The tidings of Naboth's death being announced by Jezebel, Ahab instantly proceeded to take possession of his vineyard ; manifesting thereby his perfect approbation of all that Jezebel had done. Conscious of his cordial participation in her crimes, he could make no reply to the prophet's accusation, " Hast thou killed, and also taken possession ? " He could only say, *' Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?" In truth, his own conscience testified against him, that " he had sold himself to work evil in the sight of the Lord."]
Horrible as this was, and far surpassing any thing which is commonly found amongst us, it yet is in many respects imitated by the great mass of man- kind—
[It is surely no uncommon thing for men at this day to covet what belongs not to them, and so inordinately to desire it as to use unlawful and dishonest means of obtaining it. Nor is it uncommon for men to feel a disappointment so acutely, as to lose the enjoyment of every thing they possess through vexation about something unpossessed. And so are the con- sciences of some men formed, that they will connive at wicked- ness which of themselves they would not perpetrate, and avail themselves of the advantages which the iniquity of others has procured for them. Let valuable articles be offered for sale as having been clandestinely imported without a payment of the accustomed due; how few will turn away from them on account of the unlawful way in which they have been pro- cured ! How few will say, " Perhaps a conflict has been mamtained for these, and the blood of some revenue-officer has been shed to preserve them : " at all events such risks are incurred by this traffic, and the lives of multitudes are daily endangered by it ; and shall I satisfy my appetite with that for which so many "have jeoparded their lives^?" No: the generaHty of persons, who yet pretend to be honest and hu- mane, will be as pleased with the possession of what has been thus iniquitously gained, as ever Ahab was with the acquisition of Naboth's vineyard.
Again, there are those who for lucre sake will aid in betray- ing or corrupting an innocent unsuspecting female : and how
a 2 Sam. xxiii. 15 — 17.