,,notes on the book of ,,deuteronomy ,volume ,i ,c4 ,h4 ,,mackintosh ,forever1 ,o ,lord1 ,thy ,word is settled in heaven4 ,thy ,word have ,i hid in my heart1 that ,i might not sin against ,thee4 ,,loizeaux ,,brothers ,neptune1 ,new ,jersey ,,first ,,edition #ahhj ,,twenty-,,seventh ,,printing #aife ,,loizeaux ,,brothers1 ,,inc41 ,,publishers ,a ,nonprofit ,organization1 ,devoted to the ,lord's ,work and to the ,spread of ,his ,truth ,,neptune1 ,,new ,,jersey ,,printed ,,in ,,the ,,united ,,states ,,of ,,america ,,prefatory ,,note ,,to ,,the ,,american ,,edition ,as several persons in ,america have1 without any authority whatever from me1 undertaken to publish my four#a volumes of ,notes1 ,i deem it my duty to inform the reader that ,i have given full permission to ,messrs4 ,,loizeaux ,,brothers to publish an edition of those books in such form as they shall consider most suitable4 ,c4 ,h4 ,,mackintosh4 #f ,west ,park ,terrace1 ,scarborough1 ,may #ast1 #ahgi4 #a ,now six4 ,,preface ,the value and importance of the ,word of ,god cannot be over-estimated at the present moment4 ,its integrity and authority are being assailed from almost every quarter and in every form of attack4 ,if the foundations be destroyed1 what can the righteous do8 7,ps4 xi4 #c47 ,infidel thoughts and principles are not limited to a few literary and speculative minds1 as they were fifty years ago1 but are now asserted by many who ought to be the true guardians of ,christianity and the defenders of the ,bible as a revelation from ,god4 ,in this way the multitude of the simple and unsuspecting are deceived4 ,if the style of address be pleasing1 few care to compare what they have been hearing with the holy ,scriptures4 ,the conscience not being aroused1 they take no further trouble4 ,but what of the state of immortal souls1 under such a ministry1 in view of eternity8 ,on whom does the weight of responsibility rest8 ,fine-spun theories will never awaken a soul asleep in sin3 the lost sinner must be brought face to face with the plain ,word of ,god and the solemn realities of eternity4 ,his voice must be heard4 ,all is absolute1 positive1 and definite here1 whatever infidelity may say4 ,the ,word of the ,lord endureth forever4 ,the burden of the following pages1 ,i am thankful to find1 is well calculated to meet and counteract the looseness and indefiniteness of the prevailing teaching of the present day4 ,and this1 ,i may also say1 is the burden of the book of ,deuteronomy4 ,the ,jewish lawgiver presses with great earnestness the ,word of ,jehovah on the heart of ,israel4 ,it is not a book of ceremonials1 but the reminding of the people of their obligation to keep the commandments1 the statutes1 and the judgments of the ,lord4 ,this is the first moral duty of man in every age--implicit obedience and submission to the revealed will of ,god4 ,moses speaks to the children of ,israel as a father1 and appeals to them in the most tender and loving way4 ,hearken1 ,o ,israel1 he says1 unto the statutes and unto the judgments which ,i teach you 444 ye shall not add unto the word which ,i command you1 neither shall ye diminish aught from it1 that ye may keep the commandments of the ,lord your ,god which ,i command you4 ,and again1 he says1 ,thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand1 and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes4 ,and thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house1 and on thy gates4 ,the welfare of the people individually and nationally depended on their faithfully observing these oft-repeated laws4 ,to neglect them was to bring upon themselves the displeasure and chastening of the ,god of ,israel4 ,but more need not be said here on these subjects4 ,the reader will find in the following pages the most ample unfolding and practical application of these divine exhortations and warnings4 ,but the writer has not confined himself to what ,deuteronomy teaches1 but has enlarged on what it suggests4 ,in this way we have brought before us the grand cardinal truths of ,christianity3 a wide circle of truth is embraced1 and much that applies to the individual ,christian1 the family1 the household1 and the ,church of ,god will be found in the accompanying book4 ,it now goes forth with the earnest desire that the ,lord may be graciously pleased to use it for the glory of ,his own name1 the help of ,his people1 and the eternal blessing of many precious souls4 ,a4 ,m4 ,london1 ,november1 #ahhj4 ,,contents ,page4 ,,introduction1 #a ,,chapter ,i1 #bb ,,ii1 #ajg ,,iii1 #acb ,,iv1 #afb ,v1 #bhd ,,vi1 #cgg ,,notes ,,on ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,deuteronomy ,,introduction ,the character of the book on which we now enter is quite as distinct as that of any of the four preceding sections of the ,pentateuch4 ,were we to judge from the title of the book1 we might suppose that it is a mere repetition of what we find in previous books4 ,this would be a very grave mistake4 ,there is no such thing as mere repetition in the ,word of ,god4 ,indeed1 ,god never repeats ,himself1 either in ,his ,word or in ,his works4 ,wherever we trace our ,god1 whether on the page of holy ,scripture or in the vast fields of creation1 we see divine fullness1 infinite variety1 marked design2 and just in proportion to our spirituality of mind will be our ability to discern and appreciate these things4 ,here1 as in all beside1 we need the eye anointed with heavenly eye-salve4 ,what a poor idea must the man entertain of inspiration who could imagine for a moment that the fifth book of ,moses is a barren repetition of what is to be found in ,exodus1 ,leviticus1 and ,numbers6 ,why1 even in human composition we should not expect to find such a flagrant imperfection1 much less in the perfect revelation which ,god has so graciously given us in ,his holy ,word4 ,the fact is1 there is not1 from cover to cover of the inspired volume1 a single superfluous sentence1 not one redundant clause1 not one statement without its own distinct meaning--its own direct application4 ,if we do not see this1 we have yet to learn the depth1 force1 and meaning of the words1 ,all scripture is given by inspiration of ,god4 ,precious words6 ,would they were more thoroughly understood in this our day6 ,it is of the utmost possible importance that the ,lord's people should be rooted1 grounded1 and settled in the grand truth of the plenary inspiration of holy ,scripture4 ,it is to be feared that laxity as to this most weighty subject is spreading in the professing church to an appalling extent4 ,in many quarters it has become fashionable to pour contempt upon the idea of plenary inspiration4 ,it is looked upon as the veriest childishness and ignorance4 ,it is regarded by many as a great proof of profound scholarship1 breadth of mind1 and original thinking to be able1 by free criticism1 to find out flaws in the precious volume of ,god4 ,men presume to sit in judgment upon the ,bible as though it were a mere human composition4 ,they undertake to pronounce upon what is and what is not worthy of ,god4 ,in fact1 they do virtually sit in judgment upon ,god ,himself4 ,the present result is1 as might be expected1 utter darkness and confusion1 both for those learned doctors themselves and for all who are so foolish as to listen to them4 ,and as for the future1 who can conceive the eternal destiny of all those who shall have to answer before the judgment-seat of ,christ for the sin of blaspheming the ,word of ,god1 and leading hundreds astray by their infidel teaching8 ,we shall not1 however1 occupy time in dwelling upon the sinful folly of infidels and skeptics 7even though called ,christians71 or their puny efforts to cast dishonor upon that peerless volume which our gracious ,god has caused to be written for our learning4 ,they will some day or other find out their fatal mistake4 ,god grant it may not be too late6 ,and as for us1 let it be our deep joy and consolation to meditate upon the ,word of ,god1 that so we may ever be discovering some fresh treasure in that exhaustless mine--some new moral glories in that heavenly revelation6 ,the book of ,deuteronomy holds a very distinct place in the inspired canon4 ,its opening lines are sufficient to prove this4--,these be the words which ,moses spake unto all ,israel on this side ,jordan in the wilderness1 in the plain over against the ,red ,sea1 between ,paran1 and ,tophel1 and ,laban1 and ,hazeroth1 and ,dizahab4 ,thus much as to the place in which the lawgiver delivered the contents of this marvelous book4 ,the people had come up to the eastern bank of the ,jordan1 and were about to enter upon the land of promise4 ,their desert wanderings were nearly ended1 as we learn from the third verse1 in which the point of time is as distinctly marked as is the geographical position in verse #a4--;,it came to pass in the fortieth year1 in the eleventh month1 on the first day of the month1 that ,moses spake unto the children of ,israel1 according unto all that the ,lord had given him in commandment unto them4 ,thus1 not only have we both time and place set forth with divine precision and minuteness1 but we also learn1 from the words just quoted1 that the communications made to the people in the plains of ,moab were very far indeed from being a repetition of what has come before us in our studies on the books of ,exodus1 ,leviticus1 and ,numbers4 ,of this we have further and very distinct proof in a passage in chapter xxix4 of the book on which we are now entering4--,these are the words of the covenant which the ,lord commanded ,moses to make with the children of ,israel in the land of ,moab1 beside the covenant which ,he made with them in ,horeb4 ,let the reader note particularly these words4 ,they speak of two covenants--one at ,horeb and one in ,moab2 and the latter1 so far from being a mere repetition of the former1 is as distinct from it as any two things can be4 ,of this we shall have the fullest and clearest evidence in our study of the profound book which now lies open before us4 ,true1 the ,greek title of the book1 signifying the law a second time1 might seem to give rise to the idea of its being a mere recapitulation of what has gone before2 but we may rest assured it is not so4 ,indeed1 it would be a very grave error to think so4 ,the book has its own specific place4 ,its scope and object are as distinct as possible4 ,the grand lesson which it inculcates1 from first to last1 is obedience2 and that1 too1 not in the mere letter1 but in the spirit of love and fear--an obedience grounded upon a known and enjoyed relationship--an obedience quickened by the sense of moral obligations of the weightiest and most influential character4 ,the aged lawgiver--the faithful1 beloved1 and honored servant of the ,lord was about to take leave of the congregation4 ,he was going to heaven and they were about to cross the ,jordan1 and hence his closing discourses are solemn and affecting in the very highest degree4 ,he reviews the whole of their wilderness history1 and that1 too1 in a manner most touching and impressive4 ,he recounts the scenes and circumstances of their forty eventful years of desert life1 in a style eminently calculated to touch the deepest moral springs of the heart4 ,we hang over these most precious discourses with wonder and delight4 ,they possess an incomparable charm1 arising from the circumstances under which they were delivered1 as well as from their own divinely powerful contents4 ,they speak to us no less effectively than to those for whom they were specially intended4 ,many of the appeals and exhortations come home to us with a power of application as if they had been uttered but yesterday4 ,and is it not thus with all ,scripture8 ,are we not continually struck with its marvelous power of adaptation to our own very state1 and to the day in which our lot is cast8 ,it speaks to us with a point and freshness as if it were written expressly for us--written this very day4 ,there is nothing like ,scripture4 ,take any human writing of the same date as the book of ,deuteronomy2 if you could lay your hand on some volume written three thousand years ago1 what would you find8 ,a curious relic of antiquity--something to be placed in the ,british ,museum1 side by side with an ,egyptian mummy1 having no application whatever to us or to our time--a musty document--a piece of obsolete writing1 practically useless to us1 referring only to a state of society and to a condition of things long since passed away and buried in oblivion4 ,the ,bible1 on the contrary1 is the book for to-day4 ,it is ,god's own book--,his perfect revelation4 ,it is ,his own very voice speaking to each one of us4 ,it is a book for every age1 for every clime1 for every class1 for every condition--high and low1 rich and poor1 learned and ignorant1 old and young4 ,it speaks in a language so simple that a child can understand it1 and yet so profound that the most gigantic intellect cannot exhaust it4 ,moreover1 it speaks right home to the heart2 it touches the deepest springs of our moral being2 it goes down to the hidden roots of thought and feeling in the soul2 it judges us thoroughly4 ,in a word1 it is1 as the inspired apostle tells us1 quick and powerful1 and sharper than any two-edged sword1 piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit1 and of the joints and marrow1 and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart4 7,heb4 iv4 #ab47 ,and then mark the marvelous comprehensiveness of its range4 ,it deals as accurately and as forcibly with the habits and customs1 the manners and maxims of the nineteenth century of the ,christian era as with those of the very earliest ages of human existence4 ,it displays a perfect acquaintance with man in every stage of his history4 ,the ,london of to-day and the ,tyre of three thousand years ago are mirrored1 with like precision and faithfulness1 on the sacred page4 ,human life1 in every stage of its development1 is portrayed by a master-hand in that wonderful volume which our ,god has graciously penned for our learning4 ,what a privilege to possess such a book6--to have in our hands a divine revelation6--to have access to a book1 every line of which is given by inspiration of ,god6--to have a divinely given history of the past1 the present1 and the future6 ,who can estimate aright such a privilege as this8 ,but then1 this book judges man--judges his ways--judges his heart4 ,it tells him the truth about himself4 ,hence man does not like ,god's book4 ,an unconverted man would vastly prefer a newspaper or a sensational novel to the ,bible4 ,he would rather read the report of a trial in one of our criminal courts than a chapter in the ,new ,testament4 ,hence1 too1 the constant effort to pick holes in ,god's blessed book4 ,infidels in every age and of every class have labored hard to find out flaws and contradictions in holy ,scripture4 ,the determined enemies of the ,word of ,god are to be found1 not only in the ranks of the vulgar1 the coarse1 and the demoralized1 but amongst the educated1 the refined1 and the cultivated4 ,just as it was in the days of the apostles1 certain lewd fellows of the baser sort1 and devout and honorable women--two classes so far removed from each other socially and morally--found one point in which they could heartily agree1 namely1 the utter rejection of the ,word of ,god and of those who faithfully preached it4 7,comp4 ,acts xiii4 #ej with xvii4 #e47 ,so we ever find that men who differ in almost every thing else1 agree in their determined opposition to the ,bible4 ,other books are let alone4 ,men care not to point out defects in ,virgil1 in ,horace1 in ,homer1 or ,herodotus2 but the ,bible they cannot endure1 because it exposes them and tells them the truth about themselves and the world to which they belong4 ,and was it not exactly the same with the living ,word--the ,son of ,god--the ,lord ,jesus ,christ when ,he was here among men8 ,men hated ,him because ,he told them the truth4 ,his ministry1 ,his words1 ,his ways--,his whole life was a standing testimony against the world2 hence their bitter and persistent opposition4 ,other men were allowed to pass on1 but ,he was watched and waylaid at every turn of ,his path4 ,the great leaders and guides of the people sought to entangle ,him in ,his talk1 to find occasion against ,him1 in order that they might deliver ,him to the power and authority of the governor4 ,thus it was during ,his marvelous life2 and at the close1 when the blessed ,one was nailed to the cross between two malefactors1 these latter were let alone2 there were no insults heaped upon them--the chief priests and elders did not wag their heads at them4 ,no2 all the insults1 all the mockery1 all the coarse and heartless vulgarity--all was heaped upon the divine ,occupant of the centre cross4 ,now1 it is well we should thoroughly understand the real source of all the opposition to the ,word of ,god--whether it be the living ,word or the written ,word4 ,it will enable us to estimate it at its real worth4 ,the devil hates the ,word of ,god--hates it with a perfect hatred2 and hence he employs learned infidels to write books to prove that the ,bible is not the ,word of ,god1 that it cannot be1 inasmuch as there are mistakes and discrepancies in it2 and not only so1 but in the ,old ,testament we find laws and institutions1 habits and practices1 unworthy of a gracious and benevolent ,being4 ,to all this style of argument we have one brief and pointed reply4 ,of all these learned infidels we simply say1 ,they know nothing whatever about the matter4 ,they may be very learned1 very clever1 very deep and original thinkers1 well made up in general literature1 very competent to give an opinion on any subject within the domain of natural and moral philosophy1 very able to discuss any scientific question2 moreover1 they may be very amiable in private life--truly estimable characters--kind1 benevolent1 philanthropic1 beloved in private and respected in public1--all this they may be1 but being unconverted1 and not having the ,spirit of ,god1 they are wholly unfit to form1 much less to give1 a judgment on the subject of holy ,scripture4 ,if any one wholly ignorant of astronomy were to presume to sit in judgment on the principles of the ,copernican system1 these very men of whom we speak would at once pronounce him utterly incompetent to speak1 and unworthy to be heard on such a subject4 ,in short1 no one has any right whatever to offer an opinion on a matter with which he is unacquainted4 ,this is an admitted principle on all hands2 and therefore its application in the case now before us cannot justly be called in question4 ,now1 the inspired apostle tells us1 in his first epistle to the ,corinthians1 that the natural man receiveth not the things of the ,spirit of ,god2 for they are foolishness unto him2 neither can he know them1 because they are spiritually discerned4 ,this is conclusive4 ,he speaks of man in his natural state1 be he ever so learned1 ever so cultivated4 ,he is not speaking of any special class of men1 but simply of man in his unconverted state--man destitute of the ,spirit of ,god4 ,some may imagine that the apostle refers to man in a state of barbarism1 or savage ignorance4 ,by no means2 it is simply man in nature1 be he a learned philosopher or an ignorant clown4 ,he cannot know the things of the ,spirit of ,god4 ,how1 then1 can he form or give a judgment as to the ,word of ,god8 ,how can he take it upon him to say what is or what is not worthy of ,god to write8 ,and if he is audacious enough to do so 7as1 alas6 he is71 who will be foolish enough to listen to him8 ,his arguments are baseless1 his theories worthless1 his books only fit for the wastepaper basket2 and all this1 be it observed1 on the universally admitted principle above stated1 that no one has any title to be heard on a subject of which he is wholly ignorant4 ,in this way we dispose of the whole tribe of infidel writers4 ,who would think of listening to a blind man on the subject of light and shade8 ,and yet such a man has much more claim to be heard than an unconverted man on the subject of inspiration4 ,human learning1 however extensive and varied--human wisdom1 however profound1 cannot qualify a man to form a judgment upon the ,word of ,god4 ,no doubt a scholar may examine and collate ,,mss4 simply as a matter of criticism2 he may be able to form a judgment as to the question of authority for any particular reading of a passage2 but this is a different matter altogether from an infidel writer undertaking to pronounce judgment upon the revelation which ,god has1 in ,his infinite goodness1 given to us4 ,we maintain that no man can do this4 ,it is only by the ,spirit1 who ,himself inspired the holy ,scriptures1 that those ,scriptures can be understood and appreciated4 ,the ,word of ,god must be received upon its own authority4 ,if man can judge it or reason upon it1 it is not the ,word of ,god at all4 ,has ,god given us a revelation1 or has ,he not8 ,if ,he has1 it must be absolutely perfect in every respect2 and being such1 it must be entirely beyond the range of human judgment4 ,man is no more competent to judge ,scripture than he is to judge ,god4 ,the ,scriptures judge man2 not man the ,scriptures4 ,this makes all the difference4 ,nothing can be more miserably contemptible than the books which infidels write against the ,bible4 ,every page1 every paragraph1 every sentence1 only goes to illustrate the truth of the apostle's statement1 that the natural man receiveth not the things of the ,spirit of ,god2 444 neither can he know them1 because they are spiritually discerned4 ,their gross ignorance of the subject with which they undertake to deal is only equaled by their self-confidence4 ,of their irreverence we say nothing2 for who would think of looking for reverence in the writings of infidels8 ,we might perhaps look for a little modesty were it not that we are fully aware of the bitter animus which lies at the root of all such writings1 and renders them utterly unworthy of a moment's consideration4 ,other books may have a dispassionate examination2 but the precious book of ,god is approached with the foregone conclusion that it is not a divine revelation1 because1 forsooth1 infidels tell us that ,god could not give us a written revelation of ,his mind4 ,how strange6 ,men can give us a revelation of their thoughts 7and infidels have done so pretty plainly71 but ,god cannot6 ,what folly6 ,what presumption6 ,why1 we may lawfully inquire1 could not ,god reveal ,his mind to ,his creatures8 ,why should it be thought a thing incredible8 ,for no reason whatever1 but because infidels would have it so4 ,the wish is1 in this case assuredly1 father to the thought4 ,the question raised by the old serpent in the garden of ,eden nearly six thousand years ago1 has been passed on from age to age by all sorts of skeptics1 rationalists1 and infidels1 namely1 ,hath ,god said8 ,we reply1 with intense delight1 ,yes2 blessed be ,his holy name1 ,he has spoken--spoken to us4 ,he has revealed ,his mind2 ,he has given us the holy ,scriptures4 ,all scripture is given by inspiration of ,god1 and is profitable for doctrine1 for reproof1 for correction1 for instruction in righteousness2 that the man of ,god may be perfect 1 thoroughly furnished unto all good works4 ,and again1 ,whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning1 that we through patience and comfort of the ,scriptures might have hope4 7#b ,tim4 iii4 #af1 #ag2 ,rom4 xv4 #d47 ,the ,lord be praised for such words6 ,they assure us that all ,scripture is given of ,god1 and that all ,scripture is given to us4 ,precious link between the soul and ,god6 ,what tongue can tell the value of such a link8 ,god has spoken--spoken to us4 ,his ,word is a rock against which all the waves of infidel thought dash themselves in contemptible impotency1 leaving it in its own divine strength and eternal stability4 ,nothing can touch the ,word of ,god4 ,not all the powers of earth and hell1 men and devils combined can ever move the ,word of ,god4 ,there it stands1 in its own moral glory1 spite of all the assaults of the enemy1 from age to age4 ,forever1 ,o ,lord1 ,thy ,word is settled in heaven4 ,thou hast magnified ,thy ,word above all ,thy name4 ,what remains for us8 ,just this3 ,thy ,word have ,i hid in my heart1 that ,i might not sin against ,thee4 ,here lies the deep secret of peace4 ,the heart is linked to the throne--yea1 to the very heart of ,god by means of ,his most precious ,word1 and is thus put in possession of a peace which the world can neither give nor take away4 ,what can all the theories1 the reasonings1 and the arguments of infidels effect8 ,just nothing4 ,they are esteemed as the dust of the summer threshing-floor4 ,to one who has really learnt1 through grace1 to confide in the ,word of ,god--to rest on the authority of holy ,scripture1 all the infidel books that ever were written are utterly worthless1 pointless1 powerless2 they display the ignorance and terrible presumption of the writers2 but as to ,scripture1 they leave it just where it ever has been and ever will be--settled in heaven1 as immovable as the throne of ,god4#b ,the assaults of infidels cannot touch the throne of ,god1 neither can they touch ,his ,word2 and1 blessed be ,his name1 neither can they touch the peace that flows through the heart that rests on that imperishable foundation4 ,great peace have they that love ,thy law1 and nothing shall offend them4 ,the ,word of our ,god shall stand forever4 ,all flesh is as grass1 and all the glory of man as the flower of grass4 ,the grass withereth1 and the flower thereof falleth away2 but the ,word of the ,lord endureth forever4 ,and this is the ,word which by the gospel is preached unto you4 7#a ,pet4 i4 #bd1 #be47 #b ,in referring to infidel writers1 we should bear in mind that by far the most dangerous of such are those calling themselves ,christians4 ,in our young days1 whenever we heard the word infidel1 we at once thought of a ,tom ,paine or a ,voltaire2 now1 alas6 we have to think of so-called bishops and doctors of the professing church4 ,tremendous fact6 ,here we have the same precious golden link again4 ,the ,word which has reached us in the form of glad tidings is the ,word of the ,lord which endureth forever2 and hence our salvation and our peace are as stable as the ,word on which they are founded4 ,if all flesh is as grass1 and all the glory of man as the flower of grass1 then what are the arguments of infidels worth8 ,they are as worthless as withered grass or a faded flower2 and the men who put them forth and those who are moved by them will find them to be so1 sooner or later4 ,oh1 the sinful folly of arguing against the ,word of ,god--arguing against the only thing in all this world that can give rest and consolation to the poor1 weary human heart--arguing against that which brings the glad tidings of salvation to poor lost sinners--brings them fresh from the heart of ,god6 ,but we may perhaps here be met by the question so often raised1 and which has troubled many and led them to fly for refuge to what is called the authority of the church4 ,the question is this3 ,how are we to know that the book which we call the ,bible is the ,word of ,god8 ,our answer to this question is a very simple one--it is this3 ,the ,one who has graciously given us the blessed book can give us also the certainty that the book is from ,him4 ,the same ,spirit who inspired the various writers of the holy ,scriptures can make us know that those ,scriptures are the very voice of ,god speaking to us4 ,it is only by the ,spirit that any one can discern this4 ,as we have already seen1 the natural man receiveth not the things of the ,spirit of ,god2 444 neither can he know them1 because they are spiritually discerned4 ,if the ,holy ,spirit does not make us know1 and give us the certainty that the ,bible is the ,word of ,god1 no man or body of men can possibly do it2 and on the other hand1 if ,he does give us the blessed certainty1 we do not need the testimony of man4 ,we freely admit that on this great question a shadow of uncertainty would be positive torture and misery2 but who can give us certainty8 ,god alone4 ,if all the men upon earth were to agree in their testimony to the authority of holy ,scripture--if all the councils that ever sat1 all the doctors that ever taught1 all the fathers that ever wrote1 were in favor of the dogma of plenary inspiration--if the universal church1 if every denomination in christendom were to assent to the truth that the ,bible is1 in very deed1 the ,word of ,god--in a word1 if we had all the human authority that could possibly be had in reference to the integrity of the ,word of ,god1 it would be utterly insufficient as a ground of certainty2 and if our faith were founded on that authority1 it would be perfectly worthless4 ,god alone can give us the certainty that ,he has spoken in ,his ,word2 and blessed be ,his name1 when ,he gives it1 all the arguments1 all the cavilings1 all the quibblings1 all the questionings of infidels1 ancient and modern1 are as the foam on the water1 the smoke from the chimney-top1 or the dust on the floor4 ,the true believer rejects them as so much worthless rubbish1 and rests in holy tranquillity in that peerless revelation which our ,god has graciously given us4 ,it is of the very last possible importance for the reader to be thoroughly clear and settled as to this grave question1 if he would be raised above the influence of infidelity on the one hand and superstition on the other4 ,infidelity undertakes to tell us that ,god has not given us a book-revelation of ,his mind--could not give it3 ,superstition undertakes to tell us that even though ,god has given us a revelation1 yet we cannot be assured of it without man's authority1 nor understand it without man's interpretation4 ,now it is well to see that by both alike we are deprived of the precious boon of holy ,scripture4 ,and this is precisely what the devil aims at4 ,he wants to rob us of the ,word of ,god2 and he can do this quite as effectually by the apparent self-distrust that humbly and reverently looks to wise and learned men for authority1 as by an audacious infidelity that boldly rejects all authority1 human or divine4 ,take a case4 ,a father writes a letter to his son at ,canton--a letter full of the affection and tenderness of a father's heart4 ,he tells him of his plans and arrangements1 tells him of every thing that he thinks would interest the heart of a son--every thing that the love of a father's heart could suggest4 ,the son calls at the post-office in ,canton to inquire if there is a letter from his father4 ,he is told by one official that there is no letter1 that his father has not written and could not write--could not communicate his mind by such a medium at all1 that it is only folly to think of such a thing4 ,another official comes forward1 and says1 ,yes2 there is a letter here for you1 but you cannot possibly understand it2 it is quite useless to you1 indeed it can only do you positive mischief inasmuch as you are quite unable to read it aright4 ,you must leave the letter in our hands1 and we will explain to you such portions of it as we consider suitable for you4 ,the former of these two officials represents ,infidelity2 the latter1 ,superstition4 ,by both alike would the son be deprived of the longed-for letter--the precious communication from his father's heart4 ,but what1 we may inquire1 would be his answer to these unworthy officials8 ,a very brief and pointed one we may rest assured4 ,he would say to the first1 ,i know my father can communicate his mind to me by letter1 and that he has done so4 ,he would say to the second1 ,i know my father can make me understand his mind far better than you can4 ,he would say to both1 and that1 too1 with bold and firm decision4 ,give me up at once my father's letter2 it is addressed to me1 and no man has any right to withhold it from me4 ,thus1 too1 should the simple-hearted ,christian meet the insolence of ,infidelity and the ignorance of ,superstition--the two special agencies of the devil1 in this our day1 in setting aside the precious ,word of ,god4 ,my ,father has communicated ,his mind1 and ,he can make me understand the communication4--,all ,scripture is given by inspiration of ,god2 and1 ,whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning4 ,magnificent answer to every enemy of ,god's precious and peerless revelation1 be he rationalist or ritualist6 ,we do not attempt to offer any apology to the reader for this lengthened introduction to the book of ,deuteronomy4 ,indeed we are only too thankful for an opportunity of bearing our feeble testimony to the grand truth of the divine inspiration of the holy ,scriptures4 ,we feel it to be our sacred duty1 as most surely it is our high privilege1 to press upon all to whom we have access1 the immense importance--yea1 the absolute necessity of the most uncompromising decision on this point4 ,we must faithfully maintain1 at all cost1 the divine authority1 and therefore the absolute supremacy and all-sufficiency1 of the ,word of ,god at all times1 in all places1 for all purposes4 ,we must hold to it that the ,scriptures1 having been given of ,god1 are complete1 in the very highest and fullest sense of the word2 that they do not need any human authority to accredit them1 or any human voice to make them available3 they speak for themselves1 and carry their own credentials with them4 ,all we have to do is to believe and obey1 not to reason or discuss4 ,god has spoken it3 it is ours to hearken1 and yield an unreserved and reverent obedience4 ,this is one grand leading point throughout the book of ,deuteronomy1 as we shall see in the progress of our meditations2 and never was there a moment1 in the history of the ,church of ,god1 in which it was more needful to urge home on the human conscience the necessity of implicit obedience to the ,word of ,god4 ,it is1 alas6 but little felt4 ,professing ,christians1 for the most part1 seem to consider that they have a right to think for themselves--to follow their own reason1 their own judgment1 or their own conscience4 ,they do not believe that the ,bible is a divine and universal guide-book4 ,they think there are very many things in which we are left to choose for ourselves2 hence the almost numberless sects1 parties1 creeds1 and schools of thought4 ,if human opinion be allowed at all1 then1 as a matter of course1 one man has as good a right to think as another2 and thus it has come to pass that the professing church has become a proverb and a by-word for division4 ,and what is the sovereign remedy for this widespread disease8 ,here it is3 ,absolute and complete subjection to the authority of holy ,scripture4 ,it is not men going to ,scripture to get their opinions and their views confirmed2 but going to ,scripture to get the mind of ,god as to every thing1 and bowing down their whole moral being to divine authority4 ,this is the one pressing need of the day in which our lot is cast--reverent subjection1 in all things1 to the supreme authority of the ,word of ,god4 ,no doubt1 there will be variety in our measure of intelligence1 in our apprehension and appreciation of ,scripture2 but what we specially urge upon all ,christians is that condition of soul1 that attitude of heart expressed in those precious words of the psalmist1 ,thy ,word have ,i hid in mine heart1 that ,i might not sin against ,thee4 ,this1 we may rest assured1 is grateful to the heart of ,god4 ,to this man will ,i look1 even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit1 and trembleth at ,my ,word4 ,here lies the true secret of moral security4 ,our knowledge of ,scripture may be very limited2 but if our reverence for it be profound1 we shall be preserved from a thousand errors--a thousand snares4 ,and then there will be steady growth4 ,we shall grow in the knowledge of ,god1 of ,christ1 and of the written ,word2 we shall delight to draw from those living and exhaustless depths of holy ,scripture1 and to range through those green pastures which infinite grace has so freely thrown open to the flock of ,christ4 ,thus shall the divine life be nourished and strengthened2 the ,word of ,god will become more and more precious to our souls1 and we shall be lead1 by the powerful ministry of the ,holy ,ghost1 into the depth1 fullness1 majesty1 and moral glory of holy ,scripture4 ,we shall be delivered completely from the withering influences of all mere systems of theology1 high1 low1 or moderate--a most blessed deliverance6 ,we shall be able to tell the advocates of all the schools of divinity under the sun that whatever elements of truth they may have in their systems we have in divine perfectness in the ,word of ,god2 not twisted and tortured to make them fit into a system1 but in their right place in the wide circle of divine revelation which has its eternal centre in the blessed ,person of our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,these be the words which ,moses spake unto all ,israel on this side ,jordan in the wilderness1 in the plain over against the ,red ,sea1 between ,paran1 and ,tophel1 and ,laban1 and ,hazeroth1 and ,dizahab4 7,there are eleven days' journey from ,horeb1 by the way of ,mount ,seir1 unto ,kadesh-barnea47 ,the inspired writer is careful to give us1 in the most precise manner1 all the bearings of the place in which the words of this book were spoken in the ears of the people4 ,israel had not yet crossed the ,jordan2 they were just beside it1 and over against the ,red ,sea where the mighty power of ,god had been so gloriously displayed nearly forty years before4 ,the whole position is described with a minuteness which shows how thoroughly ,god entered into every thing that concerned ,his people4 ,he was interested in all their movements and in all their ways4 ,he kept a faithful record of all their encampments4 ,their was not a single circumstance connected with them1 however trifling1 beneath ,his gracious notice4 ,he attended to every thing4 ,his eye rested continually on that assembly as a whole1 and on each member in particular4 ,by day and by night ,he watched over them4 ,every stage of their journey was under ,his immediate and most gracious superintendence4 ,there was nothing1 however small1 beneath ,his notice2 nothing1 however great1 beyond ,his power4 ,thus it was with ,israel in the wilderness of old1 and thus it is with the ,church now--the ,church as a whole1 and each member in particular4 ,a ,father's eye rests upon us continually1 ,his everlasting arms are around and underneath us day and night4 ,he withdraweth not ,his eyes from the righteous4 ,he counts the hairs of our heads1 and enters1 with infinite goodness1 into every thing that concerns us4 ,he has charged ,himself with all our wants and all our cares4 ,he would have us to cast our every care on ,him1 in the sweet assurance that ,he careth for us4 ,he most graciously invites us to roll our every burden over on ,him1 be it great or small4 ,all this is truly wonderful4 ,it is full of deepest consolation4 ,it is eminently calculated to tranquilize the heart1 come what may4 ,the question is1 ,do we believe it8 are our hearts governed by the faith of it8 ,do we really believe that the almighty ,creator and ,upholder of all things1 who bears up the pillars of the universe1 has graciously undertaken to do for us all the journey through8 ,do we thoroughly believe that the ,possessor of heaven and earth is our ,father8 and that ,he has charged ,himself with all our wants from first to last8 ,is our whole moral being under the commanding power of those words of the inspired apostle1 ,he that spared not ,his own ,son1 but delivered ,him up for us all1 how shall ,he not with ,him also freely give us all things8 ,alas6 it is to be feared that we know but little of the power of these grand yet simple truths4 ,we talk about them1 we discuss them1 we profess them1 we give a nominal assent to them2 but with all this1 we prove1 in our daily life--in the actual details of our personal history1 how feebly we enter into them4 ,if we truly believed that our ,god has charged ,himself with all our necessities--if we were finding all our springs in ,him--if ,he were a perfect covering for our eyes and a resting-place for our hearts1 could we possibly be looking to poor creature-streams1 which so speedily dry up and disappoint our hearts8 ,we do not and cannot believe it4 ,it is one thing to hold the theory of the life of faith1 and another thing altogether to live that life4 ,we constantly deceive ourselves with the notion that we are living by faith1 when in reality we are leaning on some human prop1 which sooner or later is sure to give way4 ,reader1 is it not so8 ,are we not constantly prone to forsake the ,fountain of living waters1 and hew out for ourselves broken cisterns1 which can hold no water8 ,and yet we speak of living by faith6 ,we profess to be looking only to the living ,god for the supply of our need1 whatever that need may be1 when1 in point of fact1 we are sitting beside some creature-stream and looking for something there4 ,need we wonder if we are disappointed8 ,how could it possibly be otherwise8 ,our ,god will not have us dependent upon aught or any one but ,himself4 ,he has1 in manifold places in ,his ,word1 given us ,his judgment as to the true character and sure result of all creature-confidence4 ,take the following most solemn passage from the prophet ,jeremiah3 ,cursed be the man that trusteth in man1 and maketh flesh his arm1 and whose heart departeth from the ,lord4 ,for he shall be like the heath in the desert1 and shall not see when good cometh2 but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness1 in a salt land and not inhabited4 ,and then mark the contrast--,blessed is the man that trusteth in the ,lord1 and whose hope the ,lord is3 for he shall be as a tree planted by the waters1 and that spreadeth out her roots by the river1 and shall not see when heat cometh1 but her leaf shall be green2 and shall not be careful in the year of drought1 neither shall cease from yielding fruit4 7,jer4 xvii4 #e-h47 ,here we have1 in language divinely forcible1 clear1 and beautiful1 both sides of this most weighty subject put before us4 ,creature-confidence brings a certain curse2 it can only issue in barrenness and desolation4 ,god1 in very faithfulness1 will cause every human stream to dry up--every human prop to give way1 in order that we may learn the utter folly of turning away from ,him4 ,what figure could be more striking or impressive than those used in the above passage8--,a heath in the desert1 parched places in the wilderness1 a salt land not inhabited4 ,such are the figures used by the ,holy ,ghost to illustrate all mere human dependence--all confidence in man4 ,but on the other hand1 what can be more lovely or more refreshing than the figures used to set forth the deep blessedness of simple trust in the ,lord8--,a tree planted by the waters1 spreading out her roots by the rivers1 the leaf ever green1 the fruit never ceasing4 ,perfectly beautiful6 ,thus it is with the man who trusteth in the ,lord1 and whose hope the ,lord is4 ,he is nourished by those eternal springs that flow from the heart of ,god4 ,he drinks at the ,fountain1 life-giving and free4 ,he finds all his resources in the living ,god4 ,there may be heat1 but he does not see it2 the year of drought may come1 but he is not careful4 ,ten thousand creature-streams may dry up1 but he does not perceive it1 because he is not dependent upon them2 he abides hard by the ever-gushing ,fountain4 ,he can never want any good thing4 ,he lives by faith4 ,and here1 while speaking of the life of faith--that most blessed life1 let us clearly understand what it is1 and carefully see that we are living it4 ,we sometimes hear this life spoken of in a way by no means intelligent4 ,it is not unfrequently applied to the mere matter of trusting ,god for food and raiment4 ,certain persons who happen to have no visible source of temporal supplies--no settled income--no property of any kind1 are singled out and spoken of as living by faith1 as if that marvelous and glorious life had no higher sphere or wider range than temporal things--the mere supply of our bodily wants4 ,now1 we cannot too strongly protest against this most unworthy view of the life of faith4 ,it limits its sphere and lowers its range in a manner perfectly intolerable to any one who understands aught of its most holy and precious mysteries4 ,can we for a moment admit that a ,christian who happens to have a settled income of any kind is to be deprived of the privilege of living by faith8 ,or1 further1 can we permit that life to be limited and lowered to the mere matter of trusting ,god for the supply of our bodily wants8 ,does it soar no higher than food and raiment8 ,does it give no more elevated thought of ,god than that ,he will not let us starve or go naked8 ,far away1 and away forever1 be the unworthy thought6 ,the life of faith must not be so treated4 ,we cannot allow such a gross dishonor to be offered to it1 or such a grievous wrong done to those who are called to live it4 ,what1 we would ask1 is the meaning of those few but weighty words1 ,the just shall live by faith8 ,they occur1 first of all1 in ,habakkuk ii4 ,they are quoted by the apostle in ,romans i1 where he is1 with a master-hand1 laying the solid foundations of ,christianity4 ,he quotes them again in ,galatians iii1 where he is1 with intense anxiety1 recalling those bewitched assemblies to those solid foundations which they1 in their folly1 were abandoning4 ,finally1 he quotes them again in chapter x4 of his epistle to the ,hebrews1 where he is warning his brethren against the danger of casting away their confidence and giving up the race4 ,from all this we may assuredly gather the immense importance and practical value of the brief but far-reaching sentence1 ,the just shall live by faith4 ,but to whom does it apply8 ,is it only for a few of the ,lord's servants1 here and there1 who happen to have no settled income8 ,we utterly reject the thought4 ,it applies to every one of the ,lord's people4 ,it is the high and happy privilege of all who come under the title--that blessed title1 ,the just4 ,we consider it a very grave error to limit it in any way4 ,the moral effect of such limitation is most injurious4 ,it gives undue prominence to one department of the life of faith which1 if any distinction be allowable1 we should judge to be the very lowest4 ,but in reality1 there should be no distinction3 the life of faith is one4 ,faith is the grand principle of the divine life from first to last4 ,by faith we are justified1 and by faith we live2 by faith we stand1 and by faith we walk4 ,from the starting-post to the goal of the ,christian course it is all by faith4 ,hence1 therefore1 it is a serious mistake to single out certain persons who trust the ,lord for temporal supplies1 and speak of them as living by faith1 as if they alone did so4 ,and not only so1 but such persons are held up to the gaze of the ,church of ,god as something wonderful2 and the great mass of ,christians are led to think that the privilege of living by faith lies entirely beyond their range4 ,in short1 they are led into a complete mistake as to the real character and sphere of the life of faith1 and thus they suffer materially in the inner life4 ,let the ,christian reader1 then1 distinctly understand that it is his happy privilege1 whoever he be or whatever be his position1 to live a life of faith1 in all the depth and fullness of that word4 ,he may1 according to his measure1 take up the language of the blessed apostle1 and say1 ,the life that ,i live in the flesh1 ,i live by the faith of the ,son of ,god1 who loved me1 and gave ,himself for me4 ,let nothing rob him of this high and holy privilege which belongs to every member of the household of faith4 ,alas6 we fail4 ,our faith is weak1 when it ought to be strong1 bold1 and vigorous4 ,our ,god delights in a bold faith4 ,if we study the gospels1 we shall see that nothing so refreshed and delighted the heart of ,christ as a fine bold faith--a faith that understood ,him and drew largely upon ,him4 ,look1 for example1 at the ,syrophenician in ,mark vii1 and the centurion in ,luke vii4 ,true1 ,he could meet a weak faith--the very weakest4 ,he could meet an ,if ,thou wilt with a gracious ,i will--an ,if ,thou canst with ,if thou canst believe1 all things are possible4 ,the faintest look1 the feeblest touch1 was sure to meet with a gracious response2 but the ,saviour's heart was gratified and ,his spirit refreshed when ,he could say1 ,o woman1 great is thy faith2 be it unto thee even as thou wilt2 and again1 ,i have not found so great faith1 no1 not in ,israel4 ,let us remember this4 ,we may rest assured it is the very same to-day as when our blessed ,lord was here amongst men4 ,he loves to be trusted1 to be used1 to be drawn upon4 ,we can never go too far in counting on the love of ,his heart or the strength of ,his hand4 ,there is nothing too small1 nothing too great for ,him2 ,he has all power in heaven and on earth2 ,he is head over all things to ,his ,church2 ,he holds the universe together2 ,he upholds all things by the word of ,his power4 ,philosophers talk of the forces and laws of nature3 the ,christian thinks with delight of ,christ1 ,his hand1 ,his ,word1 ,his mighty power4 ,by ,him all things were created1 and by ,him all things consist4 ,and then ,his love6 ,what rest1 what comfort1 what joy1 to know and remember that the almighty ,creator and ,upholder of the universe is the everlasting ,lover of our souls6 that ,he loves us perfectly2 that ,his eye is ever upon us1 ,his heart ever toward us2 that ,he has charged ,himself with all our wants1 whatever these wants may be--whether physical1 mental1 or spiritual6 ,there is not a single thing within the entire range of our necessities that is not treasured up for us in ,christ4 ,he is ,heaven's treasury--,god's storehouse1 and all this for us4 ,why1 then1 should we ever turn to another8 ,why should we ever1 directly or indirectly1 make known our wants to a poor fellow-mortal8 ,why not go straight to ,jesus8 ,do we want sympathy8 ,who can sympathize with us like our most merciful ,high-,priest1 who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities8 ,do we want help of any kind8 ,who can help us like our almighty ,friend1 the ,possessor of unsearchable riches8 ,do we want counsel or guidance8 ,who can give it like the blessed ,one who is the very wisdom of ,god1 and who is made of ,god unto us wisdom8 ,oh1 let us not wound ,his loving heart1 and dishonor ,his glorious name by turning away from ,him4 ,let us jealously watch against the tendency so natural to us to cherish human hopes1 creature-confidences1 and earthly expectations4 ,let us abide hard by the ,fountain1 and we shall never have to complain of the streams4 ,in a word1 let us seek to live by faith1 and thus glorify ,god in our day and generation4 ,we shall now proceed with our chapter2 and in so doing1 we would call the reader's attention to verse #b4 ,it is certainly a very remarkable parenthesis4 7,there are eleven days' journey from ,horeb1 by the way of ,mount ,seir1 unto ,kadesh-barnea47 ,eleven days6 and yet it took them forty years6 ,how was this8 ,alas6 we need not travel far for the answer4 ,it is only too like ourselves4 ,how slowly we get over the ground6 ,what windings and turnings6 ,how often we have to go back and travel over the same ground again and again6 ,we are slow travelers1 because we are slow learners4 ,it may be we feel disposed to marvel how ,israel could have taken forty years to accomplish a journey of eleven days2 but we may1 with much greater reason1 marvel at ourselves4 ,we1 like them1 are kept back by our unbelief and slowness of heart2 but there is far less excuse for us than for them1 inasmuch as our privileges are so very much higher4 ,some of us have much reason to be ashamed of the time we spend over our lessons4 ,the words of the blessed apostle do but too forcibly apply to us--,for when for the time ye ought to be teachers1 ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of ,god2 and are become such as have need of milk1 and not of strong meat4 ,our ,god is a faithful and wise as well as a gracious and patient ,teacher4 ,he will not permit us to pass cursorily