the other." But he repented. We read that "when he was in affliction, he
besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of
his fathers, and prayed unto him; and he was intreated of him, and heard
his supplication."

Yes; but we read that "notwithstanding the Lord turned not from the
fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against
Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked
him withal."

Now there we have an example of the fact that a whole people was
ordained to suffering in consequence of the evil wrought by one man.
Such suffering cannot be penal, for we are told very plainly that it was
due to the wickedness of one person; and even he had repented and was
forgiven. In that case there was no room for penalty. It would be
entirely out of place. But there was room for discipline. The monstrous
evil that Manasseh had wrought would in part survive, notwithstanding
his personal reformation. So the suffering could not be penalty; but it
could be chastisement. There might be "the fierceness of great wrath,"
as we read there was; but there was love behind. The people might not
have the spiritual discernment to see their suffering in that light; but
we have a clearer revelation than they had; so we read that "whom the
Lord loveth He chasteneth."

Even now we witness the sad spectacle of God's own people--the very
people to whom we have been referring--being made a byword and a
hissing among the nations. And wherefore? Because of sin? Certainly. But
not as a punishment for sin, but as a necessary means of reformation. A
superficial view of the case may deem it punishment; but a deeper view
recognizes it as chastisement. The fundamental fact is, that Christ