suffered her not to keep silence: "Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria, for he would recover him of his leprosy." The words are no sooner uttered, than reported to him whom they concerned, and the captive maid is the messenger of good tidings that bring health and a cure to her leprous-her afflicted master. Blessed indeed the power of that faith that worketh by love.

Let me give you a recent instance. A servant whose consistent conduct had endeared him to his employers, but whose piety, from which that consistent conduct sprung, was unknown to them, requested permission to see his master, who was dangerously ill. His long services entitled him to the favour, and he was admitted into the sick room. Overcome by his feelings, he could not repress his grief; he was kindly addressed by the invalid, who asked him 'What ailed him?' Then this faithful one, eager, yet fearful, could no longer refrain from giving utterance to his thoughts: "Alas! sir," said he, "I fear you do not know the Saviour of sinners, the Christ of God! there is but one Name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.' Other foundation can no man lay than that which is

his boldness offended, and he was sent out of the room; but the arrow, urged home by those words of truth, uttered by one known to be so consistent in his life, could not be got rid of. A Socinian teacher was sent for, was asked about that "one foundation." Alas! he could not direct to it, for he knew it not himself. The faithful servant was again called, was requested to fetch some minister of Christ, he did so rejoicing, and the trembling and awakened soul of his master was guided to Jesus as the Prince of Peace, found refuge in the Lamb of God.... Let but the love of Christ constrain us, and then whether we be servants or masters, rich or poor, learned or ignorant, God will find work for us to do, and will bless our efforts to His own glory and the good of our fellow men.

We notice in the last place,

III. The Reception Naaman gave to these Tidings of Good. Eagerly were they embraced: "One went in and told his lord saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of Israel." The sacred narrative, in the very spirit of the transaction, describes not the way in which the news was welcomed, but, emulating the zeal with which Naaman hastened to profit thereby, tells only the result, carries us at once to the

fact, that the consent of the king his master is obtained, and that he is at once setting forward on his journey of health. "And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel, and he departed."

. . And what was there in these tidings thus urging him to speed? The hope of deliverance from evil experienced and deplored; they came as balm to his despairing heart. It was but the report of a captive maid, a wearisome way was before him, but that report met the desire of his heart; it touched in its sympathy the oppressive grief that was his burden; already is his spirit lightened of a portion of its load, in that hope of health, the possibility of a cure; he heard the tidings, he departed in search of the blessing they promised. Ever thus is it with the soul that is taught of God to know and to feel the leprosy that is within; to such, and to such only the gospel comes, "the power of God unto salvation." When the Holy Ghost convinceth of sin, and we see ourselves to be defiled, corrupt, loathsome, and that there is no "health in us," we welcome the tidings of a justifying, cleansing, healing Saviour. It may be that we do not at once find the blessing, the report of which has

we

"ask," we "seek," we "knock," until closing in faith, "without money and without price," with the freely proffered mercy, "all things are ours as "we are Christ's, and Christ is God's."

But as these tidings were eagerly embraced, so they awakened diligence in him who embraced them. The recommendation of the king of Syria is obtained; he sends " a letter unto the king of Israel;" riches in abundance accompany him; he "took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment ;" thus furnished he departed. The silver and gold might, or might not, avail him; the letter might, or might not, be required; but he would leave nothing undone that might by possibility prosper his attempt. And this one in spiritual things is the successful applicant, not the man, who, as an excuse for his sloth, professes to wait till he knows whether he is a child of God, and thus waiting, like the sluggard," desireth and hath nothing;" but he whose heart the warm beams of the Sun of Righteousness quickens into life and energy-who hopes even against hope-who strives, prays, watches, perseveres whose cry is, "If by any means I might attain ;" the prospect set before him is

so blessed, so answers his need, that he" counts not his life dear unto himself, so that he may finish his course with joy." He dare not dictate to the LORD, the times and the seasons are in His hand as well as the way; but this he will do, he will "follow on to know Him whose goings forth are prepared," as certainly, though not to us as clearly, “as the morning." The day may break suddenly, or "at eventide it may be light;" but God will fulfil His word, "they that seek shall find;' "All that the Father giveth Me," saith Christ, "shall come to Me, and him that cometh to Me, I WILL IN NOWISE CAST out.'

2

Happy Naaman! even in the hearing of a remedy, the indistinct prospect of a cure! In the setting out on that journey, thou art a different man in thy feeling, thy views of life, to what yet a little while since thou wast; that listlessness is gone, that sadness is dissipated; the mind has a healthier tone, though the body is as leprous as before; all things are brightened to thee, thou hast something to live for, in that hope of restoration!

Happier, far happier ye who are setting out for the pool of the Bethesda of grace! who are seeking the salvation of God! God