But dark times were in store for Jerusalem for many a long day before that gracious promise was fulfilled. As a sign of this, Ezekiel saw that the cherubims once more lifted up their wings. The glory was departing from the city itself: it moved swiftly on, till for a space it rested on a mountain on the east. Surely this was the Mount of Olives, which shall one day be again lighted up, when the King of the Jews shall once more reign in His own city of Jerusalem. Ezekiel's visions were ended his spirit came down once more to the things of earth; and in his own house, and to his captive brethren, he told the wonderful things that God had shown to him.

(Read Ezekiel xi.)

IO. KING ZEDEKIAH.

Once more Ezekiel is made a sign to his people: they were so rebellious they refused to believe what they heard with their ears; so the Lord began to teach them again, like children, by their eyes. Ezekiel received this command: "Prepare thee stuff" (or, rather, thy garments) "for removing, and carry it out by day in their sight." So the prophet girded up his dress, and gathered all his goods together, and carried them out of his house. Then in the twilight he dug through the wall, and made a secret hiding-place to conceal them. The people watched him. They asked him, "What doest thou?" but he gave them no answer, for it was not till morning that he got his message from the Lord.

Then Ezekiel told the people that, just as he had removed all his treasures in the gloaming, so would the inhabitants of Jerusalem be seen carrying

out and trying to save their possessions. Nor would it be only the people who should do this. There was still a king in Jerusalem: his name was Zedekiah. He was on his throne still, but Ezekiel foretold how he should yet be seen, with his family, fleeing from his capital; that he should be carried to Babylon; and yet that he should never see it.

How could this be? I hope you have not forgotten Jeremiah's account of the last King of Judah. Do you remember that he and his sons and his officers fled by night out by the palace gardens? But they were overtaken by the Chaldeans. They slew the young princes in their father's sight, and then his poor weeping eyes were put out; and thus this royal prisoner was led into Babylon, whose splendours he could never see.

Surely when all this was fulfilled the Jews would believe for the time to come whatever the Lord's prophets should speak; but, in the meantime, their heart was unbelieving as ever. They said plainly, "The days are prolonged, every vision faileth." These were their words; but what said the Lord of Hosts? "The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.” Yes, indeed; and they should know it for themselves. "For thus saith the Lord God, In your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it."

(Read Ezekiel xii. 1-13, 23-28; Jeremiah xxxix. 6, 7.)

II. JUDGMENTS ON THE FALSE PROPHETS AND PROPHETESSES.

Those false prophets who had so misled the people were not to go unpunished. To them Ezekiel next

turns, and commands them to hear the word of the Lord. He pronounces a woe on those foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, yet have seen nothing. How little had they cared for Israel! As a fox tears down the hedge to enter into the vineyard, and to devour the grapes, so had they dealt with Israel. They had been no wall of defence to the people in the day of the Lord's controversy with them; but with lying lips they had deceived them, saying, “The Lord saith;" and they had whispered peace, saying, "Peace, peace, when there was no peace." Ah, who can measure the punishment that was to fall on these unhappy prophets! The Lord's hand of judgment should be upon them, and they should return to the land of Israel no more; and, worse than all, their names should never be found in that register book which held the names of all the faithful children of Israel. The Lord compares these prophets to unfaithful masons, who were building a wall. They took no heed to the mortar they used: it was not properly prepared, it was untempered. Their wall might look strong, but it could not last; the first heavy shower would beat upon it, the hailstones would batter against it, and the strong winds would rend it. Thus would these false prophecies fall to the ground, and they who had uttered them be destroyed.

Not only were there men who thus deceived the people, even among the daughters of Israel were some who spoke lying words. Alas for à land when the women turn against God; and when, instead of trying to lead men into the way of life by loving hand and gentle voice, they rather strengthen their hands. in wickedness! This is what these Jewish women did, as if they would lull their victims to sleep by

laying soft cushions under their arms, or by covering their eyes and leading them astray; so did they speak smooth, flattering words to their souls, and drew them. blindly on to ruin. They encouraged the people in their rebellion by promising them life. In order to gain a little bread for themselves, they hunted after souls. But could they save these souls alive, even when they had come to the women? Alas! no. The Lord alone could do that, and He would. He would tear off the coverings from their eyes; He would rouse them from their slumbers, and let these poor, deceived souls go free; and one and all should know that He was the Lord.

(Read Ezekiel xiii.; Ezra ii. 62.

12. THE LORD'S ANSWER TO THE ELders.

The elders of Israel came one day and sat before Ezekiel, as if to hear the word of the Lord. Were they in earnest in seeking God? Far from it; nor could their reverent appearance deceive the Lord of Hosts. He told the prophet that He would take the matter into His own hands. "I will answer them Myself. I will set My face against him who has separated himself from Me, and set up idols in his heart. I will make him a sign and a proverb. I will cut him off from the midst of My people."

Sometimes the people of Israel looked back on their nation's history. They remembered the Lord's favour to the patriarchs of old, and they flattered themselves that the blessing would not be withheld from their children, even if they forsook the God of their fathers. But it was a vain confidence. The

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Lord was about to send His four sore judgments on His land-the sword to slay, the famine to consume, the savage beast to devour, the pestilence to scourge; and even though those three men, so strong in faith and prayer, Noah, Daniel and Job, were in the land, pleading for the people, they should not prevail. They should but deliver their own souls by their righteousness, but they should not be able to save any other, neither son nor daughter.

Yet it seems as if the Lord could not bear to finish His warning without holding out a little hope to His people; so He adds: "Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters; behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their ways and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it. And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord God."

(Read Ezek. xiv. 14-23.)

13. TWO TYPES OF THE children OF ISRAEL. You remember how often the Lord compares His people to a vine. What can be more beautiful than a vine, laden with rich clusters of purple grapes, peeping from beneath their delicately-notched green leaves? But if the vine does not bring forth fruit, of what use is it? No one would dream of taking the wood of it for any kind of work. It was not fit to make even a pin to hang anything upon. It really was good for