3. With perseverance—

[We are as much in danger of drawing back through weakness, as of being turned aside by fear. There are many who have suffered much for the cause of Christ, who yet become weary in well-doing." But we must never think that we have attained any thing, as long as any thing remains to be attained. We must "forget what is behind, and reach forward to that which is before." We must engage in the service of our God, not for a season only, but for life: and as long as life lasts, our motto must be, "This one thing I do." "If we put our hands to the plough, and look back, we are not fit for the kingdom of heaven."]

TO RECOMMEND this decision of character to all who are journeying towards heaven, we observe, it is,

1. The easiest way—

[We know it is not easy to attain such a fixedness of mind and purpose: but, when we have attained it, our way is rendered far easier than when we are halting between two opinions or two courses. The man who has not a fixed principle is doubting and hesitating, every step he takes: but he who inquires simply, What is duty? and, What does my God require of me? has a plain path before him, and has nothing to do but to "walk in it."]

2. The safest way—

[When a man is desirous of going to the utmost verge of what is lawful, and of conforming to the world as far as will consist with a hope of final salvation, he must often stand on very slippery ground; and it must be a miracle indeed if he do not one day fall. But he who, with a noble contempt of earthly things, is enabled to seek only what shall be most conducive to his spiritual welfare, stands at a distance from temptation, and, by "walking uprightly, walketh surely "."]

3. The happiest way—

[Any deviation from the path of duty must of necessity weaken the testimony which conscience might give respecting the rectitude of our minds: and it is certain that God will not vouchsafe the witness of his Spirit to those whose hearts are not right with him. These sources of happiness therefore must be closed to those who are not of a fixed decided character. Indeed such persons have very little comfort in any thing their regard for God prevents their full enjoyment of the world; and their love of the world renders it impossible

a Matt. vi. 22-24.

b Jam. i. 8. 2 Pet. i. 10.

for them to find any real delight in God. Their prospects of future happiness too are by no means cheering to their souls: for they have reason to fear, that God will not accept the service of a divided heart. On the contrary, the man "who follows the Lord fully," enjoys now that peace of God which passeth all understanding, and looks forward with confidence to that day, when he shall receive the plaudits of his Divine Master.

In every view, therefore, decision of character is most desirable and it is better to maintain a holy firmness with Elijah, though we be opposed by the whole world, than to halt between two opinions, or to be attempting to reconcile the inconsistent services of God and Mammon.]

1 John iii. 20, 21.

CCCXLVI.

ELIJAH'S CHALLENGE TO THE PROPHETS OF BAAL.

1 Kings xviii. 24. Call ye on the name of 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 said, It is well spoken.

UNBOUNDED is the dominion which God exercises over the minds of men: "the hearts of kings are in his hands, and he turneth them whithersoever he will." The heart of Ahab was exasperated against. Elijah in the highest degree; insomuch that he sought him not only throughout his own kingdom, but through all the neighbouring kingdoms, in order that he might wreak his vengeance upon him. Yet, behold, now Elijah presents himself before him; and the hands of the infuriated monarch are tied; yea, the prophet sends him word that he is coming to meet him; and yet the king, who might have had a band of soldiers at his command, uses no means whatever to apprehend him. Moreover Elijah retorts upon him his injurious accusation, and tells him plainly, that he was "the troubler of Israel, by forsaking the Lord and following Baalim:" nay more, he enjoins the king to summon all the prophets of Baal to meet him at Mount Carmel; and the king obeys the mandate, as if he had been the subject,

and Elijah the sovereign. When they were convened, the prophet appears in the midst of them all, unprotected and alone; yet can neither the king, nor the people, put forth a hand to touch him; so awed were they and restrained by the invisible agency of Jehovah.

I. The challenge which Elijah gave the worshippers of Baal on this occasion, is the first point to which we shall call your attention

Neither Ahab nor his prophets would submit to the declarations of God's word: of course, any appeal to the Mosaic writings would have been in vain. But the claims of Baal and of Jehovah might be tried by an appeal to miracles: to them therefore, doubtless by divine direction, he makes his appeal; and proposes, that "the God who should answer by fire," should be acknowledged as the true and only God. Mark,

1. The test proposed

[No proposal could have been more wise than this. By such a test as this, the matter might be decided without giving any undue advantage to the worshippers of Baal. On their side were the king, the court, the prophets; so that, if any thing could have been effected by means of a confederacy, no doubt they would have strained every nerve to gain their point: and he, being alone, would have been borne down, as it were, by the popular current: but here was no scope for fraud; no contrivances of theirs could counterfeit the sign proposed; nor could any doubt remain on the minds of the spectators when the sign itself should really appear.

