e not me? saith the Lord: will ye not
tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the
sea, by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it; and though the waves
thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet
can they not pass over it. But this people hath a revolting and a
rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Neither say they in their
heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the
former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed
weeks of the harvest." The practices of the people so addressed are also
thus described,--"Though they say, The Lord liveth; surely they swear
falsely." "Thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no
gods." And their consequent privations are in like manner introduced.
"Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have
withholden good things from you."[672]

That this token was to designate the continuance of a covenant, the
blessings of which were not merely temporal, but spiritual and eternal
too, and whose duties--incumbent on those who surround the altar of God
and swear by his name, should still be performed, we are taught by his
own words,--"This is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn
that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I
sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. For the
mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall
not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed,
saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee."[673]

To encourage the prophet Ezekiel in discharging the duties of his
mission to the house of Israel, and also that many to whom his messages
should be addressed might receive them, this sign, in vision, was
presented before him. To expostulate with the rebellious house of
Israel he was sent. The privileges enjoyed by that people he was called,
in these terms, to describe, "Yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a
covenant with thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest mine;" and for
their apostacy, to deliver to them the warning, "Thus saith the Lord
God, I will even deal with thee as thou hast done, which hast despised
the oath in breaking the covenant."[674] He had been commanded to utter
the corresponding denunciation, "But as for them whose heart walketh
after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I
will recompens