_Ezra the son of Seraiah._ EZRA THE DISTINGUISHED Consider Ezra, as-- I. A man of distinguished ancestry. II. A man of distinguished attainments. III. A man in the enjoyment of distinguished favours. IV. A man of distinguished influence. V. A man of distinguished success. VI. A man of distin... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes._ THE OFFICE AND DUTY OF THE CIVIL MAGISTRATE It is the office of a Christian magistrate to encourage and protect good men in the exercise of religion, Dora by his own example and wholesome laws, and to promote true religion in his domini... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done._ THE DECREE OF ARTAXERZES It is remarkable that some of the richest effusions of poetry in the whole Scriptures proceeded from heathen monarchs, _e.g_., Darius and Nebuchadnezzar. Consider these words-- I. In reference to t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart._ KINGS OF PERSIA--NURSING FATHERS OF THE CHURCH The book of Ezra contains an interesting record of the dealings of God in His providence towards His visible Church under the Persian Empire. That empir... [ Continue Reading ]