The dross of silver

 Notes on Ezekiel 22:17-22: The saints, then, are the Feet of incandescent Brass, who have all passed through the fire, and the water of separation, and been consecrated by the blood of the covenant; and "are partakers with the Altar," even with Jesus (1 Cor. 9:13; 10:18; Heb. 13:10,12); and those of them who have been slain, have been poured out "beside the bottom," or "under the altar," from whence the cry apocalyptically ascends to the Father, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell upon the earth?" (Apoc. 6:10; 11:1). Hence, those who dwell upon the earth, being like Israel of old, "grievous revolters, brass and iron, corrupters all" (Jer. 6:28) are to be cast into a furnace glowing with the heat of YAHWEH'S indignation. Israel has been passing through the process for ages. They have been trampled under foot of the Gentiles in a great furnace of affliction; for punishment was to begin first at the Jew; and afterwards to be visited upon the brass and iron of the Gentiles. Ezekiel's description of Israel's punishment by Gentile agency will illustrate that of the Gentiles by the agency of Israel under the direction of the Man, "whose Feet are like incandescent brass glowing in a furnace;" and will furnish an obvious interpretation of the text. "The word of YAHWEH," says the prophet, "came unto me, saying, Son of Man, the house of Israel is to me become dross; they are all brass and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are the dross of silver. Therefore, thus saith YAHWEH Elohim, because ye are all become dross, behold, therefore, I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it to melt it; so will I gather you in my anger, and in my fury, and I will leave you, and melt you. Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof. As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I, YAHWEH, have poured out my fury upon you" (Ezek. 22:17-22). In this testimony, Israel in the flesh are compared to brass and other metals full of dross. This drossy nature of the brass is the characteristic by which they are distinguished from the "fine," or "incandescent brass" of the Son of Man, or Israel in the Spirit, in glowing, or burning, operation upon the subjects Of YAHWEH's fiery indignation.