over our lessons4 ,sometimes1 perhaps1 we think we have mastered a lesson1 and we attempt to move on to another2 but our wise ,teacher knows better1 and ,he sees the need of deeper ploughing4 ,he will not have us mere theorists or smatterers3 ,he will keep us1 if need be1 year after year at our scales until we learn to sing4 ,now1 while it is very humbling to us to be so slow in learning1 it is very gracious of ,him to take such pains with us1 in order to make us sure4 ,we have to bless ,him for ,his mode of teaching as for all beside--for the wonderful patience with which ,he sits down with us over the same lesson again and again1 in order that we may learn it thoroughly4#c #c ,the journey of ,israel from ,horeb to ,kadesh-barnea illustrates but too forcibly the history of many souls in the matter of finding peace4 ,many of the ,lord's beloved people go on for years1 doubting and fearing1 never knowing the blessedness of the liberty wherewith ,christ makes ,his people free4 ,it is most distressing1 to any one who really cares for souls1 to see the sad condition in which some are kept all their days1 through legality1 bad teaching1 false manuals of devotion1 and such like4 ,it is a rare thing now-a-days to find in christendom a soul fully established in the peace of the gospel4 ,it is considered a good thing--a sign of humility--to be always doubting4 ,confidence is looked upon as presumption4 ,in short1 things are turned completely upside down4 ,the gospel is not known3 souls are under law instead of under grace1--they are kept at a distance instead of being taught to draw nigh4 ,much of the religion of the day is a deplorable mixture of ,christ and self1 law and grace1 faith and works4 ,souls are kept in a perfect muddle all their days4 ,surely these things demand the grave consideration of all who occupy the responsible place of teachers and preachers in the professing church4 ,there is a solemn day approaching1 when all such will be called to render an account of their ministry4 ,and it came to pass in the fortieth year1 in the eleventh month1 on the first day of the month1 that ,moses spake unto the children of ,israel1 according unto all that the ,lord had given him in commandment unto them4 7,ver4 #c47 ,these few words contain a volume of weighty instruction for every servant of ,god--for all who are called to minister in the ,word and doctrine4 ,moses gave the people just what he himself had received from ,god--nothing more1 nothing less4 ,he brought them into direct contact with the living ,word of ,jehovah4 ,this is the grand principle of ministry at all times4 ,nothing else is of any real value4 ,the ,word of ,god is the only thing that will stand4 ,there is divine power and authority in it4 ,all mere human teaching1 however interesting--however attractive at the time1 will pass away and leave the soul without any foundation to rest upon4 ,hence it should be the earnest1 jealous care of all who minister in the assembly of ,god1 to preach the ,word in all its purity1 in all its simplicity2 to give it to the people as they get it from ,god2 to bring them face to face with the veritable language of holy ,scripture4 ,thus will their ministry tell1 with living power1 on the hearts and consciences of their hearers4 ,it will link the soul with ,god ,himself1 by means of the ,word1 and impart a depth and solidity which no human teaching can ever produce4 ,look at the blessed apostle ,paul4 ,hear him express himself on this weighty subject4--,and ,i1 brethren1 when ,i came to you1 came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom1 declaring unto you the testimony of ,god4 ,for ,i determined not to know any thing among you1 save ,jesus ,christ1 and ,him crucified4 ,and ,i was with you in weakness1 and in fear1 and in much trembling4 ,and my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom1 but in demonstration of the ,spirit and of power4 ,what was the object of all this fear and trembling8 ,that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men1 but in the power of ,god4 7#a ,cor4 ii4 #a-e47 ,this true-hearted faithful servant of ,christ sought only to bring the souls of his hearers into direct personal contact with ,god ,himself4 ,he sought not to link them with ,paul4 ,who then is ,paul1 and who is ,apollos1 but ministers by whom ye believed8 ,all false ministry has for its object the attaching of souls to itself4 ,thus the minister is exalted1 ,god is shut out1 and the soul left without any divine foundation to rest upon4 ,true ministry1 on the contrary1 as seen in ,paul and ,moses1 has for its blessed object the attaching of the soul to ,god4 ,thus the minister gets his true place--simply an instrument1 ,god is exalted1 and the soul established on a sure foundation which can never be moved4 ,but let us hear a little more from our apostle on this most weighty subject4 ,moreover1 brethren1 ,i declare unto you the gospel which ,i preached unto you1 which also ye have received1 and wherein ye stand2 by which also ye are saved1 if ye keep in memory what ,i preached unto you1 unless ye have believed in vain4 ,for ,i delivered unto you first of all that which ,i also received--nothing more1 nothing less1 nothing different--how that ,christ died for our sins according to the ,scriptures2 and that ,he was buried1 and that ,he rose again the third day according to the ,scriptures4 ,this is uncommonly fine4 ,it demands the serious consideration of all who would be true and effective ministers of ,christ4 ,the apostle was careful to allow the pure stream to flow down from its living source--the heart of ,god1 into the souls of the ,corinthians4 ,he felt that nothing else was of any value4 ,if he had sought to link them on to himself1 he would have sadly dishonored his ,master1 done them a grievous wrong1 and he himself would most assuredly suffer loss in the day of ,christ4 ,but no2 ,paul knew better4 ,he would not1 for worlds1 lead any to build upon himself4 ,hear what he says to his much-loved ,thessalonians4--,for this cause also thank we ,god without ceasing1 because1 when ye received the ,word of ,god which ye heard of us1 ye received it not as the word of men1 but as it is in truth1 the ,word of ,god1 which effectually worketh also in you that believe4 7#a ,thess4 ii4 #ac47 ,we feel solemnly responsible to commend this grave and important point to the serious consideration of the ,church of ,god4 ,if all the professed ministers of ,christ were to follow the example of ,moses and ,paul1 in reference to the matter now before us1 we should witness a very different condition of things in the professing church4 ,but the plain and serious fact is1 that the ,church of ,god1 like ,israel of old1 has wholly departed from the authority of ,his ,word4 ,go where you will1 and you find things done and taught which have no foundation in ,scripture4 ,things are not only tolerated but sanctioned and stoutly defended which are in direct opposition to the mind of ,christ4 ,if you ask for the divine authority for this1 that1 and the other institution or practice1 you will be told that ,christ has not given us directions as to matters of church government2 that in all questions of ecclesiastical polity1 clerical orders1 and liturgical services1 ,he has left us free to act according to our consciences1 judgment1 or religious feelings2 that it is simply absurd to demand a ,thus saith the ,lord for all the details connected with our religious institutions3 there is a broad margin left to be filled up according to our national customs and our peculiar habits of thought4 ,it is considered that professing ,christians are left perfectly free to form themselves into so-called churches1 to choose their own form of government1 to make their own arrangements1 and to appoint their own office-bearers4 ,now the question which the ,christian reader has to consider is1 ,are these things so8 ,can it be that our ,lord ,christ has left ,his ,church without guidance as to matters so interesting and momentous8 ,can it be possible that the ,church of ,god is worse off1 in the matter of instruction and authority1 than ,israel8 ,in our studies on the books of ,exodus1 ,leviticus1 and ,numbers1 we have seen 7for who could help seeing87 the marvelous pains which ,jehovah took to instruct ,his people as to the most minute particulars connected with their public worship and private life4 ,as to the tabernacle1 the temple1 the priesthood1 the ritual1 the various feasts and sacrifices1 the periodical solemnities1 the months1 the days1 the very hours1 all was ordered and settled with divine precision4 ,nothing was left to mere human arrangement4 ,man's wisdom1 his judgment1 his reason1 his conscience1 had nothing whatever to do in the matter4 ,had it been left to man1 how should we ever have had that admirable1 profound1 and far-reaching typical system which the inspired pen of ,moses has set before us8 ,if ,israel had been allowed to do what 7as some would fain persuade us7 the ,church is allowed1 what confusion1 what strife1 what division1 what endless sects and parties1 would have been the inevitable result6 ,but it was not so4 ,the ,word of ,god settled every thing4 ,as the ,lord commanded ,moses4 ,this grand and influential sentence was appended to every thing that ,israel had to do1 and to every thing they were not to do4 ,their national institutions and their domestic habits--their public and their private life1 all came under the commanding authority of ,thus saith the ,lord4 ,there was no occasion for any member of the congregation to say1 ,i cannot see this1 or1 ,i cannot go with that1 or1 ,i cannot agree with the other4 ,such language could only be regarded as the fruit of self-will4 ,he might just as well say1 ,i cannot agree with ,jehovah4 ,and why8 ,simply because the ,word of ,god had spoken as to every thing1 and that1 too1 with a clearness and simplicity which left no room whatever for human discussion4 ,throughout the whole of the ,mosaic economy there was not the breadth of a hair of margin left in which to insert the opinion or the judgment of man4 ,it pertained not to man to add the weight of a feather to that vast system of types and shadows which had been planned by the divine mind1 and set forth in language so plain and pointed1 that all ,israel had to do was to obey--not to argue1 not to reason1 not to discuss1 but to obey4 ,alas6 alas6 they failed1 as we know4 ,they did their own will2 they took their own way2 they did every man that which was right in his own eyes4 ,they departed from the ,word of ,god1 and followed the imaginations and devices of their own evil heart1 and brought upon themselves the wrath and indignation of offended ,deity1 under which they suffer till this day1 and shall yet suffer unexampled tribulation4 ,but all this leaves untouched the point on which we are just now dwelling4 ,israel had the oracles of ,god1 and these oracles were divinely sufficient for their guidance in every thing4 ,there was no room left for the commandments and doctrines of men4 ,the ,word of the ,lord provided for every possible exigence1 and that ,word was so plain as to render human comment needless4 ,is the ,church of ,god worse off1 as regards guidance and authority1 than ,israel of old8 ,are ,christians left to think and arrange for themselves in the worship and service of ,god8 ,are there any questions left open for human discussion8 ,is the ,word of ,god sufficient1 or is it not8 ,has it left any thing unprovided for8 ,let us hearken diligently to the following powerful testimony3 ,all ,scripture is given by inspiration of ,god1 and is profitable for doctrine1 for reproof1 for correction1 for instruction in righteousness2 that the man of ,god may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works4 7#b ,tim4 iii47 ,this is perfectly conclusive4 ,holy ,scripture contains all that the man of ,god can possibly require to make him perfect1 to equip him thoroughly for every thing that can be called a good work4 ,and if this be true as to the man of ,god individually1 it is equally true as to the ,church of ,god collectively4 ,scripture is all-sufficient--for each1 for all4 ,thank ,god that it is so6 ,what a signal mercy to have a divine guide-book6 ,were it not so1 what should we do8 whither should we turn8 what would become of us8 ,if we were left to human tradition and human arrangement in the things of ,god1 what hopeless confusion6 what clashing of opinions6 what conflicting judgments6 ,and all this of necessity1 inasmuch as one man would have quite as good a right as another to put forth his opinion and to suggest his plan4 ,we shall perhaps be told that1 notwithstanding our possession of the holy ,scripture1 we have1 nevertheless1 sects1 parties1 creeds1 and schools of thought almost innumerable4 ,but why is this8 ,simply because we refuse to submit our whole moral being to the authority of holy ,scripture4 ,this is the real secret of the matter--the true source of all those sects and parties which are the shame and sorrow of the ,church of ,god4 ,it is vain for men to tell us that these things are good in themselves--that they are the legitimate fruit of that free exercise of thought and private judgment which form the very boast and glory of ,protestant ,christianity4 ,we do not and cannot believe for a moment that such a plea will stand before the judgment-seat of ,christ4 ,we believe1 on the contrary1 that this very boasted freedom of thought and independence of judgment are in direct opposition to that spirit of profound and reverent obedience which is due to our adorable ,lord and ,master4 ,what right has a servant to exercise his private judgment in the face of his master's plainly expressed will8 ,none whatever4 ,the duty of a servant is simply to obey--not to reason or to question1 but to do what he is told4 ,he fails1 as a servant1 just in so far as he exercises his own private judgment4 ,the most lovely moral trait in a servant's character is implicit1 unquestioning1 and unqualified obedience4 ,the one grand business of a servant is to do his master's will4 ,all this will be fully admitted in human affairs2 but in the things of ,god1 men think themselves entitled to exercise their private judgment4 ,it is a fatal mistake4 ,god has given us ,his ,word2 and that ,word is so plain1 that wayfaring men1 though fools1 need not err therein4 ,hence1 therefore1 if we were all guided by that ,word1--if we were all to bow down in a spirit of unquestioning obedience to its divine authority1 there could not be conflicting opinions and opposing sects4 ,it is quite impossible that the voice of holy ,scripture can teach opposing doctrines4 ,it cannot possibly teach one man ,episcopacy2 another1 ,presbyterianism2 and another1 ,independency4 ,it cannot possibly furnish a foundation for opposing schools of thought4 ,it would be a positive insult offered to the divine volume to attempt to attribute to it all the sad confusion of the professing church4 ,every pious mind must recoil1 with just horror1 from such an impious thought4 ,scripture cannot contradict itself2 and therefore if two men or ten thousand men are exclusively taught by ,scripture1 they will think alike4 ,hear what the blessed apostle says to the church at ,corinth--says to us1 ,now ,i beseech you1 brethren1 by the name of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ 7mark the mighty moral force of this appeal7 that ye all speak the same thing1 and that there be no divisions among you2 but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind1 and in the same judgment4 ,now the question is1 how was this most blessed result to be reached8 ,was it by each one exercising the right of private judgment8 ,alas6 it was this very thing that gave birth to all the division and contention in the assembly at ,corinth1 and drew forth the sharp rebuke of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,those poor ,corinthians thought they had a right to think and judge and choose for themselves1 and what was the result8 ,it hath been declared unto me of you1 my brethren1 by them which are of the house of ,chloe1 that there are contentions among you4 ,now this ,i say1 that every one of you saith1 ,i am of ,paul2 and ,i of ,apollos2 and ,i of ,cephas2 and ,i of ,christ4 ,is ,christ divided8 ,here we have private judgment and its sad fruit--its necessary fruit4 ,one man has quite as good a right to think for himself as another2 and no man has any right whatsoever to force his opinion upon his fellow4 ,where1 then1 lies the remedy8 ,in flinging to the winds our private judgments1 and reverently submitting ourselves to the supreme and absolute authority of holy ,scripture4 ,if it be not thus1 how could the apostle beseech the ,corinthians to speak the same thing1 and to be perfectly joined together in the same mind1 and in the same judgment8 ,who was to prescribe the thing that all were to speak8 ,in whose mind or whose judgment were all to be perfectly joined together8 ,had any one member of the assembly1 however gifted or intelligent1 the slightest shadow of a right to set forth what his brethren were to speak1 to think1 or to judge8 ,most certainly not4 ,there was one absolute1 because divine1 authority to which all were bound1 or rather privileged1 to submit themselves4 ,human opinions1 man's private judgment1 his conscience1 his reason--all these things must go for what they are worth2 and most assuredly they are perfectly worthless as authority4 ,the ,word of ,god is the only authority2 and if we are all governed by that1 we shall all speak the same thing1 and there will be no divisions among us2 but we shall be perfectly joined together in the same mind1 and in the same judgment4 ,lovely condition6 ,but1 alas6 it is not the present condition of the ,church of ,god2 and therefore it is perfectly evident that we are not all governed by the one supreme1 absolute1 and all-sufficient authority--the voice of holy ,scripture--that most blessed voice that can never utter one discordant note--a voice ever divinely harmonious to the circumcised ear4 ,here lies the root of the whole matter4 ,the ,church has departed from the authority of ,christ1 as set forth in ,his ,word4 ,until this is seen1 it is only lost time to discuss the claims of conflicting systems1 ecclesiastical or theological4 ,if a man does not see that it is his sacred duty to test every ecclesiastical system1 every liturgical service1 and every theological creed by the ,word of ,god1 discussion is perfectly useless4 ,if it be allowable to settle things according to expediency--according to man's judgment1 his conscience1 or his reason1 then verily we may as well at once give up the case as hopeless4 ,if we have no divinely settled authority--no perfect standard--no infallible guide1 we cannot see how it is possible for any one to possess the certainty that he is treading in the true path4 ,if indeed it be true that we are left to choose for ourselves1 amid the almost countless paths which lie around us1 then farewell to all certainty--farewell to peace of mind and rest of heart--farewell to all holy stability of purpose and fixedness of aim4 ,if we cannot say of the ground we occupy1 of the path we pursue1 and of the work in which we are engaged1 ,this is the thing which the ,lord hath commanded1 we may rest assured we are in a wrong position1 and the sooner we abandon it the better4 ,thank ,god1 there is no necessity whatever for ,his child or ,his servant to continue for one hour in connection with what is wrong4 ,let every one that nameth the name of ,christ depart from iniquity4 ,but how are we to know what is iniquity8 ,by the ,word of ,god4 ,whatever is contrary to ,scripture1 whether in morals or in doctrines1 is iniquity1 and ,i must depart from it1 cost what it may4 ,it is an individual matter4--,let every one4--,he that hath ears4--,he that overcometh4--,if any man hear ,my voice4 ,here is the point4 ,let us mark it well4 ,it is ,christ's voice4 ,it is not the voice of this good man or that good man2 it is not the voice of the church1 the voice of the fathers1 the voice of general councils1 but the voice of our own beloved ,lord and ,master4 ,it is the individual conscience in direct1 living contact with the voice of ,christ--the living1 eternal ,word of ,god--the holy ,scriptures4 ,were it merely a question of human conscience or judgment or authority1 we are at once plunged in hopeless uncertainty1 inasmuch as what one man might judge to be iniquity1 another might consider to be perfectly right4 ,there must be some fixed standard to go by--some supreme authority from which there can be no appeal2 and1 blessed be ,god1 there is4 ,god has spoken2 ,he has given us ,his ,word2 and it is at once our bounden duty1 our high privilege1 our moral security1 our true enjoyment1 to obey that ,word4 ,not man's interpretation of the ,word1 but the ,word itself4 ,this is all-important4 ,we must have nothing--absolutely nothing between the human conscience and divine revelation4 ,men talk to us about the authority of the church4 ,where are we to find it8 ,suppose a really anxious1 earnest1 honest soul1 longing to know the true way4 ,he is told to listen to the voice of the church4 ,he asks1 ,which church8 ,is it the ,greek1 ,latin1 ,anglican1 or ,scotch church8 ,not two of them agree4 ,nay1 more2 there are conflicting parties1 contending sects1 opposing schools of thought1 in one and the self-same body4 ,councils have differed1 fathers have disagreed1 popes have anathematized one another4 ,in the ,anglican ,establishment1 we have high-church1 low-church1 and broad-church1 each differing from the rest4 ,in the ,scotch or ,presbyterian church1 we have the ,established church1 the ,united ,presbyterian1 and the ,free church4 ,and then if the anxious inquirer turns away in hopeless perplexity from those great bodies1 in order to seek guidance amid the ranks of ,protestant dissenters1 is he likely to fare any better8 ,ah6 reader1 it is perfectly hopeless4 ,the whole professing church has revolted from the authority of ,christ1 and cannot possibly be a guide or an authority for any one4 ,in the second and third chapters of the book of ,revelation1 the church is seen under judgment1 and the appeal1 seven times repeated1 is1 ,he that hath an ear1 let him hear--what8 ,the voice of the church8 ,impossible6 ,the ,lord could never direct us to hear the voice of that which is itself under judgment4 ,hear what1 then8 ,let him hear what the ,spirit saith unto the churches4 ,and where is this voice to be heard8 ,only in the holy ,scriptures1 given of ,god1 in ,his infinite goodness1 to guide our souls in the way of peace and truth1 notwithstanding the hopeless ruin of the church1 and the thick darkness and wild confusion of baptized christendom4 ,it lies not within the compass of human language to set forth the value and importance of having a divine and therefore an infallible and all-sufficient guide and authority for our individual path4 ,but be it remembered1 we are solemnly responsible to bow to that authority1 and follow that guide4 ,it is utterly vain1 indeed morally dangerous1 to profess to have a divine guide and authority unless we are thoroughly subject thereto4 ,this it was that characterized the ,jews in the days of our ,lord4 ,they had the ,scriptures1 but they did not obey them4 ,and one of the saddest features in the present condition of christendom is its boasted possession of the ,bible1 while the authority of that ,bible is boldly set aside4 ,we deeply feel the solemnity of this1 and would earnestly press it upon the conscience of the ,christian reader4 ,the ,word of ,god is virtually ignored amongst us4 ,things are practiced and sanctioned1 on all hands1 which not only have no foundation in ,scripture1 but are diametrically opposed to it4 ,we are not exclusively taught and absolutely governed by ,scripture4 ,all this is most serious1 and demands the attention of all the ,lord's people in every place4 ,we feel compelled to raise a warning note in the ears of all ,christians in reference to this most weighty subject4 ,indeed1 it is the sense of its gravity and vast moral importance that has led us to enter upon the service of writing these ,notes on the book of ,deuteronomy4 ,it is our earnest prayer that the ,holy ,ghost may use these pages to recall the hearts of the ,lord's dear people to their true and proper place--even the place of reverent allegiance to ,his blessed ,word4 ,we feel persuaded that what will characterize all those who will walk devotedly in the closing hours of the ,church's earthly history will be profound reverence for the ,word of ,god1 and genuine attachment to the ,person of our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ4 ,the two things are inseparably bound together by a sacred and imperishable link4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,lord our ,god spake unto us in ,horeb1 saying1 ',ye have dwelt long enough in this mount3 turn you1 and take your journey1 and go to the mount of the ,amorites1 and unto all the places nigh thereunto1 in the plain1 in the hills1 and in the vale1 and in the south1 and by the sea-side1 to the land of the ,canaanites1 and unto ,lebanon1 unto the great river1 the river ,euphrates4' 7,ver4 #f1 #g47 ,we shall find1 throughout the whole of the book of ,deuteronomy1 the ,lord dealing much more directly and simply with the people than in any of the three preceding books2 so far is it from being true that ,deuteronomy is a mere repetition of what has passed before us in previous sections4 ,for instance1 in the passage just quoted there is no mention of the movement of the cloud--no reference to the sound of the trumpet4 ,the ,lord our ,god spake unto us4 ,we know1 from the book of ,numbers1 that the movements of the camp were governed by the movements of the cloud1 as communicated by the sound of the trumpet4 ,but neither the trumpet nor the cloud is alluded to in this book4 ,it is much more simple and familiar4 ,the ,lord our ,god spake unto us in ,horeb1 saying1 ',ye have dwelt long enough in this mount4' ,this is very beautiful4 ,it reminds us somewhat of the lovely simplicity of patriarchal times1 when the ,lord spake unto the fathers as a man speaketh to his friend4 ,it was not by the sound of a trumpet1 or by the movement of a cloud1 that the ,lord communicated ,his mind to ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob4 ,he was so very near to them that there was no need1 no room for an agency characterized by ceremony and distance4 ,he visited them1 sat with them1 partook of their hospitality1 in all the intimacy of personal friendship4 ,such is the lovely simplicity of the order of things in patriarchal times2 and this it is which imparts a peculiar charm to the narratives of the book of ,genesis4 ,but in ,exodus1 ,leviticus1 and ,numbers we have something quite different4 ,there1 we have set before us a vast system of types and shadows1 rites1 ordinances1 and ceremonies1 imposed on the people for the time being1 the import of which is unfolded to us in the epistle to the ,hebrews4--,the ,holy ,ghost this signifying1 that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest1 while as the first tabernacle was yet standing2 which was a figure for the time then present1 in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices1 that could not make him that did the service perfect1 as pertaining to the conscience2 which stood only in meats and drinks1 and divers washings1 and carnal ordinances1 imposed on them until the time of reformation4 7,heb4 ix4 #h-aj47 ,under this system1 the people were at a distance from ,god4 ,it was not with them as it had been with their fathers in the book of ,genesis4 ,god was shut in from them1 and they were shut out from ,him4 ,the leading features of the ,levitical ceremonial1 so far as the people were concerned1 were bondage1 darkness1 distance2 but on the other hand1 its types and shadows pointed forward to that one great ,sacrifice which is the foundation of all ,god's marvelous counsels and purposes1 and by which ,he can1 in perfect righteousness1 and according to all the love of ,his heart1 have a people near unto ,himself1 to the praise of the glory of ,his grace1 throughout the golden ages of eternity4 ,now1 it has been already remarked1 we shall find in ,deuteronomy comparatively little of rites and ceremonies4 ,the ,lord is seen more in direct communication with the people2 and even the priests1 in their official capacity1 come rarely before us2 and if they are referred to1 it is very much more in a moral than in a ceremonial way4 ,of this we shall have ample proof as we pass along2 it is a marked feature of this beautiful book4 ,the ,lord our ,god spake unto us in ,horeb1 saying1 ',ye have dwelt long enough in this mount3 turn you1 and take your journey1 and go to the mount of the ,amorites4' ,what a rare privilege for any people to have the ,lord so near to them1 and so interested in all their movements and in all their concerns1 great and small6 ,he knew how long they ought to remain in any one place1 and whither they should next bend their steps4 ,they had no need to harass themselves about their journeyings1 or about any thing else4 ,they were under the eye and in the hands of ,one whose wisdom was unerring1 whose power was omnipotent1 whose resources were inexhaustible1 whose love was infinite1 who had charged ,himself with the care of them1 who knew all their need1 and was prepared to meet it1 according to all the love of ,his heart and the strength of ,his holy arm4 ,what1 then1 we may ask1 remained for them to do8 ,what was their plain and simple duty8 ,just to obey4 ,it was their high and holy privilege to rest in the love and obey the commandments of ,jehovah1 their covenant ,god4 ,here lay the blessed secret of their peace1 their happiness1 and their moral security4 ,they had no need whatever to trouble themselves about their movements1 no need of planning or arranging4 ,their journeyings were all ordered for them by ,one who knew every step of the way from ,horeb to ,kadesh-barnea1 and they had just to live by the day1 in happy dependence upon ,him4 ,happy position6 ,privileged path6 ,blessed portion6 ,but it demanded a broken will1 an obedient mind1 a subject heart4 ,if when ,jehovah had said1 ,ye have compassed this mountain long enough1 they1 on the contrary1 were to form the plan of compassing it a little longer1 they would have had to compass it without ,him4 ,his companionship1 ,his counsel1 and ,his aid could only be counted upon in the path of obedience4 ,thus it was with ,israel in their desert wanderings1 and thus it is with us4 ,it is our most precious privilege to leave all our matters in the hands1 not merely of a covenant ,god1 but of a loving ,father4 ,he arranges our movements for us2 ,he fixes the bounds of our habitation2 ,he tells us how long to stay in a place1 and where to go next4 ,he has charged ,himself with all our concerns1 all our movements1 all our wants4 ,his gracious word to us is1 ,be careful for nothing2 but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto ,god4 ,and what then8 ,the peace of ,god1 which passeth all understanding1 shall keep your hearts and minds through ,christ ,jesus4 ,but it may be the reader feels disposed to ask1 ,how does ,god guide ,his people now8 ,we cannot expect to hear ,his voice telling us when to move or where to go4 ,to this we reply1 at once1 ,it cannot surely be that the members of the ,church of ,god--the body of ,christ--are worse off in the matter of divine guidance than ,israel in the wilderness4 ,cannot ,god guide ,his children--cannot ,christ guide ,his servants--in all their movements and in all their service8 ,who would think1 for a moment1 of calling in question a truth so plain and so precious8 ,true1 we do not expect to hear a voice1 or see the movement of a cloud2 but we have what is very much better1 very much higher1 very much more intimate4 ,we may rest assured our ,god has made ample provision for us in this1 as in all beside1 according to all the love of ,his heart4 ,now1 there are three ways in which we are guided3 we are guided by the ,word1 we are guided by the ,holy ,ghost1 and we are guided by the instincts of the divine nature2 and we have to bear in mind that the instincts of the divine nature1 the leadings of the ,holy ,ghost1 and the teaching of holy ,scripture will always harmonize4 ,this is of the utmost importance to keep before us4 ,a person might fancy himself to be led by the instincts of the divine nature1 or by the ,holy ,spirit1 to pursue a certain line of action involving consequences at issue with the ,word of ,god4 ,thus his mistake would be made apparent4 ,it is a very serious thing for any one to act on mere impulse or impression4 ,by so doing1 he may fall into a snare of the devil1 and do very serious damage to the cause of ,christ4 ,we must calmly weigh our impressions in the balances of the sanctuary1 and faithfully test them by the standard of the divine ,word4 ,in this way we shall be preserved from error and delusion4 ,it is a most dangerous thing to trust impressions or act on impulse4 ,we have seen the most disastrous consequences produced by so doing4 ,facts may be reliable4 ,divine authority is absolutely infallible4 ,our own impressions may prove as delusive as a will-o'-the-wisp1 or a mirage of the desert3 human feelings are most untrustworthy4 ,we must ever submit them to the most severe scrutiny1 lest they betray us into some fatally false line of action4 ,we can trust ,scripture without a shadow of misgiving2 and we shall find1 without exception1 that the man who is led by the ,holy ,ghost1 or guided by the instincts of the divine nature1 will never act in opposition to the ,word of ,god4 ,this is what we may call an axiom in the divine life--an established rule in practical ,christianity4 ,would that it had been more attended to in all ages of the ,church's history6 ,would that it were more pondered in our own day6 ,but there is another point in this question of divine guidance which demands our serious attention4 ,we not unfrequently hear people speak of the finger of divine ,providence as something to be relied upon for guidance4 ,this may be only another mode of expressing the idea of being guided by circumstances1 which1 we do not hesitate to say1 is very far indeed from being the proper kind of guidance for a ,christian4 ,no doubt1 our ,lord may and does1 at times1 intimate ,his mind and indicate our path by ,his providence2 but we must be sufficiently near to ,him to be able to interpret the providence aright1 else we may find that what is called an opening of ,providence may actually prove an opening by which we slip off the holy path of obedience4 ,surrounding circumstances1 just like our inward impressions1 must be weighed in the presence of ,god1 and judged by the light of ,his ,word1 else they may lead us into the most terrible mistakes4 ,jonah might have considered it a remarkable providence to find a ship going to ,tarshish2 but had he been in communion with ,god1 he would not have needed a ship4 ,in short1 the ,word of ,god is the one grand test and perfect touchstone for every thing--for outward circumstances and inward impressions--for feelings1 imaginations1 and tendencies--all must be placed under the searching light of holy ,scripture and there calmly and seriously judged4 ,this is the true path of safety1 peace1 and blessedness for every child of ,god4 ,it may1 however1 be said1 in reply to all this1 that we cannot expect to find a text of ,scripture to guide us in the matter of our movements1 or in the thousand little details of daily life4 ,perhaps not2 but there are certain great principles laid down in ,scripture1 which1 if properly applied1 will afford divine guidance even where we might not be able to find a particular text4 ,and not only so1 but we have the fullest assurance that our ,god can and does guide ,his children in all things4 ,the steps of a good man are ordered of the ,lord4--,the meek will ,he guide in judgment2 and the meek will ,he teach ,his way4--,i will guide thee with ,mine eye4 ,he can signify ,his mind to us as to this or that particular act or movement4 ,if not1 where are we8 ,how are we to get on8 ,how are we to regulate our movements8 ,are we to be drifted hither and thither by the tide of circumstances8 ,are we left to blind chance1 or to the mere impulse of our own will8 ,thank ,god1 it is not so4 ,he can1 in ,his own perfect way1 give us the certainty of ,his mind in any given case2 and without that certainty we should never move4 ,our ,lord ,christ 7all homage to ,his peerless name67 can intimate ,his mind to ,his servant as to where ,he would have him to go and what ,he would have him to do2 and no true servant will ever think of moving or acting without such intimation4 ,we should never act or move in uncertainty4 ,if we are not sure1 let us be quiet and wait4 ,very often it happens that we harass and fret ourselves about movements that ,god would not have us make at all4 ,a person once said to a friend1 ,i am quite at a loss to know which way to turn4 ,then1 don't turn at all1 was the friend's wise reply4 ,but here an all-important moral point comes in1 and that is1 our whole condition of soul4 ,this1 we may rest assured1 has very much to do with the matter of guidance4 ,it is the meek ,he will guide in judgment1 and teach ,his way4 ,we must never forget this4 ,if only we are humble and self-distrusting--if we wait on our ,god1 in simplicity of heart1 uprightness of mind1 and honesty of purpose1 ,he will most assuredly guide us4 ,but it will never do to go and ask counsel of ,god in a matter about which our mind is made up1 or our will is at work4 ,this is a fatal delusion4 ,look at the case of ,jehoshaphat1 in #a ,kings xxii4--,it came to pass in the third year1 that ,jehoshaphat the king of ,judah came down to the king of ,israel--a sad mistake1 to begin with4--,and the king of ,israel said unto his servants1 ',know ye that ,ramoth in ,gilead is ours1 and we be still1 and take it not out of the hand of the king of ,syria8' ,and he said unto ,jehoshaphat1 ',wilt thou go with me to battle to ,ramoth-gilead8' ,and ,jehoshaphat said to the king of ,israel1 ',i am as thou art1 my people as thy people1 my horses as thy horses2 and1 7as we have it in #b ,chronicles xviii4 #c17 we will be with thee in the war4' ,here we see that his mind was made up before ever he thought of asking counsel of ,god in the matter4 ,he was in a false position and a wrong atmosphere altogether4 ,he had fallen into the snare of the enemy1 through lack of singleness of eye1 and hence he was not in a fit state to receive or profit by divine guidance4 ,he was bent on his own will1 and the ,lord left him to reap the fruits of it2 and but for infinite and sovereign mercy1 he would have fallen by the sword of the ,syrians1 and been borne a corpse from the battle-field4 ,true1 he did say to the king of ,israel1 ,inquire1 ,i pray thee1 at the word of the ,lord to-day4 ,but where was the use of this1 when he had already pledged himself to a certain line of action8 ,what folly for any one to make up his mind and then go and ask for counsel6 ,had he been in a right state of soul1 he never would have sought counsel in such a case at all2 but his state of soul was bad1 his position false1 and his purpose in direct opposition to the mind and will of ,god4 ,hence1 although he heard1 from the lips of ,jehovah's messenger1 ,his solemn judgment on the entire expedition1 yet he took his own way1 and well-nigh lost his life in consequence4 ,we see the same thing in the forty-second chapter of ,jeremiah4 ,the people applied to the prophet to ask counsel as to their going down into ,egypt2 but they had already made up their minds as to their course--they were bent on their own will4 ,miserable condition6 ,had they been meek and humble1 they would not have needed to ask counsel in the matter2 but they said unto ,jeremiah the prophet1 ',let1 we beseech thee1 our supplication be accepted before thee1 and pray for us unto the ,lord thy ,god ,why not say1 ,the ,lord our ,god8 even for all this remnant2 7for we are left but a few of many1 as thine eyes do behold us37 that the ,lord thy ,god may show us the way wherein we may walk1 and the thing that we may do4' ,then ,jeremiah the prophet said unto them1 ',i have heard you2 behold1 ,i will pray unto the ,lord your ,god according to your words2 and it shall come to pass1 that whatsoever thing the ,lord shall answer you1 ,i will declare it unto you2 ,i will keep nothing back from you4' ,then they said to ,jeremiah1 ',the ,lord be a true and faithful witness between us1 if we do not even according to all things for the which the ,lord thy ,god shall send thee to us4 ,whether it be good1 or whether it be evil ,how could the will of ,god be aught but good81 we will obey the voice of the ,lord our ,god1 to whom we send thee2 that it may be well with us1 when we obey the voice of the ,lord our ,god4' ,now1 all this seemed very pious and very promising2 but mark the sequel4 ,when they found that the judgment and counsel of ,god did not tally with their will1 then spake 444 all the proud men1 saving unto ,jeremiah1 ',thou speakest falsely3 the ,lord our ,god hath not sent thee to say1 ,go not into ,egypt to sojourn there4' ,here1 the real state of the case comes clearly out4 ,pride and self-will were at work2 their vows and promises were false4 ,ye dissembled in your hearts1 says ,jeremiah1 when ye sent me unto the ,lord your ,god1 saying1 ',pray for us unto the ,lord our ,god2 and according unto all that the ,lord our ,god shall say1 so declare unto us1 and we will do it4' ,it would have been all very well had the divine response fallen in with their will in the matter2 but inasmuch as it ran counter1 they rejected it altogether4 ,how often is this the case6 ,the ,word of ,god does not suit man's thoughts2 it judges them1 it stands in direct opposition to his will1 it interferes with his plans1 and hence he rejects it4 ,the human will and human reason are ever in direct antagonism to the ,word of ,god1 and the ,christian must refuse both the one and the other if he really desires to be divinely guided4 ,an unbroken will and blind reason1 if we listen to them1 can only lead us into darkness1 misery1 and desolation4 ,jonah would go to ,tarshish1 when he ought to have gone to ,nineveh2 and the consequence was that he found himself in the belly of hell1 with the weeds wrapped about his head4 ,jehoshaphat would go to ,ramoth-gilead1 when he ought to have been at ,jerusalem2 and the consequence was that he found himself surrounded by the swords of the ,syrians4 ,the remnant1 in the days of ,jeremiah1 would go into ,egypt1 when they ought to have remained at ,jerusalem2 and the consequence was that they died by the sword1 by the famine1 and by the pestilence in the land of ,egypt1 whither they desired to go and to sojourn4 ,thus it must ever be4 ,the path of self-will is sure to be a path of darkness and misery2 it cannot be otherwise3 the path of obedience1 on the contrary1 is a path of peace1 a path of light1 a path of blessing1 a path on which the beams of divine favor are ever poured in living lustre4 ,it may1 to the human eye1 seem narrow1 rough1 and lonely2 but the obedient soul finds it to be the path of life1 peace1 and moral security4 ,the path of the just is as the shining light1 that shineth more and more unto the perfect day4 ,blessed path6 ,may the writer and the reader ever be found treading it1 with a steady step and earnest purpose4 ,before turning from this great practical subject of divine guidance and human obedience1 we must ask the reader to refer1 for a few moments1 to a very beautiful passage in the eleventh chapter of ,luke4 ,he will find it full of the most valuable instruction4 ,the light of the body is the eye3 therefore when thine eye is single1 thy whole body also is full of light2 but when thine eye is evil1 thy body also is full of darkness4 ,take heed1 therefore1 that the light which is in thee be not darkness4 ,if thy whole body therefore be full of light1 having no part dark1 the whole shall be full of light1 as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light4 7,ver4 #cd-cf47 ,nothing can exceed the moral force and beauty of this passage4 ,first of all1 we have the single eye4 ,this is essential to the enjoyment of divine guidance4 ,it indicates a broken will--a heart honestly fixed upon doing the will of ,god4 ,there is no under-current1 no mixed motive1 no personal end in view4 ,there is the one simple desire and earnest purpose to do the will of ,god1 whatever that will may be4 ,now1 when the soul is in this attitude1 divine light comes streaming in and fills the whole body4 ,hence it follows that if the body is not full of light1 the eye is not single2 there is some mixed motive2 self-will or self-interest is at work2 we are not upright before ,god4 ,in this case1 any light which we profess to have is darkness2 and there is no darkness so gross or so terrible as that judicial darkness which settles down upon the heart governed by self-will while professing to have light from ,god4 ,this will be seen in all its horrors by and by in christendom1 when that ,wicked shall be revealed1 whom the ,lord shall consume with the spirit of ,his mouth1 and shall destroy with the brightness of ,his coming2 even him1 whose coming is after the working of ,satan with all power and signs and lying wonders1 and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish2 because they received not the love of the truth1 that they might be saved4 ,and for this cause ,god shall send them strong delusion1 that they should believe a lie2 that they all might be damned who believed not the truth1 but had pleasure in unrighteousness4 7#b ,thess4 ii4 #h-ab47 ,how awful is this6 ,how solemnly it speaks to the whole professing church6 ,how solemnly it addresses the conscience of both the writer and the reader of these lines6 ,light not acted upon becomes darkness4--,if the light which is in thee be darkness1 how great is that darkness6 ,but on the other hand1 a little light honestly acted upon is sure to increase2 for to him that hath shall more be given1 and the path of the just is as the shining light1 that shineth more and more unto the perfect day4 ,this moral progress is beautifully and forcibly set forth in ,luke xi4 #cf4--;,if thy whole body therefore be full of light1 having no part dark--no chamber kept closed against the heavenly rays--no dishonest reserve--the whole moral being laid open1 in genuine simplicity1 to the action of divine light2 then the whole shall be full of light1 as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light4 ,in a word1 the obedient soul has not only light for his own path1 but the light shines out1 so that others see it1 like the bright shining of a candle4 ,let your light so shine before men1 that they may see your good works1 and glorify your ,father which is in heaven4 ,we have a very vivid contrast to all this in the thirteenth chapter of ,jeremiah4--,give glory to the ,lord your ,god1 before ,he cause darkness1 and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains1 and while ye look for light1 ,he turn it into the shadow of death1 and make it gross darkness4 ,the way to give glory to the ,lord our ,god is to obey ,his ,word4 ,the path of duty is a bright and blessed path2 and the one who1 through grace1 treads that path will never stumble on the dark mountains4 ,the truly humble1 the lowly1 the self-distrusting1 will keep far away from those dark mountains1 and walk in that blessed path which is ever illuminated by the bright and cheering beams of ,god's approving countenance4 ,this is the path of the just1 the path of heavenly wisdom1 the path of perfect peace4 ,may we ever be found treading it1 beloved reader2 and let us never1 for one moment1 forget that it is our high privilege to be divinely guided in the most minute details of our daily life4 ,alas6 for the one who is not so guided4 ,he will have many a stumble1 many a fall1 many a sorrowful experience4 ,if we are not guided by our ,father's eye1 we shall be like the horse or the mule1 which have no understanding1 whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle1--like the horse1 impetuously rushing where he ought not1 or the mule1 obstinately refusing to go where he ought4 ,how sad for a ,christian to be like these6 ,how blessed to move1 from day to day1 in the path marked out for us by our ,father's eye6--a path which the vulture's eye hath not seen1 or the lion's whelp trodden2 the path of holy obedience2 the path in which the meek and lowly will ever be found1 to their deep joy1 and the praise and glory of ,him who has opened it for them and given them grace to tread it4 99 99 99 99 99 ,in the remainder of our chapter1 ,moses rehearses in the ears of the people1 in language of touching simplicity1 the facts connected with the appointment of the judges1 and the mission of the spies4 ,the appointment of the judges1 ,moses here attributes to his own suggestion3 the mission of the spies was the suggestion of the people4 ,that dear and most honored servant of ,god felt the burden of the congregation too heavy for him2 and assuredly it was very heavy2 though we know well that the grace of ,god was amply sufficient for the demand1 and1 moreover1 that that grace could act as well by one man as by seventy4 ,still1 we can well understand the difficulty felt by the meekest man in all the earth in reference to the responsibility of so grave and important a charge2 and truly the language in which he states his difficulty is affecting in the highest degree4 ,we feel as though we must quote it for the reader4 ,and ,i spake unto you at that time1 saying1 ',i am not able to bear you myself alone ,surely not2 what mere mortal could8 ,but ,god was there to be counted upon for exigence of every hour43 the ,lord your ,god hath multiplied you1 and1 behold1 ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude4' 7,the ,lord ,god of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are1 and bless you1 as ,he hath promised you47 ,lovely parenthesis6 ,exquisite breathing of a large and lowly heart6 ,how can ,i myself alone bear your cumbrance1 and your burden1 and your strife8 ,alas6 here lay the secret of much of the cumbrance and the burden4 ,they could not agree among themselves1--there were controversies1 contentions1 and questions2 and who was sufficient for these things8 what human shoulder could sustain such a burden8 ,how different it might have been with them6 ,had they walked lovingly together1 there would have been no cases to decide1 and therefore no need of judges to decide them4 ,if each member of the congregation had sought the prosperity1 the interest1 and the happiness of his brethren1 there would have been no strife1 no cumbrance1 no burden4 ,if each had done all that in him lay to promote the common good1 how lovely would have been the result6 ,but1 ah6 it was not so with ,israel in the desert2 and1 what is still more humbling1 it is not so in the ,church of ,god1 although our privileges are so much higher4 ,hardly had the assembly been formed by the presence of the ,holy ,ghost ere the accents of murmuring and discontent were heard4 ,and about what8 ,about neglect1 whether fancied or real4 ,whatever way it was1 self was at work4 ,if the neglect was merely imaginary1 the ,grecians were to blame2 and if it was real1 the ,hebrews were to blame4 ,it generally happens1 in such cases1 that there are faults on both sides2 but the true way to avoid all strife1 contention1 and murmuring is to put self in the dust and earnestly seek the good of others4 ,had this excellent way been understood and adopted1 from the outset1 what a different task the ecclesiastical historian would have had to perform6 ,but1 alas6 it has not been adopted2 and hence the history of the professing church1 from the very beginning1 has been a deplorable and humiliating record of controversy1 division1 and strife4 ,in the very presence of the ,lord ,himself1 whose whole life was one of complete self-surrender1 the apostles disputed about who should be greatest4 ,such a dispute could never have arisen had each known the exquisite secret of putting self in the dust and seeking the good of others4 ,no one