WOB lifted up. From first to last we need Divin~ assistance. So feeble is human nature, that nt every step we need gracious succour, both to learn and to do God's will. We must be separated from earthly scenes-----have elevation of mind-if we would see things ne God sees them. a. Personal effort. There was place and scope for the prophet's exertion. Man must co-operate with God. "I beheld." Ezekiel must use his eyes. In that state of ecstasy to which he had been raised there is need for special ·activity, Human nature at present cannot long endure the ecstatic state, Golden opportunities such as these are brief. Therefore note well the precious lessons. III. THE GRADUAL DISOLOSURES OF ISRAEL'S GUILT. The glory of God was mani- fest in the temple. 1. In the clear light of Jehovah's presence we see the real character of sin, The eye of man needs the medium of light through which to discern objects; and a special revelation of God is required in which to discover the turpitude of sin. It was when God came near to Job that this exemplary man exclaimed, "I abhor myself." It was when Christ first revealed his glory to Peter that he put up the prayer, "Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, 0 Lord." . 2 . .All forms of idolatry 'fY'OVoke God's fealous anger. We take this " image of jealousy " as an allegorical representation of the many-sided idolatry of Israel. Whatever forms their idolatries assumed, they all had this in common-they usurped Jehovah's place; they supplanted his authority. In stupendous condescension, God speaks to us after the manner of a man. As the strongest passion which fallen man knows is jealousy, so God represents this as the picture of indignant sentiment in his own breast. He sets high value on our human love. It is the most precious thing we can give him. Hence, we wound him in the tenderest part when we erect a rival in his place. 'l'his is a root-sin. 3. Sin becomes most heinous of all sin when committed in the temple. God's dwelling-place on earth is designed to be a fount, whence streams of blessing may flow to every province of our human life. To defile this fount is to send a stream of pollution into the domestic, commercial, and political life of the nation. If there be idolatry in the temple, there will be idolatry in the home; there will be disorder everywhere. The sanctuary will always be a source of life or of dea1:h to the whole empire. 4:. God's disclosui·es of our ,n,n are gradual. This method has two advantages: (1) It gives us a clearer conception of the magnitude nnd the degrees of sin. (2) It serves to deepen impression, while it does not overwhelm us with despair. If we desire to know the truth respecting our sin, God's Spirit will lead us from point to point, so that we may have an ever-deepening sense of our iniquity. lV. THE HEINOUSNESS OF IBRAEL's OFFENCE. 1. Its secrecy. The prophet had to break through the wall in order to discover it. Men will often indulge secretly in sins which tliey are ashamed to commit openly. Thtt censure of our fellow-men is often a. useful deterrent. The opinion of others is a mirror, in which we see ourselves. Every man has his "chamber of imagery" within. Idolatry in the heart precedes the idolatry of temple-worship. Can we not find some image of evil painted on the walls of our imagination:__some form of mammon, or pleasure, or self? Therefore" keep thy heart with all diligence." 2, The d,eceitfulness of sin. It had blinded men's eyes to the fact of God's presence-to the fact of certain discovery and certain retribution. A growing acquaintance with sin convinces us of its many wiles to deceive. Few men venture to sin until they forget God's omniscience; and the habit of forgetfulness leads swiftly to atheism. 3. The sin was spread by most pernicious example. The men who ought to have been beacons and bulwarks against idolatry were pioneers in iniquity. Men holding high rank, whether in Church or in state, cannot sin as others do. '!'heir influence is enormous, and it is inevitable that they lead others to heaven or to hell. Every station has its responsibilities. If, in Israel, the princes and elders had set a high example of pious obedience, in all likelihood the fortunes of the nation had been retrieved. If the helmsman be blind, there is small chance for the safety of the ship. 4. This sin is seminal; it soon produces a; brood of other sins. Idolatry blossomed into sensual lust-into vice, disorder, and violence. The idolatries of the heathen suited the popular taste, because they did noi; curb natural inclination ; gave a dangerous licence to every sensual and selfish passion. They who have driven from the heart the love of God arc soon filled with ever.v vile affection. They who have ceased to fear God soon cease to have any regard for others' weal Sin rapidly generates a swarm 156 THE BOOK OF THE PROPRET EZEKIEL. [ea. vm.1-19.
noxious vices. The women who wept for Tammuz at the door of the temple were, without doubt, living in shameless prostitution. 'l'o depart from God is to run into every excess of iniquity. The more we examine the matter, the more flagrant and aggravated human sin appears. Superficial observers may talk of sin as a mere bagat:elle; but they 'l'i:ho searc? out the ~atter co1;,clude that language is too poor to descnbe the cursed thmg,. It is.the heaviest calam!ty that can rest on a human being; worse than poverty, or pain, or ill-repute, or desertion, or death: "He is in danger of eternal sin."-D.