eye of God, how many would be ashamed to see, what they have never yet been ashamed to feel. How many would at once demonstrate that this world, in some shape or other, its profits, pleasures, power, rank, grandeur, nothingness, are, after all, the idols that fill the highest throne, and sit enshrined in the most secret hiding-place of their heart. How many would say, Bestow upon me such a degree of wealth, fulfil to me that longcherished anticipation, realize this dream of earthly happiness; how few would petition simply for spiritual blessings, how very few would be content to say, Give me but a larger portion of the Spirit of the Lord, of the mind that was in Christ Jesus, of the image of my God, and I am satisfied.

pray

"Elisha answered and said, I thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing; nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it

shall not be so."

66

"Thou hast asked

1

a hard thing; "Is anything, then, too hard for the Lord?" It is God's own question to Abraham. Assuredly not; Elijah might feel it hard for him to ask, but certainly he could not feel it hard for God to grant. “A hard thing?" If it were hard, it was because, as St. James tells us, "Elias was a man subject to like passions," and like infirmities, as we are," and had not yet learned to trust God perfectly, for he had not yet shaken off this body of sin, and had not yet got rid of this "evil heart of unbelief." Although his feet were almost upon the threshold of heaven, he still felt and spake but as a stranger there. How widely different was the language of Him, who spake as a Son, All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."2 Yes, brethren, there are no "hard things" with God; there are no exceptions with the Lord Jesus

1 Gen. xviii. 14.

2 Matt. xxi. 22.

Christ; when

ye are

straitened in

prayer, ye are straitened in yourselves, but not in God. His own direction is, "Covet earnestly the best gifts," even the best which God has to bestow; you cannot go beyond this, and yet He has said, that. He will "do abundantly above all that ye are able to ask or think."

It is scarcely necessary to relate, that Elisha's prayer was heard. "It came to pass, as they still went on and talked," not losing a moment of the few that yet remained to them," that, behold, a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.”1 Such was the closing scene of that remarkable man; of all the children of men, with one exception, the only one who has travelled upward to the skies, and escaped the degrading lot of all mortality. In the peculiar characteristics

1 2 Kings ii. 11.

of his life, he seems to have had no prototype, as he has had but one' follower; mysterious alike in his entrance upon the scene of his labours, and in his departure thence. Not a trace of his family, or connexions, is handed down to us; not a vestige by which we can clearly or accurately ascertain even how long he ministered; and whence he came, is almost as little known to us as whither he was carried.

While, however, we follow, in imagination, his fiery chariot, and gaze at the bright traces of its ascending wheels, it is impossible to dwell upon the servant, when we are so strongly reminded of the Master, and of that solemn declaration, once delivered by angel voices upon Mount Olivet, to those who mourned the loss of a far greater prophet, and were the witnesses of a far nobler ascension, "Why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which

1 See Matt. xvii. 10-12.

is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.' "Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when he cometh shall find watching."

2

The astonishment and grief so vividly displayed in the exclamation of Elisha, while witnessing the wonderful ascent of his friend, must not be overlooked. "And Elisha saw it, and cried, My father, my father! the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more; and he took hold of his own clothes," and, in the extremity of his sorrow, "rent them in two pieces.' "The chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof." Elisha, therefore, knew what, alas! few Christians ever dream of knowing, that the devout and holy followers of God, are the support and safeguard of their country; the strongest armaments of Israel were the prevailing prayers of her prophets; and while Elisha 2 2 Kings ii. 12.

1 Acts i. 11.