he made two golden Images, which are called Calves, and fet them up in two diftant Parts of the Land of Ifrael, namely, Dan and Bethel, and taught the People to worship before them, 1 Kings xii. 28-30. 4Q. What was the Worship he appointed? A. Something like the Worfhip which God appointed at Jerufalem, with an Altar, and Priefts, and Sacrifices, and Incenfe, ver. 32. 5.Q. Wherein did it differ from the Worship at Jerufalem? A. Befides the forfaking of the Temple and the Place which God appointed, he alfo made Priefts of the loweft of the People, inftead of the Sons of Levi, and ordained Feafts at a different Time from that which God had appointed, and fet up the Images of Calves to reprefent the Presence of God, ver. 23, 32. and 2 Chron. xi. 6. and chap. xii. 13. and chap. xiii. 8, 9. Note, Here it is not to be fuppofed that Jeroboam forfook the God of Ifrael, and taught the People to worship meer Calves; but only that he devised of his own Heart other Times and Places, and other Forms and Circunftances of Worfhip to be paid to the God of Ifrael; and that by Images or Idols, which were probably the Figures of the Cherubs on the Mercy-feat, where God dwelt; but the Scripture, in Contempt, calls them Calves. See Chap. V. Q.37. and Chap. VII, Q. 3. And the Worship is called Idolatry, and the Worship of OTHER Gods. The Prophet Hofea, who lived in the Days of Jeroboam the Second, the Son of Joafh, perpetually rebukes this Sin of Idolatry, and inveighs against these Idols, the Calves, Hofea i. 1. and chap. viii. 4, 5• and chap. x. 5. and xiii. 2. 6Q. For what End did Jeroboam do this? 4. He feared, if the People went up frequently to facrifice at Jerufalem, they would be tempted to. return again to Rehoboam King of Judah, ver. 26, 27, 28. 7Q. What vifible Token of Displeasure did God manifeft against this Worship which Jeroboam fet up? A. He fent a Prophet to the Altar at Bethel, who foretold that a Son of the Houfe of David, Jofiah by Name, fhould burn the Bones of Jeroboam's Priefts upon the Altar, 1 Kings xiii. 1, 2. 8.Q. What Sign did the Prophet give, that this Prophecy fhould be fulfilled? A. The Prophet foretold that the Altar fhould be rent asunder, and the Afhes poured out, both which were fulfilled immediately: And Jeroboam's Hand withered when he ftretched it out to lay hold of the Prophet, ver. 3, 4, &c. though, at the Prayer of the Prophet, God reftored it again. 9 Q. What other Token did God give of his Anger againft Jeroboam? A. God threatened Jeroboam and his Family with utter Destruction, so that none of them should find a Grave, befides Abijah his youngest Son, because there were found in him fome good Inclinations toward the God of Ifrael,, 1 Kings xiv. 13, 10 Q. Who was Omri? A. The Captain of the Hoft of Ifrael, who was made King by the People when Zimri fet up himfelf, 1 Kings xvi. 16. II Q. What is recorded concerning Omri? A. (1.) That he befieged Zimri his Predeceffor fo clofely in Tirzah, the Royal City, that Zimri burnt himself and the Palace together, and died. (2.); That he built Samaria for the Royal City, on a Hill. And (3.) That he walked in all the finful Ways of Jeroboam, ver. 17-28. 12Q. Who was Ahab, and what was his Character? A. Ahab A. Ahab was the Son of Omri, who followed the wicked Ways of his Predeceffors; he finned against God and Man grievously, and provoked God beyond all who were before him, ver. 29-33. and ■ Kings xxi. 25. 13 Q. How did God fignify his Displeasure against Ahab? A. He fent Elijah the Prophet to reprove him, and to foretel that there fhould be neither Dew nor Rain for feveral Years, which accordingly came to pafs, 1 Kings xvii. 1. 14 Q. How was Elijah himfelf fed during this Famine? A. He was appointed to hide himself by the Brook Cherith, and the Ravens brought him Bread and Flesh in the Morning and the Evening, and he drank of the Water of the Brook, ver 5, 6. 