many are there who would readily enough avail themselves of an advantage so obtained ; or at least conspire to rivet the chains once forged, and to derive pleasure to themselves from the misery of their fellow-creatures !
Alas ! the world is full of characters, whose " hearts are exercised with covetous practices'^," and who " work all un- cleanness with greediness '^j" or, as the prophet expresses it, " do evil with both hands earnestly*^."]
If we presume to remonstrate with such persons, we shall soon see,
II. How indignantly they take reproof —
Great was the indignation which Ahab expressed against Elijah —
[Possibly there might be some surprise expressed in that question, " Hast thou found me, O mine enemy ?" Certain it is that Ahab little expected to find Elijah there ; nor would he have gone down to the vineyard of Naboth, if he had at all conceived that he should have met there siich an unwelcome monitor. But there was also much wrath contained in this address : " What business hast thou here ? What dost thou mean by presuming to interfere with me ? Art thou privy to what has been done ? and art thovi come to gratify thy spleen as in past times by denouncing judgments against me ?" Never was a human being so odious in Ahab's eyes, as Elijah was at this moment.]
This however only shews what is in the heart of all against the faithful servants of the Lord —
[Ministers are sent by God as monitors, to " shew the house of Jacob their sins*^:" but who welcomes them in that character ? Let them go to any company, or even to an indi- vidual, that is violating the laws of God, and let them testify against the evil that is committed ; will their admonitions be received with thankfulness ? Will not their interposition be deemed rather an impertinent intrusion ? Yes ; such is the light in which it will be viewed, however gross and unjustifiable the sin is that has been committed. When Amaziah had con- quered the Edomites, he took their gods to be his gods in preference to Jehovah: and when Jehovah sent him a prophet to remonstrate with him on the folly and imj)iety of his con- duct, instead of yielding to the reproof, he threatened the
" 2 Pet. ii. 14. c Eph. iv. 19.
^ Mic. vii. 2, 3. This paints with great exactness the conduct of multitudes who tread in the steps of Ahab : and the last clause ex- presses their complacency in their sins. ^ Isai. Iviii. 1.
352.1 AHAB AND ELIJAH IN NABOTh's VINEYARD. io'3
prophet with death, if he did not instantly "forbear*^." In the same light it is viewed, however gentle and kind the expos- tulation may he. When the inhabitants of Sodom required of Lot to deliver up to them the men whom he had received under his roof, nothing could exceed the tenderness of his reproof; " I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly." Nay, he even adopted the unjustifiable expedient of offering them his two daughters in their stead: yet, notwithstanding tliis astonishing condescension, they were full of wrath against him, and threatened to "deal worse with him than with them*^." We must further say, that it was viewed in this light, when God himself became the monitor. When Cain had murdered his brother Abel, God came to him and asked, " Where is Abel thy brother ?" to which this impious reply was made, " I. know not: Am I my brother's keeper'^?" The truth is, that men think themselves at liberty to do what they please against God ; but no one is to presume to espouse the cause of God against them\ The plain language of their hearts is, "Our lips are our own : Who is Lord over u.s'^?"
It would be well too if this presumptuous spirit were con- fined to those who are the open enemies of God : but it is not unfrequently found even amongst the professed followers of Christ ; for it was to such that the Apostle addressed himself, when he said, " Am I become your enemy because I tell you the truth'?" Let religious professors be on their guard against this great evil; for, in proportion as it prevails, it gives reason to fear that they are deceiving their own souls, and that their religion is vain.]