THE KING OF ISRAEL.

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the power of the great Jehovah. The king wrote a very short letter to the King of Israel, and said, "I have sent Naaman, my servant, to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy." The Syrian captain took with him much silver and gold, as gifts for the person who should cure him. He little knew that God alone could give health to the poor leper, and that He would do so without money and without price. We must, however, think of him as he is travelling to Samaria, with his train of camels and servants, and with all his gold and silver; how he is thinking of being made well by the King of Israel, and how happy he shall be to return home to his master without any spot of leprosy. You will be sure that he did not lose any time by the way, but went as fast as possible to the city where Jehoram, who was the king of Israel, lived.

Ed. Was the King of Israel a good king, Uncle ?

U. No, Edith; he was like many others of

the kings of Israel, who had learned to mix the worship of idols with that of the true God; but he still knew in his heart that Jehovah was God, and that He alone could cure leprosy: for it was, as I have told you, such a dreadful disease, that to cure it was almost like making a dead man alive again.

Em. Was the king sitting on his throne, Uncle, when Naaman came to him?

U. I dare say he was, for we often read of the kings in those days putting on their crowns and robes, and sitting on their thrones or seats of state; and it is most likely that Jehoram did so when this great captain came from the King of Syria with his message. But how disappointed Naaman must have been with the first words of the King of Israel, after he had read the letter! All his journey, and his gold and silver, seemed to be of no use; there was no help for him any where. The king said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his

NAAMAN'S DISAPPOINTMENT.

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leprosy? Wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me." I ought to have told you, that directly the king read the letter he rent and tore his clothes.

P. What did he do so for, Uncle ?

U. It was a custom in Eastern countries, when any one was very much offended and angry; and this king did so because he thought that the King of Syria meant to mock him, by pretending that he had power to cure a leper; and he said it was only done to make a quarrel. And now, some people would say, What is poor Naaman to do? He has come to Israel, but the king has no power to heal him : will he go back again to his own country, and try once more what his own gods can do? The King of Israel does not even tell him who can do any thing for him he does not say, " Although I cannot heal you, lift up your eyes to One who can, even the God of heaven and earth :" he did not send him to the man of God, who would soon have told him where help was to

be found.

Naaman had forgotten that his little maid spoke of "the Prophet;" she did not say any thing about the king, or any one else. She wanted her master to go to the man of God; for she knew that if any one could heal a leper he was able to do it. Only think of this poor captain, knowing that he should become worse and worse, and yet feeling that there was no hope for him! How true it was in his case, that all the gods in whom he and his master trusted might “have ears, but they heard not;" and that they who make such images, and put their trust in them, are foolish and miserable creatures! But we must stop here for a little while; and while Naaman is thinking what he shall do next, let you and I be truly thankful that we know and love that God who is a hearer and answerer of prayer, and who is ever ready to listen to the cry of the poor and needy.

CHAPTER II.

"To obey is better than sacrifice."-1 Sam. xv. 22.

WELL, Emma, can you tell us what happened to poor Naaman next? Did he turn back, and go with his horses and chariots to the King of Syria, and say that there was no help for him in Israel?

Em. No, Uncle: he went next to the Prophet Elisha.

U. Yes; but who sent for him? Did he go of his own mind, or did Elisha send for him?

W. Elisha heard what the King of Israel had done, and then he sent and told Naaman to come to him.

U. Read the whole (verses 8-10), and then we shall hear the very words of the Prophet.

W. “And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the King of Israel had