CLXXII.

I KINGS, Chap. XVIII. from Ver. 1. to Ver. 16.

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Ver. 1. And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, Saying, Go fhew thy felf unto Ahab; and I will fend rain upon the earth.

2. And Elijah went to fhew himfelf unto Ahab : and there was fore famine in Samaria.

3. And Ahab called Obadiah which was the gover nour of his houfe: (now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly:

4. And it was fo, when Jezebel cut off the prophets, of the Lord, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them, with bread and water.)

Bb A

Behold

Behold him ready to forfake the Light,
Whence fearless wading thro' the gloomy Night;
He tempts alone, the doubtful deep defcent,

And to his refug'd Friends with kind Refreshments

Thro' the blind Grott he oft Relief conveys,
And oft returns thro' fecret winding ways;
Thus long eludes the jealous Tyrant's Cares,
Who now a Progrefs thro' the Land prepares,
For his half-perith'd Steeds relief to find,
And fave what Drought and Famine left behind.
A diff'rent Course he bids his Servant steer,
Happy, the Tyrant was no longer near !
Proceeding, foon he did Elijah meet,

And proftrate on the Ground embrac'd his Feet;
Who bids him to the wand'ring Prince repair,
And let him know Elijah waits him there:
He thus returns--- thro' all the Nations round,
Which our unhappy famish'd Country bound,
My Lord has fearch'd in vain, but no Elijah

found:

If I the News of his Arrival bring
To our enrag'd and disappointed King;
While thee the Sacred Spirit far hence shall bear
Thro' diftant Fields, or else fublime in Air,
Thy Servant's Life th' Inhuman will not spare:

S

Nor

Nor mine a Victim to his Rage alone;
And was it never to Elijah shown,

(Or can there ought to him remain unknown ?)
When Jezebel the Prophets did pursue,

And with infatiate Rage profcrib'd and flew;
How many I preferv'd--- which all muft die,
If I am loft and they have no fupply.
Difmifs thy Fears, he faid--- So God to me,
Unless this Day thy angry Lord I fee:

To Ahab ftrait he with the Meage went,

And brought him half difpleas'd, and half content; But what their mutual Salutations were

The Verfe awhile muft breath, and then at large declare.

CLXXIII.

Ahab's Difcourfe with Elijah.

The ban

venly Fire confumes the Prophet's Sacrifice on Mount Carmel, &c.

A Rriv'd, the fullen Tyrant firft furvey'd

The Meffenger of Heav'n, and thus he faid; Art thou the Traitor, infolent and vain, Who dafft a diff'rent God from mine maintain, To nourish Faction, and disturb my Reign?

Unmov'd

Unmov'd and firm the Prophet thus replies,

With Thunder in his Voice, and Lightning in his
Eyes;

Tis thou, loft Prince! and thy devoted Line,
Who from th' Almighty's facred Laws decline,
That fill with weighty Plagues th' Apoftate Land,
Which all your helpless Idols can't withstand:
But if thy Priests their Worship dare defend,
For all their num'rous Seminary fend;
To Carmel let 'em with the Tribes repair,
Nor Single fhall I fear to meet 'em there;

He faid, with fuch a Voice and fuch an Air As fhook the King, his confeious Heart gave way, He own'd Superior Pow'r, and dar'd not but obey. They came, and fee the fpatious Mountain's Head Is with innumerable Thousands fpred;

To whom Elijah fervent thus apply'd. ...How long will you your dubious Faith divide? f Baal be God, your Father's God difdain, If not, adore th' unutterable Name!

With Guilt confounded they and filent ftood, When thus the Prophet his Discourse pursu’d. only for the Lord of Hofts appear,

But Baal can fhew almost an Army here.

Two

Two free-neck'd Bullocks bring, the Choice be theirs, Tinvoke their God with Sacrifice and Pray's!

The fame to Ifrael's awful Pow'r will I,

And he who shall by heavenly Fires reply,
Be own'd of all the true Divinity!

The Motion pleas'd; who e're was in the wrong,
The ftiff-neck'd People ftill for Wonders long.
The Pomp of Baal's Proceffion firft proceeds,
The Chemarim array'd in Sable Weeds:
With many a myftic Dream and Paynin rite,
The Victim flay, and thund'ring Baal invite:
The refty God did filent still remain,

Their barb'rous Yells and fecret Names in vain :
Louder, yet louder, fays the Prophet, call!

Such Whispers ne're can reach your flumb'ring

Baal:

Or in deep Thoughts engag'd he makes you fiy,
Revolving on the Bus'ness of the Day;

Or of his Fellow-Gods he Counsel takes,
Purfues his Foes, or fome long Journey makes.
Agen they cry, agen their Throats they strain,
And difcipline their Flesh, but all in vain :
Like Franticks, on their Altar leap and bound,

Stain'd with the Blood that guth'd from many a fruitless Wound :

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