Contempltt-ions. LIB. XVIII. ----------------- Prcphets 01i1h the [01crd, and J,evm lMeiJ, 11m left,and thtyJttkt m'/ lift tD tdt it awa1 . , A I heare not a dire~ anfwer from the Prophet to the demand o God : then be had faid,I runne away from the threats of Itztbtl,and here I hidemy head from hermalicious purfult : His guilcineffe would not let him fpeake out all: Hee had rather fay,I havebeenjealous f Or the LwdflDdDfHofls, then, I was fearefull of Jezebel: Wee arc all willing ro make the beft ofour ownecafc: bur wharhewanrsofhisowne accufation, he fpends upon the complaint of Ifratl. Neither dorh he more bcmone himfelfc,then exclaime againft them, as Apoftares from Gods Covenant, violaters of his Altars, murrherers ofhis Prophets: It muft needs be a defperate condition of Ifwl, that drives Elijah to indiet thcplbefore the throneof God: That tongue ofhis was ufed to plead forthem,ro fue'for their pardon, it could not be but ;~.forceable wickednctfe, that makes it their accufer. Thofc Idolatrous Ifraelites were well B forward ro reformation : The fire and raine from heaven u the prayers of Elijah had wonne themtoa fcorne of B aal;onely the violenceof Itz.tbel turned the ftream and now they are refetledin impiety,&perfecure him foran enemy, whorarhey al~ moft adored for a benefil~or, orherwife, Elijah had nor complained of what they had beene: Who would rhinkc it~ Itztbtl can doe more then Elijah : No miracle is fo prevalent with the vulgar,as rhcfway of authority, wherherrogood orevill. Thou art deceived, 0 Elijah;thou art nor left alone; neirheris alllfratlrainred: God bath childrenand Prophets in Ifwl, though thou fee them not ; tbofe cleare eyes ofthe Seer difcerne nor r.he fecrer ftory of God : they lookt nor into obdiahr Caves,tbey lookt nor intothe clofecsofthe religious Ifraelitt.t;he that feesthe hea1~ C can fay,r hAve/eft m~{tvtnt""'{:.nti inlfrael,al the knees which have nor bowed ro Baal,and everymouth whichhathnot kiffed him : Acrording to the fil!hinn.ofthe wealthy, God pleafeth himfelfein hidden treafures1 it is enough that hisowneyes behold his riches : Neverdid hc,never will he leave himfelfeunfurnifhed with holy clients, in the midft ofthe fouleft depravations ofhis Church : the fighrofhis filithfull ones bath !ometimes been lo.ft, never the being : Doe yo~r worft, 0 yee GatesofHeli,God will have hi~owne: He tharcould have more, will have fomc: that foundation isfure, Godhm,ah"hoart his. It was a trud cordiall for Elijahs folitarineffe, that he had [even rhoufand invifibleabettors;neirheris it a fmall comfort to our weakneffe ro have companions in good: for the wkkedneffe of lfraelGod hathanotherreceit; theoyleofroyall D and propheticall untlion; Elijah muft anoint Daz,sel King of Syria, Jthu Kingof Ifwl, Eli/ha for his fucceffor: All rhefe !hall revenge the quarrels ofGod,and him; one !hallbegin,tbeother fhall profecute, l)le third fhaU p<rfeatbe vengeance upon l(wl. AProphet fhall avenge the wrongs done eo aprophet: Elifo• is found, nor in his ftudy,but in the field1not with abook inhis hand, but a plough: Hisfilther Sbapl14t was a rich farmer in Abtl-Mtholah,himfelfe wasa good husband, not trained in the fchoOls ofthe Prophers,bur in the thrifty ~rade oftillage: and behold, this was rbe manwhomGod wil pick our ofallifrael fora Prophet;Go<l feerh nor as manfeeth; Neither doth he choofe men before they are· fi~,bur rher_cfore he firs them, beCaufec he harhcbofen them; his call is aboveall earrhlyinftiruriol). ,, r E I heare not of ought that Elijab faid: Onely be cafts his cloake upon I.lijh4 in the pa!l'age 1 That mantle, that ael was vocal!: Together withthis figne, Gods inftintl reacheth this amazed fonne of Shaph•t that he was defigned to an higher worke, ro breake up the fallow groundsofIfrael, by his prophericall funaion : Hee findes a ftrange venue in char Robe; and(as if his bearr were changedwith that habit) forgets his reamc, and runnes after lilijah; ahd fues forrhe leaveofa filrewell to his parents, ere he had any bur a dumbe command ro follow; The fecrer call ofGod offers an inward force to the heart, and iofenfibly draws us beyond rhepower ofour refift:ll!Ce ; Grace is no enemyrogood nature; Wellmay the refpeets ro our earthly parents ftand withour duties toour Father in heaven. I doe not fee Elifoa wring his hands and deplore his condition, that be fhallleave the
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=