HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vera. 1-3.-" The day of the Lord." There is in this expression, which occurs in various parts of this book of prophecy, a certain vagueness which is not inconsistent with grandeur and sublimity. The prophet's own mind was evidently impressed with the fact that, whilst every day is an occasion for the manifestation of the Divine presence among men, there are days which are peculiarly the Lord's, because connected in an especial manner with the purposes of the Eternal with regard to the sons of time. I. THE DAY OF THE REVELATION OF THE LoaD's POWER. Memorable are such days as those which witness a great king's accession to the throne, a great battle deciding the fortunes of nations, the passing of a great measure affecting the welfare of millions, the sending forth of a religious mission to a heathen community. But, whilst every dny upon which some grand deed is wrought, or ~ome noble institution founded, is in a sense a day of the Lord, there are days in which Divine providence signally asserts or vindicates itself, in which the might of the Omnipotent is con- vincingly displayed; and such <lays are emphatically designated by the term employed in the text. II. THE DAY OF THE EXECUTION OF THE LORD'S RE0OMPENSE AND JUDGMENT. Judging by the language here employed by the prophet, the day of the Lord he announces seems especially of this character. "Howl ye I Woe worth the day I" are expressions which surely betoken the coming of the Lord in vengeauce-" a day of clouds," "the time of the heathen." Long-deferred correction is now to be inflicted; threalcnings often repeated are now to be fulfilled. Forbearance is exhausted, and the day of the Lord shall see him arise to judgment. HI. 'l'nE DAY OF THE REDEMPTION OF THE LoRD's PEOPLE. The defeat and con- fusion of tho adversaries is accompanied by the deliverance and exaltation of the friends of Go,l. . Whcu the day comes which shall see the destruction of brael's foes, Israel shall go free and shall rejoice in her liberty, with the shout, "Now is the day of salvation I" "Lift up your heads, for the day of redemption draweth nigh I" IV. THE DAY WHI0H DISPELS THE NIGHT OF HUMAN ldISUNDERSTANDmo AND DOUDT. The da.,y of man is the day of ignorance and of fear, and is little better than the night when compared with the brightness which God's presence brings. 'l'o Christians, the day of the Lord is the day of their Saviour's birth and coming to this world of sin. "The people which sat in darkness saw a great light." Then the errors and hopelessness of long ages were rolled away, like mists before the rising of the Sun of Righleousness, with healing in his wings. V. 'l'nE DAY WHICH SHALL MANIFEST THE LORD'S GLOJ\Y AND FULFIL HIS PURPOSES. The day of the Lord has interest and significance for n1cn; but the very term implies that its central meaning is not human, but Divine. The fools who have said in the 148 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [cH, xxx. 1-26.
heart, "There is no God!" the hypocrites and formalists, who have professed belief in God, but to whom the meaning of such belief is limited to words; the defiant and rebellious sinners, of whom it may justly be said, "God is not in all their ways; "--all these ari, addressed with power, and are aroused from their infidelity, when the day of the Lord breaks upon the world, e.nd when the Lord himself draws near.-T.
Vers. 5-S.-The fate of the allies. Egypt was not alone in her forgetfulness of the principles of righteousness, in her defiance of God; and she was not alone in her chastisement and desolation. She had allies, who were included by the prophet ln the denunciation he was directed to utter against Pharaoh and his people. I. POLITICAL AND NATIONAL ALLIANCES ARE OF"l'EN BASED UPON INTEREST RATHER THAN UPON MORAL PRINCIPLES, The weak seek the support of the strong; the strong would be stronger through the support of their neighbours. A common hope of profit and aggrandizement in many cases accounts for the leagues into which states enter with one another. II. SucH ALLIANCES ARE EASILY DISSOLVED WHEN THEm OBJECTS ABE FOUND INCAPABLE OF REALIZATION. 'l'hey do not deserve to endure, and as a matter of fact they do not endure. 'l'here is no guarantee of permanence in such combinations, and it is well for the world that this is eo. 'l'he political centre of gravity shifts, and the instability of alliances based upon interest is made apparent. Ill. CoNJOINT HUMAN POWERS ARE EVER VA.IN WHEN THEY OPPOSE THE PURPOSES OF Gon. Such was proved to be the case with regard to the alliances between Egypt and the neighbouring states mentioned by the prophet. "Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished." Add together as many finites as you will, and you are no nearer the Infinite; and all the resources of all the nations upon earth are as nothing, are less than the dust of the balance, when weighed against the incalcul- able, inexhaustible, irresistible power of the Omnipotent. " Why do the nations rage, and the peoples imagine a vain thing? " IV. THOSE WHO SHARE IN BIN SHALL SHARE IN PUNISHMENT. " They also that uphold Egypt shall fall." "All her helpers are destroyed." The leagues of the righteous and godly shall contribute to the common strength; the measure of the Church's influence in the world is determined by the Chnrch's unity. But as there is no cohesion in wickedness, the blow which falls dissolves the superficial combination, and overwhelms all the elements in a common destruction. Notwithstanding all recrimination, there is no escape and no consolation; confidence is destroyed, succour there is none; one ruin overtakes all. V. A C.:>M:M0N FATE IMPRESSES THE BAME LESSON UPON BOCIBTY. The downfall of one proud, self-confident nation is impressive and instructive; but when a league is dissolved, and disaster comes upon those who have encouraged one another in injustice and impiety, the attention of the world is arrested, and men are tho more disposed to learn bow vain are all merely human projects, how unstable are all alliances based upon worldly principles, and how utterly powerless are the nations when they array them- selves together against the truth, the Word, the Church, of the living God. When God ari6es, his enemies are scattered. There is none that can6 stand before him. Might is feebleness, wisdom is folly, and unions fall to pieces, when they are directed against him who is mighty to punish as he is mighty to savc.-T.