who knows aught of the true moral elevation of self-emptiness could possibly seek a good or a great place for himself4 ,nearness to ,christ so satisfies the lowly heart1 that honors1 distinctions1 and rewards are little accounted of2 but where self is at work1 there you will have envy and jealousy1 strife and contention1 confusion and every evil work4 ,witness the scene between the two sons of ,zebedee and their ten brethren1 in the tenth chapter of ,mark4 ,what was at the bottom of it8 ,self4 ,the two were thinking of a good place for themselves in the kingdom1 and the ten were angry with the two for thinking of any such thing4 ,had each set self aside1 and sought the good of others1 such a scene would never have been enacted1--the two would not have been thinking about themselves1 and hence there would have been no ground for the indignation of the ten4 ,but it is needless to multiply examples4 ,every age of the church's history illustrates and proves the truth of our statement that self and its odious workings are the producing cause of strife1 contention1 and division1 always4 ,turn where you will--from the days of the apostles down to the days in which our lot is cast1 and you will find unmortified self to be the fruitful source of strife and schism2 and on the other hand1 you will find that to sink self and its interests is the true secret of peace1 harmony1 and brotherly love4 ,if only we learn to set self aside1 and seek earnestly the glory of ,christ and the prosperity of ,his beloved people1 we shall not have many cases to settle4 ,we must now return to our chapter4 ,how can ,i myself alone bear your cumbrance1 and your burden1 and your strife8 ,take you wise men1 and understanding1 and known among your tribes1 and ,i will make them rulers over you4 ,and ye answered me1 and said1 ',the thing which thou hast spoken is good for us to do4' ,so ,i took the chief of your tribes1 wise men1 and known--men fitted of ,god1 and possessing1 because entitled to1 the confidence of the congregation--and made them heads over you1 captains over thousands1 and captains over hundreds1 and captains over fifties1 and captains over tens1 and officers among your tribes4 ,admirable arrangement6 ,if indeed it had to be made1 nothing could be better adapted to the maintenance of order than the graduated scale of authority1 varying from the captain of ten to the captain of a thousand2 the lawgiver himself at the head of all1 and he in immediate communication with the ,lord ,god of ,israel4 ,we have no allusion here to the fact recorded in ,exodus xviii1 namely1 that the appointment of those rulers was at the suggestion of ,jethro1 ,moses' father-in-law2 neither have we any reference to the scene in ,numbers xi4 ,we call the reader's attention to this as one of the many proofs which lie scattered along the pages of ,deuteronomy that it is very far indeed from being a mere repetition of the preceding sections of the ,pentateuch4 ,in short1 this delightful book has a marked character of its own1 and the mode in which facts are presented is in perfect keeping with that character4 ,it is very evident that the object of the venerable lawgiver1 or rather of the ,holy ,ghost in him1 was to bring every thing to bear1 in a moral way1 upon the hearts of the people1 in order to produce that one grand result which is the special object of the book from beginning to end1 namely1 a loving obedience to all the statutes and judgments of the ,lord their ,god4 ,we must bear this in mind if we would study aright the book which lies open before us4 ,infidels1 skeptics1 and rationalists may impiously suggest to us the thought of discrepancies in the various records given in the different books2 but the pious reader will reject1 with a holy indignation1 every such suggestion1 knowing that it emanates directly from the father of lies1 the determined and persistent enemy of the precious revelation of ,god4 ,this1 we feel persuaded1 is the true way in which to deal with all infidel assaults upon the ,bible4 ,argument is useless1 inasmuch as infidels are not in a position to understand or appreciate its force2 they are profoundly ignorant of the matter4 ,nor is it merely a question of profound ignorance1 but of determined hostility2 so that1 in every way1 the judgment of all infidel writers on the subject of divine inspiration is utterly worthless and perfectly contemptible4 ,we would pity and pray for the men1 while we thoroughly despise and indignantly reject their opinions4 ,the ,word of ,god is entirely above and beyond them4 ,it is as perfect as its ,author1 and as imperishable as ,his throne2 but its moral glories1 its living depths1 and its infinite perfections are only unfolded to faith and need4 ,i thank ,thee1 ,o ,father1 ,lord of heaven and earth1 because ,thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent1 and hast revealed them unto babes4 ,if we are only content to be as simple as a babe1 we shall enjoy the precious revelation of a ,father's love1 as given by ,his ,spirit in the holy ,scriptures2 but on the other hand1 those who fancy themselves wise and prudent--who build upon their learning1 their philosophy1 and their reason--who think themselves competent to sit in judgment on the ,word of ,god1 and hence on ,god ,himself1 are given over to judicial darkness1 blindness1 and hardness of heart4 ,thus it comes to pass that the most egregious folly and the most contemptible ignorance that man can display will be found in the pages of those learned writers who have dared to write against the ,bible4 ,where is the wise8 where is the scribe8 where is the disputer of this world8 hath not ,god made foolish the wisdom of this world8 ,for after that in the wisdom of ,god the world by wisdom knew not ,god1 it pleased ,god by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe4 7#a ,cor4 i4 #bj1 #ba47 ,if any man will be wise1 let him become a fool4 ,here lies the grand moral secret of the matter4 ,man must get to the end of his own wisdom1 as well as of his own righteousness4 ,he must be brought to confess himself a fool ere he can taste the sweetness of divine wisdom4 ,it is not within the range of the most gigantic human intellect1 aided by all the appliances of human learning and philosophy1 to grasp the very simplest elements of divine revelation2 and therefore1 when unconverted men1 whatever may be the force of their genius or the extent of their learning1 undertake to handle spiritual subjects1 and more especially the subject of the divine inspiration of holy ,scripture1 they are sure to exhibit their profound ignorance1 and utter incompetency to deal with the question before them4 ,indeed1 whenever we look into an infidel book1 we are struck with the feebleness of their most forcible arguments2 and not only so1 but in every instance in which they attempt to find a discrepancy in the ,bible1 we see only divine wisdom1 beauty1 and perfectness4 ,we have been led into the foregoing line of thought in connection with the subject of the appointment of the elders1 which is given to us in each book according to the wisdom of the ,holy ,ghost1 and in perfect keeping with the scope and object of the book4 ,we shall now proceed with our quotation4 ,and ,i charged your judges at that time1 saying1 ',hear the causes between your brethren1 and judge righteously between every man and his brother1 and the stranger that is with him4 ,ye shall not respect persons in judgment2 but ye shall hear the small as well as the great2 ye shall not be afraid of the face of man2 for the judgment is ,god's2 and the cause that is too hard for you1 bring it unto me1 and ,i will hear it4' ,what heavenly wisdom is here6 what even-handed justice6 what holy impartiality6 ,in every case of difference1 all the facts on both sides were to be fully heard and patiently weighed4 ,the mind was not to be warped by prejudice1 predilection1 or personal feeling of any kind4 ,the judgment was to be formed1 not by impressions1 but by facts--clearly established1 undeniable facts4 ,personal influence was to have no weight whatever4 ,the position and circumstances of either party in the cause were not to be considered4 ,the case must be decided entirely upon its own merits4 ,ye shall hear the small as well as the great4 ,the poor man was to have the same even-handed justice meted out to him as the rich2 the stranger as one born in the land4 ,no difference was to be allowed4 ,how important is all this6 how worthy of our attentive consideration6 how full of deep and valuable instruction for us all6 ,true1 we are not all called to be judges or elders or leaders2 but the great moral principles laid down in the above quotation are of the very utmost value to every one of us1 inasmuch as cases are continually occurring which call for their direct application4 ,wherever our lot may be cast1 whatever our line of life or sphere of action1 we are liable1 alas6 to meet with cases of difficulty and misunderstanding between our brethren1--cases of wrong1 whether real or imaginary2 and hence it is most needful to be divinely instructed as to how we ought to carry ourselves in respect to such4 ,now1 in all such cases1 we cannot be too strongly impressed with the necessity of having our judgment based on facts--all the facts on both sides4 ,we must not allow ourselves to be guided by our own impressions1 for we all know that mere impressions are most untrustworthy4 ,they may be correct1 and they may be utterly false4 ,nothing is more easily received and conveyed than a false impression1 and therefore any judgment based on mere impressions is worthless4 ,we must have solid1 clearly established facts--facts established by two or three witnesses1 as ,scripture so distinctly enforces4 7,deut4 xvii4 #f2 ,matt4 xviii4 #af2 #b ,cor4 xiii4 #a2 #a ,tim4 v4 #ai47 ,but further1 we must never be guided in judgment by an ex parte statement4 ,every one is liable1 even with the best intentions1 to give a color to his statement of a case4 ,it is not that he would intentionally make a false statement1 or tell a deliberate lie2 but through inaccuracy of memory1 or one cause or another1 he may not present the case as it really is4 ,some fact may be omitted1 and that one fact may so affect all the other facts as to alter their bearing completely4 ,audi alteram partem 7,hear the other side7 is a wholesome motto4 ,and not only hear the other side1 but hear all the facts on both sides1 and thus you will be able to form a sound and righteous judgment4 ,we may set it down as a standing rule1 that any judgment formed without an accurate knowledge of all the facts is perfectly worthless4 ,hear the causes between your brethren1 and judge righteously between every man and his brother1 and the stranger that is with him4 ,seasonable1 needed words1 most surely1 at all times1 in all places1 and under all circumstances4 ,may we apply our hearts to them4 ,and how important the admonition in verse #ag6 ,ye shall not respect persons in judgment2 but ye shall hear the small as well as the great2 ye shall not be afraid of the face of man4 ,how these words discover the poor human heart6 ,how prone we are to respect persons--to be swayed by personal influence--to attach importance to position and wealth--to be afraid of the face of man6 ,what is the divine antidote against all these evils8 ,just this3 the fear of ,god4 ,if we set the ,lord before us1 at all times1 it will effectually deliver us from the pernicious influence of partiality1 prejudice1 and the fear of men4 ,it will lead us to wait humbly and patiently on the ,lord for guidance and counsel in all that may come before us1 and thus we shall be preserved from forming hasty and one-sided judgments of men and things--that fruitful source of mischief amongst the ,lord's people in all ages4 99 99 99 99 99 ,we shall now dwell for a few moments on the very affecting manner in which ,moses brings before the congregation all the circumstances connected with the mission of the spies1 which1 like the appointment of the judges1 is in perfect keeping with the scope and object of the book4 ,this is only what we might expect4 ,there is not1 there could not be1 a single sentence of useless repetition in the divine volume2 still less could there be a single flaw1 a single discrepancy1 a single contradictory statement4 ,the ,word of ,god is absolutely perfect--perfect as a whole1 perfect in all its parts4 ,we must firmly hold and faithfully confess this in the face of this infidel age4 ,we speak not of human translations of the ,word of ,god1 in which there must be more or less of imperfection2 though even here1 we cannot but be filled with wonder1 love1 and praise when we mark the way in which our ,god so manifestly presided over our excellent ,english translation1 so that the poor man at the back of a mountain may be assured of possessing1 in his common ,english ,bible1 the revelation of ,god to his soul4 ,and most surely we are warranted in saying that this is just what we might look for at the hands of our ,god4 ,it is but reasonable to infer that the ,one who inspired the writers of the ,bible would also watch over the translation of it2 for inasmuch as ,he gave it originally1 in ,his grace1 to those who could read ,hebrew and ,greek1 so would ,he not1 in the same grace1 give it in every language under heaven8 ,blessed forever be ,his holy name1 it is ,his gracious desire to speak to every man in the very tongue in which he was born1--to tell us the sweet tale of ,his grace--the glad tidings of salvation in the very accents in which our mothers whispered into our infant ears those words of love that went right home to our very hearts4 7,see ,acts ii4 #e-h47 ,oh that men were more impressed and affected with the truth and power of all this1 and then we should not be troubled with so many foolish and unlearned questions about the ,bible4 ,let us now hearken to the account given by ,moses of the mission of the spies--its origin and its result4 ,we shall find it full of most weighty instruction1 if only the ear be open to hear and the heart duly prepared to ponder4 ,and ,i commanded you at that time all the things which ye should do4 ,the path of simple obedience was plainly set before them4 ,they had but to tread it with an obedient heart and firm step4 ,they had not to reason about consequences1 or weigh the results2 all these they had just to leave in the hands of ,god1 and move on with steady purpose in the blessed path of obedience4 ,and when we departed from ,horeb1 we went through all that great and terrible wilderness1 which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the ,amorites1 as the ,lord our ,god commanded us2 and we came to ,kadesh-barnea4 ,and ,i said unto you1 ',ye are come unto the mountain of the ,amorites1 which the ,lord our ,god doth give unto us4 ,behold1 the ,lord thy ,god hath set the land before thee3 go up and possess it1 as the ,lord ,god of thy fathers hath said unto thee2 fear not1 neither be discouraged4' ,here was their warrant for entering upon immediate possession4 ,the ,lord their ,god had given them the land and set it before them4 ,it was theirs by ,his free gift--the gift of ,his sovereign grace1 in pursuance of the covenant made with their fathers4 ,it was ,his eternal purpose to possess the land of ,canaan through the seed of ,abraham ,his friend4 ,this ought to have been enough to set their hearts perfectly at rest1 not only as to the character of the land1 but also as to their entrance upon it4 ,there was no need of spies4 ,faith never wants to spy what ,god has given4 ,it argues that what ,he has given must be worth having1 and that ,he is able to put us in full possession of all that ,his grace has bestowed4 ,israel might have concluded that the same hand that had conducted them through all that great and terrible wilderness could bring them in and plant them in their destined inheritance4 ,so ,faith would have reasoned2 for it always reasons from ,god down to circumstances1 never from circumstances up to ,god4 ,if ,god be for us1 who can be against us8 ,this is ,faith's argument1 grand in its simplicity and simple in its moral grandeur4 ,when ,god fills the whole range of the soul's vision1 difficulties are little accounted of4 ,they are either not seen1 or1 if seen1 they are viewed as occasions for the display of divine power4 ,faith exults in seeing ,god triumphing over difficulties4 ,but1 alas6 the people were not governed by faith on the occasion now before us1 and therefore they had recourse to spies4 ,of this ,moses reminds them1 and that1 too1 in language at once most tender and faithful4--,and ye came near unto me1 every one of you1 and said1 ',we will send men before us1 and they shall search us out the land1 and bring us word again1 by what way we must go up1 and into what cities we shall come4' ,surely1 they might well have trusted ,god for all this4 ,the ,one who had brought them up out of ,egypt1 made a way for them through the sea1 guided them through the trackless desert1 was fully able to bring them into the land4 ,but no2 they would send spies1 simply because their hearts had not simple confidence in the true1 the living1 the almighty ,god4 ,here lay the moral root of the matter2 and it is well that the reader should thoroughly seize this point4 ,true it is that1 in the history given in ,numbers1 the ,lord told ,moses to send the spies2 but why8 ,because of the moral condition of the people4 ,and here we see the characteristic difference and yet the lovely harmony of the two books4 ,numbers gives us the public history1 ,deuteronomy the secret source of the mission of the spies2 and as it is in perfect keeping with ,numbers to give us the former1 so it is in perfect keeping with ,deuteronomy to give us the latter4 ,the one is the complement of the other4 ,we could not fully understand the subject had we only the history given in ,numbers4 ,it is the touching commentary given in ,deuteronomy which completes the picture4 ,how perfect is ,scripture6 ,all we need is the eye anointed to see and the heart prepared to appreciate its moral glories4 ,it may be1 however1 that the reader still feels some difficulty in reference to the question of the spies4 ,he may feel disposed to ask how it could be wrong to send them when the ,lord told them to do so4 ,the answer is1 ,the wrong was not in the act of sending them when they were told1 but in the wish to send them at all4 ,the wish was the fruit of unbelief1 and the command to send them was because of that unbelief4 ,we may see something of the same in the matter of divorce in ,matthew xix4--,the ,pharisees also came unto ,him1 tempting ,him1 and saying unto ,him1 ',is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause8' ,and ,he answered and said unto them1 ',have ye not read1 that ,he which made them at the beginning made them male and female1 and said1 ,for this cause shall a man leave father and mother1 and shall cleave to his wife2 and they twain shall be one flesh8 ,wherefore they are no more twain1 but one flesh4 ,what therefore ,god hath joined together1 let not man put asunder4' ,they say unto ,him1 ',why did ,moses1 then1 command to give a writing of divorcement1 and to put her away8 ,he saith unto them1 ',moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives2 but from the beginning it was not so4' ,it was not in keeping with ,god's original institution1 or according to ,his heart1 that a man should put away his wife2 but1 in consequence of the hardness of the human heart1 divorce was permitted by the lawgiver4 ,is there any difficulty in this8 ,surely not2 unless the heart is bent on making one4 ,neither is there any difficulty in the matter of the spies4 ,israel ought not to have needed them3 simple faith would never have thought of them4 ,but the ,lord saw the real condition of things and issued a command accordingly2 just as1 in after ages1 ,he saw the heart of the people bent on having a king1 and ,he commanded ,samuel to give them one4--,and the ,lord said unto ,samuel1 ',hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee2 for they have not rejected thee1 but they have rejected ,me1 that ,i should not reign over them4 ,according to all the works which they have done since the day that ,i brought them up out of ,egypt even unto this day1 wherewith they have forsaken ,me1 and served other gods1 so do they also unto thee4 ,now therefore hearken unto their voice3 howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them1 and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them4' 7#a ,sam4 viii4 #g-i47 ,thus we see that the mere granting of a desire is no proof whatever that such desire is according to the mind of ,god4 ,israel ought not to have asked for a king4 ,was not ,jehovah sufficient8 was not ,he their ,king8 could not ,he1 as ,he had ever done1 lead them forth to battle and fight for them8 ,why seek an arm of flesh8 why turn away from the living1 the true1 the almighty ,god to lean on a poor fellow-worm8 ,what power was there in a king but that which ,god might see fit to bestow upon him8 ,none whatever4 ,all the power1 all the wisdom1 all real good1 was in the ,lord their ,god2 and it was there for them--there at all times1 to meet their every need4 ,they had but to lean upon ,his almighty arm--to draw upon ,his exhaustless resources1 to find all their springs in ,him4 ,when they did get a king1 according to their hearts' desire1 what did he do for them8 ,all the people followed him trembling4 ,the more closely we study the melancholy history of ,saul's reign1 the more we see that he was1 almost from the very outset1 a positive hindrance rather than a help4 ,we have but to read his history1 from first to last1 in order to see the truth of this4 ,his whole reign was a lamentable failure1 aptly and forcibly set forth in two glowing sentences of the prophet ,hosea1--,i gave thee a king in ,mine anger1 and took him away in ,my wrath4 ,in a word1 he was the answer to the unbelief and self-will of the people1 and therefore all their brilliant hopes and expectations respecting him were most lamentably disappointed4 ,he failed to answer the mind of ,god1 and1 as a necessary consequence1 he failed to meet the people's need4 ,he proved himself wholly unworthy of the crown and sceptre1 and his ignominious fall on ,mount ,gilboa was in melancholy keeping with his whole career4 ,now1 when we come to consider the mission of the spies1 we find it too1 like the appointment of a king1 ending in complete failure and disappointment4 ,it could not be otherwise1 inasmuch as it was the fruit of unbelief4 ,true1 ,god gave them spies1 and ,moses1 with touching grace1 says1 ,the saying pleased me well2 and ,i took twelve men of you1 one of a tribe1--it was ,grace coming down to the condition of the people and consenting to a plan which was suited to that condition2 but this by no means proves that either the plan or the condition was according to the mind of ,god4 ,blessed be ,his name1 ,he can meet us in our unbelief though ,he is grieved and dishonored by it4 ,he delights in a bold1 artless faith2 it is the only thing in all this world that gives ,him ,his proper place4 ,hence1 when ,moses said to the people1 ,behold1 the ,lord thy ,god hath set the land before thee3 go up and possess it1 as the ,lord ,god of thy fathers hath said unto thee2 fear not1 neither be discouraged1 what would have been the proper response from them8 ,here we are3 lead on1 almighty ,lord--lead on to victory4 ,thou art enough4 ,with ,thee as our leader1 we move on with joyful confidence4 ,difficulties are nothing to ,thee1 and therefore they are nothing to us4 ,thy word and ,thy presence are all we want4 ,in these we find at once our authority and power4 ,it matters not in the least to us who or what may be before us3 mighty giants1 towering walls1 frowning bulwarks--what are they all in the presence of the ,lord ,god of ,israel1 but as withered leaves before the whirlwind8 ,lead on1 ,o ,lord4 ,this would have been the language of ,faith2 but1 alas6 it was not the language of ,israel on the occasion before us4 ,god was not sufficient for them4 ,they were not prepared to go up1 leaning on ,his arm alone3 they were not satisfied with ,his report of the land2 they would send spies4 ,any thing for the poor human heart but simple dependence upon the one living and true ,god4 ,the natural man cannot trust ,god1 simply because he does not know ,him4 ,they that know ,thy name will put their trust in ,thee4 ,god must be known1 in order to be trusted2 and the more fully ,he is trusted1 the better ,he becomes known4 ,there is nothing in all this world so truly blessed as a life of simple faith2 but it must be a reality and not a mere profession4 ,it is utterly vain to talk of living by faith1 while the heart is secretly resting on some creature-prop4 ,the true believer has to do exclusively with ,god4 ,he finds in ,him all his resources4 ,it is not that he undervalues the instruments or the channels which ,god is pleased to use2 quite the reverse4 ,he values them exceedingly2 and cannot but value them1 as the means which ,god uses for his help and blessing2 but he does not allow them to displace ,god4 ,the language of his heart is1 ,my soul1 wait thou only upon ,god2 for my expectation is from ,him4 ,he only is my rock4 ,there is peculiar force in the word only4 ,it searches the heart thoroughly4 ,to look to the creature1 directly or indirectly1 for the supply of any need1 is1 in principle1 to depart from the life of faith2 and1 oh6 it is miserable work1 this looking1 in any way1 to creature-streams4 ,it is just as morally degrading as the life of faith is morally elevating4 ,and not only is it degrading1 but disappointing4 ,creature-props give way1 and creature-streams run dry2 but they that trust in the ,lord shall never be confounded1 and never want any good thing4 ,had ,israel trusted the ,lord instead of sending spies1 they would have had a very different tale to tell2 but spies they would send1 and the whole affair proved a most humiliating failure4 ,and they turned1 and went up into the mountain1 and came unto the valley of ,eschol1 and searched it out4 ,and they took of the fruit of the land in their hands1 and brought it down unto us1 and brought us word again1 and said1 ',it is a good land which the ,lord our ,god doth give us4' ,how could it possibly be otherwise when ,god was giving it8 ,did they want spies to tell them that the gift of ,god was good8 ,assuredly1 they ought not4 ,an artless faith would have argued thus3 ,whatever ,god gives must be worthy of ,himself2 we want no spies to assure us of this4 ,but1 ah6 this artless faith is an uncommonly rare gem in this world2 and even those who possess it know but little of its value or how to use it4 ,it is one thing to talk of the life of faith1 and another thing altogether to live it1--the theory is one thing1 the living reality quite another4 ,but let us never forget that it is the privilege of every child of ,god to live by faith1 and1 further1 that the life of faith takes in every thing that the believer can possibly need1 from the starting-post to the goal of his earthly career4 ,we have already touched upon this important point2 it cannot be too earnestly or constantly insisted upon4 ,with regard to the mission of the spies1 the reader will note with interest the way in which ,moses refers to it4 ,he confines himself to that portion of their testimony which was according to truth2 he says nothing about the ten infidel spies4 ,this is in perfect keeping with the scope and object of the book4 ,every thing is brought to bear1 in a moral way1 on the conscience of the congregation4 ,he reminds them that they themselves had proposed to send the spies2 and yet1 although the spies had placed before them the fruit of the land1 and borne testimony to its goodness1 they would not go up4--,notwithstanding ye would not go up1 but rebelled against the commandment of the ,lord your ,god4 ,there was no excuse whatever4 ,it was evident that their hearts were in a state of positive unbelief and rebellion1 and the mission of the spies1 from first to last1 only made this fully manifest4 ,and ye murmured in your tents1 and said1 ',because the ,lord hated us'--a terrible lie on the very face of it6--',he hath brought us forth out of the land of ,egypt1 to deliver us into the hand of the ,amorites1 to destroy us4' ,what a strange proof of hatred6 ,how utterly absurd are the arguments of unbelief6 ,surely1 had ,he hated them1 nothing was easier than to leave them to die amid the brick-kilns of ,egypt1 beneath the cruel lash of ,pharaoh's taskmasters4 ,why take so much trouble about them8 ,why those ten plagues sent upon the land of their oppressors8 ,why1 if ,he hated them1 did ,he not allow the waters of the ,red ,sea to overwhelm them as they had overwhelmed their enemies8 ,why had ,he delivered them from the sword of ,amalek8 ,in a word1 why all these marvelous triumphs of grace on their behalf if ,he hated them8 ,ah6 if they had not been governed by a spirit of dark and senseless unbelief1 such a brilliant array of evidence would have led them to a conclusion the direct opposite of that to which they gave utterance4 ,there is nothing beneath the canopy of heaven so stupidly irrational as unbelief2 and1 on the other hand1 there is nothing so sound1 clear1 and logical as the simple argument of a childlike faith4 ,may the reader ever be enabled to prove the truth of this4 ,and ye murmured in your tents4 ,unbelief is not only a blind and senseless reasoner1 but a dark and gloomy murmurer4 ,it neither gets to the right side of things nor the bright side of things4 ,it is always in the dark--always in the wrong1 simply because it shuts out ,god1 and looks only at circumstances4 ,they said1 ,whither shall we go up8 our brethren have discouraged our hearts1 saying1 ',the people is greater and taller than we'--but they were not greater than ,jehovah--'and the cities are great and walled up to heaven'--the gross exaggeration of unbelief--'and moreover we have seen the sons of the ,anakims there4' ,now1 ,faith would say1 ,well1 what though the cities be walled up to heaven1 our ,god is above them1 for ,he is in heaven4 ,what are great cities or lofty walls to ,him who formed the universe1 and sustains it by the ,word of ,his power8 ,what are ,anakims in the presence of the almighty ,god8 ,if the land were covered with walled cities from ,dan to ,beersheba1 and if the giants were as numerous as the leaves of the forest1 they would be as the chaff of the threshing-floor before the ,one who has promised to give the land of ,canaan to the seed of ,abraham1 ,his friend1 for an everlasting possession4 ,but ,israel had not faith1 as the inspired apostle tells us in the third chapter of ,hebrews1 ,they could not enter in because of unbelief4 ,here lay the great difficulty4 ,the walled cities and the terrible ,anakims would soon have been disposed of had ,israel only trusted ,god4 ,he would have made very short work of all these2 but1 ah6 that deplorable unbelief6 it ever stands in the way of our blessing4 ,it hinders the outshining of the glory of ,god2 it casts a dark shadow over our souls1 and robs us of the privilege of proving the all-sufficiency of our ,god to meet our every need and remove our every difficulty4 ,blessed be ,his name1 ,he never fails a trusting heart4 ,it is ,his delight to honor the very largest drafts that ,faith hands in at ,his exhaustless treasury4 ,his assuring word to us ever is1 ,be not afraid2 only believe4 ,and again1 ,according to your faith be it unto you4 ,precious soul-stirring words6 may we all realize more fully their living power and sweetness4 ,we may rest assured of this1 we can never go too far in counting on ,god2 it would be a simple impossibility4 ,our grand mistake is that we do not draw more largely upon ,his infinite resources4 ,said ,i not unto thee that if thou wouldest believe1 thou shouldest see the glory of ,god8 ,thus we can see why it was that ,israel failed to see the glory of ,god on the occasion before us1--they did not believe4 ,the mission of the spies proved a complete failure4 ,as it began1 so it ended--in the most deplorable unbelief4 ,god was shut out3 difficulties filled their vision4 ,they could not enter in4 ,they could not see the glory of ,god4 ,hearken to the deeply affecting words of ,moses4 ,it does the heart good to read them4 ,they touch the very deepest springs of our renewed being4--,then ,i said unto you1 ',dread not1 neither be afraid of them4 ,the ,lord your ,god which goeth before you1 ,he shall fight for you'--only think of ,god fighting for people6 think of ,jehovah as a ,man of war6--',he shall fight for you1 according to all that ,he did for you in ,egypt before your eyes2 and in the wilderness1 where thou hast seen how that the ,lord thy ,god bare thee1 as a man doth bear his son1 in all the way that ye went1 until ye came into this place4' ,yet in this thing ye did not believe the ,lord your ,god1 who went in the way before you1 to search you out a place to pitch your tents in1 in fire by night1 to show you by what way ye should go1 and in a cloud by day4 ,what moral force1 what touching sweetness in this appeal6 ,how clearly we can see here1 as indeed on every page of the book1 that ,deuteronomy is not a barren repetition of facts1 but a most powerful commentary on those facts4 ,it is well that the reader should be thoroughly clear as to this4 ,if in the book of ,exodus or ,numbers the inspired lawgiver records the actual facts of ,israel's wilderness-life1 in the book of ,deuteronomy he comments on those facts with a pathos that quite melts the heart4 ,and here it is that the exquisite style of ,jehovah's acts is pointed out and dwelt upon with such inimitable skill and delicacy4 ,who could consent to give up the lovely figure set forth in the words1 ,as a man doth bear his son8 ,here we have the style of the action4 ,could we do without this8 ,assuredly not4 ,it is the style of an action that touches the heart1 because it is the style that so peculiarly expresses the heart4 ,if the power of the hand or the wisdom of the mind is seen in the substance of an action1 the love of the heart comes out in the style4 ,even a little child can understand this1 though he might not be able to explain it4 ,but1 alas6 ,israel could not trust ,god to bring them into the land4 ,notwithstanding the marvelous display of ,his power1 ,his faithfulness1 ,his goodness1 and loving-kindness1 from the brick-kilns of ,egypt to the very borders of the land of ,canaan1 yet they did not believe4 ,with an array of evidence which ought to have satisfied any heart1 they still doubted4 ,and the ,lord heard the voice of your words1 and was wroth1 and sware1 saying1 ',surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land1 which ,i sware to give unto your fathers1 save ,caleb the son of ,jephunneh2 he shall see it2 and to him will ,i give the land that he hath trodden upon1 and to his children1 because he hath wholly followed the ,lord4' ,said ,i not unto thee that if thou wouldest believe1 thou shouldest see the glory of ,god8 ,such is the divine order4 ,men will tell you that seeing is believing1 but in the kingdom of ,god1 believing is seeing4 ,why was it that not a man of that evil generation was allowed to see the good land8 ,simply because they did not believe in the ,lord their ,god4 ,on the other hand1 why was ,caleb allowed to see and take possession8 ,simply because he believed4 ,unbelief is ever the great hindrance in the way of our seeing the glory of ,god4--,he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief4 ,if ,israel had only believed1 only trusted the ,lord their ,god1 only confided in the love of ,his heart and in the power of ,his arm1 ,he would have brought them in and planted them in the mountain of ,his inheritance4 ,and just so is it with the ,lord's people now4 ,there is no limit to the blessings which we might enjoy1 could we only count more fully upon ,god4 ,all things are possible to him that believeth4 ,our ,god will never say1 ,you have drawn too largely2 you expect too much4 ,impossible4 ,it is the joy of ,his loving heart to answer the very largest expectations of ,faith4 ,let us1 then1 draw largely4 ,open thy mouth wide1 and ,i will fill it4 ,the exhaustless treasury of heaven is thrown open to ,faith4 ,all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer1 believing1 ye shall receive4 ,if any of you lack wisdom1 let him ask of ,god1 who giveth to all men liberally1 and upbraideth not2 and it shall be given him4 ,but let him ask in faith1 nothing wavering4 ,faith is the divine secret of the whole matter--the main-spring of ,christian life from first to last4 ,faith wavers not1 staggers not3 ,unbelief is ever a waverer and a staggerer1 and hence it never sees the glory of ,god1 never sees ,his power4 ,it is deaf to ,his voice and blind to ,his actings2 it depresses the heart and weakens the hands2 it darkens the path and hinders all progress4 ,it kept ,israel out of the land of ,canaan for forty years2 and we have no conception of the amount of blessing1 privilege1 power and usefulness which we are constantly missing through its terrible influence4 ,if faith were in more lively exercise in our hearts1 what a different condition of things we should witness in our midst4 ,what is the secret of the deplorable deadness and barrenness throughout the wide field of ,christian profession8 ,how are we to account for our impoverished condition1 our low tone1 our stunted growth8 ,why is it that we see such poor results in every department of ,christian work8 ,why are there so few genuine conversions8 ,why are our evangelists so frequently cast down by reason of the paucity of their sheaves8 ,how are we to answer all these questions8 what is the cause8 ,will any one attempt to say it is not our unbelief8 ,no doubt1 our divisions have much to do with it2 our worldliness1 our carnality1 our self-indulgence1 our love of ease4 ,but what is the remedy for all these evils8 ,how are our hearts to be drawn out in genuine love to all our brethren8 ,by faith1 that precious principle that worketh by love4 ,thus the blessed apostle says to the dear young converts at ,thessalonica1 ,your faith groweth exceedingly4 ,and what then8 ,the love of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth4 ,thus it must ever be4 ,faith puts us into direct contact with the eternal spring of love in ,god ,himself1 and the necessary consequence is that our hearts are drawn out in love to all who belong to ,him--all in whom we can1 in the very feeblest way1 trace ,his blessed image4 ,we cannot possibly be near the ,lord and not love all who in every place call upon ,his name out of a pure heart4 ,the nearer we are to ,christ1 the more intensely we must be knit1 in true brotherly love1 to every member of ,his body4 ,then as to worldliness1 in all its varied forms1 how is it to be overcome8 ,hear the reply of another inspired apostle4--,for whatsoever is born of ,god overcometh the world2 and this is the victory that overcometh the world1 even our faith4 ,who is he that overcometh the world1 but he that believeth that ,jesus is the ,son of ,god8 ,the new man1 walking in the power of faith1 lives above the world1 above its motives1 above its objects1 its principles1 its habits1 its fashions2 he has nothing in common with it4 ,though in it1 he is not of it2 he moves right athwart its current2 he draws all his springs from heaven2 his life1 his hope1 his all is there1 and he ardently longs to be there himself when his work on earth is done4 ,thus we see what a mighty principle faith is4 ,it purifies the heart1 it works by love1 and it overcomes the world4 ,in short1 it links the heart in living power with ,god ,himself1 and this is the secret of true elevation1 holy benevolence1 and divine purity4 ,no marvel1 therefore1 that ,peter calls it precious faith1 for truly it is precious beyond all human thought4 ,see how this mighty principle acted in ,caleb1 and the blessed fruit it produced4 ,he was permitted to realize the truth of those words1 uttered hundreds of years afterwards1 ,according to your faith be it unto you4 ,he believed that ,god was able to bring them into the land1 and that all the difficulties and hindrances were simply bread for faith4 ,and ,god1 as ,he ever does1 answered his faith4 ,then the children of ,judah came unto ,joshua in ,gilgal2 and ,caleb the son of ,jephunneh the ,kenezite said unto him1 ',thou knowest the thing that the ,lord said unto ,moses the man of ,god concerning me and thee in ,kadesh-barnea4 ,forty years old was ,i when ,moses the servant of the ,lord sent me from ,kadesh-barnea to espy out the land2 and ,i brought him word again as it was in my heart'--the simple testimony of a bright and lovely faith4--',nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt2 but ,i wholly followed the ,lord my ,god4 ,and ,moses sware on that day1 saying1 ,surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance1 and thy children's forever1 because thou hast wholly followed the ,lord my ,god4 ,and now1 behold1 the ,lord hath kept me alive1 as ,he said1 these forty and five years1 ever since the ,lord spake this word unto ,moses1 while the children of ,israel wandered in the wilderness2 and now1 lo1 ,i am this day fourscore and five years old4 ,as yet ,i am as strong this day as ,i was in the day that ,moses sent me2 as my strength was then1 even so is my strength now1 for war1 both to go out1 and to come in4 ,now therefore give me this mountain1 whereof the ,lord spake in that day2 for thou heardest in that day how the ,anakims were there1 and that the cities were great and fenced3 if so be the ,lord will be with me1 then ,i shall be able to drive them out1 as the ,lord said4' ,how refreshing are the utterances of an artless faith6 ,how edifying6 how truly encouraging6 ,how vividly they contrast with the gloomy1 depressing1 withering accents of dark1 ,god-dishonoring unbelief6 ,and ,joshua blessed him1 and gave unto ,caleb the son of ,jephunneh ,hebron for an inheritance4 ,hebron therefore became the inheritance of ,caleb the son of ,jephunneh the ,kenezite unto this day1 because that he wholly followed the ,lord ,god of ,israel4 7,joshua xiv47 ,caleb1 like his father ,abraham1 was strong in faith1 giving glory to ,god2 and we may say1 with all possible confidence1 that inasmuch as faith ever honors ,god1 ,he ever delights to honor faith2 and we feel persuaded that if only the ,lord's people could more fully confide in ,god1 if they would but draw more largely upon ,his infinite resources1 we should witness a totally different condition of things from what we see around us4 ,said ,i not unto thee that if thou wouldest believe1 thou shouldest see the glory of ,god8 ,oh for a more lively faith in ,god--a bolder grasp of ,his faithfulness1 ,his goodness1 and ,his power6 ,then we might look for more glorious results in the gospel-field2 more zeal1 more energy1 more intense devotedness in the ,church of ,god2 and more of the fragrant fruits of righteousness in the life of believers individually4 ,we shall now1 for a moment1 look at the closing verses of our chapter1 in which we shall find some very weighty instruction4 ,and1 first of all1 we see the actings of divine government displayed in a most solemn and impressive manner4 ,moses refers1 in a very touching way1 to the fact of his exclusion from the promised land4--,also the ,lord was angry with me for your sakes1 saying1 ',thou also shalt not go in thither4' ,mark the words1 for your sakes4 ,it was very needful to remind the congregation that it was on their account that ,moses1 that beloved and honored servant of the ,lord1 was prevented from crossing the ,jordan1 and setting his foot upon the land of ,canaan4 ,true1 he spake unadvisedly with his lips1 but they provoked his spirit to do so4 ,this ought to have touched them to the quick4 ,they not only failed1 through unbelief1 to enter in themselves1 but they were the cause of his exclusion1 much as he longed to see that goodly mountain and ,lebanon4 7,see ,ps4 cvi4 #cb47 ,but the government of ,god is a grand and awful reality4 ,let us never for one moment forget this4 ,the human mind may marvel why a few ill-advised words1 a few hasty sentences1 should be the cause of keeping such a beloved and honored servant of ,god from that which he so ardently desired2 but it is our place to bow the head in humble adoration and holy reverence1 not to reason or judge4 ,shall not the ,judge of all the earth do right8 ,most surely4 ,he can make no mistake4 ,great and marvelous are ,thy works1 ,lord ,god ,almighty2 just and true are ,thy ways1 ,thou ,king of nations4 ,god is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints2 and to be had in reverence of all them that are about ,him4 ,our ,god is a consuming fire2 and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living ,god4 ,does it in any wise interfere with the action and range of the divine government that we1 as ,christians1 are under the reign of grace8 ,by no means4 ,it is as true to-day as ever it was that whatsoever a man soweth1 that shall he also reap4 ,hence1 therefore1 it would be a serious mistake for any one to draw a plea from the freedom of divine grace to trifle with the enactments of divine government4 ,the two things are perfectly distinct1 and should never be confounded4 ,grace can pardon--freely1 fully1 eternally2 but the wheels of ,jehovah's governmental chariot roll on1 in crushing power and appalling solemnity4 ,grace pardoned ,adam's sin2 but ,government drove him out of ,eden1 to earn a living by the sweat of his brow1 amid the thorns and thistles of a cursed earth3 ,grace pardoned ,david's sin1 but the sword of ,government hung over his house to the end1--,bathsheba was the mother of ,solomon1 but ,absalom rose in rebellion4 ,so with ,moses2 ,grace brought him to the top of ,pisgah and showed him the land1 but ,government sternly and absolutely forbad his entrance thither4 ,nor does it in the least touch this weighty principle to be told that ,moses1 in his official capacity as the representative of the legal system1 could not bring the people into the land4 ,this is quite true2 but it leaves wholly untouched the solemn truth now before us4 ,neither in the twentieth chapter of ,numbers nor in the first chapter of ,deuteronomy have we any thing about ,moses in his official capacity4 ,it is himself personally we have before us1 and he is forbidden to enter the land because of having spoken unadvisedly with his lips4 ,it will be well for us all to ponder deeply1 as in the immediate presence of ,god1 this great practical truth4 ,we may rest assured that the more truly we enter into the knowledge of grace1 the more we shall feel the solemnity of government1 and entirely justify its enactments4 ,of this we are most fully persuaded4 ,but there is imminent danger of taking up1 in a light and careless manner1 the doctrines of grace while the heart and the life are not brought under the sanctifying influence of those doctrines4 ,this has to be watched against with holy jealousy4 ,there is nothing in all this world more awful than mere fleshly familiarity with the theory of salvation by grace4 ,it opens the door for every form of licentiousness4 ,hence it is that we feel the necessity of pressing upon the conscience of the reader the practical truth of the government of ,god4 ,it is most salutary at all times1 but particularly so in this our day1 when there is such a fearful tendency to turn the grace of our ,god into lasciviousness4 ,we shall invariably find that those who most fully enter into the deep blessedness of being under the reign of grace1 do also most thoroughly justify the actings of divine government4 ,but we learn1 from the closing lines of our chapter1 that the people were by no means prepared to submit themselves under the governmental hand of ,god2 in short1 they would neither have grace nor government4 ,when invited to go up at once and take possession of the land1 with the fullest assurances of the divine presence and power with them1 they hesitated and refused to go4 ,they gave themselves up completely to a spirit of dark unbelief4 ,in vain did ,joshua and ,caleb sound in their ears the most encouraging words1 in vain did they set before their eyes the rich fruit of the goodly land1 in vain did ,moses seek to move them by the most soul-stirring words2 they would not go up when they were told to go4 ,and what then8 ,they were taken at their word4 ,according to their unbelief1 so was it unto them4 ,moreover1 your little ones1 which ye said should be a prey1 and your children1 which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil1 they shall go in thither1 and unto them will ,i give it1 and they shall possess it4 ,but as for you1 turn you1 and take your journey into the wilderness1 by the way of the ,red ,sea4 ,how sad6 and yet how else could it be8 ,if they would not1 in simple faith1 go up into the land1 there remained nothing for them but turning back into the wilderness4 ,but to this they would not submit4 ,they would neither avail themselves of the provisions of grace nor bow to the sentence of judgment4--,then ye answered and said unto me1 ',we have sinned against the ,lord2 we will go up and fight1 according to all that the ,lord our ,god commanded us4' ,and when ye had girded on every man his weapon of war1 ye were ready to go up into the hill4 ,this looked like contrition and self-judgment2 but it was hollow and false4 ,it is a very easy thing to say1 ,we have sinned4 ,saul said it in his day2 but he said it without heart1 without any genuine sense of what he was saying4 ,we may easily gather the force and value of the words ,i have sinned from the fact that they were immediately followed by ,honor me now1 ,i pray thee1 before the elders of my people4 ,what a strange contradiction6--,i have sinned1 yet ,honor me4 ,if he had really felt his sin1 how different his language would have been6 how different his spirit1 style1 and deportment6 but it was all a solemn mockery4 ,only conceive a man full of himself1 making use of a form of words1 without one atom of true heart-feeling2 and then1 in order to get honor for himself1 going through the empty formality of worshiping ,god4 ,what a picture6 ,can any thing be more sorrowful8 ,how terribly offensive to ,him who desires truth in the inward parts1 and who seeks those to worship ,him who worship ,him in spirit and in truth6 ,the feeblest breathings of a broken and contrite heart are precious to ,god2 but1 oh1 how offensive to ,him are the hollow formalities of a mere religiousness1 the object of which is to exalt man in his own eyes and in the eyes of his fellows6 ,how perfectly worthless is the mere lip-confession of sin where the heart does not feel it6 ,as a recent writer has well remarked1 it is an easy thing to say1 ',we have sinned1' but how often we have to learn that it is not the quick1 abrupt confession of sin which affords evidence that sin is felt6 ,it is rather a proof of hardness of heart4 ,the conscience feels that a certain act of confessing the sin is necessary1 but perhaps there is hardly any thing which more hardens the heart than the habit of confessing sin without feeling it4 ,this1 ,i believe1 is one of the great snares of christendom from of old and now1 that is1 the stereotyped acknowledgment of sin--the mere habit of hurrying through a formula of confession to ,god4 ,i dare say we have almost all done so1 without referring to any particular mode2 for1 alas6 there is formality enough2 and without having written forms1 the heart may frame forms of its own1 as we may have observed1 if not known it1 in our own experience1 without finding fault with other people4#d #d ,lectures ,introductory to the ,pentateuch1 by ,w4 ,kelly4 ,thus it was with ,israel at ,kadesh4 ,their confession of sin was utterly worthless2 there was no truth in it4 ,had they felt what they were saying1 they would have bowed to the judgment of ,god1 and meekly accepted the consequence of their sin4 ,there is no finer proof of true contrition than quiet submission to the governmental dealings of ,god4 ,look at the case of ,moses4 ,see how he bowed his head to the divine discipline4 ,the ,lord1 he says1 was angry with me for your sakes1 saying1 ',thou also shalt not go