The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 213

flowere of the field, and the countless tribee of sentient life that crowd the ocean, earth, and air, all fall into decay; and so also with the material productions of feeble man. Throughout tho civilized world we see mansionR, churches, cathedrals, palaces, villages, towns, and cities, in ruins. All compound bodies tend to dissolution; there is nothing enduring but primitive elements or substances. This bein~ so, how astoundingly preposteroue is man's effort to perpetuate his memory in material monuments I The only productions of men that defy the touch of time, and that are enduring, are true thoughts, pure sympathies, and noble deeds. He who builds up the temple of a true morn! character produces a superstructure that will last through the sweep of ages, the wreck of thronee, and the crash of doom. II. THE INCONCJRUITY OF' WORLDLY RULERS BUSYING THEMSELVES IN RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS. Joash was no saint, the root of the matter was not in him; he had no vital and ruling sympathy with the Supreme Being, yet he seemed zealous in the work of repairing the temple. "Then King J oash called for J ehoiada the priest, and the other priests, and said unto them, Why repair ye not the breaches of the house? now therefore receive no more money of your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house." 'l'hough the conduct of corrupt men in busying themselves with things pertaining to religion is incongruous, alas I H is not uncommon. Such conduct generally springs from one of two things, or from both-policy or superstition. The religion that is popular, whether it be true or false, rulers recognize and sanction. 'l'hey use the religious element in the community as a means by which to strengthen their thrones and augment their fame. Not only, indeed, are kings actuated thus, but even the corrupt tradesman, lawyer, doctor, etc., must show some interest in the popular religion in order to succeed in his secular pursuits. But superstition as well as policy often prompts corrupt men to busy themselves in matters of religion. Do not many build and beautify churches and subscribe to religious institutions, hoping thereby to escape perdition and to ensure the favour of Heaven? Alas! some of the corruptest men are often most busy in religious aITairs. The man that betrayed the Son of God at the last Passover was most busy on that awful night; "his hand was on the table." Ill. THE VALUE OF THE CO-OPERATIVE PRINCIPLE IN THE ENTERPRISES OF JIUNXIND. It would seem that the work of repairing the temple was so great that no one man could have accomplished it. Hence the king called earnestly for the co-operation of all. "And Jehoash said to the priests, .All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the Lord, even the money of every one that passcth the account, the money that every man is set at., and all the money that cometh into any man's heart to bring into the house of the Lord, let the priests take it to them, every man of his acquaintance: and let them repair the breaches of the house." They obeyed his voice. The people gave the money, and all set to work ; the "priest that kept the door," the " high priest," the " carpenters," the "masons," the "builders," the "hewers of stone," etc. By this unity of action "they repaired the house of the Lord." Two remarks may be made concerning the principle of co-operation. 1. It is a principle that should govern all men in the undertakings of life. It was never the purpose of the Almighty that man should act alone for himself, should pursue alone his own individual interests. Men mRy, and often do, make large fortnnes by it, but they destroy their own peace of mind, degrade their natures, and outrage the Divine laws of society. Men are all members of one great body; and was ever a member made to work alone? No; but for the good of the whole, the common weal. 2. It is a principle that has done and is doing wonders in the undertakings of life. Our colleges, hospitals, railways, etc., are all the products of co-operation. The more men get intellectually enlightened and morally improved, the more this principle will be put into operation. This principle, however, has its limits. In spiritual matters it must not infringe the realm of individual responsibility. There is no partnership in moral responsibility. Each man must think, repent, and believe for himself. "Every man must bear his own burden." IV. THE POTENOY OF THE RELIGIOUS ELEMENT EVEN IN DEPRAVITY. At this time Israel was morally almost as corrupt as the heathen nations. From the beginning Israel was t-hc Church of God in little more than a metaphorical sense. Never in the history of the world has there l,een a member of the true Church whose sympathies with Jehovah were not supreme. But how many of the Jews had this supreme sympathy?  THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. [on. xn. 1-21.