Imatges de pàgina
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source of all the refreshing streams that flow from it, and fertilize and beautify the ground! What an unspeakable blessing is the sun, that makes our day, our spring, our summer!-What would the earth be without the sun! What an unspeakable blessing is life, with all its intelligence, pursuits, productions, and enjoyments! He is the fountain of living waters. He is the Sun of Righteousness. He is the life of the soul and eternity. He not only insures every thing else, but contains it-In him it hath pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell. In him we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly plaees.

- And can we think of this, and not exclaimThanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift? Nothing is so detestable as ingratitude. The very Heathens condemned it. One of their philosophers said, Call a man ungrateful, and you call him every thing that is vile. The Lacedæmonians made it punishable. South compares such a wretch to the sea, that turns the sweet influences of the clouds into brine; and to the grave, which is always receiving, and never restoring. How soon we complain of a want of thankfulness in our fellow-creatures towards ourselves! How soon do we abandon them, when our favours seem lost upon them!

And yet what are these favours, when, too, we are under an obligation to shew them, from a community of nature, and the command of God! How few! How small! How far from being entirely pure in their motive! With how little self-denial and sacrifice attended! Herein is love! not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

And can this love deserve only a careless reflection of the mind? a cold acknowledgment of the lip? Ought it not to claim and consecrate the heart? Ought we not to ask, every moment, What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits

towards me? Ought we not, by the mercies of God, to present our bodies a living sacrifice?

"Were the whole realm of Nature mine,
"That were a present far too small :
"Love so amazing, so Divine,

"Demands my soul, my life, my all."

JULY 11.-" And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb, the mount of God."

1 Kings xix. 8.

HAVING, On Mount Carmel, witnessed the triumph of truth over idolatry; and destroyed Baal's prophets; and predicted the return of rain; and urged the king to hasten home, lest he should be impeded by the approaching torrents; "Elijah girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel." Had Ahab properly regarded Elijah, he would have taken him up into his chariot, as the Eunuch did Philip; and have honoured him before his attendants; and conversed with him respecting the awful state of the country-But he did not cordially like him; and was happy to get rid of him as soon as possible; as Felix said unto Paul, "Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee."

But we admire the conduct of Elijah. He was not elated, by the recent unparalleled honours conferred upon him above the duty of a subject; and therefore, notwithstanding the character of Ahab, he pays respect to him as his sovereign; and renders honour to whom honour was officially due.

-It is probable that Elijah came to Jezreel to carry on the reformation he had begun; and

hoping that the late miracle would give him a powerful influence. But soon after he arrives in the suburbs, he learns the determination, not of the queen consort, but of the queen regent (for Ahab, though king, was completely governed by a termagant wife), to put him to death. "And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to-morrow about this time." Upon this, he should have stood his ground, and have resolved to go on with his work, leaving events with God, and relying upon that Providence and grace which had so signally appeared for him. He should have replied, as Chrysostom did, when Eudoxia, the empress, threatened him -"Go, tell her that I fear nothing but sin:" or as Bazil did, when Valerius, the Arian emperor, sent him word that he would put him to death-"I would that he would; I shall only get to heaven the sooner:" or as Luther did, when they would have dissuaded him from going to Worms-"I would go, if there were as many devils there, as there are tiles upon the houses:" or as the Prince of Condé did to the French king, when he proposed to him, going to mass, or perpetual banishment, or death-"As to the first of these, by the grace of God, I never will; and as to the other two, I leave the choice of either to your majesty."

But where is the faith that never staggers through unbelief? The hand that never hangs down? The knee that never trembles? We are amazed at the magnanimity of Elijah before, in reproving Ahab to his face, opposing_single-handed all the followers of Baal, and slaying Jezebel's four hundred and fifty chaplains! But what is man! He cannot stand longer than God holds him, or walk further than God leads him-This same hero now turns pale,

and flees for his life! "And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there." And why did he leave him? Was it from tenderness, wishing to save him from the perils to which he himself was exposed? Or was it the more perfectly to conceal his movements, as one could be more easily hid than more? Or did he wish for unrestrained, unwitnessed intercourse with God? There are seasons, and places, in which we wish no eye to see, no ear to hear-but God to be all in all. Abraham left his young men below, when he ascended to worship God. And Jesus said to Peter, James, and John, in the Garden-Tarry ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

However this was, "he went a day's journey into the Wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper-tree:" and, fatigued with journeying and hunger; and harassed with forebodings; and despairing of further success in his exertions; he asked to resign, not only his office, but his life-" He requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough: now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers"-i.e., I am not fitter to bear their trials, or discharge their duties, than they were. Why then should I remain, when they are removed? I have done and suffered my share. This was the language of nature, not of grace. Children grow fretful as they grow sleepy. Paul longed to depart, to be with Christ, which was far better; yet he was willing to abide in the flesh, because it was needful for others. While we are ready to go, we must also be willing to stay, if God has any thing for us to do, or to suffer. To be impatient for retreat, especially as soon as we meet with disappointment, is unmanly and sinful.

Though Elijah was forward to die, it was a peevish haste, and evinced that he was in a very improper frame for the event.-But God remembered that he

was dust, compassionated his weakness, and appeared for him, even in a strait of his own producingnot dealing with him after his desert. "And as he lay and slept under a juniper-treee, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise, and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head; and he did eat and drink, and laid him down again." Before, He had fed him by ravens ; now, He supplies him by one of those heavenly messengers who are all ministering spirits unto the heirs of salvation. The office seemed beneath one of these glorious beings. But he was as much pleased to bring a meal to this weary traveller, as he would have been, had he received orders to manage the affairs of an empire. Angels have no partialitiesThey consider not the nature of the command, but only the Author-May His will be done on earth, as it is done in heaven.

But what was the meal? A cake of bread and a cruse of water! Nature is content with little; and grace, with less. How many disorders arise from excess! A voracious appetite is a judgment. A delicate one is an infirmity. A dainty one is a disgrace. Ministers, above all men, should not be given to appetite, or be fond of dainty meals. And those who entertain them should not insult them by the nature and the degree of their preparations. Did our Saviour require much serving? Did not he reprove Martha, for being cumbered about many things? When an angel was the guest, Abraham brought him forth a cake, baked on the hearth, with butter and milk. And when an angel, who had the command of every store, catered for the greatest and best man of the age-it was a cake of bread and a cruse of water.

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"But the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise, and eat; because the journey is too great for thee."

VOL. II.

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