y thought it
a very important story. For it is told three times over in the
Bible: first in the Book of Kings, then in the Book of Chronicles,
and again in that of the Prophet Isaiah. Indeed, many chapters of
Isaiah's prophecies speak altogether of this invasion of the
Assyrians and their destruction. But what has this story to do with
us, you may ask? There are no miracles in our day. We can expect
no angels to fight for our armies. We must fight for ourselves.

True, my friends: but the lesson of these old stories, the moral of
them stands good for ever. And I am thankful that this very story
is appointed to be read publicly in church once a year, to put us in
mind of many things, which all men are too apt to forget.

For instance: to learn one lesson out of many which this chapter
may teach us. We are too apt to think that peace and prosperity are
the only signs of God's favour. That if a nation be religious, it
is certain to thrive and be happy. But it is not so. We find from
history that the times in which nations have shewn most nobleness,
most courage, most righteousness, most faith in God, have been times
of trouble, and danger, and terror. When nations have been invaded,
persecuted, trampled under foot by tyrants, then all the good which
was in them has again and again shewed itself. Then to the
astonishment of the world they have become greater than themselves,
and done deeds which win them glory for ever. Then they are truly
purged in the fire of affliction, that whatever dross and trash is
in their hearts may be burnt out, and the pure gold left.

So it was with the Jews in Hezekiah's time. So again in the time of
the Maccabees. So with the old Greeks, when the great Kings of
Persia tried to enslave them. So with the old Romans, when the
Carthaginians set upon them. So it was with us English, three
hundred years ago, when for a time the whole world seemed against
us, because we alone were standing up for the Gospel and the Bible
against the Pope of Rome. Then the king of Spain, who was then as
terrible a conqueror and devourer of nations, as the Assyrians of
old, sent against us the Great Armada. Then was England in greater
danger than she had ever been before, or has been since.

And what came of it? That that dreadful danger brought out more
faith, more courage, than perhaps has ever been among us since.
That when we seemed weakest we were strongest. That while all the
nations