in thither4 ,but ,joshua the son of ,nun1 which standeth before thee1 he shall go in thither3 encourage him2 for he shall cause ,israel to inherit it4' ,here1 ,moses shows them that they were the cause of his exclusion from the land2 and yet he utters not a single murmuring word1 but meekly bows to the divine judgment1 not only content to be superseded by another1 but ready to appoint and encourage his successor4 ,there is no trace of jealousy or envy here4 ,it was enough for that beloved and honored servant if ,god was glorified and the need of the congregation met4 ,he was not occupied with himself or his own interests1 but with the glory of ,god and the blessing of ,his people4 ,but the people manifested a very different spirit4 ,we will go up and fight4 ,how vain6 ,how foolish6 ,when commanded by ,god and encouraged by ,his true-hearted servants to go up and possess the land1 they replied1 ,whither shall we go up8 and when commanded to turn back into the wilderness1 they replied1 ,we will go up and fight4 ,and the ,lord said unto me1 ',say unto them1 ,go not up1 neither fight2 for ,i am not among you2 lest ye be smitten before your enemies4' ,so ,i spake unto you2 and ye would not hear1 but rebelled against the commandment of the ,lord1 and went presumptuously up into the hill4 ,and the ,amorites1 which dwelt in that mountain1 came out against you1 and chased you1 as bees do1 and destroyed you in ,seir1 even unto ,hormah4 ,it was quite impossible for ,jehovah to accompany them along the path of self-will and rebellion2 and1 most assuredly1 ,israel1 without the divine presence1 could be no match for the ,amorites4 ,if ,god be for us and with us1 all must be victory2 but we cannot count on ,god if we are not treading the path of obedience4 ,it is simply the height of folly to imagine that we can have ,god with us if our ways are not right4 ,the name of the ,lord is a strong tower1 the righteous runneth into it and is safe4 ,but if we are not walking in practical righteousness1 it is wicked presumption to talk of having the ,lord as our strong tower4 ,blessed be ,his name1 ,he can meet us in the very depths of our weakness and failure1 provided there be the genuine and hearty confession of our true condition2 but to assume that we have the ,lord with us while we are doing our own will and walking in palpable unrighteousness1 is nothing but wickedness and hardness of heart4 ,trust in the ,lord1 and do good--this is the divine order2 but to talk of trusting in the ,lord while doing evil1 is to turn the grace of our ,god into lasciviousness1 and place ourselves completely in the hands of the devil1 who only seeks our moral ruin4 ,the eyes of the ,lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth1 to show ,himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward ,him4 ,when we have a good conscience1 we can lift up the head and move on through all sorts of difficulties2 but to attempt to tread the path of faith with a bad conscience1 is the most dangerous thing in this world4 ,we can only hold up the shield of faith when our loins are girt with truth1 and the breast covered with the breastplate of righteousness4 ,it is of the utmost importance that ,christians should seek to maintain practical righteousness1 in all its branches4 ,there is immense moral weight and value in these words of the blessed apostle ,paul1 ,herein do ,i exercise myself1 to have always a conscience void of offense toward ,god and men4 ,he ever sought to wear the breastplate1 and to be clothed in that white linen which is the righteousness of saints4 ,and so should we4 ,it is our holy privilege to tread1 day by day1 with firm step1 the path of duty1 the path of obedience1 the path on which the light of ,god's approving countenance ever shines2 then1 assuredly1 we can count on ,god1 lean upon ,him1 draw from ,him1 find all our springs in ,him1 wrap ourselves up in ,his faithfulness1 and thus move on1 in peaceful communion and holy worship1 toward our heavenly home4 ,it is not1 we repeat1 that we cannot look to ,god in our weakness1 our failure1 and even when we have erred and sinned4 ,blessed be ,his name1 we can2 and ,his ear is ever open to our cry4 ,if we confess our sins1 ,he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins1 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness4 7#a ,john i47 ,out of the depths have ,i cried unto thee1 ,o ,lord4 ,lord1 hear my voice3 let ,thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications4 ,if ,thou1 ,lord1 shouldest mark iniquities1 ,o ,lord1 who shall stand8 ,but there is forgiveness with ,thee1 that ,thou mayest be feared4 7,ps4 cxxx47 ,there is absolutely no limit to divine forgiveness1 inasmuch as there is no limit to the extent of the atonement1 no limit to the virtue and efficacy of the blood of ,jesus ,christ1 ,god's ,son1 which cleanseth from all sin2 no limit to the prevalency of the intercession of our adorable ,advocate1 our great ,high-,priest1 who is able to save to the uttermost--right through and through to the end--them that come unto ,god by ,him4 ,all this is most blessedly true2 it is largely taught and variously illustrated throughout the volume of inspiration2 but the confession of sin1 and the pardon thereof1 must not be confounded with practical righteousness4 ,there are two distinct conditions in which we may call upon ,god3 we may call upon ,him in deep contrition and be heard1 or we may call upon ,him with a good conscience and an uncondemning heart and be heard4 ,but the two things are very distinct2 and not only are they distinct in themselves1 but they both stand in marked contrast with that indifference and hardness of heart which would presume to count on ,god in the face of positive disobedience and practical unrighteousness4 ,it is this which is so dreadful in the sight of the ,lord1 and which must bring down ,his heavy judgment4 ,practical righteousness ,he owns and approves2 confessed sin ,he can freely and fully pardon2 but to imagine that we can put our trust in ,god while our feet are treading the path of iniquity1 is nothing short of the most shocking impiety4 ,trust ye not in lying words1 saying1 ,the temple of the ,lord1 ,the temple of the ,lord1 ,the temple of the ,lord1 are these4 ,for if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings2 if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor2 if ye oppress not the stranger1 the fatherless1 and the widow1 and shed not innocent blood in this place1 neither walk after other gods to your hurt3 then will ,i cause you to dwell in this place1 in the land that ,i gave to your fathers1 forever and ever4 ,behold1 ye trust in lying words1 that cannot profit4 ,will ye steal1 murder1 and commit adultery1 and swear falsely1 and burn incense unto ,baal1 and walk after other gods whom ye know not2 and come and stand before ,me in this house1 which is called by ,my name1 and say1 ',we are delivered to do all these abominations8' 7,jeremiah vii47 ,god deals in moral realities4 ,he desires truth in the inward parts2 and if men will presume to hold the truth in unrighteousness1 they must look out for ,his righteous judgment4 ,it is the thought of all this that makes us feel the awful condition of the professing church4 ,the solemn passage which we have just culled from the prophet ,jeremiah1 though bearing primarily upon the men of ,judah and the inhabitants of ,jerusalem1 has a very pointed application to christendom4 ,we find1 in the third chapter of #b ,timothy1 that all the abominations of heathenism1 as detailed in the close of ,romans i1 are reproduced in the last days under the garb of the ,christian profession1 and in immediate connection with a form of godliness4 ,what must be the end of such a condition of things8 ,unmitigated wrath4 ,the very heaviest judgments of ,god are reserved for that vast mass of baptized profession which we call christendom4 ,the moment is rapidly approaching when all the beloved and blood-bought people of ,god shall be called away out of this dark and sinful1 though so-called ,christian world1 to be forever with the ,lord1 in that sweet home of love prepared in the ,father's house4 ,then the strong delusion shall be sent upon christendom--upon those very countries where the light of a full-orbed ,christianity has shone1 where a full and free gospel has been preached1 where the ,bible has been circulated by millions1 and where all1 in some way or another1 profess the name of ,christ and call themselves ,christians4 ,and what then8--what is to follow this strong delusion8 ,any fresh testimony8 any further overtures of mercy8 any further effort of long-suffering grace8 ,not for christendom6 not for the rejecters of the gospel of ,god6 not for ,christless1 ,godless professors of the hollow and worthless forms of ,christianity6 ,the heathen shall hear the everlasting gospel--the gospel of the kingdom2 but as for that terrible thing1 that most frightful anomaly called christendom--the vine of the earth1 nothing remains but the wine-press of the wrath of ,almighty ,god1 the blackness and darkness forever1 the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone4 ,reader1 these are the true sayings of ,god4 ,nothing would be easier than to place before your eyes an array of ,scripture proof perfectly unanswerable3 this would be foreign to our present object4 ,the ,new ,testament1 from cover to cover1 sets forth the solemn truth above enunciated2 and every system of theology under the sun that teaches differently will be found1 on this point at least1 to be totally false4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,the closing lines of chapter i4 show us the people weeping before the ,lord4--,and ye returned and wept before the ,lord2 but the ,lord would not hearken to your voice1 nor give ear unto you4 ,so ye abode in ,kadesh many days1 according unto the days that ye abode there4 ,there was no more reality in their tears than in their words1--their weeping was no more to be trusted than their confession4 ,it is possible for people to confess and shed tears without any true sense of sin in the presence of ,god4 ,this is very solemn4 ,it is really mocking ,god4 ,we know1 blessed forever be ,his name1 that a truly contrite heart is ,his delight4 ,he makes ,his abode with such4 ,the sacrifices of ,god are a broken spirit3 a broken and a contrite heart1 ,o ,god1 ,thou wilt not despise4 ,the tears that flow from a penitent heart are more precious1 by far1 to ,god than the cattle upon a thousand hills1 because they prove that there is room in that heart for ,him2 and this is what ,he seeks1 in ,his infinite grace4 ,he wants to dwell in our hearts1 and fill us with the deep1 unspeakable joy of ,his own most blessed presence4 ,but ,israel's confession and tears at ,kadesh were not real1 and hence the ,lord could not accept them4 ,the feeblest cry of a broken heart ascends directly to the throne of ,god1 and is immediately answered by the soothing1 healing balm of ,his pardoning love2 but when tears and confession stand connected with self-will and rebellion1 they are not only utterly worthless1 but a positive insult to the divine ,majesty4 ,thus1 then1 the people had to turn back into the wilderness1 and wander there for forty years4 ,there was nothing else for it4 ,they would not go up into the land1 in simple faith1 with ,god1 and ,he would not go up with them in their self-will and self-confidence2 they had1 therefore1 simply to accept the consequence of their disobedience4 ,if they would not enter the land1 they must fall in the wilderness4 ,how solemn is all this6 and how solemn is the ,spirit's commentary upon it in the third chapter of ,hebrews6 and how pointed and forcible the application to us6 ,we must quote the passage for the benefit of the reader4--,wherefore1 as the ,holy ,ghost saith1 ',to-day if ye will hear ,his voice1 harden not your hearts1 as in the provocation1 in the day of temptation in the wilderness2 when your fathers tempted ,me1 proved ,me1 and saw ,my works forty years4 ,wherefore ,i was grieved with that generation1 and said1 ,they do alway err in heart2 and they have not known ,my ways4 ,so ,i sware in ,my wrath1 ,they shall not enter into ,my rest4' ,take heed1 brethren1 lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief1 in departing from the living ,god4 ,but exhort one another daily1 while it is called ',to-day2' lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin4 ,for we are made partakers of ,christ1 if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end2 while it is said1 ',to-day if ye will hear ,his voice1 harden not your hearts1 as in the provocation4 ,for some1 when they had heard1 did provoke2 howbeit not all that came out of ,egypt by ,moses4 ,but with whom was ,he grieved forty years8 was it not with them that had sinned1 whose carcases fell in the wilderness8 ,and to whom sware ,he that they should not enter into ,his rest1 but to them that believed not8 ,so we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief4 ,let us therefore fear1 lest1 a promise being left us of entering into ,his rest1 any of you should seem to come short of it4 ,for unto us was the gospel preached1 as well as unto them2 but the word preached did not profit them1 not being mixed with faith in them that heard4 ,here1 as in every page of the inspired volume1 we learn that unbelief is the thing that grieves the heart and dishonors the name of ,god2 and not only so1 but it robs us of the blessings1 the dignities1 and the privileges which infinite grace bestows4 ,we have very little idea of how much we lose1 in every way1 through the unbelief of our hearts4 ,just as in ,israel's case the land was before them1 in all its fruitfulness and beauty1 and they were commanded to go and take possession1 but they could not enter in because of unbelief2 so with us--we fail to possess ourselves of the fullness of blessing which sovereign grace has put within our reach4 ,the very treasury of heaven is thrown open to us1 but we fail to appropriate4 ,we are poor1 feeble1 empty1 and barren when we might be rich1 vigorous1 full1 and fruitful4 ,we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in ,christ1 but how shallow is our apprehension6 how feeble our grasp6 how poor our thoughts6 ,then1 again1 who can calculate how much we lose1 through our unbelief1 in the matter of the ,lord's work in our midst8 ,we read in the gospel of a certain place in which our blessed ,lord could not do many mighty works1 because of their unbelief4 ,has this no voice for us8 ,do we too hinder ,him by unbelief8 ,we shall perhaps be told by some that the ,lord will carry on ,his work irrespective of us or our faith2 ,he will gather out ,his own and accomplish the number of ,his elect spite of our unbelief4 ,not all the power of earth and hell--men and devils combined can hinder the carrying out of ,his counsels and purposes2 and as to ,his work1 ,it is not by might nor by power1 but by ,his ,spirit4 ,human efforts are in vain2 and the ,lord's cause can never be furthered by ,nature's excitement4 ,now1 all this is perfectly true2 but it leaves wholly untouched the inspired statement quoted above4 ,he could there do not many mighty works1 because of their unbelief4 ,did not those people lose blessing through their unbelief8 did they not hinder much good being done8 ,we must beware how we surrender our minds to the withering influence of a pernicious fatalism1 which1 with a certain semblance of truth1 is utterly false1 inasmuch as it denies all human responsibility and paralizes all godly energy in the cause of ,christ4 ,we have to bear in mind that the same ,one who1 in ,his eternal counsels1 has decreed the end1 has also designed the means2 and if we1 in the sinful unbelief of our hearts and under the influence of one-sided truth1 fold our arms and neglect the means1 ,he will set us aside and carry on ,his work by other hands4 ,he will work1 blessed be ,his holy name1 but we shall lose the dignity1 the privilege1 and the blessing of being ,his instruments4 ,look at that striking scene in the second of ,mark4 ,it most forcibly illustrates the great principle which we desire to press upon all who may read these lines4 ,it proves the power of faith1 in connection with the carrying on of the ,lord's work4 ,if the four men whose conduct is here set forth had suffered themselves to be influenced by a mischievous fatalism1 they would have argued that it was no use doing any thing--if the palsied man was to be cured he would be cured1 without human effort4 ,why should they busy themselves in climbing up on the house1 uncovering the roof1 and letting down the sick man into the midst before ,jesus8 ,ah1 it was well for the palsied man and well for themselves that they did not act on such miserable reasoning as this4 ,see how their lovely faith wrought4 ,it refreshed the heart of the ,lord ,jesus2 it brought the sick man into the place of healing1 pardon1 and blessing2 and it gave occasion for the display of divine power1 which arrested the attention of all present and gave testimony to the great truth that ,god was on earth1 in the ,person of ,jesus of ,nazareth1 healing diseases and forgiving sins4 ,many other examples might be adduced1 but there in no need4 ,all ,scripture establishes the fact that unbelief hinders our blessing1 hinders our usefulness1 robs us of the rare privilege of being ,god's honored instruments in the carrying on of ,his glorious work1 and of seeing the operations of ,his hand and ,his ,spirit in our midst2 and1 on the other hand1 that faith draws down power and blessing1 not only for ourselves1 but for others1--that it both glorifies and gratifies ,god1 by clearing the platform of the creature and making room for the display of divine power4 ,in short1 there is no limit to the blessing which we might enjoy at the hand of our ,god if our hearts were more governed by that simple faith which ever counts on ,him1 and which ,he ever delights to honor4 ,according to your faith1 be it unto you4 ,precious soul-stirring words6 ,may they encourage us to draw more largely upon those exhaustless resources which we have in ,god4 ,he delights to be used1 blessed forever be ,his holy name4 ,his word to us is1 ,open thy mouth wide1 and ,i will fill it4 ,we can never expect too much from the ,god of all grace1 who has given us ,his only begotten ,son1 and will with ,him freely give us all things4 ,but ,israel could not trust ,god to bring them into the land2 they presumed to go in their own strength1 and1 as a consequence1 were put to flight before their enemies4 ,thus it must ever be4 ,presumption and faith are two totally different things3 the former can only issue in defeat and disaster2 the latter1 in sure and certain victory4 ,then we turned and took our journey into the wilderness1 by the way of the ,red ,sea1 as the ,lord spake unto me2 and we compassed ,mount ,seir many days4 ,there is great moral beauty in the little word we4 ,moses links himself thoroughly with the people4 ,he and ,joshua and ,caleb had all to turn back into the wilderness1 in company with the unbelieving congregation4 ,this might1 in the judgment of nature1 seem hard2 but we may rest assured it was good and profitable4 ,there is always deep blessing in bowing to the will of ,god1 even though we may not always be able to see the why and the wherefore of things4 ,we do not read of a single murmuring word from these honored servants of ,god at having to turn back into the wilderness for forty years1 although they were quite ready to go up into the land4 ,no2 they simply turned back4 ,and well they might1 when ,jehovah turned back also4 ,how could they think of complaining1 when they beheld the traveling-chariot of the ,god of ,israel facing round to the wilderness8 ,surely the patient grace and long-suffering mercy of ,god might well teach them to accept1 with a willing mind1 a protracted sojourn in the wilderness1 and to wait for the blessed moment of entrance upon the promised land4 ,it is a great thing always to submit ourselves meekly under the hand of ,god4 ,we are sure to reap a rich harvest of blessing from the exercise4 ,it is really taking the yoke of ,christ upon us1 which1 as ,he ,himself assures us1 is the true secret of rest4 ,come unto ,me1 all ye that labor and are heavy laden1 and ,i will give you rest4 ,take ,my yoke upon you1 and learn of ,me2 for ,i am meek and lowly in heart2 and ye shall find rest unto your souls4 ,for ,my yoke is easy1 and ,my burden is light4 ,what was this yoke8 ,it was absolute and complete subjection to the ,father's will4 ,this we see in perfection in our adorable ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ4 ,he could say1 ,even so1 ,father2 for so it seemed good in ,thy sight4 ,here was the point with ,him--good in ,thy sight4 ,this settled every thing4 ,was ,his testimony rejected8 did ,he seem to labor in vain1 and spend ,his strength for naught and in vain8 ,what then8 ,i thank ,thee1 ,o ,father1 ,lord of heaven and earth4 ,it was all right4 ,whatever pleased the ,father1 pleased ,him4 ,he never had a thought or wish that was not in perfect consonance with the will of ,god4 ,hence ,he1 as a man1 ever enjoyed perfect rest4 ,he rested in the divine counsels and purposes4 ,the current of ,his peace was unruffled1 from first to last4 ,this was the yoke of ,christ2 and this is what ,he1 in ,his infinite grace1 invites us to take upon us1 in order that we too may find rest unto our souls4 ,let us mark and seek to understand the words1 ye shall find rest4 ,we must not confound the rest which ,he gives with the rest which we find4 ,when the weary1 burdened1 heavy-laden soul comes to ,jesus in simple faith1 ,he gives rest--settled rest--the rest which flows from the full assurance that all is done1--sins forever put away2 perfect righteousness accomplished1 revealed1 and possessed2 every question divinely and eternally settled2 ,god glorified2 ,satan silenced2 conscience tranquillized4 ,such is the rest which ,jesus gives when we come to ,him4 ,but then we have to move through the scenes and circumstances of our daily life4 ,there are trials1 difficulties1 exercises1 buffetings1 disappointments1 and reverses of all sorts4 ,none of these can1 in the smallest degree1 touch the rest which ,jesus gives2 but they may very seriously interfere with the rest which we are to find4 ,they do not trouble the conscience1 but they may greatly trouble the heart2 they may make us very restless1 very fretful1 very impatient4 ,for instance1 ,i want to preach at ,glasgow2 ,i am announced to do so2 but lo6 ,i am shut up in a sick-room in ,london4 ,this does not trouble my conscience1 but it may greatly trouble my heart2 ,i may be in a perfect fever of restlessness1 ready to exclaim1 ,how tiresome6 ,how terribly disappointing6 ,whatever am ,i to do8 ,it is most untoward6 ,and how is this state of things to be met8 ,how is the troubled heart to be tranquillized1 and the restless mind to be calmed down8 ,what do ,i want8 ,i want to find rest2 how am ,i to find it8 ,by stooping down and taking ,christ's precious yoke upon me--the very yoke which ,he ,himself ever wore1 in the days of ,his flesh--the yoke of complete subjection to the will of ,god4 ,i want to be able to say1 without one atom of reserve--to say from the very depths of my heart1 ,thy will1 ,o ,lord1 be done4 ,i want such a profound sense of ,his perfect love to me1 and of ,his infinite wisdom in all ,his dealings with me1 that ,i would not have it otherwise if ,i could--yea1 that ,i would not move a finger to alter my position or circumstances1 feeling assured that it is very much better for me to be suffering on a sick-bed in ,london than speaking on a platform in ,glasgow4 ,here lies the deep and precious secret of rest of heart1 as opposed to restlessness4 ,it is the simple ability to thank ,god for every thing1 be it ever so contrary to our own will and utterly subversive of our own plans4 ,it is not a mere assent to the truth that all things work together for good to them that love ,god1 to them who are the called according to ,his purpose2 it is the positive sense--the actual realization of the divine fact that the thing which ,god appoints is the very best thing for us2 it is perfect repose in the love1 wisdom1 power1 and faithfulness of the ,one who has graciously undertaken for us in every thing1 and charged ,himself with all that concerns us for time and eternity4 ,we know that love will always do its very best for its object4 ,what must it be to have ,god doing ,his very best for us8 ,where is the heart that would not be satisfied with ,god's best if only it knows aught of ,him8 ,but ,he must be known ere the heart can be satisfied with ,his will4 ,eve1 in the garden of ,eden1 beguiled by the serpent1 became dissatisfied with the will of ,god4 ,she wished for something which ,he had forbidden1 and this something the devil undertook to supply4 ,she thought the devil could do better for her than ,god4 ,she thought to better her circumstances by taking herself out of the hands of ,god and placing herself in the hands of ,satan4 ,hence it is that no unrenewed heart can ever1 by any possibility1 rest in the will of ,god4 ,if we search the human heart to the bottom1 if we submit it to a faithful analysis1 we shall not find so much as a single thought in unison with the will of ,god--no1 not one4 ,and even in the case of the true ,christian--the child of ,god1 it is only as he is enabled1 by the grace of ,god1 to mortify his own will1 to reckon himself dead1 and to walk in the ,spirit1 that he can delight in the will of ,god1 and give thanks in every thing4 ,it is one of the very finest evidences of the new birth to be able1 without a single shade of reserve1 to say1 in respect to every dealing of the hand of ,god1 ,thy will be done4 ,even so1 ,father2 for so it seemed good in ,thy sight4 ,when the heart is in this attitude1 ,satan can make nothing of it4 ,it is a grand point to be able to tell the devil and to tell the world--tell them1 not in word and in tongue1 but in deed and in truth2 not merely with the lips1 but in the heart and the life--,i am perfectly satisfied with the will of ,god4 ,this is the way to find rest4 ,let us see that we understand it4 ,it is the divine remedy for that unrest1 that spirit of discontent1 that dissatisfaction with our appointed lot and sphere1 so sadly prevalent on all hands4 ,it is a perfect cure for that restless ambition so utterly opposed to the mind and spirit of ,christ1 but so entirely characteristic of the men of this world4 ,may we1 beloved reader1 cultivate1 with holy diligence1 that meek and lowly spirit which is1 in the sight of ,god1 of great price1 which bows to ,his blessed will in all things1 and vindicates ,his dealings1 come what may4 ,thus shall our peace flow as a river1 and the name of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ shall be magnified in our course1 character1 and conduct4 ,ere turning from the deeply interesting and practical subject which has been engaging our attention1 we would observe that there are three distinct attitudes in which the soul may be found in reference to the dealings of ,god1 namely1 subjection1 acquiescence1 and rejoicing4 ,when the will is broken1 there is subjection2 when the understanding is enlightened as to the divine object1 there is acquiescence2 and when the affections are engaged with ,god ,himself1 there is positive rejoicing4 ,hence we read1 in the tenth chapter of ,luke1 ,in that hour ,jesus rejoiced in spirit1 and said1 ',i thank ,thee1 ,o ,father1 ,lord of heaven and earth1 that ,thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent1 and hast revealed them unto babes3 even so1 ,father2 for so it seemed good in ,thy sight4' ,that blessed ,one found ,his perfect delight in all the will of ,god4 ,it was ,his meat and drink to carry out that will1 at all cost4 ,in service or in suffering1 in life or in death1 ,he never had any motive but the ,father's will4 ,he could say1 ,i do always the things that please ,him4 ,eternal and universal homage to ,his peerless name6 ,we shall now proceed with our chapter4 ,and the ,lord spake unto me1 saying1 ',ye have compassed this mountain long enough2 turn you northward4' ,the word of the ,lord determined every thing4 ,it fixed how long the people were to remain in any given place1 and it indicated with equal distinctness whither they were next to bend their steps4 ,there was no need whatever for them to plan or arrange their movements3 it was the province and prerogative of ,jehovah to settle all for them2 it was theirs to obey4 ,there is no mention here of the cloud and the trumpet2 it is simply ,god's word and ,israel's obedience4 ,nothing can be more precious to a child of ,god1 if only the heart be in a right condition1 than to be guided1 in all his movements1 by the divine command4 ,it saves a world of anxiety and perplexity4 ,in ,israel's case1 called as they were to journey through a great and terrible wilderness1 where there was no way1 it was an unspeakable mercy to have their every movement1 their every step1 their every halting-place1 ordered by on infallible ,guide4 ,there was no need whatever for them to trouble themselves about their movements1 no need to inquire how long they were to stay in any given place1 or where they were to go next2 ,jehovah settled all for them4 ,it was for them simply to wait on ,him for guidance1 and to do what they were told4 ,yes1 reader1 here was the grand point--a waiting and an obedient spirit4 ,if this were lacking1 they were liable to all sorts of questionings1 reasonings1 and rebellious activities4 ,when ,god said1 ,ye have compassed this mountain long enough1 had ,israel replied1 ,no2 we want to compass it a little longer3 we are very comfortable here1 and we do not wish to make any change2 or1 again1 if when ,god said1 ,turn you northward they had replied1 ,no2 we vastly prefer going eastward2 what would have been the result8 ,why1 they would have forfeited the divine presence with them1 and who could guide or help or feed them then8 ,they could only count on the divine presence with them while they trod the path indicated by the divine command4 ,if they chose to take their own way1 there was nothing for them but famine1 desolation1 and darkness4 ,the stream from the smitten rock1 and the heavenly manna1 were only to be found in the path of obedience4 ,now1 we ,christians have to learn our lesson in all this--a wholesome1 needed1 valuable lesson4 ,it is our sweet privilege to have our path marked out for us1 day by day1 by divine authority4 ,of this we are to be most deeply and thoroughly persuaded4 ,we are not to allow ourselves to be robbed of this rich blessing by the plausible reasonings of unbelief4 ,god has promised to guide us1 and ,his promise is yea and ,amen4 ,it is for us to make our own the promise1 in the artless simplicity of faith4 ,it is as solid and as real and as true as ,god can make it4 ,we cannot admit for a moment that ,israel in the desert were better off in the matter of guidance than ,god's heavenly people in their passage through this world4 ,how did ,israel know the length of the haltings or the line of their march8 ,by the word of ,god4 ,are we worse off8 ,far be the thought4 ,yea1 we are better off by far than they4 ,we have the ,word and ,spirit of ,god to guide us4 ,to us pertains the high and holy privilege of walking in the footsteps of the ,son of ,god4 ,is not this perfect guidance8 ,yes1 thank ,god1 it is4 ,hear what our adorable ,lord ,jesus ,christ saith to us1--,i am the light of the world2 he that followeth ,me shall not walk in darkness1 but shall have the light of life4 ,let us mark these words1 he that followeth ,me4 ,he has left us an example1 that we should follow ,his steps4 ,this is living guidance4 ,how did ,jesus walk8 ,always and only by the commandment of ,his ,father4 ,by that ,he acted2 by that ,he moved2 without it ,he never acted1 moved1 or spoke4 ,now1 we are called to follow ,him2 and in so doing1 we have the assurance of ,his own word that we shall not walk in darkness1 but shall have the light of life4 ,precious words6--the light of life4 ,who can sound their living depths8 who can duly estimate their worth8 ,the darkness is past1 and the true light now shineth1 and it is for us to walk in the full blaze of the light that shines along the pathway of the ,son of ,god4 ,is there any uncertainty1 any perplexity1 any ground for hesitation here8 ,clearly not4 ,how could there be if we are following ,him8 ,it is utterly impossible to combine the two ideas4 ,and be it remarked here that it is not by any means a question of having a literal text of ,scripture for every movement or every act4 ,for example1 ,i cannot expect to get a text of ,scripture1 or a voice from heaven1 to tell me to go to ,london or to ,edinburgh2 or how long ,i am to stay when ,i go4 ,how1 then1 it may be asked1 am ,i to know where ,i ought to go1 or how long ,i am to stay8 ,the answer is1 ,wait on ,god1 in singleness of eye and sincerity of heart1 and ,he will make your path as plain as a sunbeam4 ,this was what ,jesus did2 and if we follow ,him1 we shall not walk in darkness4 ,i will guide thee with ,mine eye is a most precious promise2 but in order to profit by it1 we must be near enough to ,him to catch the movement of ,his eye1 and intimate enough with ,him to understand its meaning4 ,thus it is1 in all the details of our daily life4 ,it would answer a thousand questions1 and solve a thousand difficulties1 if we did but wait for divine guidance1 and never attempt to move without it4 ,if ,i have not gotten light to move1 it is my plain duty to be still4 ,we should never move in uncertainty4 ,it often happens that we harass ourselves about moving or acting1 when ,god would have us to be still and do nothing4 ,we go and ask ,god about it1 but get no answer2 we betake ourselves to friends for advice and counsel1 but they cannot help us1 for it is entirely a question between our own souls and the ,lord4 ,thus we are plunged in doubt and anxiety4 ,and why8 ,simply because the eye is not single2 we are not following ,jesus1 the light of the world4 ,we may set it down as a fixed principle1 a precious axiom in the divine life1 that if we are following ,jesus1 we shall have the light of life4 ,he has said it1 and that is enough for faith4 ,hence1 then1 we deem ourselves perfectly warranted in concluding that the ,one who guided ,his earthly people in all their desert wanderings1 can and will guide ,his heavenly people now in all their movements and in all their ways4 ,but1 on the other hand1 let us see to it that we are not bent on doing our own will1 having our own way1 and carrying out our own plans4 ,be ye not as the horse or as the mule1 which have no understanding1 whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle1 lest they come near unto thee4 ,be it our one grand aim to walk in the footsteps of that blessed ,one who pleased not ,himself1 but ever moved in the current of the divine will1 never acted without divine authority2 who1 though ,himself ,god over all1 blessed forever1 yet1 having taken ,his place as a man1 on the earth1 surrendered completely ,his own will1 and found ,his meat and ,his drink in doing the will of ,his ,father4 ,thus shall our hearts and minds be kept in perfect peace2 and we shall be enabled to move on1 from day to day1 with firm and decided step1 along the path indicated for us by our divine and ever-present ,guide1 who not only knows1 as ,god1 every step of the way1 but who1 as man1 has trodden it before us1 and left us an example that we should follow ,his steps4 ,may we follow ,him more faithfully in all things1 through the gracious ministry of the ,holy ,ghost1 who dwelleth in us4 99 99 99 99 99 ,we have now to invite the reader's attention to a subject of very deep interest1 and one which occupies a large place in ,old-,testament scripture1 and is forcibly illustrated in the chapter which lies open before us1 namely1 ,god's government of the world1 and ,his wonderful ordering of the nations of the earth4 ,it is a grand and all-important fact to keep ever before the mind that the ,one whom we know as the ,god and ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and our ,god and ,father1 takes a real1 lively1 personal interest in the affairs of nations--that ,he takes cognizance of their movements and of their dealings one with another4 ,true1 all this is in immediate connection with ,israel and the land of ,palestine1 as we read in the thirty-second chapter of our book1 and eighth verse--a passage of singular interest and of great suggestive power4--,when the ,most ,high divided to the nations their inheritance1 when ,he separated the sons of ,adam1 ,he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of ,israel4 ,israel was and shall yet be ,god's earthly centre2 and it is a fact of the deepest interest that1 from the very outset1 as we see in ,genesis x1 the ,creator and ,governor of the world formed the nations and fixed their bounds according to ,his own sovereign will1 and with direct reference to the seed of ,abraham1 and that narrow strip of land which they are to possess1 in virtue of the everlasting covenant made with their fathers4 ,but in the second chapter of ,deuteronomy1 we find ,jehovah1 in ,his faithfulness and righteousness1 interfering to protect three distinct nations in the enjoyment of their national rights1 and that1 too1 against the encroachments of ,his own chosen people4 ,he says to ,moses1 ,command thou the people1 saying1 ',ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of ,esau1 which dwell in ,seir2 and they shall be afraid of you3 take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore3 meddle not with them2 for ,i will not give you of their land1 no1 not so much as a foot-breadth1 because ,i have given ,mount ,seir unto ,esau for a possession4 ,ye shall buy meat of them for money1 that ye may eat2 and ye shall also buy water of them for money1 that ye may drink4' ,israel might imagine that they had nothing to do but seize upon the lands of the ,edomite2 but they had to learn something very different1--they had to be taught that the ,most ,high is the ,governor amongst the nations--that the whole earth belongs to ,him1 and ,he portions it out to one or another according to ,his good pleasure4 ,this is a very magnificent fact to keep before the mind4 ,the great majority of men think but little of it4 ,emperors1 kings1 princes1 governors1 statesmen1 take little account of it4 ,they forget that ,god interests ,himself in the affairs of nations--that ,he bestows kingdoms1 provinces1 and lands as ,he sees fit4 ,they act1 at times1 as if it were only a question of military conquest1 and as if ,god had nothing to do with the question of national boundaries and territorial possessions4 ,this is their great mistake4 ,they do not understand the meaning and force of this simple sentence1 ,i have given ,mount ,seir unto ,esau for a possession4 ,god will never surrender ,his rights in this respect4 ,he would not allow ,israel to touch a single atom of ,esau's property4 ,they were1 to use a modern phrase1 to pay ready cash for whatever they needed1 and go quietly on their way4 ,indiscriminate slaughter and plunder were not to be thought of by the people of ,god4 ,and mark the lovely reason for all this4 ,for the ,lord thy ,god hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand2 ,he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness2 these forty years the ,lord thy ,god hath been with thee1 thou hast lacked nothing4 ,they could well afford1 therefore1 to let ,esau alone1 and leave his possessions untouched4 ,they were the favored objects of ,jehovah's tender care4 ,he took knowledge of every step of their weary journey through the desert4 ,he had1 in ,his infinite goodness1 charged ,himself with all their necessities4 ,he was going to give them the land of ,canaan1 according to ,his promise to ,abraham2 but the self-same hand which was giving them ,canaan had given ,mount ,seir to ,esau4 ,we see the same thing exactly in reference to ,moab and ,ammon4--,the ,lord said unto me1 ',distress not the ,moabites1 neither contend with them in battle2 for ,i will not give thee of their land for a possession1 because ,i have given ,ar unto the children of ,lot for a possession4' ,and again1 ,and when thou comest nigh over against the children of ,ammon1 distress them not1 nor meddle with them2 for ,i will not give thee of the land of the children of ,ammon any possession1 because ,i have given it onto the children of ,lot for a possession4 ,the possessions here alluded to had been1 of old time1 in the hands of giants2 but it was ,god's purpose to give up their territories to the children of ,esau and ,lot1 and therefore ,he destroyed these giants2 for who or what can stand in the way of the divine counsels8 ,that also was accounted a land of giants3 giants dwelt therein in old time2 444 a people great1 and many1 and tall1 as the ,anakims2 but the ,lord destroyed them before them2 and they succeeded them1 and dwelt in their stead3 as ,he did to the children of ,esau which dwelt in ,seir1 when ,he destroyed the ,horims from before them2 and they succeeded them1 and dwelt in their stead even unto this day4 7,ver4 #bj-bc47 ,hence1 then1 ,israel were not permitted to meddle with the possessions of any of these three nations--the ,edomites1 ,ammonites1 and ,moabites2 but in the very next sentence1 we see another thing altogether in the case of the ,amorites4--,rise ye up1 take your journey1 and pass over the river ,arnon3 behold1 ,i have given into thine hand ,sihon the ,amorite1 king of ,heshbon1 and his land3 begin to possess it1 and contend with him in battle4 ,the great principle1 in all these varied instructions to ,israel1 is that ,god's word must settle every thing for ,his people4 ,it was not for ,israel to inquire why they were to leave the possessions of ,esau and ,lot untouched1 and to seize upon those of ,sihon4 ,they were simply to do what they were told4 ,god can do as ,he pleases4 ,he has ,his eye upon the whole scene3 ,he scans it all4 ,men may think ,he has forsaken the earth1 but ,he has not1 blessed be ,his name4 ,he is1 as the apostle tells us in his discourse at ,athens1 ,lord of heaven and earth2 and ,he hath made of one blood all nations of men1 for to dwell on all the face of the earth2 and hath determined the times before appointed1 and the bounds of their habitations4 ,and1 further1 ,he hath appointed a day1 in the which ,he will judge the habitable earth in righteousness1 by that ,man whom ,he hath ordained2 whereof ,he hath given assurance given proof unto all1 in that ,he hath raised ,him from the dead4 ,here we have a most solemn and weighty truth1 to which men of all ranks and conditions would do well to take heed4 ,god is the ,sovereign ,ruler of the world4 ,he giveth no account of any of ,his matters4 ,he puts down one and sets up another4 ,kingdoms1 thrones1 governments1 are all at ,his disposal4 ,he acts according to ,his own will in the ordering and arrangement of human affairs4 ,but1 at the same time1 ,he holds men responsible for their actings in the various positions in which ,his providence has placed them4 ,the ruler and the ruled1 the king1 the governor1 the magistrate1 the judge--all classes and grades of men will have1 sooner or later1 to give account to ,god4 ,each one1 as if he were the only one1 will have to stand before the judgment-seat of ,christ1 and there review his whole course1 from first to last4 ,every act1 every word1 every secret thought1 will there come out with awful distinctness4 ,there will be no escaping in a crowd4 ,the ,word declares that they shall be judged every man according to his works4 ,it will be intensely individual1 and unmistakably discriminating4 ,in a word1 it will be a divine judgment1 and therefore absolutely perfect4 ,nothing will be passed over4 ,every idle word that men shall speak1 they shall give account thereof at the day of judgment4 ,kings1 governors1 and magistrates will have to account for the way in which they have used the power with which they were intrusted1 and the wealth which passed through their hands4 ,the noble and the wealthy who have spent their fortune and their time in folly1 vanity1 luxury1 and self-indulgence will have to answer for it all before the throne of the ,son of ,man1 whose eyes are as a flame of fire1 to read men through and through2 and ,his feet as fine brass1 to crush1 in unsparing judgment1 all that is contrary to ,god4 ,infidelity may sneeringly inquire1 ,how can these things be8 ,how could the untold millions of the human race find room before the judgment-seat of ,christ8 and how could there be time to enter so minutely into the details of each personal history8 ,faith replies1 ,god says it shall be so1 and this is conclusive2 and as to the ,how8 the answer is1 ,god6 ,infinity6 ,eternity6 ,bring ,god in1 and all questions are hushed and all difficulties disposed of in a moment4 ,in fact1 the one grand1 triumphant answer to all the objections of the infidel1 the skeptic1 the rationalist1 and the materialist1 is just that one majestic word1 ,,god6 ,we press this upon the reader2 not1 indeed1 to enable him to reply to infidels1 but for the rest and comfort of his own heart4 ,as to infidels1 we are increasingly persuaded that our highest wisdom is to act on our ,lord's words in ,matthew xv4--,let them alone4 ,it is perfectly useless to argue with men who despise the ,word of ,god1 and have no other foundation to build upon than their own carnal reasonings4 ,but1 on the other hand1 we deem it to be of the very last possible importance that the heart should ever repose1 in all the artless simplicity of a child1 in the truth of ,god's ,word4 ,hath ,he said1 and shall ,he not do it8 or hath ,he spoken1 and shall ,he not make it good8 ,here is the sweet and hallowed resting-place of faith1 the calm haven where the soul can find refuge from all the conflicting currents of human thought and feeling4 ,the ,word of the ,lord endureth forever2 and this is the ,word which by the gospel is preached unto you4 ,nothing can touch the ,word of our ,god4 ,it is settled forever in heaven2 and all we want is to have it hidden in our hearts1 as our own very possession--the treasure which we have received from ,god--the living fountain where we may ever drink for the refreshment and comfort of our souls4 ,then shall our peace flow as a river1 and our path shall be as the shining light1 which shineth more and more unto the perfect day4 ,thus may it be1 ,o ,lord1 with all ,thy beloved people1 in these days of growing infidelity4 ,may ,thy holy ,word be increasingly precious to our hearts4 ,may our consciences feel its power4 ,may its heavenly doctrines form our character and govern our conduct in all the relationships of life1 that ,thy name may be glorified in all things4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,then we turned1 and went up the way to ,bashan2 and ,og the king of ,bashan came out against us1 he and all his people1 to battle at ,edrei4 ,and the ,lord said unto me1 ',fear him not3 for ,i will deliver him1 and all his people1 and his land1 into thy hand2 and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto ,sihon king of the ,amorites1 which dwelt at ,heshbon4' ,so the ,lord our ,god delivered into our hands ,og also1 the king of ,bashan1 and all his people2 and we smote him until none was left to him remaining4 ,and we took all his cities at that time1 there was not a city which we took not from them1 threescore cities1 all the region of ,argob1 the kingdom of ,og in ,bashan4 ,all these cities were fenced with high walls1 gates1 and bars2 beside unwalled towns a great many4 ,and we utterly destroyed them1 as we did unto ,sihon king of ,heshbon1 utterly destroying the men1 women1 and children of every city4 ,but all the cattle1 and the spoil of the cities1 we took for a prey to ourselves4 7,ver4 #a-g47 ,the divine instructions as to ,og1 king of ,bashan1 were precisely similar to those given1 in the preceding chapter1 with respect to ,sihon the ,amorite2 and in order to understand both1 we must look at them purely in the light of the government of ,god--a subject but little understood1 though one of very deep interest and practical importance4 ,we must accurately distinguish between grace and government4 ,when we contemplate ,god in government1 we see ,him displaying ,his power in the way of righteousness--punishing evil-doers1 pouring out vengeance upon ,his enemies1 overthrowing empires1 upturning thrones1 destroying cities1 sweeping away nations1 tribes1 and peoples4 ,we find ,him commanding ,his people to slay men1 women1 and little children with the edge of the sword2 to set fire to their houses1 and turn their cities into desolate heaps4 ,again1 we hear ,him addressing the prophet ,ezekiel in the following remarkable words3 ,son of man1 ,nebuchadrezzar king of ,babylon caused his army to serve a great service against ,tyrus3 every head was made bald1 and every shoulder was peeled2 yet had he no wages1 nor his army1 for ,tyrus1 for the service that he had served against it4 ,therefore1 thus saith the ,lord ,god1 ,behold1 ,i will give the land of ,egypt unto ,nebuchadrezzar king of ,babylon2 and he shall take her multitude1 and take her spoil1 and take her prey2 and it shall be the wages for his army4 ,i have given him the land of ,egypt for his labor wherewith he served against it1 because they wrought for ,me1 saith the ,lord ,god4 7,ezek4 xxix4 #ah-bj47 ,this is a very wonderful passage of ,scripture2 setting before us a subject which runs through the entire volume of ,old-,testament scripture--a subject demanding our profound and reverent attention4 ,whether we turn to the five books of ,moses1 to the historical books1 to the ,psalms1 or to the prophets1 we find the inspiring ,spirit giving us the most minute details of ,god's actings in government4 ,we have the deluge in the days of ,noah1 when the whole earth1 with all its inhabitants1 with the exception of eight persons1 was destroyed by an act of divine government4 ,men1 women1 children1 cattle1 fowl1 and creeping things were all swept away and buried beneath the billows and waves of ,god's righteous judgment4 ,then we have1 in the days of ,lot1 the cities of the plain1 with all their inhabitants--men1 women1 and children--in a few short hours1 consigned to utter destruction1 overthrown by the hand of ,almighty ,god1 and buried beneath the deep1 dark waters of the ,dead ,sea4 ,those guilty cities1 ,sodom and ,gomorrha1 and the cities about them in like manner1 giving themselves over to fornication1 and going after strange flesh1 are set forth for an example1 suffering the vengeance of eternal fire4 ,then1 again1 as we pass down along the page of inspired history1 we see the seven nations of ,canaan--men1 women1 and children--given over into the hands of ,israel for unsparing judgment2 nothing that breathed was to be left alive4 ,but1 we may truly say1 time would fail us even to refer to all the passages of holy ,scripture which set before our eyes the solemn actings of the divine government4 ,suffice it to say that the line of evidence runs from ,genesis to ,revelation--beginning with the deluge and ending with the burning up of the present system of things4 ,now1 the question is1 ,are we competent to understand these ways of ,god in government8 ,is it any part of our business to sit in judgment upon them8 ,are we capable of unraveling the profound and awful mysteries of divine providence8 ,can we--are we called upon to--account for the tremendous fact of helpless babes involved in the judgment of their guilty parents8 ,impious infidelity may sneer at these things2 morbid sentimentality may stumble over them2 but the true believer1 the pious ,christian1 the reverent student of holy ,scripture1 will meet them all with this one simple but safe and solid question1 ,shall not the ,judge of all the earth do right8 ,this1 we may rest assured1 reader1 is the only true way in which to meet such questions4 ,if man is to sit in judgment upon the actings of ,god in government--if he can take upon himself to decide as to what is and what is not worthy of ,god to do1 then1 verily1 we have lost the true sense of ,god altogether4 ,and this is