'T'eproving sin. "The Spirit lifted me up." We live, for the most part, on such a low fovel of spiritual feeling, that wo must be "lifted up" in order to see the real wicked- ness of sin, in order successfully to remonstrate with sinners. Nothing can really "lift us up" to a nobler life but the power of the Holy Ghost. 2. Knowledge is given to men/or use. No sooner was it revealed to the prophet who were the ringleaders in the nation's sin, than at once the Spirit said to him, "Prophesy against them, 0 son of man." Here is work for man which the cherubim cannot do. It is the prerogative of roan that he can gain a.ccess to the understanding, the judgment, the reason, the feeling, of his fellow-man. Therefore God uses men to convey hid messages of grace and admonition to guilty men. All the knowledge of Divine things which we have is given us for the advantage of all. "No man liveth unto himself." 3. Divine command and Divine st'T'ength are given at one and the same time. When the voice said to Ezekiel, "Speak I" "the Spirit of the Lord fell upon him." Duty and ability always go together. God has never given to man a command which he was unable to obey. When God said to Moses, "Go forward!" God knew that the se;i, would divide at the :fitting time. When Jesus said to the man with a withered hand, "Stretch it forth I" he knew that along with the effort would be imparted new strength. Some duties may appear formidable to a man who forgets the promised co-operation of Di vine grace. But whenever a spirit of faith possesses a roan, he can say, like Paul, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." In a very terse prayer did an ancient Father in the Church express this truth, "Give: and then command what thou wilt." 4. The plainest 'T'eproof is the greatest kindness to men. Every accusation of God is laid by the prophet before these guilty men. It is a false friendship that conceals any part of the truth from our fellows, especially from relatives and kindred. Smooth words are not always the coin of affection. We read of one" whose words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords." Very wisely did David say, "Let the righteous reprove me; it shall be a kindness." It needs an abundance or wisdom, and a deep well-spring of love, to speak the whole truth to an erring friend, if we would win him back to paths of virtue and piety. The centrifugal force of duty is often greater than the centripetal force of kindness. Had Eli been more firm and faithful with his sons, he might have saved the ark of God-ay, the whole nation-from disaster. ',Ve must "speak the whole truth in love." III. SEE THE ATTENDANT ENERGY OF Goo. "It came to pass when I prophe- sied, that Pelatiah died." I. How foolish is carnal security I Walls that seem made of brass or granite are weaker than paste-board, unless they have God behind them. Foundatious built by men are built on nothingness. Belshazzar conceived himself secure because the enormous walls of Babylon were about him; yet "in the selfsame night was Belshazzar slain." God's weapons of offence can penetrate easily all the poor defences of men. 2. Man's opportunity is brief. It is an act of mercy that God allows any opportunity for escape. Such favour is seldom ever shown by an earthly king. Yet sin so blinds men that they imagine the reprieve will last for ever. It does not accord with God's wise and gracious plans to announce when the reprieve shall absolutely close. Often it closes when least expected. The day of salvation is the passing moment-the fleeting now. 3. The 'T'etribution of God is sometimes summary. Men often persuade themselves that some change of circumstance, some lengthened illness, will precede the final stroke. They lean upon a broken reed, an empty shadow. "God seeth not as man seeth." He had seen that Pelatiah had reached a climax of sin, hod received this special messenger with haughty scorn, was hardening his heart under this new reproof of Ezekiel. Hence to lengthen out his day of grace was waste of mercy, was to encourage others in sin. 'l'herefore it was better that the scene of trial should suddenly close. The Lord smote him that he died. "He, that being often reproved ho.rdcneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." IV. MARK THE BENEVOLENT SOLICITUDE OF Goo's SERVANT. The sudueu death or Pelatiah corroborated the truth of Ezekiel's message, and vindicated his claim to be Jehovah's servant; 11evcrtheless, in this Ezekiel rejoiced not. He was more concerned for his Master's glory than for his own, more anxious about Israel's well-being than his own advantage. He could consent to be set aside, exiled, slain, so long as Israel's power and fame could be restored. Such generosity of nature is the best qnolification 204 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET l!:ZEKIEL. [oH. :x.1. 1-26.
for a true servant of God. They who are most like God are the most fitted to do God's work. Moses and Paul were eminent examples of this self-disinterestedness; best of all, Jesus the Son of God.-D.