CLXIX.

Ahab's wicked Reign. Elijah prophefies a Drought. He is fed by Ravens.

Rom bad to worse Apoftate Ifrael's Line

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Still farther from their Father's God decline: Not one of all their Kings to make a stand, And by Repentance fave the guilty Land: None cou'd but Ahab, Omri have out-done, An impious Father, and a viler Son: Of vulgar Wickedness he's weary grown, And wants fome new Damnation, all his own; Tho' foon his Wants by Jezebel fupply'd, Enough enrich'd by his fair Tyrian Bride, Her Dowry was Idolatry and Pride; Her Country's Manufacture, plenteous there, With all the Neigbring Lands unenvy'd share; Baal, whom his peaceful Bolts and Crown adorns, And fair Aftarte, with her Silver Horns.

A Colony of Priests her Father gave,

(Gods must have Priefts, or Priests no Gods wil have)

Tho' thefe with Feroboam's scarce unite,

For Bethel pleads Priority of Right,

The golden Calves against the Heifer fight.

Nor

Nor did th' All-high without a Witness leave

His once-lov'd Flock, whom treach'rous Guides de

ceive:

The Great Elijah, arm'd with Zeal and Flame,
To Shemir's rifing Walls from Gilead came,
And from the Lord of Hofts did War proclaim:
Not Abab's felf th' undaunted Prophet fpar'd,
But to his Face the houring Plague declar'd:
Lean Famine thro' th' Apoftate Land shall pass,.
And burning Drought devour the rifing Grass:
Thrice fhall the Sun his annual Course renew,
Nor drink one fragrant Drop of morning Dew:
No gentle Rain diftilling from on high;
A dusky brazen Earth, an Iron Sky
Such Judgments wait Idolatry--- he said,
And from the moody Tyrant's Vengeance fled;
To Cherith's Silver Torrent did repair,

2

At pow'rful Heav'ns Command fuftain'd by Ravens

there.

CLXIX.

I KINGS, Chap. XVI. from Ver. 23. to Ver. 33. Chap. XVII. to Ver. 6.

367

Chap. XVII. Ver. 1. And Elijah faid unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Ifrael liveth, before whom I ftand, there fhall not be dew nor rain thefe years, but according to my word.

2. And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, 3. Get thee hence, and turn thee eaft-ward, and bide thy felf by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

4. And it fhall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

5. And the raven brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening: and he drank of the brook.

CLXX.

Elijah reliev'd by a Widow: Her Barrel of Meal and Crufe of Oyl multiplied.

THE Drought begins, the Streams and watry

Are vanish'd now, and Cherith is no more: If Heav'n th' exhaufted Fountains not fupply, How foon are all our mortal Comforts dry! Yet where the Event by Providence decreed, The most unlikely means thall oft fucceed; And a poor Widow muft Elijah feed. At Heaven's command he to Sarepta goes, And does in the broad Gates himself repose: The Widow came by whom he must be fed, And in her careful Hand her Son fhe led, O happy Age! How free from Sins and Cares! He fmiles, and neither Drought nor Famine fears. The thirsty Prophet calls, and begs she'd bring A Draught of War from the neighb'ring Springs Which under boary Libanus did rife, Whofe ample Caverns yet afford Supplies: With courteous Hafte to his Relief fhe fled, Agen the Prophet calls and asks for Bread;

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CLXX.

I KINGS, Chap. XVII. from Ver. 7. to Ver 16.

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Ver. 8. And the word of the Lord came unts Elijah, Saying,

9. Arife, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to fuftain thee.

10. So be arofe, and went to Zarephath: and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and faid, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a veffel, that I may drink.

11. And as she was going to fetch it, he called to ber, and faid, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand, &c,

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