentance, or preparing for instant death, fhe feeks to daunt the courage of this conqueror, by the fudden beams of majefty. She looks down upon him with infolent difdain-challenges him with treafon-calls to his remembrance the fhort-lived glories of Zimri, who flew his mafter-forgets that her own life is in his hands, and that she has no dependence but on his clemency.

THE refolution of Jehu was not to be shaken by a painted face, or an opprobrious tongue. He looks up, and commands the fawning minions of Jezebel who stood around her, to caft her down

head

neadlong. Who fhall truft the venal fervices of a treacherous heart? Long had thefe eunuchs bent their knee in

as

humble obfequioufnefs to the queen of Ifrael-now, at the call of a triumphant enemy, they forget her royalty and their own allegiance, and confign her, willing executioners, to her miferable fate. Such was the fall of pride-fo perished the infolent, the idolatrous, the fanguinary Jezebel !

DEATH puts an end to all displeasure. Jehu, who fpared not the life of this impious woman, will not forget her fepulture. Though the tranquillity of his kingdom, and his perfonal fafety, would not fuffer him to pardon her, he commands her to be interred as a Zidonian princefs, the daughter, wife, and mother of kings. The dogs have already prevented him in his purpose. The word of Elijah is fully verified-the dreadful fentence is literally fulfilled-the blood of

Na

Naboth and of the prophets is fearfully

required.

RIGHTEOUS art thou, O GOD, and

juft are thy judgments!

XLIV.

XLIV.

ATHALIAH.

NOW is Jehu peaceably fettled on the throne of Ifrael. Mankind no longer tremble at the enormities of the house of Ahab. The facrilegious rites of Baal are banished out of the land. The fword of divine juftice returns into its scabbard-it is at reft-it is ftill.

UNAMBITIOUS of further conquests, the king forbears to take advantage of thofe confufions, into which the neighbouring empire is thrown by the death of Ahaziah. He has finifhed the task, for which the prophetic voice appointed him he has profpered in the work he was commiffioned to perform. Idolatry

and

and tyranny are heard of no more. Had he but reformed, as well as restored, the worship of JEHOVAH-had he destroyed the images of Jeroboam, as well as the idols of Ahab, the bleffing of the house of David would have fallen on his head, and on his remote defcendants.

BUT, alas, the heart of Jehu was not perfect with his GOD. He fears to deviate from the fatal policy of his predeceffors. He dares not commit his way unto the LORD-he dares not bid the tribes go up to worship at Jerufalem. Yet fhall his obedience, partial as it is, not fail of a temporal reward. Four generations of his pofterity fhall fit on the throne of Ifrael, before the family of Jehu is extinct like that of Omri, of Baafha, and of the fon of Nebat.

In the mean time what scenes of horrour are paffing in the kingdom of Judah ! How truly is Athaliah the fifter of Jezebel, in foul, as well as alliance!

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