The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 250

severe that we prefer to keep aloof from him I" Such were the judgrnente of men. But this was the result of ignorance. This was derogatory to God. This prejudiced the public mind against just conceptions of God. Now, it had been God's high design to unveil gradually to mankind all the fulness of his nature-his strong affection, the riches of his mercy, his self-sacrificing grace. Did men but know him thoroughly, one great hindrance to confidence and obedience would be removed. Most surely he deserves our allegiance; be is infinitely worthy of our trnst. Therefore God had pity upon his Name; for his Name is the sum-total of his goodness. Men were suffering, because they did not know God-were misled by erroneous views of hie character. Hence God resolved to adopt another plan-to make a grand experiment. He will make a. new covenant with the people, and will write hie laws on the tablet of their hearts. He will yet conquer their rebellions with bis abounding grace. IV. THE GRAND EXPERIMENT OF KINDNESS j viz. a gracious renewal of human nature. 1. The first step is cfoansing. "From all your idols will I cleanse you." A disposition of repentance was already apparent. Many were beginning to ask how deliverance could be obtained; and, before they asked, the remedy is announced. God will under- take to purge out the virus of disease, and if he undertakes it, the change will be effectual. He will go to the root of the matter. The love of idols shall be rooted out of the heart; and, the root being killed, all the fruits will disappear. The instrument to be employed is the Truth-the revelation of Divine mercy. This is the "clean water" mentioned. To the same effect David declared, "The Law of the Lord is perfect, con- verting the soul." And Jesus the Christ affirmed, "Now ye are clean, through the word which I have spoken unto you." 2. The nezt step is heart-renovation. "A new heart also will I give you." By the mystic power of his grace God produces gradually a complete change in the moral principles of every penitent man. New light enters the mind. Sin is seen in its loathsomeness. A gracious influence from heaven softens the dispositions of the heart. Feeling becomes tender. The tastes cluster round nobler objects. God is seen to be supremely good, and new affections begin to entwine round him. Old habits of evil are dissevered. New inclinations and aspirations are engen- dered. Step by step the man rises out of his dead self into a new life. "Old things paseaway,and all things" within him" become new." 3. A further step is the indwell- ing of Goa:s Spirit in the man. Thie is an anticipation of the new dispensation, more fully developed at Pentecost; this is the highest, noblest gift God can impart, In a word, this is spiritual evolution. On Adam God breathed, and he " became a living soul." But this is a new departure. The Spirit of God finds an entrance into the human soul, and works therein a new creation. All the dispositions of God are gradually reproduced. The man learns to think as God thinks, to feel as God feels, to love 811 God loves, to act as God acts. Then God's will is done, and God's image is reflected in the man as a face is reflected in a mirror. 4. A further step is national restoration. The man who truly loves God learns to love his fellow-man; and this bond of mutual love was the very thing wanted to weld the Hebrews into a nation. A r,eople oan safely be trusted with national prosperity only when they are loyal to God. l'he whole land of Palestine was a kind of enlarged temple, and only n consecrated people are fitted for a consecrated place, The old covenant, in its essential principles was to be restored. God would give himself to the peoplo; they would give themselves up to him. 6. Material prosperity. "I will call for the corn, and will increase it." Soul-prosperity is the foundation; temporal fortune is the superstructure. "All things are ours, if we are Christ's." "No good thing will he withhold from them that walk: uprightly." In Palestine the state of the harvest-field was o. mirror in whioh men saw the smile or the frown of God. To obedient Jews, fond-fertility was secured by an inviolable pledge of Jehovah. '1.'he windows of heo.ven were opened; tho vines were embellished with splendid clusters; the very mountains seemed to send out rills of oil from the olive-groves. V. TBE P'Il!IAL Alli OF THIS STUPENDOUS ORANGE; viz. to reveal God's Name. In other words, to make known to the world his wealth of goodness. Tbat the purpose and aim of Jehovah in this grand experiment might be made clear, it is stated both positively and negatively. "Not for your sakes do I this," saith God, "but for my holy Name's sake." A full and accurate knowledge of God is hope and inspiration to men. If only the state of feeling in a man's heart be right, then in proportion as God EZEKIEL-II, S  258 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [oH. xxxvi.1-38.