flourish. The elect are still the few. But it shall not always be so. The turnina- point in their fortune is repentance. The internal change must always precede the oxternal. I. Till OCCASION OF TIDS REPENTANCE. The occasion was affliction. Until disaster defeat, and exile came, no change of mind appeared. The ploughshare of calamity broke up the hard and stolid soil, so that the sweet energies of grace might find an entrance. Judgment alone will not soften and subdue the proud will of man; but judg:ment and mercy combined have an almighty efficacy. No teacher is so effective as experience. The scattered few, who had escaped the all-devouring sword, pondered, reflected, mourned, II. THE REALITY OF THEm REPENTANCE. There is a spurious repentance which is only remorse-i.e. regret that the sin has been detected. But real repentance has respect to God. The sorrow does not so much respect self. It is grief that God is pained-that his heart is broke? by 01;1-r perversity an~ folly. The old selfishness has disappeared, and God has obtamed his proper place m the soul. If so, repentance is real. III. THE PROOF OF BEPENTANCI!l. The proof indicated is self-loathing, self-condem- nation. '.l'he things formerly loved are now hated. More than this, the penitent passes sentence on himself. Re censures himself more severely than others censure him. His past deeds are as obnoxious to him as a dunghill, and that dunghill is within him. His own former self is detestable. He hates himself. No penalty seems for him too heavy. His chief fear is lest such sin as his should be beyond the possi- bility of mercy. IV. THE EFFECT OF REPENTANCE. The result is intimate acquaintafice with God- inward conviction of his truth and faithfulness. This knowledge of God is kno1vledge gained by experience. Such knowledge brings with it trust, admiration, love, peace; yea, life itself. "They that know thy Name will put their trust in thee." Formerly they were the dupes of falsehood ; they wandered in darkness self-created, Now they are smitten by tbe charms of truth, and loyally follow the Truth.-D. Vere. 11-14.-Ministerial earnestness. Earnestness is simply a fitting sense of duty. Earnestness is the outcome of reality. If a man has real conviction of his duty, and real compassion for others, he must be in earnest. Genuine earnestness is not equivalent to noise, display, hysterical excitement. It is wise and appropriate expres- sion of feeling, and suitable to the occasion. J, EARNESTNESS IS MANIFEST Ill GESTURE AND ACT, AB WELL AB IN SPEECH, The man who has a due sense of his momentous office will adopt every device that will gain a hearing or leave due impression upon his hearers. Earnestness is contagious. If the speaker is in earnest, the hearer will feel the glow. There is eloquence in a look, in a tone, in a movement of the hand, in a gesture of the body. Tears are impressive appeals. God commands this whole-souled earnestness. To get an entrance for God's message into human hearts, every door must be tried, every avenue explored. To the extent that we can reach and move the obdurate souls of men, we are responsible for the result. II. EARNESTNESS IS BEEN IN UNTIRmG REPETITIONS OF Gon's MESSAGE. It may be an irksome task to the prophet to repeat often the same facts and counsels; but he is not to think of himself, nor of his own tastes. He is a servant, not a master. To repeat the same things is proof of their real and vital importance. We cannot substitute other messages, because other messages have not the same importance. The constant dropping of water wears out even granite rocks; and, to conquer the callous natures of men there is required "line upon line; precept upon precept; here a little, and there a. little." III. EARNESTNESS IS BEEN IN ADDRESSmG EVERY BIDE OF MAN'S NATURE. Some men are moved by fear, some by shame, some by the prospect of public dishonour. Many principles of human character are common to all men, yet do not dwell in men in equal proportions. In some, the moral sense is paramount. In some, freling is pre- dominant. In some, judgment and the logical faculty are supreme. The earnest prophet will appeal to each principle in turn. The approaching overthrow of the idols would impress some minds, The slaughter of their brethren and children beside the EZEKIEL, 1 114 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [on. v1. 1-14.
idolatrous altars would affect others. Exile and plague and premature death would touch the hearts of many. .And the prospect of desolation in their own loved land ought to have moved the souls of all true Israelites. 'l'ho exact pa~tern. Every face of the rebellious citadel must be assailed. IV. K~R:KESTKESS IS SEEN IN UKSELFISH CONCERN FOR THE HONOUR OF Goo. Over and o..-er a,;:-ain is the stat-cment repeated, as if on this the prophet delighted to dwell "They shall know that I am the Lord." Not for a moment did the man of God foraet that he was ftanding in the stead of God, and spake as tho "Spirit gave him utt~r- ance." He was identifird with God's cause indissolubly. God an<l he were one. .And although the interrnl of disorder and disloyalty might bo long, the final outcome was glorious to contemplate-an object pleasing to every devout eye-God shall be 1."Tlown and honoured! The certainty of ultimate success fosters present couraae, 0 and inspires true earncstness.-D.