understand the words, by a t(J;JJ. There were variom1 places in his dominions where some o~ .~he " remnant" of Israel (" whosoever remaineth" : comp. Neh. i. 2, &c. ; Hagg~1 u. _3, &c.) were "sojourning" as Btrangers. In any such "place," if any lHaehtes WIShed _to go up, the men of that place were hereby commanded (the request of_ such a sovereign would be a special command) to assist them by their gifts. But t~1s was not all. The ldng helped the Israelites also in their great undertaking by )us pf!rsonal gifts. So we understand those gifts distinguished as "freewill offer- ings," and mentioned at the end of ver. 4 (and again at end of ver. 6) as being "beside." Not improbably we find tl1ese afterwards partly specified in eh. vi. 3, 4. At a_ny rate, we learn from that passage that tlie king did give of "his own." Both by Ins people, therefore, and by himself he did what he could. So far as a mere pro- clam3:tion could d? such a tliing, he not only permitted, he enabled them to go up. In tlus proclamatwn, as thus understood, may we not see a picture of tliat great declaration of liberty to the captives (Luke iv.18), tlie gospel of Christ Jesus? How m_any the _points of r,:,semblance. Ho,v "definite" its language. "Whosoever w(II, let him come" (Rev. xxii. 17). How "cordial" its invitations. "I will in no wise cast out" (John vi. 37). How" complete II its provisions (John iv. 14; Col. ii. 10, _&c., &c.). How ample and "considerate II its gifts, God Almighty both, as it were, taxrng the whole world for the benefit of his true servants (Rom. viii. 28 ; 1 Cor. iii. 21, 22), and also being pleased to give tliem indeed of" his own" (John iii. 16; Rom. nii. 32). N OTE.-lt is interesting to observe how the intermediate condition of Israel or the Church in the "fourteen generations II between Salathiel and Christ (Matt. i. 17), as above noted, by leading to the establishment of synagogues throughout the Roman world, prepared for the subsequent founding of the New Testament Church cir Israel. See, inter alia, how the synagogues are mentioned in Acts ix. 2, 20 ; xiii. 5, 14, &c. ; xiv. 1; xvi 13 (the Proseucha); xvii. 1, 2 (as his manner was), 10, 17; xviii. 4; xix. 8, &c., &c. The effect also of so many thousand Jews coming up to Jerusalem at the time of Christ's death (tlie Passover) and at the descent of the Spirit (the Pentecost) should be considered in tliis connection.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 1.-Th,e soverdgnty of God. Dualities are everywhere seen. Amongst these are things passive and active ; things ruled over and things ruling. The mechanical heavens are active and rule the passive earth. In animated nature rulers and subjects are individualized ; most remarkably so in the kingdom of men. Passing into the spiritual world, we still find order and rule ; "principalities and powers in the heavenlies "-amongst angels of light, also amongst angels of dark- ness. But behind all these sovereignties and over them is the glorious sovereignty of God. I. TJIE PROVIDENCE OF Gon 1s ALL-CONTROLLING. 1. 11 The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus." (1) Thisbedidbymeans. Josepbussaysthnt Cyrus was shown the places in Isaiah where he was mentioned by name and bis exploits indicated about a century before he was born (see Isa. xliv. 28; xlv. 1-5). Possibly Daniel, who was in Babylon when Cyrus entered it, and the fame of whose Vl:'isdom was far- reacbing, may have pointed them out to him. (2) By his Spirit God made the means he employed effective. 11 The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus." "He can tum the hearts of princes as tlie rivers of the south." Means are ineffectual without his blessing. That blessing should be sought upon all our undertakings. 2. By means of Cyrus God moved the Persian empire. (1) The royal edict was issued, (2) It was vocally proclaimed. Heh., caused a voice to pass, &c. T~is form of proclamation is for the multitude. For the multitude God causes his gospel to be preached. (3) It was also written. This was for the magistrates. Also for reference. The word of the truth of the gospel is also written. This fixes its cer- tainty. 3. The sequel shows how cordial was the resp()'Tl,IJe. As the exodus from Egypt Wall a figure of the emancipation of the believer in Christ from the bondage uf sin, so was the return from the captivity of Babylon. II. 'hrn PROVIDENCE OF Goo lB ALL-PERVADING. 1. He rules the world according CB, J, 1--4.] THE BOOK OF EZRA. 7
to a grand plan. (1) This fact is seen in the Scriptures of propheoy. Broad out- lines of future history of the world drawn (see for example Gen. ix. 25-27). Here consider "the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah" (see Jer. xxv. 12; xxix. 10). (2) Further seen in the conversion of prophecy into history. Exampl,;s abound. Example before us in the restoration of Judah from the captivity of Babylon. The time was "in the first year of Cyrus." This was B.C. 536. Add to this the seventy years of Jeremiah's prophecy, and we have the year B.C. 606, the very year in which "Nebuchadnezzar carried Jehoiakim and the vessels of the house of the Lord to Babylon (see 2 Chron. xxxvi. 61 7). 2. The plan of Providence in- clud/!3 the means to be employed for the accomplishment of his purposes. (1) Stirs up the spirits of men to study his word (see Dan. ix. 2). Stirred up the spirit of Cyrus also. Daniel was stirre~ up t~ pray ; Cyrus, to act.. It is God's ?rder that his people should pray for their blessmgs (see Ezek. xxxv1. 37). There 1s often a connection between the prayers of the good and the better actions of the wicked. 1. Learn that there is no such thing as chance. (1) Afflictions do not spring out of the dust. (2) See the hand of God in our deliverances. 2. Learn that provi- dences are often retributive. (1) The seventy years of captivity were in retribution for seventy sabbatic years in which selfishness refused the land her rest, and con- sequently the poor their privileges ( comp. Lev. xxv. 1-6, and 2 Chron. xx:xvi. 21 ). (2) If we open our eyes we may see the operation of retributive providences every clay. "Be sure your sin will find you out."-J. A. M.