just what the devil is aiming at4 ,he wants to lead the heart away from ,god2 and to this end1 he leads men to reason and question and speculate in a region which lies as far beyond their ken as heaven is above the earth4 ,can we comprehend ,god8 ,if we could1 we should ourselves be ,god4 ,we comprehend ,him not1 ,yet earth and heaven tell1 ,god sits as ,sovereign on the throne1 ,and ruleth all things well4 ,it is at once absurd and impious1 in the very highest degree1 for puny mortals to dare to question the counsels1 enactments1 and ways of the almighty ,creator and all-wise ,governor of the universe4 ,assuredly1 all who do so must sooner or later find out their terrible mistake4 ,well would it be for all questioners and cavilers to give heed to the pungent question of the inspired apostle in ,romans ix4--,nay but1 ,o man1 who art thou that repliest against ,god8 ,shall the thing formed say to him that formed it1 ,why hast thou made me thus8 ,hath not the potter power over the clay1 of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor1 and another unto dishonor8 ,how simple6 ,how forcible6 ,how unanswerable6 ,this is the divine method of meeting all the hows and whys of infidel reason4 ,if the potter has power over the lump of clay which he holds in his hand--a fact which none would think of disputing--how much more has the ,creator of all things power over the creatures which ,his hand has formed6 ,men may reason and argue interminably as to why ,god permitted sin to enter2 why ,he did not at once annihilate ,satan and his angels2 why ,he allowed the serpent to tempt ,eve2 why ,he did not keep her back from eating the forbidden fruit4 ,in short1 the hows and whys are endless2 but the answer is one--,who art thou1 ,o man1 that repliest against ,god8 ,how monstrous for a poor worm of the earth to attempt to sit in judgment upon the unsearchable judgments and ways of the ,eternal ,god6 ,what blind and presumptuous folly for a creature1 whose understanding is darkened by sin1 and who is thus wholly incapable of forming a right judgment about any thing divine1 heavenly1 or eternal1 to attempt to decide how ,god should act in any given case6 ,alas6 alas6 it is to be feared that thousands who now argue with great apparent cleverness against the truth of ,god1 will find out their fatal mistake when it will be too late to correct it4 ,and as to all those who1 though very far from taking common ground with the infidel1 are nevertheless troubled with doubts and misgivings as to some of ,god's ways in government1 and as to the awful question of eternal punishment1#e we would earnestly recommend them to study and drink in the spirit of that lovely little psalm1 cxxxi4--,lord1 my heart is not haughty1 nor mine eyes lofty3 neither do ,i exercise myself in great matters1 or in things too high for me4 ,surely ,i have behaved and quieted myself as a child that is weaned of his mother3 my soul is even as a weaned child4 #e ,with regard to the solemn subject of eternal punishment1 we here offer a few remarks1 seeing that so very many1 both in ,england and ,america1 are troubled with difficulties respecting it4 ,there are three considerations1 which1 if duly weighed1 will1 we think1 settle every ,christian on the doctrine4 ,i4 ,the first is this3 ,there are seventy passages in the ,new ,testament where the word everlasting1 or eternal1 77 occurs4 ,it is applied to the life which believers possess1 to the mansions into which they are to be received1 to the glory which they are to enjoy2 it is applied to ,god 7,rom4 xvi4 #bf471 to the salvation of which our ,lord ,jesus ,christ is the ,author1 to the redemption which ,he has obtained for us1 and to the ,spirit4 ,then1 out of the seventy passages referred to above1 which the reader can verify in a few moments by a glance at a ,greek ,concordance1 there are seven in which the self-same word is applied to the punishment of the wicked1 to the judgment which is to overtake them1 to the fire which is to consume them4 ,now1 the question is1 ,upon what principle1 or by what authority1 can any one mark off these seven passages and say that in them the word does not mean everlasting1 while in the other sixty-three it does8 ,we consider the statement utterly baseless1 and unworthy the attention of any sober mind4 ,we fully admit that1 had the ,holy ,spirit thought proper1 when speaking of the judgment of the wicked1 to make use of a different word from that used in the other passages1 reason would that we should weigh the fact4 ,but no2 ,he uses the same word invariably1 so that if we deny eternal punishment1 we must deny eternal life1 eternal glory1 an eternal ,spirit1 an eternal ,god1 an eternal any thing4 ,in short1 if punishment be not eternal1 nothing is eternal1 so far as this argument is concerned4 ,to meddle with this stone in the archway of divine revelation1 is to reduce the whole to a mass of ruin around us4 ,and this is just what the devil is aiming at4 ,we are fully persuaded that to deny the truth of eternal punishment is to take the first step on that inclined plane which leads down to the dark abyss of universal skepticism4 ,,ii4 ,our second consideration is drawn from the great truth of the immortality of the soul4 ,we read in the second chapter of ,genesis that the ,lord ,god formed man of the dust of the ground1 and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life2 and man became a living soul4 ,upon this one passage1 as upon an immovable rock1 even if we had not another1 we build the great truth of the immortality of the human soul4 ,the fall of man made no difference as to this4 ,fallen or unfallen1 innocent or guilty1 converted or unconverted1 the soul must live forever4 ,the tremendous question is1 ,where is it to live8 ,god cannot allow sin into ,his presence4 ,he is of purer eyes than to behold evil1 and cannot look upon iniquity4 ,hence1 if a man dies in his sins--dies unrepentant1 unwashed1 unpardoned1 then1 most assuredly1 where ,god is he never can come2 indeed1 it is the very last place to which he would like to come4 ,there is nothing for him but an endless eternity in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone4 ,,iii4 ,and lastly1 we believe that the truth of eternal punishment stands intimately connected with the infinite nature of the atonement of our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ4 ,if nothing short of an infinite sacrifice could deliver us from the consequences of sin1 those consequences must be eternal4 ,this consideration may not1 perhaps1 in the judgment of some1 carry much weight with it2 but to us its force is absolutely irresistible4 ,we must measure sin and its consequences as we measure divine love and its results--not by the standard of human sentiment or reason1 but only by the standard of the cross of ,christ4 ,then1 when the heart has in some measure taken in this exquisite breathing1 it may turn with real profit to the words of the inspired apostle 7#b ,cor4 x47--,for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal1 but mighty through ,god to the pulling down of strong holds2 casting down imaginations1 and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of ,god1 and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of ,christ4 ,doubtless1 the philosopher1 the scholar1 the profound thinker1 would smile contemptuously at such a childish mode of dealing with such great questions2 but this is a very small matter in the judgment of the devout disciple of ,christ4 ,the same inspired apostle makes very short work of all this world's wisdom and learning4 ,he says1 ,let no man deceive himself4 ,if any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world1 let him become a fool1 that he may be wise4 ,for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with ,god4 ,for it is written1 ',he taketh the wise in their own craftiness4' ,and again1 ',the ,lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise1 that they are vain4' 7#a ,cor4 iii47 ,and again1 ,it is written1 ',i will destroy the wisdom of the wise1 and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent4' ,where is the wise8 where is the scribe8 where is the disputer of this world8 hath not ,god made foolish the wisdom of this world8 ,for after that in the wisdom of ,god the world by wisdom knew not ,god1 it pleased ,god by the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe4 7#a ,cor4 i4 #ai-ba47 ,here lies the grand moral secret of the whole matter4 ,man has to find out that he is simply a fool1 and that all the wisdom of the world is foolishness4 ,humbling but wholesome truth6 ,humbling1 because it puts man in his right place2 wholesome1 yea1 most precious1 because it brings in the wisdom of ,god4 ,we hear a great deal nowadays about science1 philosophy1 and learning4 ,hath not ,god made foolish the wisdom of this world8 ,do we fully take in the meaning of these words8 ,alas6 it is to be feared they are but little understood4 ,there are not wanting men who would fain persuade us that science has gone far beyond the ,bible4#f ,alas6 for the science1 and for all those who give heed to it4 ,if it has gone beyond the ,bible1 whither has it gone8 ,in the direction of ,god1 of ,christ1 of heaven1 of holiness1 of peace8 ,nay2 but quite in the opposite direction4 ,and where must it all end8 ,we tremble to think1 and feel reluctant to pen the reply4 ,still1 we must be faithful1 and declare solemnly that the sure and certain end of that path along which human science is conducting its votaries is the blackness of darkness forever4 #f ,we must distinguish between all true science and science falsely so called4 ,and further1 we must distinguish between the facts of science1 and the conclusions of scientific men4 ,the facts are what ,god has done and is doing2 but when men set about drawing their conclusions from these facts1 they make the most serious mistakes4 ,however1 it is a real relief to the heart to think that there are many philosophers and men of science who give ,god ,his right place1 and who love our ,lord ,jesus ,christ in sincerity4 ,the world by wisdom knew not ,god4 ,what did the philosophy of ,greece do for its disciples8 ,it made them the ignorant worshipers of ,,an ,,unknown ,,god4 ,the very inscription on their altar published to the universe their ignorance and their shame4 ,and may we not lawfully inquire if philosophy has done better for christendom than it did for ,greece8 ,has it communicated the knowledge of the true ,god8 ,who could dare to say1 ,yes8 ,there are millions of baptized professors throughout the length and breadth of christendom who know no more of the true ,god than those philosophers who encountered ,paul in the city of ,athens4 ,the fact is this3 every one who really knows ,god1 is the privileged possessor of eternal life4 ,so our ,lord ,jesus ,christ declares1 in the most distinct manner1 in the seventeenth chapter of ,john4--,this is life eternal1 that they might know ,thee the only true ,god1 and ,jesus ,christ1 whom ,thou hast sent4 ,this is most precious to every soul that1 through grace1 has gotten this knowledge4 ,to know ,god1 is to have life--life eternal4 ,but how can ,i know ,god8 where can ,i find ,him8 ,can science and philosophy tell me8 ,have they ever told any one8 have they ever guided any poor wanderer into this way of life and peace8 ,no2 never4 ,the world by wisdom knew not ,god4 ,the conflicting schools of ancient philosophy could only plunge the human mind into profound darkness and hopeless bewilderment2 and the conflicting schools of modern philosophy are not a whit better4 ,they can give no certainty1 no safe anchorage1 no solid ground of confidence1 to the poor benighted soul4 ,barren speculation1 torturing doubt1 wild and baseless theory1 is all that human philosophy1 in any age or of any nation1 has to offer to the earnest inquirer after truth4 ,how1 then1 are we to know ,god8 ,if such a stupendous result hangs on this knowledge1 if to know ,god is life eternal--and ,jesus says it is--then how is ,he to be known8 ,no man hath seen ,god at any time2 the only begotten ,son1 which is in the bosom of the ,father1 ,he hath declared ,him4 7,john i4 #ah47 ,here we have an answer divinely simple1 divinely sure4 ,jesus reveals ,god to the soul--reveals the ,father to the heart4 ,precious fact6 ,we are not sent to creation to learn who ,god is1 though we see ,his power1 wisdom1 and goodness there2 we are not sent to the law1 though we see ,his justice there2 we are not sent to providence1 though we see the profound mysteries of ,his government there4 ,no2 if we want to know who and what ,god is1 we are to look in the face of ,jesus ,christ1 the only begotten ,son of ,god1 who dwelt in ,his bosom before all worlds1 who was ,his eternal delight1 the object of ,his affections1 the centre of ,his counsels4 ,he it is who reveals ,god to the soul4 ,we cannot have the slightest idea of what ,god is apart from the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,in ,him dwelleth all the fullness of the ,godhead bodily4 ,god who commanded the light to shine out of darkness1 hath shined in our hearts1 to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of ,god1 in the face of ,jesus ,christ4 ,nothing can exceed the power and blessedness of all this4 ,there is no darkness here1 no uncertainty4 ,the darkness is past and the true light now shineth4 ,yes2 it shineth in the face of ,jesus ,christ4 ,we can gaze1 by faith1 on that blessed ,one2 we can trace ,his marvelous path on the earth2 see ,him going about doing good1 and healing all that were oppressed of the devil2 mark ,his very looks1 ,his words1 ,his works1 ,his ways2 see ,him healing the sick1 cleansing the leper1 opening the eyes of the blind1 unstopping the ears of the deaf1 causing the lame to walk1 the maimed to be whole1 raising the dead1 drying the widow's tears1 feeding the hungry1 binding up broken hearts1 meeting every form of human need1 soothing human sorrow1 hushing human fears2 and doing all these things in such a style1 with such touching grace and sweetness1 as to make each one feel1 in his very inmost soul1 that it was the deep delight of that loving heart thus to minister to his need4 ,now1 in all this ,he was revealing ,god to man2 so that if we want to know what ,god is1 we have simply to look at ,jesus4 ,when ,philip said1 ,lord1 shew us the ,father1 and it sufficeth us1 the prompt reply was1 ,have ,i been so long time with you1 and yet hast thou not known ,me1 ,philip8 he that hath seen ,me hath seen the ,father2 and how sayest thou then1 ',shew us the ,father8' ,believest thou not that ,i am in the ,father1 and the ,father in ,me8 the words that ,i speak unto you ,i speak not of ,myself2 but the ,father that dwelleth in ,me1 ,he doeth the works4 ,believe ,me that ,i am in the ,father1 and the ,father in ,me3 or else believe ,me for the very works' sake4 ,here is true rest for the heart4 ,we know the true ,god1 and ,jesus ,christ1 whom ,he hath sent2 and this is life eternal4 ,we know ,him as our own very ,god and ,father1 and ,christ as our own personal1 loving ,lord and ,saviour2 we can delight in ,him1 walk with ,him1 lean on ,him1 trust in ,him1 cling to ,him1 draw from ,him1 find all our living springs in ,him1 rejoice in ,him all the day long1 find our meat and our drink in doing ,his blessed will1 furthering ,his cause1 and promoting ,his glory4 ,reader1 do you know all this for yourself8 ,say1 is it a living1 divinely real thing in your own soul this moment8 ,this is true ,christianity1 and you should not be satisfied with any thing less4 ,you will perhaps tell us we have wandered far from the third chapter of ,deuteronomy4 ,but whither have we wandered8 ,to the ,son of ,god and to the soul of the reader4 ,if this be wandering1 be it so2 it most assuredly is not wandering from the object for which we are penning these ,notes1 which is1 to bring ,christ and the soul together1 or to bind them together1 as the case may be4 ,we would never1 for one moment1 lose sight of the fact that1 both in writing and speaking1 we have not merely to expound ,scripture1 but to seek the salvation and blessing of souls4 ,hence it is that we feel constrained1 from time to time1 to appeal to the heart and conscience of the reader1 as to his practical state1 and as to how far he has made his very own of these imperishable realities which pass in review before us4 ,and we earnestly beseech the reader1 whoever he may be1 to seek a deeper acquaintance with ,god in ,christ2 and1 as a sure consequence of this1 a closer walk with ,him and more thorough consecration of heart to ,him4 ,this1 we are thoroughly persuaded1 is what is needed in this day of unrest and unreality in the world1 and of lukewarmness and indifference in the professing church4 ,we want a very much higher standard of personal devotedness1 more real purpose of heart to cleave to the ,lord and follow ,him4 ,there is much--very much to discourage and hinder in the condition of things around us4 ,the language of the men of ,judah in the days of ,nehemiah may1 with some measure of appropriateness and force1 be applied to our times1--,the strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed1 and there is much rubbish4 ,but1 thank ,god1 the remedy now1 as then1 is to be found in this soul-stirring sentence1 ,remember the ,lord4 99 99 99 99 99 ,we now return to our chapter1 in the remainder of which the lawgiver rehearses in the ears of the congregation the story of their dealings with the two kings of the ,amorites1 together with the facts connected with the inheritance of the two tribes and a half on the wilderness side of ,jordan4 ,and with regard to the latter subject1 it is interesting to notice that he raises no question as to the right or the wrong of their choosing their possession short of the land of promise4 ,indeed1 from the narrative given here1 it could not be known that the two tribes and a half had expressed any wish in the matter4 ,so far is our book from being a mere repetition of its predecessors4 ,here are the words3 ,and this land1 which we possessed at that time1 from ,aroer1 which is by the river ,arnon1 and half ,mount ,gilead1 and the cities thereof1 gave ,i unto the ,reubenites and to the ,gadites4 ,and the rest of ,gilead1 and all ,bashan1 being the kingdom of ,og1 gave ,i unto the half tribe of ,manasseh2 all the region of ,argob1 with all ,bashan1 which was called the land of giants4444 ,and ,i gave ,gilead unto ,machir4 ,and unto the ,reubenites and unto the ,gadites ,i gave from ,gilead even unto the river ,arnon half the valley1 and the border even unto the river ,jabbok1 which is the border of the children of ,ammon4444 ,and ,i commanded you at that time1 saying1 ,the ,lord your ,god hath given you this land to possess it3--not a word about their having asked it--ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of ,israel1 all that are meet for the war4 ,but your wives1 and your little ones1 and your cattle 7for ,i know that ye have much cattle71 shall abide in your cities which ,i have given you2 until the ,lord have given rest unto your brethren1 as well as unto you1 and until they also possess the land which the ,lord your ,god hath given them beyond ,jordan2 and then shall ye return every man unto his possession1 which ,i have given you4 ,in our studies on the book of ,numbers1 we have dwelt upon certain facts connected with the settlement of the two tribes and a half1 proving that they were below the mark of the ,israel of ,god in choosing their inheritance any where short of the other side of ,jordan2 but in the passage we have just quoted1 there is no allusion at all to this side of the question1 because the object of ,moses is to set before the whole congregation the exceeding goodness1 loving-kindness1 and faithfulness of ,god1 not only in bringing them through all the difficulties and dangers of the wilderness1 but also in giving them1 even already1 such signal victories over the ,amorites1 and putting them in possession of regions so attractive and so suited to them4 ,in all this1 he is laying down the solid basis of ,jehovah's claim upon their hearty obedience to ,his commandments2 and we can at once see and appreciate the moral beauty of overlooking entirely1 in such a rehearsal1 the question as to whether ,reuben1 ,gad1 and the half tribe of ,manasseh were wrong in stopping short of the land of promise4 ,it is1 to every devout ,christian1 a striking proof1 not only of the touching and exquisite grace of ,god1 but also of the divine perfectness of ,scripture4 ,no doubt1 every true believer enters upon the study of ,scripture with the full and deeply wrought conviction of its absolute perfectness in every part4 ,he reverently believes that there is not1 from the opening of ,genesis to the close of ,revelation1 a single flaw1 a single hitch1 a single discrepancy--not one2 all is as perfect as its divine ,author4 ,but then the cordial belief of the divine perfectness of ,scripture as a whole can never lessen our appreciation of the evidences which come out in detail2 nay1 it enhances it exceedingly4 ,thus1 for example1 in the passage now before us1 is it not perfectly beautiful to mark the absence of all reference to the failure of the two tribes and a half in the matter of choosing their inheritance1 seeing that any such reference would be entirely foreign to the object of the lawgiver and to the scope of the book8 ,is it not the joy of our hearts to trace such infinite perfections1 such exquisite and inimitable touches8 ,assuredly it is2 and not only so1 but we are persuaded that the more the moral glories of the volume dawn upon our souls1 and its living and exhaustless depths are unfolded to our hearts1 the more we shall be convinced of the utter folly of infidel assaults upon it1 and of the feebleness and gratuitousness of many well-meant efforts to prove that it does not contradict itself4 ,thank ,god1 ,his ,word stands in no need of human apologists4 ,it speaks for itself1 and carries with it its own powerful evidences2 so that we can say of it what the apostle says of his gospel1 that if it be hid1 it is hid to them that are lost2 in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not1 lest the light of the glorious gospel of ,christ1 who is the image of ,god1 should shine unto them4 ,we are more and more convinced each day1 that the most effective method of answering all infidel attacks upon the ,bible is1 to cherish a more profound faith in its divine power and authority1 and to use it as those who are most thoroughly persuaded of its truth and preciousness4 ,the ,spirit of ,god alone can enable any one to believe in the plenary inspiration of the holy ,scriptures4 ,human arguments may go for what they are worth2 they may doubtless silence gainsayers1 but they cannot reach the heart--they cannot bring the genial rays of divine revelation to bear down in living1 saving power upon the soul4 ,this is a work divine2 and until it is done1 all the evidences and arguments in the world must leave the soul in the moral darkness of unbelief2 but when it is done1 there is no need of human testimony in defense of the ,bible4 ,external evidences1 however interesting and valuable 7and they are both71 cannot add a single jot or tittle to the glory of that peerless revelation1 which bears on every page1 every paragraph1 every sentence1 the clear impress of its divine ,author4 ,as with the sun in the heavens1 its every ray tells of the ,hand that made it1 so of the ,bible1 its every sentence tells of the ,heart that inspired it4 ,but inasmuch as a blind man cannot see the sunlight1 so neither can the unconverted soul see the force and beauty of holy ,scripture4 ,the eye must be anointed with heavenly eye-salve ere the infinite perfections of the divine volume can be discerned or appreciated4 ,now1 we must own to the reader that it is the deep and ever-deepening sense of all this that has led us to the determination not to occupy his time or our own by reference to the attacks which have been made by rationalistic writers on that portion of the ,word of ,god with which we are now engaged4 ,we leave this to other and abler hands4 ,what we desire for ourselves and our readers is1 that we may feed in peace upon the green pastures which the ,shepherd and ,bishop of our souls has graciously thrown open to us2 that we may help each other1 as we pass along1 to see more and more of the moral glory of that which lies before us1 and thus to build each other up on our most holy faith4 ,this will be far more grateful work to us1 and we trust also to our readers1 than replying to men who1 in all their puny efforts to find out flaws in the holy volume1 only prove1 to those capable of judging1 that they understand neither what they say nor whereof they affirm4 ,if men will abide in the dark vaults and tunnels of a dreary infidelity1 and there find fault with the sun1 or deny that it shines at all1 let it be ours to bask in the light1 and help others to do the same4 ,we shall now dwell for a little on the remaining verses of our chapter1 in which we shall find much to interest1 instruct1 and profit us4 ,and first1 ,moses rehearses in the ears of the people his charge to ,joshua4--,and ,i commanded ,joshua at that time1 saying1 ',thine eyes have seen all that the ,lord our ,god hath done unto these two kings2 so shall the ,lord do unto all the kingdoms whither thou passest4 ,ye shall not fear them2 for the ,lord your ,god ,he shall fight for you4' 7,ver4 #ba1 #bb47 ,the remembrance of the ,lord's dealings with us in the past should strengthen our confidence in going on4 ,the ,one who had given ,his people such a victory over the ,amorites1 who had destroyed such a formidable foe as ,og1 king of ,bashan1 and given into their hands all the land of the giants1 what could ,he not do for them8 ,they could hardly expect to encounter in all the land of ,canaan any enemy more powerful than ,og1 whose bedstead was of such enormous dimensions as to call for the special notice of ,moses2 but what was he in the presence of his almighty ,creator8 ,dwarfs and giants are all alike to ,him4 ,the grand point is to keep ,god ,himself ever before our eyes2 then difficulties vanish4 ,if ,he covers the eyes1 we can see nothing else2 and this is the true secret of peace1 and the real power of progress4 ,thine eyes have seen all that the ,lord your ,god hath done4 ,and as ,he has done1 so ,he will do4 ,he hath delivered1 and ,he doth deliver1 and ,he will deliver4 ,past1 present1 and future are all marked by divine deliverance4 ,reader1 art thou in any difficulty8 ,is there any pressure upon thee8 ,art thou anticipating1 with nervous apprehension1 some formidable evil8 ,is thine heart trembling at the very thought of it8 ,it may be thou art like one who has come to the far end1 like the apostle ,paul in ,asia--,pressed out of measure1 above strength1 insomuch that we despaired even of life4 ,if so1 beloved friend1 accept a word of encouragement4 ,it is our deep and earnest desire to strengthen your hands in ,god1 and to encourage your heart to trust ,him for all that is before you4 ,fear not3 only believe4 ,he never fails a trusting heart--no1 never4 ,make use of the resources which are treasured up for you in ,him4 ,just put yourself1 your surroundings1 your fears1 your anxieties1 all into ,his hands1 and leave them there4 ,yes1 leave them there4 ,it is of little use your putting your difficulties1 your necessities1 into ,his hands and then1 almost immediately1 taking them into your own4 ,we often do this4 ,when in pressure1 in need1 in deep trial of some kind or other1 we go to ,god in prayer1 we cast our burden upon ,him and seem to get relief2 but1 alas6 no sooner have we risen from our knees than we begin again to look at the difficulty1 ponder the trial1 dwell upon all the sorrowful circumstances1 until we are again at our very wits' end4 ,now1 this will never do4 ,it sadly dishonors ,god1 and1 of course1 leaves us unrelieved and unhappy4 ,he would have our minds as free from care as the conscience is free from guilt4 ,his word to us is1 ,be careful for nothing2 but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto ,god4 ,and what then8 ,the peace of ,god1 which passeth all understanding1 shall keep or garrison-- your hearts and minds through ,christ ,jesus4 ,thus it was that ,moses1 that beloved man of ,god and honored servant of ,christ1 sought to encourage his fellow-laborer and successor1 ,joshua1 in reference to all that was before him4--,ye shall not fear them2 for the ,lord your ,god ,he shall fight for you4 ,thus1 too1 did the blessed apostle ,paul encourage his beloved son and fellow-servant ,timothy to trust in the living ,god2 to be strong in the grace which is in ,christ ,jesus2 to lean1 with unshaken confidence1 on ,god's sure foundation2 to commit himself1 with unquestioning assurance1 to the authority1 teaching1 and guidance of the holy ,scriptures2 and thus armed and furnished1 to give himself1 with holy diligence and true spiritual courage1 to that work to which he was called4 ,and thus1 too1 the writer and the reader can encourage one another1 in these days of increasing difficulty1 to cling1 in simple faith1 to that ,word which is settled forever in heaven2 to have it hidden in the heart as a living power and authority in the soul--something that will sustain us1 though heart and flesh should fail1 and though we had not the countenance or support of a human being4 ,all flesh is as grass1 and all the glory of man as the flower of grass4 ,the grass withereth1 and the flower thereof falleth away2 but the ,word of the ,lord endureth forever4 ,and this is the ,word which by the gospel is preached unto you4 7#a ,pet4 i4 #bd1 #be47 ,how precious is this6 ,what comfort and consolation6 ,what stability and rest6 ,what real strength1 victory1 and moral elevation6 ,it is not within the compass of human language to set forth the preciousness of the ,word of ,god1 or to define1 in adequate terms1 the comfort of knowing that the self-same ,word which is settled forever in heaven1 and which shall endure throughout the countless ages of eternity1 is that which has reached our hearts in the glad tidings of the gospel1 imparting to us eternal life1 and giving us peace and rest in the finished work of ,christ1 and a perfectly satisfying object in ,his adorable ,person4 ,truly1 as we think of all this1 we cannot but own that every breath should be a halleluiah4 ,thus it shall be by and by1 and that forever1 all homage to ,his peerless name6 99 99 99 99 99 ,the closing verses of our chapter present a peculiarly touching passage between ,moses and his ,lord1 the record of which1 as given here1 is in lovely keeping1 as we might expect1 with the character of the entire book of ,deuteronomy4--,and ,i besought the ,lord at that time1 saying1 ',o ,lord ,god1 ,thou hast begun to show ,thy servant ,thy greatness1 and ,thy mighty hand2 for what god is there in heaven or in earth that can do according to ,thy works and according to ,thy might8 ,i pray ,thee1 let me go over1 and see the good land that is beyond ,jordan1 that goodly mountain1 and ,lebanon4' ,but the ,lord was wroth with me for your sakes1 and would not hear me3 and the ,lord said unto me1 ',let it suffice thee2 speak no more unto ,me of this matter4 ,get thee up into the top of ,pisgah1 and lift up thine eyes westward1 and northward1 and southward1 and eastward1 and behold it with thine eyes3 for thou shalt not go over this ,jordan4 ,but charge ,joshua1 and encourage him1 and strengthen him2 for he shall go over before this people1 and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see4' 7,ver4 #bc-bh47 ,it is very affecting to find this eminent servant of ,god urging a request which could not be granted4 ,he longed to see that good land beyond ,jordan4 ,the portion chosen by the two tribes and a half could not satisfy his heart2 he desired to plant his foot upon the proper inheritance of the ,israel of ,god4 ,but it was not to be4 ,he had spoken unadvisedly with his lips at the waters of ,meribah2 and1 by the solemn and irreversible enactment of the divine government1 he was prohibited from crossing the ,jordan4 ,all this1 the beloved servant of ,christ most meekly rehearses in the ears of the people4 ,he does not hide from them the fact that the ,lord had refused to grant his request4 ,true1 he had to remind them that it was on their account--that was morally needful for them to hear2 still he tells them1 in the most unreserved manner1 that ,jehovah was wroth with him1 and that ,he refused to hear him--refused to allow him to cross the ,jordan1 and called upon him to resign his office and appoint his successor4 ,now1 it is most edifying to hear all this from the lips of ,moses himself4 ,it teaches us a fine lesson1 if only we are willing to learn it4 ,some of us find it very hard indeed to confess that we have done or said any thing wrong--very hard to own before our brethren that we have entirely missed the ,lord's mind in any particular case4 ,we are careful of our reputation2 we are touchy and tenacious4 ,and yet1 with strange inconsistency1 we admit1 or seem to admit1 in general terms1 that we are poor1 feeble1 erring creatures2 and that1 if left to ourselves1 there is nothing too bad for us to say or to do4 ,but it is one thing to make a most humiliating general confession1 and another thing altogether to own that1 in some given case1 we have made a gross mistake4 ,this latter is a confession which very few have grace to make4 ,some can hardly ever admit that they have done wrong4 ,not so that honored servant whose words we have just quoted4 ,he1 notwithstanding his elevated position as the called1 trusted1 and beloved servant of ,jehovah--the leader of the congregation1 whose rod had made the land of ,egypt to tremble1 was not ashamed to stand before the whole assembly of his brethren and confess his mistake--own that he had said what he ought not1 and that he had earnestly urged a request which ,jehovah could not grant4 ,does this lower ,moses in our estimation8 ,the very reverse3 it raises him immensely4 ,it is morally lovely to hear his confession1 to see how meekly he bows his head to the governmental dealings of ,god1 to mark the unselfishness of his acting toward the man who was to succeed him in his high office4 ,there was not a trace of jealousy or envy2 no exhibition of mortified pride4 ,with beautiful self-emptiness he steps down from his elevated position1 throws his mantle over the shoulders of his successor1 and encourages him to discharge1 with holy fidelity1 the duties of that high office which he himself had to resign4 ,he that humbleth himself shall be exalted4 ,how true was this in ,moses' case6 ,he humbled himself under the mighty hand of ,god4 ,he accepted the holy discipline imposed upon him by the divine government4 ,he uttered not a murmuring word at the refusal of his request2 he bows to it all1 and hence he was exalted in due time4 ,if government kept him out of ,canaan1 grace conducted him to ,pisgah's top1 from whence1 in company with his ,lord1 he was permitted to see that good land1 in all its fair proportions--see it1 not as inherited by ,israel1 but as given of ,god4 ,the reader will do well to ponder deeply the subject of grace and government4 ,it is indeed a very weighty and practical theme1 and one largely illustrated in ,scripture1 though but little understood amongst us4 ,it may seem wonderful to us1 hard to be understood1 that one so beloved as ,moses should be refused an entrance into the promised land2 but in this we see the solemn action of the divine government1 and we have to bow our heads and worship4 ,it was not merely that ,moses1 in his official capacity1 or as representing the legal system1 could not bring ,israel into the land4 ,this is true2 but it is not all4 ,moses spake unadvisedly with his lips4 ,he and ,aaron his brother failed to glorify ,god1 in the presence of the congregation1 and for this cause the ,lord spake unto ,moses and ,aaron1 ',because ye believed ,me not1 to sanctify ,me in the eyes of the children of ,israel1 therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which ,i have given them4' ,and again1 we read1 ,the ,lord spake unto ,moses and ,aaron in ,mount ,hor1 by the coast of the land of ,edom1 saying1 ',aaron shall be gathered unto his people2 for he shall not enter into the land which ,i have given unto the children of ,israel1 because ye rebelled against ,my word at the water of ,meribah4 ,take ,aaron and ,eleazar his son1 and bring them up unto ,mount ,hor2 and strip ,aaron of his garments1 and put them upon ,eleazar his son2 and ,aaron shall be gathered unto his people1 and shall die there4' ,all this is most solemn4 ,here we have the two leading men in the congregation1 the very men whom ,god had used to bring ,his people out of the land of ,egypt1 with mighty signs and wonders--that ,moses and ,aaron--men highly honored of ,god1 and yet refused entrance into ,canaan4 ,and for what8 ,let us mark the reason4--,because ye rebelled against ,my word4 ,let these words sink down into our hearts4 ,it is a terrible thing to rebel against the ,word of ,god2 and the more elevated the position of those who so rebel1 the more serious it is in every way1 and the more solemn and speedy must be the divine judgment4 ,for rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft1 and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry4 ,these are weighty words1 and we ought to ponder them deeply4 ,they were uttered in the ears of ,saul1 when he had failed to obey the word of the ,lord2 and thus we have before us examples of a prophet1 a priest1 and a king1 all judged1 under the government of ,god1 for an act of disobedience4 ,the prophet and the priest were refused entrance into the land of ,canaan1 and the king was deprived of his throne1 simply because they disobeyed the word of the ,lord4 ,let us remember this4 ,we1 in our fancied wisdom1 might deem all this very severe4 ,are we competent judges8 ,this is a grand question in all such matters4 ,let us beware how we presume to sit in judgment on the enactments of divine government4 ,adam was driven out of paradise1 ,aaron was stripped of his priestly robes1 ,moses was sternly refused entrance into ,canaan1 and ,saul was deprived of his kingdom--and for what8 ,was it for what men would call a grave moral offense--some scandalous sin4 ,no2 it was1 in each case1 for neglecting the word of the ,lord4 ,this is the serious thing for us to keep before us1 in this day of human willfulness1 in which men undertake to set up their own opinions1 to think for themselves1 and judge for themselves1 and act for themselves4 ,men proudly put the question1 ,has not every man a right to think for himself8 ,we reply1 ,most certainly not4 ,we have a right to obey4 ,to obey what8 ,not the commandments of men1 not the authority of the so-called church1 not the decrees of general councils--in a word1 not any merely human authority1 call it what you please1 but simply the ,word of the living ,god--the testimony of the ,holy ,ghost--the voice of holy ,scripture4 ,this it is that justly claims our implicit1 unhesitating1 unquestioning obedience4 ,to this we are to bow down our whole moral being4 ,we are not to reason1 we are not to speculate1 we are not to weigh consequences1 we have nothing to do with results1 we are not to say ,why8 or ,wherefore8 ,it is ours to obey1 and leave all the rest in the hands of our ,master4 ,what has a servant to do with consequences8 what business has he to reason as to results8 ,it is of the very essence of a servant to do what he is told1 regardless of all other considerations4 ,had ,adam remembered this1 he would not have been turned out of ,eden2 had ,moses and ,aaron remembered it1 they might have crossed the ,jordan2 had ,saul remembered it1 he would not have been deprived of his throne4 ,and so1 as we pass down along the stream of human history1 we see this weighty principle illustrated over and over again2 and we may rest assured1 it is a principle of abiding and universal importance4 ,and be it remembered1 we are not to attempt to weaken this great principle by any reasonings grounded upon ,god's foreknowledge of all that was to happen1 and all that man would do1 in the course of time4 ,men do reason in this way1 but it is a fatal mistake4 ,what has ,god's foreknowledge to do with man's responsibility8 ,is man responsible1 or not8 ,this is the question4 ,if1 as we most surely believe1 he is1 then nothing must be allowed to interfere with this responsibility4 ,man is called to obey the plain word of ,god2 he is in no wise responsible to know aught about ,god's secret purposes and counsels4 ,man's responsibility rests upon what is revealed1 not upon what is secret4 ,what1 for example1 did ,adam know about ,god's eternal plans and purposes when he was set in the garden of ,eden and forbidden to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil8 ,was his transgression in any wise modified by the stupendous fact that ,god took occasion from that very transgression to display1 in the view of all created intelligences1 ,his glorious scheme of redemption through the blood of the ,lamb8 ,clearly not4 ,he received a plain commandment1 and by that commandment his conduct should have been absolutely governed4 ,he disobeyed1 and was driven out of paradise into a world which has1 for well-nigh six thousand years1 exhibited the terrible consequences of one single act of disobedience--the act of taking the forbidden fruit4 ,true it is1 blessed be ,god1 that grace has come into this poor sin-stricken world and there reaped a harvest which could never have been reaped in the fields of an unfallen creation4 ,but man was judged for his transgression2 he was driven out by the hand of ,god in government1 and by an enactment of that government1 he has been compelled to eat bread in the sweat of his brow4 ,whatsoever a man no matter who soweth1 that shall he also reap4 ,here we have the condensed statement of the principle which runs all through the ,word1 and is illustrated on every page of the history of ,god's government4 ,it demands our very gravest consideration4 ,it is1 alas6 but little understood4 ,we allow our minds to get under the influence of one-sided and therefore false ideas of grace1 the effect of which is most pernicious4 ,grace is one thing1 and government is another3 they must never be confounded4 ,we would earnestly impress upon the heart of the reader the weighty fact that the most magnificent display of ,god's sovereign grace can never interfere with the solemn enactments of ,his government4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,now therefore hearken1 ,o ,israel1 unto the statutes and unto the judgments which ,i teach you1 for to do them1 that ye may live1 and go in and possess the land which the ,lord ,god of your fathers giveth you4 ,here we have very prominently before us the special characteristic of the entire book of ,deuteronomy4--,hearken and do1 that ye may live and possess4 ,this is a universal and abiding principle4 ,it was true for ,israel1 and it is true for us4 ,the pathway of life and the true secret of possession is simple obedience to the holy commandments of ,god4 ,we see this all through the inspired volume1 from cover to cover4 ,god has given us ,his ,word1 not to speculate upon it or discuss it1 but1 that we may obey it4 ,and it is as we1 through grace1 yield a hearty and happy obedience to our ,father's statutes and judgments1 that we tread the bright pathway of life1 and enter into the reality of all that ,god has treasured up for us in ,christ4 ,he that hath ,my commandments1 and keepeth them1 he it is that loveth ,me2 and he that loveth ,me shall be loved of ,my ,father1 and ,i will love him1 and will manifest ,myself to him4 ,how precious is this6 ,indeed1 it is unspeakable4 ,it is something quite peculiar4 ,it would be a very serious mistake to suppose that the privilege here spoken of is enjoyed by all believers4 ,it is not4 ,it is only enjoyed by such as yield a loving obedience to the commandments of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,it lies within the reach of all1 but all do not enjoy it1 because all are not obedient4 ,it is one thing to be a child1 and quite another to be an obedient child2 it is one thing to be saved1 and quite another thing to love the ,saviour1 and delight in all ,his most precious precepts4 ,we may see this continually illustrated in our family circles4 ,there1 for example1 are two sons1 and one of them only thinks of pleasing himself1 doing his will1 gratifying his own desires4 ,he takes no pleasure in his father's society1 does not take any pains to carry out his father's wishes1 knows hardly any thing of his mind1 and what he does know he utterly neglects or despises4 ,he is ready enough to avail himself of all the benefits which accrue to him from the relationship in which he stands to his father--ready enough to accept clothes1 books1 money--all1 in short1 that the father gives2 but he never seeks to gratify the father's heart by a loving attention to his will1 even in the smallest matters4 ,the other son is the direct opposite to all this4 ,he delights in being with his father2 he loves his society1 loves his ways1 loves his words2 he is constantly taking occasion to carry out his father's wishes1 to get him something that he knows will be agreeable to him4 ,he loves his father1 not for his gifts1 but for himself2 and he finds his richest enjoyment in being in his father's company and in doing his will4 ,now1 can we have any difficulty in seeing how very differently the father will feel towards those two sons8 ,true1 they are both his sons1 and he loves them both1 with a love grounded upon the relationship in which they stand to him2 but beside the love of relationship common to both1 there is the love of complacency peculiar to the obedient child4 ,it is impossible that a father can find pleasure in the society of a willful1 self-indulgent1 careless son4 ,such a son may occupy much of his thoughts1 he may spend many a sleepless night thinking about him and praying for him1 he would gladly spend and be spent for him2 but he is not agreeable to him1 does not possess his confidence1 cannot be the depositary of his thoughts4 ,all this demands the serious consideration of those who really desire to be acceptable or agreeable to the heart of our heavenly ,father and our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,we may rest assured of this1 that obedience is grateful to ,god2 and ,his commandments are not grievous--nay1 they are the sweet and precious expression of ,his love1 and the fruit and evidence of the relationship in which ,he stands to us4 ,and not only so1 but ,he graciously rewards our obedience by a fuller manifestation of ,himself to our souls1 and ,his dwelling with us4 ,this comes out in great fullness and beauty in our ,lord's reply to ,judas1 not ,iscariot1 for whose question we may be thankful--',lord1 how is it that ,thou wilt manifest ,thyself unto us1 and not unto the world8' ,jesus answered and said unto him1 ',if a man love ,me1 he will keep ,my words2 and ,my ,father will love him1 and ,we will come unto him1 and make ,our abode with him4' 7,john xiv47 ,here we are taught that it is not a question of the difference between the world and us1 inasmuch as the world knows nothing either of relationship or obedience1 and is therefore in no wise contemplated in our ,lord's words4 ,the world hates ,christ1 because it does not know ,him4 ,its language is1 ,depart from us2 for we desire not the knowledge of ,thy ways4 ,we will not have this ,man to reign over us4 ,such is the world1 even when polished by civilization1 and gilded with the profession of ,christianity4 ,there is1 underneath all the gilding1 all the polish1 a deep-seated hatred of the ,person and authority of ,christ4 ,his sacred1 peerless name is tacked on to the world's religion1 at least throughout baptized christendom2 but behind the drapery of religious profession1 there lurks a heart at enmity with ,god and ,his ,christ4 ,but our ,lord is not speaking of the world in ,john xiv4 ,he is shut in with ,his own1 and it is of them ,he is speaking4 ,were ,he to manifest ,himself to the world1 it could only be for judgment and eternal destruction4 ,but1 blessed be ,his name1 ,he does manifest ,himself to ,his own obedient children1 to those who have ,his commandments and keep them1 to those who love ,him and keep ,his words4 ,and1 let the reader thoroughly understand that when our ,lord speaks of ,his commandments1 ,his words1 and ,his sayings1 ,he does not mean the ten commandments1 or law of ,moses4 ,no doubt1 those ten commandments form a part of the whole canon of ,scripture--the inspired ,word of ,god2 but to confound the law of ,moses with the commandments of ,christ would be simply turning things upside down1 it would be to confound ,judaism with ,christianity--law and grace4 ,the two things are as distinct as any two things can be1 and must be so maintained by all who would be found in the current of the mind of ,god4 ,we are sometimes led astray by the mere sound of words2 and hence1 when we meet with the word commandments1 we instantly conclude that it must needs refer to the law of ,moses4 ,but this is a very great and mischievous mistake4 ,if the reader is not clear and established as to this1 let him close this volume and turn to the first eight chapters of the epistle to the ,romans1 and the whole of the epistle to the ,galatians1 and read them calmly and prayerfully1 as in the very presence of ,god1 with a mind freed from all theological bias and the influence of all previous religious training4 ,there he will learn1 in the fullest and clearest manner1 that the ,christian is not under law in any way1 or for any object whatsoever1 either for life1 for righteousness1 for holiness1 for walk1 or for any thing else4 ,in short1 the teaching of the entire ,new ,testament goes to establish1 beyond all question1 that the ,christian is not under law1 not of the world1 not in the flesh1 not in his sins4 ,the solid ground of all this is the accomplished redemption which we have in ,christ ,jesus1 in virtue of which we are sealed by the ,holy ,ghost1 and thus indissolubly united to1 and inseparably identified with a risen and glorified ,christ2 so that the apostle ,john can say of all believers1 all ,god's dear children1 ,as ,he ,christ is1 so are we in this world4 ,this settles the whole question1 for all who are content to be governed by holy ,scripture4 ,and as to all beside1 discussion is worse than useless4 ,we have digressed from our immediate subject1 in order to meet any difficulty arising from a misunderstanding of the word commandments4 ,the reader cannot too carefully guard against the tendency to confound the commandments spoken of in ,john xiv4 with the commandments of ,moses1 given in ,exodus xx4 ,and yet we reverently believe that ,exodus xx4 is as truly inspired as ,john xiv4 ,and now1 ere we finally turn from the subject which has been engaging us1 we would ask the reader to refer1 for a few moments1 to a piece of inspired history which illustrates1 in a very striking way1 the difference between an obedient and disobedient child of ,god4 ,he will find it in ,genesis xviii1 xix4 ,it is a profoundly interesting study1 presenting a contrast instructive1 suggestive1 and practical beyond expression4 ,we are not going to dwell upon it1 having in some measure done so in our ,notes on the ,book of ,genesis2 but we would merely remind the reader that he has before him1 in these two chapters1 the history of two saints of ,god4 ,lot was just as much a child of ,god as ,abraham4 ,we have no more doubt that ,lot is amongst the spirits of just men made perfect than that ,abraham is there4 ,this1 we think1 cannot be called in question1 inasmuch as the inspired apostle ,peter tells us that ,lot's righteous soul was vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked4 ,but mark the grave difference between the two men4 ,the ,lord ,himself visited ,abraham1 sat with him1 and partook readily of his hospitality4 ,this was a high honor indeed1 a rare privilege--a privilege which ,lot never knew1 an honor to which he never attained4 ,the ,lord never visited him in ,sodom2 ,he merely