tries the gold; and highly favoured indeed must he be, who, when in them, does not shew that he has yet a remainder of dross, from which he needeth to be purged. Doubtless the trials of Elijah were very heavy : he had asserted the honour of Jehovah in opposition to Baal; and had obtained such a triumph as might well lead to expect a most successful issue to his labours, in bringing back the people to the acknowledgment and worship of the true God. Methinks, this hope gave lightness to his spirits, and added wings to his feet, when he ran before Ahab to Jezreel. But behold, he had scarcely arrived at Jezreel, before Jezebel sent him word with bitter imprecations, that she would have him put to death within the space of one day. This so discouraged him, that he fled instantly to the land of Judah : and not thinking himself secure even there, he " left his servant behind him, and proceeded a day's journey into the wilderness." The condescension of God towards him on this occasion forms a striking con- trast with his conduct. Let us notice,
I. The weakness of the prophet —
It is justly said of him, and most probably in re- ference to these very events, that " Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are^" In this part of his history we behold,
1. His unbelievino; fear —
[On former occasions he had shewn great fortitude : he had just before dared to accuse Ahab to his face as " the troubler of Israel ;" and to confront alone all the worshippers of Baal with four hundred and fifty of his prophets at their head : he had also put all those prophets to death, and then had accompanied Ahab to Jezreel : but now his faith failed him, and he doubted whether his God could protect him from the rage of Jezebel. Hence, instead of prosecuting the ad- vantage which he had gained, and encouraging all the people to follow up their convictions, he fled from the scene of danger, and, by his cowardice, caused the whole people of Israel to re- turn to the worship of Baal, whom for a moment they had disclaimed. Alas! what is man, if left to himself! the most
a Jam. V. 17.