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LECTURE VIII.

2 KINGS VIII. 5.

" AND IT CAME TO PASS, AS HE WAS TELLING THE KING HOW HE HAD RESTORED A DEAD BODY TO LIFE, THAT, BEHOLD, THE WOMAN, WHOSE SON HE HAD RESTORED TO LIFE, CRIED TO THE KING FOR HER HOUSE AND FOR HER LAND."

In the early part of the history upon which we are commenting, we were deeply interested in the story of the wealthy Shunammite; who delighting in Elisha's society, and rejoicing to minister to his comfort, had built him a "little chamber," attached to the mansion in which she dwelt. The prophet's gratitude did not evaporate with the acceptable return which he was at the time enabled to render her, for her considerate kindness. Years had passed

away, but probably had only cemented the more strongly, the attachment of Elisha to this Shunammite's husband, her child and herself. And now a season was arriving, when he was again to testify his friendship for this beloved family, by affording them an opportunity of escaping a calamity, in which their country would shortly be involved. The Lord was about to bring a famine upon Israel, and He who provided in the day of general destruction, a refuge for holy Noah, would not permit the pious Shunammites to perish beneath the blow which overwhelmed the ungodly.

"Then spake Elisha unto the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn; for the Lord hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years." She had, it appears, learnt by this time, entirely to trust the prophet's word, we do not now find her replying, as on the former occasion,

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Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thy handmaid;" she requires nothing beyond the assertion of Elisha, to convince her of its truth; and painful and difficult as such an effort must have been, the absolute relinquishment of her property, her friends, her home, like Abraham of old, she makes it immediately and unreservedly at the bidding of the prophet.

"And the woman arose," continues. the historian, “and did after the saying of the man of God; and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years."

How astonishing an act of faith; in the midst of prosperity and plenty, she believes in the coming famine, and without one repining word, or one sceptical inquiry, she betakes herself to the appointed refuge. What an admirable contrast does this form to the conduct of "the unbelieving lord" in the last lecture.

The Shunammite no sooner hears, than

she believes; no sooner believes, than

she acts. How well does it exemplify the nature of that faith to which we were so lately inviting you. A principle, which as soon as it is received, presses forward into action; like hers of whom we read in Gospel history, whose newborn faith instantly impelled her to stretch forth her hand to the hem of the Saviour's garment; or hers, who having believed, was forgiven much, and loved much, and found her greatest joy and highest blessedness, in doing "what she could;"' in laying the costly offering of her gratitude, the first-fruits of her faith, amidst many misgivings, and many tears, at her Redeemer's feet.

But, brethren, we need not multiply examples. In all the true children of God, there is the same strong family likeness; now I would entreat you to inquire, whether you have reason to

1 See Mark xiv. 8.

believe that you participate in this resemblance? We do not ask, where is your faith? but where are the fruits of your faith? The Shunammite was told to fly, as for her life, from a land doomed to suffer the punishment inflicted by God. You have been told in language as plain, and in warnings as incontrovertible, to fly from the sinful practices of a world, whose fate is as certain, whose sentence is as sure. The Shunammite arose and fled, without an hour's delay, a moment's question. And where are you? Are you still dwelling in heart and desires and practice, among those of whom the Spirit of God hath said, "Come out from among them, and be ye separate?" Though the soul's worst famine is not only threatened, but inflicted, are you content to sympathise with those, whose friendship to you, is enmity with God? Alas! how many professing Christians thus make ship

1 2 Cor. vi. 17.