descend into it. Only remember that you must wash there seven times. You must not go to any other fountain to begin or perfect your cure : in Christ, and in Christ alone, you must seek all that your souls can stand in need of.]
2 Kings V. 18, 19. In this thing the Lord pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I how myself in the house of Rimmon : when I bow doion myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon thy servant in this thing. And he said unto him, Go in peace.
THE operation of divine grace is uniform in every age and place: it makes a total revolution in the views and habits of the person in whom it dwells. See how it wrought on Naaman ! Before he felt its influence he was full of pride and unbehef ; and not- withstanding his request for the healing of his leprosy was granted, yet because it was not granted in the precise way that he expected, he would not comply with the directions of the prophet, but " turned, and went away in a rage." But, when liis leprosy was healed, and in conjunction with that mercy the grace of God wrought powerfully upon his soul, he re- turned with most heartfelt gratitude to the prophet, renounced his idol-worship, and devoted himself altogether to the God of Israel. At the same time however that he embraced the true religion, he made a request, which has been differently interpreted by different commentators; some vindicating it as illustrative of a tender conscience, and others con- demninoj it as an indication of an unsound mind.
We think that great and learned men are apt to judge of particular passages, according as their own general views and habits of life incline them : those who are lax in their own conduct, leaning too much to a laxity of interpretation ; and those who are strict in their principles, not daring, as it were, to concede