The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 92

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHOR&. Vere. 1-7.-.An early theological college; its life and lesson,. Oar theological colleges, where young men are trained for the office of the Christian ministry, do not receive from the Christian public that attention and sympathy which they deserve. More interest ought to be taken in education generally. The Church should show more interest in Sunday-school work. If office-bearers and parents in every Christian land would visit the Sunday school occasionally, and hear the children repeat their lessons and sing their hymns, it would do themselves good, and it would be a great encouragement to those who are engaged in the important work of Sunday-school teaching. 'l'he work of our theological colleges is to a great extent different from that of other places of education. The very nature of the studies is such that the general public could not be expected to take much interest in them. But there are other ways of showing an interest in our colleges besides actually entering a collei!:e class-room, or listening to & professor's lecture. Occaaionally, a rich member of the Church leaves & considerable sum to found a scholarship or a bursary ; but how little is done by the members of the Church generally I Yet all the members of the Church are interested in having not only a godly, but also a well-educated ministry. I. THERE w AB INDUSTRY IN TB.AT COLLEGE. These students in Elisha's college knew· how to work, and they weTe not above doing their own work. They had not reached that high state of civilization when manual labour is considered a disgrace. Their house, which wae college and students' residence all in one, had become too emall for them. So they said to Elisha one day, "Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man & beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell." It was an enactment of the Jewish religion that every boy, no matter what his position, should be taught some handicraft. The Jewish Talmud says, "What is commanded of & father toward his son? To circumcise him, to teach him the Law, and to teaoh him & trade." Thus we find that the Apostle Paul, who had sat at the feet of Gamaliel, and was & distinguished scholar, was also a tentmaker. Even when a preacher of the gospel, he laboured with his own hands for his support. It is not generally the custom now for ministers of the gospel to follow any other calling. It is found more convenient that they should devote themselves entirely to the work of the ministry, for all men have not the genius of the Apostle Paul. It ie true th&1i the missionaries of certain Missionary Societies all leam a trade, and most of them II, KINGS, ll:  130 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. [on. vr. 1-33.