Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-02-25
From the n. Y, independent
The Last Of Elijah.

haps, he appeared in more favorable light.
one of Jezebel's four hundred prophets of tn
| groves-soms Homer, at once prophet and bard
could have catched in classic numbers the stor
of his masters life. it might have come down t
us with many engaging traits. Ahab was brave
and bore himself as warrior should in press o
battle And for how many sins hiss martial cour
are and renown sufficed to atone! Ahab wa
not destitute of refinement and cultivation of
palace entirely of ivory, be exhibited his taste io
the costly aud the beautiful In building various
cities, he probably exhibited delight in architec
1 ture and art. Possibly he was considered pa
tron of the arts and sciences. The prophets o
Bsal were probably much like what classics
Greece called the Yates, or bards of Apollo, the
fascinations of whose worship lay in the iyre the
chant, the rhythmic. dance, garlanded professions
and gorgeous festivals in groves and en- mountain
sides, combining all that Art and Nature could
Afford to bewilder the judgment, csptivate the
Imagination and fire the passions. Moving in a
circle of four hundred such men, Ahab, seemed to
Occupy brilliant position in the world Of litera-
ture and religion. Moreover he was not destitute
of good impulses. He yielded with versatility to
the enthusiasm of the hour. On Carmel's side,
when the deep national instinct rose with ocean
swing to food tide, he could not resist-he was
swept thrillingly along the foaming billow.-
When the circumstances were all changed
when he returned to the associations of his palace
and its voluptuous mistress; when he was pervad-
ed by the vital energy of her magnetic nature,
and under the spell of her personal sorcery began
to look back on Carmels scenes, how easily did
he recoil in an opposite extreme of EMOTION
That Gree has transformed before his eyes the
solemn seer into u haggard, repulsive monster!-
He must fly or be exterminated from the earih.--
And as to the rival systems, the enchanted and en-
chanting mysteries of Apollo's affairs where to
him the Oldest, the hottest, the only faith Of the
fathers. Moses ard David were but heretics, in
novators, apostates.
1t was not possible, then, that true character
of Ahab should be written from bis point of view,
or by any mind saturated with the ideas of his
court and palace. To see him as he was, the
writer must go with Elijah to Cherith, and hear
afar the mad whir of Israeps delrium; or to Car
mel's top, and behold Israel's brief lucid interval;
or from Horeb's brow after rendng wind, earth
quake and fire, in hearing of the still small voice
of the Eternal, look back on the microscopic cir.
Gle of Israels pride and 6lasphemous apostacy.
There the prophets eye might see as he was
the self-Geeeived monarch, living abomination
before Him in whose sight the heavens are net
clean.
x.-ha AZ, IF n;,,'v
Ahab fell in battle, and dogs licked his blood by
the fountain in Samaria, and AhazIah pressed the
scarce vacant throne, how must it appear to the
eye of Elijah to see that regardless OF his ia
theirs fate, and his own foretod destruction, rush.
ing blindly in his Infatuated steps!
He meets with an accident. He falls out Of his
palace window; his life is in jeopardy.
"Go!' he cries, enquire of Baal-Zebub, god of
Ekron, whether shall recover!"
Is it strange that emotions of deep indignation
should rise in the Divine bosom, Il it strange
hat the messengers should be suddenly confront |
ID by the, to them, repulsve form Of the on: awed
prophets
ais it because there is no, God in Israel that |
'e go to inquire of Baal-zsbu5, god of Ekron!-
Thus saith Jehovah, thou shalt not come down |
rom that bed on which thou hest, but shall, surely
Le.'
Appalled,, they return to the sick-ohamber.
"Why are ye now turned backg''
"There came man TO meet US who said thus
NIB 500
"What manner of man wus hep
"He was an hairy man, and grit sith girdle of |
Gather about his loins"
at is Elijah the Tishbte!'
AS the daguerfeotype strikes of the face in is5
most unlovely, least spiritual expression, SC ia |
hese courtiers give the the court portrait of |
elijah as he seemed to them. They could see
nly the hirsute husk. All the splendor o. inspi-
alton in his eye and brow was lost on them.
Mingled anger and dismay ngitsted the prince
y breast. All ingenuity had been exerted to
eize the outIawed seer. That purpose long baf-
led might now succeed. He had ventured too
lear. Escape was impossible. Let fifty Of the
aost INSCRIPTIONS men Of war go forth and drag
i'm to his fate.
And the prophet sits calmy on the hill under
he blue arch. Nature is at peace with him, and
Tod is in his soul. His peace is Divine; his en-
husiasm not of the world. And it is not Him they
ONE to destroy; not the poor, fallible MORTAL
gainst whom blazes their des uctiveness-no,
e is but sinful worm-but il is God in Elijah:
is Elijah the prophet, the vase Of earth in which
he Divine God they dare to menace when they
ome with glancing spear and cleaning mail to
he foot of that hill. and cry with hoarse, imperi
us throat,
"Thou man of God, the king hath said Come
oWn.'"
al be man OF God, then let fire come down
rom heaven and consume thee and thy fifty"
And at the word, whitening fash of blinlipp
Brightness parted from the sky-so intense its e.
ulgence, that the MONDAY light grew pale There
vas great cry-an agonlzing shrek Of mortal
nguish, and all was still
The dazzled eye, reganng its power Of vision,
ooked where that naughty cohort stood, and saw
,ut blackened armor, helm, curass, sword and
pear, and the blasted ground white with the ash
IS of the mighty.
News of the awful portent flies over the coun-
nv. This is that prophet like unto Moses then!
These are like the old days in the desert; and the
ealiDgs OF Jehovah with ancient rebels from his
wful cloud Does the invalid prince repent?--
Ire they not appalled, around him! Do they not
A. han Of ToLo |