the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself."

But to return to the religious state of Ifrael, whom we left under Ahab's government, in the darkest fuperftition, corruption, and idolatry.

Whilst this prince established a pompous fervice for his falfe gods, we may presume that he perfecuted the followers of the true God; for his zeal and impiety would naturally dispose him to intolerance. We might be fure, therefore, though the historian had taken no notice of it, that, while "the prophets of the groves were four hundred, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty men," the prophets of the Lord would be reduced in their numbers, would be "deftitute, afflicted, tormented," till there were few or none of them left, and no other durft fucceed to their function. But the complaint of Elijah is both too pertinent and pathetic to be omitted : .. I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life to take it away." However, it pleased the providence of God, low as his church appeared at that time in the land of Ifrael,

and unlikely to fhew any fymptom of vigor or revival, to give fuch a check to the idolatrous Ahab and his queen, and to throw fuch light upon the deluded people, by this his only prophet that was left, this fingle folitary pillar that remained amidst the ruins of the house of God, as might ftand a monument of his glory to that and fucceeding ages. And this is the story to which the reafoning of our text relates, and which I promifed to give you in the words of the holy fcriptures.

Elijah having foretold a famine, which was now come to pafs for the wickedness of Ifrael and its king, had doubtless given great offence to both; as finners rarely confider, at first, the caufe and end of their fufferings, and will quarrel with any thing rather than the vices which produced them. The prophet, therefore, thought it prudent to conceal himfelf, till the word of the Lord came unto him faying,. "Go, fhew thy felf to Ahab." Then prudence was at

an end: "the word of the Lord," which was his direction, would be his fupport. " And

"And it came to pafs, when Ahab faw Elijah, that Ahab faid unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Ifrael? and he anfwered, I have not troubled Ifrael, but thou and thy father's houfe, in that ye have forfaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou haft followed Baalim. Now therefore fend, and gather to me all Ifrael unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal, and the prophets of the groves. So Ahab fent unto all the children of Ifracl, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people, and faid, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him. And the people anfwered him not a word. Then faid Elijah. unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Let them, therefore, give us two bullocks; and let them chufe one bullock for themfelves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under; and I will drefs the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under. And call ye on the name of

your

your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and faid, It is well spoken. And Elijah faid unto the prophets of Baal, chuse you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, faying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered, And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and faid, Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is a talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he fleepeth and must be awakened. And they cried aloud, and cut themselves, after their manner, with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. And it came to pass, when mid-day was past, that there was neither voice, nor any that regarded. And Elijah faid unto all the people, Come And all the people came near unto him; and he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down; and he made a trench about the altar as great as would contain two measures of feed. And

near unto me.

he

he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and faid, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt-facrifice, and on the wood. And he said, Do it the second time; and they did it the fecond time. And he faid, Do it the third time; and they did it the third time. And the water ran round about the altar, and he filled the trench also with water. And it came to pafs, at the time of the evening-facrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and faid, Lord God of Abraham, Ifaac, and of Ifrael, let it be known this day that thou art God in Ifrael, and that I am thy fervant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou haft turned their heart back again.' Then the fire of the Lord fell, and confumed the burnt-facrifice, and the wood, and the ftones, and the duft, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And all

the people fell on their faces, and faid, The Lord, he is the God: the Lord, he is the God.”

Thefe