God. And their composition, relo.tione, and movements teach us that every variety and order of life is employed in his providential government of our world. The endeavour has been made to assign a specific meaning to each different portion of the living creo.tures. The symbolism unfolds itself to us thus: "The likeness of a man" indicates mental o.nd moral powers; e.g. reason, conscience, affections, etc. " The hands of a. man" indicate dexterity, power of skilful and active service. "The face of a lion" . suggests strength (cf. Prov. xxx. 30), courage (cf. Prov. xxviii. 1), and sovereignty. "'l'he face of an ox " leads us to think of patient, diligent, productive labour (cf. Prov. xiv. 4). And " the face of an eagle" suggests the power of soaring high above the earth (cf. Job xxxix. 27; Isa. xl. 31), the keen, searching gaze, and the far-extended vision. In the evolution of his providential government God employs powers of every kind and degree. The convincing reasoner and the eloquent speaker, the man of brilliant imagination and the man of patient investigation, the skilful inventor and the diligent handicraftsman, and men and women and little children even, having ~nly feeble and commonplace abilities, God uses in the working out of his great designs. All creatures, from the lowest insect to the highest intelligence, are subject to his control and subservient to his purposes. It is doubtful whether the symbolism of the living creatures includes the angelic creation. But apart from this vision, we know that angels are employed by God in bis providential government of our world. Illus- trations of such employment abound iu the sacred Scriptures. Endless in variety and countless in number are the agents which be employs. 2. The great forces of nature are thus employed by God. (Vers. 15-21.) The wheels symbolize the powers of nature. Their relation to the living creatures, and the relation of both to the great God, i8 thus pictorially set forth by Hengstenberg: "The whole was designed to represem a kind of vehicle, in which the Lord occnpied the place of the charioteer, the living creature the place of the chariot, under which are the powers of nature represented by the wheels." This interpretation of the meaning of the wheels is confirmed by Ps. xviii. 10: "He rode upon a cherub, and did fly; yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind;" Ps. civ. 3, 4: "Who maketh the clouds bis cha.riot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind," etc.; Ps. cxlviii. 8: "Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word." All the forces of nature serve God, and are used by him in the execution of his purposes. In the cas13 before us these powers are represented as about to be employed for judgment upon the unfaithful Jews. But they are aiso employed for purposes of mercy and grace. He can use them for the protection of his faithful people, as well as for the punishment of the rebellious. lJ. 'l'RE CHIEF CIIARACTERISTICS OF THE OPERATION OF THE PROVIDENTL!.L GOVERN- MENT OF GoD. 1. The immensity of its e:ctent. It is said of the rings, or circumference, of the wheels that "they were so high that they were dreadful;" or, "they were both high and terrible." How vast are the designs and doings of the providence of God I That providence goes back into the immeasurable and awful past; it reaches onward into the endless future. It embraces an infinity of events, some of which are of stupendous importance. 2. The complexity of its movements. ·we read of the wheels that "their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel" (ver. 16). "The wheels are not ordinary wheels," says Hengstenberg, "but double wheels, one set into the other." Looking upon the working of au elaborate and intricate machine or engine, the uninitiated are bewildered by the movements, the relations and bearings of which they know not. Somewhat thus do we contempltite the operations of the providential government of God. "'l'hy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not !mown;" "Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are bis jndgments, and his ways past finding out I" Unfathomo.bly deep to us are the mysteries of the Divine providence. 3. The wisdom of its direction. The rings of the wheels ,vere "full of eyes round about them" (ver. 18). Eyes are the symbob of intelligence. The forces of nature are not blind or aimless in their movemeuts, but are directed by the All-wi8e. And however inexplicable to us the workings of the providential government of God may be, they are guided and controlled by infinite intelligence and goodness. 4. The harmoniousness of its operation. "When tbe living creatures went, the wheels went by them," etc. (vers. 19-21). One Spirit animated the whole. The one Power which employs and controls the whole living creation also governs tho inanimate forces of 28 THE BOOK OF '£HE PROPHET EZEKIEt. roR, I, 1-28,,
nature, so that all co-operate towards one great and blessed end. Thou"h the "reat powers at work in our world often seem to us to be in conflict, yet in h~ provideuce God is prompting some, and restraining others, for the accomplishment of his own gracious and glorious purposes. "All things work together for good to them that love God." 5. The progressiver:,ess of its mov,ments. "'!'hey turned not when they went; -i;hey went every one straight forward" (ver. 9); "They went every one straight forward : whither the spirit was to go, they went; they turned not when they went" (ver. 12). Real and great progress is being made in our world. The former days were not better than these. The social condition of the people improves; education advances along the whole line; science makes great and rapid strides; in the apprehension of revealed truth there is marked progress; and Christian principles and practice are ever extending their empire. Under the providential government of God, the world is movin"0 not to the darkness of midnight, but to the splendours of noontide. '