covered with execrations and reproach in solitary graves, and their souls-may God have had mercy on them!

That Jeroboam's wickedness succeeded at the time, is not to be wondered at, considering the natural corruption of mankind. Have not the spiritual Jeroboams, the hypocritical advocates of a false enlightening, succeeded in the present day, in a similar manner, who, in order to separate the people from the temple of the true Church, did not altogether deny the necessity of a temple in general; but built near the temple a Beth-aven, and then raised a loud cry, exclaiming, "Here, here is Jerusalem, here shines the pure light, here glitters the true Church." Yes, they have also a god; but one who is as easily distinguished from the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as the golden calves at Beth-el from him that dwelt in the sanctuary on Mount Moriah. A Christ is also honoured there, as a matter of course; but one from whose head they have torn, with impious hands, the regal diadem; whose breast they have stripped of the priestly shield; and of whose prophetic mantle they have left only a few shreds. There is also devotion there, and hours of devotion: imagine to thyself a little effeminate warmth of feeling, and thou art acquainted with it; reflect thyself complacently in a sentimental emotion, which is excited in thee, and thou possessest it. Prayer is likewise not wanting; but it is a prayer of the strangest description; a prayer made by the man to himself; an affected sensibility, which is devoid of an object; an exclaiming of a few Ah's and Oh's, which in reality desire nothing, and viewed in the light, have reference to no one. You are acquainted with those highly commended volumes, upon whose foam-like and trivial contents, this modern Christian temple erects itself. You know how this Beth-aven is resorted to in crowds.

Israel

has forgotten Jerusalem and the true sanctuary! but woe to the deluded people, and a three-fold woe to their malicious deceivers !

Elisha was not the man for a city like that of Beth-el. Where was the wonder, that from such a nest of unbelief and darkness, this witness to the light experienced nothing but the hissings of mockery and blasphemy. It was not allotted solely to the saints of the new covenant to experience the truth of the saying, "I am not come to sent peace, but the sword." The saints of every age have often been compelled to feel, in a sufficiently painful manner, the sting of that enmity, which from the beginning was divinely placed between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. If the hatred of the children of the world against the children of God, who do nothing to injure them, appears a mystery, its satisfactory explanation is found in those words of our Lord, "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." The world is unwilling that we should differ from her, and that we should exalt ourselves above her moral sphere. She desires that we should continue strictly within her limits, and make her thinking, and feeling, her judging, acting, and pursuits our own. As long as we accommodate ourselves to this, we are in favour with the world. If, on the contrary, we show signs of conversion, the question of peace or war is decided. But is it not conceivable, that from that moment, the world cannot bear us? For what is it we do, in separating ourselves from her works and ways? Do we not by so doing condemn them as unholy and perverted? What is the consequence of our withdrawing ourselves from her vanities and enjoyments? Do we not, by this act,

pronounce a sentence of rejection upon her, more powerfully and loudly than could be done by words? The appearance of a truly converted individual places too forcibly the opposite of their own profane doings before the eyes of the children of this world, for them to become fond of such a phenomenon. It reminds them too powerfully of the necessity of their becoming different characters, as well as the possibility of soaring to a higher and holier course of life, than that which they pursue. But they dislike being reminded of this necessity; and gladly leave the question of this possibility to rest upon its own merits. They are vexed at being disturbed in the sweet and fatal repose of this security. They love darkness, self-deception, and lies. Where is the wonder, therefore, that they should shun the light, and hate those who bring it down into their darkness!

If, my friends, we have had only little experience of this enmity of the world on the whole, it is not the best sign with respect to ourselves. This circumstance ought to induce us to reflect, and the more so, since we know the word of the Lord, "Blessed are ye, when men shall speak all manner of evil against you, for my sake, and persecute you;" and again, "Woe unto you, when all men speak well of you!" The seal of our superior descent probably does not appear strongly enough impressed upon us, and too much cause perhaps is given, on our part, to the unconverted, for the supposition so consolatory to them, that it is only the outward form and the religious appearance, which distinguishes us from them; and that internally we stand on the same footing with them. Do not let us conceal it from ourselves, my friends, that the world is still so gracious to us, only because we can still associate so intimately with the world. The lukewarmness of our re

ligion produces that toleration which we experience on her part. Only a little more of that Divine salt is wanting, and of that fire from the altar of the sanctuary in our deportment, and she will soon alter her position towards us. He, in whom Christ is formed, cannot pass unmolested through. Dan and Beth-el. He will become to foes a savour of death unto death, and unto friends a savour of life unto life.

II.

Elisha proceeded on his journey, solitary, and lost in thought. The events of ancient times hovered around his affected soul, and excited in it a feeling of longing. The patriarchal world, with its venerable forms and peaceful living images, lay like a garden of God before the eye of his memory. The wondrous imagery of the night-vision, which once ravished the slumbering patriarch in that region, presented itself in the vivid colours of a present manifestation to the inward eye of the prophet; and those mighty words of promise suggested themselves to him, which, more gratifying than even the vision of the angels on the cloudy ladder, were here addressed to the prince of Israel from the opened heavens. Alternate feelings strangely affected Elisha's breast. As powerfully as the contemplation of those pictures of the past elevated and invigorated him, so painful and heart-rending must every look have been to him, which he cast through the friendly. images of ancient times upon the present and its night-like obscurity. Ah, what was now the once so holy and wonderous region! Beth-el was become a Beth-aven, a house of darkness! The place which once was dedicated to the honour of Jehovah and the glory of his name, is become a habitation of lies and of every idolatrous abomination !—

"But why," thought Elisha, "does the Lord send me to this place to-day ?" and a number of lovely stars of hope began soothingly to dawn upon the darkness of his mournful meditations. "It may again become a Beth-el, if it pleases him!" Thus thought the man of God, and hastened with redoubled speed towards the benighted place.

It had already become known in Beth-el, who it was that was approaching their gates. It is a difficult matter to take the prince of darkness by surprise. He scents the battle from afar, and his out-posts are extremely watchful. Satan regarded Elisha as a dangerous individual. The Evil One was afraid of this herald, almost more than of the Tishbite himself, although it is scarcely conceivable. How plain and insignificant was the appearance of the husbandman of Abel-Meholah, compared with that of yonder Boanerges, who bore only lightnings and flames of fire upon his lips, and spread around him scarcely anything but death and destruction! But it is not before such zealots for the law that Satan trembles the most. He knows that the law only brings wrath, embitters, and tends to drive the sinner further from the presence of God, rather than to induce him to resign himself to the Lord. The Gospel, on the contrary, the message of grace, always causes Satan the most serious anxiety. He knows, with respect to these glad tidings, that they melt, move, allure, and persuade. He knows the attractive power which lies concealed within them. Hence he is never more active than when this wonder-working trumpet is sounded on his borders. How, therefore, could he remain neutral, when he saw Elisha, the bearer of the Divine standard of peace, approach one of his most devoted cities. He was aware what this preacher of help and salvation had accomplished in Jericho, and that little was wanting to have induced the whole