v. RETnIDUTION IB EQUITADLE AND COMPT,ETE, There is no miscarriage of justice in God's court, and in his retributions there is no excess. The equity of the destruction is seen in that it begins at the sanctuary. The ringleaders in rebellion shall be fore- most in the punishment. That sacred place is sacred no longer. God has withdrawn his presence; therefore all privilege is extinguished. It had been a sanctuary for the oppressed, for the unfortunate, for the fugitive in war; but it shall be no refuge for rebels defiant against God-no refuge for sin. Mere sentiment about the traditional sacredness;of the place must yield to sterner virtues-must yield to practical and primitive righteousness. Better that every sanctuary of religion be defiled with blood- shed, than that they be nests of immorality, cesspools of vice ! If the reality be gone, it is a common injury to maintain the appearance. And God's retributions will be complete. They will spare none. We may hesitate respecting the justice of destroy- ing "little children ; " yet we can repose confidently on the bosom of the eternal Father, and say, "Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" To our limited view the administration or supreme justice may sometimes be veiled in "clouds and dark- ness;" but we can afford to wait the fuller disclosures of the truth. "What we know not now, we shall know hereafter."-D. Vers. 8-11.-Human intercession. In every age good men have felt an internal constraint to intercede for the guilty. Love to God always produces love to men. I. INTEROESSION FOR THE GUILTY IS PRAISEWORTHY. Ezekiel felt that, though surrounded by the slain, his own life had been spa.red. A proper sense of God's com- passion to us awakens similar compassion for others. It is a noble sentiment, and God does not discourage it. It sheds a blessing in the breast of him who cherishes it. Abraham, Moses, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Paul, are notable examples of earnest intercessors for their fellows. II. INTERCESSION FOB THE GUILTY SHOULD BE MADE IN GREAT HUMILITY. Ezekiel "fell upon his face." This was most seemly. For, on the surface of our appeal, it would seem as if an imperfect man were more possessed with pity than is God. Yet this can never be. The tiny rill can never rise higher than the fount. One beam of light can never outvie the sun. Nor can we suppose that any element of extenuation has been overlooked by the comprehensive mind of God. In fact, reflection at such time is quiescent; the intercessor yields for the moment to the impulse of feeling. Nevertheless, intercession)s proper and becoming; for who can tell but that God has predetermined to grant delay or reprieve on condition that intercession be made? We must stoop if we would conquer. ill. INTERCESSION FOB TRE GUILTY MUST ALWAYS BE SUBORDINATE TO THE INTERESTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. The prophet evidently had due regard to the honour of God, while he sought a reprieve for men. To blot out the very nation which he had aforetime so protected and blessed, would (in the eyes of the heathen) have been a dishonour. But the approval of the good among angels and among men was more precious, deserved more consideration, than the opinion of idolatrous nations. The well-being of the universe is intertwined with the maintenance of righteousness; and, at all costs, righteousness must be upheld. Already God had provided for the safety of the faithful few; but to the eye of the prophet the few seemed as nothing. Yet, if we had larger faith, we should have less anxiety for the Church's weal. IV. INTERCESSION, THOUGH APPARENTLY UNSUCCESSFUL, BRINGS SOME ADVANTAGE. Though Abraham, in pleading for Sodom, was apparently unsuccessful, he was not really so. No prayer is fruitless. God was not displeased with Ezekiel's intercession. He condescended to reason with him. He Rhowed him yet more clearly the magnitude of Israel's sin. He showed him how that, if be did not destroy evil men, the evil men in Israel would slay the pious : " The land is full of blood." He impressed on the prophet's heart yet more deeply the sanctity of law and equity. The severest punish- ment was simply " recoinpense "-their proper wages. By such intercession the prophet is the better equipped for his future work.-D.
Vers.1-7.-Divine disc,imination in tha execution of judgment. "He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near," etc. In the preceding cbapoor the va.tious forms of idolatry which were 174 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [cu. 1x. 1-11.