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82
Läsebok. N:o 77 — 78.
dog, that he should do this great thing?» Elisha makes no
return, but to point out a remarkable change, which was to
take place in his condition: »The Lord hath shown me, that
thou shalt be king over Syria». In the course of time, all
that had been predicted came to pass. Hazael ascended the
throne, and ambition took possession of his heart. »He smote
the children of Israel in all their coasts. He oppressed them
during all the clays of king Jehoahaz»; and, from what is
left on record of his actions, he plainly appears to have
proved, what the prophet foresaw him to be, a man of
violence, cruelty and blood.
In this passage of history, an object is presented which
deserves our serious attention. We behold a man who, in
one state of life could not look upon certain crimes without
surprise and horror; who knew so little of himself, as to
believe it impossible for him ever to be concerned in
committing them; that same man, by a change in condition, and an
unguarded state of mind, transformed in all his sentiments;
O ’
and, as he rose in greatness, rising also in guilt; till at last he
completed that whole character of iniquity, which he once
detested.
Blair.
85. Vision of Belshazzar.
The King was on his throne,
The Satraps throng’d the hall;
A thousand bright lamps shone
O’er that high festival.
A thousand cups of gold,
In Judah deem’d divine —
Jehovah’s vessels, hold
The godless heathen’s wine!
In that same hour and hall,
The fingers of a hand
Came forth against the wall,
And wrote as if on sand:
The fingers of a man —
A solitary hand
Along the letters ran,
And traced them like a wand.
The monarch saw, and shook,
And bade no more rejoice;
All bloodless wax’d his look,
And tremulous his voice.
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