Page 186 - NOTES ON EZEKIEL

180 NOTES ON EZEKIEL.
shews us the principle in Romans viii. The groaning'
creation is yet to be delivered from the bondage of cor.
ruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of
God. But this is under no message of the gospel, but
a fruit of Divine power when Christ is no longer hidden
hut appears in glory and the sons of God are revealed too.
The difference here is that the apostle connects this bless­
ed deliverance with the revelation of the risen saints, the
prophet with the restoration and renewal of Israel.
But further, it is grace alone which, applied by
the Holy Spirit to the soul, produces true fear of
God and judgment of self. “ There is forgiveness with
thee, that thou mayest be feared.” It is this too
which as here leads Israel to abhor and confess their
past iniquities with a full heart. How glad are they
to bow to His sovereignty who uses it in saving'
mercy ! “ Then shall ye remember your own evil
ways, and your doings that [were] not good, and shall
loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniqui­
ties and for your abominations. Not for your sakes do
I [this], saith the Lord Jehovah, be it known unto you:
be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, 0 house
of Israel. Thus saith the Lord Jehovah; In the day
that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities
I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the
wastes shall be builded. And the desolate land shall
be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that
passed by. And they shall say, This land that was
desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the
waste and desolate and ruined cities [are become] fenced,
[and] are inhabited. Then the heathen that are left
round about you shall know that I Jehovah build the