Having accomplished the Divine purpose at Zarephath, he · receives a third command to show himself unto Ahab, coupled with a cheering promise of rain.

When he had faithfully delivered the message entrusted to him, he makes preparations for a scene which has not its. like in sacred history.

The "priests of Baal" and "prophets of the grove" were summoned to Mt. Carmel, where by a public exhibition of power, it was to be decided who was worthy of their homage, the Infinite God, or the idol Baal. From morning till evening the cry of the idolators pierced the leaden ears of their god, but it was unavailing.

Then Elijah stood forth in simplicity and uprightness, with tranquil countenance and firm deportment, and called upon the God of heaven. Mysterious moment!

The whole revelation of God is at stake. If no answer follows, the whole fabric falls in, and the ground of hope is gone. But the prayer is uttered; the fire descends, and the people fall upon their faces with the involuntary exclamation, "Jehovah, He is the God!"

Another prayer brought abundance of rain upon the thirsty earth, and then the prophet is called away from public activity, to wander once more in the solitudes of the wilderness. The haughty Jezebel threatens his life, and he flees from her. Upon his way he lies under the shadow of a juniper tree, and there his soul longs for rest, and he prays that he may die. But his hour is not yet come.

An angel comes to him, and refreshed and comforted, he goes on his way. Proceeding to Mt. Horeb, he took up his abode in a cave, where in various striking ways, he had bright manifestations of the power and glory of the Almighty. With a three-fold commission he leaves this place, in the execution of which he is to anoint Hazael, for the Syrian throne, and secure the companionship of Elisha in his work.

Jealous for the honor of God, he again improves the occasion, to show an idolatrous king the folly of his ways.

He intercepts the messengers of Ahaziah, and in attesta

tion of the Divine authority of his mission, causes their destruction. In obedience to God's command he goes himself to the enemy's camp, and repeats to the enraged monarch, the judgments of heaven. The promise of his God, lifts him up as on eagles' wings, above every fear, in his trying duty. The prophet's work is now well nigh finished, his pilgrimage completed. He knows it by a Divine revelation.

The horses of fire and the flaming chariot stand already prepared behind the clouds to fetch him away; nor has the Lord concealed from him the distinguished manner in which he is to be taken home. He goes then from Gilgal to Bethel to bid a last farewell to his disciples, as to his dear children. He hoped to have made the journey alone, but scarcely had he taken his staff, when Elisha, his faithful friend stands ready to accompany him.

Thrice,-at Gilgal, at Bethel, and at Jericho did Elijah with increasing importunity, entreat his companion to leave him; but as often did he receive the concise and decided reply,-"as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I wili not leave thee."

Fifty men of the sons of the prophets came to meet the revered man on his way, fully conscious it was the last time a meeting would be allowed on earth.

How gratifying it must have been to him, to hear, from their voices, an echo to his own ardent prayers, which, when his faith was weak, he had supposed to have no counterpart.

Having arrived at the brink of Jordan, Elijah does not tarry there, as if he doubted how he was to pass the river. Folding his mantle together to smite the waters, the stream divided, and they passed safely over.

This formed the last in the chain of wonders which ran through his whole prophetic course; and it serves to show that this man with all his trials and fatigues, held fast, and maintained the beginning of his confidence steadfast unto the end.

The time hastened; he bequeathed to his faithful com panion a priceless legacy, and this done, a fiery chariot came down and bore him up to heaven.

Blessed servant of God, thy rest is attained.

CHAPTER X.

Elisha.

HIS PECULIAR MISSION; FIRST MIRACLE, PURIFYING THE WATERS; CON DUCT WITH THE THREE KINGS; RESTORES THE SHUNAMITE'S CHILD FROM THE DEAD; HEALS NAAMAN, THE

SYRIAN; HIS FAITHFULNESS UNTO DEATH.

IKE the quiet, gentle moon, beaming forth con. solation and peace, Elisha, son of Shaphat, of Abelmeholah, rose upon the horizon of his people, after the majestic setting of that bright and burning meteor, which in Elijah's person had shone over Israel.

