Works of Joseph Hall, Part 49 – Dedication 51
ELIjAH running before AHAB, Flying from IEzEBEL.
I Heare no newes of the foure hundred Prophets of the Groues: They lye cloſe vnderunder the wing of Iezebel vnderunder their pleaſing ſhades: neither will be ſuffered to vndergoe the danger of this tryall; the carkeiſes of their fellowes helpe to fill vp the haife-dry channell of Kiſhon: Iuſtice is no ſooner done then Ahab heares newes of mercy from Elijah: Get thee vp, eate and drinke; for there is a ſound of abundance of raine: Their meeting was not more harſh, then their parting was friendly: It ſeemes Ahab had ſpent all that day faſting in an eager attendance of thoſe conflicting Prophets: It muſt needs bee late, ere the execution could be done, Elijahs part began not till the euening: So farre muſt the King of Iſrael bee from taking thought for the maſſacre of thoſe foure hundred and fifty Baalites, that now, hee may goe eate his bread with ioy, and drinke his wine with a chearefull heart: for God accepteth this worke, and teſtifies it in the noiſe of much raine: EueryEvery drop of that Idolatrous blood was anſwered with a ſhowre of raine, with a ſtreame of water, and plenty poured downe in eueryevery ſhowre: A ſenſible bleſſing followes the vnpartiall ſtroakes of ſeuere iuſtice: Nothing is more cruell then an vniuſt pitie.
No eares but Elijahs could as yet perceiue a ſound of raine; the clouds were not yet gathered, the vapours were not yet riſen, yet Elijah heares that which ſhall be: Thoſe that are of Gods Councell can diſcerne either fauours or iudgements afarre off; the ſlacke apprehenſions of carnall hearts make them hard to beleeue that, as future, which the quicke and refined ſenſes of the faithfull perceiue as preſent.
Ahab goes vp to his repaſt; Elijah goes vp to his prayers: That day had bin painfull to him, the vehemence of his ſpirit drawes him to a neglect of his body: The holy man climbes vp to the top of Carmel, that now hee may talke with his God alone: neither is he ſooner aſcended, then he caſts himſelfe downe vponupon the earth: He bowes his knees to God, and bowes his face downe to his knees: by this humble poſture acknowledging his awfull reſpects to that Maieſtie which he implored: We cannot proſtrate our bodies, or ſoules, too low to that infinitely glorious Deity, who is the Creator of both.
His thoughts were more high then his body was low: what he ſaid wee know not, we know that what he ſaid opened the heauens, that for three yeares and an halfe had bin ſhut vp: God had ſaid before, I will ſend raine vponupon the earth; yet Elijah muſt pray for what God did promiſe; The promiſes of the Almighty do not diſcharge our prayers, but ſuppoſe them; he will doe what he vndertakes, but wee muſt ſue for that which we would hauehave him doe: Our petitions are included in the decrees, in the ingagements of God.
The Prophet had newly ſeene and cauſed the fire to deſcend immediately out of heauen, he doth not looke the water ſhould doe ſo; he knew that the raine muſt come from the clouds, and that the clouds muſt ariſe from vapours, and thoſe vapours from the Sea, thence doth he expect them: But as not willing that the thoughts of his fixed deuotion ſhould be diſtracted, he doth not goe himſelfe, onelyonly ſends his ſeruant to bring him the newes of his ſucceſſe: At the firſt ſight nothing appeares: Seuen times muſt he walke to that proſpect; and not till his laſt view can diſcerne ought: All that while is the Prophet in his prayers, neither is any whit danted with that delay: Hope holds vp the head of our holy deſires, and perſeuerance crownes it: If we receiue not an anſwer …o our ſuits at the ſixth motion, wee may not bee out of countenance, but muſt try the ſeuenth: At laſt, a little cloud ariſes out of the Sea, of an hand bread…: So many, ſo feruent prayers cannot but pull water out of heauen as well as fire: Thoſe ſighs reflect vponupon the earth, and from the earth reflect vponupon heauen, …om heauen rebound vponupon the Sea, and raiſe vapours vp thence to heauen againe: If we finde that our prayers are heard for the ſubſtance, wee may not cauill at the quantitie: Euen an hand broad cloud contents Eliah, and fils his heart full of ioy and thankfulneſſe: Hee knew well this meteor was not at the biggeſt, it was newly borne of the wombe of the waters, and in ſome minutes of age muſt grow to a large ſtature: ſtay but a while, and Heauen is couered with it: From how ſmall beginnings hauehave great matters ariſen? It is no otherwiſe in all the gracious proceedings of God with the ſoule, ſcarce ſenſible are thoſe firſt workes of his ſpirit in the heart, which grow vp at laſt to the wonder of men, and applauſe of Angels.
