ple, whom they had
brought down to slavery, from having been free yeomen, as they were
in the days of Moses and Joshua. And what hope could he have for
his wretched country? The people shewed no signs of coming to their
senses; the king still less. His wicked Queen Jezebel was as
devoted as ever to her idols; the false prophets of Baal were four
hundred and fifty men, and the prophets of the groves (where the
stars were worshipped) four hundred; and these cheats contrived (as
such false teachers generally do) to take good care of themselves,
and to eat at Jezebel's table, while all the rest of the people were
perishing. What could be before the country, and him, too, but
utter starvation, and hopeless ruin? And all this while his life
was in the hands of a weak and capricious tyrant, who might murder
him any moment, and of a wicked and spiteful queen, who certainly
would murder him, if she found out that he had helped and saved the
prophets of the Lord. Who so miserable as he? But on that day,
Obadiah found that his alms and prayers had gone up before God, and
were safe with God, and not to be forgotten for ever. When he fell
on his face before Elijah, in fear for his life, he found that he
was safe in God's hands; that God would not betray him or forsake
him. Elijah promised him, with a solemn oath, that he would keep
his word with him; he kept it, and before many days were past,
Obadiah had an answer to all his prayers, and a relief from all his
fears; and the Lord sent a gracious rain on his inheritance, and
refreshed it when it was weary. Yes, my friends, though well-doing
seems for a while not to profit you, persevere: in due time you
shall reap, if you faint not. Though the Lord sometimes waits to be
gracious, he only waits, he does not forget; and it is to be
_gracious_ that he waits, not ungracious. Cast, therefore, thy
bread upon the waters, and thou shall find it after many days. Give
a portion to seven, and also to eight, for thou knowest not what
evil shall be upon the earth. Do thy diligence to give of what thou
hast; for so gatherest thou thyself in the day of necessity, in
which, with what measure you have measured to others, God will
measure to you again.

This is true, for the Scripture says so; this _must_ be true, for
reason and conscience--the voice of God within us--tell us that God
is just; that God must be true, though every man be a liar. 'Hear,'
says our Lord, 'what the _unjust