modiUes Judro1t traded in (Ezek. xxvii. 17). She would, therefore, have little difficulty in disposing of this oil, which no doubt was of the best description. The proceeds were to go first to the s1ttisfaction of her heartless creditor, and then to the permanent relief of herself and family. CONCLUSION. Matthew Henry's remarks l\l'e good: "Let those who are poor and in distress be encouraged to trust God for supply in the way of duty. 'Verily thou sha.lt be feel,' but not feasted. It is true we cannot now expect miracles, yet we may expect mercies if we wait on God and seek him. Let widows particularly, and prophets' widows in a specie.I manner, depend upon him to preserve them and their fatherless children a.live; for to them he will be a Husband and a Father. Let those whom God bath blessed with plenty use it for the glory of God, and under the direction of his Word; let them do justly with it, a.a this widow did, and serve God cheerfully in the use of it; and, as Elisha, be ready to do good to those that need them-be eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame."-D. 'f. Vers. 8-17.-Hospitality. "And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem," etc. In these verses there a.re two very interesting subjects of a practical character. I. HOSPITALITY RIGHTFULLY EMPLOYED. '!'he object of the hospitality was Elisha the prophet, and the author of it is called here "a great woman." 1 The account given is very clear and sententious. "And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, be turned in thither to eat bread." Observe: 1. The hospitality was very hearty. "She constrained him to eat brea,1." She did not give Elisha. a mere formal invitation, nor was she urged to it by pleadings on his behalf, either by himself or others. It was spontaneous and hearty, worthy of" a great woman." lt was so hearty that Elisha. felt authorized, "as oft as he passed by," to enter and "eat bread." On his prophetic mission he would be constantly journeying, and often passing the house, and as often as he did so he felt there was a hearty welcome for him inside, and entered. 2. The hospitality was shown to a poor but godly man. The woman" said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is a. holy man of God, which passeth by us continually." Conventional hospitality welcomes to its table the respectable only, and the more respectable in a worldly sense the more welcome. But genuine hospitality, as in the case before us, looks out for the poor and deserving, and constrains them to enter and be fed. "When thou makest a feast, call not thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee a.gain, and a recompense be ma.de thee. Ilut when thou makcst a. feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind." 3. The hospitality involved considerable trouble and expense. This " great woman " said to her husband, "Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall ; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a. candlestick." She did not say to her husband, "Entertaining him will put us to no inconvenience or expense, therefore let us invite him." No, she calculated upon some inconvenience and cost; a little chamber would have to be built, quiet and suitable for a man of spiritual thoughtfulness and devotion. And then some furniture, too, would have to be procured- " a bed, and a. table, and a stool, and a candlestick." The hospitality that involves no outlay is common, but is a counterfeit, nay, a. misnomer, The accommodation this woman offered to Elisha, it must be borne in mind, included that of his servant Gehazi-he shared the provisions and the apartments of his master. II. HosPITALl'l'Y NOBLY REWARDED. Elisha, instead of being insensible to the great generosity of his hostess, glowed with gratitude that prompted a. strong desire to make some return, and "said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. . . . And be said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with a.II this care; what is to be done fQr thee?" His offer: 1. Implies his consciousness of great poii·er with m.an. "Wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host?" Though poor himself, he had influence with the rich; and though too independent in soul to ask of them a favour for himself, he could do it for others. Her answer to his generous offer is exprcssi ve of the calm seH-respect, unmercenariness, and dignity of a "great woman." She answered, "I dwell among mine own people." As if she had said, "We are provided for ; we neither aim at nor need preferment.." 2. Implies his 1 Bee Homilist, vol. xxxviii. p. 289.
U. KUlUB, l,i S2 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. (OH. IV. 1-44,