15 Q. Whither did the Prophet go, when the Brook was dried up? A. God fent him to a Woman of Sarepta, near Sidon, to be maintained by her, when the had only a Handful of Meal in a Barrel, and a little Oil in a Cruife, 1 Kings xvii. 9, &c. 16 Q. How could this maintain the Woman, her Son, and the Prophet? A. God wonderfully increased the Oil and the Meal, fo that the Barrel of Meal wafted not, neither did the Cruife of Oil fail, till God fent Rain upon the Land, ver. 14, &c. 17 Q. What further Miracles did Elijah work in this Woman's Family, to prove that he was fent from God? A. When her Son died, the Prophet raifed him. to Life again, ver. 21—24. 18 Q What special Deliverance did God give Ifrael in the Time of Ahab? A. Though A. Though Ahab was fo great a Sinner, yet God made Ifrael victorious over the Syrians, who invaded them, because Benhadad the King of Syria boasted, and blafphemed God, 1 Kings xx. 10, 28. 19 Q. What were fome of the fpecial Sins of Ahab against God? A Befides the Idolatry of the Calves, he alfo fet up the Idol Baal; he caused Ifrael to worship it, and by the Influence of his Wife Jezebel, flew a great Number of the Prophets of the Lord, Kings xviii. 4. 20 Q. Were any of the Prophets of the Lord faved A. Obadiah, the Governor of Ahab's Houfe, hid a hundred of them in two Caves, and fed them with Bread and Water, while Elijah fled wherefoever he could find a Hiding-place, ver. 5, 6, 10. 21 Q. How did Elijah bring about the Destruction of Baal's Prophets? A. He boldly met Ahab, and bid him fummon all Ifrael together, and the four hundred and fifty Prophets of Baal, that a Sacrifice might be offered to Baal and to Jehovah, to make an Experiment which was the true God. 22 Q. How did he convince the People that Jehovah was the true God? A. Fire came from Heaven and confumed Elijah's Sacrifice, after he had poured great Quantities of Water upon it; which the Prophets of Baal attempted in vain to procure on their Altar, tho' they cut themfelves with Knives, and cried aloud to their God, 1 Kings xviii. 17—38. 23Q. What Influence had this upon the People? A. They fell upon their Faces, and acknowledged Jehovah to be the true God; and then, at the Command of Elijah, the People flew all the Prophets of Baal, ver 39, 40. 24 Q. How did God further manifeft his Approbation of this Conduct of Elijah? A. He immediately fent Rain, and put an End to the Famine, ver. 41, 45. 25 Q. What was one of the most remarkable Sins of Ahab against Man? A. He coveted the Vineyard of Naboth, and by the Help of falfe Witneffes ftoned Naboth to Death for Blafphemy, and took Poffeffion of his Land, 1 Kings xxi. 5-14. 26 Q What was the Manner of Ahab's Death at laft, after so wicked a Life? A. In Oppofition to the Prophecy of Micaiah he went to fight with the King of Syria, and received a mortal Wound, 1 Kings xxii. 34. 27 Q Wherein did the Judgment of God against Ahab appear in his Death? A. The Dogs licked up his Blood on that Spot of Ground where Naboth's Blood was fhed, ac cording to the Prophecy of Elijah, 1 Kings xxi. 19. and chap. xxii. 38. 28 Q. What Sort of a Man was Ahaziah ? ̈ A. Ahaziah, the Son of Ahab, who fucceeded him in his Kingdom, followed his wicked Ways, 1 Kings xxii. 51.. 29 Q What particular Crimes of Ahaziah are recorded? A. When he was fick, he fent to enquire of Baalzebub, the God of Ekron, about his Recovery; and becaufe Elijah reproved him for it, he fent three Captains each with fifty Men, to make Elijah their Prifoner, 2 Kings i. 1, 9. 30 Q. What did Elijah do on this Occafion? A. He brought down Fire from Heaven, which confumed the two first of them with their Troops, but he fpared the third upon his Intreaty, and then went |
