ceremonial, but spiritual. Idolatry, at all events, was for ever abandoned; many of the temptations of former times were for ever outgrown. Some good was thus effected, and good of such a nature as to confer a real service and blessing upon mankind. V. THE GIVING OF GLORY TO WHOM IT wAB DUE. In two respects especially the Lord assured the Israelites, by his prophets, honour should accrue to himself through the return of his chosen people. I. His power should be recognized as the true cause of the redemption. 2. His faithfulness should be adored by those to whom the promi.;c had been given, and by whom the fulfilment of the promise was enjoyed.-T. Vere. 16-28.-Unity. .As in many other instances, so here Ezekiel propounds a. great moral and prophetical lesson by means of symbol. The two sticks which he is directed to join one to another into one stick represent the two divisions, the two kingdoms, of Judah and of Northern Israel, and their union represents the abolition of the distinction, the schism, which had been so injurious to the national welfare, and the formation of one people, one in brotherly love, one in mutual helpfulness, one in the unity of national and political life, and one in religious faith, worship, and observance. This exhibition of the beauty and value of unity is worthy of the con- sideration of Christians in our own time, when divisions are so abundant and a.re thougl1t of so lightly, whilst they are most injurious to the interests of Christianity and most pernicious in their influence upon the unbelieving world. General lessons underlie the special exhortations and promises of this passage of prophecy. I. UNITY IB BROUGHT ABOUT BY Gon llIMBELP'. He is the God of peace, and delights in peace. " I," says he, " will make them one nation in the land." The kind of unity which is effected by the action of common human sympathy or interest is neither valuable nor permanent. True unity needs a Divine basis. II. UNITY IS JUNIFEST IN BROTHERLY LOVE AND BYMl'ATBY, That isto say,it is, first of all, unity of heart. When the same Divine Spirit works in many natures ho produces similar effects in o.11; and his handiwork is nowhere more evident than in the vrevalence of mutual love. The members of the same body, being obedient to the ono Head, render one to another the tribute of mutual interest and kindly willingness to serve and help. Ill. UNITY CONSISTS IN OOMMON SUBJECTION TO ONE KING, "One King she.ll be king to them all; n "My Servant David shall be King over them, and they shall all have one Shepherd.n '.l.'he political unity of the Jews seems lost sight of in the Messianic reference of the prediction. The Church of Christ is one because there is over it but one Head, even Christ himself. All true Christians, every true Christian community in every place, acknowledge his sole sovereignty and confess allegiance to his sole authority. IV, UNITY IS DISPLAYED IN THE ABANDONMENT AND REPUDIATION OF ALL UNFAITH- FULNESS, When some of the children of Isre.el worshipped Jehovo.h, o.nd others some o·ue or other of the various hateful deities of the heathen, it was impossible that there shu11ld be unity. "How ce.n two walk together except they be agreed?" There is thus a negative condition of spiritual oneness. The minds of men must be turned nway from error and sin, in order that they may with one accord be turned God wards and heavenwards. The unfaithful to God cannot be faithful one to e.nother. They must have the same loathing a.ad the same liking. i v.. ~NITY I~ ~IBPLA YED IN A COMMON AND CONJOIBT OBEDIENCE, This is !\ positive cond1t1on of spmtue.l oneness. "They shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes to do them." They who are one in heart will not find it difficult to be one in life. The laws are one, although the obedieut are scattered far aud wide, although the forms of obedience vary with varying circumstances. VI. THE UNITY IS EVERLASTING. This can be true only of a unity which is Divine in its basis and its bonds. The language used in this portion of prophecy must refer to the spiritual kingdom of Christ. "David my Servant shall be their Prince for ever;" ' "They shall dwell in the land/or ever;," "I will make e.n everlasting covenant with them ; " "I will set my sanctuary in the midst of them/or evermore." Such expressions are true, and they are true only of the kingdom which is "righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." No national, probably no ecclesiastical, unity upon earth is perme.nent. Bat the Son of God is King for ever, and the subjects of his Rpiritual 278 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHE'l' EZEKIEL. [OB. x.x.xvtr.1-28,
empire are bound t.ogether by the common ties which unite them to their Lord-ties which time cannot weaken and death cannot dissolve.-T.