said to go, 118 the words may be rendered literally, "in the direction of his face," If he faced an impassable barrier, a huge cliff, or a yawning chasm, straightforward progress would be impossible. If he faced a wrong way it would be undesirable. Don Quixote rides straightforward in tilting at a windmill, and only gets an ignominious fall. The youth in •Excelsior' goes straightforward in his alpine-climbing, and is rewarded in the useless death of a fanatic. Heavenly conduct can be continuously direct, because in heaven there is no need of repentance. The first step for us on earth is to face about t-0 the right. Conversion must precede consistency. 2. .A fixed gaze. This is implied in the reference to the direction of the face. The look ahead precedes the movement forward. 'l'he blind man falls into the ditch. If any one walks blindfolded he is sure to move circuitously. The ploughman who ,vould cut a straight furrow must not notice the daisies by bis side or the lark overhead; he must fix his eyes on the end of his course. The Christian must run straight, by "looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of the faith." 3. Harmony of powers and energies. The living creatures of Ezekiel's vision are strangely composite-various faces, calves' feet, birds' wings. Yet faces, feet, and wings all turn in one direction. There is no "schism in the body." The schism in our nature between flesh and spirit, and the consequent contradiction of our aims, accounts for the crooked paths we take. The internal harmony of a life at peace is necessary for a straightforward course. 4. Spiritual direction. The movement is "whither the spirit was to go." The higher nature must conquer, command, and direct the lower. Conscience must be supreme. Spiritual thought and feeling must be paramount. The Spirit of God must be sought and yielded to as the guide and impulse of all the life's course.
Ver. 13.-The bright fire. "And the fire was bright." Either the living creatures themselves seem to be transformed into fire, to be glowing with fire, or the prophet means to tell us that he saw a bright fire in the midst of them. In any case this fire is part of the heavenly vision. It is symbolical of the life of perfection. I. CoNSIDER HOW GOOD IT IS FOR THE FIRE TO BE nRIGHT. There are men in whose breasts the fire of God burns dimly. The embers smoulder in a dull mass, threatening speedy extinction. Love is chilling, faith is fainting; as for. the flame of hope, that is long since dead. On the other hand, the bright fire may stand for fresh warmth of soul, a burning zeal, a passion of devotion, a glow of heavenly love. Let us note the advan- tages of this. 1. Light. The bright fire shines. Truth is obscure in the dull soul, Out of burning love springs the flame that illumines many a dark mystery. 2. Power, Heat is a source of energy in the human body as well as in the furnace of the steam- engine. Spiritual heat is spiritual force. Lethargy and paralysis seize the soul when it bas ceased to glow with heavenly devotion. 3. Purification. The bright fire burns up foul refuse, which would only lie on a dull fire in a lump that gives off evil odours, while it quenches the flames that are too feeble to consume it. Evil thoughts and passions only disappear when they are burnt up in the fires of devotion. 4. Cheering. 'fbere is no pleasanter image than that of an English :fireside. When the winter storm howls out of doors, the open fire within is a centre about which the family gladly gathers, and where domestic life spends its happiest hours. So there is a cheerful glow in tbe company of souls among whom the fire of God burns. Gloomy religion is a sign of cold-heartedness. But the brightest glow of earthly devotion is as a foretaste of the warmth and brightness and joy of God's heavenly home, where he is gathering his children one by one from the frosts and wilds of earth around the great fire of his own love. II. INQUIRE HOW THE DULL FIRE MAY BE BRIGHTENED. The first inquiry must be as to whether the fire is alight at all-whether it has been extinguished, or whether it has ever been lit. No bellows or fuel will bring fire into the cold, black grate. It may be that the fire of devotion to God has never been kindled in a man's breast. For him foe firnt need is for a spark from the heavenly altar. Fire kindles fire. Christ's glowing hc:at sets our dull heart beating in response. "We love him, because be first loved UB." But the fire may be alight and yet it may burn but poorly. Here, however, we must beware of a mistake. The fire that crackles and blazes most has not neces- sarily the most strength and heat,. It may be only the "flash in the pan," while quiet glowing coals will last longer and give out more power. Yet even those may fail. Let Oil, J, 1-28.) THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 11