views of it are rectified, it will afford us some valuable lessons. We will improve the subject therefore,
1. In a way of caution —
[We must not imagine that we are at Uberty to act in all things as the prophets did, or even as our blessed Lord himself did. Their peculiar office gave them an authority, which we are not called to exercise. Tlois thought is of great im- portance ; for, if we do not advert to it, we may think our- selves justified in a line of conduct which is most opposite to the path of duty. The Apostles themselves materially erred in this very way. They supposed that this conduct of Elijah afforded a proper precedent for them ; and therefore when the mhabitants of a Samaritan village refused to receive them, they proposed to our Lord, " Wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, even as Elias did ? " But our Lord said, " Ye know not what spirit ye are of: for the Son of Man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them^" Here our Lord rectifies their appre- hensions. They were under the influence of a vindictive spirit, and were wanting to make Jehovah the avenger of their wrongs. But this was very different from the spirit of Ehjah, and quite contrary both to the precepts and example of Christ. Christ was injuriously treated by all ranks and orders of men, yet did he never exert his power to destroy his enemies : on the contrary, he sought with invincible patience to convert and save them. On one occasion indeed he did, when an armed band came to apprehend him, strike them all backward with a word^; but he only struck them dotvn; he did not strike them dead, though he could as easily have done the one as the other : his design was to bring this liistory to their remem- brance, and to shew them that they were fighting against God. On other occasions, he wept over the most inveterate of his enemies, and at last laid down his hfe for them ; and, after his resurrection, commanded that the very first offers of salvation should be made to them. This then is the manner in which we are to act. We must never seek to avenge our- selves ; but must rather bless them that curse us, and do good to them that despitefully use us, and persecute us. We may uideed heap coals of fire vipon their heads ; but it must be, to melt them into love''. The rule that is universally established for the regulation of our conduct, is tliis ; " Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."]
2. In a way of instruction —
[Two things only will we notice under this head ; namely, The danger of persecuting the saints of God; and, The security of all who trust in God.
•1 Luke ix. 53 — 56. ^ John xviii. 6. « Rom. xii. 20, 21.