e, spiritually, ten years since, it
would spoil your enjoyment. Beware, then, of eating and drinking when
others are at prayer. It is better to be good than to be happy. Do
right, though it may mean tears, for the smiles of selfishness are sores
in the future.

Look at the other man now. He climbs the hill. There is nothing to be
won from heaven by laziness. Climb to thy crown! Never mind the
steepness and ruggedness of the way. God's kings toil and sweat before
their coronation. How Elijah would laugh in his heart as he thought of
the boon he was about to bring down on his country!

PAST VICTORIES ENCOURAGED HIM.

He had prayed that it might not rain, and for many months the heavens had
been cloudless. Day by day the sun had scorched and burned on, as though
there was to be no more verdure, the trees are but the skeletons of their
former selves, and the ground is cracked, and gapes for drink. Ah! it is
soon to alter! The God who has answered by fire is about to speak in the
shower, and all nature is to put on a new suit of green at the bidding of
prayer.

Why should not the church of God climb the hill to bring down on the
earth a shower of blessing? God had said to Elijah, "I send rain upon
the earth," and therefore the man of God said, "I will call upon the name
of the Lord." Have we no promise? What do these words mean--

"WHATSOEVER YE ASK IN MY NAME, THAT WILL I DO?"

Find the reference to these words, and then look on them as a legacy. We
may receive whenever we apply. Why, then, do we hang down our heads? Let
us climb Carmel, shouting as we go, "Hallelujah! The Lord reigneth!"
Baal has not succeeded to the throne! Christ is there! But see, the man
of God casts himself down on the ground.

PAST SUCCESS HAS HUMBLED HIM.

It is well when it is so. We always tremble when we see a church elated
over its success. A year or two ago, we Methodists saw a great
ingathering of souls, and because we had harvest we have let our plough
rust. Is there any wonder that we fear a decrease? It is sure to follow
elation, and then we shall be told, "There is always a reaction after so
much excitement." That is a text from the devil's bible. On the same
hill top where Elijah won the fight, he falls down, to pray, with his
face between his knees, and so is most humbled when most triumphant.

And now his servant is sent to look for the sign of success. Mark you,
he sends him to

LOOK IN THE RIGHT