188 ELIJAH, OR THE CALL OF ELISHA.

God, he would have liked to stay at home with his friends, better than being with Elijah. But he did love God-and God loved him, and blessed him. God loves people,

who do what he bids them. How pleasant it is to obey God! Being with parents and friends cannot make us so happy, as knowing that we please God.

O praise the Lord, for he is good;
The ravens brought Elijah food,
When he from Ahab fled;

And then be shar'd the widow's cake,
And next an angel bade him wake,
And feed on heavenly bread.

Why is Elijah's soul cast down?
Ah! hear that soft, that silver tone

It is Elijah's Lord;

He will on him bestow a friend,

Who shall his wandering steps attend,

And teach God's holy word.

CHILD.

Elijah's God is still the same;
He comforts those who fear his name,
When sunk in deepest grief :

For when they think no friend is nigh,
He looks from heaven with pitying eye,
And sends some kind relief.

CHAPTER LXVIII.

ELIJAH, OR THE VINEYARD OF NABOTH.

1 Kings xxi. ; xxii. 34—36. 2 Kings ix. 30-37.

I AM going to tell you of a very wicked thing that Ahab did. People who worship idols always do a great many other wicked things: but people who love God, hate lying and stealing, and all wicked things.

Ahab was very rich. He had two houses. One of his houses was in one town, and the other of his houses was in another town a good way off. Near one of these houses there was a garden full of vines. What fruit grows on the vine? Grapes. A garden of vines is called a vineyard. You never saw a vineyard, because there are no vineyards in England. This vineyard was close to Ahab's house, and belonged to a man called Naboth. Ahab wished very much to have this vineyard, that he might make it into a garden for himself.

So Ahab said to Naboth, "If you will give me your vineyard, I will give you a better one instead, or I will give you some money for it."

But Naboth answered, "No, I will not sell my vineyard; my father gave it to me, and I do not choose to sell it."

Was it wrong of Naboth not to sell his vineyard? No; it was not wrong; he might keep it if he pleased.

But Ahab was very angry, because he could not get the vineyard; and he went home to his other house, and he was so unhappy that he lay down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would not eat any bread.

How foolish Ahab was, to be unhappy about a vineyard! He had a great many beautiful things, yet he wanted more. But people who do not love God are always wanting more things, and are never satisfied. Now Jezebel saw how unhappy Ahab seemed, and she went to him, and said, "What makes you so sad? eat?"

Why do you not

And Ahab said, "I asked Naboth to sell me his vineyard, and he said, 'I will not sell it.""

Then Jezebel said, "Are you not a king? Do not be unhappy; eat and drink: I will give you the vineyard.”

How could Jezebel get the vineyard? O she had such a wicked plan in her mind,—she meant to have Naboth killed. So she wrote some letters to some wicked judges who lived near Naboth, and she told them to desire some other wicked people to say that they had heard Naboth say very wicked words against God and the king; and then to order people to kill him.

G

Then Jezebel sent these wicked letters to the judges in the town where Naboth lived. And when they had read them, they did as she told them. They desired two men to say that they had heard Naboth say very wicked words against God and the king. And then the judges said that Naboth must be killed; and the people took him out of the city, and threw stones at him till he died. Poor Naboth's blood flowed upon the ground, and the

dogs licked it up. God saw the blood of Naboth he was very angry with the wicked Jezebel, who had desired him to be killed: and God was angry with Ahab too, because he had allowed Jezebel to write the letters.

The judges who had killed Naboth sent to Jezebel, saying, "Naboth is stoned, and is dead."

Then Jezebel said to Ahab, "Go, and take the vineyard of Naboth: for he is not alive, but dead."

Then Ahab went to the town where the vineyard was, to take it for his own, and to make it into a garden.

Dear children, do you think that God will punish Ahab for all this wickedness?

God spoke to Elijah, and told him what Ahab had done; and God said, "Go to the vineyard where Ahab is, and tell him that dogs shall one day lick his blood."*

So Elijah went to the vineyard. When Ahab saw him, he was very sorry: for he could not bear to see Elijah, because he told

*The blood of Ahab himself was not licked up by dogs