It appears, the Prophets were not ashamed to handle an hammer, or an axe, nor did their Master forbid it; they were mechanics, as well as preachers. The Lord has often called the meanest of men to the highest office in the Church of God, and made them eminently useful: David from keeping Sheep; Elisha from the Plough’s-tail; Amos from gathering Sycamore-fruit; the Apostles from their Barges; and those Prophets to handle the axe, the saw, and the hammer. Their work as Carpenters and Builders, serves to remind them of their spiritual occupation—and it is worthy of observation, that when the Holy Spirit shewed Zechariah in vision, of the future opposition that would be made against the kingdom of Jesus, in the Gospel Dispensation, he shewed him four Horns, and after that, he shewed him four Carpenters, who were to fray them, cut them down; and such were the Apostles and Ministers of the Gospel in the four parts of the World; who were to fell trees, cut them down, lay them low, fit them, square them according to God’s Word, and thus build them up an habitation for God, through the Spirit. Our text relates, that as one was felling a Beam, the head of his Axe fell into the water; (most probably into Jordan). This was a grief to him, for the reason he assigned, so that he cried to Elisha, and said, _Alas_, _master_, _for it is borrowed_! Possessing a spirit of honesty, and being too poor to make it good to the lender, he applied to Elisha, not to work a miracle, that we can tell, but because the man’s Axe was sunk, and the Prophet’s work stopped. Thus, ministers have constantly something to try them in their work; they well know the world is always ready to reproach them, and the glorious cause they espouse, which fills them with grief, but leads them to the dear Saviour, to appear in the love of his heart, and in the power of his arm, for their deliverance, who always kindly assures them his grace is sufficient for them. Some have conjectured that this man was an hypocrite, or a figure of all false preachers, who run unsent of God; who preach a borrowed experience, a borrowed system of religion; who are only in the letter, and not in the spirit; of whose religion and preaching, like the poor man’s Axe, it may be truly said, _Alas_! _master_, _for it was borrowed_. And hence God threatens the Prophets, that steal his words from others, and declares they shall not profit this people at all; nor can unconverted, graceless preachers profit the experimental children of God. A preacher must be taught the plague of his own heart, the spirituality of God’s Law, the value of a precious Jesus, in his Person and Work, by God the Spirit, before he can be useful to the Church. We must first know, then speak what we know, as the Apostle says, _We can but speak of the things which we have seen_, _and we are his witnesses_. Many may borrow words from real saints, and may appear like believers indeed; nor can even the