The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 102

suggestion mny work a far moro fearful ruin than incarcerating us in dungeons, or sending ue to the mnrtyr's stake and flames. I call those forces mine enemies that are unfa.vouro.ble to my spiritual interests. Whatever dims my inner vision, and tends to veil from me the sublimities of the "unseen;" whatever deadens my sensibility to duty, and interferes with the free and vigorous play of my faculties; whatever draws me from the eternal future, and links me to the transient present; whatever cools, mntcrializes, and contrallts my sympathies, and keeps me more in connection with the contingent than the absolute.; whatever depresses me in my strnggles to reach that ideo.l of perfection dimly portrayed in my soul, but drawn out in abiding loveliness in the life of Jesus; whatever forces act thus, I call, with emphasis, my foes. And do not such foes surround us? Tell me of a period whe1.1 "Rinful lusts,'' which "war aaainst the soul," were more potent and active than now? Our civilization is little ~ore than a perfection in those arts that minister to the senses, pander to the appetites, and gratify the desires of the flesh. Wh~n did worldliness ever wield a more wide and mighty sway? When were the votaries of mammon so numerous and enthusiastic iu their devotions? The deepest cry of the age seems to be, "My soul thirsteth for gold." When did corrupt literature scatter over the social soil the seeds of error, impiety, and licentiousness to such an extent as now? We are as truly hemmed in by antagonistic forces as was Elisha by the horses and ~ha.riots_ and hosts than encompassed him at Dothan. As we glance at them, the 1mpress10n of the prophet's servant comes to us, "Alas, master! what shall we do?" We require the help that Elisha had-help from without-from Heaven. II. THAT HEAVEN BAS PROVIDED HELPERS FOR MEN SUPERIOR TO ALL ANTAGONISTS. "And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us a.re more than they that be with them." It is generally supposed that the reference is here to the angels "that excel in strength," and that they were the horses and chariots of fire that came to the prophet's help. Angels are the hosts of God, and "the body-guard of the good"- ,. ministering spirits, sect forth to minister unto the heirs of salvation." This doctrine is so antecedently probable, so clearly revealed in Scripture, and so generally believed, as to requil'e no evidence. It is to their superiority that our attention is now called. 1. They are "more" in number than the Jue. If we confine our attention to merely what we see in this world, we shall conclude that the agents of evil are the more numerous. A wider survey of the general realm of spiritual being, as suggested by philosophy, and as revealed in the Bible, presents an opposite view. As malformations in nature are few compared with symmetrically organized existences, so evil spirits are few compared with the good. The great cities, principalities, and hierarchies of the universe are loyal subjects of the great King, and zealous agents in promoting his will; it is but a little province that bas here and there throwu off its allegiance. Hell is but a withered leaf in the waving forest of life-a flickering meteor in the starry vault of being. It is our happiness to know that evil is the exception in the universe; good is the rule. Thus evil exists as a contingency-it might or might not be; but good exists by an absolute necessity-it is an<l must be, because God is and must be. 2. They are "more" in the instrumentalities they wield. The agents of evil are not only fewer in number, but ·inferior also in their armour. Falsehood, selfishness, wrong,-these are their miserable weapons; and are they not weakness compared with truth, love, right, the weapons of the good? Ay; they can no more stand before them than "dry stubhle" bcJorn the raging fire-the gloom of the night-heavens before the rising sun. The history oft.be world gives many instances of one man, with truth and right on his side, subduing countries under the reign...of falsehood and wroog. 3. They art'" more" in_ their invincible determination. 'l'he power of a n10ral intelligeuce in aoy opemticn will not be entirely or chiefly .determined by the instruments he c:nploys, but by the strength of the purpose under which he acts. A man with a weak purpose, however great his advanta.ies, will not do much. Now, the agents of evil can have no invincible purpose, for the obvious reason that their conscieuces-whose sanctions can alone g;ve invincibility-are not on their b">de. Just as far as auy being is under the influence of evil, he must be fickle and fearful. "'l'he wicked flee wheu no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion." 4. They are "more" in the authority tinder which they act. The Bible teaches that the angels of evil are under the control of one master- spirit of darkneBB-" the prince of the power of the air; " but those of the good are  HO THE SEOOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. (ol1, VI, 1-38,