hands. And he said, Open the window eastward"toward the cities beyond the Jordan in possession of the Syrians. The king having opened the latticed window, Elisha bade him shoot. As the arrow sped on its way, the prophet was inspired to say, "The

arrow of the Lord's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them."

And now the prophet tested the faith of the king. Bidding Joash take up the arrows, he said, "Smite upon the ground." Thrice the king smote the ground, and then he stayed his hand. "Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times," Elisha exclaimed in dis

may; "then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice."

The lesson is for all in positions of trust. When God opens the way for the accomplishment of a certain work, and gives assurance of success, the chosen instrumentality must do all in his power to bring about the promised result. In proportion to the enthusiasm and perseverance with which the work is carried forward, will be the success given. God can work miracles for His people only as they act their part with untiring energy. He calls for men of devotion to His work, men of moral courage, with ardent love for souls, and with a zeal that never flags. Such workers will find no task too arduous, no prospect too hopeless; they will labor on, undaunted, until apparent defeat is turned into glorious victory. Not even prison walls, nor the martyr's stake beyond, will cause them to swerve from their purpose of laboring together with God for the upbuilding of His kingdom.

With the counsel and encouragement given Joash, the work of Elisha closed. He upon whom had fallen in full measure the spirit resting upon Elijah, had proved faithful to the end. Never had he wavered. Never had he lost his trust in the power of Omnipotence. Always, when the way before him seemed utterly closed, he had still advanced by faith, and God had honored his confidence, and opened the way before him.

It was not given Elisha to follow his master in a fiery chariot. Upon him the Lord permitted to come a lingering illness. During the long hours of human weakness and suffering, his faith laid fast hold on the 2 Kings 13: 15-19.

promises of God, and he beheld ever about him heavenly messengers of comfort and peace. As on the heights of Dothan he had seen the encircling hosts of heaven, the fiery chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof, so now he was conscious of the presence of sympathizing angels; and he was sustained. Throughout his life he had exercised strong faith; and as he had advanced in a knowledge of God's providences and of His merciful kindness, faith had ripened into an abiding trust in his God; and when death called him, he was ready to rest from his labors.

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." "The righteous hath hope in his death." With the psalmist, Elisha could say in all confidence, "God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for He shall receive me.'' 10 And with rejoicing he could testify: "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth."""As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness.'' 12

8 Ps. 116: 15.

9 Prov. 14: 32.

11 Job 19: 25.

12 Ps. 17: 15.

10 Ps. 49: 15.

"NINEVEH, THAT GREAT CITY"-22

AMONG the cities of the ancient world in the days of divided Israel, one of the greatest was Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian realm. Founded on the fertile bank of the Tigris, soon after the dispersion from the tower of Babel, it had flourished through the centuries, until it had become "an exceeding great city of three days' journey."1

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In the time of its temporal prosperity Nineveh was a center of crime and wickedness. Inspiration has characterized it as "the bloody city, . . . full of lies and robbery. In figurative language, the prophet Nahum compared the Ninevites to a cruel, ravenous lion. "Upon whom," he inquired, "hath not thy wickedness passed continually?""

Yet Nineveh, wicked though it had become, was not wholly given over to evil. He who "beholdeth all the sons of men," and "seeth every precious thing, perceived in that city many who were reaching out

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1 Jonah 3: 3.

2 Nahum 3: 1.

3 Nahum 3: 19.

4 Ps. 33: 13.

5 Job 28: 10.

after something better and higher, and who, if granted opportunity to learn of the living God, would put away their evil deeds, and worship Him. And so in His wisdom God revealed Himself to them in an unmistakable manner, to lead them, if possible, to repentance.

The instrument chosen for this work was the prophet Jonah, the son of Amittai. To him came the word of the Lord, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before Me."

As the prophet thought of the difficulties and seeming impossibilities of this commission, he was tempted to question the wisdom of the call. From a human viewpoint, it seemed as if nothing could be gained by proclaiming such a message in that proud city. He forgot for the moment that the God whom he served was all-wise and all-powerful. While he hesitated, still doubting, Satan overwhelmed him with discouragement. The prophet was seized with a great dread, and he "rose up to flee unto Tarshish." Going to Joppa, and finding there a ship ready to sail, "he paid the fare thereof and went down into it, to go with them."'"

In the charge given him, Jonah had been entrusted with a heavy responsibility; yet He who had bidden him go was able to sustain His servant and grant him success. Had the prophet obeyed unquestioningly, he would have been spared many bitter experiences, and would have been blessed abundantly. Yet in the hour of Jonah's despair the Lord did not desert him. Through a series of trials and strange providences, 6 Jonah 1: 1, 2.

'Jonah 1: 3.