Vol. 2

CHAPTER IV. 345they preach ? If Jesus Christ does so little goodamong his friends and acquaintance, who is thatpriest, who, being fond of his relations, can be veryuseful to them ?" 25. But I tell you of a truth, many widowswere in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heavenwas shut up three years and six months, when greatfamine was throughout all the land; 26. But untonone of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, acity of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow."The more destitute a man is of human aid, themore ought he to trust to that providence whichGod is pleased to exert in extreme necessity. Awoman, whom her sex, poverty, widowhood, andforeign country, rendered contemptible to the eyesof the flesh, isshe whom God chooses preferably toall others; because she was rich in faith, and livedon this bread of the soul,whilst that of the body waswanting to her. How good is it to lay up a stockof provision of this invisible bread, which supplies thewant of every thing. To depend upon this treasurefor the future, is to depend upon the inexhaustibleriches of our heavenly Father.This famine of threeyears and a half, prefigures the famine of faithamong the Jewish people during the public life ofthe Messias. Give me, Lord, some of this bread,on which every soul lives which lives for God. Letme learn to prefer the poor before the rich, seeingthat in all agns thou makest choice of the former, toenrich them with the treasure of faith." 27. And many lepers were in Israel in the time ofEliseus the prophet ;saving Naaman the Syrian."p3and none of them was cleansed,