you received. But what proof did he give of this? He was living in the very midst of that idolatry against which the man of God came to testify-that alone was suspicious, and still more so, when his message was so contradictory. In the one case, the authority was unquestionable-in the other, very doubtful. He had received his orders from Godthe man that seduced him to disobedience was countenancing idolatry. What a suitable comment does this part of the affair afford, to the Gospel for the day. How easily would the man of God have resisted the pretender, if he had but been forearmed with, and firmly adopted, the advice there given"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits."

3. We not only see that the imposition of the false prophet was a barefaced one, but that the man of God would never have been deceived by it, if his own inclinations and appetites had not betrayed him, and made him willing to be deceived. While he was before Jeroboam, on a public stage, and all eyes upon him, he kept his resolution manfully. But that pride and courage which enables men, under great and high situations, to stand trials, often fails, when they are left to solitude, or to the silent working of their inclinations. He was alone,-probably weary,hungry, and faint. Here it required a greater effort of faith than in the presence of Jeroboam and his people, to act up to the sentiments of our Collect, and trust to that God "whose never-failing providence ordereth all things, both in heaven and earth." He was glad to have the excuse afforded him by the old prophet's statement, and not very anxious to detect its falsehood. The consequences are beautifully related in this Scripture, and ought to be read

as a warning to us, in all cases of trial and difficulty, never to follow a doubtful path, when we have before us one in which our duty plainly lies. Our course is clear; and to enable us to follow it, we cannot do better than lift up our hearts in fervent prayer to God, our heavenly father, in the words of the Collect: "O God, whose never-failing providence ordereth all things both in heaven and earth; we humbly beseech thee to put away from us all hurtful things, and to give us those things which be profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

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There is one more observation to be made on this transaction, which is, that if we form any conclusion as to the final judgment upon this man of God, from the death he suffered, it would be rather a favorable, than an unfavorable, one. He evidently repented of his sin-the lion was not suffered to devour his body -his bones were respected by Josiah when he fulfilled his prophecy, and God's purpose was answered in making him a sign to the rebellious people of Bethel, that he was not to be disobeyed with impunity. For if, after solemnly, before the people and their wicked king, declaring he was forbidden to eat or drink in their polluted city, he had done both, without being punished, he would have weakened the effect of his mission by his security, as much as he confirmed it by his miraculous death. Therefore, though his repentance might have been sincere and accepted, his death was necessary to the vindication of God's honor, and for the purposes for which the prophet had been sent to Bethel.

EVENING PRAYER-FIRST PROPER LESSON. 1 Kings xvii.

As in the first Proper Lesson, for Morning Prayer, God sent a witness to testify of him among the re

volted and idolatrous tribes of Israel, so in this chapter he has a witness among the Gentiles in the poor widow of Sarepta, and sends her a faithful prophet to shew the signs of the true God. To this, Jesus himself makes a beautiful and gracious allusion, when he hints to the Jews that they may lose their privileges, and that others, whom they despised, might be admitted. "But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; but unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow." This poor widow, trusting in God's "never-failing providence," shared (notwithstanding the famine) with his holy prophet her last barrel of meal and her cruise of oil. Her faith is to be contrasted with the feeble faith of the man of God, in the first Proper Lesson for Morning Prayer. His failed under the pressure of temporary privation-her's remained unshaken amidst the horrors of famine. She offered to share her last morsel with the messenger of God-to deprive herself and even her child of a portion, and hasten their dreadful death rather than deny the prophet. What a beautiful contrast between failing and triumphant faith! How admirably does this view exhibit the harmony of these Lessons with each other, and with the subject of the Collect. The man of God, with all his advantages, fell and was punished-the feeble widow of Sarepta was firm, and was rewarded. The barrel of meal and the cruise of oil, continually and miraculously renewed, are fit emblems of God's "never failing providence," which will give his faithful servants, "those things which be profitable" for them. And, finally, (17-24,) the death and restoration of the widow's son, gave her assurance that

this "never failing providence" would sustain her, and her son, not only here, but hereafter-and that the day would come, when, in the presence of the angels, and in that kingdom where time shall merge in eternity-that God in which she had trusted, would again say to her, "thy son liveth."

It is to be observed, also, that in this chapter, a personage still more remarkable than the man of God, who came to Bethel, is introduced, to testify against the wickedness and apostacy of the revolted tribes. And that person is Elijah, who, (verse 1,) prophesies, as one punishment for their guilt, that there shall be no rain upon their land for a certain period, "three years." The time is not expressly defined, but in the Epistle of James, (chap. v.—v. 17)-we are told it was three years and six months. This Elijah was a very extraordinary prophet, and is spoken of in the New Testament, with great distinction, under the name of Elias. Our church has,

therefore, given us in this, and the two next Sundays, several interesting passages of his history. And we propose, in our Number for the tenth Sunday after Trinity, the last in which he appears in the Lessons, to sketch a brief account of him.

PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.

Go when the morning shineth-
Go when the noon is bright-

Go when the eve declineth

Go in the hush of night;-
Go with pure mind and feeling,
Fling earthly thoughts away,
And in thy chamber kneeling,
Do thou in secret pray.

Remember all who love thee-
All who are loved by thee,-
Pray, too, for those who hate thee,
If any such there be ;
Then for thyself in meekness,
A blessing humbly claim,
And link with each petition

Thy dear Redeemer's name.

Or if 'tis here denied thee,
In solitude to pray,—

Should holy thoughts come o'er thee,
When friends are round thy way;
E'en then the silent breathing,

Of thy spirit raised above,
Will reach his throne of glory,
Who is mercy, truth, and love.

The

Oh! not a joy or blessing,
With this can we compare,
power that He has given us
To pour our souls in prayer!
Whene'er thou pin'st in sadness,
Before his footstool fall,

And remember in thy gladness,
His grace who gave thee all.

(Hampshire Advertiser of May 7th.)