Nor could any proposal be more equitable. The very idea of a God supposes, that he is one who can vindicate his own honour, and maintain his own authority; and that he will do so when a just occasion calls for it. When therefore the point at issue between Jehovah and Baal was to be settled for the satisfaction of the whole world, it was reasonable that there should be some display of omnipotence resorted to as the means of establishing their respective claims.

Of all tests that could have been devised, none could be more decisive than that proposed. Omnipotence alone could so control the elements, as to send down fire at the request of Satan indeed is called "the prince of the power of the air;" and on some occasions he has agitated the elements in a

man.

tremendous way. But his power is limited; and he can exert it only when, and as far as, God sees fit to suffer him. Could he have produced the sign in favour of Baal, doubtless he would have been glad to do so: but God's own character was at stake; and no such permission could be given him.]

2. The issue of the trial

[The worshippers of Baal prepared their sacrifice, and continued from morning to mid-day imploring from Baal the proposed evidence of his divinity. No answer coming to them, Elijah taunted them, and ridiculed their vain hopes-But they did not yet despair; yea rather, they renewed their application to Baal with redoubled earnestness, leaping upon, or around, his altar, and cutting themselves with knives and lancets, to mix their own blood with that of their sacrifice. But all their efforts were in vain: no voice, no answer came; and Baal was proved an impotent and senseless idol.

At the time of the evening sacrifice, the very hour when the sacrifice was offered at Jerusalem, Elijah repaired an altar of the Lord, which had been broken down, and laid the bullock upon it in order, and, to shew that there was no collusion on his part, poured water in great abundance on the sacrifice, and on the wood, and filled with water also the trench that was round about the altar, and then made his supplication to his God, imploring from him the appointed sign, for the establishment of his own honour, and for the conversion of the people's souls. Instantly God answered in the appointed way; a fire came down from heaven, and consumed not only the sacrifice and the wood, but the very stones of the altar; and licked up the water that was in the trench."

66

No doubt now remained. The people in the first instance had approved the proposed method of determining the point; and now "they fell upon their faces, and exclaimed, The Lord, He is the God! the Lord, He is the God!"

Thus we see the triumphant issue of the contest, and the indisputable right of Jehovah to the worship and service of the whole world.]

II. We now propose to give a similar challenge to all who worship the idols of their own heartsThat all men are by nature idolaters is certain; for they all without exception "worship and serve the creature more than the Creator." The prophet speaks of men "setting up idols in their own hearts;" and what those idols are, we are at no loss to

a Rom. i. 25.

declare; they are "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life"

Now we have before established the principle, that the right of any Being to our worship ought to be judged of by his power to benefit those who devote themselves to him. Even the worshippers of Baal acknowledged the equity of this saying in reference to it, "It is well spoken." Let us then examine the claims of the world, and of Jehovah, by this test. Which of them ever has "answered by fire," or ever imparted spiritual blessings to his worshippers? Which can communicate the blessing

1. Of light?

[Behold the votaries of the world; What insight have they ever gained into any one spiritual truth? What do even the most learned amongst them know of the evil of sin, the beauty of holiness, the glory of Christ, or of a thousand other subjects connected with the spiritual life? Is it not found a truth, that "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned?"

On the other hand, is it not found, that the followers of Christ have the "eyes of their understanding enlightened;" and that "the things which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive, are revealed unto them by the Spirit?" Yes, it is as true at this day, as it was in the hour when our Lord himself declared it, that "God hath hid these things from the wise and prudent, and has revealed them unto babes; even so, because it seemeth good in his sight." He can have very little knowledge of the Christian world who is not acquainted with innumerable instances, wherein this assertion of our Lord is verified.]

2. Of strength?

[What lust have the votaries of the world been ever able to subdue? All, it is true, are not equally enslaved; but all are slaves to sin and Satan, though they do not all serve him in precisely the same way: as children of disobedience, they are under him as their god; nor do any "recover themselves out of his toils, till Jehovah gives them repentance to the acknowledgment of the truth"- Indeed the people of the world themselves confess this; for, when urged to walk according to the commandments of God, they do not hesitate to