of heavenly powers; (4) he has been believed to be occupied with himself and indif- ferent to the conduct and the character of his children; (5) he has been represented 88 partial, or 88 malevolent, or as unrelentingly and inconsiderately severe, or as simply good-natured witliout any concern for the righteousness of his rule and the moral integrity of bis subjects, or as tied and bound by the laws which he bas instituted, so e.s to be wholly unable to interpose in the affairs of men. IL GoD IMPERFECTLY EXPLAINED, Many, indeed, have been the interpreters who have undertaken to "justify the ways of God to men;" and very nnsatisfactory have their explanations been. They may have given a measure of comfort to a few and for a brief time. But as the world has moved on, and "the thoughts of men have widened," most of these solutions have gone their way, and given place to others which in their tum have been exploded and have disappeared. III. Goo INTERPRETING HIMSELF. Cowper's line is trne enough- " God i, bia own Interpreter." IIe does make plain that which was inexplicable and perplexing. Thus we find that (vers. 21-24) the heathen nations were in time made to see that the Jews were not taken captive by them because (as they once ignorantly supposed) J ehovab was unable to protect them, but because he was determined to punish them for their transgressions. And we find further (vers. 28, 29) that Israel at length understood that he who sent them into captivity and then brought them forth therefrom was in very deed and truth "the Lord their God," whom they should serve, and in whose service they would find security and peace. We find ourselves perplexed by many insoluble pro- blems; serioUB difficulties respecting our own human life, and the dealings of our Divine Father with ourselves; more serious difficulty and perhaps distressing darkness as to God's government of the human world. We wonder why he permitted this and that; why he does not act when and how we should expect that he would; how he can be both just and kind when such and such things are as they are and as they ought not to be, etc. Let us: 1. Remember that in the light of the present we can understand much of the once-mysterious past. 2. Be assured that in the light of the future we shall perfectly understand that which is troubling and even burdening us now. God will interpret himself, as he has been doing all through the ages of human history. We shall see one day what we now believe, that" all his paths are mercy and truth."-C.
EXPOSl'l'ION. solatory prediotione whioh the prophet began OHAPTER XL. to utter when tidings came to him that the The magnificent temple-vision, as it is oity was smitten (eh. xxxiii. 22, 23). Having usually styled, a description of whiob forms eet forth the moral and spiritual conditions the olosiug seotiou of this book (eh. :x:1.- upon whioh alone restoration wae possible xlviii.), was the last exteuded "word" com- for Israel (eh. x.u..iii. 2!-x.u..iv.), aunounccd municated to the prophet, aud was given the deetruotion of all Israel's ancient him in the five and twentieth year of the enemies, of whom Edom was the standing Captivity, i.e. about B.o. 575. Two years type (oh. xuv.), foretold the dawning of a later he received a brief revelation conoem- better day for Israel (eh. :uxvi.), when she iug Egypt, which, in compiling his volume, should be re1111Boitated, reunited, and re-es- he iuoorporated with the other prophecies tablished in her old land, with Jehovuh'e relating to the same subject (oh. u:ix. 17- sanctuary in its midst (oh. xxnii.), and 21). Of tbe present oracle as a whole the predioted the utter and final overthrow of eignificanoe will be beet u::iderstood when all future combinations of hostile powore ita several parts have been examined in against her (oh. xxxviii., :uxi.J:.), the pro- detail, Menuwhile it may euffioe to note phet proceeds to develop the thought to tho.t it mauifestly connects itself with the which he hllB already alluded, thllt of promise in eh. xxxvii. 27, 28, and forms an Ismel'e re-establishment in Canaan, un,l to appropriate conclusion to the series of oon- aketoh an outline of the reorganized oow- 320 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [oH. xr...1--49.