Ezekiel 3:17

Therefore we are most anxious that you be persuaded not to be misled by such persons, since we know that every one who can speak the truth, and yet speaks it not, shall be judged by God, as God testified by Ezekiel, when He said, "I have made thee a watchman to the house of Judah. If the sinner sin, and thou warn him not, he himself shall die in his sin; but his blood will I require at thine hand. But if thou warn him, thou shalt be innocent." And on this account we are, through fear, very earnest in desiring to converse [with men] according to the Scriptures, but not from love of money, or of glory, or of pleasure.

The office of bishop is the highest order in the church. Episcopos means overseer, because with the help of divine grace he guards the Lord's flock from his high seat like a most careful shepherd. As the prophet Ezekiel says, "I have made you a …

"Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for the members of the house of Israel, so that you may hear from my mouth and warn them." That means, "Look, I have made you a warning and a caution, so that you may say what I command to the just and to sinners, that the just may grow in discretion and the sinners in penitence."

If we carefully heed the lessons that are read at the consecration of bishops, we have a means of rousing ourselves to the greatest compunction. What Gospel text is it, except the one I mentioned a little while ago? "Peter, Peter, tend my sheep," and …

It should be noted that He whom the Lord sends to preach, He declares to be a watchman. For he to whom the care of others is committed is called a watchman, so that he may sit in the height of the mind and draw the meaning of his name from the power of his action. For he is not a watchman who is in the lowest place. Indeed, a watchman always stands in a high place, so that he may see from afar whatever is to come. And whoever is appointed as a watchman of the people ought to stand on high through his life, so that he may be able to benefit them through his foresight. Hence another prophet admonishes the watchman, saying: "Get up onto a high mountain, you who bring good tidings to Zion." So that evidently he who has undertaken the office of preaching may ascend to the height of good action; may pass over to lofty things and transcend the works of those who have been committed to him; so that he may see the life of his subjects all the more keenly, inasmuch as he does not subject his mind to the earthly things which he looks down upon. Oh how harsh to me are these words that I speak, because in speaking I strike myself, whose tongue neither maintains preaching as is worthy, nor does my life follow my tongue to the extent that it is able to maintain it. I am often entangled in idle words, and I cease from exhortation and the edification of my neighbors, being sluggish and negligent. I have become mute and verbose in the sight of God—mute in necessary things, verbose in idle ones. But behold, the word of God concerning the life of a watchman compels me to speak. I cannot be silent, and yet I fear to strike myself by speaking. I will speak, I will speak, so that the sword of God's word may pass even through me to pierce the heart of my neighbor. I will speak, I will speak, so that the word of God may sound against me even through me. […]

Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel,.... Not in a civil sense, a watchman of a town or city, or of the whole country, but in an ecclesiastical sense.

It is a dangerous office. Sometimes they cannot keep their post, but are in peril of death from the enemy, who gain their point if they kill the sentinel; and yet they dare not quit their post upon pain of death from their general. Such a dilemma are the church's watchmen in; men will curse them if they be faithful, and God will curse them if they be false.

Now the prophet, in his preaching, must distinguish between the wicked and the righteous, the precious and the vile, and in his applications must suit his alarms to each, giving every one his portion; and, if he did this, he should have the comfort of it, whatever the success was, but, if not, he was accountable.

Watchman - The priests and ministers of the Lord were often so called. Ezekiel is especially distinguished by this title Eze 33:7. The duties of a watchman are twofold, (1) to wait and watch what God will order, (2) to watch over and superintend the people. Isaiah describes and censures unfaithful watchmen Isa 56:10.

watchman--Ezekiel alone, among the prophets, is called a "watchman," not merely to sympathize, but to give timely warning of danger to his people where none was suspected. Habakkuk (Hab 2:1) speaks of standing upon his "watch," but it was only in order to be on the lookout for the manifestation of God's power (so Isa 52:8;

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+unbalanced-parens

IN most places the seasons in the Church are the reverse of those of Nature. Our wintry season generally comes when our hearers are busy in the fields, or resting in their summer retreats. And our harvest time for the ingathering of souls comes to us in the winter when, during the long evenings, the people can come together and special meetings for prayer and exhortation can be held.

IN most places the seasons in the Church are the reverse of those of Nature. Our wintry season generally comes when our hearers are busy in the fields, or resting in their summer retreats. And our harvest time for the ingathering of souls comes to us in the winter when, during the long evenings, the people can come together and special meetings for prayer and exhortation can be held. Just now, as the damp of autumn begins to fall and the days are sensibly shortening, we ought to take note of the signs of the times and begin sharpening our sickles for a plenteous harvest. The time when kings go forth to battle is coming on and we must muster the host. The season when we can, with special ease, gather the people and hopefully labor for their conversion is now at our doors and it is well that we gird up our loins for it! I feel deeply anxious, dear Friends, that every time these seasons come round, all Christians should be fully prepared for them! I feel that we should make the best of every opportunity and use with thorough-heartedness, every hopeful occasion if, by any means, we may save some! Now is our time to use all our powers that we may be the means of bringing glory to our Lord Jesus Christ and of setting Him on high in hearts conquered by His love! We should all desire to take some part in this gracious work! Of course there are and always will be, in the Christian Church, special watchmen— chosen men who are set apart by God for the warning of the people—whose one business it is to cry aloud and spare not, whether men will hear or whether they will not! Let us be thankful that the Lord gives us such men and let us beseech Him to multiply their number.

I have made thee a watchman - The care and welfare of all this people I have laid on thee. Thou must watch for their safety, preach for their edification, and pray for their eternal welfare. And that thou mayest be successful, receive the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. God is particularly jealous lest any words but his own be taught for Divine doctrines. He will not have human creeds, no more than Traditions, taught instead of his own word. No word can be successful in the salvation of sinners but that which comes from God. Every minister of the Gospel should be familiar with his Maker by faith and prayer; God will then hold communion with his spirit; otherwise, what he preaches will be destitute of spirit and life, and his hackneyed texts and sermons, instead of being the bread from heaven, will be like the dry mouldy Gibeonitish crusts.