The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 417

against the King of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and King Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when be had seen him. And his servants carried him in II chariot clend from Megiddo." No doubt Josiah was inspired with patriotic and religious purposes in '.going forth against Pharaoh-Nechoh, and in seeking to prevent the march of a bloody tyrant and a hostile force through his territory in order to attack the King of Assyria. But where was his wisdom? Wliat chance had he to hurl back such a formidable invasion? None whatever. Single-handed, of course, he could do nothing. And what help could he obtain from bis subjects, most of whom had fallen into that moral degradation which robs the soul of all true coura;,;e and skill? II. 'l'HE AMAZlNG INCORRIGIBILITY OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE. Do we find that the men of Israel were improved by the efforts of such kings as Hezekiah and Josiah? Nay. They seemed to grow worse. Scarcely was Josiah in his grave before his son Jeboahaz, who was twenty-three years old, ascended the throne, and during the three months of his reign he "did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord;" and when he is struck down another son of Josiah, Eliak.im, who was afterwards named Jehoiakim, received the throne, and, after a reign of twenty-five years, the record is, "He did that which is evil in the sight of the Lord." Here, then, is moral incorrigibility! In all history, ancient or modern, I know no people whose doings were of a baser type. With all the lofty advantages which they had, and with the interpositions of Heaven vouchsafed to them, they seemed to grow worse from age to age. The little springs of depravity that broke forth from their great ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jscub, seemed to deepen, swell in volume, and widen as time rolled on. It was at last a kind or Stygian stream. You can scarcely point to one pellucid wave rising on its surface. It was foul from top to bottom. How sadly have many professed disciples of Christ misinterpreted Jewish history! So much so that they have Judaized the very gospel, and made Judaism a model after which they have shaped communities professedly Christian. CONCLUSION. 1. A word to those who desire to be useful. Unless you practically recognize the truly scientific adaptation or means to ends,- and understand the eternal principles by which the human mind can be rightly influenced, you will "labour in vain, and spend your strength for nought." There is no way by which coercion can tra\·el to a man's soul, no way by which cruelties and persecutions can enlighten, strengthen, and ennoble eouls. 2. A word, next, to those who desire to be benefited. Yon may have seers from heaven working among you, endeavouring to improve you and elevate you. But unless yon yield to the influences and attend to the counsels, you will grow worse and worse. Pharaoh's heart grew harder under t.he ministry of Moses on the banks of the Nile; the Jewish people became worse and worse under the forty years' ministry in the wilderness, and the contemporaries of Ch1ist filled up their measure of iniquity nnder his benign and enlightening ministrations. 'l'he things that belong to your peace may become the elements of your ruin.-D. T.