has come to the rescue at the south-east corner, where the rubbish is deepest and the work is hardest.  Baruch therefore receives the mark of distinction on God’s list of honour.  Round the corner, on the eastern wall, one builder we cannot pass without notice, for he is an old white-headed man.  His name is Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah.  We find this man mentioned in 1 Chron. iii. 22 as a descendant of King David.  His son Hattush had returned with Ezra, twelve years before; now here is the old man himself, determined not to let his white hairs prevent him from helping on the good work (ver 29).  He builds by the gate which was his charge, the Golden Gate, at the east of the temple court and facing the Mount of Olives.

The last piece of the wall is being done by the goldsmiths and the merchants; and now, as we pass them, we find ourselves again at the Sheep Gate, at the very spot from which we started in our walk round the city.

Listen to the ring of the trowels, hearken to the shouts of the workmen, as they call to one another and cheer each other on in the work.  From morning till night, day after day, the trowels are kept busy, and the work goes on, and already, as we watch, we begin to see the gaps filled up and the ruin of many years repaired.

It was the work of the Lord, a grand work, a glorious work, which those builders of Nehemiah were doing, and God noticed and marked, and put on His list of honour every one who joined in it.

Times have changed, manners have altered, kingdoms have passed away, since the eastern sun streamed upon Nehemiah’s workmen, but there is still work to be done for the Lord.  The Master’s workshop is still open, and the Master’s eye is still fixed on the workers, and He still enters the name of each in a register, His great list of honour, kept not in earth, but in heaven.

Is my name then on God’s honour list?  Am I working for Him?  Am I to be found at my post, faithfully carrying out the work He has given me to do?

Looking at the walls of Jerusalem, surely the Lord would have us learn three great lessons.

     (1) Who should work.

     (2) Where they should work.

     (3) How they should work.

Who should work?  What say the walls of Jerusalem?  Everyone without exception.  Do we not see people of all classes at work—­rich men and poor men, people of all occupations, priests, goldsmiths and apothecaries, and merchants? men of all ages, the young and strong, and the old and white-headed? those from all parts of the country—­men of Jericho, and Gibeon, and Mizpah, side by side with inhabitants of Jerusalem? people of both sexes, men and women?  The goldsmith did not say, ‘I don’t understand building, therefore I cannot help.’  The apothecary did not object that it was not his trade, so he must leave it to the bricklayers and masons.  Old Shemaiah did not say, ’Surely an old white-headed man like myself cannot be expected to do anything.’  The men of Jericho did not complain that they were fourteen miles from their home, and that therefore it would be inconvenient for them to help.  The daughters of Shallum did not say, ’We are women, and therefore there is nothing for us to do.’