The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 66

thoy had spent in donations to the poor Churches of France and Belgium, or of the Waldensee m Italy. Happily, all travellers are not like this. Many Christian tourists like to find a Snnday blessing, and to hear a word of refreshing, in some little country church among the hills of Scotland or of Switzerland, or in the quiet chapel amid the pleasure-seeking crowds of Paris. But how many there are who lock up their religion when they turn the key in their house-door, and, however careful they may be of taking guide-books and other provisions for the journey, never dream of putting a. Bible in the trunk I No matter where we go, let us take our religion with us, as Joseph took his into Egypt, as Daniel took hie into Babylon, as this little Hebrew mai,l took hers into Syria. Tltis little maid had strong inducements to give up her religion. No doubt it would have pleased her master and mistress if she had worshipped their gods. They might have said that her worship of any other God was an impertinence, a sort of sug- gestion that they were doing wrong. But she listens to the voice of conscience and of duty rather than to the voice of worldly policy and expediency. It is a message to all who are in the employment of others. Never sacrifice principle for place. Never sacrifice the favour of God for the favour of man. Your employer pays for your labour; he does not buy your conscience. If ever attempts are made to tamper with your con- science, be it yours to answer, "We ought to obey God rather than man." Trust God for the consequences. Trust him to provide for you. "In all tby ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct_ thy paths." n. 'l'Bis LITTLE MAID DID NOT RENDER EVIL FOR EVIL, She had been torn from her home and from her native land by tl,e rude hands of Syrian soldiers. Perhaps her father had fallen beneath the enemy's sword. Yet we do not find her cherishing a spirit of vindictiveness or revenge, Instead of rejoicing to see her captor suffer, she pities him. She longs that he may be healed of that terrible and loathsome disease. Have we never exulted in the sufferings of others? Have we never felt a secret thrill of gratification when some misfortune bas befallen one with whom we were at variance? Such a spirit, the spirit of revenge, however natural it may be, is not the spirit of Christ. He bids us do unto others as we would wish them to do unto us. The Christ-like spirit is to love our enemies, to bless them that curse us, to do good to them that hate us, and to pray for them that despitefully use us and persecute us. III. THIS LITTLE MAID WAS BUT YOUNG; YET, BY DOING WHAT SHE COULD, SHE BEOAME A BLESSING TO OTHERS. She did not say to herself, "I am but young ; there is nothing I can do." She did not wait for some great thing to do. But she just did the work that lay nearest her. She saw a way in which she might be useful, and she took the opportuuity at once. She said to her mistress, " Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Sa.maria! for he would recover him of his leprosy." That was all. She just told of where the blessing of health was likely to be found. 1. This is a lesson/or young people, for the children. None of you is too young to do some- thing for Jesus. Jesus has some work for every one of you to do. It may be his work for you that you should conquer some sinful passion, some evil habit. It may be his work for you that you should stand up for him and his Word among bad companions; or that by your own quiet and gentle life, and loving disposition and kind deeds, you should show how good it is to be a Christian. Do the work that lies nearest. If you nrA at school or college, and find your studies irksome, and long to get free to work at your own will aud pleasure; if you are learning your business, and find it a drudgery;- remember that just here Christ has a work for you to do. 'l'hese difficulties have to be mastered. Master them, and then you will show your fitness for mastering far greater difficulties. "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much." 2. It is a lesson for young and old. What are you doing to be a blessing to others? Is thera not some sick person to whom you might read, some poor family that you might visit occasionally with some of the comforts of life, some ten::pted one to whom you might sprak a word of help and encouragement, some backslider to whom you might ~peak a word of kindly warning, some careless, godless one whom you might urge to flee from the wrath to come? .And if you can do but little for the sinner and the godless yourself, perhaps you can do as the little maid did-tell lhtm where blessing is to be found, and invite them to come to the house of God. There is no need for rivnlry between different Christian communities. There are godless people enough to fill all the places of worship, if only Christian people would stir themselves and  104 'l'HE SECOND BOOK 01<' 'l'HE KINGS. [clII. v, l-2'i.