so remarkably, would still have kept him from evil, and he might have done much to bring back the people to the worship of God. The words of another prophet might have been addressed to him,

"Who art thou, that thou art afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man, whose breath is in his nostrils, and forgettest the Lord thy Maker, and the former of the heavens ?" The hands of the strongest of the Lord's servants have now and then "hung down," and the hearts of those who have had most courage, have sometimes been ready to faint.

After he had left his servant at Beersheba, he arose, and went a day's journey into the wilderness, and sat down, hungry, thirsty, and weary, under a juniper-tree. Here he earnestly begged of the Lord, that his days might close. Most likely he expected that Baal would have been quite cast away, and the worship of the true God restored in its purity. But it was not so; and he was grieved at heart to see the wickedness of the people. So he lay down to sleep beneath a juniper

tree. And an angel awoke him with a touch, and said, "Arise, and eat. And, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head; and he did eat and drink, and lay down again." And the angel awoke him a second time, and would have him take more food; and he did so; and he went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights, till he came to Horeb, the mount of God."

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God sent his angel that the prophet might know, that even in that wilderness he was not without a Divine protector. A child of God, wherever he may be, is always in the dominion of his Father. "His place of defence, wherever he may dwell, "is the munitions of rocks, his bread shall be given him, and his water shall be sure." And God can support the human frame with food or without it.

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In all our straights, if we " seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness," the Lord has assured us, that "all other things shall be added to us."

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And in all the dangers to which we are exposed, if we fly to the shadow of the Almighty wings, no weapon that is formed against us shall prosper, and every tongue rising against us in judgment, the Lord will condemn it."

QUESTIONS.

1. What did Ahab tell Jezebel?

2. What does the wise man say of the obstinate sinner? 3. What ought Ahab and his subjects to have done? 4. What did Pharaoh say,-and what became of him and his hosts?

5. What is a proud word for any mortal to say?

6. What did Herod say,—and how did God save Peter ?

7. What does God say to his fearful servant?

8. Mention some of the privileges of God's children? 9. What should we do in all our straights?

10. How may we be safe in all dangers ?

STORY XXIII.

THE LORD'S INTERVIEW WITH ELIJAH. Ar last, in his wanderings in the desert, Elijah came to Mount Horeb, on which Moses had seen the bush in flames, but not consumed, and from the midst of which God spake to him. Here the prophet found a cave; and, for a season, he took up his abode in it. God knew where he was; and wherever his servants are, or in whatever condition, his eyes are upon them, and that for their good. He was with Joseph in the dungeon; with David, when hunted by Saul as a partridge on the mountains; with John in the Isle of Patmos ; and with Paul, when driven about on the mighty waters.1

And as Elijah was sitting in this cave, he heard

a voice, it was the voice of the Lord,-and it said, "What doest thou here, Elijah?" Is this the place, where there are none to hear thy word, in which thou canst glorify me, or do any good to Israel? Why didst thou flee? Was not my almighty arm sufficient for thy protection? What doest thou here? If we get out of the path of our duty, God will send or come after us. You know how he sent a tempest after Jonah.

Should the Lord come and say to him who is often in wicked company, or at home on the sabbath, when he ought to be in the house of God, or living in any sin, "What doest thou here?" what answer could he give? Certainly, none that could please the Lord. And every one shall be obliged to give an account of himself unto God.

And Elijah answered," I have been very jealous for the Lord God of Hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thy altar, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left, and they seek to take away my life."

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