The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-09-08
.s..u., ~ ,e,r1nN -.l,hn r,ook of r;acklcl.

tNTRODuCTION.--T Book Of Ezekiel,
written III Babylon, was designed 70 pre-
pare the jewish cnptives for return 70
tbetr homes. It consists of series Oh
bold and Impressive visions, ,nncl, like
those granted TO John. Their delivery y
began b. q, COS, md continued during !. NC 9
space of twcnty-ono years. me Y, vi SUI
OF the dry bones Represented Ing res ia,,
hone, sevcnteen years after the proplitet,
WIS made to know tho glory that would "a
como when the e%ilcs we're gn,n n,,, ~
their own land a,d h az snM at Je rm
ip he woill-nppointcd ordinances of TIC ~,
t tnr. the miniatralions Of the priests, n NJ
learned tho rules for public Worsi.p u, az
~ tlt and vivid portrayal Of the re-
iIsio,,s 'beneflts, proceeding from the ,cmc
ne, as inc center. OF the religious l,te OF
tho nation, described IN t0-di;S, ie =, 4
~" door of The temple, Ezekiel found wa
trrs issuing from the threshold. the fo'in-
tain Of which appeared TO DC on ,e sH ,in
side Of the There Is iv no mala MANI
blem Of salvation. See me Brcn 1t m n,
yitntion Osuiah. W.: ID, and INC ueu t uului
nluSo1 q the w sen u P PsHshp"e in Tic
( Ii ell iii: Isl and Jesus used the same am
fern, In the Same way tJohn, w w, pos v,
sbly recalling inm,liar PI9p,ii !ini sn,y
these waters emerging from tie telirl &c !.
Indicative of the wcll-known, inct .I, ~
ihc church Is he medium OF divine grace;
nl' q w ~ T. from which direction had come
i the AssyrInn and Chnldean armies, bring
inr niloihe woes upon Israel ana judah.
Hero is a counter religious IN llence 70
overcome the national nlislortuhse q .r,,o
e ! ana W Ilc
yhanRes w %ere nt non Flowing forth
from the sanctuary The waters constant n
IL increased. The angels attending; ne
,,n3ronhet took four measurements q thous-'
and cubits anart. finding that what vas
Mt first but ankle deep became AZ as, l. Z
river III which man might sw sinh. h r',,s
beer been e expected spa 4 lauld diff.'Fes Itself
ana ultimately disappears: This incFea a,
isra ngurativo REPRESENTATION OF the
Kingdom, OF grace <Nll ana ,ns,s''i;ncft,ts
nrogrcss. Other Old Tcsr4ment writer's
ffI[ubakuk il:14) set forth the Same Idea,
But in different terms isaiah n: %. ms
was the intent Of Jesus IN the Iarapite
of'ithe mustard seed tA!att., xi:al;; 32). al
of which has been realized In the mar
Vicious spread Of Christianity. On the
day of Pen,ccost the church numbered one
hundred and twenty souls (acts i.io1, o., Z. az !,
millions in ali lands confess Christ
rREES oversees and O.--A second
change In the vision presented a large
number or trees, which SDrnEg up on
both sides OF the river, and the prophet
looted with wonder. This synbolizca
The transformation which would be ct.
fccted through the benign influence or
RELIGION upon men. AS the earth was
cursed BECAUSE Of sin Genesis HIS. the
bowers Of Eden exchanged for thorns
and thistles, so with mans return, TO
God. Paradise will be restored and the
wilderness shall be made 70 blossom as
Tie rose Usaiah xxxv:D. That this rep
rcsentationIs iust,9no one can doubt who
considers what has TRANSFERRED IN every
land where pureSreligion has gone. The
whole face of external nature mas been
changed. and in many places the con,
dltion approaches that which was seen
BY John (Revelation xxli:4l II IS prohia-
bic that this feature In lIzeklel,s vision
had reference 10 the personal blessings
which men would enjoy CPsalm I'D, as
elsewhere described Jeremiah xvii;Sl.
LIFE Oversees s and O.--ln It's third
change the vision opens Il still larger
ana more interesting view. Is de-.
cIared by the angel that everything shall
Hive whittier the river cometh." Speclai
| mention is made of tho multitude OF
| fishes that shall be produced. possibly as
| the RI bbi's thought, because tiEse We're
| the earliest forms of animal lie Gene
| sis :2O), but more likely because the fish
! i've in the wat er and are dependent upon
| ii, This mighty river, entering the Dend
| Sea. where no life was FOUND, Would
| ranse life to spring forth ana aDOuno