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DISCOURSE VIII.

1 KINGS, Xxii. 34.

AND A CERTAIN MAN DREW A BOW AT A VENTURE, AND SMOTE THE KING OF ISRAEL BETWEEN THE JOINTS OF THE HARNESS: WHEREFORE HE SAID UNTO THE DRIVER OF HIS CHARIOT, TURN THINE HAND, AND CARRY ME OUT OF THE HOST; FOR I AM Wounded.

Ir may not be unuseful, to bring a short view of the history, of which the text is a part, to the recollection of my hearers.

Ahab, king of Israel, and Benhadad, king of Syria, ruled over neighbouring countries, and were engaged in frequent wars with each other: the events of which were sometimes in favour of one side, and sometimes of the other. The Syrians had taken Ramoth, a city of the Israelites, which Ahab was desirous of recovering; and requested the assistance of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, in the undertaking. Jehoshaphat was willing, not only to succour him with his forces, but to attend him in person to the war. But,

being a religious prince, he wished the king of Israel to inquire at the word of the Lord, whether they were likely to expect the blessing of Heaven upon their enterprise, before they engaged in it. Ahab, therefore, summoned his prophets together, no less than four hundred; who were unanimous and positive, in assuring him of success. But, whatever it was that gave king Jehoshaphat a distrust of the confident assurances of these men, he asked the king of Israel, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we may inquire of him? Ahab acknowledged that there was yet one man, by whom they might inquire of the Lord; Micaiah, the son of Imlah. But this Micaiah, it seems, spake what he thought, too plainly for Ahab's life and character; and when he had any thing to tell him from the Lord, "did not diminish a word." * Ahab, therefore, confessed that he hated him: yet, at the instance of Jehoshaphat, he sent for him: and the messenger that went to bring him, was urgent that he should concur with the other prophets, and prophesy smooth things. At first, he did so in appearance; but in such a manner, that Ahab quickly discerned he was not in earnest; and, therefore,

*Jer. xxvi. 2.

adjured him in the name of the Lord, to tell nothing but the truth. Micaiah, being called upon in this solemn manner, avowed what the Lord had revealed to him: that a spirit of delusion was gone forth among these prophets; that the expedition would prove unprosperous; and that if the king went upon it, he would not return alive. However, Ahab set out for the. war, and drew Jehoshaphat along with him. The consequence was, that Ahab was wounded by a random arrow; was staid up in his chariot of war till the evening; and then died.

The history of which I have been giving the substance, will furnish us with some useful, and, through God's assistance, I hope, edifying observations.

And first, a truth is here offered to our thoughts, which it is of the greatest importance to us never to lose sight of: that He, whose name alone is Jehovah, is the Most High over all the earth; and that his foresight and providence superintend all his works; not only in a general way of upholding the world, which he has created, and that constitution of it, which he ordained from the beginning; but also, by interposing with his protection, chastisement, or punishment, in the leading parts of the life of every individual. And, though men are left to

act with free will, yet God directeth the events and amount of their actions, as he seeth best: if they are persons fearing Him, to their own good, upon the whole; but, if they are those who forget or regard him not, still controuling and swaying their counsels and deeds, to the purposes of his glory.

Both the Old and New Testament supply us with innumerable instances of this great truth: -but I confine my reflections to the case of Ahab.

This wicked prince had been instigated by Jezebel his consort, still more wicked than himself, to take away his neighbour's life by false accusations, in order to get posssession of a vineyard, upon which he had set his heart, as lying convenient for him. Upon which heinous act of injustice and cruelty, the prophet Elijah declared to him, in the name of the Almighty, against whose laws he had committed such an outrage, that, in the place where dogs had licked the blood of Naboth, dogs should lick his blood also. Bearing this prophecy in mind, Ahab might possibly reason in this manner: If what is denounced against me is true, and must come to pass, I cannot be slain at such a distance off as Ramoth, which I am going to besiege. Neverthe less, the event that had been foretold, was

fulfilled, as we shall presently see, according to the appointment of Him, "who frustrateth the tokens of liars, and maketh diviners mad; who turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish; who confirmeth the word of his servants, and performeth the counsel of his messengers.'

There is another evidence of this directing Providence, in the manner of Ahab's death; to. whom Micaiah had foretold, that, if he went to Ramoth, he would not come back alive. The king of Syria, with whom he had been so frequently at war, seems to have entertained a par-, ticular animosity against him; and therefore gave command to his chief captains, to fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel; and to make their whole attack upon his person. Ahab, apprehensive of such a design, went into the battle so far disguised, as not to be distinguished from the rest of his captains. And therefore, the Syrians, mistaking king Jehoshaphat for commander in chief, bent all their force against him; but, perceiving their mistake, desisted, and retired from him. Where to find out the king of Israel, and to fight with him only, as they had been commanded, they knew not. In this perplexity, one of them drew a bow, with no particular aim or design, but that