Instance& in history of the fenrful consequences of even II single act of deceit. The one grent stain upon the memory of Lord Clive, the hero of Plassry, anci on0 of the greatest men who ever administered British rule in India, is his single act of deception practised on an Inclian prince. 'l'he worcls which Lord Macaulay has written on this subject aro so important and so true, that they are well worth repeating: "Clive's breach of faith," he says, "was not merely a crime, but a blunder. We don't know whether it bo possible to mention a state which has on the whole been a gainer by a breach of public faith. 'l'ho entire history of British India is an illustration of this great truth, that it is not prudent to oppoge perfidy to perfidy-that the most efficient weapon with which men can encountei· falsehood is truth. During a. long srcries of years, the English rulers of India, surrounded by allies and enemies whom no engage- ment could bind, have generally acted with sincerity and uprightness, and the event has proved that sincerity and uprightness are wisdom. English valour and English intelligence have done less to extend and preserve our Oriental empire than English veracity. All that we could have gained by imitating the doublings, the evasions, the fictions, the perjuries, which have been employed against us, is as nothing compared with what we have gained by being the one power in India on whose word reliance can be placed." Covetousness and deceit are injurious to personal happiness, to the order and peace of society, and to the welfare and prosperity of the nation. It is the gospel of Christ that alone has proved itself capable of grappling with these evils, and banishing these vices from the human heart. It teaches us not to think of self merely, but of others also. It teaches us to "put away lying, and to speak every man truth with his neighbour." To spread the gospel of Chl'ist is the best way to promote social and commercial morality, to promote confidence between man and man, ,,nrl to hasten the coming of that time when there shall bo peace on earth and good will to men. Let the love of Jesus fill your heart, and flow out into your life, and then you will not intentionally do a wrong to any one, in thought, in word, or in deed.-C. H. L
Vera. 1-27.-History of Naaman's disease and cure, i1lustrative of certain forces in the life of man. "Now Naaman, captain of the host of the King of Syria, was a great man with his master," etc. Naaman, in a worldly point of view, was a. great ma.n- one of the magnates of his age. But he was the victim of a terrible disease. "He was a leper." Leprosy was a terrible disease-hereditary, painful, contagious, loath- some, and fatal. In all these respects it resembled sin. Naaman's disease and his cure, as here sketched, manifest certain forces which have ever been and still are at work in society, and which play no feeble part in the formation of character and the regu- lation of destiny. Notice- I. 'l'he force of WORLDLY POSITION. Why all the interest displayed in his own country, and in Israel, concerning Nao.man's disease? The first verse of this chapter explains it. "Now Naaman, captain of the host of the King of Syria, was a great man." Perhaps there were many men in bis own district who were suffering from leprosy, yet little interest was felt in them. They would groan under their sufferings, and die unsympathized with and unhclped. But because this man's worlrl.ly position was high, kings worked, prophets were engaged, nations were excited, for his cure. It has ever been a sad fact in human history that men magnify both the trials and the virtues of grandees, and think but little of the griefs and !(races of the lowly. If a man in high position is under trial, it is always" a great trial," of which people talk, and which the press will record. If he does a good work, it is always "a great work," and is trumpeted half the world over. 'l'his fact indicates: 1. The lack of intelligence in popular sympathy. Reason teaches that the calamities of the wealthy have many mitigating circumstances, and therefore the greater sympathy should be toward the poor. 2. The laclc of manliness in popular sympathy. There is II fawning servility, most dishonourable to human nature, in showing more sympathy with the rich than with the poor in suffering. II. The force of INDIVIDUAL INFLUENOE. "And the Syrians had gone out by companies, iind had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife. And she said unto her mistress, ·wonld God my lord wero with the prophet that is in Samaria I for he would recover him of his leprosy. And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the 110 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS, [orr. v. 1-27.