The Pulpit Commentary — Zephaniah — Section 71

as having fallen. How many modem citi~s to-day, which call themselves Christian have 8unk into e. similar degeneracy I London, Paris, Rome, St. Peterslmrg, etc., e.r~ nil highly religioUB in profession, n.nd have religious means in abundance. What is the, moral condition, not only of their masses, but of their "princes" their "judges " their "prophets," and their "priests"? Ah me I under the cover of religion there r~lls the ~ea of putrescent depravity. Morally, how much better is London than Bombay Pekin, or Jeddo? ' 11. .A PROFESSEDLY RELIGIOUS 0ITY TERRIBLY DEGENERATED, ALTHOUGH GoD WAR SPECIALLY WORKING IN ITS ll[IDST. "The just Lord is in the midst thereof; he will uot do iniquity : every morning doth he bring his judgment to light he faileth not; )mt the unjust_ knoweth no shaID;e," In every city, and amongst :very people, tho Just Lord, the nghteous Jehovah, 1s and works-works by the operations of material ne.ture, by the events of human life, by the suggestions of human reason and the dictates of h~man c~nscience. But in Jerusalem he was i_n a more especial ;ense, e.nd he wrought m special ways. The temple was his dwelling-place, and the gleaming Shechinah was the symbol of his presence; and specially did he reveal himself to some of its noblest men. .And yet, notwithstanding all, Jerusalem sank; with God amongst wonderful freedom which the Almighty allows to wicked = them working to raise them, they foll lower and lower. What does this teach? 1. The on the earth. Though he strives to improve them, he does not coerce them. He makes no invasion of their moral agency. 2. The tr~usforce of human depravity. What a power sin gains over man! It binds him in chains often stronger than adamant. It loads him with 11 weight which he cannot shake off, but which -sinks him deeper and deeper into the abysses of wickedness. CoNCLUSION. 1. Do not hinder Christian propagandism from entering a city because it is nominally Christian. The gospel is wanted there, perhaps, more than anywhere else, more even than in pagan populations. 2. Do not expect that the world will be morally renovated by miraculous agency. .Almighty Goodness does not coerce. There is no way by which mere force can travel to a man's soul.-D. T.