But this is not the part of the story which the sacred writers dwell upon.  In the Book of Kings, where there is another version of Manasseh’s doings, no mention is made whatever of the repentance, and here it is only briefly recorded, and in a somewhat sorrowful tone.

He came back humbled and forgiven, indeed, but not in a happy state of mind.  He came back to a ruined kingdom; to a sinful and demoralised and destitute people; to see everywhere the sorrow, and the evil and the misery and shame which his doings had caused; to be reminded continually that his life had been a great wicked and foolish blunder, and that there was no undoing the mischief which he had done.  For the sake of his repentance he was spared a little longer, but there could be little joy in the remaining years of a life like that.

I think that that is the experience of most men who turn away in their youth from the example and precepts of godly fathers, who reject the truths which make life sober and strong, who betake themselves to thoughts of infidelity and ways of sin, and fancy that they can live life happily without God and prayer.  There comes a time when they are made to feel that their life has been a mistake, that it would have been far better for them to have stuck to the old ways, that those believing fathers whom they laughed at were right after all; perhaps they repent and go back to God at last, and He accepts them; but whether repentant or not, they always carry with them an awful burden.  Shame is upon them for the evil they have done, shame for the life that has been spent to so little purpose, regret and humbling that they cannot undo the blind and guilty past.  Repentance at the best is a poor business when it comes in the evening hours of life.  Better then than never; but better far to have gone with God from the beginning.  That, I think, is the lesson which the wise man will find in the story of the evil king.

AMAZIAH

BY REV.  J. G. GREENHOUGH, M.A.

“And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel?  And the man of God answered, The Lord is able to give thee much more than this.”—­2 CHRON. xxv. 9.

Amaziah, King of Judah, belonged to that numerous class of men who wish to stand well with both worlds.  He was what we call in religious matters half-and-half.  He wanted to secure the favour and protection of God without losing much or anything of the ungodly helps and advantages.  One hardly knows whether to describe him as a bad sort of good man, or a better sort of bad man.  He was like those gentlemen in the Pilgrim’s Progress whom Bunyan names Mr Facing-both-ways and Mr Pliable.  It depended very much on the company he was in, whether he showed a religious face or assumed the other character.