the _glory_ shall be a defence;" that is, there shall be protection round about the glory which is created by this luminous cloud and by this kindled fire. Some tell us it should be read, "upon _all_ the glory shall be a defence;" that is, the luminous cloud and the brilliant fire shall be itself the defence of the Church. What does it matter which way we take it? The defence is sure, the salvation of the Lord is for bulwarks equally in the one case as in the other; and so the Church is safe, whatever betide. Powerful adversaries have banded themselves for her destruction, and yet she still lives, while their names are forgotten, or remembered with accusation and shame. Let us, then, not be afraid of future assaults (Num. xxiii. 23). The defence is not merely for Zion as a whole, but for every dwelling-place therein. Every believer has a pillar of cloud and fire over his own homestead, visible not to your eyes, but to those of the angels. There cannot be a cloud upon "the assembly" unless there are first clouds upon the dwelling-places. Consecrated homes furnish consecrated congregations; consecrated homes bring the baptism of fire. Dear brethren, this promise is yours, if you like to have it. It is the simple, quiet soul that sits at the feet of Jesus and listens to His voice, that has all this done for him (Heb. i. 14). "Which of the petty kings of earth Can boast a guard like ours, Encircled from our second birth With all the heavenly powers?" --_W. Morley Punshon, LL.D., Christian World Pulpit,_ ii. 372-377. THE CLEANSING SPIRIT. iv. 4. _By the Spirit of judgment, and by the Spirit of burning._ In ch. ii. 1-5, the prophet gives us a vision of the glory which shall distinguish Messianic times. From ver. 6, however, and through that chapter and the next, he depicts scenes of darkness and distress, that were to come upon the Jewish nation in correction of its haughtiness, arrogance, and rebellion. In ch. iv. the light again breaks through these fearful clouds of judgment, and under the glory of the Messianic period we see the beauty and purity of the chastened people of the Lord. The filth of the daughters of Zion has been washed away, the blood of Jerusalem has been purged from the midst thereof. But how? "By the Spirit of judgment, and by the Spirit of burning." Here we have the source and cause of the change.--This language is very striking and suggestive, _and reveals the Divine procedure in the cleansing of the heart._