aving
the Book of the Law to guide him, he took such measures as natural
conscience suggested; he put away idolatry generally. Thus he set out,
not knowing whither he went. But it is the rule of God's providence,
that those who act up to their light, shall be rewarded with clearer
light. To him that hath, more shall be given. Accordingly, while he
was thus engaged, after a few years, he found the Book of the Law in
the course of his reformations. He was seeking God in the way of His
commandments, and God met him there. He set about repairing the
Temple; and it was in the course of this pious work that the high
priest found a copy of the Law of Moses in the Temple, probably the
original copy which was placed in the ark. Josiah's conduct on this
discovery marks his character. Many men, certainly many young men, who
had been so zealous as he had already shown himself for six years,
would have prided themselves on what they had done, and though they
began humbly, by this time would have become self-willed,
self-confident, and hard-hearted. He had already been engaged in
repressing and punishing God's enemies--this had a tendency to infect
him with spiritual pride: and he had a work of destruction to do--this,
too, might have made him cruel. Far from it: his peculiar praise is
singleness of mind, a pure conscience. Even after years of activity
against idolatry, in the words of the text, "his heart was tender," and
he still "humbled himself before God." He felt full well the
immeasurable distance between himself and his Maker; he felt his own
blindness and weakness; and he still earnestly sought to know his duty
better than he did, and to practise it more entirely. His was not that
stern enthusiasm which has displayed itself in some so-called
reformations, fancying itself God's peculiar choice, and "despising
others." Here we have the pattern of reformers; singleness of heart,
gentleness of temper, in the midst of zeal, resoluteness, and decision
in action. All God's Saints have this union of opposite graces;
Joseph, Moses, Samuel, David, Nehemiah, St. Paul: but in which of them
all is the wonder-working power of grace shown more attractively than
in Josiah? "Out of the strong came forth sweetness[12];" or perhaps,
as we may say more truly, Out of the sweet came forth strength.

Observe, then, his conduct when the Law was read to him: "When the king
had heard the words of the book of the law, _he rent his clot