Lxs.XVJJI. Elijah l'Pith the CSaalites. A Cenainly Elijah had not beene premonilhed ofthis fudden ficknes, and death of the child; He who knew the remoteaffaires oftheworld, mightnotknow what God would doe within his owne roofe;the greateft Prophet mull content himfelfe with fo much ofGods counfell,as he wil pleafe to reveale,and he wil fomerimes reveale the great f<erets, and conceale the leffe,to make good both his owne libeny, and mans humiliation. So much more unexpected as the llroke was, fo much more welcome is the cure;How joyfully dorh the man ofGod take the reviv'd child into his armes and prefent him to hi~ mother ~ How ~orh his heart leapwithin him,at rhis proofe ofGo?s fa~ourto h1m, ~ercr ~othe w1dow, power to the child. Whatlifeand JOY did flOW lhew 1t felfem the face ofthat amazed mother, when fi1eefaw again the eyes ofher fon fixe~ upon hers; when fhe felt his flelh warm, his B motions vitall!Now fhe can fay toEil].h;6y thu I know that thou art amanofGotl,and that the .,.,d ofthe Llrdin thy mouth is truth; Did fhe nor ril now know this?Had fhe not [aid before,What havJ I to doe with thee 0 tho" ma3 if God! Werenor hercrufe,&: her barrel fufficient proofes ofhis divine commilli6n~ Doubtleffe what her meale and oyle had affured herof,thedeath ofher fon made her to doubt; and now reviving did re-afcenaine. Even th~ llrongell faith ~ometi~es llaogereth,and needeth newacts ofheovenly fupponauon; the end ofmuacles 1s con~rmation oftruth; It feemes, had this widows fonnc continued dead, herbeleefe had been buried inhis grave' notwithllanding hermea\e and her oyle,her foule had languifhed: The mercy ofGod is faine to provide new helps for our infirmities,and gracioully condefcends to our owne tearmes, that he may work out our faith and falvation. c _____________________________________ Elijah with the 73aa!ites. Hree years and an halfe,did Ifraellie gafping undera parching drought and miferable famine:.No creature was fo odious to themas Elijah, to whom they afcribed all their mifery.Me thinks I heare how they railed on, and curfe the Prophet. How much envy mull the fervants of God undergoe for theirmafler~ Nothing butthetongue was Elijahs, the hand wasGods;the prophet did but fay whatGod would do,J doe not fee them D fllout with their fins,that had deferved thejudgment, but with the meffengerthat denounced it; Baal had no fewer fervants then ifthere had beene both roine, and plenty' Elijah fafely fpends this llorme under the lee ofS•repta : Some three ye.res bath he\yen clofe in that obfcure corner,and lived upon thebarrell,&crufe which he h•d multiplied: At !all God ca\s him forth, Go fbewthy felfe to Ahab,Andlwilfond rain< upon the earth; no raine mull fall til Elijah were feen of Ahab; He carried away the clouds with him, he mull bring them again: The King, the people oflfrael, fhal be witneffes that God wil makegood theword,the ooch ofhis Prophet:Should the rain have falne in Elijahs abfence, who could have knowne it was by his procurement! God holds thecredit ofhis meffengers percious,& negleCts nothing that may grace them in the eyes ofthe world; Not the neceflity offeventhoufand reliE gious Ifralites could crack the word ofone Elijah1 There is nothing wherin God ismore tender, then in approving the veracity ofhimfelfe in his minillers. Lewd Aha6 bath an holy Steward : As his name was,lo was he, a fervant ofGod while his Mallerwas a fiave to Baai.He that referved [even thoufand in theKingdome of!frael,hath referved an obadiah in the court of!frael: and by him, bath referved them:Neitheris it likely there had been fo many free hearts in the Country, ifReligion had not been fecretly backed in the Court: It is agreat happinetlewhen God gives favour,and honor to the Vertuous.Eiij•hdid notliemore c\ofe in Sarepta,then obad~Ah Jid in the Court : He could not have done fo much fervice to the Church, if he had not been as fecret,as good;Policy and religion doas well toge- \ ther as they do illafunder:The Dovewithout the Serpent is eafily caught; the ferpentwithout the Dove llings deadly; Religion without policy is too fimpleto bee Hhhhh 3 fafe
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