HOMILETJUS. Vera. 1-4.-" A barber's razor." The coming 11iegc and de11tniction of ,Jm.iPalem nre described under tho image of the prophet shaving bis head and then disposin 6 ,, 1 his hair in various ways, 'l'he razor stands for the Divine judgment, the hair for the people, the different treatment of the hair for the difference in the dwm of the people. I. DIVINl!l JUDGMEN"r IS KEEN AS A RAZOR. Some judgments crush, c,thers cut. 'l'he latter do not dispose of their victims at a blow. More is reserved for the hair ihnt has been shaved off; for it is to be burnt, etc. But first of a.II the head is shorn. 'l'hus judgment is progressive. Now, the first stage throws down pride, breaks up the established order, and casts the misernble sufferers into e. state of dismay. This is irresistible. Slender hair cannot resist sharp steel. Feeble man cannot stand up against the penetrating judgment of Heaven. II. IN PUNISHING A NATION Goo PUNISHES INDIVIDUALS. Each hair is a separate growth, and in shaving the whole head the razor cuts throngh individual hairs. It is too commonly imagined that burdens can be shifted from the individual to the nation. But if this were universally done there would be no gain, as the nation is nothing more than the aggregate of the individuals that compose it; and if it were only partially done, injustice would be inflicted on the many for the relief of the few. In Divine jud,,<1JI1ents there is no escaping on account of the wholesale and national character of what happens. Great general ware lay homesteads desolate, bring mourn- ing to separate households, impoverish private businesses, kill individual men. III. IN A GENERAL JUDGMENT THERE ARE VARIETIES OF DOOM. The hair is to be divided out, and the several portions are then to be dealt with in different ways. The Hicgo of Jerusalem results in a variety of dreadful calamities. Some of the citizens pcriHh from fire, famine, or disease; some are killed by the sword; some are driven into exile. No doubt there will be varieties of doom in the future world. All will not uulTor the eamo penalties, and yet tho jll8t punishment of sin mWlt be unspeakably awful in every instance. IV. IN THE MOST IIEAVY JODGMENT SOME ARB SPARED. Ezekiel is to take a few hairs and bind them in his skirts. Eight people wore saved from tho Flood. Three wero Bl\ved from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Tho Christinns who fled to Pella escnped the horrors of the Roman siege of Jerusnlem. Thus the doctrine of the ''.remnant" is ropented\y exemplified. None are so obscure as to be overlooked by God. He is not indiscriminate in his judgment. The faithful are safe in the most overwhelming destruction. Those who l\re God's true people are well guarded and cored for by him. Such hl\ve no occasion to fear any future judgment-day. V. EeoAPE VROM ONE JUDGMENT IS NO ASSURANCE OF FINAL SAFETY. Ver. 4 seclllS to tee.eh that some who escaped from the horrors of the siege would yet be cut off by some later calamity. God's forbearance is no excuse for man's indifference. Judg- ment deferred is not judgment destroyed. It is possible to turn aside from God in one's later days after serving him truly in one's earlier life, and then the safety of the 1m11t must give place to peril.
Ver. 6.-A central positim. Jerusalem was in a central position. Pl\lestiue was in tho very midst of the nations. The highway botwoen Assyria and Egypt rnn through her torritory. Seated on the shores of the Mediterre.nc11n, she was midway bt>tween tho grent empires of the Ee.et and the mysterious world of the West. England is MW in o. position like th11t of l\noient Palestine, but with II lJlUCh larger sweep of circum- ference. This islimd looks eastward to Europe and Asil\, and it is in the highway from the Old World to America. London is the commerci11l capital of the world. England, moro than any other country, hl\s interests and influence in the four quarters of tho globe. 'l'hen there are individul\l mon in central positions. This is so of all persons in posts of authority. It is also true in a very real sense of everybody. Each man is tho centre of bis own horizon; the range of his vision and voice extend !n I\ circle all round him. 'l.'hrow II stone where you will into II pond, and at once 1t becomes 11 centre of epreadina circles of wavelets. We a.re all ccutros of iufluenco. This ccntrt\l rosilion involves groot consequences. SB THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [on. v. 1-17,