LIB. XIX. Elifha l1!ith Naaman. .--....=-.ll'thefullfll(wersofgracewhichfellupon lfrae/&f•dah,yetfome drops did light upon their neighbours:If l{rA<l be theworfefor her neereneffe to Syria, Syria is the better for the vicinity of lfrael. Amongtl: the wortl: ofGods enemies fome are fingled outformercy. Naaman was a great Warriour,an honorable Courtier,yeta Leper· no difeofe incident to the body is fo natl:y,fo loathfome, as Lepra: can fecure no man from the moll: odious and wearifome condition1 A bow little pleafuredid this Syria" Peere take, to be tl:ooped to by others, whiles he hated to fee himfelfe:Even thofe that honourfd him,avoidedhim1neither was heo- B therthen abhorred ofthofe that flattered him, yea his hand could not move to his mouth without his owne dmftation; the bafeft flave of Syria would not change skins with him, if he might have his honour to boot: Thus hath the wife G()d thought meet to faucethe valour,dignity,renown,vittories,ofthe famous General! ofthe SyriaTJJ Seldomeever wasanymanferved with fimple favours;Thefecompofitions make bothour croffes tolerable, and our bleffings wholefome. The body of Naama» was not more tainted with his lepry,then his foul was tainted with Rimmon; and be !ides his Idolatry, hewas a profeffed enemyto lfratl, and fucceffeful inhis enmity:How far doth God fetch about his p~rpofes~ The leprofit, the hotl:ility of Naaman lhall be the occafions ofhis falvation; That leprofie lball make his foul found;That hotl:ility.lhalladopt him a fon ofGod\ In fame profpe- C rous in-rodes, that the Syrians under Naama»scondu61: have made into the land of lfrael, a little maid is taken captive; lhe lhall attend on Naamans wifC~and lhall fuggeft to'hermitl:reffe themir&culous cures ofElifha. Afmal chink may ferve to let in much light; Her report findes credit in the Courr, and begets borha letter from the Ki11gand a journey ofhis Peere; whiles the Syrians thought ofnothing but their booty,they bring happineffe to the houfe of Naaman; The captivity of a poore Hebrew girle is ameans to make the greatdt Lordof Syria,a fubjecho GOd;ltisgood to acquaint our children withtheworkesofGod,with the praifes of his Prophets. Littledoe we know how they may in;1prove thisknowledge,and whither they may cary it;perhops the remorefi Nations may light their candle at their coale:Eventhe weakell: inrimati6s may not be negletled:Achild,a fervant,a firager may fay that, which we may bleffeGod to have heard: How well did it become rhe mouth ofan D I{TAelite to exrolla Prophet; towith the cureofher mafier,rhough an Aramitt;toadvife that journey,unto the man ofGod,by whom both body and foul might be cored: True Religion reacheth us pious and charitable refpetls to our Governours, though Aliens from the Common-wealth of God. No man that I heare blames the credulity of N•am•n; upon no other ground doth the King of Syria fend his chiefe Peere, with his letters to the King of I{rat/: from his hands requiring the Cure: The Syrian fuppofed, that what ever a fubjetl could doe,a Sovcraigne might command; that fuch a Prophet could neither be out ofthe knowledge, nor out ofthe obedience to his Prince; never did he dreame of E any exemption, butimaginin~ feh.ram to be !'o leffe aKing ofProphets,thenof people,and Elifh• no leffe a fubjetl,rhen a Seer,he wmes,Now••hm thtt letter tt come to t'htt, behold, I h~tvt htrtwith flnt Naaman my [trvA1ft to thee, that thoumaift rtGO'Utr himofhis ltprojie. Great is the power ofPrinces1everymans hand is theirs,whether for skill,or for tl:rength:Be!ides the eminency ofrheir own gifrs,all the fubordinate excellencies oftheir fubjetts,are no leffe ar their fcrvice, then if theywere inherent in their perfons:Greatmcnare wanting to their ownperfettions,iftheydo notboth know,and exercife the graces of their inferiors. . The Kingof lfr.,l cannot read the letter without amazement ofheatt, Without rending of garments,&faies;Am!God,,. kil & t91nake alive,that thisma»ftnds tome, to recoveraman ofhis lqrojielWhmfore c.njider,&fte,Ipr"'J you,ho,. heftektth A q•arrtll
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