before us an imaginative picture of the glorious future. He passes from the regulations of the priesthood and the government to a description of a fountain of water issuing from the temple in the most natural way, as though all these things were equalJy snre to happen in the course of time. But the prophet can scarcely have been anticipating a repetition of Moses' miracle at the rock of Horeb, because his subsequent language would be absurd if we read it literally. It must be, therefore, that the prophecy is here symbolical. The blessings of the Messianic era are like waters flowing from under the threshold of the temple. I. THE BLESSING OF THE WATERS.- In a dry land streams of water are most highly valued. Their banks, fringed with green, tell a pleasing story of the life and fertility that they bring wherever they flow. 'fhe blessings of the gospel are like living waters. 1. Oleansing. God has opened a fountain for all uncleanness. 2. Life. Christ gives the water of life. Without his grace our souls are parched and perishing. 3. Refresh- ment. The water is continually flowing; it is no stagnant pool. The life which it first quickens is daily fed by its invigorating supplies. The good Shepherd leads his flock by the still waters for repeated cheering and refreshing. 4. Beauty. Where the water flows the land is green and fair. The beauty of holiness springs up by the channel of Christ's grace. 5. Fruilfulness. There grow by the water fruit-bearing trees. Christian fruitfulness springs from the ever fresh supplies of Christ's grace. II. THE souaca OF THE WATERS. 1. From God. The stream issues from the temple where God visits the earth and has his typical dwelling. It is he who sends forth the life-giving flood. We h&ve the gospel of the grace of God. From him, and him alone, comes our salvation. 2. By sacrifice. 'l'he stream is to flow from under the altar on which sacrifices are offered. God's grace is given to us in Christ, and by means of his great atoning sacrifice. Christ especially claimed to give living waters (John iv. 10). It is by his death that we live. From his cross the stream now flows for the healing of the nations. 3. Through worship. The temple had to be built, the altar set up, and the services duly conducted. We receive grace through faith when we yield our hearts and lives to Christ. III. THE counsE OF THE WATERS. 1. Outflowing. They rise in the temple; but they are not shut up in the sacred enclosure; they flow out for the good of the people. The gospel rose in Judaism, and passed out to tho Gentile world. 'l'he grace of Christ is for the people generally, chiefly for those who thirst and faint for need of it. 2. Increasing. The small stream becomes a mighty river. "He giveth more grace." The blessings of Christ increase with time. 'l'he more we know of him, and the longer we follow him, the more of his grace flows to us. The gospel widens its o.rea as it flows down the ages. The tiny stream, represented by the upper room at Jerusalem, becomes tho mighty river of Christendom. As the area of iufluence widens, the grace of Christ comes in ever more and more abundant supplies, so that there is euough for all.
Vere. 8-11.-Life and healing. The stream tho.t bursts from the temple rock is to flow through tho dry ravines of the eastern wilderness until it reaches the Dead Sea, the desolate waters of which are to be miraculously healed by the coming of the life- bearing flood. 'rhen fish shall swarm in the purified sea, "and everything shall live whither the river cometh." This is a parable of tho course of tho gospel of Christ. l. THE GRACE OF CHRIST FLOWS TO THE MOST DEAD AND DEGRADED PEOl'LE. The Dead Sea may be taken to represent the world in its sin, or that portion of mankind that is most sunken and worthless. The temple waters were not confineu to the bracing heights of Jerusalem. They could not contain themselves in those upland regions. Their quantity was so great that they could not but overflow and pour them- selves down through the wilderness. Christ cannot keep his rich gifts for a few rare, saintly souls already safely gathered into the Church. They arc for the world, chiefly for the world in its sin and desolation. The gathering flood cannot rest till it finds the low level of the Dead Sea. Obrist can have no satisfaction till his gospel has reached the most sinful and fallen creatures in the world. II. THE 0BA0E OF CHRIST BRINGS PURIFI0ATION AND HEALING. 1. Purification, The Dead Sea is charged with salts; the stream is represented as washing these away, or in aome manner transforming them. Somo great cleansing is needed to purge th<1 THE BOOK 01'' THE PROPHE'l' BZEKili1L. [cH. ltl.vn. 1-23.
earthy mixture out of the hearts and lives of man. Christ brings waters in which the foulest may wash and be clean. 2. Healing. The strong brine of the Dead Sea is fatal to all life. If fish come down in the Jordan they must perish as soon as they reach the fatal lake. 'l'o the bather the waters are so pungent that they produce agonizing sensations in the eyes, and the taste of them is. unendurable. Enclosed by the bluest of hills, steaming with tropical heat, the dull and heavy waters produce a scene of noxious beauty-like the chann of the snake, like the fascination of sin. But the gospel brings healing to the poisoned sea of human life, as the temple flood was imagined to bring it to the Dead Sea. lll. THE PURIFICATION AND HEALING OF THE GRACE OF CHRIST DEAR FBUIT IN LIFE. The purged sea is to team with fish, and fishermen are to spread their nets on its now neglected shores. Before Christ comes men are dead in trespasses and sins. He brings life for the dead, and wherever his gospel goes it introduces this life to the world. Even intellectual, social, and political life are energized by Christianity. 'l'he strongest, keenest, freshest life of the world is found in Christendom. 'l'hose lands which were once Christian, and have since lost the religion of the Christ, have sunk back to semi-barbarism; e.g. North Africa. The best nourishment for the highest life of man in all its branches is found in the New Testament. When Christ is received, life is strong, rich, and fruitful.