The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 1 — Section 67

which thrill the spectator with emotion. The work is English, commonple.ce, without much adventure. But it is only the superficial mind that should be discouraged by so childish an objection when real need presses. 2. Roughness of character. '!'ho back- woodsmen may not speak a rough dialect, but the freedom of their life tempts into their neighbourhood some of the wildest characters. 'l'wo classes emigrate-the most energetic and best wor~me1;1, who go of the_ir own accord ; and the most worthless persons, who are sent by theu friends. We ship our "ne'er-do-weels" off to the colonies. But change of scene does not bring change of character. '!'hose who were scoundrels in the streets of London do not become all of a sudden respectable citizens in Melbourne. While we continue to pour into our colonies the scum and refuse of the old world, a great burden is being laid upon these young communities to protect themselves from dangerous influences. 3. Width of area. 'l'he colonies are vast in extent, yet they are but thinly peopled. The colonial missionary must travel far. His parish may be as large as a county. Men of great energy and devotion are required for such work, III. THE ENCOURAGEMENTS OF COLONIAL MISSIONS. 1. Readiness of access. Travel- :ing is safe. There are no native chiefs to conciliate. The interference of a foreign government has not to be considered. The colonists speak our own language, and thus no time is spent in learning a foreign tongue before the real work begins. The missionary has the claims of kinship to help him. 2. .A great future. No missions have been more successful than those to the South Sea Islaads, yet the population of those islands is rapidly dwindling away, and in course of time all effects of the missions will have vanished, simply because the people will have died out. It is just the opposite in the case of our colonies. There population advances by leaps and bounds. Greater Britain is already one of the wonders of the world. If Christianity loses hold of this young giant, the ultimate result will be disastrous to mankind; but if the colonies are won for Christ, the freshest, strongest, most promising life of the world is secured for the cause of truth and righteousness. Moreover, no work is so remunerative in result as successful colonial missions. The new Churches have only to be planted and fostered for a time. Before long they will stand alone and become centres of usefulness. While foreign mission Churches are too much like the ivy, that must always cling to an external support, colonial Churches are like the saplings, needing a stake for a time to keep them straight and to help them to stand against the gale, but which can soon dispense with that aid. Le.stly, where colonies are planted among native races, colonial missions may save these poor creatures from the ruin which bad white men always bring, and thus the colonies may become centres of Christianizing influence for the heathen. Ver. 9.-.Adamant. I. WHAT IT IS FOR THE FOREHEAD TO DE OF ADAMANT. 1. It is external hardness. Zecbariah writes of those who "made their hearts as an adamant stone" ( vii. 12). Ezekiel is not to do this; he only has his forehead made as adamant. The adamantine heart is a sign of sin. It is sure to fail in all attempts at spiritual work. We must feel sympathy with those whom we would help. But it is possible to have a "tough skin with a tender heart." Unfortunately, those people who are pacbydermatous are also too often tough-hearted. Yet the forehead of adamant does not imply want of sensitiveness to the finer feelings. It only means a certain callousness in regard to external criticism. 2. It is hardness against hindrances w progress. The adamant is to be in the forehead, in the front. It is like Christian's armour, with a good breastplate, but no protection for bis back. We want most strength and security in advancing. 3. It is hardness before the seat <if thought. The forehead guards the brain. Mu.eh may move our hearts, but no human considerations should shake our convictions. 4. It is hardness before a vital organ. The brain must be sheltered, or the life will be forfeited. We may bear attacks on the outworks of our religious life. The crowning citadel of faith must not be touched. II. WHY THE FOREHEAD SHOULD BE OF ADAMANT. 1. It is required by the opposi- tion of men. Ezekiel had to face fierce opponents. The servant of truth must often encounter unpopularity. If men always speak well of a Divine messenger, there is a suspicion of weakness in following the popular whims. There must be unpleasant truths for the faithful preacher to declare. 2. It is necessary for success. The prophet must guide, mould, influence men. If he is but a weather-cock, his mission has failed. Often he must set himself like a rock in the middle of a. raging torrent. Decision and (JU, III, 1-27.J THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 53