Well did Elijah know that God, who is perfection it ſelfe, would not defile his hand with an inchoate and ſcanted fauour, as one therefore that fore-ſaw the face of heauen ouer-ſpread with this cloudy ſpot, hee ſends to Ahab to haſten his Charet, that the raine ſtop him not: It is long ſince Ahab feared this let; neuer was the newes of a danger more welcome: Doubtleſſe the King of Iſrael whiles hee was at his diet, lookt long for Elijahs promiſed ſhowers; where is the raine whoſe ſound the Prophet heard? how is it that his eares were ſo much quicker, then our eyes? Wee ſaw his fire to our terrour, how gladly would we ſee his Waters? When now the ſeruant of Elijah brings him newes from heauen, that the clouds were ſetting forward, and (if hee haſtened not) would be before him: The winde ariſes, the clouds gather, the sky thickens; Ahab betakes him to his Charet; Elijah girds vp his loynes, and runnes before him: Surely the Prophet could not want the offer of more eaſe in his paſſage; but he will be for the time Ahabs lacquey, that the King and all Iſrael may ſee his humility no leſſe than his power, and may confeſſe that the glory of thoſe miracles hath not made him inſolent. Hee knew that his very ſight was monitorie: neither could Ahabs minde be beſide the miraculous workes of God, whiles his eye was vponupon Elijah: neither could the Kings heart be otherwiſe then well-affected towards the Prophet, whiles he ſaw that himſelfe, and all Iſrael, had receiued a new Life by his procurement. But what newes was here for Iezebel? Certainly Ahab minced nothing of the report of all thoſe aſtoniſhing accidents: If but to ſalue vp his owne honour, in the death of thoſe Baalites, hee made the beſt of Elijahs merits; hee told of his challenge, conflict, victorie, of the fire that fell downe from Heauen, of the conuiction of Iſrael, of the vnauoidable execution of the Prophets, of the prediction and fall of thoſe happy ſhowers, and laſtly of Elijahs officious attendance. Who would not hauehave expected that Iezebel ſhould hauehave ſaid; It is no ſtriuing, no dallying with the Almightie: No reaſonable creature can doubt, after ſo prodigious a deciſion; God hath wonne vsus from Heauen, hee muſt poſſeſſe vsus: Iuſtly are our ſeducers periſhed: None but the God that can command fire and water ſhall bee ours; There is no Prophet but his: But ſhee contrarily, in ſtead of relenting, rageth; and ſends a meſſage of death, to Elijah, So let the gods doe to mee, and more alſo, if I make not thy life, as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time: Neither ſcourges, nor fauours can worke any thing with the obſtinately wicked; All euill hearts are not equally diſ-affected to good: Ahab and Iezebel were both bad enough, yet Ahab yeelds to that worke of God, which Iezebel ſtubbornly oppoſeth: Ahab melts with that water, with that fire, wherewith Iezebel is hardened: Ahab was baſhfully, Iezebel audaciouſly impious. The weaker ſexe is euer commonly ſtronger in paſſion; and more vehemently caried with the ſway of their deſires, whether to good or euill: She ſweares, and ſtamps at that whereat ſhee ſhould hauehave trembled. She ſweares by thoſe gods of hers, which were not able to ſaue their Prophets, that ſhe will kill the Prophet of God, who had ſcorned her gods, and ſlaine her Prophets.
