But it is probable that the fact, though believed, was deemed a fit subject for ridicule ; ' Let us see thee, O thou bald head, go up, as thy master did.' Thus the very abun- dance of God's power and grace was turned into an occasion of profane banter. And, strange as it may seem, this is a very common source of ridicule among the ungodly world. Goodness in itself is not made a ground of contempt ; but as proceeding from God, as illustrating his perfections, and as conducing to his glory, it is an object of general derision. What terms, for instance, are more frequently used as expressive of contempt than " the elect," " the saints," and such like ? And why are they so used, but because the sovereignty and the holiness of God are implied in them? Such rejoroaches then most assuredly strike at God himself, who estimates them by a very different standard from that which we use : we view them as a facetious exposure of folly ; but he views them as an im- pious contempt of the Lord our God.]
We have a clear proof of the malignity of the offence in God's sight, from,
IL The judgment inflicted on account of it —
In a two-fold light must that judgment be re- garded ;
1. As a punishment to them —
[We must not suppose that the judgment was inflicted by Elisha ; or that he was actuated by a vindictive spirit in denouncing it. He was no more able to inflict it, than Moses was to send the ten plagues of Egypt, or than Elijah was to bring fire from heaven to consume the bands who came to apprehend him : nor was he any more under the influence of revenge, than Peter was when he passed sentence of death on Ananias and Sapphira ; or than Paul was when he declared that Elymas, the sorcerer, should be struck blind. He was merely an organ whereby the Deity denounced his curse against them: and the she-bears out of the wood, Hke the whole creation, animate and inanimate, were ready to execute the vengeance of God upon them. As the locusts and frogs came up over Egypt at God's command, or the lion came forth to slay the disobedient prophet, or " the winds and storms fulfilled his will" in arresting Jonah in his flight ; so these bears received their commission from God, and executed his commands.
Now this punishment was strictly just : for, what greater dishonour could be done to the God of heaven and earth than to make the most stupendous efforts of his goodness a subject of reproach ? As it respected the parents, they deserved to