At Shunam's hospitable dome, They oft beheld Elisha come: And when the matron's infant dies Ile prays and soon beholds him rise.

ELISHA'S MIRACLES.

BEFORE CHRIST 894 YEARS.

To Elisha new deeds are given

Of grace, that shew the power of Heaven;
The widow now to want allied,

Is with abundant oil supplied.

WE may perceive, that according to the prayer of Elisha, the spirit of God, which rested upon Elijah, did also rest upon himself. In the 2d King, chapter iv. we read of several miracles which he wrought; a poor woman, widow of one of the sons of the prophets, cried unto him for help, informing him that her husband died in debt, and the creditors were going to take her two sons, who were the support and comfort of her widowed state, to be bondmen. It was a piteous case, and Elisha soon give

her relief, by putting her in a way to pay her debts; for having learned she had a pot of oil in the house, he desired her to borrow many empty vessels from her neighbours, and pour the oil into them, which she continued doing till they were all filled; she sold the oil, paid her debts, and lived upon the remainder. This was a miracle indeed

As this woman went in the time of her distress, to one who loved the sons of the prophets, who was himself the greatest prophet then living, and from him obtained relief; so may we be enabled in all times of cur sorrow, to carry our wants to the great Prophet of his church, the Lord Jesus Christ, who indeed loves his own, "and of his fulness we shall receive grace for grace." (John i. 16,)

Elisha had received much kindness from a noble woman in Shunem, where he often

lodged, who had a son in her old age by the special favour of God, and this favourite child having fallen sick and died, Elisha had the pleasure of raising him to life, and when the Shunammite found her son was restored, "She fell at Elisha's feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son and went out," this was another striking proof that the Lord was with him.

After this, we read of a dearth in Gilgal, where he was with the sons of the prophets, whose food, consisted of pottage of herbs; but which, when served up, was discovered to have some noxious herb in it, hurtful in its nature; this being made known to him, he cast some meal into the food, and rendered it wholesome.

Another miracle followed this; he fed one hundred men with a small supply of bread, and there was enough and to spare. Thus

the Lord gave evidence to those that attended Elisha, that he was a prophet of his own sending; that while those who sincerely followed him might have the comfort and benefit arising from his miracles, and those who despised him, or were serving false gods, might be left without excuse, for they had a heavenly teacher in the midst of them, and one who could teach them the good ways of the Lord.

In the several miracles wrought by Elisha, we ought to admire the power of Almighty God and his goodness to his people, in order to bring them over from idolatry, and to improve the example in our own lives and conduct, by abandoning the vices and follies of this world, for the more substantial enjoyment which in his great mercy he has promised to all those who walk in his ways, and keep his commandments.