passage which we have just read ; wherein Ahab's repentance was honoured with the notice and appro- bation of Heaven to a certain degree, though we have no reason to think that it ever availed for his final acceptance before God.
In speaking of Ahab's repentance, we propose to shew,
I. What there was in it that was good —
If there had not been something good in it, God would never have called the attention of Elijah to it, or have honoured it with a reward. The two principal things in it that were good, were,
1. A fear of God's judgments —
[Many, when God's judgments are denounced against them, only " puff at them''" as unworthy of any serious regard. They do not believe that God will execute them: the language of their hearts is, " God will not do good, neither will he do eviP" But Ahab credited the predictions of the pro- phet, and sought deliverance from the judgments he foretold. This it was that prevailed in behalf of the Ninevites, when "they repented at the preaching of Jonah'';" and God on the present occasion was so pleased with it, that he pointed it out with special approbation to the Prophet Elijah,]
2. An acknowledgment of God's justice in in- flicting them —
[Had Ahab thought himself unjustly dealt with, he would have complained of the severity of the sentence that was passed against him : but he complained only of his own sins, which had so justly brought on him the divine displeasure. This was a public testimony that God was worthy to be served, and that the most exalted monarchs are bound, as much as others, to he ohedient to his laws. Such an acknowledgment, from so aban- doned a character, was honourable to the Lord: it " gave glory to him 'I" as a God of holiness and power, and consequently was so far good and acceptable in his sight.]
Still, as it availed not for his salvation, it will be proper to shew,
II. Wherein it was defective —
a Ps. X. 4, 5. b Amos ix. 10, Zcpli, i. 12. Mai. ii. 17.
" Jonah iii. f), 10. 'i Josh. vii. 19. .Ter. xiii. 16, 18.