his master was at hand, and he knew it. God had communicated it to His Prophets; they were expecting the event. "Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal; and Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee, for the Lord hath sent me to Betkel." And Elisha resolutely persisted in bearing him company. Attachment to his master would vindicate his refusal to leave him. This is beautiful in its place. But Elisha was eager to learn more of Elijah's Master. He had dwelt with the servant of God, and rejoiced in the Grace and Power bestowed upon him, but his desires were quickened after the Lord God of Elijah. If such beauty and power was seen in the measure of God's gift to him, how earnestly might he desire a double portion! To "covet earnestly the best gifts" is enjoined as a precept, as well as to be "zealously affected in a good cause.' This pre-eminently characterises Elisha. There are these trials of his constancy at Gilgal, Bethel, and Jericho; but he was proof against the most urgent entreaties. "And now they reach Jordan, and Elijah took his mantle and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground."

The goal is reached; his faith shall be rewarded. "And it came to pass when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask, what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.' The secret of his heart is discovered; first led to desire, then encouraged to expect, he asks largely, as assured of the power and goodness of God to dispense freely. "Elijah said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. And it came to pass, as they still went on and talked." What a picture is this, and yet how interesting, on the verge of separation yet eternally united. Their topic upon Earth, the communion of Heaven. Their conversation in Time, the theme of Eternity, God, the blessed union of both. "They still went on and talking"-how faith exalts poor humanity into calm, quiet dignity of deportment. Since the time of Enoch, had it not happened that one

alive in the body was caught up into Heaven. Yet great as was the event, and large as was their expectation, communion with God lifted them above it. They "still went on and talked." So it is, expectations from God find their answer in Him. The consciousness of being nobody, leaves the soul free to act above circumstances, and, leaning upon God to do away with human weakness. The one who could thus hold fellowship with his companion, on the eve of such a change, was the only man fit for it. Man has hard to struggle, to acquire equanimity of soul in seasons of excitement; the power of God bestows it. 66 Behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into Heaven. And Élisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof." And he saw him no more: yet, how stable his soul, how stedfast his purpose!

-" and he took hold of his own clothes and rent them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back and stood by the bank of Jordan. And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? And when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither, and Elisha went

over.

How well he understood the word, "that in God's favour is life, and his loving-kindness is better than life." How eager to ascertain that he was the possessor of that. He was not content with the cloak of Elijah, his office and ministry; as the hart panted after the waterbrook, so his soul thirsted after God, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" It was the presence of God in the midst of His Saints, which brought about that excellent beauty and order which we read of in the acts of the Apostles, "Great grace was upon them all, and the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul. "The kingdom of God is not in word only, but in deed and in power." "The Gospel was preached with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven."

Alas! Lord, how are our expectations to-day? How far short are we from honouring God by expecting

largely from Him. Not so with Elisha. He asked for a double portion of God's Spirit, and his faith is rewarded. Endued with powers from on high, he enters on his ministry; having received gifts he is eager to dispense them. How, with many, the character and the credit which arise from it, are the objects sought after! The form of godliness has no cross attached to it. The power of godliness, whilst leading into trial, yet gives strength to endure it. "Partakers of the sufferings, so also of the consolation." We lose sight of this.

Far different was the conduct of the sons of the Prophets. It is written in verse 7, "And fifty men of the sons of the Prophets, went and stood to view AFAR OFF, and these two stood by Jordan." Confidence in God brings His servants to draw nigh unto Him. If the sick and afflicted participated in the blessing, they must draw near to Jesus. "Then drew near publicans and sinners for to hear Him" (Luke xv.).

"But the sons of the Prophets stood to view afar off.” Faith honours God, and is bestowed that we may honour Him. Faith apprehends His resources, and is encouraged to apply to Him. We can gather the state of heart of these sons of the Prophets, by their unbelieving request, as recorded in the 16th verse. 66 Lest, peradventure, the Spirit of the Lord hath taken him, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send; and when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not; and when they came again to him (for he tarried at Jericho) he said unto them, Did not I say unto you, Go not?" Unbelief led them to stand afar off when Elijah was taken to God; and unbelief led them to search for him after his rapture.

And now we have Elisha in Jericho. We read, in 1 Kings, chap. xvi. and verse 34, "In his days [Ahab's] did Hiel, the Bethelite, build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram, his first-born, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which He spake by Joshua, the son of Nun." Thus marked was the presumption of Abiram

with the indignation of God, on his rebuilding Jericho. "Yet where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." Rahab, the harlot, found favour of God, and was spared on the general destruction of Jericho (Joshua vi). The city was raised from its ruins in the presumption of man, and again should be a landmark of the grace of God to poor sinners. How blessed His ways, how past finding out! Elisha, endued with a double portion of God's Spirit, is residing at Jericho. There was need in the city: there is grace and power to meet it. "And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of the city is pleasant, as my lord seeth; but the water is naught, and the ground barren." How the soil of the human heart answers to this. God made man in His own image. "How is the fine gold become dim!" "The water is naught, and the ground of the human heart barren." "The imagination of a man's heart is only evil, and that continually." "All flesh has corrupted its way." But there is help in Israel concerning this thing. Our Lord Jesus said to the woman of Samaria by the well of Sychar, "Whosoever shall drink of this water shall thirst again; but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him, shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." There is bitterness in the cup of human existence. Very "smooth" do men find the ways of the world; vanity also, and vexation of spirit. The water is naught, and the ground "causeth to miscarry." (see margin). Whatever is right in purpose is resisted by the will. Blessed announcement- "When we were yet witnout strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly"! (Rom. v. 6.)

"And [Elisha] said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him. And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the Lord, I have healed these waters, there shall not be from thence any more death; or barren land. So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake."

He had received blessings, which he lives to dispense. He desired a double portion of God's Spirit, and now he

makes use of it. His ways are the ways of God-how ignorant we are of Him. "Our foolish hearts are darkened. Professing ourselves to be wise, we become fools." Yet "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God" hath shined in Jesus. Blessed heralds of His coming were such witnesses as Elisha. Blessed proofs do they give us of His ways. Alas how sin has defaced our apprehension, and blinded our judgment. Oh for the faith of Elisha in the goodness of God, to bestow upon us all that we need. "He is able to supply all our need out of his fulness in Jesus." It is to be desired for its own sake, but far more for the blessing of others. God, happy in giving, would have His children like-minded. He would fill us, that we might overflow to others, according to that word in John vii. 38, "He that believeth on me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." The inhabitants of Jericho accredit God's servant, and bring their need before him. The presence of God is with His servant; and their wants are supplied. "The waters were healed." Very different the reception he met with at Bethel. Unbelief had hardened their hearts. The form of godliness was attached to the place. It was in Bethel that Abraham had raised up an altar. It was there that Jacob renewed his vows unto the Lord. Luz (departure) was its name at the first, Bethel "the house of God" it was now called. But now, with the latter name still attached to it, its former character is sustained, "the form of godliness denying the power.' "Jesus came to His own, and His own received Him not." So it was with Elisha: we read, "And he went up from thence into Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up thou bald head."

Alas! if these children could thus treat the aged, what character had their parents? Double infamy attaches to them. God's prophet despised, God's word set at nought-how certain the consequences!

"He that believeth shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be damned." There was blessing for the inhabitants of Jericho; there is wailing, lamentation and woe, for the