It is well that Iezebel could not keepe counſell: Her threat pre…e…ted him, whom ſhee had meant to kill: The wiſedome and power of God could …ue found euaſions for his Prophet, in her greateſt ſecreſie: but now, he needs no other meanes of reſcue, but her owne lips: She is no leſſe vaine; then the gods ſhee ſweares by. In ſpight of her fury, and her oath, and her gods, Elijah ſhall liue: At once ſhall ſhe finde her ſelfe fruſtrate, and forſworne: She is now ready to bite her tongue, to eat her heart for anger, at the diſappointment of her cruell Vow. It were no liuing for godly men, if the hands of Tyrants were allowed to be as bloody as their hearts. Men and Deuils are vnderunder the reſtraint of the Almighty; neither are their deſignes more lauiſh, then their executions ſhort.
Holy Elijah flees for his life; wee heare not of the command of God, but we would willingly preſuppoſe it: So diuine a Prophet ſhould doe nothing without God: His heeles were no new refuge; As no where ſafe within the ten Tribes, hee flees to Beerſheba, in the Territories of Iudah, as not there ſafe, from the machinations of Iezebel, hee flees alone (one dayes iourney) into the wilderneſſe; there hee ſits him downe vnderunder a Iuniper tree, and (as weary of life, no leſſe then of his way) wiſhes to riſe no more. It is enough now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am not better then my Fathers: O ſtrange and vncouth mutation: What is this wee heare? Elijah fainting and giuing vp? that heroicall ſpirit deiected, and proſtrate? Hee that durſt ſay to Ahabs face, It is thou, and thy fathers houſe that troubleth Iſrael; hee that could raiſe the dead, open and ſhut the Heauens, fetch downe both fire, and water, with his prayers; hee that durſt chide and conteſt with all Iſrael, that durſt kill the foure hundred and fifty Baalites, with the ſword; doth hee ſhrinke at the frownes and threats of a woman? doth hee wiſh to be rid of his life, becauſe hee feared to loſe it? Who can expect an vndaunted conſtancie from fleſh and blood, when Elijah failes? The ſtrongeſt and holieſt Saint vponupon earth is ſubiect to ſome qualmes of feare, and infirmitie: To bee alwayes and vnchangeably good, is proper onelyonly to the glorious Spirits in heauen. Thus the wiſe and holy God will hauehave his power perfited in our weakneſſe: It is in vaine for vsus, whiles wee carie this fleſh about vsus, to hope for ſo exact health, as not to be caſt downe ſometimes with fits of ſpirituall diſtemper. It is no new thing for holy men to wiſh for death: Who can either maruell at, or blame the deſire of aduantage? For the weary traueller to long for reſt, the priſoner for libertie, the baniſhed for home, it is ſo naturall, that the contrary diſpoſition were monſtrous: The benefit of the change is a iuſt motiue to our appetition: but to call for death, out of a ſatietie of life, out of an impatience of ſuffering, is a weakneſſe vnbeſeeming a Saint: It is not enough, O Elijah; God hath more worke yet for thee: thy God hath more honoured thee, then thy fathers, and thou ſhalt liue to honour him.
Toile and ſorrow hauehave lulled the Prophet aſleepe, vnderunder his Iuniper tree; that wholeſome ſhade was well choſen, for his repoſe: whiles death was called for, the cozen of death comes vnbidden: The Angell of God waits on him in that hard lodging: no wilderneſſe is too ſolitarie for the attendance of thoſe bleſſed ſpirits: As hee is guarded, ſo is hee awaked by that Meſſenger of God; and ſtirred vp from his reſt, to his repaſt; whiles hee ſlept, his breakfaſt is made ready for him, by thoſe ſpirituall hands; There was a cake baked on the coales, and a cruſe of water at his head: Oh the neuer-ceaſing care and prouidence of the Almig…tie, not to bee barred by any place, by any condition; when meanes are wanting to to vsus, when we are wanting to our ſelues, when to God, euen then doth hee follow vsus with his mercy, and caſt fauours vponupon vsus, beyond, againſt expectation: What varietie of purueyance doth he make for his ſeruant? One while the Rauens, then the Sareptan, now the Angell ſhall be his Cator; none of them without a miracle. Thoſe other prouided for him waking, this ſleeping: O God, the eye of thy prouidence is not dimmer, the hand of thy power is not ſhorter; onelyonly teach thou vsus to ſerue thee, to truſt thee.
