to clear up the matter for ever. And now you shall hear, what a wise way Elijah took to show the people their folly.

All the children of Israel, and all the prophets of Baal, in number four hundred and fifty men, were gathered together to Mount Carmel. There Elijah met them, alone, but without fear; for the Lord his God was with him. What an awful, anxious moment must this have been to the assembled people! They had forsaken the Lord for Baal; and now the question was to be settled, who or what this Baal was, for whom they had wandered from the God of heaven.

To take the part of Baal, and to speak in favour of worshipping him, there stood before them four hundred and fifty of his chief prophets, besides four hundred more of less consequence.

On the side of the Lord, there was none but Elijah. Yet though alone, he fears not to find fault with the people, for hesitating so long between the Lord and Baal, for doubting so long which they ought to worship. He begs them at once to determine a matter of such immense importance. “ How long," says he,“ halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him."

E. What did the people answer him?

M. Their own consciences, I suppose, told them, how foolish they were; and they were so astonished at the boldness of the prophet, that they answered him not a word.

E. I do not understand, mamma, in what way the prophet meant to teach them who was the true God. M. I am going to tell you ; and I am sure the ac

these wicked foolish men, as they well deserved, and to say to them, “ Cry aloud; either he is talking, or he is pursuing; or he is in a journey, or he sleepeth and must be awaked.” This he said, of course to mock them ; and well did these wretched people deserve to be mocked at by the prophet for worshipping as a God a piece of wood or stone.

The day passed away, the evening came; but for the prophets of Baal there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. But not so was it with Elijah. He built his altar, and laid the wood, and the bullock upon it, and he had a great deal of water poured all round and over the altar, to shew the people that he did not mean to deceive them, but that he really had no fire of his own to burn up his sacrifice. Think, Edward, how eagerly the people must have watched all that he did, and how anxious they must have been to see what would happen.

E. Oh, mamma, I long to hear; pray go on. Did any fire come down from heaven?

M. Elijah the prophet drew near to the altar, and said, “ Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel ; and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God.”

Such was the prophet's prayer : but scarcely had his lips ceased to move, scarcely had the last sounds of his voice fallen on the ears of Israel ; when the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifices, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench : and

when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces, and said “ The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.”

E. Oh ! mamma, I am very glad ; do you know, I was almost afraid that the fire would not come.

M. You need not have been afraid, Edward; God never fails his people. Elijah knew well in whom he trusted, he was sure that he should not be deceived: and therefore was not afraid to make this trial between the Lord and Baal, although he stood alone in the midst of Israel. Indeed, we must suppose, that as he was a prophet of God, that which he did was done by God's direction; indeed, he tells us so, and in that case, you know it was impossible he should be disappointed.

How must the heart of this holy man have rejoiced to see this glorious triumph over idolatry! should not we, if we had been there, have rejoiced too? should we not have been ready to fall down upon our faces, as the Israelites did, and to say with them, “The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God ?”

E. What did the prophets of Baal do, mamma, when they saw the people worshipping God ? did they run away?

M. They no doubt would have done so, if they could; for they must have seen now that the people would believe them no more; and they must have been afraid, lest they should now punish them for all the misery which they had brought upon them by tempting them to worship Baal. But Elijah would not let one of these wicked men escape ; he desired the people to take them, and he put them all to death with his own hands.

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