when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed." Why this distress of the woodman? Was it because the axe was borrowed and he had not the wherewith to pay, or because he was checked in his operation? Perhaps both were evidences of his distress. The former I trow the greater. In all worthy enterprises on this earth difficulties crop up unawares. Perhaps the best enterprises encounter the greatest difficulties. The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong." But difficulties are in truth blessings in disguise. They challenge the courage, and rouse the forces of the worker. They bring out his manhood. They are to the true worker what tempests are to young trees, they deepen the roots and strength

in doing that which involves no struggle.

IV. This church-extension enterprise

OBTAINED SUPER

NATURAL HELP WHEN NEEDED.

When the man who had lost his axe and was crying out in distress, Elisha, the "Man of God said, where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither, and the iron did swim. Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it." Elisha here by raising the axe and making the iron swim, overcame a law of naturethe law of gravitation. Up to this point in this enterprise there did not seem to be any supernatural interposition.

They prosecuted their journeying, they cut down the timber, they carried their beams all by their own natural skill and force. They did not require supernatural aid. But now one of them did, and it came. We must not expect any special power from heaven to do that which we have the natural force to accomplish ourselves. "As thy days, so thy strength shall be.”

King of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber." How came Elisha to know it? He was far away from the monarch's bedchamber-away in Israel. It was Elisha's God who made the communication to him. Solemn thought. There is one who knoweth what is in manin every man. He reads all secrets, He "understandeth our thoughts afar off." (3) The revelations of a wicked man's secrets will frustrate his designs. It did so in the case of this king. Another thing here which should be looked into is

II. TERROR DISPELLED. When the Syrian monarch found out that Elisha was in Israel, he despatched a spy to find him out, and when he discovered that he was in Dothan, "he sent thither horses and chariots, and a great host, and they came by night, and compassed the city about." All this struck a panic into the heart of Elisha's servant, and he cried out, "Alas, my master! how shall we do?" How did Elisha disarm his servant of this terrible fear? By assuring him that there were more on their side than on the side of their

enemies.

"Fear not, for they

that be with us are more than be with them." This assurance he gave not merely with words but by ocular demonstration. "And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord I pray Thee, open his eyes that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and saw; and, behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire, round about Elisha." It is generally supposed that the reference is here to angels that excel in strength, they are in truth the body-guard of the good. They are more in their number than our foes, more in their power, in their invincible determination, in their authority too. But to see them we must have our spiritual eyes open as the prophet's eyes were now.* Faith in the wonderful resources which heaven has provided for the good will dispel all fear. Another point to be observed here is

III. SUPERNATURALNESS MANIFESTED. Supernaturalness is here manifested: (1) In opening the eyes of the prophet's servant. (2) In bringing under his notice the mountain which was full of horses and chariots of fire. (3) In smiting the blindness of the armies of

Assyria. "And when they came down (that is the Assyrian army) Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray Thee, with blindness; And he smote them with blindness, according to the word of Elisha." These armed legions whose eyes were glaring with vengeance before, were now in midnight darkness. In this state Elisha becomes their guide and conducts them to Samaria, and when there another supernatural act was performed in the restoration of their sight, and then they beheld their terrible position. "Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha." "Behold, they were in the midst of Samaria," in the hands of the King of Israel. Another point worthy of notice is

furiously we may suppose revenge flamed in every member of the army as well as the soul of the royal master, as they "compassed the city about." And this revenge would no doubt be intensified when they found that Elisha had betrayed them into the hands of their enemies. They were in the midst of Samaria, within the very grasp of the King of Israel, and at his mercy. How would Elisha advise the King of Israel to treat these revengeful legions now. "And the King of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, my father, shall I smite them? Shall I smite them?" What was the prophet's advice? Did he say destroy them? No. He answered, "Thou shall not smite them." Did he say, spare their lives, but make them slaves, take them into captivity and make them beasts of burden? Did he say deprive them of all food and starve them to death? No, he said, "Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master. And he prepared great provisions for them: And when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master." What was the result of this generous treatment? Did they go away with the old passion of