Ve_rs. 19:-22.-Perso~l responsibility. ~~ can _onl_Y, acc~unt. for _the Prophet Ezekiel lay1 □ g such special stress upon the prmc1ple ofmd1v1dualtty m reliofon by sup- posing that, in his time and among those with whom he associated, there w~ a prevalent disposition and habit leading to the denial of what seems to us an unquestionable truth. Indeed, in some form or other, men do incline to shift responsibility from themselves to their parents, their es.rly teachers, their companions, the society in which their lot is cast. J. THE VAIN Alm DECEPTIVE CONTENTION THAT THE MORAL QUAUTY OF ONE GE:KERATION IS IMPUTED TO ANOTHER. 'l'his contention may take either of two forms. 1. The son of a good father is apt to rely upon his father's goodness. There is no doubt that such a one may inherit much that is advantageous, e.g. a good constitution a happy temperament, a good introduction to life, the favourable regard of many helpful friends. And it is sometimes forgotten that all this does not interfere with responsibility; in fact, he who is so highly favoured is thereby raised to a higher level of account- ability. Much is given, and much will be required. 2. The son of a bad father is apt to excuse bis faults by casting the blame for them upon the transmission of evil influences by heredity, or upon circumstances traceable to family relationships. It is the case that such a person starts heavily weighted upon the race of life ; his temptations to error and sin are many and urgent, and restraining influences are weakened. Allow- ances are made by men, and no doubt by God also, for such disadvantages; but they do not destroy the moral responsibility of the free agent. II. THE wrn.~ss OF THE CONSCIENCE TO INDIVIDUAL AND INALIENABLE RESPONSI- BILITY. Reference bas been made to the attempts too often made by sinners to cast their responsibility upon others. But it may unhesitatingly be asserted that those who put forward such excuses are never themselves convinced by them. In their hearts they are well aware that there is no sincerity in such excuses, that they are mere subter- fuges. The conscience within, which accuses and excuses, gives no uncertain sound. The religious teacher, the Christian preacher, who seeks to convince men of sin has the assurance that the inner monitor of his hearers supports his endeavour, that he neither upbraids nor pleads alone. When the Lord God exclaims by the voice of his prophet. "Hear now, 0 house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?" every man, convicted by bis conscience, is reduced to silence ; for there is no reply to be made. When conscience is awakened, its witness is plain and unmistakable. III. THE EXPRESS Al-"D AUTHORITATIVE STATEMENT OF GoD'B OWN WORD AB TO MAN'S INDITIDuAL ACCOUNTABILITY. The language of this chapter is peculiarly explicit upon this matter. "Tile soul that sinneth, it shall die; . . . the righteous shall surely live, he shall not die." And these statements are in harmony with the whole tenor of Scripture teaching. The Bible magnifies man's personality, and never represents man as a machine, an organism. Each living soul stands in its own relation to the Father of spirits, before whom every moral and free nature must appear to rende1· an account for itsdf, and not for another. The teaching of our Lord and of hie apostles is as definite and ciecided upon this point as the teaching of the Lawgiver and the prophets of the earlier <lispensation. We are throughout Scripture consistently taught that there is no evading the great accouat.-T.
Ver. 23.-J)ivine benevolence. No such conception of Deity can be found elsewhere as in the Holy Scriptures. Where can the sentiment of this verse be matched in other sacred literatures? Thousands of years have elapsed since these words were penned; and the world has not produced or heard language in itself more IiV)rall! el?".ating and beautiful, more honouring to the Supreme Ruler, more consolatory and rnspmng to the 1,inful sons of men. I. MEN HAVE CHERISHED SUSPICION OF THE DIVINE MALEVOLJ!,l'CE. No one who is acquainted with the religions which have obtained among the natfons of mankind will qur,stion this. The deities of the Gentiles have reflected the D!Oral qualities of tho orr. xvm. 1-32.) 'l'HE BOOK OF THE PROPI-rnT EZEKIEL.