the Author of our being. The greatest men have been those who havo enjoyed the clearest 'l'ision of God. Such vision is possible only to natures endowed with intelligence, with moral capacity, with a free and spiritual faculty. Such natures "look unto him, and are lightened." In bis light they see light. It is the especial privilege of the pure in beart that they" see God." Only tho superstitious and ignorant can suppose that he who is the'Eternal, Immortal, and Invisible is apprehended by sense. He is seen by the cleansed, illumined vision of the soul. I II. MAN JS SUl3JECT TO MANY RINDRANCES • WHICH PREVENT HIM FROM EXPE- J\JENCI~G AND ENJOYING THIS VISION, God is Reason, and the nature must be rational which is to commune with him. 'l'here are many who, gifted with powers of intellect, rise to a rational apprehension of him who is the Eternal Law and Order behind all phenomena which appeal to sense. But God is Righteousness, Holiness, and Love, and the nature must be moral, and morally susceptible and loving, which is to experience a fuller communion with him. Worldliness, the absorption in the outward show of things; sin, the repugnance to submissive contact with the pure and blessed Spirit;- these are the hindrances which prevent men from seeing God. 'L'he eyes of the blind must be opened, the scales must fall from them, before the glorious vision of perfect goodness can be enjoyed, before the spirit of man can sun itself in the light of the Di-.ine countenance. III. THERE WERE MORAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR A SPECIAL AND PROPHETIC VISION OF Goo. Doubtless those who were summoned to be the vehicles of Divine truth to their fellow-men were providentially selected and fitted for the office. Certain times, places, circumstances of various kinds, were chosen with this end in view. But we are more concerned with those moral preparations which made men meet to see "visions of God." We especially note two characteristics of all honoured with this capacity and faculty. 1. Humility and reaptivity. God reveals himself to the lowly, while he rejects the proud. Man must-empty himself of self-conceit, self-righteousness, and self. confidence, in order that he may be filled with the Di vine nature. 2. Aspiration. The look must be heavenward; the desire and longing must be God ward. "As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, 0 God!" IV. PnOPHETIC AID HAS EVER BEEN USED TO ENLIGHTEN :MEN, AND TO ENABLE THl!:M TO EXPERIE:KCE VISIONS oF GoD. As a matter of fact, man does thus help his fellow-man. Ezekiel brought God near to the hearts of the children of the Captivity. Readers of the inspired Scriptures have always been indebted to prophets and apostles for spiritual help; God himself has spoken through the enlightened nature of his special ministers, and his voice has thus reached multitudes who were profoundly in need of teaching, of guidance, of consolation. And this service is being rendered to-day. In the Church of Christ visions of God are daily enjoyed ; and for those visions Christians are indebted to the agency, the ministry, of their fellow-men. 'L'he service is constantly rendered, and is as constantly acknowledged with gratitude and appreciation. APPLICATION. A clearer and completer vision of God is attained by those who are broug!Jt spiritually into contact with Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, and the true Light. A fuller illumination iB effected by the agency of the Holy Spirit, whose presence has, ever since Pentecost, more abundantly enriched the Church. The children of the Captivity were indebted to Ezekiel for aid in recognizing and rejoicing in the eternal light; but we are far more under obligation to him who has come forth from God, and has gone to God, and who has assured us, "He that bath seen me bath seen the Father."-T.
Ver. 3.~The Lord's word and the Lord's hand. The prophet felt and knew that God was drawing near to him. This experience he could only express in language drawn from human relations. Spiritual realities were by him expressed in terms derived from the acts of bodily life. The "word" and the " hand" here spoken of are metaphorical, but they are strictly true; i.e. the just idea is, as far as may be by language and emblem, thus conveyed to our mind. If God reveal himself to man, it must be by means of the characteristics of man's spiritual nature; and such characteristics are pictured in the expressions here employed by Ezekiel. The "word" of the Lord means one thing, the "hand" another; yet tbe employment of both expressions is necessary in order to couvey, with anything like completeness, the penetration of the prophet's nature by Divine truth, the commission of the prophet to undertake Divine service. OH, I, 1-28,] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 15