June 22

Ezekiel xviii. — 1. The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying,

2. What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?

3. As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.

4. Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

19. Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.

20. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

21. But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

22. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.

23. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God; and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

Luke xiii. — 1. There were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

2. And Jesus, answering, said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things?

3. I tell you, Nay; but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

4. Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

5. I tell you, Nay; but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

6. He spake also this parable: A certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

7. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

8. And he, answering, said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

9. And if it bear fruit, well; and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

Men are apt to associate great calamities with special sins; but our Lord here teaches that such an interpretation of Providence is neither sound nor just. There had probably been a riot within the outer court of the temple; and, in quieting it, the soldiers of Pilate had slain some Galileans upon the very spot where sacrifices were offered. The Jews construed this as a special judgment for some pre-eminent wickedness; and so of the unhappy victims of a falling tower. Our Lord did not deny that there is a general connection between calamity and sin; in fact, he assumed that the calamities of life have more or less the character of judgments: but he would not allow this doctrine to be pressed to extremes in individual cases. He warned those who were so ready to pronounce judgment upon others, that they also should perish by the

sword in the overthrow of their city, unless they would repent. But, even while the divine judgments were impending over them, the grace of God was seeking to recover them. Like a fig-tree planted under most favorable conditions, the Jewish nation had possessed every facility for religious culture. Theirs were the covenant of Abraham, the law and sacrifices of Moses, the promises of the prophets; yet for three years had Christ been seeking among them the fruits of all this tillage, but almost in vain. They stood in the way of that kingdom of grace which they were set to further. The patient Redeemer would bear with them a little longer; try yet other methods: but even his love must yield at last to judgment for incorrigible sinners. Oh! let us take heed that the mercy of God is not abused by us to the greater sin.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 155, 177.

Oh! grant us grace, Father in heaven, to hear thy Word, and to obey it. We would make haste, and delay not, to keep thy commandments. Thou hast a right, O Lord! to our time, our gifts, our hearts, our persons; to all that we are, and all that we have: for thou hast created us, and hast redeemed us with the precious blood of thy Son.

We give thee thanks for the mercies of the night, and for all the mercies of our past lives, — for home and its blessings; for friends, and all the ministries of love; for health, knowledge, comfort, and prosperity; but, above all things, for thy grace in the

gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we ever be ready to acknowledge him the Son of God, the Saviour of the world! May men in the high places of power and influence consecrate themselves to him! may the poor and lowly trust in him! may children sing hosannas to the Son of David! How shall we praise thee, O God! for thy love and grace to us sinners? For all thy mercies, we bless and magnify thy glorious name; humbly beseeching thee to accept this our morning sacrifice of praise for His sake who died, and rose again, and who liveth evermore. Amen.