"Then Hezekiah, the king, rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the Lord.

"And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin-offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the Lord.”

Note-Here we notice three classes of numerals: The seven, the three, and the one; seven, three times-the bullocks, the rams and the lambs; these belong together as a sin-offering. Then the seven goats, once, belonging to another class-that of atonement and reconciliation. The prophet, Isaiah, being the guiding light at this time, and we know that Hezekiah, the king, was devoted to him, and sought and followed his counsel, this arrangement, and the numbers, were probably suggested by him, and explained by the priests to make the occasion the more impressive.

(1) Seven days one week; seven years, a prophetic week; seven times seven years, and the year following, the year of JUBILEE; six days work, and the seventh the Sabbath; six days creation, and the seventh God's rest day, and therefore set apart, dedicated and consecrated as rest day for the human race; six thousand years duration for the establishment and development of the church of God upon the earth, out of which citizens for God's kingdom to come are now selected and prepared (select draft and training). "For the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ," and the seventh thousand of years the millenium; the seven stars; the seven heavens, etc.

(2) THREE, a Cardinal number: the Orion three stars; in the God-Head, three persons; three patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; three commandments on the first of the two tables of testimony given Moses by God on his descent from the mountain; a human being consisting of spirit, soul and body: "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thess. 5:23.

"So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar; likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar; they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar.

"And they brought forth the he goats for the sin-offering before the king and the congregation; and they laid their hands upon them; and the priests killed them, and they made RECONCILIATION WITH THEIR BLOOD UPON THE ALTAR, TO MAKE AN ATONEMENT FOR ISRAEL:

"For the king commanded that the burnt-offering and the sin-offering should be made for ALL ISRAEL.

"And when the burnt-offering began the song of the Lord began also with the trumpets and with instruments ordained by David, king of Israel.

"And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang. and the trumpeter sounded; and all this continued until the burntoffering was finished.

"And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves and worshipped and Hezekiah answered and said: "Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the Lord, come near and bring sacrifices, and THANK-OFFERINGS into the house of the Lord.

"And the congregation brought in sacrifices, and THANKOFFERINGS; AND AS MANY AS WERE OF A FREE HEART BURNT-OFFERINGS.

FINALITY

"And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly."

A Secret Discovered.

In this preparation, as above recorded and not noticed, we find: (1) The way opened to the mercy seat of God. For it is our sins and persistence in sin that obstructs this way, and our acknowledgment of our sins, confession and forgiveness and cleansing in the blood of Christ that opens the way. This changes

our lives and our view of life.

(2) That we are enabled to "come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Heb. 4:16.

(3) Thus prepared, Hezekiah, the elders and the priests could BOLDLY approach the God of heaven in his temple, spread the letter of the Assyrian king before the Lord, and ask His help and deliverence out of the hands of their adversary.

God's Mighty Warrior.

And God sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and the captains in the camp of the king of Assyria.

That's all the Lord has to do: just to send one angel, and in one night there are one hundred eighty-five thousand Assyrian corpses in their camp. And the Assyrian king is shortly thereafter killed by two of his sons in the temple of his own god.

Analogy and Application.

History Repeats Itself. This world-war presents conditions and circumstances very similar to those in the days of Hezekiah. The Assyrians are now represented by the Turk. And as Palestine was an obstacle in the way for the Assyrians in their conquest of Egypt, so was Belgium in the way for a conquest of France by the Germans; and France was in the way for a conquest of England, it is thought.

Even Palestine, the promised land, the land of our Hezekiah, is involved largely, perhaps principally, even the most important, when the imbroglio has been disentangled, the riddle unravelled, respecting this wonderful world-war.

For one result, indeed the greatest result, a result far overshadowing, eclipsing all other results growing out of this war, will be the restoration of Palestine to the children of Abraham, and the absolute independence of the Jewish nation, as it was under David.

It is a most cheering and hopeful thought, opportunity, yes privilege, to be a partner in the attainment of this result.

And this thought should cheer our soldier boys to bend every bit of their energy to remove impediment, obstacles and obstructions in the way, whether it be the Kaiser, the Turk, or anyore else.

And this thought and assurance should be an impetus for all loyal citizens to make special sacrifices and to put forth extraordinary efforts for the restoration of Palestine, and the upbuild

ing and consecration of Jerusalem, the foundation of peace-the joy of the whole earth, and the CAPITAL of the UNION OF DEMOCRATIC NATIONS, and the CAPITAL CITY of the CHRIST, when He shall return to this earth and become the king of kings; and the kings and rulers of the earth shall lay down their crowns and scepters at His feet, as a token of submission, loyalty and devotion.

All Interested.

Who would not have an interest in this great achievement, when Jesus comes? Great is the aim of establishing a world Democracy, but greater is the restoration of Palestine and Jerusalem, and in doing the one thing, we accomplish the other; for there can be no world peace without the absolute independence of Palestine as it was at the close of David's reign and the brightest time of Solomon's reign, at the dedication of the finished temple.

How to Secure an Interest.

