en,id to lmve (tl 1 i1,~) '' gods," in the plural. (4) These had their various images in some of which the mn,n and bull came into union. The Assyrian man-bull s~ conspicuous in the Nineveh marbles, is probably one of these. Let us bless God for our Christianity. It is pure light. Compared with it other systems are dark with ignorance, superstition, and error. It is supreme benevo- lence. Happy is its contrast to the characteristic cruelties of idolatry.-J. A. M. Vere. 25-29.-The Failure. When the appeal of Elijah to the people had gained their applause, he had the prophets of Baal at his command. The test he had proposed was so fair that they could not reasonably object to it, and the voice of the people rendered it impossible for them to evade the trial The prophet of the Lord accordingly pressed the matter home upon his adversaries in the wo!'ds of the text. They were obliged to proceed to the trial which ended in their discom.fi ture. I. THEIR PRAYER WAS EARNEST, 1. They began early. (1) Everything seems to havo been in readiness soon after daybreak; so that almost as soon as their Apollo looked out of the eyelids of the morning the cry arose, " 0 Baal, hear us ! " (2) Worshippers of Jehovah should not be less zealous. The early morning was chosen by His devoted servants (see Gen. xix. 27; :xxii. 3; Exod. xxiv. 4; Job i. 5 ; Psa. v. 3; lix. 16; lxxxvili. 13; Mark i. 35). Such exercises will be a noble preparation for the day. 2. They persi8ted. (1) They continued their supplica- tions until noon. As the sun rolled upwards in the hen,vens their hopes rose. As it neared the zenith they felt it was now or never, and 850 voices in full chorus cried, "0 Bn,al, hear us I" (2) Even when the noon point was turned and their god was sinking in the west, still they urged their suit, adding to their entreaties frantic gestures and mingling their own blood with their sacrifice. (3) Idolatry is essentially cruel, and in this contrasts strongly with the service of Jehovah (see Levit. xix. 28; Deut. :xiv. 1). The cruel penances of Rome are kindred to those of Baal's servants. "The devil is a murderer.'' Of bodies. Of souls. (4) Per- sistency should mark the servants of Goel. Jacob wrestled all night with the angel at Penuel, and at daybreak prevailed. The parable of the importunate widow was given to impress this lesson. We should o.sk until we receive. (5) How blessedly has persistency been rewarded I Ministers ho.ve seen this; p!IIents; Sunday-school teachers ; tro.ct distributors. II. BuT IT WAS MISDIRECTED. 1. Their god was contemptible. (1) He wns destitute of the o.ttributes they ascribed to him. The sun, though a glorious body, is but mnttor. It has no more intelligence than a flint. How the intellects as well as the eyes of men are dazzled with splendour I (2) How clifferent is the true God I IIe is n Spirit-invisible--omniscient-omnipresent--omnipotent-holy- just-good. He clo.ims, and should receive, the homnge of all our foculties. 2. Their worship, therefore, was ridiculous. (1) So Elijnh thought when he stung them _with mockery. "He is a god I" (~li1 tl 1 i1~~ i::,) he is a supreme god I Here 1s a fine stroke of irony. This weapon of rhetoric we,s used by our Lord- ,, Ar~ thou o. master in Israel and knowest not these things?" (2) "He is talking." He 1s so stunned with the thunder of his own voice and with the voices of his associates in the pantheon that he cannot hear the ordinary voices of mortnls. ~herefore." cry aloud." Or "he is (n1~) meditating" (mnrgin)-in 11, brown study, 1n a reverie-and must be roused. (3) "Or he is pursuing," or "hath a pursuit." He is so engaged with some other matter that he cannot hear yow- feeble voice. What sort of god is yours? (4) "Or he is in a journey ''-so far nwny thnt your prayer'will be useless unless you can cry aloud. (5) "Or peradventure he sleepoth and must be a.waked." You must first raise a clnmour about llis enrs to nrouse him, or you pray in vo.in. How doubtful must bo the sncccss of any worship pnid to such a god I 8. Ridicule was righteously applied. (1) It should never bo substituted for roason, as too often it is. It is a favourite weapon with sceptics who ~re_ at a ~000 for a_~ argume~t. (2) nut wh~re r_eason is wo.0ted upon stupidity then 1t 1s fittmg. EliJa.h was silent from sunrise till noon, when the oxperimont had a fair tril'l and failed. Then he rallied the idolaters with a rillionle that was 446 THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. [oH, XVIII, 1-46.
full of. argument: (3) ~el?- eve~g set in they ~ve up the contest in despair. There is an evewng coming m which all contests with Jehovah shall so terminate. -J. A. l\f. •