This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1875 edition. Excerpt: ... OUR STUDY. HE gates have closed that guard the way to the tree of life. The flaming sword turns every way, Sq that no flesh can approach and live. Man aas sinned. God is righteous. Well might angels weep as they behold such a sight Heaven Is Shut. God dwells in His secret place. Thunders and lightnings are round about Him. Clouds of thickest darkness hide Him from man. The blood of Abel's lamb, the rejection of Cain's first-fruits, attest the fact. Heaven is shut. The bloodsprinkled door-posts, the thousands of altars, the myriads of bleeding victims, the smoke ever ascending from the fires of judgment, the unceasing priestly work, all proclaim that heaven's doors are shut. But promise shone through the dark cloud of judgment, and the glory of One coming to deliver was revealed; and while the captive Israelite sat in his desolation beside the river of Chebar, he wrote, 'The heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.' (Ezek. i. 1.) Thus we see heaveD opened concerning, G I. CHRIST IN PROPHECY. And it is God who opens it, it is God who shews the visions. The visions were about the glory of God and His relation to Israel: the cloud, the chariot of His glory then departing as with wings and wheels from His dwelling on earth. His ancient people are seen scattered and broken, but the heavens do not close (in vision) until again the glory of God fills the temple, and the whole earth besides is filled with His glory, and heaven and earth are finally united under the righteous sway of the Prince of Peace, the coming Deliverer. May He hasten that glorious day! II. CHRIST IN OBEDIENCE. But turn now to another scene, --Matt. iii. 16. In Jordan's waters stands a spotless, perfect Man, in the place where the godly Jews confessed sin in the baptism..