Needs muſt the Prophet eate, and drinke, and ſleepe with much comfort, whiles hee ſaw that hee had ſuch a guardian, attendant, purueiour; and now the ſecond time is he raiſed, by that happy touch, to his meale, and his way: Ariſe, and eate, becauſe the iourney is too great for thee. What needed hee to trauell further, ſith that diuine power could as well protect him in the Wilderneſſe, as in Horeb? What needed hee to eate, ſince hee that meant to ſuſtaine him forty dayes with one meale, might as well hauehave ſuſtained him without it? God is a moſt free Agent, neither will be tied to the termes of humane regularities: It is enough that hee knowes, and approues the reaſons of his owne choice, and commands: once in forty dayes and nights ſhall Elijah eate, to teach vsus what God can doe with little meanes: and but once, to teach vsus what hee can doe without meanes: Once ſhall the Prophet eate, Man liues by bread; and but once, Man liues not by bread onelyonly, but by eueryevery word that proceeds out of the mouth of God; Moſes, Elijah, our Sauiour faſted each of them forty daies, and forty nights: the three great faſters met gloriouſly in Tabor: I finde not where God euer honoured any man for feaſting: It is abſtinence, not fulneſſe, that makes a man capable of heauenly viſions, of diuine glory.
The iourney was not of it ſelfe ſo long; the Prophet tooke thoſe wayes, thoſe houres which his heart gaue him: In the very ſame Mount where Moſes firſt ſaw God, ſhall Elijah ſee him: one and the ſame caue (as is very probable) was the receptacle to both: It could not bee but a great confirmation of Elijah, to renue the ſight of thoſe ſenſible monuments of Gods fauour, and protection, to his faithfull predeceſſor. Moſes came to ſee God in the Buſh of Horeb: God came to finde Elijah in the Caue of Horeb: What doeſt thou here, Elijah? The place was directed by a prouidence, not by a command; Hee is hid ſure enough from Iezebel: hee cannot bee hid from the all-ſeeing eye of God. Whither ſhall I goe from thy Spirit? or Whither ſhall I fly from thy preſence? If I aſcend vp into Heauen, thou art there; if I make my bed in Hell; behold thou art there: If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the vttermoſt parts of the Sea, euen there ſhall thine hand finde me, and thy right hand ſhall hold mee: Twice hath God propounded the ſame queſtion to Eljiah: Once in the heart, once in the mouth of the Caue: Twice doth the Prophet anſwer, in the ſame words: Had the firſt anſwer ſatisfied, the queſtion had not beene re-demanded. Now, that ſullen anſwer which Elijah gaue in the darkneſſe of the Caue is challenged into the Light, not without an awfull preface. The Lord firſt paſſeth by him with the terrible demonſtrations of his power. A great & ſtrong wind rent the Mountaines, and brake the Rocks in pieces: That tearing blaſt was from God, God was not in it: So was hee in it as in his other extraordinarie workes; not ſo in it, as by it to impart himſelfe to Elijah: it was the vſhier, not the cariage of God: After the winde came an Earthquake, more fearfull then it: That did but moue the aire, this the earth; that beat vponupon ſome prominences of earth, this ſhooke it from the Center: After the earth-quake came a fire more fearfull them either. The other affected the eare, the feeling: but this lets in horrour into the Soule, by the eye, the quickeſt, and moſt apprehenſiue of the ſenſes. Elijah ſhall ſee Gods mighty power in the earth, aire, fire, before hee heare him in the ſoft voice: all theſe are but boiſtrous harbingers of a meeke, and ſtill word: In that God was; Behold, in that gentle and mild breath there was omnipotency; there was but powerfulneſſe in thoſe fierce repreſentations: There is not alwaies the greateſt efficacie where is the greateſt noiſe: God loues to make way for himſelfe by terrour, but he conuayes himſelfe to vsus in ſweetneſſe: It is happy for vsus if after the guſts and flaſhes of the Law, wee hauehave heard the ſoft voice of Euangelicall mercy.
In this very mount, with the ſame horror God had deliuered his Law to Moſes and Iſrael: It is no maruell if Elijah wrap his face in his Mantle: His obedience drawes him forth to the mouth of the Caue; his feare ſtill hides his head: Had there not beene much courage in the Prophets faith, hee had not ſtood out theſe affrightfull fore-runners of the diuine preſence, though with his face couered: The very Angels doe no leſſe, before that all-glorious Maieſtie then vaile themſelues with their wings: Farre be it from vsus once to thinke of that infinite, and omnipotent Deitie, without an humble awfulneſſe.
