2 Kings 2:23-26
"23 He went up from there to Bethel, and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” 24 And he turned around, and when he saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys. 25 From there he went on to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria."
As a commentary on the solemn principle underlying the story of the young scoffers, we give the following comparatively modern instance, recorded of a time of great spiritual awakening, during the 1859 revival, in Banff; 'While the gospel became the savour of life unto life to so many, it became the savour of death to others. Some six or seven gentlemen came night after night to the meetings to mock. They did not take seats like the others, but always stood about the passages leaning against the pillars, or in such other position as made the purpose for which they were there very evident. Without entering more fully into particulars, I may say that a climax in their daring ungodliness was reached by Dr. -------- kneeling down, as if un- der the power that had prostrated so many, and making a pretence of crying for mercy, as had been arranged by his ungodly companions. James Turner (the evangelist), whom it was not easy to deceive, saw through the thing at once, and warned them most solemnly, and went so far as to say publicly that if they did not repent, 'My God', said he, 'before a twelve-month will sweep you off the face of the earth.' These awful words were heard and noted by many at the time, but they were still more so when, within the prescribed space, all of them had died untimely deaths - some by their own hands under very awful circumstances.' God is not mocked.