The Pulpit Commentary — Ezekiel — Volume 2 — Section 471

God the less distance there was between each other. Among the citizens in Christ's kingdom diversities in minor things will continue. Diversity adds t-0 beauty and to usefulness. Diversity of function and office, diversity in opinion and in taste, is lawful; yet amid all lawful diversity there runs a bond-a vital tie-of true unity, The members of the body are various, yet the body is one. In all God's works the same principle prevails. IV. RELIGION lilRINGS Gon EQUALLY NEAB TO ALL. As a fact in Jewish history, the tribe of Dan, being furthest removed from God's sanctuary, became more worldly, idolatrous, and godless than the other tribes. In the new settlement of things, in Ezekiel's vision, Dan shall have equal privilege with the rest. 'l'ype and parable will always lack some elements, which inhere in the substance. In the new kingdom God shall be within easy reach of all Spiritual monopolies shall cease. Exclusive privilege has vanished. The devout heart in every tribe of men, or in any class of society, may find God al ways near. Distance from God is no longer geographical; it is moral. The slave and the pauper may have access to the great presence-chamber; the monarch, Jew or Gentile, may be barred out by their owu unbelief. "With that man will I dwell, who is of an humble and a contrite heart." V. RELIGION HAS AMPLE BEW.ARD FOB FAITHFUL SERVICE. The sons of Zadok had remained faithful in a time of general apostasy. Divine approval may not have been openly or profusely expressed at the time. Yet generous reward waA in store. Perma- nent honour and permanent advantage appear as the prolific fruit. They shall dwell nearer to God than others do. The entire nation shall serve them. Their deed shall reflect honour upon their father's name. The glory of their deed shall be perpetual, shall be world-wide. Their noble deed shall be the seed-corn for other deeds, and these again shall bear fruit in other lands. "The memory of the righteous is blessed." VI. RELIGION IS SUPREMELY VALUABLE, Concerning this consecrated land it was decreed," They shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the firstfruits of the land." Nothing can compensate for the loss of religion, It is solid consolation that true piety is inalienable. No power on earth or in hell can rob us of our faith, or of our purity, or of our hope. It has the guarantee of almighty protection, You can no more alienate religion from a saint than you can alienate warmth from a sunbeam or saltness from the sea. "All that a man bath will he give for his life;" but the life of his spirit he accounts a thousandfold more precions yet. God's friendship is treasure which no arithmetic can express. All comparisons fail.-D. Ver. 35.-The ape:,; of glory. "The name of the city from that day shall be, 'l'he Lord is there." The final words of the prophet are golden, and deserve to be written in largest capitals. The architecture of the holy city is ideally complete; its finial shines out wiLh immortal lustre. The city is baptized with a new name. Instead of .. Jerusalem," it shall be "Jehovah-Shammah." Names are often labelll which falsify the reality. A worthless mine may be named" El Dorado." A rotten ship may still bear the name Impregnable. But this name shall express the distinctive feature of the renovated city. Its glory shall not appear in chiselled marble and in eu.rnished gold. In the new kingdom Christ shall set up, all the materials shall be spiritual, therefore impervious to decay. The charm and enchantment of the place will be this- ., The Lord is there." It shall be nothing less than heaven in miniature, This illustrious name betokens- I. SECURITY. Real security is never a visible quantity. It does not consist of granite walls and bastions, nor yet of approved artillery. 'l'he walls of. Jericho we~e a poor defence. Jerusalem was better shielded by an unseen angel agamet the legions of Sennacherib, than by all its towers and citadels and gates. 'l'he host of Israel, when invading Canaan, was invincible because the Lord was among them. The presence of God is no mere fancy; 'tie a substantial reality. And if he be among us he brings with him all the qualities of Omnipotence. He who reared the Alps by a word, cannot he defend us? He who created with a breath this solid globe, cannot he protect? He is to us better than all "munitions of rocks." If ho dwell in our midst, well may we triumphantly shout, "The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our Refuge." II. EMINENT RENOWN. A city ls deemed garnished with honour if it be the residence OJI, xtvm. 1-35.] THE BOOK OF' TllE PROPHET EZEKIEL. 487