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consolatory reasoning of our Lord and Master-Behold the fowls of the air, and look at the lilies of the field: if your heavenly Father feedeth them, and if God so clothe the grass of the field; how much more shall he feed and clothe, protect and bless his own adopted children! Without, therefore, taking any painful thought for the morrow, let us cheerfully leave the unknown events of every day to His absolute disposal, whose wisdom is infallible, and whose love is as great as his power. Since, if we are gathered within the bonds of his gracious covenant, every day and every hour, yea, every period both of time and eternity, shall find us under the guardian care of an omnipresent God, who will never fail to soften our adversity by his smile, and to heighten our prosperity by his benediction.

With these views, my believing brethren, every day of our sojourn upon earth may be made a day of holy joy and gladness, wherever it be passed or however it be employed, at home or abroad, in society or solitude, in useful labour or needful repose; every parting hour and every flying minute reminding us of this, that the God whom we

serve, is faithful to his promise, and mindful of his covenant to a thousand generations.

“Then let our songs abound,

And every tear be dry;

We're marching thro' Emmanuel's ground

To fairer worlds on high."

SERMON III.

1 KINGS XVIII. 42.

And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel.

In this chapter are recorded the events of a day peculiarly memorable in the Jewish history, when the long depending cause, between the Great Jehovah and the idol Baal, was brought to a grave and glorious decision. Several of the most prominent circumstances attending that decision, have on several former occasions occupied our public attention: but, at this season, I invite your thoughts to the concluding scenes of that awful contest, which terminated so triumphantly on the part of the ancient Church.

After the cause of Israel's God had been carried in the most unequivocal manner, by the acclamations of the whole assembled multitude, we find Elijah giving Ahab this welcome intimation of approaching rain

Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. The excessive and destructive drought under which the land at that time suffered, had been inflicted for its incorrigible idolatries. Immediately, however, upon Israel's acknowledgment of their sin, the punishment was removed: yea, no sooner were the first symptoms of reformation become apparent than the prophet found himself authorized to predict a speedy cessation of the divine judgments. This declaration was received by Ahab with all the joy, which it was calculated to excite; fully persuaded that the prophet's prediction of a speedy deliverance would infallibly be fulfilled. For, notwithstanding the apparent indecision of the king, he had long entertained a secret persuasion, that Elijah was commissioned to appear in the world as an extraordinary agent of the most High God. He had witnessed the faithfulness and truth of that undaunted prophet on some very important occasions, and he now listened to his words as to the awful voice of Him, concerning whom it is written-It is the Lord that commandeth the waters, it is the glorious God

that maketh the thunder; it is the Lord that ruleth the sea: the voice of the Lord is mighty in operation; the voice of the Lord is a glorious voice.

But

And now, at the solicitation of the prophet, after a day of so much exertion and anxiety, Ahab went up without delay to eat and to drink, lest his return to Jezreel should be rendered impracticable. while the king and his attendants were sitting down to such a refreshment as the place and present circumstances would allow, we are informed by the sacred historian, that Elijah retired back to the top of Carmel.

Our blessed Lord, during the interval of his tabernacling among men, was sometimes accustomed, after dismissing the multitude, to withdraw himself to some mountain, or other retired place, for the purpose of pouring out his fervent prayer to God, and holding uninterrupted communion with the great Father of Spirits. We find Elijah here adopting the same practice, and with the same views. He had acted a very conspicuous part through the whole of that memorable day, and he now intensely longed

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