Ver. 4.-Foxes. Ezekiel here likens the false prophets to foxes in waste places. This cutting comparison shows the daring of the true prophet, the extremity of the e,il of false prophecy, and the crying need of exposure of this evil. 'rhere is a limit to the reserve of politeness when truth is dishonoured and God insulted by those whom a culpable charity still flatters with terms of friendliness. Christ called Herod a fox (Luke xiii. 32). Still, it needs the grace of Christ or the inspiration of an Ezekiel to be !!1.lrc that one's use of such a title for a fellow-man is not misapplied. Consider in what respects false teachers may be compared to foxes. I. FoxEs ARE WILD ANIMALS. The comparison is with creatures untamed and practically untamable. Now, to all appearance the false prophets were very different, were the ,ery opposite in manners and demeanour. 'l'hey were the trained sophists of an ancient ci,ilization, court preachers well skilled in the use of oily phrases, masters of polite diction. To call such men foxes would seem to be an extravagant insult. Nevertheless, beneath the gracious exterior there was the heart of the untamed animal. These teachers were not submissive to the guidance of the Spirit of God. All who refuse that guidance are wandering in the wilderness of life. They a.re not the sheep of God's flock, but like the foxes that range at large outside the fold. II. Fox.Es ARE DESTRUCTIVE AlfIMALS. Among the Hebrews they were not cele- brated for the cunning for which they were famous in Greek fables, but for their wasting mischief. False teachers are compared to these ravenous beasts. The wilful teachers of error are like the wreckers who hang out false lights to draw ships to the rocks. The destruction is twofold. 1. By driving from the true pastures. Thus the flock is starved in the wilderness. Error draws men off from the wholesome food of truth. 2. By direct injury. The foxes tear and devour the lambs of the flock. Error has deadly fangs in spite of its gracious aspect. III. FoXEs HAU1''T BUINous PLACES. Ezekiel imagines the foxes among ruins. False teaching flourislies when the Church has fallen into decay. A low moral tone prepares the way for error. If the soul were in a vigorous condition, the deceitfulness of an unworthy teacher wonld be speedily detected. It is only spiritual degeneracy tlia.t can give an opportunity for the religious charlatan. IV. Fox.ES BOAM ABOUT IN THE DARK. They are creatures of the night. Deceitful teachers prey upon the ignorant and snperstitious. Like the wild animals that only creep out under shelter of night, they prowl about in the shadows of dark times. They dread the day. Therefore the remedy is to be found in the spread of light. We cannot conquer error by directly refuting it so well as by fortifying people against it with a clear, strong teaching of truth. The foxes of error are on the look out for their ,·icti1IJ.s. Let the shepherds of light be to the fore in keeping the pure truth of the New Testament well in the minds and hearts of the people.
Ver. IO.-False peace. "Peace; and there was no peace." I. MEN CRAVE PEACE. A city is alarmed at the prospect of an attack. War stands with famine and plague as one of the three great scourges of man, and it is the greatest of the three. Tbere is a worse war than that of man with bis fellow-the war of sin against the soul, the war of the soul against God. This spiritual war wounds, slays, devastates, terrorizes. It is true that many who wage it never confess its hurt- fulness, and even profess a joy in their condition. But when men retire into the silence of their own souls they must feel that the unrest within, which perhaps they do not yet ascribe to their sinful alienation from God, is a source of utter weariness, perha.pa even of soul-agony. Cowper exclaims- " Oh for a lodge in some vast wilderness, Some boundless contiguity of she.de, Where rumour of oppression and deceit, OH, xm. 1-23,] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 233