^ 1 John iv. 1. s Rom. xvi, 18.
abijah's piety rewarded.
1 Kings xiv. 1 3. He only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the Lord God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam.
MEN most addicted to wickedness, or most con- fident in their avowal of infidelity, no sooner come into circumstances of great affliction, than they feel the weakness of their principles, and their need of
VOL. III. c c
other supports than any they have yet experienced. In such seasons they secretly begin to see the value of that faith and piety, which they have been wont to deride. No man ever appeared more confident in his iniquities than Jeroboam ; yet, when he was in deep affliction on account of the dangerous illness of his son Abijah, to whom did he go ? to his idols ? No ; he knew that " an idol was nothing in the world." Did he send for those whom he had constituted his priests ? No ; he expected no good whatever from them. But there was in the land a prophet of the Lord, even that very prophet, who, many years before, had been sent to declare to him his destined elevation to the throne of Israel. To him he sends in his affliction, even to him whom hitherto he had neglected and despised. But, ashamed to have his sentiments known, he will not go himself ; nor will he send a servant, lest he should be betrayed: he therefore sends his wife, who, on the one hand, was as deeply concerned as himself about the issue of his son's illness ; and, on the other hand, was equally concerned to preserve an appearance of consistency in his conduct : her therefore he sends in disguise, that he may at once obtain the information he desires, and prevent the discovery which he fears. Unhappy and foolish man! What favour could he expect from God, when he was seeking him in such a way; when he did not even ask for any spiritual blessing, or desire to be instructed how to obtain one, but sought merely relief from a state of painful suspense ? The answer was such as he might well expect ; namely, that his unparalleled iniquities should be visited on him, and on his whole family. Respecting the son about whom he was so anxious, there was some ex- ception: all the rest should die unlamented, and be devoured by birds and beasts; but he should come to the grave, because there was in him " some good thing towards the Lord God of Israel."
We propose, in considering what is here said of young Abijah, to notice, I. His commendation —
341.] abijah's piety rewarded. 387
This appears at first sight exceeding low : and so indeed it is, if compared with a more advanced state of rehgion, even as an infant appears scarcely worthy of consideration, when compared with a person of mature age : but if compared, as it ought to be, with a state of spiritual death, it is really great, and worthy, if we may so speak, of the notice taken of it. Consider it,
1. As it was in itself —
[The state of a natural man is that of " enmity against God^" Now though the state of Abijah was the lowest that could consist with real piety, yet was it worthy of commenda- tion when compared Avith that. There was certainly in Abijah a disapprobation of the reigning idolatry : there was also a sincere desire after God's favoui", and a secret purpose, if ever it should be in his power, to check the prevailing abominations. Less than this could not consist with sincerity of heart : and more than this does not appear to have manifested itself in him. But this involved in it a change of heart : this was a fruit of divine grace, and formed the first lineaments of the divine image on the soul : and hence it was that God so noticed and approved it.]