Alas, to this also there is a parallel in our days! How often does increased earnestness on the part of the religious world amount only to admiration of a favourite preacher, not to conversion unto God! Under such influence a Jehoram may seem to act justly and liberally, but the heart has remained unchanged; and when the temporary excitement is removed, Jehoram is still found cleaving to the sins of Ahab. 'By their fruits ye shall know them." Are our principles dependent on our admiration of the men who advocate them? Has our religion its ebb and flow with the favourite preacher; or would we hold the same views and principles, no matter who advocated or who opposed them, and cherish the same religion, though not surrounded by the halo of the loved presence? Popular idols have their dayin too many instances, a very short day. But true religion is the conviction, the spiritual life and outcome of a renewed heart; and principles are neither mere logical sequences, nor yet the cant sayings of a party, but the hallowed expression of spiritual life.

It is most instructive to watch these two who are now introduced on the scene together: Jehoram and Gehazi-so unlike, and yet so like each other, most of all in their religion, which is a mixture of the truest worldliness and of the greatest respect for results, provided they are palpable. The picture is so life-like, that we instantly recognise every feature. These two together, immediately after the relief of Samaria, especially if (as already stated) Gehazi and his sons had been the lepers who brought tidings of the flight of the Syrians; and the king who wishes to hear not about Jehovah, but about Elisha, conversing with the leper! "Tell me, I pray thee, all the great things that Elisha hath done." It was characteristic of Jehoram to put such a question while, but

a short time previously, he had sworn the death of Elisha

T

And it was characteristic of Gehazi to dilate on such a topic, even while he and his bore in their bodies the perpetual mark of their unbelief and hardness of heart.

And thus it came that Gehazi was expatiating on all the marvellous results achieved, when, just as he had reached that part of his narrative about restoring "a dead body to life," the Shunammite herself, with her restored child, so unexpectedly appeared to present her suit to the king. What a wonderful coincidence, or rather what a gracious arrangement in Providence! A week earlier, or a week later, and how different might the result of her petition have been. But to come just as Gehazi was telling her story was indeed a most marked, though, if God's people were reviewing the story of their lives, by no means a singular disposition of events. Sorrow, want, and care must have greatly altered the appearance of the Shunammite since Gehazi had last seen her in "the great house." Her son, too, had grown from a child into a manly youth. But, with his quick eyes, Gehazi at once recognised them, though the Shunammite had failed to know in the leper the prophet's servant. "My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life." The monarch, startled by the coincidence, demanded of his petitioner particulars of the wondrous tale. So, instead of begging, she had only to tell the wondrous works of the Lord. When she came to her personal wrongs and wants, it was quite natural that Jehoram should, on the impulse of the moment, order justice to be done unto her. She was to receive not only her own, but "all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now," and a special "officer" was "appointed" to see the royal command duly executed.

The sun was still shining down upon the streets of Samaria. The king and the leper were still standing together, talking

"of the great things that Elisha had done." But the Shunammite and her son were hastening back, with hearts too full for utterance "of the great things" which Jehovah had done. Now, at the end of her story, but not before that, all had been made clear; the meaning of all God's dealings was plain. Not only were her land and "the great house," with its ever dear memories restored; but more than that-far more than she could ever have expected. Her faith had its recompense, and "all things" had indeed "worked together for good." She had lost nothing-no, nothing-not even those scanty fruits which had been consumed by strangers during the seven years of her absence.

And so it shall be. In the great day of recognition, when faith shall have had its full trial, and patience finished her perfect work; when we go home to our own sunny Shunem, for which these many years we have longed, and when we enter "the great house," it will be found that "all things" have "worked together for good." Then, though long forgotten by us, nothing shall have been forgotten by Himnothing, absolutely nothing shall have been lost-not even the scanty fruits of those seven years of famine, which we thought for ever gone from us, devoured by strangers. All, all will be restored by the King. Bread cast upon the waters these many days gone by; a cup of cold water given in the name of a disciple; every word, every deed, every look of love-all is safely garnered, and will be restored, to our wondering and humbled gratitude. What recognitions then, and what a recognition! And then to enter into the joy of our Lord, and to be for ever with the Lord! Such is the end of

the story of grace-such the final return.

Who would not

wish to begin that story of grace now, and to look forward to its completion, though it were by trials, yet "not many days hence "?

CHAPTER XXVI.

ELISHA AT DAMASCUS.

And Elisha came to Damascus; and Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come hither. And the king said unto Hazael, Take a present in thine hand, and go, meet the man of God, and inquire of the Lord by him, saying, Shall I recover of this disease? So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Ben-hadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this disease? And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit the Lord hath shewed me that he shall surely die. And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept. And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strongholds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child. And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The Lord hath shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria. So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What said Elisha to thee? And he answered, He told me that thou shouldest surely And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead."-2 KINGS viii. 7-15.

recover.

IF times of judgment are solemn, seasons of deliverance are perhaps even more solemn. When judgments are abroad, the inhabitants of the land may learn wisdom. But mercy not only passes unheeded; it may be, that, instead of leading to repentance, "Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked." Accordingly, in times of judgment, the hope may still be cherished, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now have I kept Thy word;" while in seasons of calm and peace this danger seems ever present, "Ephraim is joined to his idols, let him

alone." Most solemn of all is a season of sudden calm following upon one of judgment. For, when God has first called attention to His Word by afflictive providences, and these have not had their spiritual effect; and then sought to draw us by such singular interpositions, as made it appear that it was His Hand, and yet we have not given heed, a solemn pause often ensues. It is the last pause, that of preparation for judgment. Like stillness in an atmosphere charged with electric clouds, it precedes a tempest, soon to burst in angry thunder, and with destroying lightning.

There was a lull in the storm which all the years of Jehoram's reign had, with rare interruptions, swept over the land. Samaria had been in the greatest straits, and scenes only to be re-enacted in the last terrible siege of Jerusalem had struck terror in every heart; yet the only impression produced had been impassioned and murderous enmity against the messenger of the Lord. Again, Samaria had been miraculously delivered from its besiegers; peace and unwonted plenty had been poured into her lap. Yet, the only result of it had been talk between Jehoram and leprous Gehazi about "all the great things" which Elisha had done! But no further "great things" had Elisha to do for Israel; indeed, nothing more at all in Israel till his dying day. Not only Jehoram but Israel were to be left alone; soon to be cut down, as cumbering the ground. What a solemn history this in its lessons to us all! Looking back upon the past, God has dealt with us by afflictions. Have we improved under them; and have we been directed to the Lord, Whose spiritual warnings they convey, and Whose judgments they prefigured? Again we have been delivered; but in the heaven-sent deliverance have we recognised His voice, still, small, gentle, of pity, of mercy, and of salvation? Or has it all been in vain, so far as we are concerned?

In