d be banished from God for ever! The leprosy of the body is
bad, but the leprosy of sin is a thousand times worse. It has cast
angels out of heaven, it has ruined the best and strongest men that
ever lived in the world. Oh, how it has pulled men down! The leprosy
of the body could not do that.

But to proceed. There is one thing about Naaman that I like, and that
is his earnestness of purpose.

HE WAS THOROUGHLY IN EARNEST.

He was quite willing to go one hundred and fifty miles, and to take
the advice of this little maid. A good many people say, "Oh, I don't
like such and such a minister; I should like to know where he comes
from, and what he has done, and whether any bishop has laid his hands
on his head." My dear friends, never mind the minister, it is the
message you want. Why, if some one were to send me a telegraph
message, and the news were important, I shouldn't stop to ask about
the messenger who brought it. I should want to read the news; I should
look at the message, and not at the boy who brought it.

And so it is with God's message. The good news is everything, the
minister nothing. The Syrians looked down with contempt on the
Israelites, and yet this great man was willing to take the good news
at the hands of this little maiden, and listened to the words that
fell from her lips. Why, if I got lost in London, I should be willing
to ask anybody which way to go, even if it were only a shoeblack boy;
and, in point of fact, a boy's word in such a case is often better
than a man's. It is the way I want, not the person who directs me.

HUMAN PRIDE BROUGHT LOW.

But there was one drawback in Naaman's case. Though he was willing to
take the advice of the little girl, he was not willing to take the
remedy. The stumbling-block of pride stood in his way. The remedy the
prophet offered him was a terrible blow to his pride. I have no doubt
he expected a grand reception from the king of Israel, to whom he
brought letters of introduction. He had been victorious on many a
field of battle, and held high rank in the army; perhaps we may call
him Major-General Naaman of Syria, or he might have been higher in
rank even than that; and bearing with him kingly credentials, he
expected no doubt a distinguished reception. But instead of the king
rushing out to meet him, he, when he heard of Naaman's arrival, and
his object, simply rent his mantle, and said, "Am I God, to kill and
to make alive?"

But at last the king bethi