CH. viii. THE STAFF AND THE SACRIFICE. I3 y 



permanent use and value. The supernatural element 

 in them cannot be repeated, for, like all creative acts, 

 it is unique ; but the moral element can be perpetuated, 

 and we can proceed on the lines of action which the 

 miracles have laid down, just as we can use what has 

 been created, for our own purposes, though we cannot 

 create. Looking at the incidents of the miracle of 

 Shunem in this light, they seem to me to afford ad- 

 mirable illustrations of the two prevailing methods of 

 doing good, both on a large scale, as affecting the 

 highest interests of the whole human race ; and on a 

 small scale, as affecting the spiritual and temporal 

 interests of individuals. The one method of doing 

 good, which may be called the impersonal, is illustrated 

 by Gehazi putting the staff of the prophet upon the face 

 of the dead child; the other, or personal method, is 

 illustrated by the prophet stretching himself upon the 

 dead body, and by his own exertions and sacrifices 

 restoring the life that had fled. Let me consider these 

 two illustrations separately. 



:. The impersonal method. Although an inspired 

 prophet, Elisha was a man subject to like passions with 

 ourselves. He had to grow in grace, to increase in 

 faith, and to grope through darkness for light, like any 

 other person. He was not always inspired. There 

 were times when he had to acquire his knowledge as 

 we have to acquire ours, by painful experience, by slow 

 degrees, and repeated failures and disappointments. In 

 regard to this matter of the Shunammite's son, he him- 

 self confesses his ignorance. He says, "The Lord 