Many have thought they beheld in him but a weak copy of his far greater predecessor, and feel inclined to maintain that his life bears that relation to the Tishbite's, which a dying echo bears to the full original sound, or which a studied and artificial variation bears to the simple theme; simple yet in its simplicity infinitely more sublime, grand and effective. Yet this view of the subject reveals any thing but a clear spirit of perception.

A deeper glance leads to a very different conclusion.

If Elijah was an original phenomenon, Elisha was not less so.

There was an essential difference between Elisha's mission and that of his majestic predecessor, and with this his peculiar destination, the man's whole intellectual organization, as well as the manner in which he appeared, and acted upon the scene, stands in the fairest harmony.

He was ordained to appear in Israel as an evangelist, as one of those messengers whose feet "are beautiful on the mountain." As the herald of Divine condescension, he was to lead the people with persuasion into the paternal arms of the Lord, to bind up those hearts which his stern precursor had crushed with the hammer of the law, and startled from

the death-bed of a prolonged and fearful security, with the thunder of his terrible and mighty deeds.

For this mild vocation he had long before been, not only Divinely called, but also imperceptibly educated and prepared by the Lord. All his spiritual endowments had been calcu lated for this end; nay, more, his outward life, from his youth up, with its innumerable, apparently accidental, apparently unimportant circumstances, had been constrained, although without his consciousness, to be subservient to his future ministerial position.

His heart, like a harp, had been early tuned to soft accords. It was destined to sound songs of love, not the stormy tones of zeal. He grew up under circumstances especially favor able to the tenderer emotions of the soul.

Amid a blossoming, calm, and peaceful landscape, and in the narrow yet familiar confines of a quiet rural life, he, for many a year, experienced no intellectual influence, except that which, with the blue heaven and the green field, the mild sunshine of hallowed maternal love, and the plain, unvarnished piety of a faithful father, exercised over him.

His whole appearance, on reaching manhood, stood in the fairest and most perfect harmony with his peculiar mission. His exterior had nothing terrifying, nothing painfully imposing, nothing oppressive.

The most diffident felt undisturbed and at ease in his presence.

His course is marked by various and stupendous miracles. His first act appears as a characteristic symbol of his whole

career. He is in Jericho.

The inhabitants, satisfied of his miraculous endowments, come to him for a great blessing. Their city was beautiful for situation, encompassed with an evergreen wreath of palm groves and perfumed gardens of balm, yet the wells of water were as if poisoned, and the manifold misery which ensued, rendered it almost an object of regret that the city was rebuilt. Elisha hears the recital, and calmly says, "bring me a new cruise, and put salt therein." Then in company with those who made the appeal, he goes to the impure foun

tain of waters, and taking the vessel in his right hand, with out any pompous, formal introduction, shakes its contents into the bubbling waters, calling aloud, with a distinct voice, "thus saith the Lord, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence, any more death or barren land."

Behold, how faithfully Elisha watches over the interests of his Master! How carefully he seeks that all the glory may be awarded to Him to whom it exclusively belongs,—that not even a ray thereof may cleave to his hands, or to the outward instrument as such.

The words have scarcely left his lips, when already they bave exerted their miraculous power, and healing streams issue forth, to spread life and health whithersoever they flow.

It was after leaving Jericho, and while on his way to Bethel, the memorable scene occurred between him and the band of impious, scoffing youth, which resulted in their signal and utter destruction, being torn in pieces by bears from the wood. These were instruments of the Divine vengeance upon those who dared mock a holy man of God.

From this scene, the prophet betook himself to the solitudes of Mount Carmel, and having regained his composure, by communion with his God, he proceeded to Samaria.

When he reached that city, the united armies of Israel were upon the point of marching out against Moab. Three kings banded together in the enterprise, desire to know of its feasibility and ultimate success. Being informed of Elisha, they repair to him, and as he sees his lofty visitors approaching, he exclaims to the proud king of Israel, "what have I to do with thee? Get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother."

He had spurned Jehovah and his prophets in days of pros perity, and he was conscious now his condescension was owing to his selfish interest and ambition.

Respect, however, for the king of Judah, led him to regard their cause, and he called for a "minstrel."

The sweet tones still the storm of passion within the prophet's breast, and his soul is able to soar again, unhindered, upon the pinions of those sweet melodies, up into the