DISCOURSE.

EZEKIEL XLIII. 5, 12.

"SO THE SPIRIT TOOK ME UP, AND BROUGHT ME INTO THE INNER COURT; AND BEHOLD, THE GLORY OF THE LORD FILLED THE HOUSE.'

"THIS IS THE LAW OF THE HOUSE: UPON THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN, THE WHOLE LIMIT THEREOF ROUND ABOUT SHALL BE MOST HOLY. BEHOLD, THIS IS THE LAW OF THE HOUSE."

In the prophecies of Ezekiel, there are things hard to be understood. Aware himself of the mysteriousness of the representations made to him in vision, and of the obscurity that clothed his descriptions of them,-he acknowledged that he "spake in parables ;" and doubtless he enquired and searched diligently, what the spirit of Christ which was in him did signify.

Similar enquiries on our part, will not be unrewarded. And the diligent study of his "dark sayings," under the advantages we derive from the instructions of Christ and his Apostles, will furnish to us many happy illustrations of the doctrines and duties of Christianity, as well as of the more general principles of the divine government.

The volume of Inspiration is one; and the successive developements of the character and purposes of Jehovah, from Moses, downward to the close of the revelations made through the Beloved Disciple, have been only amplifications of preceding announcements, and are all pervaded by the same spirit of holiness, while they all pursue the same grand design---to make men acquainted

with their relations to God, and to enforce their obligations to universal obedience.

If even under the Christian dispensation we do but see through a glass darkly---it cannot surprise us, that the people of Israel and their prophets also, should have been unable steadfastly to look to the end of that which was abolished eighteen hundred years ago. The types and shadows they enjoyed, were adapted to their condition. The Church was in her infancy. "The first covenant," formed with her, "had ordinances of service," saith the Apostle, "and a sanctuary of an earthly nature. An outer tabernacle was prepared, in which was the candlestick, and the table, and the shew bread, which is called the Holy Place. And behind the second vail was the tabernacle, which is called the Holy of Holies, containing the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid with gold in every part, in which was the golden urn that contained the manna, and the rod of Aaron which budded, and the tables of the covenant; over it also, were the Cherubim of Glory overshadowing the mercy seat.”*

The tabernacle with its furniture, "was a figure for the time then present---in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect as pertaining to the conscience"---for obviously, meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, could not take away sin, nor satisfy the law of God.

That our lot has fallen on a later period of the world, and where the Sun of Righteousness has arisen to dispel the shadows of Jewish twilight, should inspire our gratitude. We are permitted with open face, to behold the glory of the Lord---and if the vail of unbelief be taken from our hearts, and we be changed into the same image, from glory to glory, as by the spirit of the Lord, then

*Heb. ix. Stuart's Translation.

we shall behold Christ, not only as revealed by the Apostles, but by the Prophets, and shall readily admit the fact, that he who was made the organ of divine communication to the captive Jews by the river Chebar, looked forward to the day of Christ, and rejoiced.

The Prophet had witnessed the desolation of the Holy City. He had seen the armies of Nebuchadnezzar carrying fire and desolation into the sacred places--scattering the people---destroying thousands, and bearing others away into captivity. The day was dark. The Lord had drawn his sword, to cut off from Jerusalem both the righteous and the wicked. Every heart melted; all hands became feeble; every spirit fainted, and all knees became weak as water.

While he mused upon these things in the land of captivity, and poured out prayers for the remnant of his brethren---and while the fire burned within him---he was favored with the vision from which the words of the text are taken.

Brought into the land of Israel, he was set on a very high mountain, whence he saw the frame of a city on the south, and where he was shown the extent of the wall, the number of the gates, and the arrangement of the buildings. Afterward, he was shown the temple, and made acquainted with its form, measurement, proportions, apartments, and appendages. He was then brought to the gate, that looketh toward the east, where "the Glory of the God of Israel came by the way of the east, whose voice was like the noise of many waters; and the earth shone, with his Glory."

The view was overwhelming. The Prophet fell on his face, astonished and adoring. And then it was, that the spirit took him up, and brought him to the inner court---where was the place of Jehovah's throne, and the place of the soles of his feet---" and behold! the Glory of the Lord filled the house!"