HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 1-18.-The inva.,ion of those who dwell secure. Tho occurrenco in this place of this e.nd the following chapters is somewhat perplexing. 'fhe events hero propheti- cally described take place after the restoration of tbo Israelites from their Eastern captivity. Yet they are altogether too stupendous to be applicable to anything which happened in the time or soon after the time of Ezekiel. 'l'hus many interpreters ot prophecy refer them to I\ period still in the future, when n final struggle may tnko place between the Church of Christ and the powers of this world. 'l'ho general moral and religious lessons of the passage are, however, independent of e.ny special prophetical interpretation. I. THE MANIFESTATION OF Gon's FAVOUR DOES NOT INVOLVE PERFECT TRANQUIL- LITY. Israel had been restored from the East to the land of inheritance nnd promise. The hand of Divine retribution bad been removed, and the hidden countenance of God had shone upon his people. But their troubles were not over; their land wns not to remain in their undisturbed possession; Jerusalem was not to he the city of peace. 'fhis indicates a general principle of the Divine government. Tho Church of Christ is e. ransomed Church, a chosen nnd beloved possession. Dut uprm cart.h it is the Church militant; there is a warfare to be waged; this i~ uot our rest. Even in the lnt,,st 294 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [oH. xxxvm. 1-23.
period of this dispensation repose may be disturbed, enemies may arise, a conflict may be pa.5sed through. All this would be consistent with the favour and loving-kindness of the God of salvation. JI. SINFUL RAPACITY 18 NOT DETERRED BY THE SIGNS OF DIVINE PROTECTION, Not a few of the enemies of Israel had been defeated and put to shame, whilst Israel had been spared, favoured, and exalted. He who questioned the power and kindness of Jehovah might well be pointed to the history of the Hebrew people. Yet, as a matter of fact, there were enemies of Israel and of God who, notwithstanding these apparent lessons, renewed their assaults upon the objects of Divine protection. Similarly, the Church of Christ is exposed to assaults open and_insidioue, physical and moral. The enemies of religion, if they have studied history, must be aware that Christ has built his Church upon a rock, and that the gates of Hades do not prevail against it. Yet they are not found to desist from their endeavours or to abate their hostility, Nor need the people of God expect to be exempt from "rude assaults of raging foes.n III. TH1!: ENEKIES OF GoD's PEOPLE, CONSCIOUS OF THEm NUMBER AND THEIR POWEB, B.EOARD THE APPAB.El\'TLY DEFENCELESS AB AN EABY PREY. The foe is described in these verses in a manner which depicts his formidable character. Gog and his auxili- aries and allies are represented as preparing for the attack, as mustering to make war npon those who are without the protection of walls, bars, or gates. The unwalled villages seem to invite the marauder, and he counts the cattle and goods, the silver and gold, as already a prey. In like manner, the foes of the Church, confident in their resources, relying npon the force of their arms, encourage one another in their hostile designs against the Church, by observing how defenceless she appears, and how open to the hostile attack and the crafty strategy of her foes. The weapons of her warfare are not caroal, and weapons of any other kind are beyond the comprehension of the foe. JV. THE AGGRESSOR SHOULD REMEMBER THAT THE LOBD 011' ALL 0AN 0HE0K AND DEFEAT TRB ABLEST A.ND THE MIGHTIEST. If the Omnipotent do but say, "I am agaiost thee," it matters not how formidable and vast are the hostile resources of the enemy. One word from his lips, one glance from his eye, is enough to put to confusion all the boasted power of the foe. V, THE DKFENCELEBB SHOULD BEMEIIBEB THAT GoD 18 ABLE IN ALL OIRCUMSTAN0ES TO DEFEND AND TO DELIVER BIB OWN, The true security of Israel was in God's care; Jehovah was the Shield, the Stronghold of his people, and when they trusted in him they were safe. The Israel of God has a sure defence. "Fear not," says Jehovah; "I am with thee." The protection of the Church is not in the favour of kings or in the arm of the warrior; it is the eternal God who is our Refuge, and underneath us are the everlasting arms.-T. Ver. 4.-Divine ccntrol. The picture of Israel's foes is indeed one fitted to strike dirniay into any heart depending upon human a.id, defence, or deliverance. Gog and his armies, the hostile nations in league with him, are de~cribed with all the pomp a~d circumstance of war. Yet, when Jehovah declares, "I will turn thee about, and will pnt hooks into thy jaws," this declaration outweighs all the professions, all the threats, all the designs of the enemy. We are reminded-and the whole Church in every age needs, in time of danger especially, to learn the lesson-that above all the plans and purposes of men there reigns Divine control. I. IT IB LITTLE EXPECTED. When plans are laid, and evil designs matured, nothing is further from the mind of the enemies of God's people than the UDquestionable fact that the Lord of all is supreme. Some poor, faint human opposition may be antici- pated; but it is not expected that a superior Power should intervene. II. IT 18 HAUGHTILY SPURNED. Shall books be put into the jaws of the dragon? Shull the wild horse of the desert be bridled ? Shall the lion of the jungle be tamed? The very thought is repudiated and resented. The mighty of the earth are not wont to brook restraiut or interference. Those who plan the ruin of the cause of God, of the religion of Christ, of the Church on earth and all its agencies-whether they so plan in the name of atheism and secularism, or in the name of worldly policy-spurn and contemn the restraint of Heaven. They B6/I no power which they need to fear, and in their view it is superstition to fear the unseen. OH. xxxvm. 1-23.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 295