beloved mafter, the great and good Jehofhaphat. All find in his face the natural impreffions of majefty all read in it the most aufpicious promife of future happiness. Jehoiada, with joyful haste, proceeds to his coronation. The holy oil is poured on his head-the diadem is placed on his brows-the book of the law is presented to his hand. By these inftructive ceremonies, he was taught to entertain a proper fenfe of the calling of GOD, the dignity of his own character, and the importance of that divine word, by which all his actions fhould be regulated.

Now do the people clap their hands, and burst out with loud acclainations of joy. From the receffes of her palace Athaliah hears the fhouts of the multitude, the noise of trumpets, the tumult of applause. Instantly fhe repairs to the temple, on whofe threshold her feet had probably never trodden. Those honest hearts O 2 which

which had devoted themselves to their king and their GOD had agreed in religious fecrecy. No circumftance had transpired. Tyranny itself was devoid of fufpicion. Athaliah feared not to approach thofe hallowed walls, alone, and unattended.

WHAT a fpectacle for an impious ufurper! She hears the multitude exclaiming "GOD SAVE THE KING !" She fees the heir to the kingdom fitting on his throne, invested with all the infignia of royalty, guarded by a faithful band of foldiers, proclaimed with trumpets, hailed by the joyful fhouts of the people.

As if that voice of hers might command all hearts, all hands, fhe rends her robes, and cries, "Treafon, treason!" O Athaliah, of whom doft thou complain? Thine was the treafon, theirs is juftice. The true fon of Ahaziah, whom thy cruelty fought to number with the

dead,

dead, now fits in his father's throne. The time is now come, when the royal blood of Judah, fhed by thine hand, fhall be requited-when thy life fhall justly pay the forfeit of thine unnatural confpiracy.

THERE needs no regularity of trial. Jehoiada, the priest of GOD, the near kinfman, and protector of the young monarch, by no undue exercife of his delegated authority, configns the criminal to justice. Not a fword is drawn in. her behalf-no heart pities, no eye bewails her. The GOD of righteoufnefs maketh inquifition for innocent blood. "The wicked is kept for the day of de"struction; fuddenly doth he confume, perish, and come to a fearful end."

EVERY thing now wears the face of tranquillity. Again is Judah restored to itself, after fo long a deprivation. The people scarcely believe their own eyes for joy and wonder. Jehoiada takes advan03

tage

tage of thefe favourable impreffions. He employs his influence for the public good. He calls upon the people to renew the covenant with their Gon, at the folemn moment, when they vow allegiance to their king. Their zeal cafts. down the temples and altars of idolatry-JEHOVAH is the fole object of religious adoration-Baal is deftroyed out of Judah, as well as Ifrael.

XLV.

HEZEKIAH AND SENNACHERIB.

THE Affyrian monarch triumphs in the palaces of Samaria and Jezreel. The nobles of Ifrael are led away in chains, and configned to fervitude and exile. That once flourishing kingdom is come to a fearful end; and is fo vanifhed in its diffipation, that no man could ever afterwards fay "This was Ifrael!" O terrible example of vengeance on that peculiar people, whom God had chofen for himself out of the world! All had beheld their miraculous deliverancesall had witneffed their crimes-all fhall tremble at their punishment.