Feare changes not the tenour of Elijahs anſwer: Hee hath not left one word behinde him in the Caue: I hauehave beene very iealous for the Lord God of Hoſts, becauſe the children of Iſrael hauehave forſaken thy Couenant, throwne downe thine Altars, and ſlaine thy Prophets with the ſword, and I, euen I onelyonly, am left, and they ſeeke my life to take it away. I heare not a direct anſwer from the Prophet to the demand of God: then hee had ſaid, I runne away from the threats of Iezebel, and here I hide my head from her malicious purſuit: His guiltineſſe would not let him ſpeake out all: Hee had rather ſay, I hauehave beene iealous for the Lord God of Hoſts, then, I was fearfull of Iezebel: Wee are all willing to make the beſt of our owne caſe: but what hee wants of his owne accuſation, hee ſpends vponupon the complaint of Iſrael. Neither doth he more bemone himſelfe, then exclaime againſt them, as Apoſtates from Gods Couenant, Violaters of his Altars, murtherers of his Prophets: It muſt needs bee a deſperate condition of Iſrael, that driues Elijah to indite them before the throne of God: That tongue of his was vſed to plead for them, to ſue for their pardon, it could not be but a forceable wickedneſſe, that makes it their accuſer. Thoſe Idolatrous Iſraelites were well forward to reformation: The fire and raine from heauen at the prayers of Elijah had wonne them to a ſcorne of Baal; onelyonly the violence of IeZebel turned the ſtreame, and now they are re-ſetled in impietie, and perſecute him for an enemy, whom they almoſt adored for a benefactor; otherwiſe, Elijah had not complained of what they had beene: Who would thinke it? Iezebel can doe more then Elijah: No miracle is ſo preualent with the vulgar, as the ſway of authority, whether to good, or euill.
Thou art deceiued, 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 cleere eyes of the Seer diſcerne not the ſecret ſtore of God: they lookt not into Obadiahs Caues, they lookt not into the cloſets of the religious Iſraelites; hee that ſees the heart, can ſay, I hauehave left mee ſeuen thouſand in Iſrael, all the knees which hauehave not bowed to Baal, and eueryevery mouth which hath not kiſſed him: According to the faſhion of the wealthy, God pleaſeth himſelfe in hidden treaſures; it is enough that his owne eyes behold his riches: Neuer did he, neuer will he leaue himſelfe vnfurniſhed with holy clients, in the midſt of the fouleſt deprauations of his Church: The ſight of his faithfull ones hath ſometimes been loſt, neuer the being: Doe your worſt, O ye Gates of Hell, God will hauehave his owne: He that could hauehave more, wil hauehave ſome: that foundation is ſure, God knoweth who are his.
It was a true cordiall for Elijahs ſolitarineſſe, that hee had ſeuen thouſand inuiſible abettors; neither is it a ſmall comfort to our weakneſſe, to hauehave companions in good: for the wickedneſſe of Iſrael God hath another receit; the oyle of royall, and propheticall vnction; Elijah muſt anoint Hazael King of Syria, Iehu King of Iſrael; Eliſha for his ſucceſſor: All theſe ſhall reuenge the quarrels of God, and him; one ſhall begin, the other ſhall proſecute, the third ſhall perfect the vengeance vponupon Iſrael.
A Prophet ſhall auenge the wrongs done to a Prophet: Eliſha is found, not in his ſtudy, but, in the field; not with a booke in his hand, but a plough: His father Shaphat was a rich farmer in Abel-Meholab, himſelfe was a good husband; trained vp, not in the ſchooles of the Prophets, but, in the thrifty trade of tillage: and behold, this was the man, whom God will picke out of all Iſrael for a Prophet; God ſeeth not as man ſeeth: Neither doth he chooſe men becauſe they are fit, but therefore fits them, becauſe hee hath choſen them, his call is aboue all earthly inſtitution.
