The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 416

argument, suasion, and mo!'al influence, but by brute fort:$ and violence (vers. 4--28). "All the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove" (ver. 4), that is all the apparatus for idol-worship, these he ol'dered to be burnt outside Jerusalem ' 11 in the fields of Kidron." He "stamped it small to powder, and cast the powde~ thereof upon the graves of the children of the people. And he brake down the houses of the sodomites" (vers. 6, 7). He also "brake in pieces the ima<Tes, and cut down the groves, and filled their places with the bones of men" (ver. 14t Moreover, "he slew all the priests of thfl high places that were there upon the altars, and burned men's boors upon them" (ver. 20). In this way, the way of force and violence, he essayed to work out his grand purpose. I offer two rem.arks concerning his method. 1. It was unphilosophic. Moral evils cannot be put down by force; coercion cannot travel to a man's soul. The fiercest wind, the most vivid lightnings, cannot reach the moral Elijah in his cave. The "still small voice" alone can touch him, and bring him out to light and truth. After all this, were the people less idolatrous? Before Josiah was cold in his grave idolatry was as rife as ever. You may destroy to-day all heathen temples and priests on the face of the earth, but in doing this you have done nothin" towards quenching the spirit of idolatry-that will remain as rampant as ever; phamix~ like, it will rise with new vitality and vigour from the ashes into which material fires have consumed its temples, its books, and its feasts. Ay, and you might destroy all the monastic orders and theological tomes of the Roman Catholic Church, and leave the sl'irit of popery as strong, nay, stronger than ever. Truth alone can conquer error, love alone can conquer wrath, right alone can conquer wrong. 2. It was mischievous. The evil was not extinguished; it burnt with fiercer flame. Persecntion has always propagated the opinions it has sought to crush. The crucified Malefactor became the moral Conqueror and Commander of the people. Violence begets violence, anger begets anger, war begets war. "He that taketh the sword shall perish by the sword."-D. T. Vers. 26-37.-Lamentable unski1fulness and incorrigi"bility. "Notwithstanding the Lord," etc. 'l'his short fragment of Jewish history reflects great disgrace on human nature, and may well humble us in the dust. It brings into prominence at least two subjects suggestive of solemn and practical thought. I. 'l'HE WORTHLESS..'IBSB OF UNWISELY DIRECTED EFFORTS TO BENEFIT MEN, HOWEVER WELL Il>"'TD.'""DED. Josiah, it seems from the narrative, was one of the best of Israel's kings. "Like unto him was there no king before him." Most strenuous were his efforts to improve his conntry, to raise it from the worship of idols to the worship or the true God. He sacrifices his very lifo to his endeavours ; and what was his success? Nil. "Notwithstanding the Lord turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Mauasseh had provoked him withal. And the Lord said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel. and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My Na.me shall be there. Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?" All the efforts of this noble king seemed to be abortive. But why? Because, as shown in our preceding homily, while his motive was good, his methods were bad. Instead of depending upon argument and suasion, moral influence, and the embodiment of moral goodness, he uses force. "He slew all the priests of the high places that were there upon the altars, and burned men's bones upon them," etc. Here is a principle in the Divine government of man. No man, however good, can accomplish a good thing unless be employs wise means. The Church of Home is an example. Its aim, the bringing of the world into the one fold, is sublimely good, but the means it has employed not only neutralize the purpese, but drive large masses of the population away into the wilderness of infidelity and careless living. It is not enough for a Church to have good aims; it must have wise methods : not enough for preachers tl1 desire tr.e salvation of their people ; they must use means in harmony with the laws of thought and feeling. Hence fanatical Churches and preachers have always done more harm than good. "If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable. to direct." Indeed, thiij man's unwise efforts uot only failed to benefit his country, they brought ruin 011. l11ruselr. He loet his lire, "In his days Pharaoh-Nechoh King of Egypt went up 011. xxm. 1-37.] THE SE0OND BOOK OF THE KINGS. 467'