The moment which Elisha referred to in the promise he gave to the Syrians is now arrived; he shows them the man whom they sought, and in what a glory! They know immediately that it is their guide himself.

The delusion has vanished from their eyes, and their astonishment is beyond all measure. They do not, it is true, as yet suspect the object with which they have been led hither. They await the very worst; and though at first, a slight ray of hope glimmered upon them, it vanishes at once on the appearance of the king, on whose brow they read their sentence of death. They are to find, however, that they have not fallen into the hands of a people similar to themselves, but of the people of God, and that they are to glorify these, and learn to distinguish them from the gentiles. This was Elisha's plan; and from this motive it is, that he commands the king in the name of the Lord: "Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master." And Jehoram feels himself bound by the prophet's word and submits. But as he finds he must submit, he resolves at any rate to appear as a king, and gives orders, not merely for bread and water to be brought, but that care shall be taken to prepare a plentiful and sumptuous feast for them.

The anxiety of the strangers, meantime, increases every moment more and more. They put the worst construction upon Elisha's private communications with his prince; and each in spirit says farewell to the beloved friends he has left behind in his distant fatherland, convinced that in a few moments the stroke of death awaits him. But how shall I describe the astonishment, which, like an electric shock, convulses the ranks of the strangers, when all at once, they behold brought

forth and spread out before them, not as they expected, racks and instruments of death, but cushions and tables.

And-scarcely can they trust their eyes-immediately afterwards appear a crowd of royal servants in order to cover the gigantic tables with a brilliant repast. They feel as if transplanted into a fairy world. "How," think they," a feast? But for whom?" That it should be intended for them appears quite inconceivable. Like dreamers they stand there, when Elisha advances towards them and with an air and manner expressive only of kindness and benevolence, invites them to be seated and to eat. Fixed and dumb the gentiles stare at him, as if they would ask him, how he can have the heart to make such mockery of them in their misfortunes. But when Elisha again and still more cordially presses them to come, they perceive then, to their great astonishment, that it is really meant for them, and they obey the invitation. Nevertheless, although they have seated themselves at the tables, they yet want the courage to commence eating. Still as in a dream, they dwell upon the idea of a meal before execution and such things. Then it is that Elisha deems the time now arrived to loosen the last bands of their anxiety; a heaven of kindliness and love beaming from his countenance, he steps before them, he whom they had followed with swords and spears, and invites them in the name of the King of all kings, and in the name of Jehoram: "Refresh yourselves, my friends, and when you are satisfied, take your arms, horses and chariots, and return to the banners of your master!" You may easily imagine with what sensations this announcement was received by them. I fancy I see them before me,

now quite dumb with joyful surprise, as they were just before with terror and dismay, and from shame at having drawn the sword against such a people, and such a man of God, scarcely venturing to raise their eyes, and how then in whole companies they seek the Prophet, in order to fall at his feet with gratitude, and implore his pardon; but Elisha has already vanished. We, however, can hear how they whisper one to the other, that never had enemies been treated with such generosity; that another such nation as Israel did not exist; how they blessed Israel, wished salvation to the man of God, salvation to the land, and salvation to its prince. Deeply moved, nay, overflowing with feelings of gratitude and admiration, they depart from Samaria after the repast. Truly Elisha has kept his word, and has showed them the man whom they sought but not yet knew. They behold Elisha, and that, too, in the glory of a love, of which they hardly had any conception until then, and in Elisha there dawned before them a ray of the glory of Him whom Elisha served, a ray which perhaps sufficed to scatter for ever in the hearts of many among them, the deceptive images of false gods. With this event the Syrian war was at an end. May we not from that judge of the effect which the report by the troops, on their return, made upon their king and their nation? When the history says: "So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel," we have to understand these words, either that these people would not make war against Israel; or we have to complete them with the expression-for awhile, or support the interpretation, that thenceforth single bodies of invading troops would no longer venture into the land of Israel.

In a similar manner as the Syrians in Samaria with the Israel after the flesh, it has come to pass with many in the spiritual Israel. For years, their position towards the people was also a bitter, deeply galling one. They only knew them from a distance, and in the deceptive light of the most extraordinary prejudices, and deemed them a hypocritical race which, although differing from others only in its religious assumption, was always sitting upon the judgment-seat, and condemning, and in presumptuous arrogance pronouncing itself alone blessed. Like a monkish fraternity, among the faithful, they appeared to be narrow-minded, spiritually contracted; as unhealthy in taste and judgment, as fool-hardy in the measure and value they gave to their forms. They fancied they looked upon the waste of a grey, unrefreshing desert, when they only thought of the people. In their vicinity, they felt as if they breathed only a misty, close mephitic atmosphere, in which all the bloom of life must fade; and to them it appeared inconceivable that there should remain one fresh grass-halm of sincerity, whether of love or any other good feeling. But a time came, when it was said to these people-spoken certainly by one greater than Elisha :-"I will show to you the nation against which you wage war." And there struck upon their heart, that "clear light," which awakens man from his self-love. Many of them came, before they were aware of it, towards Zion. They became incorporated, naturalized among the people which they had held as the most contemptible portion of mankind. And what a disenchantment did they not experience there! In what a new, surprising light did the Israel of the Lord present itself to their view! Where was the grey, desert waste, which they had looked upon? In its place

of peace.

there came a verdant beautiful garden, rich in fruits Where was the confined cellar-like atmosphere which they thought to inhale? Ah, they only felt themselves breathed upon by the breath of the most brotherly sincerity. The Lord had already dried away those tears they shed for their sins, whilst those tears remained long in their eyes which the pain at having so grievously wronged their new-found brethren had called forth; and to this day do they remain, and testify to every one that will hear it, that he who seeks truth in the world, who wishes for a life rich in the treasures of heaven, and eternal bliss, can never find them until he has passed through the gate over which is inscribed, "I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me." 1 Ah, if you wish to be united to hearts, which from their foundation beat for you sincerely; if you wish for friends and companions, upon whom you may calculate at all seasons; if you court enjoyments which will never fail or be taken from you; if you think an existence under an open heaven beautiful; a social intercourse, in which greetings of paradise flow delightfully; ah, then delay no longer, but come to Salem, and be convinced that the ancient prophecy is fulfilled: "For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; for joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody." 1 John, xiv. 6. 2 Isaiah, li. 3.