LECTURE 584.

The end of serving mammon.

Hear the worshipper of Baal daring to say to the prophet of the Lord," Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" And herein see an instance of the common self delusion and audacious falsehood of the wicked, who impute to God, and his messengers, and his people, those troubles, of which they are the authors to themselves." I have not troubled Israel," may the righteous safely

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say; not I, but they who break the commandments of the Lord. And though He, who was our righteousness, was pleased to say concerning Himself, "I came not to send peace, but a sword;" Matt. 10. 34, we know that the sword He meant is pointed only by the passions of mankind; but for which, the Gospel message would be always, Peace. Let not therefore Christ's disciples marvel, if in the faithful exercise of their duty they should sometimes be charged with troubling Israel, and be spoken of, with Paul and Silas, as men who turn "the world upside down." Acts. 17. 6. Ahab, silenced by Elijah's firm rebuke, and awed by the majesty of God's true prophet, makes no difficulty in summoning, as proposed, the false prophets of his vain idols. They are gathered together, and the people with them, at mount Carmel. The king too is there, to witness their discomfiture. But Elijah turns himself rather to the people; as if he had more hope of convincing them than Ahab; or as if, in their presence, it was not according to his office to charge their sovereign with his iniquity. “ How long halt ye between two opinions?" is the stirring question he first asks them. Next he bids them choose decisively; "if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word." Can we suppose that they really were in doubt, as to which was the true God? Or was it not this that held their tongues in shameful silence; though they knew the Lord was God, they loved to follow Baal? Baal was the god acknowledged by their monarch. Baal's worship was the way to wealth and honours. Baal's service cost no pain, but ministered many a guilty pleasure. Hence it was that they preferred to follow Baal. Is it not hence too that many now serve maminon, who have no doubt nor hesitation in admitting, that "the Lord, he is the God?" Ver. 39.

But Elijah must extort the truth from these unwilling lips. In spite of their reluctance, out of their own mouths they shall be condemned, and God shall be glorified. And so reasonable was the proposal made to them, so fair the trial demanded by God's prophet, that all the people answered and said, It is well spoken." Oh that they who now halt between two opinions, would in like manner try truth and falsehood by the sure test of experience! Soon would they acknowledge, that mammon's service is but vanity and vexation of spirit. They may worship this deceitful idol from morning unto noon, from midday unto evening; they may prolong their frantic orgies throughout the shades of night; but still, if they examine honestly, they would find, as Baal's prophets found, "that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded." Such is the return which this world's gains and pleasures yield to their infatuated worshippers; such is the end of serving mammon; to call and not be heard, to cry aloud and get no help; and without one ray of hope from heaven, to be put to shame for ever in hell,

Elijah's sacrifice consumed by fire from heaven. 30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.

31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:

32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.

34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.

35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.

36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.

38 Then the fire of the LORD

fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God. 40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. 41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.

42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, 43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.

44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.

45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. 46 And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

LECTURE 585.

The blessedness of them that watch and pray in all humility. How well did Elijah, to begin his work with repairing "the altar of the Lord that was broken down!" Reformation of religion, is to restore that which was good of old, not to devise something new of our own. How suitably did he take "twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob!" In establishing a national church, or maintaining one when it is established, we ought to aim at comprehending all our tribes within its pale. How effectually did he prevent the possibility of the sacrifice being burnt without fire from heaven, by having water thrice poured all over it! In any service which we have to do for God, in proportion as his honour is concerned, we ought to watch that what we do is above the risk of suspicion. And now the prophet prays. He prays, in order that God may grant his request. He prays aloud, in order that the people may know that it is for God's glory's sake, and for the honour of his name, that he begs to have his petition granted. He asks not for fire from heaven, but for the turning of the hearts of all the people, by their conviction that the Lord is God. His prayer is answered by fire. The people are convinced. "They fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God." How does the prophet's heart now leap for joy, to hear God's name thus glorified! How are the few that have remained faithful, now comforted, encouraged, strengthened! How do the guilty tremble, when Elijah speaks once more, saying, "Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape!" And shall it be said that this is only the voice of the Law? Is there no sure vengeance for the wicked to fear now? Why, then does the angel, who proclaims the Gospel throughout heaven, in the book of Revelation, thus exhort all those who hear him: "Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come?" Rev. 14. 7.

When Elijah has slain Baal's prophets, he bids Ahab "eat and drink." And whilst the Baal serving king is feasting, in joyful expectation of refreshing rain, God's prophet is praying, and watching, and earnestly interceding, for the fulfilment of the word which God had spoken. The most eminent in guilt are often reserved the last for punishment. And many a great and wicked man has shared undeserved blessings, sought earnestly with watchfulness and prayer, by some humble servant of the Lord. The one is feasting, whilst the other fasts. The one rides, like Ahab, in his chariot. The other runs, and attends him, like Elijah, on foot. But the greater of the two is he, who has access to the throne of the Most High. And he who humbles himself most deeply now, it is he that shall be the most exalted to all eternity.

Elijah in the wilderness. The Lord passeth by.

1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets

with the sword.

2 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.

3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree and 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.

5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.

6 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.

and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.

8 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.

9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? 10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:

12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. LECTURE 586.

7 And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise

How we may prepare for standing before God.

It was Ahab's weakness, and no small part of his wickedness, to suffer his wife Jezebel to do evil, in his name, and by means of his authority. They that rule, whether in church or state, are doubly bound to watchful care in the ruling their own wives and families; lest otherwise their sacred trust of power be abused, and they be answerable for all the evil that springs from its abuse. In this instance, the violence of the wicked woman's passion burst forth with oaths into a threatening message, which defeated its own object. Elijah withdrew from the apprehended danger. This is the second time that we have read of his flying for his life; first from Ahab, by the direction of the Lord, and now from Je