III. THAT MEN COME FROM ALL QUARTERS TO THE KINGDOM. There were gates facing the nol'th, the south, and the east; and in another book (Revelation) we read of gates in all four directions (Bev. xxi. 13). To the broad and blessed kingdom of God all souls come: it is not a provision for one type of mind, or for one particular race, or for one social class, but for all types, races, classes. In Jesus Christ there is neither Greek nor Jew, male nor female, boud nor free; there is neither poor nor rich, learned nor ignorant, philosophical nor simple-minded. From every quarter in the great world of men there come to the kingdom those who need and who find all that they crave in Christ Jesus the Lord. IV. TH.AT THE GATE 18 TOO NARROW FOB BOME. He who is swollen with pride cannot pass through it; nor he who is cumbered with worldliness; nor he who is filled with selfishness; nor he who is gross with self-indulgence (Matt. vii. 14). V. THAT IT 18 BROAD ENOUGH FOB ALL EARNEST SEEKERS. They who are in earnest as disciples of truth, as seekers after God; they who profoundly desire to return unto their heavenly Father and to secure eternal life, will not find the gate of the gospel too narrow. They will gladly part with their pride and their selfishness, with their vanities and their indulgences ; they will come eagerly to the Lord and Saviour of mankind, that they may take everything from him and yield everything to him.--C. Ver. 16.-Palms upon the posts: ornamental strength. "Upon each post were palm trees." It is well indeed to bring to the Church of Christ- I. THE CONTRIBUTION OF STRENGTH. There are disciples who add little to the Church but feebleness. They want to be continually comforted or corrected; to be shielded or to be sustained. We feel that the community to which they belong would be the stronger for their absence, except as they supply suitable objects for the exercise of Christian kindness, and in this way for the development of the Church's strength. But it cannot be said that this is at all a satisfactory way of rendering service. We rejoice, and we believe that our Lord himself rejoices, in those who bring a solid con- tribution of strength to the cause of wisdom and of piety. These are they who, with their Christian principles, bring a trained and robust intelligence, a sacred sagacity, a well-gathered knowledge of men and things; or who bring a liberal spirit, an open hand, a large proportion of their substance ; or who bring a loving spirit, a spirit of conciliation and concession into the council, and who are on the side of concord; or who bring warmth, vigour, energy, sustained zeal and hopefulness to the work which is undertaken; or who bring a large measure of devotion, of the spirit of true reverence to the worship of the Church. These are the "poets" of the temple; they "seem to be pillars," and they are such. And there is no reason why the same members of the Church who bring their contribution of strength should not add- II. '£HE ELEMENT OF BEAUTY. "Upon each post were palm trees.'' These posls were not unsightly props, whose one and only service was that of sustaining that which rested upon them; they were so fashioned that they adorned what they upheld. It is not always so in the spiritual temple. Some posts have no palm trees engraved upon them; they are rude, bare, uncomely. 'l'hey are tolerated for the service they render; but for who.t they are in themselves they are heartily disliked. But this need never be. Why should not the strong be beautiful as well as helpful? wby should they uot odd 11r_ace to po~er? It is a serious mistake men make when they think that they may dispense with the finer excellences of Christian character and life because they contribute an efficiency which others cannot render. 'l'he uncultivated rudeness of many a pillar in the Christian "temple" detracts most seriously from its worth; on the other hand, the palm traes upon the posts constitute a very appreciable addition. Be beautiful as well as strong. " Whatsoever things are lovely o.nd of good report" should be "considered" well, and)hc,uld be secured as well as "whatsoever things o.re true, bunt-st, just, and pure." Add to your faith virtue (manliness) and knowledge, but do not fail to add temperance (self-command), patience, and cho.rity as well. Strive after, pray for, carefully cultivate, all that is beo.utiful in the sight of man, in temper, in bear- ing, in spirit, in word and deed; so shall the value of your stren°th 0 be greatly enhanced in tho estimate of Christ.--0.
Vers. 22, 26, 29, 33.-Thc windows qf the Church. AUqsiou \S made ag:1in and 840 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. [011. XL, 1-49.