l. MAN'S IDEA OF THE CHURCH AS CAPABLE OF STRICT DEFINITION AND MEASUDE· llENT. There has always been a disposition to fix and limit the boundaries of the Church. 1. Irrational. The visible Church may be defined, but not the invisible. Truth is not to be measured by our belief, or godliness by the piety of the party to which we belong, or the community of the good by .the little systems of our day. 2. Presumptu=s. This work cannot be done by man. He has neither the capacity nor the means. "We mete out love as if our eye saw to the end of heaven." It demands higher powers-a purer eye, a deeper insight, a more far-reaching vision, Even Elijah failed, and Peter greatly erred. Only the Lord himself knoweth them who are his. 3. In;'urim£s. Mistakes must occur. Some excluded who ought to have been included, and others included who shonld have been excLuded. Hence evil both to the judge and to the judged-pride, injustice, uncharitableness. See Saul" breathing out threaten- ings and slaughter." Mark John, the beloved disciple, wanting to call down fire on the Samaritans. Behold the Corinthian Church-sample of many others down to our own day-tom by factions and blighted by party spirit. How often, in the world, have grievous wars arisen from paltry questions as to boundaries ! So the Church has suffered incalculable evils from "profane and vain babbliDgs" and questions which minister strife. II. GoD's IDEA OF THE CHUBOH AS TRANSCENDING ALL HUMAN LIMITATIONB. God is the Supreme and only Judge. He sees things as they are. He knows not only the outward works, but the heart, and the end from the beginning. In the woman whom Simon the Pharisee despised our Lord saw a true penitent. In the man who was castina out devils in his name he discerns an ally, though he followed him not openly as a fuciple. In the devout Cornelius he acknowledged a true worshipper and servant of God, though he was as yet unknown to the apostles. His love overflows the letter of our Creeds and the boundaries of our Churches. And as in the past, so in the future. The picture is grand and inspiring. It foreshadows the glory of the latter day. Here is: 1. Vast extension. (Vers. 6, 7.) The C.Jhurch is like a city that outgrows its walls, that absorbs the outlying villages and hamlets, that gr~ually includes the whole land in its benign embrace. As Jerusalem, so the Church, 1n the day of prosperity, would far surpas~ all former bouwie. 2. Inviolable se,curity. The figure is vivid and striking. It recalls the story of the prophet (2 Kings vi. 15-17) and the more ancient records of Moses and of Israel in the wilderness. 'l'he true defence is not material, but spiritual-not of the world, but of God. 3. IJivine blessedness. 'l'he life and splendour of the Church are in the inhabitation of God. 'l'his secures the supremacy of goodness, and the brotherhood of man in Christ Jesus, God is in the midst. "God is Liglit," "God is Love," God is Holiness; therefore the people will live and move and have their being in light and love .and holiness. It will be the days of heaven on earth.-F. on. n. 1-13.] THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. 23
Vere. 6-9.-Tlie err,ileB' retwrn. "Return." Thie call implies-- I. KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR CONDITION. In the dark days we are apt to say, "Doth God know?" Thie is our weakness. The cries of the poor, the needy, a.ad the oppressed are ever heard on high. II. CoNTINUED INTEREST IN THEIR WELFARE. Israel, thoucrh scattered, wa.e not forsaken. Affliction witnesses both as to our sin and God's m;rcy. If God did not care, he would let ue go on in sin. But because he loves and pities ue and yearns for our home-coming, he ceases not to cry," Return." III. ADEQUATE MEANS PROVIDED FOR THEIR RESTORATION. God does not require the impossible. His commands are promises. The way is open. The exiles are free to come back. Welcome and peace are assured on the word of the Lord. But self- effort is needed. We must ourselves act. IV. GRANDEST ENCOURAGEMENT TO OBEDIENCE. The best reasons to convince the judgment. The most powerful motives to sway the heart. God appeals: 1. To the sense of right. What should be the best a.nd the noblest? "We needs must Jove the highest when we see it." 2. The feeling of brotherhood. The old unity might be restored. The Jews looked back with pride to the days of David and Solomon. So of the Church. 3. Their consciousness of the real dignity of their being. They were precious in God's sight. Specially protected and dear "a.s the apple of his eye." Such thoughts fitted to raise our hearts, to inspire us with worthier ideas of our nature and destiny (1 John iii. 1). 4. Their hope of better times. Obedience would bring bles11edness.-F. Vers. 10-13.-The J°oys of the Church in her great Head. "It is a great jubilee of joy to which Zion is invited. Thrice besides is she invited with the same word (Isa.. liv. 1; Zeph. iii. 14, 15; Isa.. xii. 6), and all for the restored and renewed presence of God" (Pusey). I. THE GLORY OF ms PRESENCE. Absenteeism is a sore evil among men, but the King of Zion is always in residence. II. THE VASTNESS OF ms DOMINION. Not material but moral. Souls. "The riches or his inheritance in the saints." Far and wide. People of every kindred a.ad tongue. Constant accessions of territory, till the uttermost parts of the earth are possess~d. III. THE SPLENDOUR OF HIS ACHIEVEMENTS. The cross means death to evil and life to good. As when our Lord was in the world, wherever he went he brought light and blessing, so it is still. There is joy in heaven over every sinner that repenteth, and this joy is shared by the saints on earth. IV. THE BLESSEDNESS OF HIS REIGN. He rules not by force, but by love. The homage of his subjects is from the heart, and their service is freely and joyomly rendered. The honours of his kingdom are not to the noble and the great of the earth, but to the good. At last the old word is fulfilled, "In his days shall the righteous flourish" (Ps. lxxii. 7).-F.