that is, t.o him that bath made a good use of his talents; "and from him that bath not" -from him that hRs so neglected his talents that they arc practically- not hi•-" shall b€ taken away even that which he bath." 11. En:s OPBNED. 1. The Syrians' eye.~ were opened to see their true condition. Instead of be(ng ": victorious army, with Elisha a captive in their hands, they find that he has them m his power, and has led them into the midst of Samaria and into the presence of the King of lsrae~. They then saw how defenceless and how helpless they were. That 1s the first step m the path of salvation. The first step for II sinner is to see his need. So with Bnnyan's pilgrim. 'l'he first thought that led him to set out on his journey was the feeling of his utter helplessness. "Sir, I perceive by the book in nw hand that I am con,lemned to die, and after that to come to judgment (Heh, ix. 27); and I find that I am not willing to do the first (Job xvi. 21), nor able to do the second (Ezek. xxii. 14)." "Lord, show me myself." 2. The you11g man's eyes were opened to see tliat deliverance was at hand. "'l'he Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of.horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." This is the second step in the sinner's salvation. Having seen his need, he next needs to see the Saviour. "Behold the Lamb of Go,l, which taketh a way the sin of the world!" Have you seen your true condition, your spiritual need? Have you seen your need of Jesus as your Saviour? "When free grace awoke me, by light from on high, Then legal fears shook me, I trembled to die; No refuge, no safety in self could I 8ee- Jehovah Tsidkenu my Saviour must bs. • My terrors all vanished before the sweet Name: My guilty fears banished, with boldness I c"me To drink at the fountain, life-giving a.nd free- Jehovah Tsidkenu is e.11 things to me." ill. THE POWER OF PRAYER. Elisha's prayers prevailed three times in this short narrative. There may be some one known to us whose eyes are closed, who is spiritually blind. Have we brought the case to God in prayer? Is it a wandering son? "Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see." Is it a. wayward daughter? a godless friend? We may net reach them by our words; but we can reach them by our prayers. IV. -THE POWEB OF DIVINE GRACE. Elisha did not exult in his triumph over his enemies. He did not take advantage of their helplessness. They bad come to take him captive, perhaps to take away his life; but he heaps coals of fire on their head. The King of Israel wanted to smite them. But Elisha reminds him (according to one view) that it was not customary to smite even captives taken in war: how much less should he smite those who had been put within his power, not by any exertions of his own, but by the miraculous interposition of God I On the contrary, Elisha recommends that they should be well treated and well fed. This was done. And what was the consequence? "So the bands of Syria cRme no more into the land of Israel." This littk act of kindness had turned away their wrath. What an example for us to imitate toward those who treat us ill I "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."-C. H. L
Vera. 24-33.-.S'amaria besi-eged. I. A CITY IN DIBTBEBB. Once more the people of Samaria were in great straits. A besieging army was at their gates, and, most terrible of all, the horrors of famine were within tlieir walls. They were reduced to the greatest extremities. The women were actually beginning to cook and eat their own children. Whichever way they looked, the prospect was dark. To open the gates to the Syrians meant death or captivit:r, And the longer they remained within their walls, the more certainly death and starvation stared them in the face. See here the evil result of forsaking God. To such extremities they had brought themselve11 by their own sins. 'l'hey had forsaken the Jiving God, and now their false gods were not able to help them i.11 the day of their calamity. It is an evil day in a man's history when he turns his back upon God's Word, upon God's commandments, upon God's S011. As it often happens, their calamities had hardened their hearts and blinded their eyes. There was en. VI. 1-33.) 'l'llE SE(;OND BOOK OF THE KINGS. 135