CHAPTER III.

THE WIDOW OF ONE OF THE SONS OF THE PROPHETS.

Addressed to the Widows of Ministers left in destitute circumstances.

Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. And it came to pass, when

the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.”—2 Kings, iv. 1-7.

By the sons of the prophets we are to understand those who were collected into a kind of colleges, where persons, called of God to the prophetic office, were trained for their future duties, under the superintendance of inspired men. Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, and probably some others, were appointed to this high and responsible station. Among the disciples of these great teachers were some married men. One of these, the scripture above quoted, tells us died, leaving a widow involved in debt contracted by her husband, and with two children to support. She was sued for payment, and as the law allowed a claim for personal service, in default of any other means of discharging the debt, a claim which extended, according to the interpretation of the Jews, to a man's children, her creditors were about to seize her two sons. Denied mercy by the claimant, she applied in her extremity to Elisha, with the hope probably of obtaining his interposition with the chief creditor, or with some other persons able to befriend her. She reminds the prophet of the godly character of her husband; of his own acquaintance with him; and of his knowledge of the truth of her testimony to his blameless conduct. From this it seems

fair to conclude, that his debts had not been contracted by prodigality, luxury, or imprudence. Elisha listened to the widow's tale of woe, and then by an impulse from God, relieved her wants by the performance of a miracle. Still it was a miracle that required some exertion on her part after the means of supply were provided. Upon enquiring into what articles of value or support she had left in the house, it was found that all which poverty had left her, was a small pot of oil, which, as is well known, was then used both for diet and as an unguent. This she was directed to produce, and at the same time, to go and borrow all the vessels which she could well get together in a short time, and in a small room. These having been procured, she was directed to pour the oil into them. She complied with the orders, and the oil continued to flow and to fill the vessels, till there was enough, upon its being sold, to pay her husband's debts, and save her sons from servitude.

Here again was an instance of faith. She knew the word of the prophet was the word of God, and she believed it, confidently expecting the relief which she needed. Elisha, it is true, had not in so many words promised to grant a supply of oil, but she understood his command to berrow the vessels, in this light, and therefore collected them, both large and numerous ones. And the oil continued flowing as long as she had any empty vessels to receive it, and had her faith been greater, her supply

had been raised in proportion to it. We are never straitened in God, in his power, or grace, but in ourselves. It is our faith that stops, or fails, and not his promise. He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. "And if this pot of oil was not exhausted as long as there were vessels to receive it, shall we fear lest the 'golden oil' (of divine grace) which flows from the very root and fatness of the good olive tree, should fail, as long as there are any lamps to be supplied from it?"Zech. iv. 12. How well and deservedly is faith. called precious. How many has it sanctified, comforted, and saved. Why the prophet relieved her in this way, we know not, except it were to bring out her faith, her industry, and her honesty, all in one view, and in beautiful harmony. Certain it is that all these were exhibited; her faith in receiving the promise; her industry in collecting and selling the oil; and her honesty in paying the debts with the produce.

"Your fathers where are they, and the prophets do they live for ever?" All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: but the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word, which by the gospel is preached unto you."-1 Peter i. 24, 25. Yes, the word is immortal, but the preacher of it is mortal. Ministers die like other men. Life worketh in their hearers, but death in them. They not only die in their work,

but often by it. They sink to the grave worn out by labour, and usually leave their widows and children ill provided with the riches of this world. Here and there an individual attains, by the bounty of Providence, to comparative wealth, but these are the exceptions: the general rule of ministerial circumstances is, if not poverty, an approach to it. To them it is given to say, with the great apostle of the Gentiles, "poor, yet making many rich." Blessed with talents, which, in other occupations, would be sufficient to procure competence, if not wealth, they give themselves in most cases, wholly to the things of the Lord. The consequence of this is, that with the most rigid economy, they are with difficulty able to obtain support, much less to amass property. Considering their acquirements, mental capacity, and rank in life, they are the worst paid public functionaries in existence. But they look not for their reward from men, or upon earth. They serve a master infinitely rich, and infinitely generous, and amidst much ingratitude and injustice from their flocks, they can leave their services and their reward with him. It is vain, however, to deny that it costs them many an anxious hour, when breaking down under their exertions, to contemplate the moment of their removal from this world. Not that they have any thing to fear for themselves; for them it will be better to depart and to be with Christ. They are going to rest from all their labours, ard all their cares-but the prospect