Vers. 4-12.-The optional and tM obligatory in the kingdom of God. 1. Here are minute and positive prescriptions, requiring exact conformity and allowing no devi- ation. The burnt offering was to be six la.mbs a.nd one ram-no more and no less (ver. 4). In the day of the new moon-at tha.t particular time-the offering was to include a young bullock (ver. 6). They who entered in by the north ga.te were to go out by the south gate, and vice versa (ver. 9). These (and other) instructions were in full a.nd ca.reful detail, a.nd there was to be no departure from them. 2. On the other hand, the prince might, at certain hours and on occasion, bring an offering that was purely "voluntary;" one that was "voluntarily" presented unto the Lord (ver. 12). Room was left for spontaneity, even in the midst of these very specific requirements. In the kingdom of Jesus Christ we have these two orders of service-the obligatory and the optional, the plainly and positively enjoined, and the voluntary; and that Christian life is not complete which is lacking in either. J. THE OBLIGATORY. Of those things pertaining to our Christian life which a.re indispensable there are: 1. .At its entrane.e: (1) humility (or penitence); and (2) faith,- that living faith in Jesus Christ which includes the acceptance of him as the Saviour of the soul and the Lord of the life. 2. Throughout its CO'Urse: (1) worship, or the approach of the human spirit to the Divine in prayer, in thanksgiving, in consecration; (2) obedience, or the conformity of conduct to those precepts which are an essential part of Christian morals; (3) love, including not only the "love of the brethren," or a special attachment to those who are the friends and followers of Jesus Christ, but also a genuine pity for those who arc far from him and need to be brought nigh, and a practical determination to seek and to win these erring souls. II. THE OPTION.AL. There is room for the voluntary as well as for the necessary in our Christian life. 1. In the particulars ef our worship. We have one main principle binding upon all men everywhere (John iv. 23, 24), but it is left to our individual choice-to our own judgment and conscience-at what times, in what forms, within what buildings, with what kind of human ministry, we shall draw nigh to God in true and pure devotion. 2. In the minutire of obedience. What shall be the rules and the regulations we shall lay down for the observance of the great principles of purity, of temperance, of equity, of veracity, of reverential speech, of courtesy,-these are not to be found in any Christian directory; they are to be decided upon in the sanctuary of every consecrated spirit and of every cultivated conscience. 3. In the measure and methods of loving service. What proportion of our income, what amount of our time, what order of personal effort, we shall devote to the cause of Christ and in the interest of our fellow-men,-this rests with every individual Christian man to decide. These must be, in some sense and degree, "voluntary offerings."-O. Ver. 18.-Losing and keeping tM inMritance. The subject of this commandment ls " the inalienable nature of the prince's possession, and the sacred regard he must pay to the peoples'; " its object was to legislate so that "no temptation might exist to spoil the people of their proper inheritances, as had been too often done in the days that were past." By the words of the text we are brought in contact with- I. THE HEBREW IDEAL OF FAMILY INHERITANCE, 'l'he Mosaic legislation contem- plated keeping the land in the occupancy of the same tribe and of the same family from generation to generation. It was not in the power of the occupier to sell it or to will it away from the family; and although it might be mortgaged, it reverted to the original p(Jssessor (or his family) at the year of jubilee. The ideal was that of all the families of the nation being interested and engaged in the happy, honourable, and fruitful employment of agriculture. In this ca.se there would be no superabouuding wealth on the one hand, and no degrading poverty on the other hand; while every Israelite would have the deepest interest in preserving the integrity of his country's ~eedom, and would be contributing to its wealth. Such an ideal as this is hopelessly llllpossible in such a time as this, but in a primitive and pastoral age it was one calculated to secure the largest possible measllle of individual happiness, domestio comfort, and national prosperity. OH, XLVII.1-23.] THE BOOK 011' THE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 445
II. !Ts PARTIAL FAILURE AND ULTIMATE DISAPPEARANCE. Such a provision must have been attended with great difficulties in the way of realization. Dissipation on the one band and avarice on the other would almost inevitably lead to loss and to appro- priation. And there is no doubt they did. As time went by the land became lost to the families to whom it was originally apportioned (Josh. xix. 51). And when the time came for the great and sad deportation to other lands, the entire arrangement was broken up; finally the Jews were" scattered, every man from bis possession;" and, dispersed among the Gentiles, they became the least pastoral or agricultural, and the most trading and financing, of any people on the earth. Where, then, does this prediction find- III. A PLACE IN THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST? It will find it, in substance, in: 1. Provision for the material well-being of the people of the land. As the result of Christian principle acting at both ends of the body politic, elevating the character and therefore the condition of those at the bottom, and leading those at the top to devote their resources and employ their (legislative and other) opportunities in the interest of the people, there will gradually ensue a wide distribution of comfort and prosperity. Abject poverty and superfluous possession will give place to universal competence, education, morality, piety-in fact, national well-being. Many forces will have to coutribute to this result, and it may be a long time coming, but it must be the issue of a true and practical Christianity. There are other "inheritances" beside that of land nnd wealth which need to be preserved, and which a Christian family or e. Christian Church should devoutly determine to maintain. There must be : 2. The perpetuation of the fair heritage of e.n honourable name, a reputation for family good- ness or wisdom that has come down many generations. 3. The preservation of the preoious deposit of sacred trutb.-C.