sent ,his angels1 ,his ministers of power1 the agents of ,his government4 ,and even they1 at first1 sternly refused to enter ,lot's house or to partake of his proffered hospitality4 ,their withering reply was1 ,nay1 but we will abide in the street all night4 ,and when they did enter his house1 it was only to protect him from the lawless violence with which he was surrounded1 and to drag him out of the wretched circumstances into which1 for worldly gain and position1 he had plunged himself4 ,could contrast be more vivid8 ,but further1 the ,lord delighted in ,abraham1 manifested ,himself to him1 opened ,his mind to him1 told him of ,his plans and purposes--what ,he was about to do with ,sodom4 ,shall ,i1 said ,he1 hide from ,abraham that thing which ,i do2 seeing that ,abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation1 and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him8 ,for ,i know him1 that he will command his children and his household after him1 and they shall keep the way of the ,lord1 to do justice and judgment1 that the ,lord may bring upon ,abraham that which he hath spoken of him4 ,we could hardly have a more telling illustration of ,john xiv4 #ba1 #bc1 although the scene occurred two thousand years before the words were uttered4 ,have we aught like this in the history of ,lot8 ,alas6 no4 ,it could not be4 ,he had no nearness to ,god1 no knowledge of ,his mind1 no insight into ,his plans and purposes4 ,how could he8 ,sunk1 as he was1 in the low moral depths of ,sodom1 how could he know the mind of ,god8 ,blinded by the murky atmosphere which inwrapped the guilty cities of the plain1 how could he see into the future8 ,utterly impossible4 ,if a man is mixed up with the world1 he can only see things from the world's stand-point2 he can only measure things by the world's standard1 and think of them with the world's thoughts4 ,hence it is that the ,church1 in its ,sardis condition1 is threatened with the coming of the ,lord as a thief1 instead of being cheered with the hope of ,his coming as the bright and morning star4 ,if the professing church has sunk to the world's level--as1 alas6 she has--she can only contemplate the future from the world's point of view4 ,this accounts for the feeling of dread with which the great majority of professing ,christians look at the subject of the ,lord's coming4 ,they are looking for ,him as a thief1 instead of the blessed ,bridegroom of their hearts4 ,how few there are1 comparatively1 who love ,his appearing6 ,the great majority of professors 7we grieve to have to pen the words7 find their type in ,lot rather than in ,abraham4 ,the ,church has departed from her proper ground2 she has gone down from her true moral elevation1 and mingled herself with that world which hates and despises her absent ,lord4 ,still1 thank ,god1 there are a few names1 even in ,sardis1 which have not defiled their garments--a few living stones1 amid the smouldering ashes of lifeless profession--a few lights twinkling amid the moral gloom of cold1 nominal1 heartless1 worldly ,christianity4 ,and not only so1 but in the ,laodicean phase of the ,church's history1 which presents a still lower and more hopeless condition of things1 when the whole professing body is about to be spued out of the mouth of the faithful and true witness--even at this advanced stage of failure and departure1 those gracious words fall1 with soul-stirring power1 on the attentive ear1 ,behold1 ,i stand at the door1 and knock3 if any man hear ,my voice1 and open the door1 ,i will come in to him1 and will sup with him1 and he with ,me4#g #g ,to apply the solemn address of ,christ to the church of ,laodicea1 as we sometimes find it done in modern evangelical preaching1 to the case of the sinner1 is a great mistake4 ,no doubt1 what the preacher means is right enough1 but it is not presented here4 ,it is not ,christ knocking at the door of a sinner's heart1 but knocking at the door of the professing church4 ,what a fact is this6 ,how full of deep and awful solemnity as regards the church6 ,what an end to come to6--,christ outside6 ,but what grace1 as regards ,christ1 for ,he is knocking6 ,he wants to come in2 ,he is still lingering1 in patient grace and changeless love1 ready to come in to any faithful individual heart that will only open to ,him4 ,if any man--even one6 ,in ,sardis1 ,he could speak positively of a few2 in ,laodicea1 ,he can only speak doubtfully as to finding one4 ,but should there be even one1 ,he will come in to him1 and sup with him4 ,precious ,saviour6 ,faithful ,lover of our souls6 ,jesus ,christ1 the same yesterday1 to-day1 and forever4 ,reader1 need we wonder that the enemy should seek to mutilate and misapply the solemn and searching address to the church of ,laodicea--the professing body in the last dreary stage of its history8 ,we have no hesitation in saying that to apply it merely to the case of an unconverted soul is to deprive the professing church of one of the most pertinent1 pungent1 and powerful appeals within the covers of the ,new ,testament4 ,thus1 in the days of professing ,christianity1 as in the days of the patriarchs--in the times of the ,new ,testament1 as in those of the ,old1 we see the same value and importance attached to a hearing ear and an obedient heart4 ,abraham1 in the plains of ,mamre1 the pilgrim and the stranger1 the faithful and obedient child of ,god1 tasted the rare privilege of entertaining the ,lord of glory--a privilege which could not be known by one who had chosen his place and his portion in a sphere doomed to destruction4 ,so1 also1 in the days of ,laodicean indifference and boastful pretension1 the truly obedient heart is cheered with the sweet promise of sitting down to sup with ,him who is the ,amen1 the faithful and true witness1 the beginning of the creation of ,god4 ,in a word1 let the condition of things be what it may1 there is no limit to the blessing of the individual soul who will only hearken to the voice of ,christ1 and keep ,his commandments4 ,let us remember this4 ,let it sink down into the very deepest depths of our moral being4 ,nothing can rob us of the blessings and privileges flowing from obedience4 ,the truth of this shines out before our eyes in every section and on every page of the volume of ,god4 ,at all times1 in all places1 and under all circumstances1 the obedient soul was happy in ,god1 and ,god was happy in him4 ,it always holds good1 whatever be the character of the dispensation1 that1 ,to this man will ,i look1 even to him who is of a contrite spirit1 and trembles at ,my word4 ,nothing can ever alter or touch this4 ,it meets us in the fourth chapter of our blessed book of ,deuteronomy1 in the words with which this section opens--,now therefore hearken1 ,o ,israel1 unto the statutes and unto the judgments which ,i teach you1 for to do1 that ye may live1 and go in and possess the land which the ,lord ,god of your fathers giveth you4 ,it meets us in those precious words of our ,lord1 in ,john xiv1 on which we have been dwelling--,he that hath ,my commandments and keepeth them1 he it is that loveth ,me1 etc4 ,and again1 ,if a man love ,me1 he will keep ,my sayings4#h ,it shines with peculiar brightness in the words of the inspired apostle ,john--,beloved1 if our heart condemn us not1 then have we confidence toward ,god4 ,and whatsoever we ask1 we receive of ,him1 because we keep ,his commandments1 and do those things that are pleasing in ,his sight4 ,and this is ,his commandment1 that we should believe on the name of ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ1 and love one another1 as he gave us commandment4 ,and he that keepeth ,his commandments dwelleth in ,him1 and ,he in him4 7#a ,john iii4 #ba-bd47 #h ,there is an interesting difference between the ,lord's commandments and sayings4 ,the former set forth1 distinctly and definitely1 what we ought to do2 the latter are the expression of ,his mind4 ,if ,i give my child a command1 it is the statement of his duty2 and if he loves me1 he will delight to do it4 ,but if he has heard me say ,i like to see such a thing done1 although ,i have not actually told him to do it1 it will touch my heart much more deeply to see him go and do that thing in order to gratify me1 than if ,i had given him a positive command4 ,now1 ought we not to try and please the heart of ,christ8 ,should we not labor to be agreeable to ,him8 ,he has made us accepted2 surely we ought to seek1 in every possible way1 to be acceptable to ,him4 ,he delights in a loving obedience2 it was what ,he ,himself rendered to the ,father4--,i delight to do ,thy will2 yea1 ,thy law is within ,my heart4 ,if ye keep ,my commandments1 ye shall abide in ,my love2 even as ,i have kept ,my ,father's commandments1 and abide in ,his love4 ,oh1 that we may drink more deeply into the spirit of ,jesus1 walk in ,his blessed footsteps1 and render ,him a more loving1 devoted1 and whole-hearted obedience in all things6 ,let us earnestly seek after these things1 beloved ,christian reader1 that ,his heart may be gratified1 and ,his name glorified in us1 and in our entire practical career from day to day4 ,passages might easily be multiplied1 but there is no need4 ,those which we have quoted set before us1 in the clearest and fullest way possible1 the very highest motive for obedience1 namely1 its being agreeable to the heart of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ--well-pleasing to ,god4 ,true1 we owe a hearty obedience on every ground4 ,we are not our own2 we are bought with a price4 ,we owe our life1 our peace1 our righteousness1 our salvation1 our everlasting felicity and glory1 all to ,him2 so that nothing can exceed the moral weight of ,his claims upon us for a life of whole-hearted obedience4 ,but above and beyond ,his moral claims stands the marvelous fact that ,his heart is gratified1 ,his spirit refreshed1 by our keeping ,his commandments and doing those things that are pleasing in ,his sight4 ,beloved ,christian reader1 can any thing exceed the moral power of such a motive as this8 ,only think of our being privileged to give pleasure to the heart of our beloved ,lord6 ,what sweetness1 what interest1 what preciousness1 what holy dignity1 it imparts to every little act of obedience to know that it is grateful to the heart of our ,father6 ,how far beyond the legal system is this6 ,it is a most perfect contrast1 in its every phase and every feature4 ,the difference between the legal system and ,christianity is the difference between death and life1 bondage and liberty1 condemnation and righteousness1 distance and nearness1 doubt and certainty4 ,how monstrous the attempt to amalgamate these two things--to work them up into one system1 as though they were but two branches from the one stem6 ,what hopeless confusion must be the result of any such effort6 ,how terrible the effect of seeking to place souls under the influence of the two things6 ,as well might we attempt to combine the sun's meridian beams with the profound darkness of midnight4 ,looked at from a divine and heavenly stand-point1 judged in the light of the ,new ,testament1 measured by the standard of the heart of ,god1 the mind of ,christ1 there could not be a more hideous anomaly than that which presents itself to our view in christendom's effort to combine law and grace4 ,and as to the dishonor done to ,god1 the wound inflicted on the heart of ,christ1 the grief and despite offered to the ,holy ,ghost1 the damage done to the truth of ,god1 the grievous wrong perpetrated upon the beloved lambs and sheep of the flock of ,christ1 the terrible stumbling-block thrown in the way of both ,jew and ,gentile1 and1 in short1 the serious injury done to the entire testimony of ,god during the last eighteen centuries1 the judgment-seat of ,christ can alone declare it2 and oh1 what an awful declaration that will be6 ,it is too tremendous to contemplate4 ,but there are many pious souls throughout the length and breath of the professing church who conscientiously believe that the only possible way to produce obedience1 to attain to practical holiness1 to secure a godly walk1 to keep our evil nature in order1 is to put people under the law4 ,they seem to fear that if souls are taken from under the school-master1 with his rod and rudiments1 there is an end to all moral order4 ,in the absence of the authority of law1 they look for nothing but hopeless confusion4 ,to take away the ten commandments as a rule of life1 is1 in their judgment1 to remove those grand moral embankments which the hand of ,god has erected to stem the tide of human lawlessness4 ,we can fully understand their difficulty4 ,most of us have had to encounter it1 in one shape or another4 ,but we must seek to meet it in ,god's way4 ,it is of no possible use to cling1 with fond tenacity1 to our own notions1 in the face of the plainest and most direct teaching of holy ,scripture4 ,we must1 sooner or later1 give up all such notions4 ,nothing will1 nothing can1 stand but the ,word of our ,god--the voice of the ,holy ,ghost--the authority of ,scripture--the imperishable teachings of that peerless revelation which our ,father has1 in ,his infinite grace1 put into our hands4 ,to that we must listen1 with profound and reverent attention2 to it we must bow down1 with unquestioning and unqualified obedience4 ,we must not presume to hold a single opinion of our own3 ,god's opinion must be ours4 ,we must clear out all the rubbish1 which1 by the influence of mere human teaching1 has accumulated in our minds1 and have every chamber thoroughly cleansed by the action of the ,word and ,spirit of ,god1 and thoroughly ventilated by the pure and bracing air of the new creation4 ,furthermore1 we must learn to confide implicitly in every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of ,god4 ,we must not reason1 we must not judge1 we must not discuss3 we must simply believe4 ,if man speaks1 if it be a mere question of human authority1 then indeed we must judge1 because man has no right to command4 ,we must judge what he says1 not by our own opinions1 or by any human standard1 creed1 or confession of faith1 but by the ,word of ,god4 ,but when ,scripture speaks1 all discussion is closed4 ,this is an unspeakable consolation4 ,it is not within the compass of human language to set forth adequately the value or the moral importance of this great fact4 ,it delivers the soul completely from the blinding power of self-will on the one hand1 and of mere subjection to human authority on the other4 ,it brings us into direct1 personal1 living contact with the authority of ,god2 and this is life1 peace1 liberty1 moral power1 true elevation1 divine certainty1 and holy stability4 ,it puts an end to doubts and fears1 to all the fluctuations of mere human opinion1 so perplexing to the mind1 so torturing to the heart4 ,we are no longer tossed about with every wind of doctrine1 every wave of human thought4 ,god has spoken4 ,this is quite enough4 ,here the heart finds its deep and settled repose4 ,it has made its escape from the stormy ocean of theological controversy1 and cast anchor in the blessed haven of divine revelation4 ,hence1 therefore1 we would say to the pious reader of these lines1 if you would know the mind of ,god on the subject before us--if you would know the ground1 character1 and object of ,christian obedience1 you must simply listen to the voice of holy ,scripture4 ,and what does it say8 ,does it send us back to ,moses1 to teach us how to live8 ,does it send us back to the palpable mount1 in order to secure holy living8 ,does it put us under the law1 to keep the flesh in order8 ,hear what it says4 ,yes2 hearken and ponder4 ,take the following words from ,romans vi4--words of emancipating1 holy power3 ,for sin shall not have dominion over you2 for ye are not under law1 but under grace4 ,now1 we most earnestly entreat the reader to let these words enter into the very depths of his soul4 ,the ,holy ,ghost declares1 in the simplest and most emphatic manner1 that ,christians are not under law4 ,if we were under law1 sin would have dominion over us4 ,indeed1 we invariably find1 in ,scripture1 that sin1 law1 and flesh are linked together4 ,a soul under law cannot possibly enjoy full deliverance from the dominion of sin2 and in this we can see at a glance the fallacy of the whole legal system1 and the utter delusion of seeking to produce holy living by putting souls under the law4 ,it is simply putting them into the very place where sin can lord it over them1 and rule them with absolute sway4 ,how is it possible1 then1 to produce holiness by law8 ,it is absolutely hopeless4 ,but let us turn1 for a moment1 to ,romans vii4 ,wherefore1 my brethren1 ye also--and all true believers1 all ,god's people--are become dead to the law by the body of ,christ2 that ye should be married to another1 even to ,him who is raised from the dead1 that we should bring forth fruit unto ,god4 ,now1 it is perfectly plain that we cannot be dead to the law and under the law at the same time4 ,it may perhaps be argued that the expression1 dead to the law is merely a figure4 ,well1 supposing it be so1 we ask1 ,a figure of what8 ,surely it cannot be a figure of persons under law4 ,nay1 it is a figure of the very opposite4 ,and let us mark particularly1 the apostle does not say the law is dead4 ,nothing of the kind4 ,the law is not dead1 but we are dead to it4 ,we have passed1 by the death of ,christ1 out of the sphere to which the law belongs4 ,christ took our place2 ,he was made under the law2 and1 on the cross1 ,he was made sin for us4 ,but ,he died for us1 and we died in ,him2 and ,he has thus taken us clean out of the position in which we were under the dominion of sin1 and under law1 and introduced us into an entirely new position1 in living association and union with ,himself1 so that it can be said4 ,as ,he is1 so are we in this world4 ,is ,he under law8 ,assuredly not4 ,well1 neither are we4 ,has sin any claim upon ,him8 ,none whatever4 ,neither has it any upon us4 ,we are1 as to our standing1 as ,he is in the presence of ,god2 and therefore to put us back under law would be a complete overturning of the entire ,christian position1 and a most positive and flagrant contradiction of the very plainest statements of holy ,scripture4 ,now1 we would1 in all simplicity and godly sincerity1 ask1 ,how could holy living be promoted by removing the very foundation of ,christianity8 ,how could indwelling sin be subdued by putting us under the very system that gave sin power over us8 ,how could true ,christian obedience ever be produced by flying in the face of holy ,scripture8 ,we confess we cannot conceive any thing more thoroughly preposterous4 ,surely a divine end can only be gained by pursuing a divine way4 ,now1 ,god's way of giving us deliverance from the dominion of sin is by delivering us from under law2 and hence all those who teach that ,christians are under law are plainly at issue with ,god4 ,tremendous consideration for all who desire to be teachers of the law6 ,but let us hear further words from the seventh chapter of ,romans4 ,the apostle goes on to say1 ,for when we were in the flesh1 the motions of sins1 which were by the law1 did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death4 ,but now we are delivered from the law1 being dead or1 having died to that wherein we were held3 that we should serve in newness of spirit1 and not in the oldness of the letter4#i #i ,the rendering of ,romans vii4 #f in our authorized version is manifestly erroneous1 inasmuch as it teaches that the law is dead1 which is not true4 ,the law is good1 if a man use it lawfully4 7#a ,tim4 i47 ,and again1 ,the law is holy4 7,rom4 vii47 ,scripture never teaches that the law is dead1 but it teaches that the believer is dead to the law--a totally different thing4 ,but further1 cannot possibly apply to the law1 as any well-taught school-boy can see at a glance2 it applies to us--believers4 ,were it the law1 the word would be 4 ,here1 again1 all is as clear as a sunbeam4 ,what means the expression1 ,when we were in the flesh8 ,does it--can it mean that we are still in that condition8 ,clearly not4 ,if ,i were to say1 ,when ,i was in ,london1 would any one understand that ,i am in ,london still8 ,the thought is absurd4 ,but what does the apostle mean by the expression1 ,when we were in the flesh8 ,he simply refers to a thing of the past--to a condition that no longer obtains4 ,are believers1 then1 not in the flesh8 ,so ,scripture emphatically declares4 ,but does this mean that they are not in the body8 ,assuredly not4 ,they are in the body as to the fact of their existence1 but not in the flesh as to the ground of their standing before ,god4 ,in chapter viii4 we have the most distinct statement of this point4--,so then they that are in the flesh cannot please ,god4 ,but ye are not in the flesh1 but in the ,spirit1 if so be that the ,spirit of ,god dwell in you4 ,here we have the statement of a most solemn fact1 and the setting forth of a most precious1 glorious privilege4 ,they that are in the flesh cannot please ,god4 ,they may be very moral1 very amiable1 very religious1 very benevolent2 but they cannot please ,god4 ,their entire position is false4 ,the source whence all the streams flow is corrupt2 the root and stem whence all the branches emanate are rotten--hopelessly bad4 ,they cannot produce a single atom of good fruit--fruit that ,god can accept4 ,they cannot please ,god4 ,they must get into an entirely new position2 they must have a new life1 new motives1 new objects--in a word1 they must be a new creation4 ,how solemn is all this6 ,let us weigh it thoroughly1 and see if we understand the apostle's words4 ,but on the other hand1 mark the glorious privilege of all true believers4 ,ye are not in the flesh4 ,believers are no longer in a position in which they cannot please ,god4 ,they have a new nature--a new life1 every movement1 every outflow1 of which is agreeable to ,god4 ,the very feeblest breathing of the divine life is precious to ,god4 ,of this life1 the ,holy ,ghost is the power1 ,christ the object1 glory the goal1 heaven the home4 ,all is divine1 and therefore perfect4 ,true1 the believer is liable to err1 prone in himself to wander1 capable of sinning4 ,in him 7that is1 in his flesh17 dwelleth no good thing4 ,but his standing is based on the eternal stability of the grace of ,god1 and his state is met by the divine provision which that grace has made for him in the precious atonement and all-prevailing advocacy of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,thus he is forever delivered from that terrible system in which the prominent figures are1 ,flesh1 ,law1 ,sin1 ,death--melancholy group1 most surely6--and he is brought into that glorious scene in which the prominent figures are1 ,life1 ,liberty1 ,grace1 ,peace1 ,righteousness1 ,holiness1 ,glory1 ,christ4 ,for ye are not come to the mount that might be touched--that is1 the palpable mount--and that burned with fire1 nor unto blackness1 and darkness1 and tempest1 and the sound of a trumpet1 and the voice of words2 which voice they that heard1 entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more3 7,for they could not endure that which was commanded1 ',and if so much as a beast touch the mountain1 it shall be stoned1 or thrust through with a dart3' and so terrible was the sight1 that ,moses said1 ',i exceedingly fear and quake3'7 but ye are come unto ,mount ,sion1 and unto the city of the living ,god1 the heavenly ,jerusalem1 and to an innumerable company of angels1 the general assembly1 the church of the first-born ones which are written in heaven1 and to ,god the ,judge of all1 and to the spirits of just men made perfect1 and to ,jesus the ,mediator of the new covenant1 and to the blood of sprinkling1 that speaketh better things than ,abel4 7,heb4 xii47 ,thus we have endeavored to meet the difficulty of any conscientious reader who up to the moment in which he opened this volume had cherished the conviction that it is only by putting believers under the law that practical holiness and true obedience can be attained4 ,we trust he has followed us through the line of ,scripture evidence which we have laid before him4 ,if so1 he will see that to place believers in such a position is to do away with the very foundations of ,christianity--to abandon grace--to give up ,christ--to go back to the flesh1 in which we cannot please ,god1 and to place ourselves under the curse4 ,in short1 the legal system of men is diametrically opposed to the teaching of the entire ,new ,testament4 ,it was against this system and its upholders that the blessed apostle ,paul1 during his whole life1 ever testified4 ,he absolutely abhorred it1 and continually denounced it4 ,the law-teachers were ever seeking to sap and undermine his blessed labors1 and subvert the souls of his beloved children in the faith4 ,it is impossible to read his burning sentences in the epistle to the ,galatians1 his withering references in his epistle to the ,philippians1 or his solemn warnings in the epistle to the ,hebrews1 and not see how intense was his abhorrence of the whole legal system of the law-teachers1 and how bitterly he wept over the ruins of the testimony so dear to his large1 loving1 devoted heart4 ,but it is possible that after all we have written1 and notwithstanding the full tide of ,scripture evidence to which we have called the reader's attention1 he may still feel disposed to ask1 ,is there not a danger of unholy laxity and levity if the restraining power of the law be removed8 ,to this we reply1 ,god is wiser than we are4 ,he knows best how to cure laxity and levity1 and how to produce the right sort of obedience4 ,he tried the law1 and what did it do8 ,it worked wrath2 it caused the offense to abound2 it developed the motions of sins2 it brought in death2 it was the strength of sin2 it deprived the sinner of all power2 it slew him2 it was condemnation2 it cursed all who had to do with it--,as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse2 and all this1 not because of any defect in the law1 but because of man's total inability to keep it4 ,is it not plain to the reader that neither life nor righteousness nor holiness nor true ,christian obedience could ever be attained under law8 ,is it possible1 after all that has passed in review before us1 that he can have a single question1 a single doubt1 a single difficulty8 ,we trust not4 ,no one who is willing to bow down to the teaching and authority of the ,new ,testament can adhere to the legal system for one hour4 ,however1 ere we turn from this weighty and all-important subject1 we shall place before the reader a passage or two of ,scripture in which the moral glories of ,christianity shine forth with peculiar lustre1 in vivid contrast to the entire ,mosaic economy4 ,first of all1 let us take that familiar passage at the opening of the eighth of ,romans1 ,there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in ,christ ,jesus4 ,for the law of the spirit of life in ,christ ,jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death4 ,for what the law could not do1 in that it was weak through the flesh1 ,god sending ,his own ,son in the likeness of sinful flesh1 and for sin1 condemned sin in the flesh2 that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us1 who walk not after the flesh1 but after the ,spirit4 7,ver4 #a-d47 ,now1 we must bear in mind that verse #a sets forth the standing of every ,christian--his position before ,god4 ,he is in ,christ ,jesus4 ,this settles every thing4 ,he is not in the flesh2 he is not under law2 he is absolutely and eternally in ,christ ,jesus4 ,hence there is1 there can be1 no condemnation4 ,the apostle is not speaking of or referring to our walk or our state4 ,if he were1 he could not possibly speak of no condemnation4 ,the most perfect ,christian walk that ever was exhibited1 the most perfect ,christian state that ever was attained1 would afford some ground for judgment and condemnation4 ,there is not a ,christian on the face of the earth who has not daily to judge his state and his walk--his moral condition and his practical ways4 ,how1 then1 could no condemnation ever stand connected with1 or be based upon1 ,christian walk8 ,utterly impossible4 ,in order to be free from all condemnation1 we must have what is divinely perfect1 and no ,christian walk is or ever was that4 ,even a ,paul had to withdraw his words 7,acts xxiii4 #e474 ,he repented of having written a letter 7#b ,cor4 vii4 #h474 ,a perfect walk and a perfect state were only found in ,one4 ,in all beside--even the holiest and best1 failure is found4 ,hence1 therefore1 the second clause of ,romans viii4 #a must be rejected3 it is not ,scripture4 ,this1 we think1 would be seen by any one really taught of ,god1 apart from all question of mere criticism4 ,any spiritual mind would detect the incongruity between the words no condemnation and walk4 ,the two things cannot be made to harmonize4 ,and here1 we doubt not1 is just where thousands of pious souls have been plunged into difficulty as to this really magnificent and emancipating passage4 ,the joyful sound1 ,no condemnation1 has been robbed of its deep1 full1 and blessed significance by a clause introduced by some scribe or copyist whose feeble vision was doubtless dazzled by the brightness of that free1 absolute1 sovereign grace which shines in the opening statement of the chapter4 ,how often have we heard such words as these6--,oh1 yes2 ,i know there is no condemnation to them that are in ,christ ,jesus2 but that is if they walk not after the flesh1 but after the ,spirit4 ,now1 ,i cannot say that ,i walk thus4 ,i long to do so1 and ,i mourn over my failure4 ,i would give worlds to be able to walk more perfectly2 but1 alas6 alas6 ,i have to judge myself--my state1 my walk1 my ways--each day1 each hour4 ,this being so1 ,i dare not apply to myself the precious words1 'no condemnation4' ,i hope to be able to do so some day1 when ,i have made more progress in personal holiness2 but in my present state1 ,i should deem it the very height of presumption to appropriate to myself the precious truth contained in the first clause of ,romans viii4 ,such thoughts as these have passed through the minds of most of us1 if they have not been clothed in words4 ,but the simple and conclusive answer to all such legal reasonings is found in the fact that the second clause of ,romans viii4 #a is not ,scripture at all1 but a very misleading interpolation1 foreign to the spirit and genius of ,christianity1 opposed to the whole line of argument in the context where it occurs1 and utterly subversive of the solid peace of the ,christian4 ,it is a fact well known to all who are conversant with biblical criticism1 that all the leading authorities are agreed in rejecting the second clause of ,romans viii4 #a4aj ,and in this1 it is simply a matter of criticism confirming1 as all sound criticism must do1 the conclusion at which a really spiritual mind would arrive without any knowledge of criticism at all4 #aj ,it may be that the reader feels a little jealous of any interference with our excellent ,english ,bible4 ,he may1 like many others1 feel disposed to say1 ,how is an uneducated man to know what is ,scripture and what is not8 ,must he depend upon scholars and critics to give him certainty on so grave and important a question8 ,if so1 is it not the same old story of looking to human authority to confirm the ,word of ,god8 ,by no means4 ,it is a totally different thing4 ,we all know that all copies and translations must be1 in some points1 imperfect1 as being human2 but we believe that the same grace which gave the ,word in the original ,hebrew and ,greek languages1 has most marvelously watched over our ,english translation1 so that a poor man1 at the back of a mountain1 may rest assured that he possesses in his common ,english ,bible the revelation of the mind of ,god4 ,it is wonderful1 after all the labors of scholars and critics1 how few passages1 comparatively1 have had to be touched2 and not one affecting any foundation-doctrine of ,christianity4 ,god1 who graciously gave us the holy ,scriptures at the first1 has watched over them and preserved them to ,his ,church in a most wonderful manner4 ,moreover1 ,he has seen fit to make use of the labors of scholars and critics1 from age to age1 to clear the sacred text of errors which1 through the infirmity attaching to all human agency1 had crept into it4 ,should these corrections shake our confidence in the integrity of ,scripture as a whole8 or lead us to doubt that we possess1 in very deed1 the ,word of ,god8 ,nay1 rather should they lead us to bless ,god for ,his goodness in watching over ,his ,word in order to preserve it in its integrity for ,his ,church4 ,but in addition to all that has been advanced in reference to this question1 we cannot but think that the occurrence of the clause1 who walk not after the flesh1 but after the ,spirit1 in verse #d1 affords abundant evidence of its misplacement in verse #a4 ,we cannot1 for a moment1 admit the thought of redundancy in holy ,scripture4 ,now1 in verse #d it is a question of walk--a question of our fulfilling the righteousness mark the word-- of the law1 and hence the clause is in its right1 because divinely fitted1 place4 ,a person who walks in the ,spirit--as every ,christian ought--fulfills the righteousness of the law4 ,love is the fulfilling of the law2 and love will lead us to do what the ten commandments could never effect1 namely1 to love our enemies4 ,no lover of holiness1 no advocate of practical righteousness1 need ever be the least afraid of losing aught by abandoning the legal ground1 and taking his place on the elevated platform of true ,christianity--by turning from ,mount ,sinai to ,mount ,zion--by passing from ,moses to ,christ4 ,no2 he only reaches a higher source1 a deeper spring1 a wider sphere of holiness1 righteousness1 and practical obedience4 ,and then1 if any one should feel disposed to ask1 ,does not the line of argument which we have been pursuing tend to rob the law of its characteristic glory8 ,we reply1 ,most assuredly not4 ,so far from this1 the law was never so magnified1 never so vindicated1 never so established1 never so glorified1 as by that precious work which forms the imperishable foundation of all the privileges1 the blessings1 the dignities1 and the glories of ,christianity4 ,the blessed apostle anticipates and answers this very question in the earlier part of his epistle to the ,romans4 ,do we then1 he says1 make void the law through faith8 ,far be the thought2 yea1 we establish the law4 ,how could the law be more gloriously vindicated1 honored1 and magnified than in the life and death of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ8 ,will any one seek1 for a moment1 to maintain the extravagant notion that it is magnifying the law to put ,christians under it8 ,we fondly trust the reader will not4 ,ah6 no2 all this line of things must be completely abandoned by those whose privilege it is to walk in the light of the new creation2 who know ,christ as their life and ,christ as their righteousness1 ,christ their sanctification1 ,christ their great exemplar1 ,christ their model1 ,christ their all and in all2 who find their motive for obedience1 not in the fear of the curses of a broken law1 but in the love of ,christ1 according to those exquisitely beautiful words1 ,the love of ,christ--not the law of ,moses--constraineth us2 because we thus judge1 that if one died for all1 then were all dead4 ,and ,he died for all1 that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves1 but unto ,him which died for them and rose again4 7#b ,cor4 v47 ,could the law ever produce aught like this8 ,impossible4 ,but1 blessed forever be the ,god of all grace1 what the law could not do1 not because it was not holy1 just1 and good1 but in that it was weak through the flesh--the workman was all right1 but the material was rotten1 and nothing could be made of it2 but ,god sending ,his own ,son in the likeness of sinful flesh1 and for sin1 condemned sin in the flesh1 that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us1 who1 as risen with ,christ1 linked with ,him by the ,holy ,ghost1 in the power of a new and everlasting life1 walk not after the flesh1 but after the ,spirit4 ,this1 and only this1 is true1 practical ,christianity2 and if the reader will turn to the second of ,galatians1 he will find another of those fine1 glowing utterances of the blessed apostle1 setting forth1 with divine force and fullness1 the special glory of ,christian life and walk4 ,it is in connection with his faithful rebuke of the apostle ,peter at ,antioch1 when that beloved and honored servant of ,christ1 through his characteristic weakness1 had been led to step down1 for a moment1 from the elevated moral ground on which the gospel of the grace of ,god places the soul4 ,we cannot do better than quote the entire paragraph for the reader3 every sentence of it is pregnant with spiritual power4 ,but when ,peter was come to ,antioch1 ,i withstood him to the face4 ,he did not go behind his back1 to disparage and depreciate him in the view of others1 even though he was to be blamed4 ,for before that certain came from ,james1 he did eat with the ,gentiles2 but when they were come1 he withdrew and separated himself1 fearing them which were of the circumcision4 ,and the other ,jews dissembled likewise with him1 insomuch that ,barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation4 ,but when ,i saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel1 ,i said unto ,peter before them all1 ,if thou1 being a ,jew1 livest after the manner of ,gentiles1 and not as do the ,jews1 why compellest thou the ,gentiles to live as do the ,jews8 ,we who are ,jews by nature1 and not sinners of the ,gentiles1 knowing that a man is not justified by works of law1 but by the faith of ,jesus ,christ1 even we have believed in ,jesus ,christ1 that we might be justified by the faith of ,christ1 and not by works of law2 for by works of law shall no flesh be justified4 ,but if1 while we seek to be justified by ,christ1 we ourselves also are found sinners1 is therefore ,christ the minister of sin8 ,god forbid or1 ,far be the thought-- 44 ,for if ,i build again the things which ,i destroyed1 ,i make myself a transgressor4 ,for if the things were right1 why destroy them8 and if they were wrong1 why build them again8 ,for ,i1 through law1 am dead to law1 that ,i might live unto ,god4 ,i am crucified with ,christ3 nevertheless ,i live2 yet not ,i1 but ,christ liveth in me2 and the life which ,i now live in the flesh1 ,i live not by the law1 as a rule of life1 but by the faith of the ,son of ,god1 who loved me1 and gave ,himself for me4 ,i do not frustrate the grace of ,god2 for if righteousness come by law1 then ,christ is dead in vain or1 has died for nothing--44 7,gal4 ii4 #aa-ba47 ,here1 then1 we have one of the very finest statements of the truth as to practical ,christianity any where to be found4 ,but what specially claims our attention just now is1 the very marked and beautiful way in which the gospel of ,god opens up the path of the true believer between the two fatal errors of legality on the one side and carnal laxity on the other4 ,verse #ai1 in the passage just quoted1 contains the divine remedy for both these deadly evils4 ,to all--whoever or wherever they are--who would seek to put the ,christian under the law1 in any shape or for any object whatsoever1 our apostle exclaims1 in the ears of dissembling ,jews1 with ,peter at their head1 and as an answer to all the law-teachers of every age1 ,i am dead to law4 ,what can the law have to say to a dead man8 ,nothing4 ,the law applies to a living man1 to curse him and kill him because he has not kept it4 ,it is a very grave mistake indeed to teach that the law is dead or abolished4 ,it is nothing of the sort4 ,it is alive in all its force1 in all its stringency1 in all its majesty1 in all its unbending dignity4 ,it would be a very serious mistake to say that the law of ,england against murder is dead2 but if a man is dead1 the law no longer applies to him1 inasmuch as he has passed entirely out of its range4 ,but how is the believer dead to law8 ,the apostle replies1 ,i through law am dead to law4 ,the law had brought the sentence of death into his conscience1 as we read in ,romans vii1 ,i was alive without the law once2 but when the commandment came1 sin revived and ,i died4 ,and the commandment1 which was ordained to life1 ,i found to be into death4 ,for sin1 taking occasion by the commandment1 deceived me1 and by it slew me4 ,but there is more than this4 ,the apostle goes on to say1 ,i am crucified with ,christ3 nevertheless ,i live2 yet not ,i1 but ,christ liveth in me4 ,and here is the triumphant answer of the ,christian to those who say that inasmuch as the ,mosaic law is abrogated1 there is no longer any demand for the legal restraint under which the ,jews were called to live4 ,to all who would seek liberty for self-indulgence1 the answer is1 ,i am dead to law1 not that ,i might give a loose rein to the flesh1 but that ,i might live unto ,god4 ,thus nothing can be more complete1 nothing more morally beautiful1 than the answer of true ,christianity to legality on the one hand and licentiousness on the other4 ,self crucified2 sin condemned2 new life in ,christ2 a life to be lived to ,god2 a life of faith in the ,son of ,god2 the motive-spring of that life1 the constraining love of ,christ--what can exceed this8 ,will any one1 in view of the moral glories of ,christianity1 contend for putting believers under the law1 putting them back into the flesh--back into the old creation--back to the sentence of death in the conscience--back to bondage1 darkness1 distance1 fear of death1 condemnation8 ,is it possible that any one who has ever tasted1 even in the very feeblest measure1 the heavenly sweetness of ,god's most blessed gospel1 can accept the wretched mongrel system1 composed of half law and half grace1 which christendom offers to the soul8 ,how terrible to find the children of ,god--members of the body of ,christ--temples of the ,holy ,ghost--robbed of their glorious privileges1 and burdened with a heavy yoke1 which1 as ,peter says1 neither our fathers nor we were able to bear4 ,we earnestly entreat the ,christian reader to consider what has been placed before him4 ,search the ,scriptures2 and if you find these things to be so1 then fling aside forever the grave-clothes in which christendom inwraps its deluded votaries1 and walk in the liberty wherewith ,christ makes ,his people free2 tear off the bandage with which it covers the eyes of men1 and gaze on the moral glories which shine with such heavenly brilliancy in the gospel of the grace of ,god4 ,and then let us prove1 by a holy1 happy1 gracious walk and conversation1 that grace can do what law never could4 ,let our practical ways from day to day1 in the midst of the scenes1 circumstances1 relationships1 and associations in which we are called to live1 be the most convincing reply to all who contend for the law as a rule of life4 ,finally1 let it be our earnest1 loving desire and aim to seek1 in so far as in us lies1 to lead all the dear children of ,god into a clearer knowledge of their standing and privileges in a risen and glorified ,christ4 ,may the ,lord send out ,his light and ,his truth1 in the power of the ,holy ,ghost1 and gather ,his beloved people around ,himself1 to walk in the joy of ,his salvation1 in the purity and light of ,his presence1 and to wait for ,his coming4 99 99 99 99 99 ,we do not attempt to offer any apology for what may perhaps appear to some of our readers to be a very lengthened digression from the fourth chapter of ,deuteronomy4 ,the fact is1 we have been led into what we judge to be a very needed line of practical truth by the very first verse of the chapter1 as quoted at the opening of this section4 ,we felt it absolutely necessary1 in speaking of the weighty question of obedience1 to seek to place it on its true basis4 ,if ,israel was called to hearken and do1 how much more are we1 who are so richly blessed--yea1 blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in ,christ ,jesus4 ,we are called to obedience1 even to the obedience of ,jesus ,christ1 as we have it in #a ,peter i1 ,elect according to the foreknowledge of ,god the ,father1 through sanctification of the ,spirit1 unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of ,jesus ,christ4 ,we are called to the very same character of obedience as that which marked the life of our blessed ,lord ,jesus ,christ ,himself4 ,of course1 in ,him there was no hindering influence as1 alas6 there is in us2 but as to the character of the obedience1 it is the same4 ,this is an immense privilege4 ,we are called to walk in the footsteps of ,jesus4 ,he that saith he abideth in ,him ought himself also so to walk even as ,he walked4 ,now1 in pondering the path of our ,lord1 in considering ,his marvelous life1 there is one point which demands our profound and reverent attention--a point which connects itself1 in a very special manner1 with the book of ,deuteronomy--and that is1 the way in which ,he ever used the ,word of ,god--the place which ,he ever gave to the holy ,scriptures4 ,this we consider to be a subject of the last possible importance at the present moment4 ,it holds a prominent place throughout the lovely book with which we are at present engaged4 ,indeed1 as we have already remarked1 it characterizes the book1 and marks it off from the three books which precede it in the divine canon4 ,we shall find proofs and illustrations of this in abundance as we pass along4 ,every where1 the ,word of ,god gets its own paramount place1 as the only rule1 the only standard1 the only authority1 for man4 ,it meets him in every position1 in every relationship1 in every sphere of action1 and in every stage of his moral and spiritual history4 ,it tells him what he ought to do1 and what he ought not4 ,it furnishes him with ample guidance in every difficulty4 ,it descends1 as we shall see1 to the most minute details--such details1 indeed1 as fill us with amazement to think that the ,high and ,mighty ,one that inhabiteth eternity could occupy ,himself with them--to think that the ,omnipotent ,creator and ,sustainer of the vast universe could stoop to legislate about a bird's nest4 7,chap4 xxii4 #f47 ,such is the ,word of ,god--that peerless revelation--that perfect and inimitable volume which stands alone in the history of literature4 ,and we may say that one special charm of the book of ,deuteronomy--one peculiar feature of interest is1 the way in which it exalts the ,word of ,god1 and enforces upon us the holy and happy duty of unqualified and unhesitating obedience4 ,yes2 we repeat and would fervently emphasize the words--unqualified and unhesitating obedience4 ,we would have these wholesome words sounded in the ears of ,christian professors throughout the length and breadth of the earth4 ,we live in a day specially marked by the setting up of man's reason1 man's judgment1 man's will2 in short1 we live in what the inspired apostle calls man's day4 ,on all hands we are encountered by lofty and boastful words about human reason1 and the right of every man to judge and reason and think for himself4 ,the thought of being absolutely and completely governed by the authority of holy ,scripture is treated with sovereign contempt by thousands of men who are the religious guides and teachers of the professing church4 ,for any one to assert his reverent belief in the plenary inspiration1 the all-sufficiency1 and the absolute authority of ,scripture1 is quite sufficient to stamp him as an ignorant1 narrow-minded man1 if not a semi-lunatic1 in the judgment of some who occupy the very highest position in the professing church4 ,in our universities1 our colleges1 and our schools1 the moral glory of the ,divine ,volume is fast fading away1 and instead thereof our young people are led and taught to walk in the light of science--the light of human reason4 ,the ,word of ,god itself is impiously placed at the bar of man's judgment1 and reduced to the level of the human understanding4 ,every thing is rejected which soars beyond man's feeble vision4 ,thus the ,word of ,god is virtually set aside4 ,for1 clearly1 if ,scripture is to be submitted to human judgment1 it ceases to be the ,word of ,god4 ,it is the very height of folly to think of submitting a divine and therefore perfect revelation to any tribunal whatsoever4 ,either ,god has given us a revelation or ,he has not4 ,if ,he has1 that revelation must be paramount1 supreme1 above and beyond all question1 absolutely unquestionable1 unerring1 divine4 ,to its authority all must bow down1 without a single question4 ,to suppose for a moment that man is competent to judge the ,word of ,god1 able to pronounce upon what is or what is not worthy of ,god to say or to write1 is simply to put man in ,god's place4 ,and this is precisely what the devil is aiming at1 although many of his instruments are not aware that they are helping on his designs4 ,but the question is continually cropping up before us1 ,how can we be sure that we have1 in our ,english ,bible1 the bona-fide revelation of ,god8 ,we reply1 ,god can make us sure of it4 ,if ,he does not1 no one can3 if ,he does1 no one need4 ,this is our ground1 and we deem it unassailable4 ,we should like to ask all those who start this infidel question 7for such we must honestly call it71 ,supposing that ,god cannot give us the absolute certainty that1 in our common ,english ,bible1 we do actually possess ,his own most precious1 priceless revelation1 then whither are we to turn8 ,of course1 in such a weighty matter1 on which momentous and eternal consequences hang1 a single doubt is torture and misery4 ,if ,i am not sure of possessing a revelation from ,god1 ,i am left without a single ray of light for my path2 ,i am plunged in darkness1 gloom1 and mental misery4 ,what am ,i to do8 ,can man help me by his learning1 his wisdom1 or his reason8 ,can he satisfy my soul by his decision8 ,can he solve my difficulty1 answer my question1 remove my doubt1 dissipate my fear8 ,is man better able than ,god to give me the assurance that ,god has spoken8 ,the idea is absolutely monstrous--monstrous in the very highest degree4 ,the plain fact is this1 reader3 ,if ,god cannot give us the certainty that ,he has spoken1 we are left without ,his word altogether4 ,if we must turn to human authority1 call it what you please1 in order to guarantee the ,word of ,god to our souls1 then that authority is higher and greater1 safer and more trustworthy1 than the ,word which it guarantees4 ,blessed be ,god1 it is not so4 ,he has spoken to our hearts4 ,he has given us ,his ,word1 and that ,word carries its own credentials with it4 ,it stands in no need of letters of commendation from a human hand4 ,what6 turn to man to accredit the ,word of the living ,god6--apply to a worm to give us the assurance that our ,god has spoken to us in ,his ,word6 ,away forever with the blasphemous notion1 and let our whole moral being--all our ransomed powers adore the matchless grace1 the sovereign mercy1 that has not left us to grope in the darkness of our own minds1 or to be bewildered by the conflicting opinions of men2 but has given us ,his own perfect and most precious revelation1 the divine light of ,his ,word1 to guide our feet into the path of certainty and peace1 to enlighten our understandings and comfort our hearts1 to preserve us from every form of doctrinal error and moral pravity1 and finally1 to conduct us into the rest1 blessedness1 and glory of ,his own heavenly kingdom4 ,all praise to ,his name throughout the everlasting ages6 ,but we must bear in mind that the marvelous privilege of which we have spoken--and truly it is most marvelous--is the basis of a most solemn responsibility4 ,if it be true that ,god has1 in ,his infinite goodness1 given us a perfect revelation of ,his mind1 then what should be our attitude in reference to it8 ,are we to sit in judgment upon it8 ,are we to discuss1 argue1 or reason8 ,alas6 for all who do so4 ,they will find themselves on terribly dangerous ground4 ,the only true1 the only proper1 the only safe attitude for man in the presence of ,god's revelation is1 obedience--simple1 unqualified1 hearty obedience4 ,this is the only right