Ezekiel 7

1. Contrition, or brokenness of heart. Ezekiel 7:16. They shall be like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning every one for his iniquity. This contrition or rending of the heart, is expressed, sometimes by smiting on the breast (Luke 18:13), sometimes by plucking off the ha…

It is the disposition of gospel-penitents to mourn every family apart, husbands and wives apart (Zechariah 12:11-12). And of gracious souls, to be like doves of the valleys, every one mourning for his iniquity (Ezekiel 7:16). There must be joint prayers and separated prayers tog…

And this rending implies, not only acute pain; flesh cannot be rent asunder without anguish; nor yet only force and violence; the heart is a stubborn and knotty piece and will not easily yield, but it also implies a disunion of parts united: as when a garment, or the earth, or a…

The Husbandman does not presently cut down the tree because it puts not forth as soon as other trees do, but waits as long as there is any hope, and then cuts it down. Thus does God wait upon barren dead-hearted persons, from Sabbath to Sabbath, and from year to year; for the Lo…

My heart cannot express what sad nights I have for the virgin daughter of my people. Woe is me, for our time is coming (Ezekiel 7:10): behold the day, behold it is come, the morning has gone forth, the rod has blossomed, pride has budded, violence is risen up in a rod of wickedn…

11. The Ornament of God, Ezek. 7:20 12.

All things friendly and beneficial to them, Friends helpful, Enemies helpful, every thing conspiring and conducing to their happiness. With others it is not so; nothing works for their good; in fact, every thing works against it: Their very mercies are snares, and their Prosperi…

If God be angry, whose fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him (Nahum 1:6), can a wedge of gold be a screen to keep off this fire? Ezekiel 7:19: They shall cast their silver in the streets; their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them…

While we carry the fire of sin about us, we must carry the water of tears to quench it. Ezekiel 7:16. They are not blessed (says Chrysostom) who mourn for the dead, but who mourn for sin.

Christ's doves weep. Ezekiel 7:16: They that escape shall be like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity. There are several divine motives to holy mourning.

When the dumb creatures melt as wax and vanish away at his presence when he is angry, as the huge mountains and rocks do, frail man must never look to stand. If the roaring of a lion makes men afraid and the voice of thunder is terrible, oh, how exceedingly should all be astonis…