The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 63

issur, 1md was not of the sligbkst practioal service. Joram bad to acknowledae himself utterly powerless (ver. 7), and, but for the prophet's interference, would prob:bly have represented to the King of Syria that there was no more help to be obtained for NRaman in Isi:ael than in hi_s own country. Groat _ci_vil per,sonRges aro rnroly fit to take the lend m ~atters which even touch upon rehg1on. '1.hey placo far too much trust m the cunning devices of mere human policy, and far too little in the force of reli~ious pri?ci_ple a!1d th~ ov:erruling providence 9f God. 'l'he Magi did not help Christ by bnngmg him their gifts of gold and frankmcense and myrrh. 'l'bey did but draw Herod's attention t.o him, and bring his infant life into peril. Herod Antipas did not help John the Baptist. He" beard him gladly" (Mark vi. 20), but imprisoned him, and ultimately put him to death. The advice of the JlSRlmist is excellent, "Put not your trust in princes; . . . for there is no help in them" (Ps. c:dvi. 3). IV. OUR BEST HELP FROM RELIGION AND ITS MINISTERS. Nnaman llli<Tht have returned to Damascus in the same condition in which he left it, unhelped~ unaided, uncured, but for the existence, and for the action taken by, a minister of God. Men often jeer at ministers, deride them, deny the use .of them, call them idlers and super- nu.mera1ies, and declare their belief that the world would get 'on quite as well, or much better, without them; but in times of difficulty and danger, and especially in the time of sicknegs, they are apt to have recourse to them. A Belshazzar in difficulty seeks to Daniel (Dan. v. 13), a Naaman to Elisha, a Theodosius to Ambrose, a guilty sinner to his parish priest or to the nearest godly minister of his acquaintance. Ministers, it is true, do not now heal diseases ; and it is fitting that in sickness the physician should be called in, to begin with. But when the physiciau can do no more, when he declares the resources of his art exho.usted, when death draws ne11r us, then there are but few who despise the aid of the previously contemned servant of God, but few who are not glad to have a minister of God at their bedside, and to receive from his hands the last consolations of religion. How many have been brought by ministerial aid to die in peace and joy, who without it would have lain for days tortured with doubts and fears and misgivings! How many have even been sns.tched at the last moment like brands from the burniog, brought through ministerial influence, even on their death-beds, to a repentance not to be repented of! It is well not to trust beforehand to a death-bed repentance, but to 11et our house in order while we are still in health. But the example of the thief on the cross shows that, even under the very shadow of death, the mercy of God is not exhausted. A death-bed repentance is always possible; and in bringing it about the assistance to be derived from an experienced minister can scarcely be over-estimated. V. THE NATUBA.L MAN A POOR JUDGE OF Go»'s METHODS OF SALVATION. "l thought," said Naaman, "he will surely come out to me," etc. Naaman had made up his mind what the prophet's method would be. He had his own notions concerning the fitness of things, and the mode in which Divine help, if it came at all, would come to him. When his expectations were disappointed, as human expectations on such a subject are likely to be, he was offended, and "turned and went away in a rage" (ver. 12). Do not many turn from religion altogether on similar utterly insuflkient grounds? They "thought," if God gave a revelation at all, he would give it in this or that way-by a voice from heaven speaking with equal force to all, with the accom- paniment of a continuous display of miracles, by the mouth of an immaculate priesthood, or in some way quite different from tbat in which it has pleased God to give it; and, being disappointed in their exp~ctation, they reject the whole matter, refuse to have anything to d,, with it, "turn and go away in a rage." "I thought" is all-powerful with them. Well doeJ:1 Menken observe, "This 'I thought' is the moat mighty of all mighty thina-s upon earth, and even if it is not the most ruinous of all ruinous things, it is yet certainly the most unfortunate of all unfortunate ones. '!'his • I thought' brought sin and misery and death into the world ; and it prevents redemption from sin and death in the oase of thousands I 'l'hese tho118anda, if they perish in their opinion, will begin the next life with 'I thought.'" VI. 8EC01''D THOUGHTS OFTEN THE BEST. It is never too late to Amend. To pride one's self on absolute consistency and uncLangingncss is the height of folly in a being who is not, and knows he is not, omniscient. Our first thoughts must often be mis- taken ones, and in such cases it is at least possible that our second thoughts may be better. Moreover, second thoughts may be suggested from without, and may come Clll, V, 1-27.] THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. 101