thing for us1 and this is the thing which is pleasing to ,god4 ,the path of obedience is the path of sweetest privilege1 rest1 and blessing4 ,this path can be trodden by the merest babe in ,christ1 as well as by the young men and the fathers4 ,there is the one straight and blessed path for all4 ,narrow it is1 no doubt2 but1 oh6 it is safe1 bright1 and elevated4 ,the light of our ,father's approving countenance ever shines upon it2 and in this blessed light the obedient soul finds the most triumphant answer to all the reproaches of those who talk1 in high-sounding words1 about breadth of mind1 liberality of thought1 freedom of opinion1 progress1 development1 and such like4 ,the obedient child of ,god can afford to put up with all this1 because he feels and knows1 he believes and is sure1 that he is treading a path indicated for him by the precious ,word of ,god4 ,he is not careful to explain or apologize1 feeling assured that those who object1 oppose1 and reproach are utterly incapable of understanding or appreciating his explanation4 ,and1 moreover1 he feels that it is no part of his duty to explain or defend4 ,he has but to obey2 and as for objectors and opposers1 he has but to refer them to his ,master4 ,this makes it all so simple1 so plain1 so certain4 ,it delivers the heart from a thousand difficulties and perplexities4 ,if we were to set about replying to all who undertake to raise questions or start difficulties1 our whole life would be spent in the profitless task4 ,we may rest assured the best possible answer to all infidel objectors is1 the steady1 earnest1 onward path of unqualified obedience4 ,let us leave infidels1 skeptics1 and rationalists to their own worthless theories1 while we1 with unswerving purpose and firm step1 pursue that blessed path of childlike obedience which1 like the shining light1 shineth more and more unto the perfect day4 ,thus shall our minds be kept tranquil1 for the peace of ,god1 which passeth all understanding1 shall garrison our hearts and minds through ,christ ,jesus4 ,when the ,word of ,god1 which is settled forever in heaven1 is hidden deep down in our hearts1 there will be a calm certainty1 a holy stability1 and a marked progress in our ,christian career1 which will afford the best possible answer to the gainsayer1 the most effectual testimony to the truth of ,god1 and the most convincing evidence and solid confirmation to every wavering heart4 ,the chapter before us abounds in the most solemn exhortation to ,israel1 grounded upon the fact of their having heard the word of ,god4 ,thus in the second verse we have a sentence or two which should be deeply engraved on the tablets of every ,christian's heart4--,ye shall not add unto the word which ,i command you1 neither shall ye diminish aught from it4 ,these words involve two grand facts with regard to the ,word of ,god4 ,it is not to be added to1 for the simplest of all reasons1 because there is nothing lacking2 it is not to be diminished1 because there is nothing superfluous4 ,every thing we want is there1 and nothing that is there can be done without4 ,add thou not unto ,his words1 lest ,he reprove thee1 and thou be found a liar4 ,to suppose that aught can be added to ,god's ,word is1 upon the very face of it1 to deny that it is ,god's ,word2 and1 on the other hand1 if we admit that it is the ,word of ,god1 then it follows of necessity 7blessed necessity67 that we could not afford to do without a single sentence of it4 ,there would be a blank in the volume which no human hand could fill up1 if a single clause were dropped from its place in the canon4 ,we have all we want1 and hence we must not add3 we want it all1 and hence we must not diminish4 ,how deeply important is all this1 in this day of human tampering with the ,word of ,god6 ,how blessed to know that we have in our possession a book so divinely perfect that not a sentence1 not a clause1 not a word1 can be added to it4 ,we speak not1 of course1 of translations or versions1 but of the ,scriptures as originally given of ,god--,his own perfect revelation4 ,to this1 not a touch can be given4 ,as well might a human finger have dared to touch the creation of ,god1 on the morning when all the sons of ,god sang together1 as to add a jot or a tittle to the inspired ,word of ,god4 ,and on the other hand1 to take away a jot or a tittle from it1 is to say that the ,holy ,ghost has penned what was unnecessary4 ,thus the holy volume is divinely guarded at both ends4 ,it is securely fenced round about1 so that no rude hand should touch its sacred contents4 ,what6 it may be said in reply1 do you mean to say that every sentence1 from the opening lines of ,genesis to the close of ,revelation1 is divinely inspired8 ,yes2 that is precisely the ground we take4 ,we claim for every line between the covers of the volume a divine origin4 ,to question this is to attack the very pillars of the ,christian faith4 ,a single flaw in the canon would be sufficient to prove it not of ,god4 ,to touch a single stone in the arch is to bring down the whole fabric in ruins around us4 ,all ,scripture is divinely inspired1 and being so1 must be profitable for doctrine1 for reproof1 for correction1 for instruction in righteousness2 that the man of ,god may be perfect 1 throughly furnished unto all good works4 7#b ,tim4 iii47 ,this stronghold must on no account be surrendered2 nay1 it must be tenaciously held1 in the face of every infidel assault4 ,if it be given up1 all is hopelessly lost--we have nothing to lean upon4 ,either the ,word of ,god is perfect1 or we are left without any divine foundation for our faith4 ,if there be a word too much or a word too little in the revelation which ,god has given us1 then verily we are left1 like a ship without compass1 rudder1 or chart1 to be drifted about on the wild1 tumultuous ocean of infidel thought2 in short1 if we have not an absolutely perfect revelation1 we are of all men most miserable4 ,but we may still be challenged with such a question as this3 ,do you believe that the long string of names in the opening chapters of #a ,chronicles--those genealogical tables are divinely inspired8 were they written for our learning8 and if so1 what are we to learn from them8 ,we unhesitatingly declare our reverent belief in the divine inspiration of all these2 and we have no doubt whatever but that their value1 interest1 and importance will be fully proved by and by in the history of that people to whom they specially apply4 ,and then1 as to what we are to learn from those genealogical records1 we believe they teach us a most precious lesson as to ,jehovah's faithful care of ,his people ,israel1 and ,his loving interest in them and in all that concerns them4 ,he watches over them from generation to generation1 even though they are scattered and lost to human view4 ,he knows all about the twelve tribes1 and ,he will manifest them in due time1 and plant them in their destined inheritance1 in the land of ,canaan1 according to ,his promise to ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob4 ,now1 is not all this full of blessed instruction for us8 ,is it not full of comfort for our souls8 ,is it not most confirmatory of our faith to mark the gracious pains-taking of our ,god1 ,his minute care and vigilance in reference to ,his earthly people8 ,most assuredly it is4 ,and ought not our hearts to be interested in all that interests the heart of our ,father8 ,are we not to take an interest in any thing save what directly concerns ourselves8 ,where is there a loving child who would not take an interest in all his father's concerns1 and delight to read every line that drops from his father's pen8 ,let us not be misunderstood4 ,we do not1 by any means1 attempt to imply that all portions of the ,word of ,god are of like interest and importance to us4 ,we do not presume to assert that we are to hang with equal interest over the first chapter of #a ,chronicles and the seventeenth chapter of ,john or the eighth chapter of ,romans4 ,it seems hardly necessary to make such a statement1 inasmuch as no such question is raised4 ,but what we assert is that each of the above scriptures is divinely inspired1 one just as much as another2 and not only so1 but we further assert that #a ,chronicles i4 and such like passages fill a niche which ,john xvii4 cannot fill1 and do a work which ,romans viii4 cannot do4 ,and finally1 above and beyond all1 we must remember that we are not competent to judge what is and what is not worthy of a place in the inspired canon4 ,we are ignorant and short-sighted2 and the very portion which we might deem beneath the dignity of inspiration may have some very important bearing upon the history of ,god's ways with the world at large or with ,his people in particular4 ,in short1 it simply resolves itself into this with every truly pious soul--every really spiritual mind3 ,we reverently believe in the divine inspiration of every line of our precious ,bible1 from beginning to end2 and we believe this not on the ground of any human authority whatsoever4 ,to believe in holy ,scripture because it comes to us accredited by any authority upon earth1 would be to set that authority above holy ,scripture1 inasmuch as that which guarantees has more weight--more value than the thing guaranteed4 ,hence1 we should no more think of looking to human authority to confirm the ,word of ,god than we should of bringing out a rush-light to prove that the sun was shining4 ,no1 reader2 we must be clear and decided as to this4 ,it must be1 in the judgment of our souls1 a great cardinal truth which we hold dearer than life itself--the plenary inspiration of holy ,scripture4 ,thus shall we have wherewithal to answer the cool audacity of modern skepticism1 rationalism1 and infidelity4 ,we do not mean to say that we shall be able to convince infidels4 ,god will deal with them in ,his own way1 and convince them with ,his own unanswerable arguments in ,his own time4 ,it is labor and time lost to argue with such men4 ,but we feel persuaded that the most dignified and effective answer to infidelity1 in its every phase1 will be found in the calm repose of the heart that rests in the blessed assurance that all ,scripture is given by inspiration of ,god2 and again1 ,whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning2 that we through patience and comfort of the ,scriptures might have hope4 ,the former of these precious quotations proves that ,scripture has come from ,god2 the latter1 that it has come to us4 ,both together go to prove that we must neither add to nor take from the ,word of ,god4 ,there is nothing lacking1 and nothing superfluous4 ,the ,lord be praised for this solid foundation-truth1 and for all the comfort and consolation that flows from it to every true believer6 99 99 99 99 99 ,we shall now proceed to quote for the reader a few of the passages in this fourth chapter of ,deuteronomy which so emphatically set forth the value1 importance1 and authority of the ,word of ,god4 ,in them1 as in the whole of this book1 we shall see that it is not so much a question of any particular ordinance1 rite1 or ceremony1 but of the weight1 solemnity1 and dignity of the ,word of ,god itself1 whatever that ,word may set before us4 ,behold1 ,i have taught you statutes and judgments1 even as the ,lord my ,god commanded me1 that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it4 ,their conduct was to be ruled and formed1 in all things1 by the divine commandments4 ,immense principle for them1 for us1 for all6 ,keep1 therefore1 and do them2 for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations1 which shall hear all these statutes1 and say1 ,surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people4 ,let us specially weigh these words4 ,their wisdom and their understanding were to consist in their simply keeping and doing the divine statutes and judgments4 ,it was not by learned discussion or arguments that their wisdom was to be displayed1 but by childlike1 unquestioning obedience4 ,all the wisdom was in the statutes and judgments1 not in their thoughts and reasonings respecting them4 ,the profound and marvelous wisdom of ,god was seen in ,his ,word1 and this was what the nations were to see and admire4 ,the light of the divine judgments shining in the conduct and character of the people of ,god was to draw forth the admiring testimony of the nations around4 ,alas6 alas6 how differently it turned out6 ,how little did the nations of the earth learn1 from the actings of ,israel1 about ,god and ,his ,word6 ,yea1 ,his name was blasphemed continually through their ways4 ,instead of occupying the high and holy and happy ground of loving obedience to the divine commandments1 they descended to the level of the nations around them--adopted their habits1 worshiped their gods1 and walked in their ways2 so that those nations1 instead of seeing the lofty wisdom1 purity1 and moral glory of the divine statutes1 saw only the weakness1 folly1 and moral degradation of a people who made their boast in being the depositary of those oracles which condemned themselves4 7,rom4 ii1 iii47 ,still1 blessed be ,god1 ,his ,word must stand forever1 however ,his people may fail to carry it out4 ,his standard is perfect1 and therefore must never be lowered2 and if the power of ,his ,word be not seen in the ways of ,his people1 it will shine in the condemnation of those ways1 and ever abide for the guidance1 comfort1 strength1 and blessing of any who desire1 however feebly or falteringly1 to tread the path of obedience4 ,however1 in the chapter with which we are at present occupied1 the lawgiver seeks to set the divine standard faithfully before the people1 in all its dignity and moral glory4 ,he fails not to unfold to them the true effect of obedience1 while he solemnly warns them against the danger of turning away from the holy commandments of ,god4 ,hear his powerful pleadings with their hearts4 ,what nation is there so great1 he says1 who hath ,god so nigh unto them1 as the ,lord our ,god is in all things that we call upon ,him for8 ,and what nation is there so great1 that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law1 which ,i set before you this day8 ,here is true moral greatness1 at all times and in all places1 for a nation1 for a people1 for a household1 or for an individual4 ,to have the living ,god nigh unto us2 to have the sweet privilege of calling upon ,him1 in all things2 to have ,his power and ,his mercy ever exercised toward us2 to have the light of ,his blessed countenance shining approvingly upon us1 in all our ways2 to have the moral effect of ,his righteous statutes and holy commandments seen in our practical career1 from day to day2 to have ,him manifesting ,himself to us1 and making ,his abode with us4 ,what human language can adequately set forth the deep blessedness of such privileges as these8 and yet they are placed1 by infinite grace1 within the reach of every child of ,god on the face of the earth4 ,we do not mean to assert that every child of ,god enjoys them4 ,far from it4 ,they are reserved1 as we have already seen1 for those who1 through grace1 are enabled to render a loving1 hearty1 reverent obedience to the divine word4 ,here lies the precious secret of the whole matter4 ,it was true for ,israel of old1 and it is true for the ,church now--it was true for the individual soul then1 and it is true for the individual soul now1 that divine complacency is the priceless reward of human obedience4 ,and we may further add that obedience is the bounden duty and high privilege of all ,god's people1 and of each in particular4 ,come what may1 implicit obedience is our privilege and our duty1 divine complacency our present sweet reward4 ,but the poor human heart is prone to wander1 and manifold influences are at work around us to draw us off from the narrow path of obedience4 ,we need not marvel1 therefore1 at the solemn and oft-repeated admonitions addressed by ,moses to the hearts and consciences of his hearers4 ,he pours his large1 loving heart out to the congregation so dear to him1 in glowing1 earnest1 soul-stirring accents4 ,only take heed to thyself1 he says1 and keep thy soul diligently1 lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen1 and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life2 but teach them thy sons1 and thy sons' sons4 ,these are weighty words for all of us4 ,they set before us two things of unspeakable importance1 namely1 individual and domestic responsibility--personal and household testimony4 ,god's people of old were responsible to keep the heart with all diligence1 lest it should let slip the precious ,word of ,god4 ,and not only so1 but they were solemnly responsible to instruct their children and their grandchildren in the same4 ,are we1 with all our light and privilege1 less responsible than ,israel of old8 ,surely not4 ,we are imperatively called upon to give ourselves to the careful study of the ,word of ,god--to apply our hearts to it4 ,it is not enough that we hurry over a few verses or a chapter1 as a piece of daily religious routine4 ,this will not meet the case at all4 ,we want to make the ,bible our supreme and absorbing study1--that in which we delight--in which we find our refreshment and recreation4 ,it is to be feared that some of us read the ,bible as a matter of duty1 while we find our delight and refreshment in the newspaper and light literature4 ,need we wonder at our shallow knowledge of ,scripture8 ,how could we know aught of the living depths or the moral glories of a volume which we merely take up as a cold matter of duty1 and read a few verses with a yawning indifference1 while1 at the same time1 the newspaper or the sensational novel is literally devoured8 ,it will perhaps be said1 in reply1 ,we cannot be always reading the ,bible4 ,would those who thus speak say1 ,we cannot be always reading the newspaper or the novel8 ,and1 we would further inquire1 what must be the actual state of a person who can say1 ,we cannot be always reading the ,bible8 ,can he be in a healthy condition of soul8 ,can he really love the ,word of ,god8 ,can he have any just sense of its preciousness1 its excellence1 its moral glories8 ,impossible4 ,what mean the following words to ,israel3 ,therefore shall ye lay up these ,my words in your heart1 and in your soul1 and bind them for a sign upon your hand1 that they may be as frontlets between your eyes8 ,the heart1 the soul1 the hand the eyes--all engaged about the precious ,word of ,god4 ,this was real work4 ,it was to be no empty formality1 no barren routine4 ,the whole man was to be given up1 in holy devotion1 to the statutes and judgments of ,god4 ,and ye shall teach them your children1 speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house1 and when thou walkest by the way1 when thou liest down1 and when thou risest up4 ,and thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thine house1 and upon thy gates4 ,do we1 ,christians1 enter into such words as these8 ,has the ,word of ,god such a place in our hearts1 in our homes1 and in our habits8 ,do those who enter our houses1 or come in contact with us in daily life1 see that the ,word of ,god is paramount with us8 ,do those with whom we do business see that we are governed by the precepts of holy ,scripture8 ,do our servants and our children see that we live in the very atmosphere of ,scripture1 and that our whole character is formed and our conduct governed by it8 ,these are searching questions for our hearts1 beloved ,christian reader4 ,let us not put them away from us4 ,we may rest assured there is no more correct indicator of our moral and spiritual condition than that afforded by our treatment of the ,word of ,god4 ,if we do not love it--love to study it--thirst after it--delight in it--long for the quiet hour in the which we can hang over its sacred page and drink in its most precious teaching--meditate upon it1 in the closet1 in the family1 in the street2 in short1 if we do not breathe its holy atmosphere--if we could ever give utterance to such a sentiment as that given above1 that we cannot be always reading the ,bible1 then1 verily1 we have urgent need to look well to our spiritual state1 for we are sadly out of health4 ,the new nature loves the ,word of ,god--earnestly desires it1 as we read in #a ,peter ii4--,as new-born babes1 desire the sincere milk of the ,word1 that ye may grow thereby4 ,this is the true idea4 ,if the sincere milk of the ,word be not sought after1 diligently used and eagerly fed upon1 we must be in a low1 unhealthy1 dangerous condition of soul4 ,there may not be any thing outwardly wrong in our conduct1 we may not be publicly dishonoring the ,lord in our ways1 but we are grieving ,his loving heart by our gross neglect of ,his ,word1 which is but another term for the neglect of ,himself4 ,it is the very height of folly to talk of loving ,christ if we do not love and live upon ,his ,word4 ,it is a delusion to imagine that the new life can be in a healthy1 prosperous condition where the ,word of ,god is habitually neglected in the closet and the family4 ,we do not1 of course1 mean that no other book but the ,bible should be read1 or we should not pen these ,notes2 but nothing demands greater watchfulness than the matter of reading4 ,all things are to be done in the name of ,jesus1 and to the glory of ,god1 and this is amongst the all things4 ,we should read no book that we cannot read to the glory of ,god1 and on which we cannot ask ,god's blessing4 ,we feel that this entire subject demands the most serious consideration of all ,god's people1 and we trust that the ,spirit of ,god may use our meditation on the chapter before us to stir up our hearts and consciences in reference to what is due to the ,word of ,god1 both in our hearts and in our houses4 ,no doubt1 if it has its right place in the heart1 it will have its right place also in the house2 but if there be no acknowledgment of the ,word of ,god in the bosom of the family1 it is hard to believe that it has its right place in the heart4 ,heads of houses should ponder this matter seriously4 ,we are most fully persuaded that there ought to be1 in every ,christian household1 a daily acknowledgment of ,god and ,his ,word4 ,some may perhaps look upon it as bondage1 as legality1 as religious routine1 to have regular family worship4 ,we would ask such objectors1 ,is it bondage for the family to assemble at meals8 ,are the family reunions around the social board ever regarded as a wearisome duty--a piece of dull routine8 ,certainly not1 if the family be a well-ordered and happy one4 ,why1 then1 should it be regarded as a burdensome thing for the head of a ,christian household to gather his children and his servants around him and read a few verses of the precious ,word of ,god1 and breathe a few words of prayer before the throne of grace8 ,we believe it to be a habit in perfect accordance with the teaching of both the ,old and the ,new ,testaments--a habit grateful to the heart of ,god--a holy1 blessed1 edifying habit4 ,what should we think of a professing ,christian who never prayed1 never read the ,word of ,god1 in private8 ,could we possibly regard him as a happy1 healthy1 true ,christian8 ,assuredly not4 ,indeed we should seriously question the existence of divine life in such a soul4 ,prayer and the ,word of ,god are absolutely essential to healthy1 vigorous ,christian life2 so that a man who habitually neglects these must be in an utterly dead state4 ,now1 if it be thus in reference to an individual1 how can a family be regarded as in a right state where there is no family reading1 no family prayer1 no family acknowledgment of ,god or ,his ,word8 ,can we conceive a ,god-fearing household going on from ,lord's day morning to ,saturday night without any collective recognition of the ,one to whom they owe every thing8 ,day after day rolls on1 domestic duties are attended to1 the family assemble regularly at meals1 but there is no thought of summoning the household around the ,word of ,god1 or around the mercy-seat4 ,we ask1 ,where is the difference between such a family and any poor heathen household8 ,is it not most sad--most deplorable to find those who make the very highest profession1 and who take their places at the ,lord's table1 yet living in the gross neglect of family reading--family worship8 ,reader1 are you the head of a household8 ,if so1 what are your thoughts on the subject8 and what is your line of action8 ,have you family reading and family prayer1 daily in your house8 ,if not1 7bear with us when we ask you17 why not8 ,search and see what is the real root of the matter4 ,has your heart declined from ,god1 from ,his ,word and ,his ways8 ,do you read and pray in private8 ,do you love the ,word and prayer8 do you find delight in them8 ,if so1 how is it you neglect them in your household8 ,perhaps you seek to excuse yourself on the ground of nervousness and timidity2 if so1 look to the ,lord to enable you to overcome the weakness4 ,just cast yourself on ,his unfailing grace1 and gather your household around you at a certain hour each day1 read a few verses of ,scripture and breathe half a dozen words of prayer2 or1 if you cannot do this at first1 just let the family kneel for a few moments in silence before the throne4 ,any thing1 in short1 like a family acknowledgment1 a family testimony3 any thing but a godless1 careless1 prayerless life in your household4 ,do1 dear friend1 suffer the word of exhortation in this matter4 ,let us entreat you to begin at once1 looking to ,god to help you1 as ,he most assuredly will1 for ,he never fails a really trusting1 dependent heart4 ,do not any longer go on neglecting ,god and ,his ,word in your family circle4 ,it is really terrible4 ,let no arguments about bondage1 legality1 or formalism weigh with you for a moment4 ,we almost feel disposed to exclaim1 ,blessed bondage6 ,if indeed it be bondage to read the ,word1 we cordially welcome it1 and fearlessly glory in it4 ,but1 no2 we cannot for a moment regard it in any such light4 ,we believe it to be a most delightful privilege for every one whom ,god has set at the head of a household to gather all the members of that household around him and read a portion of the blessed book1 and pour out his heart in prayer to ,god4 ,we believe it is specially the duty of the head so to do4 ,it is by no means necessary to make it a long1 wearisome service4 ,as a rule1 both in our houses and in our public assemblies1 short1 fresh1 fervent exercises are by far the most edifying4 ,but this1 of course1 is an open question1 as to which we merely give our judgment1 which must go for what it is worth4 ,the length and character of the service must1 in every case1 be left to the person who conducts it4 ,but we do most earnestly trust that if these lines should be scanned by any one who is the head of a household1 and if he has hitherto neglected the holy privilege of family worship--family reading1 he will1 henceforth1 do so no more4 ,may he be enabled to say1 with ,joshua1 ,let others do as they will1 as for me and my house1 we will serve the ,lord4 ,it is not1 surely1 that we would lead any to imagine that the mere act of family reading takes in all that is comprehended in that weighty sentence1 ,we will serve the ,lord4 ,far from it4 ,that blessed service takes in every thing belonging to our private and domestic history3 it takes in the most minute details of practical daily life4 ,all this is most true and invaluable4 ,but we are most thoroughly persuaded that nothing can go right in any household in which family reading and family prayer are habitually neglected4 ,it may be said that there are many families who seem very particular about their morning and evening reading and prayer1 and yet their whole domestic history1 from morning till night1 is a flagrant contradiction of their so-called religious service4 ,it may be that the head of the house1 instead of shedding sunlight upon the family circle1 is morose in his temper1 rude and coarse in his manners1 rough and contradictory to his wife1 arbitrary and severe to his children1 unreasonable and exacting to his servants1 finding fault with what is laid on the table1 after having asked ,god's blessing upon it2 and1 in short1 in every way giving the lie to his reading and his prayer in the family4 ,so also as to the wife and the mother1 and the children and the servants4 ,the whole domestic economy is out of order4 ,there is disorder and confusion2 meals are unpunctual2 there is a want of kindly consideration one of another2 the children are rude1 selfish1 and willful2 the servants are thoughtless1 wasteful1 and disobedient1 if not much worse2 the tone1 atmosphere1 and style of the entire establishment are unchristian1 ungodly1 utterly unbecoming4 ,and then1 when you travel outside the domestic circle1 and mark the conduct of the heads and members of the family toward those outside--mark their business1 if they be in business1 hear the testimony of those who deal with them1 as to the quality of their goods1 the style and character of their work2 the spirit and temper in which they carry on their business2 such grasping and griping1 such covetousness1 such commercial trickery2 nothing of ,god1 nothing of ,christ1 nothing to distinguish them from the most thorough worldlings around2 yea1 the conduct of those very worldlings1 of those who would never think of such a thing as family worship1 would put them to shame4 ,under such painful and humiliating circumstances1 what of the family worship--the family reading--the family altar8 ,alas6 it is an empty formality--a powerless1 worthless1 unseemly proceeding2 in place of being a morning and evening sacrifice1 it is a morning and evening lie--a solemn mockery--an insult to ,god4 ,all this is sadly true4 ,there is a terrible lack of household testimony--of common1 practical righteousness in our families and in the entire economy of our houses4 ,there is but little of the white raiment--the fine linen1 which is the righteousness of saints4 ,we seem to forget those weighty words of the inspired apostle in ,romans xiv4--,the kingdom of ,god is not meat and drink2 but righteousness1 and peace1 and joy in the ,holy ,ghost4 ,some of us seem to think that whenever we meet with the word righteousness1 it must needs mean the righteousness of ,god in which we stand1 or righteousness imputed to us4 ,this is a very great mistake indeed4 ,we must remember there is a practical and human side of this question2 there is the subjective as well as the objective--the walk as well as the standing--the condition as well as the position4 ,these things must never be separated4 ,it is of little use to set up or seek to maintain a family altar amid the ruins of family testimony4 ,it is nothing short of a hideous caricature to begin and end with so-called family worship a day characterized throughout by ungodliness and unrighteousness1 levity1 folly1 and vanity4 ,can aught be more unsightly or more miserably inconsistent than an evening spent in song-singing1 charades1 and other light games1 closed up with a contemptible bit of religion in the shape of reading and prayer8 ,all this line of things is most deplorable4 ,it ought not to be found in connection with the holy name of ,christ1 with ,his assembly1 or the holy exercises of ,his table4 ,we must measure every thing in our private life1 in our domestic economy1 in our daily history1 in all our intercourse1 and in all our business transactions1 with that one standard1 namely1 the glory of ,christ4 ,our one grand question1 in reference to every thing that comes before us or solicits our attention1 must be1 ,is this worthy of the holy name which is called upon me8 ,if not1 let us not touch it2 yea1 let us turn our back upon it with stern decision1 and flee from it with holy energy4 ,let us not listen for a moment to the contemptible question1 ,what harm is there in it8 ,nothing but harm if ,christ be not in it4 ,no truly devoted heart would ever entertain1 much less put1 such a question4 ,whenever you hear any one speaking thus1 you may at once conclude that ,christ is not the governing object of the heart4 ,we trust the reader is not weary of all this homely1 practical truth4 ,we believe it is loudly called for in this day of high profession4 ,we have all of us much need to consider our ways1 to look well to the real state of our hearts as to ,christ2 for here lies the true secret of the whole matter4 ,if the heart be not true to ,him1 nothing can be right--nothing in the private life1 nothing in the family1 nothing in the business1 nothing in the assembly1 nothing any where2 but if the heart be true to ,him1 all will be--must be right4 ,no marvel1 therefore1 if the blessed apostle1 when he reaches the close of that wonderful epistle to the ,corinthians1 sums all up with this solemn declaration3 ,if any man love not the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 let him be ,anathema ,maran-atha4 ,in the course of his letter1 he deals with various forms of doctrinal error and moral pravity2 but when he comes to the close1 instead of pronouncing his solemn sentence upon any particular error or evil1 he hurls it with holy indignation against any one1 no matter who or what1 who does not love the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,love to ,christ is the grand safeguard against every form of error and evil4 ,a heart filled with ,christ has no room for aught beside2 but if there be no love to ,him1 there is no security against the wildest error or the worst form of moral evil4 ,we must now return to our chapter4 ,the attention of the people is specially called to the solemn scenes at ,mount ,horeb--scenes which should surely have deeply and abidingly impressed their hearts4 ,specially the day that thou stoodest before the ,lord thy ,god in ,horeb1 when the ,lord said unto me1 ,gather ,me the people together1 and ,i will make them hear ,my words4 ,the grand and all-important point for ,israel of old1 for the ,church now1 for each1 for all1 at all times and in all places1 is1 to be brought into direct1 living contact with the eternal ,word of the living ,god1 to the end that they may learn to fear ,me all the days that they shall live upon the earth1 and that they may teach their children4 ,it is very beautiful to note the intimate connection between hearing ,god's ,word and fearing ,his name4 ,it is one of those great root-principles which never change1 never lose their power or their intrinsic value4 ,the ,word and the name go together2 and the heart that loves the one will reverence the other1 and bow down to its holy authority in all things4 ,he that loveth ,me not keepeth not ,my sayings4 ,he that saith1 ,i know ,him1 and keepeth not ,his commandments1 is a liar1 and the truth is not in him4 ,but whoso keepeth ,his word1 in him verily is the love of ,god perfected4 7,john xiv2 #a ,john ii47 ,every true lover of ,god will treasure up ,his ,word in the heart1 and where the ,word is thus lovingly treasured in the heart1 its hallowed influence will be seen in the whole life1 character1 and conduct4 ,god's object in giving ,his ,word is that it may govern our conduct1 form our character1 and shape our ways2 and if ,his ,word has not this practical effect upon us1 it is utterly vain for us to speak of loving ,him--yea1 it is nothing short of positive mockery1 which ,he must sooner or later resent4 ,and let us note particularly the solemn responsibility of ,israel as to their children4 ,they were not only to hear and learn for themselves1 but they were also to teach their children4 ,this is a universal and abiding duty1 which cannot be neglected with impunity4 ,god attaches very great importance to this matter4 ,we hear ,him saying as to ,abraham1 ,i know him1 that he will command his children and his household after him1 and they shall keep the way of the ,lord1 to do justice and judgment2 that the ,lord may bring upon ,abraham that which ,he hath spoken of him4 7,gen4 xviii47 ,these words are most important1 as setting before us the divine estimate of domestic training and family piety4 ,in all ages1 and under all dispensations1 ,god has been pleased to give expression to ,his approbation of the proper education of the children of ,his people--their faithful training according to ,his holy ,word4 ,we find no such thing sanctioned in ,scripture as children being allowed to grow up in ignorance and carelessness and willfulness4 ,some professing ,christians1 under the baneful influence of a certain school of theology1 seem to think that it is1 in some way1 an interference with the sovereignty of ,god1 with ,his purposes and counsels1 to instruct their children in the truth of the gospel and the letter of holy ,scripture4 ,they consider that the children ought to be left to the action of the ,holy ,ghost1 which they are sure to experience in ,god's own time if indeed they are of ,god's elect1 and if not1 all human effort is perfectly useless4 ,now1 we must1 in all faithfulness to the truth of ,god and to the souls of our readers1 bear the clearest and strongest testimony against this one-sided view of the great practical subject before us4 ,there is nothing more mischievous1 nothing more pernicious in its effect upon the conscience1 the heart1 the life1 the whole practical career and moral character1 than one-sided theology4 ,it does not matter what side you take1 so long as you only take one4 ,it is sure to produce what we must term a spiritual malformation4 ,we feel we cannot too strongly and earnestly warn the reader against this sore evil4 ,it can only lead to the most disastrous results2 and as to its effect in reference to the training of our children and the management of our households--the subject now before us--it is mischievous in the extreme4 ,indeed we have seen the most deplorable consequences follow the carrying out of this line of thought4 ,we have known the children of ,christian parents to grow up in utter ignorance of divine things1 in carelessness1 recklessness1 and open infidelity2 and if a word of admonition were offered1 it has been met by arguments based upon the dogmas of a one-sided divinity--and the one side turned the wrong way4 ,it has been said1 ,we cannot make ,christians of our children1 and we must not make them formalists or hypocrites4 ,it must be a divine work or nothing4 ,when ,god's time comes1 ,he will effectually call them1 if indeed they are among the number of ,his elect2 if not1 all our efforts are perfectly useless4 ,to all this we reply1 that this line of argument1 if carried to its fullest extent1 would prevent the farmer from plowing his ground or sowing his seed4 ,it is very plain that he cannot make the seed to germinate or fructify4 ,he could no more cause a solitary grain of wheat to grow than he could create the universe4 ,does this prevent his plowing and sowing8 does it cause him to fold his arms and say1 ,i can do nothing4 ,i cannot1 by any effort of mine1 make corn grow4 ,it is a divine operation1 and therefore ,i must wait ,god's time4 ,does any farmer reason and act like this8 ,surely not1 unless he be a lunatic4 ,every sound-minded person knows that plowing and sowing must go before the reaping2 and if the former be neglected1 it is the height of extravagant folly to look for the latter4 ,nor is it otherwise in the matter of training our children4 ,we know ,god is sovereign2 we believe in ,his eternal counsels and purposes2 we fully recognize the grand doctrines of election and predestination--yea1 we are as thoroughly persuaded of them as of the truth that ,god is1 or that ,christ died and rose again4 ,moreover1 we believe that the new birth must take place in every instance--in the case of our children as of all beside2 we are convinced that this new birth is entirely a divine operation1 effected by the ,holy ,ghost1 through the ,word1 as we are distinctly taught in our ,lord's discourse with ,nicodemus in ,john iii1 and also in ,james i4 #ah and #a ,peter i4 #bc4 ,but does all this touch1 in the most remote way1 the solemn responsibility of ,christian parents to teach and train their children1 diligently and faithfully1 from their earliest moments8 ,most certainly not4 ,woe be to the parents who1 on any plea or on any ground whatsoever1 be it one-sided theology1 misapplied ,scripture1 or aught else1 deny their responsibility1 or neglect their plain1 bounden duty1 in this holy business4 ,true1 we cannot make our children ,christians1 and we ought not to make them formalists or hypocrites2 but we are not called to make them any thing4 ,we are simply called to do our duty by them1 and leave results to ,god4 ,we are instructed and commanded to bring up our children in the nurture and admonition of the ,lord4 ,when is this bringing up to commence8 when are we to begin the sacred work of training our little ones8 ,surely1 at the beginning4 ,the very moment we enter upon a relationship1 we enter also upon the responsibility which that relationship entails4 ,we cannot deny this2 we cannot shake it off4 ,we may neglect it1 and have to reap the sad consequences of our neglect1 in various ways4 ,it is a very serious thing to stand in the sacred relationship of a parent--very interesting and very delightful1 no doubt2 but most serious1 because of the responsibility involved4 ,true it is1 blessed be ,god1 ,his grace is sufficient for us in this as in all beside1 and if any man lack wisdom1 let him ask of ,god1 who giveth to all liberally1 and upbraideth not2 and it shall be given him4 ,we are not sufficient of ourselves1 in this weighty matter1 to think or to do any thing as ourselves1 but our sufficiency is of ,god1 and ,he will meet our every need4 ,we have simply to draw upon ,him1 for exigence of every hour4 ,but we must do our duty4 ,some do not like the homely word duty4 ,they think it has a legal ring about it4 ,we trust the reader does not think so1 for it is a very great mistake indeed4 ,we look upon the word as a very sound and morally wholesome one1 and we believe that every true ,christian loves it4 ,one thing is certain1 it is only in the path of duty we can count on ,god4 ,to talk of trusting ,god1 when out of the path of duty1 is a miserable conceit1 and a delusion2 and in the matter of our relationship as parents1 to neglect our duty is to bring down upon us the most disastrous consequences4 ,we believe the whole business of ,christian education is summed up in two brief sentences1 namely1 ,count on ,god for your children1 and1 ,train your children for ,god4 ,to take the first without the second is antinomianism2 to take the second without the first is legality2 to take both together is sound1 practical ,christianity--true religion in the sight of ,god and man4 ,it is the sweet privilege of every ,christian parent to count1 with all possible confidence1 upon ,god for his children4 ,but then we must remember that there is1 in the government of ,god1 an inseparable link connecting this privilege with the most solemn responsibility as to training4 ,for a ,christian parent to speak of counting on ,god for the salvation of his children1 and for the moral integrity of their future career in this world1 while the duty of training is neglected1 is simply a miserable delusion4 ,we press this most solemnly upon all ,christian parents1 but especially upon those who have just entered upon the relationship4 ,there is great danger of shirking our duty to our children1 of shifting it over upon others1 or neglecting it altogether4 ,we do not like the trouble of it2 we shrink from the constant worry as it seems to us4 ,but we shall find that the trouble and the worry and the sorrow and the heart-scalding arising from the neglect of our duty will be a thousand times worse than all that can be involved in the discharge of it4 ,to every true lover of ,god there is deep delight in treading the path of duty4 ,every step taken in that path strengthens our confidence to go on4 ,and then we can always count upon the infinite resources that we have in ,god when we are keeping ,his commandments4 ,we have simply to betake ourselves1 morning by morning1 yea1 hour by hour1 to our ,father's exhaustless treasury1 and there get all we want1 in the way of grace and wisdom and moral power1 to enable us to discharge aright the holy functions of our relationship4 ,he giveth more grace4 ,this always holds good4 ,but if we1 instead of seeking grace to discharge our duty1 seek ease in neglecting it1 we are simply laying up a store of sorrow which will accumulate rapidly and fall upon us heavily at a future day4 ,be not deceived2 ,god is not mocked2 for whatsoever a man soweth1 that shall he also reap4 ,for he that soweth to his flesh1 shall of the flesh reap corruption2 but he that soweth to the ,spirit1 shall of the ,spirit reap life everlasting4 7,gal4 vi47 ,this is the condensed statement of a great principle of ,god's moral government--a principle of universal application1 and one which applies1 with singular force1 to the subject before us4 ,as we sow1 in the matter of the education of our children1 so we shall1 most assuredly1 reap4 ,there is no getting out of this4 ,but let not any dear ,christian parent1 whose eye may scan these lines1 be at all discouraged or faint-hearted4 ,there is no reason whatever for this1 but1 on the contrary1 every reason for the most joyful confidence in ,god4 ,the name of the ,lord is a strong tower2 the righteous runneth into it1 and is safe4 ,let us tread1 with firm step1 the path of duty2 and then we can count1 with unwavering confidence1 upon our ever-faithful and gracious ,god for the need of each day as it rolls along4 ,and in due time we shall reap the precious fruit of our labor1 according to the appointment of ,god1 and in pursuance of the enactments of ,his moral government4 ,we do not attempt to lay down any rules or regulations for the training4 ,we do not believe in such4 ,children cannot be trained by dry rules4 ,who could attempt to embody in rules all that is wrapped up in that one sentence1 ,bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the ,lord8 ,here we have1 indeed1 a golden rule which takes in every thing from the cradle to matured manhood4 ,yes1 we repeat1 from the cradle2 for we are most fully persuaded that all true ,christian training begins at the very beginning4 ,some of us have little idea of how soon and how sharply children begin to observe1 and how much they take in as they gaze at us through their dear expressive eyes4 ,and then how marvelously susceptible they are of the moral atmosphere which surrounds them6 ,yes2 and it is this very moral atmosphere that constitutes the grand secret of training our families4 ,our children should be permitted to breathe1 from day to day1 the atmosphere of love and peace1 purity1 holiness1 and true practical righteousness4 ,this has an amazing effect in forming the character4 ,it is a great thing for our children to see their parents walking in love1 in harmony1 in tender care one for the other1 in kind consideration for the servants1 in love and sympathy for the poor4 ,who can measure the moral effect upon a child of the very first angry look1 or unkind word1 between father and mother8 ,and in cases where the daily history is one of unsightly strife and contention--the father contradicting the mother1 and the mother disparaging the father--how are children to grow in such an atmosphere as this8 ,the fact is1 it is not within the compass of human language to set forth all that is involved in the moral tone of the entire family circle--the spirit1 style1 and atmosphere of the whole household1 the drawing-room1 the dining-room1 the nursery1 the kitchen2 where circumstances admit of such distinctions1 or where the family have to confine themselves to two rooms4 ,it is not a question of rank1 position1 or wealth1 but of the beauteous grace of ,god shining out in all4 ,there may be the stalled ox or the dinner of herbs--these are not1 at present1 in question4 ,but what we press on all fathers and mothers--all heads of households1 high and low1 rich and poor1 learned and ignorant1 is the necessity of training their children in an atmosphere of love and peace1 truth and holiness1 purity and kindness4 ,thus will our households be the practical exhibition of the character of ,god2 and all who come in contact with them will1 at least1 have before their eyes a practical witness to the truth of ,christianity4 ,but1 ere we turn from the subject of domestic government1 there is one special point to which we desire to call the attention of ,christian parents--a point of the utmost possible moment1 yet too much neglected amongst us1 and that is1 the need of inculcating upon our children the duty of implicit obedience4 ,this cannot be too strongly insisted upon1 inasmuch as it not only affects the order and comfort of our households1 but1 what is infinitely more important1 it concerns the glory of ,god and the practical carrying out of ,his truth4 ,children1 obey your parents in the ,lord2 for this is right4 ,and again1 ,children1 obey your parents in all things2 for this is well pleasing unto the ,lord4 7,eph4 vi42 ,col4 iii47 ,this is absolutely essential1 and must be firmly insisted upon from the very outset4 ,the child must be taught to obey from his earliest moments4 ,he must be trained to submit himself to divinely appointed authority1 and that1 as the apostle puts it1 in all things4 ,if this be not attended to from the very first1 it will be found almost impossible to attend to it afterwards4 ,if the will be allowed to act1 it grows1 with terrible rapidity1 and each day's growth increases the difficulty of bringing it under control4 ,hence1 the parent should begin at once to establish his authority on a basis of moral strength and firmness2 and when this is done1 he may be as gentle and tender as the most loving heart could desire4 ,we do not believe in sternness1 harshness1 or severity4 ,they are by no means necessary1 and are generally the accompaniments of bad training and the proofs of bad temper4 ,god has put into the parent's hand the reins of government and the rod of authority1 but it is not needful--if we may so express it--to be continually chucking the reins and brandishing the rod1 which are the sure proofs of moral weakness4 ,whenever you hear a man continually talking about his authority1 you may be sure his authority is not properly established4 ,there is a quiet dignity about true moral power which is perfectly unmistakable4 ,furthermore1 we judge it to be a mistake for a parent to be perpetually crossing a child's will in matters of no moment4 ,such a line of action tends to break the child's spirit1 whereas the object of all sound training is to break the will4 ,the child should ever be impressed with the idea that the parent seeks only his real good1 and that if he has to refuse or prohibit any thing1 it is not for the purpose of curtailing the child's enjoyment1 but simply for the promotion of his true interests4 ,one grand object of domestic government is to protect each member of the household in the enjoyment of his privileges1 and in the proper discharge of his relative duties4 ,now1 inasmuch as it is the divinely appointed duty of a child to obey1 the parent is responsible to see this duty discharged1 for if it be neglected1 some other members of the domestic circle must suffer4 ,there can be no greater nuisance in a house than a naughty1 willful child2 and1 as a general rule1 wherever you find such1 it is to be traced to bad training4 ,we are aware1 of course1 that children differ in temper and disposition--that some children have peculiarly strong wills and sturdy tempers1 and are therefore specially hard to manage4 ,all this we quite understand2 but it leaves wholly untouched the question of the parent's responsibility to insist upon implicit obedience4 ,he can always count on ,god for the needed grace and power to carry out this point4 ,even in the case of a widowed mother1 we believe1 most assuredly1 she can look to ,god to enable her to command her children and her household4 ,in no case1 therefore1 should parental authority be surrendered for a moment4 ,it sometimes happens that1 through injudicious fondness1 the parent is tempted to pamper the will of the child2 but it is sowing to the flesh1 and must yield corruption4 ,it is not true love at all to indulge a child's will1 neither can it possibly