Rat

out comfort, and to die without
Death is a fearful thing

hope.
to those who are not ready to die;

and only those who love the Lord

~~
wae

 

ELIJAH TAKEN TO HEAVEN.

can be ready. “The wicked is
driven away in his wickedness, but
the righteous hath hope in his
death.” Prov, xiv. 32.

 

CLVI.

PLIJAH TAKEN TO JIEAVEN, .

story of Ahaziah’s
death was very sad; now
we are to read another
story quite different; the
end of a good and holy
“man; the beautiful story about
Elijah going to Heaven.

Elijah had served God many long
years; he had suffered much, and
God had made him very useful to
His people Israel. And now Ehi-
jah’s life was almost ended; God
would soon call him to Heaven.
But Elijah did not die as other good
people do; God promised that he
should go to Heaven without dying.
Did God ever take His people to
Heaven so before? Yes; Enoch
did not die. “ He was not, for God
tcok him.” It was a great honor
and blessing to Enoch and Elijah
not to suffer death. Death is a
very painful, and a very fearful
thing; it is the punishment of sin ;
but if our sins have been washed
away in the blood of Jesus, then
the sting of death is gone, and we
need not be afraid to die.

Hlijah knew that the time was
near when he should be taken to
Heaven; and he and his servant
Elisha went from Gilgal. Elijah
was going to see some of his dear
friends for the last time, and to bid
them farewell. When they had
gone a little way, Elijah said to

 

 

Elisha, “Stay here now, for the
Lord has sent me to Bethel.” But
Elisha answered, “No, I will not
leave thee ;” so they both came to
Bethel. Did they talk as they
walked along? Yes; Elijah told
his faithful servant, that he was
going away from him soon; he was
going to Heaven; but Elisha must
stay on earth a little longer. This
made Elisha love his dear master
still more; for he thought, “I shall
not have him with me long; he
will soon go away from me. I will
not leave him now. I must stay
with him, and hear all his last
words.”

There was a school at Bethel for
the sons of the prophets; and when
the young prophets saw Elijah and
Hlisha coming, they ran to them,
and said to Elisha, “ Knowest thou
that the Lord will take away thy
master to-day?” Elisha did not
wish them to speak about it; so he
said softly, “Yes, I know it;” and
walked on with Elijah. Then Eli-
jah said, “Stay here, for God has
sent me to Jericho.” But Elisha
answered, “ No, I cannot leave thee ;”
and they both went on to Jericho.
There was another school at Jeri-
cho; and the sons of the prophets
came, and said to Elisha, “ Knowest
thou that the Lord will take away
thy master to-day?” Elisha said,