earth ns vnnity;" "The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will;" "His kingdom ruleth over all." He removes the leader of a nation's aITairs, nnd disorder, disturbance, and immense change follow. He sends the light of truth to oppressed peoples, and they arise and claim their freedom. But what shall we say of dark and terrible changes? Let us take an example-the carryin" of the Jews captive into Babylon. Whether we look at the sacred temple, or "the celebrated city, or the fertile country, or the favoured people, how dark and sad it wa8 ! But look again. It saved the people, of whom the Messiah was to come, from idolatry, and so from utter ruin. Viewed in their Divine aspect, these revolutions are benevolent. Holy beings may advance calmly and evenly towards perfection. But disordered, sinfu 1 beings need great changes and rude shocks to banish hoary superstitions, and abofoh cruel despotisms, and prevent ruinous inaction. While sin is here there must be unrest and change. III. THE END OF MUNDANE REVOLUTIONS. "Thill also shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him." Until our Lord shall reign over the whole world, these revolutions will occur with greater or less frequency. But when he, the rightful Sovereign, shall take possession of the kingdoms of this world, these over- turnings will for ever cease. The reign of the Christ precludes revolution. The character of his reign shows this. Under it the sacredness of human life will be practically recognized, and thus war will be precluded.. Under his reign the universal brotherhood of man will also be practically recognized; and thus the cruel oppressions and base wrongs of man by man, which have often led to terrible revolutions, will be precluded. The reign of the "strong Son of God" is the sovereignty of his Spirit and principles in the hearts and lives of men; and these are entirely opposed to the crimes and ills which generate revolutions. His perpetual and universal sovereignty is founded upon his mercifulness and kindness, his justice and love (cf. Ps. lxxii. 11-17). Such a. sovereignty is incompatible with revolution. Under it men will have neither cause nor occasion for anything of the kind. Animated and governed by his Spirit and prin- ciples, they will advance calmly and regularly towards perfection. CONCLUSION. I. Our subject supplies an argument for promulgating the gospel of Jesus Christ. International exhibitions, commercial interests, peace-treaties, poiitical economics, can never bring about the abolition of revolution, because they are not able to curb and conquer the strong and stormy passions of evil men. The gospel of the Lord Jesus is the only power that can abolish revolution, and bring in a state of peace- ful and blessed progress. When it is heartily accepted it becomes a power in the heart, making man true and righteous, pure and loving, and so promotes peace on earth and good will toward men. 2. Our subject supplies encouragement for promulgating the gospel of Jesus Christ. We see that painful changes, wicked and cruel persecutions, and criminal and sanguinary strife, are being graciously overruled to bring in the world- wide empire of him "whose right it is." All changes, all overturnings, are bringing his glorious universal reign nearer. Be encouraged, then, in your efforts to promote it. " Men shall be blessed in him ; all nations shall call him blessed;" "His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation."-W. J.
Vers. 28-32.-The judgment of Ammon. "And thou, son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord God concerning the children of Ammon," etc. The following points are presented to our notice. I. THE CAUSE OF THIS JUDGMENT. This was threefold. 1. They had provoked the anger of the Chaldeans by joining the coalition against them. (Cf. ver. 20; Jer. xx.vii. 2-10.) 2. They had cast bitter reproaches upon the Jews. "Thus saith the Lord God concerning the children <>f Ammon, and concerning their reproach." Reproach is injury by words; and it may be inflicted directly by reviling another, or indirectly by self-aggrandizement. The Ammonites reproached the Israelites : (1) By words. As Kitto remarks, they "were particularly loud and offensive in their exultation at the downfall, first of the kingdom of Israel, and then of Judah, with the desolation of the land and the destruction of the temple" (cf. eh. xxv. 3, 6; Zeph. ii. 8). It is pro- bable that when Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem, the Ammonites upbraided the people of Judah that Jehovah their God had not protected them from his attack, while Moloch, which they worshipped as god, had not permitted the conquering monarch to EZEKIU, 2D 402 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [en. xxx. 1-32,