uniform, But every now and then the unexpected happens, as though to warn us that things may not continue for ever in their present quiet state. The antediluvians were too much accustomed to the regular rotation of the seasons to believe Noah's preaching. Vesuvius had slumbered for unknown years before the great eruption overthrew Herculaneum and Pompeii, and the consequence_ was that its foot was covered with buildings. People have but faint apprehensions of Divine judgment because life runs on at present in its old groove. II. SUPERFICIAL PROSPERITY IS OFTEN MISTAKEN FOR SOLID SECURITY. Tyre was 90 great and rich and beautiful that her neighbours had never anticipated her downfall. There is no surprise at the destruction of poor little pastoral kingdoms like Ammon e.nd Moab. But when a nation that is in the foremost mnk of the world's progress is smitten down, men are simply confounded. Thus the destruction of Tyre surprised her neighbours, as the sack of Rome by the Goths astounded the contemporaries of St, Augustine and St. Jerome. Men have to learn that splendour is not strength, and that prosperity is not its own security. III. PEOPLE MAY BE TAKEN FOR A TIME AT THEIR OWN ESTIMATE. Tyre boasted of her magnificence. "Thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty" ( ver. 3). She prided herself in her strong sea-walls, and until they were tested in battle none knew that they were not strong enough to withstand the shock of the northern invader. The Church is proud of her orthodoxy, her splendour, her strength, and thus she may lead simple minds to trust in her certain safety. But all such boasting brings no real strength. It goes down at a touch from hard realities. Then the deceived are dismayed. In the end the discovery brings shame on the head of the boasters. IV. .A FEARFUL CALAMITY IS ASTOUNDING, We use big words, bnt we fail to com• prehend their meaning; and even when our own language is translated into fact we are surprised at seeing what it really meant. 'fhere is a tendency to water down the strong language of Scripture. No doubt this is largely due to a reaction against the coarse literalism of earlier ages. A revolt from descriptions of future punishment which quiet, thinking people could not believe to be true of their own familiar acquaintances, has landed us in a region of mild theology. But there are stern and terrible realities in God's judgments on that horrible thing sin. When these are witnessed assuredly they will give a great surprise to complacent people who are now content to imbibe the thinnest dilutions of Scripture doctrines of coming judgment,
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS .AUTHORS. Vere. 1-25.-The beauty, gl-Ory, and replenishment of the city of Tyre, This portion of Ezek:iel's writings evinces a very remarkable acquaintance with the geography and the economics of the then known world. Perhaps the prophet, living in the heart of a great Oriental monarchy, e.nd in intercourse not only with his countrymen, but with men of various nationalities, may have acquired something more of a cosmopolitan habit of mind than was common among the Jews. Certain it is that the commercial relations of Tyre are described with singular care and minute accuracy. It is evident that, in the view of Ezekiel, every society and community of men was in some way connected with the reign of God upon earth; that whilst in a special sense Jehovah was ac ounted the Sovereign of the Hebrews, there was a very important sense in which all peoples were subject to Divine authority, and were the objects of Divine regard and interest. The sympathies of Ezekiel, though patriotic, were far from being narrow and provincial. He was able, by the force of hist~rical imag!n~tion, to consider Tyre as, for a time and for a purpose, the centre of the life and act1v1ty of the world. Though inspired to foretell Tyre's destruction, the prophet was by no means insensible to Tyre's beauty and splendour, to the magnificent range of the city's commerce. e.nd interests, to the importance of the city to the work and well-being of the nht10ne. There may have been something of rhetorical art in thus dilating upon Tyro's glory in the very moment uf foretelling Tyre's fall. But the religious motive was the strongeot. Ezekiel wished to sho1v that, however indispensable e. city or a state may be in the vi~w of men, God does not regard it as indispensable, and may even fulfil his purposes llH. xxvn. 1-36.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 96
by bringing a.bout its dissolution and destruction. In this brilliant sketch of the position of Tyre among the nations of the earth, we may recognize-- I. THE STATELINESS OF THE CITY'S BEAUTY, II. THE SPLENDOUR OF THE CITY'S FLEETS. III. THE SKILL OF THE CITY'S MARINERS. IV. THE VALOUR OF THE CITY'S ARMil!:S, V. THE VASTNESS OF THE CITY'S TRADE, It 18 ID this connection that Ezekiel introduces neighbouring and even distant states, showing in detail in what manner each was connected with Tyre, what were the natural productions or manufactures which they brought to the world's great emporium. It was as a commercial port that Tyre was celebrated, and by its ships and its fearless, adventurous navigators distant lands were brought within the range of civilization. VI. THE ABUNDANCE OF THE CITY'S WEALTH, VU. THE GLORY OF THE CITv'S RENOWN. VIII. THE HOLLOWNESS OF THE OITY's PROSPERITY. No wonder that Tyre was the envied of the nations; no wonder that men looked upon the city as secure of a long lease of opulence, of ease and luxury, of splendour, of power, and of fame. Yet beneath all this there was wanting the be.sis upon which alone can be surely reared the edifice of true prosperity. There was boasting and arrogance; but there was no humility, no subjection to the righteous sway of the Eternal King, no recognition of the sacred responsibilities which accompany the possession of advantages and acquisitions such as those of Tyre. Thus it was that in the time of trial the city was found incapable of enduring and of profiting by Divine discipline. It was foun:led, not upon the rock of righteousness and piety, but upon the shifting quicksands of worldly prospe1ity and renown. It fell, and great was the fall of it. "Every plant," said Jesus, "which my heavenly Father bath not planted, shall be plucked up."-T.