Israel has been, prophetically, restored to their I land; the shechina-glory, which had in the beginning of the book, left the holy places, has returned and taken up its abode in the new temple. The priesthood has been re-established, and intrusted with service and sacrifice, no longer anticipative, but memorial; and now from out the sanctuary issue living waters, which carry healing and fertility and life wherever they go.

Beautifully symbolic of the life-giving, healing ministry of the Holy Ghost, during the millennial age, are these flowing waters! symbolic, too, they are of the life and joy of the heavenly city, which, too, has its river, its tree of life, its varied fruits, and health-giving leaves, of which these in Ezekiel are the earthly shadow.

Our purpose, however, at present is not to dwell on the earthly or heavenly scene from a dispensational point of view, but rather to gather, in a very simple way, a few thoughts of God's grace, and the practical lessons they bring to us.

Refreshment always flows from God's presence. Blessed be His name, whether it be in Eden, the garden of the Lord, or in the dry and weary wilderness, streams of water flow, and must flow, for the needs of His people. Sometimes He may test their faith, and make them dig for the cooling stream, as with Abraham, or "the elders at the end of the wilderness journey. Sometimes He may test their patience, and let them thirst awhile, and then cause the flinty rock to yield life and refreshment, but we repeat it, refreshing flows from God, and from Him only. It is both His people's loss and their shame, when they forsake Him, the fountain of living waters, to hew out for themselves broken cisterns that can hold no water.

Dear brethren, do we always drink from this fountain? or are we ever weary of its sweet, refreshing flow ?

"And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; and the waters were to the ankles." Our faces are turned eastward, toward the sunrising, toward the coming day; and as we journey on toward God's day, we find His streams. This may well signify to us the refreshment of the spirit of God, ministering to us of His fullness, through the Word.

"Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; and the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through:the waters were to the loins." The blessedness we knew when we first found the Lord is ever fresh ; a charm, a joy, linger around that holy springtime of love that is well marked by the Spirit of God, to recall us, should we forget it.

But are first impressions the deepest, no matter how real ? Nay, as we pass on through life, and the love of God becomes more fully known, the waters of that river deepen. The precious stream rises from ankles to knees, from knees to loins, until we can no longer sound its depths, they are "waters to swim in"-a mighty flood of love that can neither be fathomed nor crossed. Beloved brethren, what a picture of the love of God!
Does not our own poor experience bear this out ? As we have gone on to prove the love of God, in many a time of trial, of weakness and of failure, have we not found our thought of Him deepen? The stream over which we, perhaps, walked as a thing quite within our comprehension-including forgiveness, justification, and peace-the stream deepens, and we find these truths have a meaning we had not before grasped, and fresh truths are added, so that we cannot so easily pass over. Day by day, as we go on, learning from His word and from His ways, we find ourselves beyond our depth, we are "lost in wonder, love, and praise."

Surely this is a true and legitimate experience. Is not this God's purpose for us? See how the apostle loses himself in this on-flowing stream ?-"That ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God" (Eph. 3:17-19). Here are "waters to swim in," which baffle all our efforts to sound or cross them.

Do any say this is too much for me, it is beyond me? It is the apostle's prayer for all saints. Does it seem too great to be accomplished ? hear how he mingles encouragement with glad doxology,-" Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."

It is ours then, dear brethren, to enjoy this fullness ; and if we do not, where does the fault lie ?

May our longing increase!-a longing that will not be satisfied save with the fullness of our God-"waters to swim in."