Contemplations. Lra.XIX~ warme,not to burne;and ifto burne, not the perfons ofmen, bur their corruptions: A Howmuch more fafeis it for us to follow the meek Prophetof theNew T<(lament then that fervent Prophet ofthe Old : Lee the matter ofour prayersbe the fweet dewes ofmercy, not .the fi res of vengeance•. Would nor any man have thought Ahazsah fufficiendy warned by fo terrible a judgment: Could he chufe but fay, It is no medling with a man chat can fpeak lightening and death: what he bath faid concerning mee, is coo well approved by what he hath done to my melfengers; Gods hand is with him ; mine ihall not be againll him : yet,now,behold, the rage of Ahaz.iah is fo much the more kindled by this fire from heaven;and amore refolute Captain,with a fecond band,is fent eo fete hElijah todeath; This man is in hall; and commands notonely hisdefcem,but his fpeed; Come downe qt~ickly: The charge implies a threat; Elijah mulllooke for force, ifhee B yeeld not: There needs no other weapon for defence, for offence, then the fame tongue,rhe fame breath:God hath fire enough for all the troops of ..lhaziAh. Immediately,dorhafuddenflamebreakoutofheaven, and confume this forward Leader, and his bold followers: It is a jullprefage and delere of ruine, not eo be warned: Worthily are they made examples, that will not takerhem. What marbk,or flint is harder then a wicked heart~ As if .Ahaz.iah would defpightfully fpit in the face ofheaven, and wrellle afall with the Almighty, he will needs yet againe fer a third c•praine upon fo defperatean imployment : How hot a fervice mull this Commander needs think hirnfelfeput upon~ Who can but pity his llraits ~ There is death before him, death behind him: Ifhe goe not,the Kings wrath is the melfengerofdeach:ifhe goe,the Prophets tongue is the executioner of C death; Many a hard raske will follow.the fervice ofa Prince wedded eo his pa!lion, divorced from God;Unwillingly,doubtlelfe,and fearefully doththis Captainclimb up the Hill, to fcale that impregnable Fott; But now, when he comes neere to the alfault,the battery that he !ayesto it,is his prayers;his fnrell fight is upon his knees: Het tvent t~p,and came, andfell upon his knees, before Elijah, andve(ougbt him, and {lfid unt• him,O man ofGod, I pray thee, letmylife,andthe lift ofthe(e ffty thy ferv ants, bee precious in thy fight : he confelfes the judgement that befell his predecelfors ; the monuments oftheir defirucHon were in his eye, and the terror ofir,in his hem; of an enemy therefore he is becomeafappliant, & fues not fo much for the Prophets yeeldance,as for his own life: this was the way to offer violenceto the Prophet ofGod,to the God ofthat Prophet, even humble fupplications;Wemufi deprecate D that evill,which we would avoid:ifwe would force b!eflings,we mullintreatthem. Thereis nothing to begotten from God by firong hand;anything by fuit1 The life ofthe Captaine is preffrved; Elijah is by the Angell commanded to goe downe with him fpeedily,fcarlelly. The Prophet calls nor with himfelfe; What fafety can there be in this journey~ I ihall put my felfinw the hands ofrude Souldim,and by them into the handsofan inragcd King; ifhe did not eagerly thirll aftermy blood, he had never fought it, with fo much lolfe; But, fo foon as he had a charge from ~he Angell, he walks down refolutely, and (as it were) daresrhe dangersoffo g11:at an holliliry; He knew that the fame God who had fought for him, upon the hill, would not leave him in the Valley ; he knew that the Angell which bade him goe, was guard enough againll a world ofenemies. Faith knowes not E how eo feare; andcan as eafily conremne rhefuggellion ofperills, as infidelity can raifethem. The Prophet lookes boldly upon the Court,whichdoubtlelfewasnotalittle difaffe~ed to him,and comes confidently into the bed-chamber of Ahazs•h; and /licks not eo fpeak overthe fame words to his head, which he had Cent him not long . lince by his firfi mdfengers; Norone fyllable wilthe Prophet abate ofhiserrand; it isnot for an Herald of heaven to be out ofcountenance; or ro mince ought of the mofl killing melfages ofhis God. Wh<rherrhe inexpet!ed confidence both ofthe man, and of the fpeech amazed the lick King oflfrael, or whetherthefeare offome prefent judgment (wherewith he might fufpet! Elijah 10 come armed upon anyaa ofviolence that lhould bee o!fered
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