to justify what is wrong from the examples of others, than to follow what is right. We all know how much easier a tiring it is to go with the stream than against it ; or to spread contagion than to cure it. The son of this Israelitish woman, though in the midst of Israelites, did not become a worshipper of the true God, but remained to his dying hour a profane despiser of him. And in like manner it is to be expected, that, where one of the parents is ungodly, the children will follow his example, and
tread in his steps It is true, that the most godly
parents cannot always prevail on their children to yield to their advice : but, if they have done what they coidd towards bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, they will have the comfort of a good conscience to support them in their trials: but if a believer unites himself to an unbeliever, and his children turn out ill, he will always have himself to blame : and the children themselves will have to reproach them in the last day for having formed a connexion which afforded so bad a prospect hi relation to their offspring.]
The history before us naturally leads us also to contemplate,
II. The danger of ungodly habits —
It is manifest that the habits of this man were altogether bad —
[What was the subject of controversy between this man and the Israelite we know not ; nor in what manner he blas- phemed the God of heaven. But it is evident that he was under the influence of a contentious spirit, and habituated to indulge himself in disparaging the God of Israel. Moreover, his dispute with the Israelite was the very occasion of his blaspheming God. Conceiving that he was injuriously treated by the Israelite, he was not satisfied with reviling him, but must revile his religion also, and Iris God. This is what was wont to be done in the days of old, when the heathen blas- phemed the name of God on account of David's misconduct : and the same is done continually in the present day : men cast the blame of every evil, whether real or supposed, which they see amongst Christians, on Christianity itself. They make the Gospel answerable for all that profess it : which is just as absurd, as to condemn Christ and his Apostles, together with Christianity itself, for the treachery of Judas. Had this man been of a meek and quiet spirit, forbearing and forgiving, he would never have yielded to such a paroxysm of wrath : and, if he had cultivated the smallest regard for the Most High God, he would never have waged open war against him by his blas- phemy and profaneness.]
The consequences of them proved fatal to him —