be struck with a panic, and with perfect infatuation shall desert their camp and every thing in it. Still the purpose is but half effected : for, how shall the people in the city know the state of the Syrian camp ? Four lepers perishing with hunger, shall go over to the Syrians, to cast themselves upon their mercy ; and they shall find the whole camp forsaken, and report it in the besieged city: and thus shall perfect plenty be afforded them even in the space of a few hours. What then cannot God effect for us ? Whether our distress be of a temporal or spiritual nature, he can in a moment " supply our wants," and far " exceed all that we can ask, or even think." " Is there any thing too hard for God ?"]
If in this history we see the folly of unbelief, we behold no less,
II. The danger of it —
Unbelief is justly most offensive to God —
[Its very nature is to doubt the power or veracity of God. And is this a light offence ? See how greatly he was offended at it in his people of old*^: and doubtless he will be still more offended at us on account of it, in proportion as his mercy and truth manifested to us in the gift of his dear Son, have exceeded all that he has ever shewn to mankind from the foundation of the world ]
In the history before us we see how certainly, and how awfully, it shall be punished —
[The moment that the nobleman had expressed his con- tempt of God's promise, his doom was sealed, and his punish- ment declared. But the nobleman, being high in the confidence of his prince, was invested with authority to control and regu- late the disposal of the spoil : consequently, if there were any one person in the city that was sure to enjoy the newly-acquired plenty, it was he. Yet, behold, the very means which seemed almost sure to defeat the divine purpose, were instrumental to its accomplishment : for the extreme eagerness of the people to obtain the food, occasioned him to be thrown down, and to be trodden to death under their feet. Yes; so had God threatened; and " so it fell out unto him."
Say then, ye who promise yourselves impunity in sin, whether " God's word shall stand, or yours ? " Shall it not " fall out unto you as God has said?" Yes, it shall : and " un- believers shall assuredly take their portion at the last in the lake that burneth vnth fire and brimstone*^." See what became of
e Ps. Ixxviii. 40, 41. f Rev. xxi. 8.
370.] ELISHA PREDICTS HAZAEL's ATROCITIES. 509
those who doubted God's word in Paradise^, or of the ante- diluvaan infidels'*, or of the unbelieving IsraeHtes in the wilderness M did not God's threatened vengeance fall on them? " Beware then, all of you, lest you also perish after the same example of unbeliefs," Wliether God promise or threaten, it shall surely come to pass according to his word : " If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful : he cannot deny himself'."
We may even notice some resemblance between the doom of that nobleman, and that which awaits the unbelieving world at lai-ge : " He saw the promised blessing, but he did not taste of it." And will it not be thus in that great and awful day when all shall stand at the judgment-seat of Christ ? Those on the left hand of the Judge shall see the blessedness of his believing people, but shall not taste of it : on the contrary, whilst God's faithful people shall be admitted to a full enjoy- ment of their promised inheritance, the whole assembly of unbelievers shall be bidden to " depart accursed into everlast- ing burnings."]
Application —
[Consider now how you are affected by the word of God : does it come with weight and authority to your minds, as if you saw it about to be accomplished before your eyes ? Is it a fixed principle with you, that " not one jot or tittle of that word can fail?" This is what God expects at our hands: he expects us to "tremble at liis word"*;" to entertain no doubt of its accomplishment, but to "be strong in faith, giving glory to God." On that he suspends his bestowment of further blessings": and, for the most part, he will make the strength of our faith to be the measure of his communi- cations°.