"a man of GOD, and that the word or "the LORD in thy mouth is truth." Alas, had the not before fufficient evidence of Elijah's divine commiffion? Was not the barrel of meal, was not the crufe of oil, demonftration? The most enlightened foul may foinetimes ftand in need of frefh fupplies of heavenly affiftance. Bleffed be the mercy of that GOD, who provides help for our infirmities, and condefcends, (as it were on our own terms) to increase our faith, and work out our falvation.

XXXVIII.

XXXVIII..

ELIJAH ON CARMEL.

FOR more than three years was the land of Ifrael afflicted by drought and famine. Elijah, to whom the people afcribe their misery, is all this time the object of their hatred and execrations. They abhor, not thofe fins which had deferved GOD's vengeance, but the righteous prophet, by whofe ministry it was inflicted. At length the voice of Heaven calls the holy man from Sarepta, and fends him on his perilous embaffy"Go, fhew thyself to Ahab, and I will "fend rain upon the earth." The king and people of Ifrael fhall witness, that

GOD

GOD performeth the word of his fervants, and approves his own veracity in theirs.

THE governor of Ahab's houfe is faithful to Jehovah, while his master is the flave of Baal: he had hazarded his own life to preserve those prophets, whom Jezebel fought to deftroy. To him, therefore, while he is fent in fearch of pafture and springs of water, Elijah fears. not to present himself, demanding an interview with his master.

OBADIAH, who had proftrated himfelf to the earth on fight of the prophet, receives the meffage with terrour-he fees nothing but danger and death, either to himself, or to Elijah-to himself, if the object of Ahab's fury be rescued; to Elijah, if he encounter the tyrant's indignation.

BUT when the holy man confirms his purpose with an oath, and declares that he will furely behold the face of Ahab, Obadiah delays no longer. No

doubt

doubt the king was aftonished to hear that Elijah was coming to meet him. He feared, though he hated, the prophet. He was aware that the man whom he had fo long and fo fruitlessly fought to destroy, would not feek his prefence, but under a fure guard, and with fome high commiffion. He knew that Elijah was invefted with no common powers from above-that the mantle of the prophet was more honoured than his own royal purple. The withered arm of Jeroboam is now in the eye of his fancy. He dares not lift up his hand against the meffenger of Jehovah.

BUT while he refrains from actual violence, he forbears not to inveigh against Elijah as the occafion of this general mifery: "Art thou he that trou"bleth Ifrael?" The prophet had reproved an adulterous generation-he had denounced the judgments of GOD on their disobedience but the true caufe

of

of their fuffering was their fin. Foolish men are plagued for their offence, and because of their wickedness. Most juftly therefore does Elijah, in all the boldness of confcious innocence, repel, and retort the charge. "I have not troubled Ifrael, << but thou and thy father's house, in "that ye have forfaken the command"ments of the LORD." Standing alone amidst the train of Ahab, he fhews him, that no earthly glory can appall that man who is bleffed with revelations from GOD. He commands him, as one having authority, to gather together his idolatrous prophets to the top of Carmelhe bids him convene an affembly of the people. He fpeaks as if he were about to perform fome amazing miracle in the fight of all Ifrael. The heart of the tyrant is overawed by fuperiour virtuehe trembles, and obeys.

THE tribes are met together. Elijah reproves them, not merely for their idolatry,