comp. Dou t. x x xii. 10; also Exod. iv. 22 ; Acte ix. 4 ; Ma.tt. xxv. 40). 2. He w(YU/d as openly manifest himself a,qainst their enemies. "I will shake my hand over them," o.nd spoil tboso that spoil thee ( comp. vere, 9 and 8). This a. special proof of the presence of God with hie servants, a.nd of their mission to speak in his Name (end of ver. 9). So of Moses (comp. Exod. iii. 21, 22; xii. 35, 36); of Barak (Judg. v. 12); of Christ himself (Ps. lxviii. 18; Eph. iv. 8; Col. ii. 15). All this: 1. A glorious picture of the state of God's people at the time of the end. (1) As to their nearness to God (see such passages as Ps. Ix vii. 6, 7; Rev. xxi. 2, 3; xxii. 4). (2) As to their separation from evil (Ezek. xliii. 7; Rev. xxi. 27; xxii. 3; eh. xiv. 20, 21). (3) As to their triumphs in Christ (Rev. xxi. 4; 1 Cor. xv. 52- 57 ; Ps. ex. ; Heb. i. 13; x. 13, etc.). 2. An instructive lesson tu to the great thing to be aimed at by us now. (Cant. ii. 16; John xv. 4, etc.; compare also what is shown of the importance of" holding the Head," in Col. ii. 19, and context; and of being "found in Christ," in Phil. iii. 9.) Vera. 10-13.-The benefits of God's presence. "Sing and rejoice, 0 daughter of Zion: for lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee," etc. In these verses the prophecy takes us back to a thought twice touched on already (see eh. i. 16; ii. 5), viz. the mani- fested presence of God with bis people. Three times over in the present passa;i:e is this same thought referred to (observe" I will dwell," both in vers.10 and 11; and" habita- tion," in ver. 13). Taking this, therefore, as the main idea of the passage, we may learn from it, in a genera.I way, how such a presence of God in Christ is connected (1) with the extension of his kingdom; (2) with the stablishment of his people ; and (3) with the confutation of unbelief. --I. 'l'HE EXTENSION OF HIS KINGDOM. "Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day." So says the Angel-Jehovah here as the Representative and Equal of Jehovah. In what day? 'l'he "day" so often referred to of his" dwelling" or being amongst them. "Joined," in what manner? So as to become his "people" them- selves. The illustrations of this general principle, whatever be the special application thereof primarily intended in this passage, are many and close. Compare the com- mand (" make disciples") and the promise(" I am with you") of Matt. xxviii. 19, 20; also the connection, in Rom. xi. 12, 15, between the restoration of Israel to God'~ favour (equivalent to his presence among them) and the conversion of the world; also Ps. lxvii. throughout; Gen. xlix. 10; 1 Cor. xiv. 25; Isa. xiv. 14; Zeeb. viii. 23. II. THE STABLISHMENT OF HIS PEOPLE. " Thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me," 1. This partly due to the direct results of the manifested presence of Christ, Contrast the language of Cleophas ('lwe trusted," Luke xxiv. 21), when i.e supposed Christ to be absent, with the language of the disciples, not long before, in his presence (John xvi. 30). 2. Partly due to its indirect effects as referred to just now. It greatly confirms our own faith in Christianity when we see strangers brought to believe it, The more widely a remedy is found to succeed, the more our trust iD it is augmented. This truth seems recognized or implied in such passages as Rom. i. 13; Acts xi. 22, 23 ; Ool. i. 3-6, 23, etc. III. THE CONFUTATION OF UNBELIEF. "Be silent, 0 all flesh." All "flesh and blood" -human nature at large, Compare, after the presence and power of the Captain of the Lord's host (Josh. v. 13-15) had been so signally manifested in the events recorded in Josh. x., bow we read in the twenty-first verse of thnt chapter, that" none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel" (see Exod. xi. 7; Ps. lxxvi. 7-9; Zeph, i. 7; Hab. ii. 20), Also Rom. xi. 33-36, where we have the same arisiug of God to manifest his presence by restoring Israel to his favour (note expressions, "choose Jerusalom again," and "raised up," in vers. 12, 13), and the same call to "silent awe and reverential contempl11tion" (Wardlaw) of bis greatness. M11y we not also compare what is said in the prophecy of Enoch as quoted in Jude 14, 15? When "every eyti ahall see him" (Rev. i. 7) every mind shall believe. CoNOLUDING THOUGH'l'S, 1. How deep the foundations of gospel tr·uth I Some of the most vito.l of those are connected with the Person and office of Christ, viz. as already referred to, his being at once the appointed Messenger and the personal Equal of Gud. Ous1,1rve how each of these separate lines is woven into tht1 whole tenor and structure uf tho po.si;age befo1·e 1111, 'l'lmiu times over the person speakini iii described as bein.w; 22 THE BOOK OF ZECltARtAll, [ou. n.1-18.
"sent" (vers. 8, 9, 11); yet nowhere can we :find any distinction as to authority between the speaker and Jehovah himself. So far from this, in fact, e.s to lead to an appe:ue.nce of 11tter confusion between him who is !fent and him who sends· like the apparent ~onfusion to be found in the langue.i;re of the Angel-Jehovah in Gen. x~ii. 11, 12. A confus101;1, however, which, when viewed in the more explicit light of New Testa- ment teachmg, becomes comparatively clear, and even natural. How striking, because -:-on the ~uman writer's part-how und_csigned a coincidence I 2, How peculiarly tmporta.nt in these days the -duty of preaching the gospel "afar off"/ 'l'be best answer to sceptical questionings at home is to be found in missionary conquests abroad. Other religions, being the inventions of particular "races," suit those rnces alone. Christianity suits " every creature" (Mark xvi. 15), because the Creator's own work.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-5.-Measuring the Ohurch. "Jerusalem" stands for the Church. The "man" .(ver. 1) seems the same person who is afterwards spoken of as" youna-," and who is implicitly rebuked for taking in hand a task beyond his powers. 'fhe passaa-e suggests for consideration- b