The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 281

more must there be a judgment of Israel; if the savages of Africa must give an account of the deeds done in the body, much more must the Christians of Europe appear before the judgment-seat of God, IV, CHRISTIANITY BRINGS A GOSPEL OF SALVATION AND UNION FOB ALL NATIONS, It even includes Gog and Magog in its gracious outlook; for St. Paul taught that the Scythians were to share in the common brotherhood of the Christian Church (Col. iii. 11). 1. The gospel is suited to the lowest heathen. This fact is proved by its effects. While the dreamer at home pronounces the Christianizing of savages to be an impos- sibility, the worker in the missionary field answers effectually by quietly accomplish- ing the so-called impossible feat., Charles Darwin was so struck with the good work of missionaries in civilizing the inhabitants of Tierra de! Fuego, whom he regarJed as about the most degraded savages on the face of the earth, that he subscribed to the society from which the missionaries had gone forth. 2. The gospel should be spread aTMng the lowest heathen. We have no excuse to despair of any. 'l'he very degra- nation of heathendom is a call to Christians for help. Rousseau's fancy uf the innocence and happiness of the simple savage is not justified by experience. Oppressed \l'ith cruelty aud superstition, degraded in uncleanness, the savage greatly need~ the liberty and salvation of Christ. Ver, 8.-" .After many days." Time is an element which needs to be taken into calculation in the consideration of all human affairs. We are too short-sighted, too hasty, too impatient. God has the leisure of eternity. "The mills of God grind slowly, But they grind exceeding sma.ll." We must learn to use the telescopes of faith and hope, and look far be,.ond the scene of the present, if we would form a right estimate of any important human event. I. THE MISCHIEF OF EVIL IS BEEN AFTEB MANY DAYS. This would be a pertinent consideration in regard to the evil work of remote Gog and Magog. 1. The mischief may be slow to develop. .At first men enjoy the pleasures of sin; the pains come later. Judgment is deferred. God is patient and long-suffering, and he gives ample time for repentance. Nevertheless, the accumulations of wrath will at length burst over the heads of the finally impenitent. 2. The mischief may long endure. It may last for many days. A hasty sin may be followed by a lengthy penalty. The crime of a moment may be punished with penal servitude for life. One man's wickedness may bricg misery on generations. II. THE FRUITS OF GOODNESS ABE BEEN AFTER MANY DAYS, Earnest men work, and yet see but little results coming from their labours; so that they seem to be labouring for nothing. Like the disciples who toiled all night and took nothing, perhaps they are ready to despair just when a grand reward is within their reach. We-have to learn to work and wait, and to obey our Master's command even when we expect but little good to come from our labour. III. 'THE HARVEST OF THE GOSPEL IS REAPED AFTEB MANY DAYS. The Christian preacher may have to go forth weeping,'but he bears precious seed. Therefore, though be sows in tears, he will reap in joy. Wha.t we have to remember is thRt our work is seed-sowing, not the planting of full-grown trees, The latter process would give us the more immediate results; but it would be the more precarious, for the trees would not be easily kept alive. Now, since our work is a sowing of seeds, necessarily it cannot produce visible results at once. The field that bas been sown all over with the best seed looks at first much like one that has been left waste and neglected. '.l'be Christian preacher, the Sunday school teacher, the missionary, have all to sow in patience. Perhaps one may sow and another reap. A man may not live to gather the harvest of his labour; then his works will follow him (Rev. xiv. 13). IV. THE BEST BLESSINGS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE ABE ENJOYED AFTER MANY DAYS. l. We may ha~ to wait for them. Some inestimable blessings may be had at once, \Ve have no delay in receiving the pardon of our sins and the regeneration of our souls when we tnly repent and yield ourselves to Christ. Still," this is not your rest." We are not yet in heaven. The cross m11St now be carried ; we must wait for the crnwn. 2. They will endure for ever. We ehnll have them after many days, aud EZEKIEL-II, U 290 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [oa. xxxvm. 1-23,