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planted, and to set forth its truths and doctrines in their purity. I pass over the vision of all wickedness in the fifth chapter, only saying I think the two women seen to come out of the ephah signified the two Babylons, the ancient, and Babylon the great. Oh, who can fathom or compass that measure of iniquity? Deliver us from the gulf, O Lord!

I think the vision of the four chariots in the sixth chapter, heralds, messengers, or ambassadors, or all of these, and that the four Evangelists are intended. They did come forth from between two mountains, powers, Rome, and the Jewish nation; and hence the kingdom of Christ that is proclaimed, that rose therefrom, or rather His Church, that was newly instituted by Himself.

"And the word of the JEHOVAH came unto me, saying, Take of them of the captivity of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah;

"Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest." This was done in the ancient Jerusalem; but then the Great Head of the Church is again revealed, and the antitype of the ancient ceremonial, the institution of the Apostolic Church.

"Thus speaketh the JEHOVAH of hosts, saying, Behold, behold the man whose name is the BRANCH, and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the JEHOVAH.

"Even he shall build the temple of the JEHOVAH; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule

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upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne and the counsel of peace shall be between them both." In the raising up of His own Body, Christ did build the temple of the eternal; God dwells, and will eternally dwell in that Body, and the Church, one with Him. He does now bear the glory, and sit and rule upon the eternal throne; and He is a High Priest upon that throne.

"And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the JEHOVAH." Here the ancient names are repeated, but the installation of the apostles to office was what was signified. The crowns were simply figurative of honour and distinction consecrated "kings and priests unto God."

"And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the JEHOVAH, and ye shall know that the JEHOVAH of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the JEHOVAH."

These glorious promises were to the Jews in the dim distance; made to their nation, they were made to them, and the word of their covenant God could not fail. They looked for the restoration of their temporal kingdom, but this was not to be; the BRANCH was a spiritual Head, an example, and a pattern for all ages. "Thy King cometh unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass" (Zech. ix. 9). The kingdom of God and the Church have but one meaning in the Bible, save

that the kingdom may be more essentially a scheme of grace, and the Church a spiritual body of persons. God in Christ is the builder of both.

"Out of Him came forth the corner "-referring to the chief corner stone-" out of Him came the nail, out of Him the battle bow, out of Him every oppressor together.

"And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle and they shall fight because the JEHOVAH is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded" (Zech. x. 4, 5).

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I think the eleventh chapter is a prophecy of the final destruction of Jerusalem. Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen." And the breaking the staves, Beauty and Bands (ver. 10, 14), foretold the breaking of the everlasting covenant of grace with the Jews, for their obstinate rejection of Christ. "Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock." The expression is remarkable, that Church a self-idolater, a shepherd whose nature was wholly self-idolatrous. Matt. xxiii. entirely explains this prophecy. "The sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened."

The twelfth chapter to the sixth verse is still of that last fearful judgment, and a terrible voice it is. "The burden of the word of the JEHOVAH for Israel. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem." But from the sixth verse is a prophecy of the repent

ance and restoration of Israel. "In that day shall the JEHOVAH defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David: and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the JEHOVAH before them.

"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn."

Thus do we see that this prophecy, like all prophecy, is as much a chain of history as is history when prophecy is fulfilled. And the responses, and fulfilment of some of the passages in this book in the Gospels are remarkable (Matt. xxi. 5, xxvi. 31; John xix. 34–37; Rev. i. 7). Who then will deny Scripture? I see in it but one harmonious whole.

The thirteenth chapter seems to be a distinct vision. The first verse seems to have been a prophecy of the fountain for sin, opened when Christ came, and opened afresh to the house of Israel when they shall avail themselves of its cleansing efficacy. "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness." Is it possible that man can be so deceived, and so self-deceived, as to be satisfied with himself, and to refuse to be cleansed and absolved in that cleansing fountain? Yes, Satan may so fill up every avenue of the soul, so glut the soul with the things of time and sense, that he may not be able to

Christ said so. "Whom
Well then, what is to be

receive the spirit of truth. the world cannot receive." done? The man must disgorge the world; rid himself of the flesh and of the devil; open all the avenues of the soul to the light of heaven; let in Christ, let in the Holy Ghost; not leave it swept and garnished only; but enthrone Christ, and let Him reign there. And this can only be done by the knowledge of God, by a grasp of biblical truth.

We must remember this prophecy was written about 580 years before Christ; and yet we read: "So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver" (Zech. xi. 12, 13). If this be compared with Matt. xxvi. 15, 16, and xxvii. 3, 4, 6, 9, it will be seen how every circumstance of the betrayal by Judas was foreshown. And then mark the holy indignation of our Lord, for it was He Himself who spake by the ancient prophet: "The JEHOVAH said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them."

Oh, amazing depth of darkness and of hell! Thirty pieces of silver for the God immortal, eternal, and invisible! The price of a slave! Oh, incarnate virtue, incarnate holiness, incarnate God, when wilt Thou be seen?

Hence the inquiry in the thirteenth chapter and the sixth verse: "What are these wounds in thine hands?" It was an ancient custom for masters to set a mark upon their captives or slaves (Rev. xiii. 16); but this, applied to the Lord Jesus Christ, signified that He was under arrest, the prisoner or captive of Satan. "Those with which I was wounded in the

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