difmiffes him, in the accustomed terms of valediction. They are parted.

GEHAZI cannot thus take his leave. His heart is in the treasure of Naaman. He deems his lord frantic, for refusing the proffered gifts. He runs with guilty speed, that he may recover a part of the booty. Naaman fees him, and fpares not to humble himself before the fervant of Elifha. The half-breathlefs meffenger utters his plaufible fiction-receives a boon beyond his utmost wishes-returns with the glittering load, and, when he has fecreted it, ftands boldly before his master. O Gehazi, couldst thou fo long have poured water on the hands of Elisha, and ftill be ignorant of that eye of Providence, which was ever fixed upon thy heart? Didft thou not know, that thy paths were overlooked by invifible witneffes? Couldft thou hope to delude GOD, and his prophet? Hear then thy fentence, and be convinced to thy con

fufion.

of

fufion. "Thou wouldst take part "Naaman's treasure-thou fhalt inherit "his loathfome infirmity:. As a monu

ment of thy guilt, and as a proof that "GOD is not mocked, the leprofy of "Naaman fhall cleave unto thee, and to "thy feed for ever.”

XLIII.

JEHU.

FOR a long series of years had the crimes of Ahab's family caused horrour and confternation in Ifrael. At last the measure of their enormities is full. The divine mercy will be scorned and infulted no longer. Reproofs, admonitions, judgments, deliverances, have all failed of their effect. What remains, but that the offended juftice of Heaven take its courfe? Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD. It is time for thee to work, for they have deftroyed thy law. Arife, O GOD, maintain thine own caufe. The prefumption of them that hate thee increaseth more and more. VOL. II. THE

N

THE voice of inspiration had long fince commanded Elijah to anoint Jehu king over Ifrael. The difciple of Elijah was no doubt commiffioned by his mafter to accomplish whatever his own fudden translation to glory had left unfinifhed. What could be a more convenient time for this purpose, than when the army of Ifrael were affembled under the command of Jehu, in the absence of the wounded Jehoram? A moment now loft might have been irrecoverable. Elisha fends a meffenger in hafte to Ramoth-Gilead to pour the confecrated oil on the head of the unfufpecting warrior.

No fooner is the young prophet arrived at the place of his destination, than he calls Jehu from his affembled companions. The wifdom of GOD fixed on a moment, when the public view of a facred meffenger, and the myfterious nature of the conference he demanded, might prepare the hearts of these commanders

manders of Ifrael to the expectation of

some great defign.

Now fhall the blood of the prophets be avenged on Jezebel-the tyranny and idolatry of the house of Ahab fhall bring deftruction on their heads. Ahab fhall have no pofterity, Jezebel no tomb. The long-threatened, long-delayed vengeance, when it seemed forgotten by God and man, falls at once in all its terrours on this impious family.

THE prophet has fulfilled his miniftry, and is gone. Jehu returns to his impatient companions, who cannot for a moment restrain their curiosity. "all well? Wherefore came this mad "fellow to thee?" The prophets of GOD were to thefe idolatrous Ifraelites like meteors-their appearance feemed to portend only deftruction. While the priests of Baal facrifice, all is well-but when the fervant of Jehovah presents himself, their guilt vainly attempts to N 2

fhelter