The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 104

by temporary success, they despise all other considerations as dreamy. The intelli- gence that makes money is with them true wisdom; all else is but so much wasted thinking. 2, Its folly. This wisdom, when held to be supreme, is really foolishness, because then it blinds men t-0 the great facts of life and eternity. It is bad to throw dust in the eyes of people, even if this be gold-dust. The supposed wisdom of the Prince of Tyre was one element that contributed to hie ruin, because it prevented him from seeing approaching danger, in the confidence of his worldly success. The wisdoc. of the world is foolishness when it comes :i.s a veil between us and truths that we need to know. Thus the proudly wise may perish, while the foolish in this world are endowed with heavenly wisdom, especially that highest wisdom of the gospel of Christ (1 Oor. i. 24, 26). Ver. 15.-The innocence of e,arly days. I. THERE 19 AN INNOCENCE 011' EARLY DAYS. 1. In the race. The Bible represents Adam and Eve as commencing life in primitive innocence. However we may interpret the narrative in Genesis-as literd history or as allegory-if we attach any inspired authority to it we must see that it points back to a time when man lived in childlike innocence and ignorance of evil. 2. In the nation. Even Tyre, wicked, corrupt Tyre, had once known better days. Nearly every people has traditions of a good age preceding the later corruptions, We do not see that the heathen are advancing. On the other hand, behind idolatry there are often to be discovered shreds of an ancient faith in one spiritual God. Thus the Vedas show a purer religion and a higher thought than are to be found in modem Hinduism. We may believe that God is educating the world, and yet see that vast portions of it do not as yet respond to the uplifting influences. 3. In the individual. Children begin life in innocency. Though they come into the world with hereditary tendencies to evil, those tendencies are at first latent, and until they have received the consent of the will they cannot be accounted elements of guilt. Concerning little children our Lord said, "Of such is the kingdom of God" (Mark x. 14). II. Tms PRIMITIVE INNOCENCE AGGRAVATES THE GUILT 011' LATER YEAilB, 1. In the community. Man was not created corrupt. He cannot lay the charge of his sin against his Maker. There has been a fall. Degeneracy is especially evil. To go from good to bad and from bad to worse in a descending scale of wickedness is to be without excuse in sin. 2. In the individual. The child who has never known good- ness can scarcely be blamed for living a bad life. He can hardly be said to have chosen evil rather than good, for he has had no alternative set before him. But it is other- wise with or:e who has begun well. Israel is the more to blame because her good- ness was like the morning cloud (Hos. vi. 4). The child of a Christian home is exceptionally wicked when he turns his back on the good influences of his early days, and deliberately descends into the lower paths of sin. There is this guilt with sin in some measure for all of U5. For we have all turned aside. When the hardened sinner looks back on bis child-days, when he remembers his simple, innocent life in the old home, when he sees his younger condition reflected in the frank countenance of some little child, be may well learn that his own self will be his accuser in the day of judgment. IIL THE INNOCENCE 011' EARLY DAYS INSPIDEB US WITH HOPES 011' IlEBTOBATION, :Man is not naturally a brute. What be has been BuggeRts what he may yet become, .Absolute primitive innocence is indeed irrecoverably lost. The bloom of childhood can never be restored. Yet as Naaman's flesh became like the flesh of a little child after he had bathed seven times in the Jordan (2 Kings v. 14), it is possible to be converted, and become as a little child again (Matt. xviii. 3) in simplicity and a new purity of heart. This is the great Christian hope. The most abandoned sinner may, through Christ, be restored. He need not despair when he compares hie present shame with his pa~t innocence. The old fallen world may be recovered. The gospel of Christ goes forth to arrest the deepening degeneracy of mankind. Vera. 20-23.-Thejud,gment of Zidon. I. PARTNERS IN GUILT WILL DE PARTNERS IN DOOM. Tyre and Zidon were constantly associated together by reason of their nearness to one another, and their common interests and actions. Zidon followed 'fyre in its degenerate course of wickedness. Thus, like Sodom and Gomorrah, Tyre and Zidou were commonly named together as conjoined in an ugly pre-eminence of (JH. xxvm. 1-26.J THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 107