The father and mother who sacrifice their son for the army in loyal faith and submission to God, secure an interest. The man who enlists, in loyal faith and submission to God, secures an interest. Members of the Red Cross, and all those supporting the Red Cross, doing it in loyal faith and submission to God and conforming to His will and ordinances, secure an interest. Members of the Young Men's Christian Association, and all those supporting and working in cordial harmony with it for the protection, edification and temporal, moral and spiritual welfare of our soldier boys, and doing it in loyal faith and submission to God, secure an interest. Every one buying liberty bonds for the financial support of our government to prosecute this war, and doing it in loyal faith and submission to God, secures an interest. Little children who can do no more than to sacrifice some candy or a much appreciated and wished-for toy to save a few cents to buy some Thrift Stamps, secure an interest. The poor man, woman or domestic or maiden, who can not spare fifty dollars to buy a liberty bond, may spare a few dollars to invest in Thrift Stamps, and by doing this they secure an interest.

The day will come when the possession of a liberty bond or a thrift stamp, commensurate with circumstances and ability, as a token of loyalty and good faith, will be of immeasurable value. to the possessor, an honor, a gratification, a certificate of faithful performance, entitling the possessor to REWARD.

DIVINE ACCLAMATION.

"OH THAT MY PEOPLE HAD HEARKENED UNTO ME, AND ISRAEL HAD WALKED IN MY WAYS!

"I SHOULD SOON HAVE SUBDUED THEIR ENEMIES,

and turned MY HAND against their adversaries.

"The haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves unto HIM; but their time should have endured for ever.

"He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat. And with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee." Ps. 81:13-16.

Condition of Easy Victory-Our Part.

(1) Hearken to the Lord:

(2) Walk in the ways of the Lord.

Condition of Easy Victory-The Lord's Part.

(1) I should soon subdue their enemies;

(2) I should soon turn my hand against their adversaries; (3) The haters of the Lord should submit themselves to HIM. (4) He should have fed them also with the finest of wheat; (5) He shall satisfy them, with honey out of the rock. The Old Way Is the New Way.

(1) Discern the will of God: commission, omission, sin, iniquity.

(2) Acknowledgment, repentence, broken heart, contrite spirit. (3) Confession, restitution, reconciliation.

(4) Unconditional surrender to God, irrespective of conse

quences.

(5) Accepting Jesus and His atonement as our personal Savior, forgiving our past sins, in the sight of God, justification, and washing our conscience, hearts, minds from the filth of sin, and in conversion by the Holy Spirit, a new life, new aims, new desires, new associations, new pleasures and joys, new faith, new hope, new love, new worship, a new way and a new home in heaven.

(6) Accepting the Holy Bible as the inspired Word of God without reservation.

(7) Growing up to the stature of Christ-sanctification.

CHAPTER XXVI.

Ezra, the Model Priest, Minister, Pastor.

1. Qualification, Personal Inspiration, Preparedness.

"For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments, remarks the inspired narrator..

The first requisite, and of vital importance, is (a) To know the law, to possess knowledge of the letter and literal meaning of the law; (b) To prepare one's heart to seek the law: The Law of the Lord-to consider the lawgiver, His majesty and power to enforce His law as well as His goodness, mercy and love, resulting in self-examination, humiliation, a contrite spirit, confession -FORGIVENESS, DIVINE INSPIRATION, SANCTIFICATION; (c) "To do it," the what, the how, the when, the what to do, the how to do it, the when to do it; and in all, and above all, and embracing all, the requisite for both willing and doing, a keen susceptibility to the exhilarating and warning voice of the Holy Spirit, and to the gentle touch of the guiding hand of God. 2. Ministry, Administration. "And to teach in Israel statutes and judgments."

Qualified and prepared, having dedicated his life to the service of his God and his people, he goes about it unhesitatingly. And having surrendered himself wholly, entirely, unreservedly to God as a living sacrifice, he enters his ministry and proceeds to his ministerial duties with Divine power and authority, proclaiming "statutes" and "judgments" to his own people, the Israelites.

This people presented an altogether different attitude toward God's messenger now, in Babylon, in captivity, from what they did in their own favored fatherland, when God's prophets, Isaiah and Jeremiah, expounded the law and expostulated with them to denounce the idols and to seek and worship the living God. If this people had been as attentive while yet at Jerusalem or in the fatherland, as they were now in captivity, this awful calamity would not have befallen them.

Application-if all the Christian ministers had been and were as devout, zealous, and divinely inspired, and heavenly guided, as Ezra, no world war would have been possible. Instead of inciting to war and hate and revenge, the precepts of the Christ would have been inculcated and applied, and as a consequence the nations would live in peace and harmony, and embracing love.

This very serious question must be answered. The ministry of the Christian Church having the means of grace in hand for proper administration, and being divinely commissioned and authorized to present and demand attention and obedience to these precepts, failed to do so; and the calamity came by reason. of such negligence and failure on the part of the Christian ministers to administer the means of grace as demanded by Christ. Who is actually at fault? Who is and will be accountable and