The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-08-13

earth in wbich fire vas concealed. Pro-
ceedin2 from these were tunnels COM
mnnicating with the top OK the altar. SO
simple people made to believe that a mira
Gle had been wrought by the Deity. To
prevent such a superstition in this case.
Elijah adopted a novel expedlent. He dug
a trench about the altar. Then he com-
nanded water, twelve barrels. to be-
poured upon the sacrifice. The wood was
saturated ana the trench was filed:
Nefses 1885, Ordinarily til" broth poured
on the victim Judges vi, 2l helped the
FAM Bat thls large quantity Of water
THE PRAYER-All these preparations
were completed as the hour approached
when, under the Law; the evening sacrifice
forth his hands in prayer. There was
nothing in his manner to indicate any
perturbation OF spirit. Rather. his Ian
Verse So. Lord God OF Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob" he cried. invoking the ma
tlonal Deity. and calling the thought OF
the people to the ancient faith. Ex. I'll.
81. Following this Invocation he made
three petitions. desiring that God would
then so display himself that the people
the God of Israel: that Ethan was his ser
want. and that what Elijah did was by
divine command. This call upon the A.
mighty was reverent end fervent, but sno-
scribe3 nothing but what might be accorc-
ing to the pleasure Of Jehovah the pc
titlons were repeated verse 81, IN sals sa-
me-" twice uttered. as II the great Soul
OF the good man struggled a moment %
fore the answer. not doubling me QUIZ
God. waiting. expecting. wrestling, jacob
Ike tGen- xxxiii. 2), until the blessing
was received.
THE FTRE-while Elijah was yet pray
ing the answer came. der. xxxiii. 81 the
fire of the Lord-that IL. fire from the Lord.
a supernatural fire. fell upon the sacrifice
IT. tN yraEapCa
Lev. ~. 2). a return Of the o!d-tlme SYM
Dol OF divine approval. Dud. vi. %. grant
ed to those who had served the Lord q
Chron. xxi. 26) so the sacrifice OF David
Chron.. vii. II Fire as an emblem was
known all through the Old dispensation
from Noses eek. Ill, p down TO the last
of the prophets Cial. III. ~. and was car
ried over into the New Testament Matt
fiji. p. with similar significance; tRev. Xxx.
81 This fire OF Carmel. while the prophet
sumed the sacrifice. and the wood. and the
stones. and the earth and trenches. That
is. it did not burn from below upward. as
fire would have done II set by human
hands. first the wood and then the bullock.
but from above downward. proving that II
was from the Lord. Verse 3S.) The de-
to the prophets prayer was unlike any
thing ever before or after witnessed by
men.
what u bf'El 'SAlt ~ N"t.
cedurc. There was 10 room for doubt in
any mind. The demonstration was COM
pete. ard no one. however obtuse or pei
verse. could resist the conclusion. The
people. as by one impulse. fell on their
faces in token Of their reverence CNun-
xiv. -. after Oriental custom. Josh. V.
manifested. Geek. 1. 81 This act Of spon-
taneous humiliation and worship having
been performed. the multitude arose ana
shouted to each other. The Lord. he IS
tho God - Jehovah the God OF Israel, fnS
true God. This testimony, 80 conclseiy
and earnestly given. was a virtual coh-
version of those present tverse pa re
lection Of Baal. an acceptance of the Al
mighty as the national Deity. The value
of such An u~tterance was in~caicuianle-
Short-lived though il was. the CONVICTION
for the time being moved many hearts
and stayed temporarily the tide OF I'M
morality that was fast sweeping ths
kingdom onward to its overthrow. There
seems To have been no counter opinion.
no divided sentiment, no opposing Thought
or act.
REFLECTIONS-This narrative submits
the value of a single man when devoted 10
God. Elijah had no confederates- All the
other prophets OF God had been slain by
Jezebel. Obadiah. an officer in the Gov,
eminent. believed in the Lord. but feared
openly to profess his faith or stand fer its
defense. One man challenged the prophets
of the Zidonian sUngod. including the hins
and ali who were in authority. The SUD
lime courage which prOmpted him at tho
beginning was exhibited at every stage
afterwards. Nor for an instant did he
waver. And he became the honored IN
strument of a marvellous display, securing
a public acknowledgment. Is 1t any won,
der tina the name of Elijah was handed
Gown to posterity2 Matt. XVII. 81 LII
Their. at the Diet of Worms. Wesley sur
rounded by the English mob; Daniel re-
signed 10 the lions den. Stephen suffering
martyrdom. were like him In their devo-
ton and self-sacriics. but Elijah outranks
them all. the ncblest specimen Of a Cod
fear n man. true to his convictions In the
time Of personal peril. Such men are
needed in every land and age.