The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 93

support themselves by their own exertions at farming or other work. But this also has been found very undesirable, and it has been under serious consideration to abandon the custom altogether. But whether they engage in manual labour or not all ministers and all students for the ministry should be, as these students in Elisha'; time were, industrious in their work. In whatever calling we are engaged, let ue cultivate habits of industry. Let us remember the apostle's injunction to be" diligeu t in busines.-, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." II. THERE WAS DIS0IPLlNE IN THAT COLLEGE. These young students, excellent and well-conducted as they no doubt were, did uot think they might do a8 they liked or go where they liked. They ea.me to Elisha, and asked his consent to their proposal. And so it should be in all the relationships of life. "Order is Heaven's first law." There should be discipline in the family, discipline in the Church, discipline in the Sunday school, discipline in the nation, and regard for constituted authority. Dr. Arnold of Rugby once said to his assembled scholars, when there had been some disorder in the school, and he bad expelled several boys, " 1t is not necessary that this should be a school of three hundred, or of one hundred, or of fifty boys; but it is necessary ihat it should be a school of Christian gentlemen." No wonder there ie disregard for authority in the nation when it is not properly taught or insisted on in the home, The Cbristia.n Church should be a. model of order. Order should characterize its services, its ma.nagement, its work. "Let all things be done decently a.nd in order." III. THERE WAS KINDNESS IN THAT COLLEGE. What pleasant a.nd brotherly relations between the prophet and his pupils! He could be stern with the haughty Naaman; be could severely rebuke the covetous, lying Gebazi; but he knew bow to unbend among his innocent-hearted students. He had evidently already won their affections. lt was a good 6'ign of both him and them that they asked him to accompany them. And now be shows his kindly nature once more by going with them at their request. So it ought to be with all Christians. We hardly think enough of Christ's command tba.t we should love one another. What friendly relations there should be between professors and students, between ministers and their people, between parents and children, between teachers and scholars, between employers and employed, between masters and serva.nts I .Authority is never weakened by kindness. Some employers, some teachers, seem to think it a.dds to their dignity a.nd to their influence to be stern to those beneath them. They make a grea.t mistake. The most respected professors are those who treat their students as brothers, a.nd not as inferiors. The most respected employers are those who are kind and courteoue a.nd coneidera.te to those in their employment. Kindness does not weaken influence ; it increases it. Oh ! to be fillecl with the spirit of Christ, who made himself of no reputation, and took upon himself the form of a. servant. Kindness and humility are twin sisters. IV. THERE WAB GROWTH IN THAT COLLEGE, Under the influence of such a teacher as Elisha, the number of students increased so much that the place became too small for them, and it was necessary for them to build a new school of the prophets. Let me see growth in a. Church and I shall believe in its life. A stone does not grow, because it bas no life. A tree grows, because there is life in it. If you see that a tree has ceased to grow, to put forth new leaves in the spring-time, you know that it ie dead. A Church that is not growing must be a lifeless Church. If you are a living Christian, let the signs of it be manifest in the growth of your Christian graces .. V. 'l'HE PRESENCE OF GoD WAS THERE, This was shown in the miracle which Elisha wrought of co.using the iron to swim. It was not by hie own power. He was only the instrument in the hand of God, and God owned his efforts, for be was engaged in God's work. '!'bis last feature of that theological college was the best of all. God's presence was in the midst of it. Without that, of what use would have been their industry or their discipline? Without that, would there have heen such bonds of kindness? Without that, would there have been such evidences of growth? "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it." Without that, what a mockery it would have been for them to have looked forward to be the teachers of others in the truths of religion I What a. mockery for any man to enter a pulpit and speak about the love of Jesus, who ie himself a stranger to that love I What a ,mockery for any ma.n to speak about the grace of God, who has never experienced it 1'.111, VJ, 1-33.] THE SECOND BOOK OF 'l'IIE KINGS. 131