K untilled in its lands," and "broken down cations for the very blessings he hwi pro- in its buildings;" iu contrMt with which, mi~e<l. In answorto theirprayers,he engages, in the golden era of the future, the towns gorng baok to the language of eh. x:u.iv. 22, l!hould be inhabit.ed, the fields tilled, and to inoreaae them with men like a Aook-in- the ruined fortresses built. correctly rendered by Kliefoth to "multiply Yer. 86.-The heathen that are left round them so that tbey shall become the flock of about yon. The language presupposes that mankind." Tbus he meets the despondency 11l or before the time of Israel's restomtion of those among the exiles who, fl.x.iDg their the judgments pronounced against the attention on the -small number of them who nntfons will have overtaken them, so that should form the new Israel-those who vnly a remnant of them will be then in should return with those, perhaps, who still t>xi.stenoe. Kliefoth and Currey view tbis remained in the land~uld not see how n-mno:nt 88 those who shall have been con- Israel's future prosperity was to be secured. ,·erted- out of heathendom and become Ver. 38.-The .people who should occupy attached to the community of Israel, like the land of Israel in the coming age should .. the nations of the saved" in Rev. xxi. 24; be aa the holy flook-litemlly, as the flock of Keil, with more acc.uracy, regards their con- hdy things, or beasts; i.e. of sacrificial lambs version 88 resulting from their recognition -aa the Aook ot l ernsalem in her solemn vf the hand of God in building again the feasts; literally, in her appointed times; i.e. "'·aates places of Jerusalem. her festal seasons (comp. Micah ii. 12), re-, Ver. 37.-I will yet for this be inquired £erring to the three.well-known annual occa- of by the house of Israel On two previous sions when the male population of the land oocasions (eh. xiv. 3; :u. 3), Jehovah had came to the sanctuary (Deut. xvi. 16), and declined to be inquired of by the hypocri- when in consequence -the flocks and herds tical and idol-loving elders of Israel, who poured into the metropolis were well-nigh pretended to oonsult him through his pro- past reckoning (see 2 Cbron. xxix. 33: phet; now he makes it known that in the xxxv. 7; and comp. Josephus, • Wars,' vi. 9. future era no barrier of moral and spiritae.l 3). . Perhaps in addition to the idea of the unfilness on their p,irt will prevent their multiplication of the· people, that of their free approach to his throne, but rather that dedication to the service of Jehovah is sug~· they wiP come to him with fervent suppli- gested by the prophet's language.
HOMILETICS. Ver. 2.-Premature triumph. The enemies of Israel were triumphing over the fallen nation, but prematurely; for they did not reckon on a possibility of a restora- tion. This is like the triumph of evil over the ruined world. I. THERE IB A TRIUMPH OF EVIL. 1. In the fall of man. When Adam fell it aeemed as though the greatest work of God had been hopelessly ruined almost as soon as it appeared. No sooner was man made in the image of God than he grovelled in the dust, a.nd marred the heavenly likeness with ugly stains of sins. 2, In the history of primitive man. So evil is man that the whole race, with the exception of a aingle family, is swept off the face of the earth. Once more the world is reduced to a deeolate condition, once more evil seems to have conquered. 3. In the troubles of the He'l,,r,e:u,1. The people of God become oppressed slaves in Egypt. " Where is the pro- miae deli\l'ered to the fathers?" 4. In the failure to enter Palestine. The Israelites Jleach the borders of the land, and are then driven back defeated, and compelled to wander in the wilderness for forty years. 5. In the mise,rable days of the judges. When the land was at length possessed, it was not found to be all milk and honey. War imd wickedness, sorrow and shame, make the first ages of the possession of Canaan 11lmost the darkest period in Jewish history. 6. The wicl,edness of later days. The t1tory of Israel is a story of repeated rebellions against God, and repeated Divine d:astisements. 7. In the Captivity. When the two nations were driven into captivity, :iud their territory devastated by the heathen, the triumph of the enemies of the i,eople of God seemed to be complete. 8. In the cruelty of later days. Eastern t·11,pires, the Seleucidai, and the Romans successively triumphed over and oppressed ,1,., once favoured people. 9. Jn the cross of. Ghrist. Here, indeed, the enemies of r~hteousnees reach their crowning triumph. Satan now exults over the sorrow and o, ath of the Son of man. 10. Jn the history of Christendom. This has not been a history of continuous growth and victory over evil First there were the great per- 011. XXXVI, 1-38.] TIIE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 24!