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glory is bafelefs and unreal. With"out having recourfe to direct prohibi"tion, which will but inflame their de

"fires, I will propofe to them a more "compendious, more plaufible worfhip. They shall have gods, and altars, and priests, and facrifices of "their own."

How eafily is the variable populace feduced by every blaft of vain doctrine, through the fleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive! No fooner are the idols of Jeroboam fet up, than all Ifrael falls proftrate in humble adoration-the new king stands before his new altar, and the cenfer is in his impious hand.

At this moment a man of GOD comes from Judah to denounce the indignation of Heaven. When the king of Ifrael is in the height of his state and fuperftition, the courageous prophet fears not to interrupt the fervice with folemn exclamations

clamations of judgment. The messenger of JEHOVAH fears neither the power, nor malice of the tyrant, whom he dared to reprove so sharply in the midst of his pompous magnificence. He foretells the name of that defcendant of David, who fhould overthrow these altars, annul these ceremonies, and (recovering his own rights and those of his GOD) fhould overwhelm the rivals of both with demolition and ruin.

AND, left the remote event of the prediction fhould leffen its credibility, a prefent demonstration evidences its future accomplishment. The altar even now is rent in pieces-the afhes on it even now are scattered. With what amazement muft the feduced Ifraelites behold this miracle! How must they tremble at their apoftafy, when they fee the power of the GOD whom they had forfaken?-whenthey fee him rending the altars of idolatry, and breaking them to

pieces at the voice of his prophet? Thus fome of the beholders might poffibly be affected: but Jeroboam, impatient of reproof, rebellious against GoD and man, instead of bowing the knee in humiliation, ftretches out his hand for revenge" Lay hold on him."

How eafily can the ALMIGHTY prove to the profane and tyrannous, that wherein they deal proudly, he is above them! The hand, stretched out in rage, fuddenly dries up, and remains fenfeless and immoveable. There ftands the king of Ifrael, like fome antique ftatue, to which the skill of the artift has given looks and geftures of indignation, while itself is only lifelefs marble. Now are his threats converted into humble entreaties the prophet, fo late the object of his wrath, must now intercede with Heaven for his restoration. He might justly have been anfwered, "Thine in"tentions to me were cruel-had thine "hand

"hand prevailed, I should have fued to "thee in vain. Continue a fearful fpec"tacle of the vengeance of thy Maker!" But the fervant of GOD must not strivehe must requite barbarity itself with meeknefs. The prophet makes interceffion for Jeroboam-he is heard, and anfwered with fuccefs.

AND will not even this prevail on an obdurate heart? Will not the king of Ifrael now renounce his idolatry? Will not he fay," LORD, thou haft ftricken me in justice-thou haft healed me in mercy-I will provoke thee no "more-this hand which thou haft re"stored me shall be confecrated to thee, "in pulling down thefe bold abomina"tions?" Yet, alas, he perfifts in his impieties, and as if he had neither experienced the goodness and severity of GOD, lives and dies idolatrous.

THE wretched heir to his crimes, as well as his throne, falls by affaffina

"

tion-his family is exterminated-his name remembered with horrour, and handed down with infamy to fucceeding generations. "Knoweft thou not this "of old, fince man was placed upon "the earth, that the triumphing of the "wicked is fhort, and the joy of the

hypocrite for a moment? I went by, "and lo, he was gone-I fought him, "but his place could no where be " found!"

XXXVII.