“Hear the word of the Lord, O King of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David.  Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbor’s service without wages, and giveth him not for his work.  Did not thy father eat and drink and do justice, and was it not well with him?  He judged the cause of the poor, and then it was well with him.  ‘Was not this to know me?’ saith the Lord.  But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression and for violence.  Therefore, thus saith the Lord concerning Jehoiakim, ’He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.’”

The stranger turned his back on Jehoiakim, and with the same slow, firm step, he marched through; and although the king in a rage gave orders for his arrest, there was none to lift a finger against the man of God.  He was gone! and the assembly was left gazing in mute astonishment at one another.  Such was the unearthly aspect of that mysterious stranger, that even the great flow of spirit was not proof against its effects.  The deep tones of his mournful predictions reached their ears and even their hearts.  In spite of their abominations and infidelity, they felt that there was a divinity in that awful voice of warning, and for a short period, at least, their hearts throbbed with guilty emotions of fear.  Many a proud daughter of Judah trembled and turned pale, as she gazed on the solemn visage of the uninvited stranger, and as she listened to the deeptoned eloquence that fell from his lips.  Others there were who felt a strange throbbing of heart, but each one vied with his fellow to hide his real feelings; and soon, by a show of bravado, the concourse fell back to the usual hilarity, marked by more than an ordinary degree of unholy wit, and blasphemous sarcasm.

CHAPTER IV.

The night was far advanced, and there were indications that the great festival was drawing to a close.  The last feature expected was an address from the king.  The hour appointed had arrived, and expectation ran high, but Jehoiakim made not his appearance.  At last Sherakim appeared before the vast audience, and commenced an apology for the absence of the monarch in the following strain: 

“Princes and Nobles of Judah!  It is with heartfelt regret that I am compelled to convey to you the painful intelligence that our illustrious sovereign, owing to illness, will not be able to deliver the royal address.  This no one can regret more than your unworthy servant.  Is it any wonder that—­”

Just at this time, the king himself, with a flushed countenance and a very unsteady step, appeared on the stage.  It was glaringly evident to all who were not in the same condition themselves, that the King of Judah was altogether incompetent for that important branch of business which, in despite of the kind remonstrances of his personal friends, he was determined to undertake.