brcnth in their race for wealth. 2. This avarice is in one asso~iated with the most generous of men. Ho was the servant of Elisha, who, when Naaman offered some ,1cknowledgment of bis gratitude to him, exclaime<l, in the most solemn way, "As the Lord liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none." One would have thought that association with a generous soul like this would have banished every base sentiment from Gehazi'e heart. But when it once roots itself in the soul, it is the most inveterate of lusts. The history of modern enterprises shows us numerous examples of men who, from early life, have been in association with ministers, churches, religious instituti<,ns, and in some cases have themselves been deacons, chairmen of religious societies, and the like, whose avarice has so grown, in spite of all tho~e influences, as to make them swindlers on e. gigantic scale. 3. This avarice sought its end by means of falsehood. "My m:i.ster bath sent me," etc. This was a flagrant falsehood. Avarice is always false. Its trades are full of tricks; its shops of sophistries. All its enterprises employ the tongue of falsehood and the hand of deceit. X. The force of DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE. 'fhere is justice on this earth as well as remedial goodness, and Heaven often makes men the organ as well as the subject of both. Elisha, who had the remedial power, had also the retributive. Here we see retributive justice: 1. Detecting the wrong-doer. "And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi?" etc. Justice bas the eyes of .Argus; has more than the eyes of Argus-it sees in the dark. It penetrates through all fallacies. '' The eyes of the Lord run to and fro, beholding the evil and the good." 2. Reproving the wrong-doer. "Is it a time to receive money," etc.? An old expositor has quaintly put it," Couldest thou find no better way of getting money than by belying thy master, and laying a stumbling- block before a young convert?" His avarice was a thing bad in itself, and bad also in seizing an opportunity which should have been employed for other and higher ends. 3. Punishing the wrong-doer. "The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee," etc. He had money of the leper, but he had his disease too. In getting what he considered a blessing, he got a curse as well. Wealth avariciously gotten never fails to bring a curse in some form or other. If it does not bring leprosy to the body, it brings what is infinitely worse, the most deadly leprosy into the soul, a.Dd often entails injuries on posterity.-D. T.
Vers.1-7.-The story of Naaman: 1. The disinfereste,l maiden. The story of the great Syrian captain, who was healed of his leprosy and brought to the knowledge of the true God through the instrumentality of a captive Hebrew maid directing him to Elisha, is one of the most beautiful, as it is one of the richest in gospel suggestion, of the narratives of the Old Testament. Our Lord refers to it in his discourse at N azarPth, as showing that it is not always the direct possessors of privileges who know best how to take advantage of them. "Many lepers were in Israel," etc. (Luke iv. 27). I. THE GREAT MAN'S LEPROSY, 'l'he story opens by introducing us to Naaman, the captain of the host of the King of Syria. 1. So much, and yet a cross. On this dis- tinguished man Fortune seemed to have lavished her utmost favours. He was (1) high in rank, "captain of the host ; "(2) great in honour," a great man with his master;" (3) successful in war," honourable, because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto $yria;" (4) distinguished for personal bravery, "a mighty man of valour." The expression quoted above, "The Lord had given deliverance," etc., shows how far the Hebrews were from regarding Jehovnh as a merely national Deity. His providence extended to other nations ns well. It was he, not .Himmon, who bad given Syria her victories. Nao.man had thus wealth, honour, the favour of his sovereign, the admira- tion of the people-everything that men commonly covet. Yet (5) "he was a leper." This spoiled all. It was the cross in his lot; the drop of gall in his cup; the worm at the root of his prosperity. It made him such that, as has been said, the humblest soldier in his mnks would not ho.ve exchanged places with him. Few lives, even those which seem most enviable, are without their cross. The lady of Shunem has wealth, comforts, a loving husband; but she is childless. It does not take much sometimes to dash our earthly happiness, to take the golden light out of life. Because it is so, we should seek our happiness in things that are enduring. "He builds too low who builds beneath the 8kies." 2. The cross a mercy in disguise. As it proved, this ~rief of Naamnn'e became his salvation. It brought him under the notice of the little U, KINCIS. I lH THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. [OH, V, 1-27,