I heare not of ought that Elijah ſaid: OnelyOnly hee caſts his cloake vponupon Eliſha in the paſſage: That Mantle, that act was vocall: Together with this ſigne, Gods inſtinct teacheth the amazed ſonne of Shaphat that hee was deſigned to an higher worke, to breake vp the fallow grounds of Iſrael, by his Propheticall function: Hee findes a ſtrange vertue in that Robe; and (as if his heart were changed with that habit) forgets his teme, and runnes after Elijah; and ſues for the leaue of a farewell to his Parents, ere hee had any but a dumbe command to follow: The ſecret call of God offers an inward force to the heart, and inſenſibly drawes vsus beyond the power of our reſiſtance: Grace is no enemie to good nature; well may the reſpects to our earthly parents ſtand with our duties to our Father in heauen. I doe not ſee Eliſha wring his hands and deplore his condition, that hee ſhall leaue the world, and follow a Prophet, but for the ioy of that change, hee makes a feaſt: thoſe oxen, thoſe vtenſils of husbandry whereon his former labours had been beſtowed ſhall now bee gladly deuoted to the celebration of that happy day, wherein hee is honoured with ſo bleſſed an imployment; If with deſire; if with cheerefulneſſe wee doe not enter into the workes of our heauenly Maſter, they are not like to proſper in our hands: Hee is not worthy of this ſpirituall ſtation, who holds not the ſeruice of God his higheſt, his richeſt preferment.
Contemplations VPONUPON THE OLD TESTAMENT.
THE NINETEENTH BOOKE.
Wherein are
Ahab and Benhadad.
Ahab and Naboth.
Ahab and Michaiah, or the death of Ahab,
Ahaziah ſicke, Elijah reuenged.
The Rapture of Elijah.
Eliſha healing the Waters, curſing the Children, Relieuing the three Kings.
Eliſha with the Shunamite.
Naaman and Eliſha.
Eliſha raiſing the iron, blinding the Syrians.
The Famine of Samaria relieued.
By IOS. HALL, D. of Diuinitie, and Deane of WORCESTER.
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE, EDWARD LORD DENNY, BARON OF VValtham, my bountifull, and dearely honoured Patron.
Right Honorable,
NOne can challenge ſo much right in theſe Meditations, as your Lordſhip, vnderunder whoſe happy ſhade they receiued their firſt conception: VnderUnder this Juniper of yours, hauehave J (not driuen by force, but drawne by pleaſure) ſlept thus long, ſweetly, ſafely; and hauehave receiued theſe Angelicall touches: How iuſtly may your Lordſhip claime the fruits of your owne fauours? Your carefull ſtudies in the Booke of God, are fit to bee exemplary; which hauehave ſo enriched you, that your Teacher ſhall gaine. In this reach of diuine thoughts, you ſhall ſee Benhadads inſolence taken downe by Ahabs victory, an humble (though Idolatrous) Iſraelite carying it from an inſulting Pagan: You ſhall ſee in Ahab the impotent paſsions of greatneſſe; in Naboth, bleeding honeſtie; in Iezebel bloody hypocriſie, cruell craft; plotting from hell, pretending from heauen: You ſhall ſee the wofull ſucceſſe of an vniuſt mercy; Ahab forfaiting what hee gaue, killed by him, whom hee ſhould hauehave killed: You ſhall ſee reſolute Michaiah oppoſing the mercenarie Synode of Prophets, a beaten victor, an impriſoned freeman: You ſhall ſee Ahaziah falling through his grate; Elijah climbing vp his Mount, mounting vp to his glory; fetching fire from Heauen, fetcht by a fiery charet to heauen. Eliſha the heire of his mantle, of his ſpirit, no leſſe maruellous in his beneficences, in his reuenges. What doe J foretell all? Me thinkes J feele my ſelfe now too like an Italian hoſt, thus to meet your Lordſhip on the way, and to promiſe beforehand your fare, and intertainment: Let it pleaſe your Lordſhip rather to ſee and allow your cheere: Jndeed the feaſt is Gods, and not mine, wherein ſtore ſtriues with delicacie: Jf my cookerie hurt it not, it is enough: Through your hands I commend it to the world, as I doe your Lordſhip, and my honorable good Ladie, to the gracious protection of the Almightie, iuſtly vowing my ſelfe
Your Lordſhips in all faithfull obſeruance for euer to command, IOS. HALL.