L1n.XIX. Elifha raijing the lron,&c. A ·phet borrowes an ~xe to cut an helve for the loft axe : Why did he not make ufe of rhlt handle which had caft the head~ Did he hold it unworthyofrefpeC!:,for that it had abandoned the metal wherewith it was trufted? Or did he make choiceofa I new ftick,that themiraclemight be more clear & unqueftionable ~ Divine power goes a contrary way eo Art:Wo firft would have procured the headofthe axe,and thenwould h~ve fitted it with a helve:E/ijba fits the head to the helve,and qufeth the wood,which was light and knew nor howw link, wfetch up the iron, which wa~ heavy,and namrallyuncapable offupernatati6.Whether the metal were ftripped Qftho narurall waight by the fame power which gave it being; or whether,retaining the wonted poife, it was raifed up by fome fpiritualloperation; I enquire not Only I fee it fwim·like corke upon tho ftreame of Iordan,and move towards the B hand that lot! it.Whlt creature is not willing to put offthe properties ofnature at the command ofthe God of na.ture~ 0 God lmweafie is it for thee,when this h.rd and heavy heart ofmineis funke down into the mud ofthe world, to fetch it up againe by thy m1ghty Word, and eaule it w float upon the ftreames oflife, and to fee the face of heaven again. Yet fiill doe thejides of Ifrad complaineofthe thornes of Aram; The childret:t of Ahab rue theii fathers unjuft mercy: From an enemy, it is no makit:tg qucf!ion whether of ttrength or wyle:The King of Syriacon[ults withhisfervancs,wpere to encampe for his greateft adv.mtage;tlleirnpinion is noc more required, then cheir fccrefie. tlifba is a tboufand !couts:He fends word to the King ot Ifrael ofthe projeCts,ofthe removes ofhis enemy.More thenonce had Iehoram faved bo1h his life, C and his Hoaft,by thefe clofeadmonitions. It is well that in fomething yeca Prophet may be obeyed.What ftrange State fervjce was this which Elijba did, befides the fpirituoii~The King,the l"'ople ofifrael owe themfelves, and their fatety to.a defpift:d Prophot.The man ol God knew, and feltthem Idolaters, yet how caref11U and vigilant is he foreheir refcuedf<hey were bag, yet they were his ovvn:Ifthey vvere bad,yet not a!; \.od had his number amongihheir vvorft: Iftheyvvere \l:Id, . yetthe s,rtam werovvorfe.The Ifraelites mif-vvorlPipped the true God, theSyri- • ans vvor01ipped ofalfe. That (if it vvere poflible) hemightvvin them,he .will prefervethem,and ifthey vvill needs be yvanting to God,yet Elifh.vvi!l not be wa_ntingto them;their impiety Oull not make him undutiful!. Therecannor be a jufier caufC of difpleafure, then thedifclofing ofthofe fecret D counfds,vvhich are laid upipour e>re,in our breafi. The Kingof Syria,not VYi<h· outreafon,l\omacks this (uppofed treachery.Whac Prince can bear,thatan .~dverfe povver 010uld have apmy,a Penfionary inhis ovvn Court~ Hovv famous vv~s E. lrfba even in forain Regions ~ Befides Na.11»4n, others of the SJri•n Nobility take notice ofthemiraculous faculties ofthis Prophetoflfraei;He isaccufed for this fecrec intelligence. No words can efcape him,though fpokenin the bed·chamber.O Syrian,whofoever thou wett,thou faidft nmenough:ifthy mafier doe but whifper in thine eare,ifhe fmother his wprdswithin his own lips,ifhe do but fpeo~ within his own bofome,EI>P>• knows it from an infalliblcinfonnation.Wbat coun[el is it 0 God,thac can be hid from thee ~ whatcounfel is itthatthon wilt hide frQm thy Seer~ Even this very word thataccufeth the Prophet, is known totheaccufed. He E heares this calevvhiles it is in telling;he heares the plot for hi> apprehenfion..Hovv ill do the projeCls qfvvicked men hang together~ They that conieUe Elijba ~t:tows their fecreteft vvords, do yet confer to takehim. There~re fpie> upon him,wh~fe elpials have moved their anger,& admimi6.He is defcryedt<;>be in Doth•n a l;v.a,l tovvn of Man•({ts;A vvhole Army is fent thitherto lurprife llioo; 'I he opport~niry ofthe night is chofeafor tho exploit-There lhalbe no w:it either jn;:he niiber,<)r valour,or fecrefie ofthef-. confpired troops:&novv vyhen they have fully girt intl\e villagevvjth a ftrpng &exquifite fieg, theymake thcfelvs (ure of Elifba,& pl~afe thefdvs to think hovv they have inca!;ed the mife~;able Prophec,hovv they {]joi)ld take him at unawares in his bed,io themidfi ofa f~cure dream:how theyfhou.ld cary him fetter'd to their King;whatthaks they 010uld have for fo w~lc6 a prifoner. The fuccdfor of<iehezi rifech early in themorning, &fees a.l ~he City tn!lQWJl>Jj . fed
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