THE CALL OF THE LAND 



be smitten, but ordered them fed and set 

 free to march back to their own camp. In 

 return he was received with rare honor at 

 the Syrian court, and consulted in reference 

 to the high affairs of that foreign state. 



From all this we see Elisha's ideal touch- 

 ing the attitude which a good man ought 

 to hold toward public matters. A devotee 

 of religion, specially called to teach the 

 divine will, to promote righteousness in the 

 land, he was interested in everything that 

 went on in the state if it was good, to 

 promote it; if evil, to denounce it and put it 

 down. He thought of his public spirit not 

 as inimical to his religious experience or 

 influence, but as the direct and most 

 precious product of the Eternal Spirit man- 

 ifesting itself in him. 



Herein this distinguished old worthy 

 beautifully anticipates Christianity. Both 

 in his precepts and in his example Jesus en- 

 joins men to make all human interests their 

 care. We are to love our neighbors as our- 

 selves, a spirit leading a man to do for others 

 all the good he can, spending himself for 



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