The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-01


the marks of great man. This fam
Gus Syrian acted condescendingly to-
wards the God of Israel. In his heart
he felt that he was doing great hon
| or to the God of the Hebrews, that he
was almost STOPPING beneath his dig
nifty to make the journey. So the
wise prophet knew his place and his
duty AS a doughty missionary once
said to Russian ambassador who OBJ
Jected to the opening of Protestant
mission in a certain country, MY
King and Master, the Lord Jesus
Christ will never ask permission c.
the car of all the Russias to have His
gospel preached" Every preacher
may well take leaf from Elisha's
notebook in his attitude toward Naa-
man. No servile trucking to wealth
there. The picture of the horses and
chariot of the great Naaman stand
ing at the door of the minister of God
is a good one to engrave on the MEM
Knox before Mary, Queen of Scots.
After all, though, the real great
ness of any prophet is his message;
and Elisha sent word to Naaman how
he might be cured, by bathing seven
times in the Jordan. The oriental
is always keen on any point OF dig
nifty or ceremony, and, already ruffled
over the failure of Elisha to appear in
person, Naaman's indignation broke
out when he was told to do so simple
a thing as to battle in the river of the
Jews.
Religion and Expectations.
Just add a darkened room, and
few spooks and table rappings to re-
ligion, and behold its vogue with
many. Or put an oriental turban on
| it, and let it speak the high sounding
inanities of a supposed theosophy or
transcendentalism, and see people
troop to it. The very simplicity of
Gods great revelation to man, and
his requirement of man, battles multi
tudes, even as it baffled Naaman. He
was prepared to do some hard thing.
He avowed that he expected some
hocus-pocus of a mysterious perform
ance at the hands of Elisha-but to
go battle in the muddy Jordan, and his
home beside the sparkling waters OF
the ALBANIA and Pharphar! Preposter-
ousi
The great soldier had yet to learn
how completely the military principle
of obedience runs through all Gods
dealings with men. 1t was not the act
of bathing in the Jordan that counted
(although tens of thousands of ignor-
ant persons every year make the
arduous pilgrimage to do this very
thing) but the yielding up of his will
to God. "God will not be king at all,
unless he can be king over ALL" Is the
wise word of one of the old fathers;
Let Naaman show that he accepted
Jehovah's way and all would be well
with him. After all, that is all there
is to religion-just letting God have
his way. Salvation is not otfered on
any basis such as man would devise;
its very simplicity argues for its super
natural origin.
A CRATER of Long Ago.
Fortunately, wiser counsels prevail
ed with Naaman. He obeyed the
prophets directions, and was made as
clean and whole as little child. In
an effulgence of gratitude, he wanted
to make the prophet a present. Still
Elisha was clearheaded. He would
not do aught that might seem to re-
lieve the grateful soldier of his obli-
praise belong only to God.
Love of money makes the CRATER.
Gehazi, the prophets servant, was
more practical" than his master. He
was the kind of "businesslike" church
officer who would take a contribution
from anybody, no matter how iniquit-
ously the money was made, of what
its Interior purpose. So Gehazl re
solved to get share of Naaman's
lavish store of gifts for himself, in the
name of his master. 1 am reminded
of a recent experience of my own in
Naaman's own city of Damascus. 1
had come into pleasant relations with
the vail, or governor, in connection
with some Mecca pilgrims whom 1 was
helping out of a plight. In conformity
with the usage of the East I gave to
the Wallis orderly some "bachscheech"
as left the building. But the rascal
want and demand more, on the basis
of what his master had done!
There is justice, as well as love, with
God and his representatives; and &C.
hazi's graft brought upon him the
awfu, ha lePr %syt from which Naa man
with the divine mercy may feel the
divine wrath.