2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all 'strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.

3 And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God.

4 ¶ Then stood up upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the LORD their God.

5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

6 Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

7 Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham;

8 And foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it, I say, to his seed, and hast performed thy words; for thou art righteous:

9 And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red

sea;

10 And shewedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land: for thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them. So didst thou get thee a name, as it is this day.

11 And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their persecutors thou threwest into the deeps, as a stone into the mighty waters.

12 Moreover thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go.

13 Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments:

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14 And madest known unto them thy holy

sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy

servant:

15 And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land 'which thou hadst sworn to give them.

16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,

17 And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

18 Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations;

19 Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go.

20 Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.

21 Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.

22 Moreover thou gavest them kingdoms. and nations, and didst divide them into corners so they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.

23 Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land, concerning which thou hadst promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.

24 So the children went in and possessed the land, and thou subduedst before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gavest them into their hands, with their kings, and the people of the land, that they might do with them 'as they would.

25 And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, 7 wells digged, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.

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26 Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.

27 Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.

28 But after they had rest, 'they did evil again before thee: therefore leftest thou them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver them according to thy mercies;

29 And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and 10 withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.

30 Yet many years didst thou "forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands.

31 Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.

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32 Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before thee, "that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.

33 Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly:

34 Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify against them.

35 For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.

36 Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that thou gavest unto our fathers

TRUE Scriptural instruction, under the blessing of God, will produce the most pleasing blessing of God, we mean, when the blessand happy effects. When we say, by the ing or grace of God makes it effectual, by sealing it upon the heart. And, by the expression, the most pleasing and happy effects, we mean, those results for which the instruction is given, as the case may be; and as the grace of God may be pleased to bring them to pass.

In the case before us, the effect of Ezra's teaching was striking and apparent. Ignorance was removed. Truth was understood and received. Blessings were imparted. Neglected ordinances were observed. Religious feeling was diffused. Holy joy in the Lord was realised. These are mentioned in the last chapter. In the one now before us, we find much humiliation, deep repentance, and fervent prayer. These, again, led to further results; and all redounded to the praise of God. Let us seek to improve these things.

God's word is the fountain and foundation of all saving truth. It is that which enlightens the mind; and, in the hand of the Spirit, which turns the heart. "The entrance of thy words giveth light. It giveth understanding to the simple." (Ps. cxix. 130.) Where the word of truth is unknown, there the people remain in ignorance; and if professed ministers make not that word their study and guide, both teachers and people are all alike in the dark; and both will perish together. (Matt. xv. 14.)

God's word, when it waters the heart as applied by the Holy Spirit, invariably produces those effects which accompany the work of grace. In this chapter, the people were greatly alarmed and deeply humbled. They brake off their wicked connexions; stood and confessed their sins; and prayed unto the Lord, crying most earnestly for his mercy. All through this chapter you may trace the spirit of humiliation, repentance, and prayer. Is not this always the case? When God touches a man's heart by his word and grace, will not that man discover his danger? Will he not be deeply alarmed for his soul? Will he not be greatly humbled? Will he not break off his evil ways, and cry aloud for mercy? Will not the Saviour then become precious? Will he not then be very desirous of obtaining peace and salvation? Every one that knows any thing about these matters, must know that such is the case ; and when it takes place, we thank God, and take courage." (Acts xxviii. 15.) Such are the general features which mark the efficacy and power of the truth of God upon the heart. But there are some other particular evidence, which ought by no means to be overlooked. Look again at the prayer recorded in this chapter. Here are high conceptions of the glorious character of God. Here is a humble remembrance of his past mercy and goodness. Here is a lively confession of former ingratitude and sin. Here is an ardent acknowledgment of the Lord's kindness and love. Here is, above all, a penitential confession of the justice of God in all that was brought upon them; that the Lord had done right, and they wickedly; and that, many as their calamities had been, they had been punished less than their sins deserved (v. 33, with Ezra ix. 13). Now, these were some of the effects of the word and grace of God wrought in their hearts. And such will be the effects of that word and grace in all cases, more or less, as the occasion may be. Such preparation of the heart makes way for pardon and peace; for Christ and his salvation. Happy are they who are thus led to see their danger; and thus find the Lord Jesus as the Saviour of their souls.

