9 bow the knee to gods such as Baal; to senseless stocks and stones, the work of men's hands; which "have eyes, but see not; ears, but hear not; hands, but handle not; and feet, but walk not; nor can they speak, or do any thing to help their silly worshippers. How we should pity and pray for them; nor should we rest satisfied with pity and prayer; we should try and send good men, with the blessed Bible, to teach them about Jesus Christ, and heaven, and the way to it, and all that they ought to believe and do.10 For "how can they hear without a preacher, and how can they preach, except they be sent ?" If the people in London were all dying for want of bread, and they who lived in the country had a great abundance, and they would not send them any to save them from starving, what should we say of them. And would God be pleased with them? QUESTIONS. 1. Can you repeat the prayer of Elijah ? 2. What were the prayers of the woman of Canaan, of the publican, and of the dying thief? 3. How did God answer the prayer of Elijah ? 4. What did the people do and say, when they saw the fire fall from the skies? 5. What would they have been if they had not done so ? 6. Do afflictions and judgments always convert people? 7. What did Elijah bid the people do to the wicked prophets of Baal? 8. What was God's command about idolaters? 9. What gods do multitudes of our race still worship? 10. What should we do for these people? M STORY XXI. THE LITTLE CLOUD. It seems likely that a tent had been pitched for Ahab on the side of Mount Carmel; and now, when the great business of the day was ended, Elijah bade him go and eat and drink, for God would surely visit the land in mercy: "There is," said he, 66 a sound of abundance of rain." When the clouds which threaten God's judgments, are scattered, our souls should be filled with thankfulness and holy joy. How happy, and how safe, was Noah in the ark, though the storms were falling on a lost world: ' 1 "So may I sing, in Jesus safe, Tho' storms of wrath around me fall; A good man has eyes, even the eyes of faith, which many around him have not. Thus Moses saw "Him who is invisible," and he feared not the wrath of Pharaoh. What an ear is the ear of faith. Elijah, with his ear, heard what no one else heard, "the sound of abundance of rain." So, God has said, "the people shall praise him,—yea, all the people shall praise him ;"-and the eye of faith already sees the nations turning to the Lord, and, even now, hears the glad hosannas rising to heaven from a redeemed world. And the prophet went up to the summit of the mountain, from whence he could see the vast ocean; and "he fell down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees;" showing his great reverence of the divine Majesty.' Though we are not told what he said, there can be no doubt he thanked God that he had heard his prayer, and sent fire to consume the sacrifice. And, most likely, he prayed that God would complete his work of mercy, and send rain,-and turn the hearts of the people from the worship of dumb idols. For though God has promised to protect, guide, supply, comfort, pardon, and save his servants, yet he has declared, that he will confer all these blessings in answer to their prayers. No doubt, Elijah, when "on the ground, with his face between his knees," was asking God to fulfil his promise without delay; and he expected, though as yet there were no clouds, or the least sign of rain, that God would very soon give some token that his prayer was heard. So he called his servant, and he sent him to the point from whence he could see the most of the great deep, to examine whether he could discern any cloud; but he went and came back, and did not see any thing more than the burning heavens, which they had so long seen. But Elijah said, "Go again, seven times." God had said, he would give rain, and he knew that his word could not fail. And the servant went up again and again, and saw nothing; but the seventh time he perceived a small change; and on his return, he said, "Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, |