parted without being desired.

Howbeit they

buried him in the city, but not in the sepulchres

of the Kings.

XI.

The time now approached when Elijah, having completed his ministry upon earth, was to leave it without experiencing either the languors of sickness, or the agony of death. Elias, saith the author of Maccabees, for being zealous and fervent for the law, was taken up into heaven. An embassy of angels, a troop of the celestial host, the immediate guard of God, or (in the language of the inspired historian) a triumphant chariot and horses of fire, such as the divine Majesty is pleased to use for the special attendants of his glory, waited upon the Prophet. An event of a similar kind had been already recorded in the sacred annals. Enoch, the son of Jared (the immortal man,' as some have stiled him) is said to have walked with God, an expression beautifully characterising the purity of his manners, and the integrity of his conduct. In consequence of this, after a life of three hundred and sixtyfive year, he was not; for God took him. That these words are not to be understood of his dying a natural death, is proved by an authority which cannot be resisted: By faith Enoch was trans

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lated, that he should not see death; for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. And it was believed, in the early ages of the church, not only that Enoch and Elijah had been taken up alive into heaven, but that they will revisit the earth at some future period; and, after being opposed and killed by Antichrist, will finally be restored to a state of permanent happiness and glory. Nay, by some they have been deemed the two witnesses of the Apocalypse, who are to prophesy twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth whom if any man hurt, the fire that proceedeth out of their mouth will devour; and who are to have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy.

Elijah, whether impelled by his humility to desire that there might be no witnesses of his exaltation, or with a view of trying the affection of Elisha, urged him to tarry at Gilgal while he pursued his journey to Bethel. But Elisha said, "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee." Upon reaching Bethel, when Elijah again wished to proceed alone to Jericho, his faithful attendant again refused to comply. At Jericho, a similar entreaty was a third time expressed, but in vain; we view them both near Bethabara, a town in the territory of the tribe of Reuben, the destined scene of the glorious ascent. It is observable, that the Sons of the

Prophets, who dwelt at Bethel and at Jericho, plainly discovered to Elisha their fore-knowledge of the event which was shortly to take place. May we not suppose, that these formed one of the schools or colleges, of which Elijah was the President? The Prophet had probably bestowed upon them his benediction with a more-thanusual solemnity. Thence they might conjecture, that the time of his departure was at hand. "Knowest thou, that the Lord will take away thy master from thee to-day?" And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.”

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When, upon the first entrance of the children of Israel into the Promised Land, the priests who bore the ark reached the margin of the Jordan, the waters rose up and stood on an heap; so that the priests, that bare the covenant of the Lord, stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan; and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan. Elijah was distinguished by an equally supernatural exercise of power. Having folded together his mantle, he smote the waters of the river, and they instantly divided themselves on each side upon which, he and his companion walked over as on dry ground. Fifty of the Sons of the Prophets stood on the opposite bank, in eager expectation of some magnificent appearance. The hour of separation arrived. The Prophet addressed Elisha in a valedictory speech;

"Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee." Elisha, esteeming himself the first-born, as it were, of his sons, replied; "I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me." And he said, "Thou hast asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so." The truth of this conditional prediction was confirmed by the subsequent event. As a spectator of the elevation of Elijah, Elisha was afterward peculiarly honoured as a Prophet, and received from God the power of working the most astonishing miracles.

The writers of pagan antiquity have described, in sublime language, the apotheosis of Roman emperors: but the monuments of profane history afford no example of a deification, if I may be allowed to use the term, equally illustrious with this of Elijah. The man of God, in the presence of his successor and a numerous assemblage of the Sons of the Prophets, is visibly carried up into heaven. And it came to pass, as they still went on and talked, that behold there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. The exclamations of Elisha, My father, my father! the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen of Israel!" how expressive are they of the tenderest affection, blended with the

most poignant sorrow! But he saw him no more.-Overwhelmed with grief and amazement, he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces; and seizing on the mantle of Elijah, threw it over his shoulders. The Sons of the Prophets, deeming this a symbol of his succession, immediately cried out, that the spirit of Elijah rested upon him. How plainly do we here discover a type of the ascension of our blessed Lord, when he was carried up in a bright cloud into heaven, in the presence of his Apostles! God raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right-hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world but in that which is to come.

If the middle of the reign of Ahab be assigned as the period of Elijah's first appearance in his prophetic office, the duration of his ministry could not have exceeded twelve years. No information is given in Scripture concerning his age at the time of his departure. The measure of a happy lot is to be estimated, not by a number of months or years, but by a faithful discharge of the duties connected with it.

I conclude this section in the words of a venerable prelate of our church. "Oh! the singular glory of Elijah! What mortal creature ever had this honour, to be visibly fetched by the angels of God to his heaven ?"