Let us ask ourselves, Have we been thus

taught and humbled? Have we become thus penitent and prayerful? Have we been thus pardoned and blessed? Have we attained such high discoveries of the Lord's greatness and mercy, and such deep views of our own unworthiness and sin? If we have, let us bless God for his distinguishing goodness; and pray for further proofs of his love. And if we have not yet been thus blessed, let us be ashamed of ourselves, and beseech the God of all grace to touch our hearts by his Spirit, and to bring us to Christ for the life and peace of our soul.

and Zidkijah,

2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
3 Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah,
4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,

8 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests.

9 And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;

10 And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

11 Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,
12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
13 Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.

14 The chief of the people; Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani, 15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,

16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,
17 Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur,
18 Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,
19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
21 Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,
22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,
24 Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek,
25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
26 And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,
27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.

28 ¶ And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and

their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding;

29 They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;

30 And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons :

31 And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of 'every debt.

32 Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God;

33 For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.

34 And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law:

35 And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD:

36 Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God:

37 And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.

38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.

:

39 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the

We have followed this good man through many of his trials. We have seen how the Lord sustained him under them. We have also seen what success was given to his exertions. And we have now to follow up that success in some additional details. May the good Lord teach us to profit by this, and every other part of his Word, to the good of our souls, and the glory of his name!

In the last chapter we found the people all assembled together in prayer. In the conclusion of that chapter we behold them all making a sure covenant, and binding themselves over under a written obligation, to worship and serve the Lord (v. 38). Here, in the opening of this chapter, we have the names of those who took the lead in this work of reformation and amendment. Now, is not the work of grace designed to bring us over, in the faith of Christ, to the love and service of God? What is the meaning of such words as these, " Ye are Christ's" (1 Cor. iii. 23); and, "Ye are not your own; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Cor. vi. 20.) Is it not the reasonable service of every true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to present his body a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God? Do not the mercies of God bind him so to do? And when we commemorate the dying Saviour's love, are we not taught, there on the spot, where that commemoration takes place, to offer and present ourselves, our souls, and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice unto God? How, then, can we be Christians indeed, if such surrender have not been made? or if we are living to ourselves, instead of living unto him, who died for us, and rose again?

But let us examine some of the particulars of this surrender unto God, and then offer some brief explanatory remarks upon the nature of the transaction itself.

If you examine the chapter, you will find that they solemnly engaged themselves to separate "from the people of the land unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and

their daughters, every one having knowledge and having understanding." They entered into a curse, and into an oath, to "walk in God's law, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our God." They bound themselves to have no communion, nor connexion, with the heathen by whom they were surrounded. They engaged themselves to a strict observance of the Lord's day; to allow of no business to be carried on, nor

any work to be done on the sabbath. They charged themselves with the due provision and observance of all the appointed feasts and sacrifices; and promised that they would not forsake the house of their God. These things were just suited to their state and condition at that time; and they tested their sincerity in all other respects in what they said and did. And will not every one's sincerity be put to the test in some way or other? Can he be right, who does not give himself up to the Lord? Does not the grace of God, which bringeth salvation, lay the soul under the highest obligations to cleave to the truth, and walk in the Lord's ways? Can he love the Lord, who loves not the Lord's day? Can he possses the faith, who disregards the means of grace, and the privileges of the gospel? Or can he have put his hand to the plough, who looks back, or forsakes the Lord, his house, his truth, or his salvation?

These questions are too obvious to need any reply: they speak for themselves. And he whose whole heart does not beat in unison with them, has great cause to doubt the reality of his professed faith, and to tremble for the state of his soul. If David prayed, "Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed" (Ps. cxix. 80); who has not cause to hearken to the apostle's advice, and "Examine himself whether he be in the faith?" (2 Cor. xiii. 5.)

2 And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.

3 ¶ Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of

Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants.

4 And at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah; Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalaleel, of the children of Perez;

5 And Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni.

6 All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred threescore and eight valiant men.

7 And these are the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jesaiah.

8 And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight.

9 And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer: and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city.

10 Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin.

11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was the ruler of the house of God.

12 And their brethren that did the work of the house were eight hundred twenty and two: and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchiah,

13 And his brethren, chief of the fathers, two hundred forty and two: and Amashai the son of Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,

14 And their brethren, mighty men of valour, an hundred twenty and eight: and their overseer was Zabdiel, 'the son of one of the great men.

15 Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;

16 And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God.

17 And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the