Thus,  when  Elijah  and  Elisha  went  together  from  Gilgal
to  Jordan,  the  sons  of  the  prophets  came  to  Elisha  with  that
confidential  gossip  which  is  common  in  those  who  think  to
understand  mysteries  by  talking  of  them  :  "  Knowest  thou,"
they  asked,  "  that  the  Lord  will  take  away  thy  master  to
day  ?"  Remember  Elisha's  dignified  reply :  "  xea,  I  know
it :  hold  ye  your  peace."


Epistles  to  the  Corinthians.  723

God  dwells  in  the  thick  darkness.  Silence  knows  more  of
Him  than  speech.  His  Name  is  secret :  therefore  beware
how  you  profane  His  stillness.  The  secret  of  the  Lord  is  witu
them  that  fear  Him,  and  is  felt  by  dwelling  with  God,  by
thinking  of  God,  more  than  by  talking  of  Him.  To  each  of
His  servants  He  giveth  "  a  white  stone,  and  in  the  stone  a
new  name  written,  which  no  man  knoweth  save  he  that  re-
ceiveth  it."


LECTURE  LIX.
2  CORINTHIANS  xii.  6-11.     Sunday  Afternoon,  May  15,  1853.
IN  the  exposition  of  the  earlier  verses  of  this  chapter,  we
experienced  a  difficulty  from  St.  Paul's  speaking  apparently
of  another  man,  owing  to  the  fact  that  he  had  resolved  to
think  of  the  humbled  Paul  as  himself,  and  the  vision-seer  as
not  yet  his  real  self.  This  distinction  is  evident  (vs.  5,  6).
