The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 381

bustle of commercial life says, "Were I in a more retired situation, in some rural region away from the eternal din of business-away in quiet fields and undtr clear skies, amidst the music of birds and brooks, I would servo my Mak:er." Whilst on t~e contrary, a~d with greater reason, the tenant of these quiet scenes says, "Were I distant from this eternal monotony, amidst scenes of me!'ltal stimulus and social excite- ment, I should be roused from the apathy which oppresses me, and I would bo a religious man." .1:he fa?t, after nll, is that circumstances arc no necessary hindrances or helps t-o a rehg10us life. 2. That Heaven's mercy is greater than man's iniquities. When conscience-stricken with the enormity of his wickedness, this ono of the chief of human sinners betakes himself to his knees in humble prayer "before the God of his fathers," how is he treated? Is he scathed with a flash of retributive displeasure? Who would ha-ve wondered if he had been so? Bnt no. Is he upbraided for his past wickedness? Who would have been surprised if he had been stunned with thunders of reproof? But no. Is he received with cold indifference? No. "He was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom." ,vhat a confirmation is here of that promise, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord and he will have mercy on him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pard~n" ! "Abundantly!" This is a glorious word, a word that, like the boundless heavens of God towers and expands over a universe of sin. ' Ill. THE CONCUBRElIT ELEVATION BOTH OF THE SPIBITUAL AND THE SEOULAB. The Almighty hears his prayer. He is emancipated from bondage, brought back to his own country, and restored to the throne of Israel. There he is now with a true heart, in a noble position---& real great man occupying a great office. This is a rare scene; and yet the only scene in accordance with the real constitution of things and the will of God. It seems to me that if man had remained in innocence, his outward position would always have been the product and type of his inner soul; that he who got a throne would do eo becaU£e of the moral nobility of his nature, and that in all cases secular circumstances, whether elevated, affluent, Cir otherwise, would ever be the effects and exponents of spiritual character. Manasseh's restoration to the throne, and the work of reformation to which he sets himself, suggest two subjects of thought. 1. The tendency of godlinesR to promote m<11T1,1s secular elevation. The monarch comes back in spirit to God, and God brings him back to his throne. As the material con- dition of men depends upon their moral condition, improve the latter, and you improve the former. As the world gets spiritually holier, it will get secularly happier. Godliness is material as well as moral "gain." The system that best promotes godliness is the system that best promotes man's temporal well-being. And that system is the gospel. Hence, let philanthroi,ists adopt this a.s their grand instrument. When Christianity shall have won its triumph over all souls, men's bodies will be restored to their lost inheritance of health, elasticity, force, and plenty, as Manasseh was now restored to his lost throne. There is a physical millennium for the world as well as a spiritual; the former will grow out of and reveal the latter, as trees and flowers their hidden life. 2. The tendency <ff penitence to make retribu,tion. Concerning Manasseh, it is thus written: "Now after this he built a wall "ithout the (}ity of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah. Alld he took away the strange 11:ods," etc. Here is restitution, and an earnest endeavour to undo the mischief which he had wrought. Thus Zacchmus acted, and thus all true penitents have ever acted and will ever act. True penitence has a restitutionary instinct. But how little, alas ! of the mischief done can ever be undone I What can we do? We cannot destroy the fact of wrong. That fact will never be erased from the moral annals of the universe; it is chronicled with unfading ink on an imperish- able substance. What can we do? We cannot destroy the influence of our wrong. The wrong that is gone out from us will roll its pestilential streams down through the ages. What can we do? We can "cease to do evil ; " and, thank God I we can do more-we can make some compensation for the injury we have done the creation. We can, by Heaven's grace, open up within us a fountain for the washing away of sin and uncleanness-a fonntain whose streams will bless with life and beauty many genera- tions yet to come.-D. T. OH, XXI. 1-26.) THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. 431