ness would not let him speak out all. He would rather say, I have been jealous for the Lord God of Hosts, than, "I was fearful of Jezebel." We are all willing, to make the best of our own case. But what he wants of his own accusation, he spends upon the complaint of Israel. Neither doth he more bemoan himself, than exclaim against them, as apostates from God's covenant, violaters of his altars, murderers of his prophets. It must needs be a desperate condition of Israel, that drives Elijah to indict them before the throne of God. That tongue of his was used to plead for them, to sue for their pardon; it could not be but a forcible wickedness, that makes it their accuser.

Those idolatrous Israelites were well forward to reformation. The fire and rain from heaven, at the prayers of Elijah, had won them to a scorn of Baal: only the violence of Jezebel turned the stream; and now, they are resettled in impiety, and persecute him for an enemy, whom they almost adored for a benefactor; otherwise, Elijah had not complained of what they had been. Who would think it? Jezebel can do more than Elijah! No miracle is so prevalent with the vulgar, as the sway of authority, whether to good or evil.

Thou art deceived, O Elijah. Thou art not left alone; neither is all Israel tainted. God hath children and prophets in Israel, though thou see them not. Those clear eyes of the seer discern not the secret story of God. They looked not into Obadiah's caves; they looked not into the closets of the religious Israelites. He, that sees the heart, can say, I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. According to the fashion of the wealthy, God pleaseth himself in hidden treasures. It is enough, that his own eyes behold his riches. Never did he, never will he leave himself unfurnished with holy clients, in the midst of the foulest depravations of his Church. The sight of his faithful ones hath sometimes been lost; never the being. Do your worst, O ye gates of hell, God will have his own. He, that could have more, will have some. That foundation is sure, God knoweth who are his.

It was a true cordial for Elijah's solitariness, that he had seven thousand invisible abettors; neither is it a small comfort to our weakness, to have companions in good.

For the wickedness of Israel, God hath another receipt; the oil of royal and prophetical unction. Elijah must anoint Hazael king of Syria, Jehu king of Israel, Elisha for his successor. All these shall revenge the quarrels of God and him: one shall begin, the other shall prosecute, the third shall perfect, the vengeance upon Israel.

A prophet shall avenge the wrongs done to a prophet. Elisha is found, not in his study, but in the field; not with a book in his hand, but a plough. His father Shaphat was a rich farmer, in Abel-Meholahi: himself was a good husband; not trained in the schools of the prophets, but in the thrifty trade of tillage: and behold, this was the man, whom God will pick out of all Israel, for