minister to his true happiness or legitimate enjoyment4 ,an over-indulged1 self-willed child is miserable himself and a grievous infliction on all who have to do with him4 ,children should be taught to think of others1 and to seek to promote their comfort and happiness in every way4 ,how very unseemly it is1 for example1 for a child to enter the house and ascend the stairs whistling1 singing1 and shouting1 in total disregard of other members of the household who may be seriously disturbed and annoyed by such conduct6 ,no properly trained child would think of acting in such a way2 and where such unsubdued1 unruly1 inconsiderate conduct is allowed1 there is a serious defect in the domestic government4 ,it is essential to family peace1 harmony1 and comfort1 that all the members should consider one another4 ,we are responsible to seek the good and the happiness of those around us1 and not our own4 ,if all would but remember this1 what different households we should have6 and what a different tale would families have to tell6 ,every ,christian household should be the reflection of the divine character4 ,the atmosphere should just be the very atmosphere of heaven4 ,how is this to be8 ,simply by each one--parent1 child1 master1 and servant--seeking to walk in the footsteps of ,jesus1 and manifest ,his spirit4 ,he never pleased ,himself1 never sought ,his own interest in any thing2 ,he did always the thing that pleased the ,father2 ,he came to serve and to give2 ,he went about doing good1 and healing all that were oppressed of the devil4 ,thus it was ever with that most blessed ,one--the gracious1 loving1 sympathizing ,friend of all the sons and daughters of want1 weakness1 and sorrow2 and if only the various members of each ,christian family were formed on this perfect model1 we should1 at least1 realize something of the power and efficacy of personal and domestic ,christianity1 which1 blessed be ,god1 can ever be maintained and exhibited notwithstanding the hopeless ruin of the professing church4 ,thou and thy house suggests a great golden principle which runs through the volume of ,god1 from beginning to end4 ,in every age1 under every dispensation1 in the days of the patriarchs1 in the days of the law1 and in the days of ,christianity1 we find1 to our exceeding comfort and encouragement1 that personal and domestic godliness has its place as something grateful to the heart of ,god and to the glory of ,his holy name4 ,this we consider to be most consolatory at all times1 but more particularly at a time like the present1 when the professing church seems so rapidly sinking into gross worldliness and open infidelity2 and not this only1 but when those who most earnestly desire to walk in obedience to the ,word of ,god1 and to act on the grand foundation-truth of the unity of the body1 find it so difficult to maintain a a corporate testimony4 ,in view of all this1 we may well bless ,god1 with overflowing hearts1 that personal and family piety can always be maintained1 and that from the heart and the home of every ,christian a constant stream of praise may ascend to the throne of ,god1 and a stream of active benevolence flow out to a needy1 sorrowful1 sin-stricken world4 ,may it be so more and more1 through the mighty ministry of ,god the ,holy ,ghost1 that ,god1 in all things1 may be glorified in the hearts and homes of ,his beloved people4 99 99 99 99 99 ,we have now to consider the very solemn warning addressed to the congregation of ,israel against the terrible sin of idolatry--a sin to which1 alas6 the poor human heart is ever prone1 in one way or another4 ,it is quite possible to be guilty of the sin of idolatry without bowing down before a graven image2 wherefore it behooves us to weigh well the words of warning which fell from the lips of ,israel's venerable lawgiver4 ,they are most assuredly written for our learning4 ,and ye came near and stood under the mountain2 and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven1 with darkness1 clouds1 and thick darkness4 ,solemn and suited accompaniments of the occasion6 ,and the ,lord spake unto you out of the midst of the fire4 ,oh1 how differently ,he speaks in the gospel of ,his grace6 ,ye heard the voice of the words1 but saw no similitude4 ,important fact for them to ponder6 ,only a voice4 ,and faith cometh by hearing1 and hearing by the ,word of ,god4 ,and ,he declared unto you ,his covenant1 which ,he commanded you to perform--ten commandments2 and ,he wrote them upon two tables of stone4 ,and the ,lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments1 not that they might discuss them1 sit in judgment upon them1 or argue about them1 but that ye might do them--the grand old story1 the ,deuteronomic theme of obedience1 most precious6 whether out of or in the land whither ye go over to possess it4 ,here lies the solid ground of the appeal against idolatry4 ,they saw nothing4 ,god did not show ,himself to them4 ,he did not assume any bodily shape1 of which they might form an image4 ,he gave them ,his word--,his holy commandments1 so plain that a child could understand them1 and the wayfaring men though fools need not err therein4 ,there was no need for them1 therefore1 to set about imagining what ,god was like2 nay1 this was the very sin against which they were so faithfully warned4 ,they were called to hear ,god's voice1 not to see ,his shape--to obey ,his commandment1 not to make an image of ,him4 ,superstition vainly seeks to do honor to ,god by forming and worshiping an image2 ,faith1 on the contrary1 lovingly receives and reverently obeys ,his holy commandments4 ,if a man love ,me1 says our blessed ,lord1 he will--what8 make an image of ,me1 and worship it8 ,nay1 but he will keep ,my words4 ,this makes it so simple1 so safe1 so certain4 ,we are not called to work up our minds to form any conception of ,god2 we have simply to hear ,his word and keep ,his commandments4 ,we can have no idea whatever of ,god but as ,he has been pleased to reveal ,himself4--,no man hath seen ,god at any time2 the only begotten ,son1 which is in the bosom of the ,father1 ,he hath declared ,him4--,god1 who commanded the light to shine out of darkness1 hath shined in our hearts1 to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of ,god in the face of ,jesus ,christ4 ,jesus is declared to be the brightness of ,god's glory and the exact impression of ,his substance4 ,he could say1 ,he that hath seen ,me hath seen the ,father4 ,thus the ,son reveals the ,father2 and it is by the ,word1 through the power of the ,holy ,ghost1 that we know any thing of the ,son2 and therefore for any one to attempt1 by any efforts of his mind or workings of his imagination1 to conceive an image of ,god1 or of ,christ1 is simply idolatry4 ,to endeavor to arrive at any knowledge of ,god or of ,christ save by ,scripture1 is simply mysticism and confusion2 nay1 more1 it is to put ourselves directly into the hands of the devil1 to be led by him into the wildest1 darkest1 and deadliest delusion4 ,hence1 therefore1 as ,israel1 at ,mount ,horeb1 was shut up to the voice of ,god and warned against any similitude1 so we are shut up to holy ,scripture and warned against every thing which would draw us away1 the breadth of a hair1 from that holy and all-sufficient standard4 ,we must not listen to the suggestions of our own minds1 nor to those of any other human mind3 we must absolutely and sternly refuse to listen to any thing but the voice of ,god--the voice of holy ,scripture4 ,here is true security1 true rest2 here we have absolute certainty1 so that we can say1 ,i know whom--not merely what--,i have believed2 and am persuaded that ,he1 etc4 ,take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves1 7for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the ,lord spake unto you in ,horeb out of the midst of the fire17 lest ye corrupt yourselves1 and make you a graven image1 the similitude of any figure1 the likeness of male or female1 the likeness of any beast that is on the earth1 the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air1 the likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground1 the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth2 and lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven1 and when thou seest the sun1 and the moon1 and the stars1 even all the host of heaven1 shouldest be driven to worship them1 and serve them1 which the ,lord thy ,god hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven4 ,but the ,lord hath taken you1 and brought you forth out of the iron furnace1 even out of ,egypt1 to be unto ,him a people of inheritance1 as ye are this day4 ,there is a very weighty truth set before us here4 ,the people are expressly taught that in making any image and bowing down thereto1 they1 in reality1 lowered and corrupted themselves4 ,hence1 when they made the golden calf1 the ,lord said unto ,moses1 ,go1 get thee down2 for thy people1 which thou broughtest out of the land of ,egypt1 have corrupted themselves4 ,it could not be otherwise4 ,the worshiper must be inferior to the object of his worship2 and therefore1 in worshiping a calf1 they actually put themselves below the level of the beasts that perish4 ,well1 therefore1 might ,he say1 ,they have corrupted themselves2 they have turned aside quickly out of the way which ,i commanded them2 they have made them a molten calf1 and have worshiped it1 and have sacrificed thereunto1 and said1 ',these be thy gods1 ,o ,israel1 which have brought thee up out of the land of ,egypt4' ,what a spectacle6 ,a whole congregation1 led by ,aaron the high-priest1 bowing in worship before a thing formed by a graving tool out of the earrings which had just been taken from the ears of their wives and daughters6 ,only conceive a number of intelligent beings--people endowed with reason1 understanding1 and conscience--saying of a molten calf1 ,these be thy gods1 ,o ,israel1 which have brought thee up out of the land of ,egypt6 ,they actually displaced ,jehovah by an image graven by art and man's device6 ,and these were the people who had seen the mighty works of ,jehovah in the land of ,egypt4 ,they had seen plague after plague falling upon ,egypt and its obdurate king2 they had seen the land1 as it were1 shaken to its very centre by the successive strokes of ,jehovah's governmental rod2 they had seen ,egypt's first-born laid in death by the sword of the destroying angel2 they had seen the ,red ,sea divided by one stroke of ,jehovah's rod1 and they had passed through upon dry ground between those crystal walls which afterwards fell1 in crushing power1 upon their enemies--all these things had passed before their eyes1 and yet they could so soon forget all and say of a molten calf1 ,these be thy gods1 ,o ,israel1 which have brought thee up out of the land of ,egypt4 ,did they really believe that a molten image had made the land of ,egypt to tremble1 humbled its proud monarch1 and brought them forth victoriously8 ,had a calf divided the sea for them1 and led them majestically through its depths8 ,so1 at least1 they said2 for what will people not say when the eye and the heart are turned away from ,god and ,his ,word8 ,but we may perhaps be asked1 ,has all this a voice for us8 ,are ,christians to learn any thing from ,israel's molten calf8 and do the warnings addressed to ,israel against idolatry convey any voice to the ear of the ,church8 ,are we in danger of bowing down to a graven image8 ,is it possible that we1 whose high privilege it is to walk in the full-orbed light of ,new-,testament ,christianity1 could ever worship a molten calf8 ,to all this we reply1 first of all1 in the language of ,romans xv4 #d1 ,whatsoever things were written aforetime--,exodus xxxii4 and ,deuteronomy iv4 included--were written for our learning1 that we through patience and comfort of the ,scriptures might have hope4 ,this brief passage contains our chartered right to range through the wide field of ,old-,testament scripture and gather up and appropriate its golden lessons1 to feed upon its exceeding great and precious promises1 to drink in its deep and varied consolation1 and to profit by its solemn warnings and wholesome admonitions4 ,and then1 as to our being capable of or liable to the gross sin of idolatry1 we have a striking answer in #a ,corinthians x1 where the inspired apostle uses the very scene at ,mount ,horeb as a warning to the ,church of ,god4 ,we cannot do better than quote the entire passage for the reader4 ,there is nothing like the ,word of ,god2 may we love1 prize1 and reverence it more and more each day4 ,moreover1 brethren1 ,i would not that ye should be ignorant1 how that all our fathers were under the cloud--those whose carcasses fell in the wilderness1 as well as those who reached the land of promise1--and all passed through the sea2 and were all baptized unto ,moses in the cloud and in the sea2 and did all eat the same spiritual meat2 and did all drink the same spiritual drink3 for they drank of that spiritual ,rock that followed them2 and that ,rock was ,christ4 ,how strong1 how solemn1 and how searching is this for all professors6 ,but with many of them ,god was not well pleased2 for they were overthrown in the wilderness4 ,now these things were our examples 7let us carefully mark this71 to the intent we should not lust after evil things--things in any way contrary to the mind of ,christ1 as they also lusted4 ,neither be ye idolaters 7so that professing ,christians may be idolaters7 as were some of them2 as it is written1 ',the people sat down to eat and drink1 and rose up to play4' ,neither let us commit fornication1 as some of them committed1 and fell in one day three and twenty thousand4 ,neither let us tempt ,christ1 as some of them also tempted1 and were destroyed of serpents4 ,neither murmur ye1 as some of them also murmured1 and were destroyed of the destroyer4 ,now all these things happened unto them for ensamples2 and they are written for our admonition1 upon whom the ends of the ages are come4 ,wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall4 ,here we learn1 in the plainest manner1 that there is no depth of sin and folly1 no form of moral pravity1 into which we are not capable of plunging1 at any moment1 if not kept by the mighty power of ,god4 ,there is no security for us save in the moral shelter of the divine presence4 ,we know that the ,spirit of ,god does not warn us against things to which we are not liable4 ,he would not say to us1 ,neither be ye idolaters1 if we were not capable of being such4 ,idolatry takes various shapes4 ,it is not1 therefore1 a question of the shape of the thing1 but the thing itself--not the outward form1 but the root or principle of the thing4 ,we read that covetousness is idolatry1 and that a covetous man is an idolater2 that is1 a man desiring to possess himself of more than ,god has given him is an idolater--is actually guilty of the sin of ,israel when they made the golden calf and worshiped it4 ,well might the blessed apostle say to the ,corinthians--say to us1 ,wherefore1 my dearly beloved1 flee from idolatry4 ,why be warned to flee from a thing to which we are not liable8 ,are there any idle words in the volume of ,god8 ,what mean those closing words of the first epistle of ,john--,little children1 keep yourselves from idols8 ,do they not tell us that we are in danger of worshiping idols8 ,assuredly they do4 ,our treacherous hearts are capable of departing from the living ,god1 and setting up some other object beside ,him2 and what is this but idolatry8 ,whatever commands the heart is the heart's idol1 be it what it may--money1 pleasure1 power1 or aught else1--so that we may well see the urgent need for the many warnings given us by the ,holy ,ghost against the sin of idolatry4 ,but we have in the fourth chapter of ,galatians a very remarkable passage1 and one which speaks in most impressive accents to the professing church4 ,the ,galatians had1 like all other ,gentiles1 worshiped idols2 but1 on the reception of the gospel1 had turned from idols to serve the living and true ,god4 ,the ,judaizing teachers1 however1 had come among them and taught them that unless they were circumcised and kept the law1 they could not be saved4 ,now this1 the blessed apostle unhesitatingly pronounces to be idolatry--a going back to the grossness and moral degradation of their former days1 and all this after having professed to receive the glorious gospel of ,christ4 ,hence the moral force of the apostle's inquiry1 ,howbeit then1 when ye knew not ,god1 ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods4 ,but now1 after that ye have known ,god1 or rather are known of ,god1 how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements1 whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage8 ,ye observe days1 and months1 and times1 and years4 ,i am afraid of you1 lest ,i have bestowed upon you labor in vain4 ,this is peculiarly striking4 ,the ,galatians were not outwardly going back to the worship of idols4 ,it is not improbable that they would have indignantly repudiated any such idea4 ,but1 for all that1 the inspired apostle asks them1 ,how turn ye again8 ,what does this inquiry mean if they were not going back to idolatry8 and what are we now to learn from the whole passage8 ,simply this1 that circumcision1 and getting under the law1 and observing days1 and months1 and times1 and years--that all this1 though apparently so different1 was nothing more or less than going back to their old idolatry4 ,the observance of days and the worship of false gods were both a turning away from the living and true ,god1 from ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ1 from the ,holy ,ghost1 from that brilliant cluster of dignities and glories which belong to ,christianity4 ,all this is peculiarly solemn for professing ,christians4 ,we question if the full import of ,galatians iv4 #h-aj is really apprehended by the great majority of those who profess to believe the ,bible4 ,we solemnly press this whole subject upon the attention of all whom it may concern4 ,we pray ,god to use it for the purpose of stirring up the hearts and consciences of ,his people every where to consider their position1 their habits1 ways1 and associations2 and to inquire how far they are really following the example of the assemblies of ,galatia1 in the observance of saints' days and such like1 which can only lead away from ,christ and ,his glorious salvation4 ,there is a day coming which will open the eyes of thousands to the reality of these things1 and then they will see what they now refuse to see1 that the very darkest and grossest forms of paganism may be reproduced under the name of ,christianity1 and in connection with the very highest truths that ever shone on the human understanding4 ,but however slow we may be to admit our tendency to fall into the sin of idolatry1 it is very plain1 in ,israel's case1 that ,moses1 as taught and inspired of ,god1 felt the deep need of warning them against it1 in the most solemn and affecting terms4 ,he appeals to them on every possible ground1 and reiterates his counsels and admonitions in a manner so impressive as to leave them1 assuredly1 without any excuse4 ,they never could say that they fell into idolatry from the want of warning1 or of the most gracious and affectionate entreaty4 ,take such words as the following3 ,but the ,lord hath taken you1 and brought you forth out of the iron furnace1 even out of ,egypt1 to be unto ,him a people of inheritance1 as ye are this day4 7,ver4 #bj47 ,could any thing be more affecting than this8 ,jehovah1 in ,his rich and sovereign grace1 and by ,his mighty hand1 brought them forth from the land of death and darkness1 a redeemed and delivered people4 ,he had brought them to ,himself1 that they might be to ,him a peculiar treasure1 above all the people upon earth4 ,how1 then1 could they turn away from ,him1 from ,his holy covenant1 and from ,his precious commandments8 ,alas6 alas6 they could and did4 ,they made a calf1 and said1 ',these be thy gods1 ,o ,israel1 which have brought thee up out of the land of ,egypt4' ,think of this6 ,a calf1 made by their own hands--an image1 graven by art and man's device1 had brought them up out of ,egypt6 ,a thing made out of the women's earrings had redeemed and delivered them6 ,and this has been written for our admonition4 ,but why should it be written for us if we are not capable of and liable to the very same sin8 ,we must either admit that ,god the ,holy ,ghost has penned an unnecessary sentence1 or admit our need of an admonition against the sin of idolatry2 and assuredly1 our needing the admonition proves our tendency to the sin4 ,are we better than ,israel8 ,in no wise4 ,we have brighter light and higher privileges1 but1 so far as we are concerned1 we are made of the same material1 have the same capabilities and the same tendencies1 as they4 ,our idolatry may take a different shape from theirs2 but idolatry is idolatry1 be the shape what it may2 and the higher our privileges1 the the greater our sin4 ,we may perhaps feel disposed to wonder how a rational people could be guilty of such egregious folly as to make a calf and bow down to it1 and this1 too1 after having had such a display of the majesty1 power1 and glory of ,god4 ,let us remember that their folly is recorded for our admonition2 and that we1 with all our light1 all our knowledge1 all our privileges1 are warned to flee from idolatry4 ,let us deeply ponder all this and seek to profit by it4 ,may every chamber of our hearts be filled with ,christ1 and then we shall have no room for idols4 ,this is our only safeguard4 ,if we slip away the breadth of a hair from our precious ,saviour and ,shepherd1 we are capable of plunging into the darkest forms of error and moral evil4 ,light1 knowledge1 spiritual privileges1 church position1 sacramental benefits1 are no security for the soul4 ,they are very good in their right place and if rightly used1 but in themselves they only increase our moral danger4 ,nothing can keep us safe1 right1 and happy but having ,christ dwelling in our hearts by faith4 ,abiding in ,him and ,he in us1 that wicked one toucheth us not4 ,but if personal communion be not diligently maintained1 the higher our position1 the greater our danger and the more disastrous our fall4 ,there was not a nation beneath the canopy of heaven more favored and exalted than ,israel when they gathered around ,mount ,horeb to hear the word of ,god3 there was not a nation on the face of the earth more degraded or more guilty than they when they bowed before the golden calf--an image of their own formation4 99 99 99 99 99 ,we must now give our attention to a fact of very deep interest1 presented at verse #ba of our chapter1 and that is1 that ,moses1 for the third time1 reminds the congregation of ,god's judicial dealing with himself4 ,he had spoken of it1 as we have seen1 in chapter i4 #cg1 and again at chapter iii4 #bf1 and here1 again1 he says to them1 ,furthermore the ,lord was angry with me for your sakes1 and sware that ,i should not go over ,jordan1 and that ,i should not go in unto that good land which the ,lord thy ,god giveth thee for an inheritance2 but ,i must die in this land1 ,i must not go over ,jordan2 but ye shall go over and possess that good land4 ,now1 we may ask1 ,why this threefold reference to the same fact8 and why the special mention1 in each instance1 of the circumstance that ,jehovah was angry with him on their account8 ,one thing is certain1 it was not for the purpose of throwing the blame over upon the people1 or of exculpating himself4 ,no one but an infidel could think this4 ,we believe the simple object was1 to give increased moral force to his appeal1 more solemnity to his warning voice4 ,if ,jehovah was angry with such an one as ,moses--if he1 for his unadvised speaking at the waters of ,meribah1 was forbidden to enter the promised land 7much as he desired it71 how needful for them to take heed6 ,it is a serious thing to have to do with ,god--blessed1 no doubt1 beyond all human expression or thought1 but most serious1 as the lawgiver himself was called to prove in his own person4 ,that this is the correct view of this interesting question seems evident from the following words3 ,take heed unto yourselves1 lest ye forget the covenant of the ,lord your ,god1 which ,he made with you1 and make you a graven image1 or the likeness of any thing which the ,lord thy ,god hath forbidden thee4 ,for the ,lord thy ,god is a consuming fire1 even a jealous ,god4 ,this is peculiarly solemn4 ,we must allow this statement to have its full1 moral weight with our souls4 ,we must not attempt to turn aside its sharp edge by any false notions about grace4 ,we sometimes hear it said that ,god is a consuming fire to the world4 ,by and by ,he will be so1 no doubt2 but now ,he is dealing in grace1 patience1 and long-suffering mercy with the world4 ,he is not dealing in judgment with the world now2 but1 as the apostle ,peter tells us1 the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of ,god2 and if it first begin at us1 what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of ,god8 ,so also1 in ,hebrews xii1 we read1 ,for our ,god is a consuming fire4 ,he is not speaking of what ,god will be to the world1 but of what ,he is to us4 ,neither is it1 as some put it1 ,god is a consuming fire out of ,christ4 ,we know nothing of ,god out of ,christ4 ,he could not be our ,god out of ,christ4 ,no1 reader2 ,scripture does not need such twistings and turnings3 it must be taken as it stands4 ,it is clear and distinct1 and all we have to do is to hearken and obey4 ,our ,god is a consuming fire1 a jealous ,god1 not to consume us1 blessed be ,his holy name1 but to consume the evil in us and in our ways4 ,he is intolerant of every thing in us that is contrary to ,himself--contrary to ,his holiness1 and therefore contrary to our true happiness1 our real1 solid blessing4 ,as the ,holy ,father1 ,he keeps us in a way worthy of ,himself1 and ,he chastens us in order to make us partakers of ,his holiness4 ,he allows the world to go on its way for the present1 not interfering publicly with it2 but ,he judges ,his house1 and ,he chastens ,his children1 in order that they may more fully answer to ,his mind and be the expression of ,his moral image4 ,and is not this an immense privilege8 ,yes1 verily2 it is a privilege of the very highest order--a privilege flowing from the infinite grace of our ,god1 who condescends to interest ,himself in us1 and occupy ,himself even with our infirmities1 our failures1 and our sins1 in order to deliver us from them1 and make us partakers of ,his holiness4 ,there is a very fine passage bearing upon this subject in the opening of ,hebrews xii1 which1 because of its immense practical importance1 we must quote for the reader4--,my son1 despise not thou the chastening of the ,lord1 nor faint when thou art rebuked of ,him2 for whom the ,lord loveth ,he chasteneth1 and scourgeth every son whom ,he receiveth4 ,if ye endure chastening1 ,god dealeth with you as with sons2 for what son is he whom the ,father chasteneth not8 ,but if ye be without chastisement1 whereof all are partakers1 then are ye bastards and not sons4 ,furthermore1 we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us1 and we gave them reverence2 shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the ,father of spirits1 and live8 ,for they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure2 but ,he for our profit1 that we might be partakers of ,his holiness4 ,now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous1 but grievous2 nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby4 ,wherefore lift up the hands which hang down1 and the feeble knees4 ,there are three ways of meeting divine chastening3 ,we may despise it1 as something commonplace--something that may happen to any one2 we do not see the hand of ,god in it4 ,again1 we may faint under it1 as something too heavy for us to bear--something entirely beyond endurance2 we do not see the ,father's heart in it1 or recognize ,his gracious object in it1 namely1 to make us partakers of ,his holiness4 ,lastly1 we may be exercised by it4 ,this is the way to reap the peaceable fruit of righteousness afterward4 ,we dare not despise a thing in which we trace the hand of ,god3 we need not faint under a trial in which we plainly discern the heart of a loving ,father1 who will not suffer us to be tried above what we are able1 but will with the trial make an issue1 that we may be able to bear it1 and who also graciously explains to us ,his object in the discipline1 and assures us that every stroke of ,his rod is a proof of ,his love1 and a direct response to the prayer of ,christ in ,john xvii4 #aa1 wherein ,he commends us to the care of the ,holy ,father1 to be kept according to that name and all that name involves4 ,furthermore1 there are three distinct attitudes of heart in reference to divine chastening1 namely1 subjection1 acquiescence1 and rejoicing4 ,when the will is broken1 there is subjection2 when the understanding is enlightened as to the object of the chastening1 there is calm acquiescence2 and when the affections are engaged with the ,father's heart1 there is rejoicing1 and we can go forth with glad hearts to reap a golden harvest of the peaceable fruit of righteousness1 to the praise of ,him who1 in ,his painstaking love1 undertakes to care for us and to deal with us in holy government1 and concentrate ,his care upon each one as though there were but that one to attend to4 ,how wonderful is all this6 and how the thought of it should help us in all our trials and exercises6 ,we are in the hands of ,one whose love is infinite1 whose wisdom is unerring1 whose power is omnipotent1 whose resources are inexhaustible4 ,why1 then1 should we ever be cast down8 ,if ,he chastens us1 it is because ,he loves us and seeks our real good4 ,we may think the chastening grievous--we may feel disposed to wonder1 at times1 how love can inflict pain and sickness upon us2 but we must remember that divine love is wise and faithful1 and only inflicts the pain1 the sickness1 or the sorrow for our profit and blessing4 ,we must not always judge of love by the form in which it clothes itself4 ,look at that fond and tender mother applying a blister to her child whom she loves as her own soul4 ,she knows full well that the blister will cause her child real pain and suffering1 and yet she unhesitatingly applies it1 though her heart feels keenly at having to do it4 ,but she knows it is absolutely necessary2 she believes that1 humanly and medically speaking1 the child's life depends upon it2 she feels that a few moments' pain may1 with the blessing of ,god1 restore the health of her precious child4 ,thus1 while the child is only occupied with the transient suffering1 the mother is thinking of the permanent good2 and if the child could but think with the mother1 the blister would not seem so hard to bear4 ,now1 it is just thus in the matter of our ,father's disciplinary dealings with us2 and the remembrance of this would greatly help us to endure whatever ,his chastening hand may lay upon us4 ,it may perhaps be said that there is a very wide difference between a blister laid on for a few minutes1 and years of intense bodily suffering4 ,no doubt there is2 but there is also a very wide difference between the result reached in each case4 ,it is only with the principle of the thing we have to do4 ,when we see a beloved child of ,god1 or servant of ,christ1 called to pass through years of intense suffering1 we may feel disposed to wonder why it is2 and perhaps the beloved sufferer may also feel disposed to wonder1 and at times be ready to faint under the weight of his long-protracted affliction4 ,he may feel led to cry out1 ,why am ,i thus8 ,can this be love8 can this be the expression of a ,father's tender care8 ,yes1 verily1 is ,faith's bright and decided reply4 ,it is all love--all divinely right4 ,i would not have it otherwise for worlds4 ,i know this transient suffering is working out eternal blessing4 ,i know my loving ,father has put me into this furnace to purge away my dross and bring out in me the expression of ,his own image4 ,i know that divine love will always do the very best for its object1 and therefore this intense suffering is the very best thing for me4 ,of course1 ,i feel it1 for ,i am not a stick or a stone4 ,my ,father means me to feel it1 just as the mother means the blister to rise1 for it would do no good otherwise4 ,but ,i bless ,him1 with my whole heart1 for the grace that shines in the wondrous fact of ,his occupying ,himself with me1 in this way1 to correct what ,he sees to be wrong in me4 ,i praise ,him for putting me into the furnace2 and how can ,i but praise ,him1 when ,i see ,himself1 in infinite grace and patience1 sitting over the furnace to watch the process1 and lift me out the moment the work is done8 ,this1 beloved ,christian reader1 is the true way1 and this the right spirit in which to pass through chastening of any kind1 be it bodily affliction1 sore bereavement1 loss of property1 or pressure of circumstances4 ,we have to trace the hand of ,god1 to read a ,father's heart1 to recognize the divine object in it all4 ,this will enable us to vindicate1 justify1 and glorify ,god in the furnace of affliction4 ,it will correct every murmuring thought1 and hush every fretful utterance2 it will fill our hearts with sweetest peace and our mouths with praise4 99 99 99 99 99 ,we must now turn1 for a few moments1 to the remaining verses of our chapter1 in which we shall find some most touching and powerful appeals to the heart and conscience of the congregation4 ,the lawgiver1 in the deep1 true1 and fervent love of his heart1 makes use of the most solemn warnings1 the most earnest admonition1 and the most tender entreaties1 in order to move the people to the one grand and all-important point of obedience4 ,if he speaks to them of the iron furnace of ,egypt1 out of which ,jehovah1 in ,his sovereign grace1 had delivered them2 if he dwells upon the mighty signs and wonders wrought on their behalf2 if he holds up to their view the glories of that land on which they were about to plant their foot2 or if he recounts the marvelous dealings of ,god with them in the wilderness1 it is all for the purpose of strengthening the moral basis of ,jehovah's claim upon their loving and reverent obedience4 ,the past1 the present1 and the future are all brought to bear upon them--all made to furnish powerful arguments in favor of their whole-hearted consecration of themselves to the service of their gracious and almighty ,deliverer4 ,in short1 there was every reason why they should obey1 and no possible excuse for disobedience4 ,all the facts of their history1 from first to last1 were eminently calculated to give moral force to the exhortation and warning of the following passage3-- ,take heed unto yourselves1 lest ye forget the covenant of the ,lord your ,god1 which ,he made with you1 and make you a graven image1 or the likeness of any thing1 which the ,lord thy ,god hath forbidden thee4 ,for the ,lord thy ,god is a consuming fire1 even a jealous ,god4 ,when thou shalt beget children1 and children's children1 and ye shall have remained long in the land1 and shall corrupt yourselves1 and make a graven image1 or the likeness of any thing1 and shall do evil in the sight of the ,lord thy ,god1 to provoke ,him to anger2 ,i call heaven and earth to witness against you this day1 that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over ,jordan to possess it2 ye shall not prolong your days upon it1 but shall utterly be destroyed4 ,and the ,lord shall scatter you among the nations1 and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen1 whither the ,lord shall lead you4 ,and there ye shall serve gods1 the work of men's hands1 wood and stone1 which neither see1 nor hear1 nor eat1 nor smell4 ,how solemn is all this6 ,what faithful warnings are here6 ,heaven and earth are summoned to witness4 ,alas6 how soon and how completely all this was forgotten6 and how literally all those heavy denunciations have been fulfilled in the history of the nation6 ,but1 thank ,god1 there is a bright side of the picture--there is mercy as well as judgment1 and our ,god 7blessed forever be ,his holy name7 is something more than a consuming fire and a jealous ,god4 ,true1 ,he is a consuming fire1 because ,he is holy2 ,he is intolerant of evil1 and must consume our dross4 ,moreover1 ,he is jealous1 because ,he cannot suffer any rival to have a place in the hearts of those ,he loves4 ,he must have the whole heart1 because ,he alone is worthy of it1 as ,he alone can fill and satisfy it forever4 ,and if ,his people turn away from ,him and go after idols of their own making1 they must be left to reap the bitter fruit of their own doings1 and to prove1 by sad and terrible experience1 the truth of these words3 ,their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another4 ,but mark how touchingly ,moses presents to the people the bright side of things--a brightness springing from the eternal stability of the grace of ,god1 and the perfect provision which that grace has made for all ,his people's need1 from first to last4 ,but1 he says--and oh1 how lovely are some of the buts of holy ,scripture6--if from thence thou shalt seek the ,lord thy ,god1 thou shalt find ,him1 if thou seek ,him with all thy heart and with all thy soul4 ,exquisite grace6 ,when thou art in tribulation--that is the time to find what our ,god is1--and all these things are come upon thee1 even in the latter days1 if thou turn to the ,lord thy ,god1 and shalt be obedient unto ,his voice2--what then8 ,a consuming fire8 ,nay2 but the ,lord thy ,god is a merciful ,god2 ,he will not forsake thee1 neither destroy thee1 nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which ,he sware unto them4 ,here we have a remarkable onlook into ,israel's future1 their departure from ,god and consequent dispersion among the nations1 the complete breaking up of their polity1 and the passing away of their national glory4 ,but1 blessed forever be the ,god of all grace1 there is something beyond all this failure and sin and ruin and judgment4 ,when we get to the far end of ,israel's melancholy history--a history which may truly be summed up in that one brief but comprehensive sentence1 ,o ,israel1 thou hast destroyed thyself1 we are met by the magnificent display of the grace1 mercy1 and faithfulness of ,jehovah1 the ,god of their fathers1 whose heart of love tells itself out in that added sentence1 ,in ,me is thy help4 ,yes2 the whole matter is wrapped up in these two vigorous sentences1 ,thou hast destroyed thyself1 ,but in ,me is thy help4 ,in the former1 we have the sharp arrow for ,israel's conscience2 in the latter1 the soothing balm for ,israel's broken heart4 ,in thinking of the nation of ,israel1 there are two pages which we have to study1 namely1 the historic and the prophetic4 ,the page of history records1 with unerring faithfulness1 their utter ruin3 the page of prophecy unfolds1 in accents of matchless grace1 ,god's remedy4 ,israel's past has been dark and gloomy3 ,israel's future will be bright and glorious4 ,in the former1 we see the miserable actings of man2 in the latter1 the blessed ways of ,god4 ,that gives the forcible illustration of what man is2 this1 the bright display of what ,god is4 ,we must look at both if we would understand aright the history of this remarkable people--a people terrible from their beginning hitherto1 and1 we may truly add1 a people wonderful to the end of time4 ,we do not1 of course1 attempt to adduce1 in this place1 proofs of our statement as to ,israel's past and ,israel's future4 ,to do so would1 we may say1 without any exaggeration1 demand a volume1 inasmuch as it would simply be to quote a very large portion of the historical books of the ,bible on the one hand1 and of the prophetic books on the other4 ,this1 we need hardly say1 is out of the question2 but we feel bound to press upon the reader's attention the precious teaching contained in the quotation given above4 ,it embodies1 in its brief compass1 the whole truth as to ,israel's past1 present1 and future4 ,mark how their past is vividly portrayed in these few words3 ,when thou shalt beget children1 and children's children1 and ye shall have remained long in the land1 and shall corrupt yourselves1 and make a graven image1 or the likeness of any thing1 and shall do evil in the sight of the ,lord thy ,god1 to provoke ,him to anger4 ,is not this precisely what they have done8 ,is it not here1 as it were1 in a nutshell8 ,they have done evil in the sight of ,jehovah their ,god1 to provoke ,him to anger4 ,that one word1 evil takes all in1 from the calf at ,horeb to the cross at ,calvary4 ,such is ,israel's past4 ,and now1 what of their present8 ,are they not a standing monument of the imperishable truth of ,god8 ,has a single jot or tittle failed of all that ,god has spoken8 ,hearken to these glowing words3 ,i call heaven and earth to witness against you this day1 that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over ,jordan to possess it2 ye shall not prolong your days upon it1 but shall utterly be destroyed4 ,and the ,lord shall scatter you among the nations1 and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen1 whither the ,lord shall lead you4 ,has not all this been fulfilled to the letter8 ,who can question it8 ,israel's past and ,israel's present alike attest the truth of ,god's ,word4 ,and are we not justified in declaring that inasmuch as the past and the present are a literal accomplishment of the truth of ,god1 so shall the future8 ,assuredly4 ,the page of history and the page of prophecy were both indited by the same ,spirit1 and therefore they are both alike true2 and as the history records ,israel's sin and ,israel's dispersion1 so doth the prophecy predict ,israel's repentance and ,israel's restoration4 ,the one is as true to faith as the other4 ,as surely as ,israel sinned in the past and are scattered at the present1 so surely shall they repent and be restored in the future4 ,this1 we conceive1 is beyond all question2 and we rejoice to think of it4 ,there is not one of the prophets1 from ,isaiah to ,malachi1 that does not most distinctly set forth1 in accents of sweetest grace and most tender mercy1 the future blessings1 pre-eminence1 and glory of the seed of ,abraham4#aa ,it would be simply delightful to quote some of the sublime passages bearing upon this most interesting subject2 but we must leave the reader to search them out for himself1 especially commending to his notice the precious passages contained in the closing chapters of ,isaiah1 in which he will find a perfect feast1 as well as the fullest confirmation of the apostle's statement that all ,israel shall be saved4 ,all the prophets1 from ,samuel and those that follow after1 agree as to this4 ,the teachings of the ,new ,testament harmonize with the voices of the prophets1 and hence to call in question the truth of ,israel's restoration to their own land1 and final blessing there1 under the rule of their own ,messiah1 is simply to ignore or deny the testimony of prophets and apostles1 speaking and writing by the direct inspiration of ,god the ,holy ,ghost2 it is to set aside a body of ,scripture evidence perfectly overwhelming4 #aa ,jonah1 of course1 is an exception2 his mission was to ,nineveh4 ,he is the only prophet whose commission had exclusive reference to the ,gentiles4 ,it seems passing strange that any true lover of ,christ should seek to do this2 yet so it is1 and so it has been1 through religious prejudice1 theological bias1 and various other causes4 ,but1 notwithstanding all this1 the glorious truth of ,israel's restoration and pre-eminence in the earth shines with undimmed lustre on the prophetic page1 and all who seek to set it aside1 or interfere with it in any way1 are not only flying in the face of holy ,scripture--contradicting the unanimous voice of apostles and prophets1 but also seeking to tamper 7ignorantly and unwittingly1 no doubt7 with the counsel1 purpose1 and promise of the ,lord ,god of ,israel1 and to nullify ,his covenant with ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob4 ,this is serious work for any one to engage in1 and we believe many are doing it without being aware of it2 for we must understand that any one who applies the promises made to the ,old-,testament fathers to the ,new-,testament ,church is1 in reality1 doing the serious work of which we speak4 ,we maintain that no one has the slightest warrant to alienate the promises made to the fathers4 ,we may learn from those promises1 delight in them1 draw comfort and encouragement from their eternal stability and direct literal application--all this is blessedly true2 but it is another thing altogether for men1 under the influence of a system of interpretation falsely called spiritual1 to apply to the ,church1 or to believers of the ,new-,testament times1 prophecies which1 as simply and plainly as words can indicate1 apply to ,israel--to the literal seed of ,abraham4 ,this is what we consider so very serious4 ,we believe we have very little idea of how thoroughly opposed all this is to the mind and heart of ,god4 ,he loves ,israel--loves them for the fathers' sake1 and we may rest assured ,he will not sanction our interference with their place1 their portion1 or their prospect4 ,we are all familiar with the words of the inspired apostle in ,romans xi1 however we may have missed or forgotten their true import and moral force4 ,speaking of ,israel1 in connection with the olive-tree of promise1 he says1 ,and they also1 if they abide not still in unbelief1 shall be graffed in2 for the most simple1 solid1 and blessed of all reasons--,god is able1 as ,he is most surely willing1 to graff them in again4 ,for if thou wert cut out of the olive-tree which is wild by nature1 and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive-tree2 how much more shall these1 which be the natural branches1 be graffed into their own olive-tree8 ,for ,i would not1 brethren1 that ye should be ignorant of this mystery1 lest ye should be wise in your own conceits2 that blindness in part is happened to ,israel1 until the fullness of the ,gentiles be come in4#ab ,and so all ,israel shall be saved3 as it is written1 ',there shall come out of ,sion the ,deliverer1 and shall turn away ungodliness from ,jacob3 for this is ,my covenant unto them1 when ,i shall take away their sins4' ,as concerning the gospel1 they are enemies for your sakes2 but as touching the election1 they are beloved for the fathers' sakes4 ,for the gifts and calling of ,god are without repentance4 ,for as ye in times past have not believed ,god1 yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief2 even so have these also now not believed in your mercy or1 mercy to you4 ,see ,greek4 that they also may obtain mercy4 ,that is1 that instead of coming in on the ground of law1 or fleshly descent1 they should come in simply on the ground of sovereign mercy1 just as the ,gentiles4 ,for ,god hath concluded them all in unbelief1 that ,he might have mercy upon all4 #ab ,the reader must seize the difference between the fullness of the ,gentiles in ,romans xi1 and the times of the ,gentiles in ,luke xxi4 ,the former refers to those who are now being gathered into the ,church3 the latter1 on the contrary1 refers to the times of ,gentile supremacy which began with ,nebuchadnezzar1 and runs on to the time when the stone cut out without hands shall fall1 in crushing power1 upon the great image of ,daniel ii4 ,here ends the section bearing upon our immediate subject1 but we cannot refrain from quoting the splendid doxology which bursts forth from the overflowing heart of the inspired apostle as he closes the grand dispensational division of his epistle--,o the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of ,god6 how unsearchable are ,his judgments1 and ,his ways past finding out6 ,for who hath known the mind of the ,lord8 or who hath been ,his counselor8 or who hath first given to ,him1 and it shall be recompensed unto him again8 ,for of ,him1 as the source1 and through ,him1 as the channel1 and to ,him1 as the object1 are all things3 to whom be glory forever4 ,amen4 ,the foregoing splendid passage1 as indeed all ,scripture1 is in perfect keeping with the teaching of the fourth chapter of our book4 ,israel's present condition is the fruit of their dark unbelief3 ,israel's future glory will be the fruit of ,god's rich sovereign mercy4--,the ,lord thy ,god is a merciful ,god1 ,he will not forsake thee1 neither destroy thee1 nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which ,he sware unto them4 ,for ask now of the days that are past1 which were before thee1 since the day that ,god created man upon the earth1 and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other--,the utmost bounds of time and space were to be appealed to1 to see--whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is1 or hath been heard like it8 ,did ever people hear the voice of ,god speaking out of the midst of the fire1 as thou hast heard1 and live8 ,or hath ,god assayed to go and take ,him a nation from the midst of another nation1 by temptations1 by signs1 and by wonders1 and by war1 and by a mighty hand1 and by a stretched-out arm1 and by great terrors1 according to all that the ,lord your ,god did for you in ,egypt before your eyes8 ,unto thee it was showed1 that thou mightest know that the ,lord ,he is ,god2 there is none else beside ,him4 ,out of heaven ,he made thee to hear ,his voice1 that ,he might instruct thee1 and upon earth ,he showed thee ,his great fire2 and thou heardest ,his words out of the midst of the fire4 ,here we have set forth1 with singular moral power1 the grand object of all the divine actings on ,israel's behalf4 ,it was that they might know that ,jehovah was the one true and living ,god1 and that there was and could be none beside ,him4 ,in a word1 it was the purpose of ,god that ,israel should be a witness for ,him on the earth2 and so they most assuredly shall1 though hitherto they have signally failed and caused ,his great and holy name to be blasphemed among the nations4 ,nothing can hinder the purpose of ,god4 ,his covenant shall stand forever4 ,israel shall yet be a blessed and effective witness for ,god on the earth1 and a channel of rich and everlasting blessing to all nations4 ,jehovah has pledged ,his word as to this1 and not all the powers of earth and hell--men and devils combined can hinder the full accomplishment of all that ,he has spoken4 ,his glory is involved in ,israel's future1 and if a single jot or tittle of ,his word were to fail1 it would be a dishonor cast upon ,his great name1 and an occasion for the enemy1 which is utterly impossible4 ,israel's future blessing and ,jehovah's glory are bound together by a link which can never be snapped4 ,if this be not clearly seen1 we can neither understand ,israel's past nor ,israel's future4 ,nay1 more2 we may assert1 with all possible confidence1 that unless this blessed fact be fully grasped1 our system of prophetic interpretation must be utterly false4 ,but there is another truth set forth in our chapter--a truth of peculiar interest and preciousness4 ,it is not merely that the glory of ,jehovah is involved in ,israel's future restoration and blessedness2 the love of ,his heart is also engaged4 ,this comes out with touching sweetness in the following words3 ,and because ,he loved thy fathers1 therefore ,he chose their seed after them1 and brought thee out in ,his sight with ,his mighty power out of ,egypt2 to drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art1 to bring thee in1 to give thee their land for an inheritance1 as it is this day4 ,thus the truth of ,god's word1 the glory of ,his great name1 and the love of ,his heart are all involved in ,his dealings with the seed of ,abraham ,his friend2 and albeit they have broken the law1 dishonored ,his name1 despised ,his mercy1 rejected ,his prophets1 crucified ,his ,son1 and resisted ,his ,spirit--although they have done all this1 and1 in consequence thereof1 are scattered and peeled and broken1 and shall yet pass through unexampled tribulation1 yet will the ,god of ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob glorify ,his name1 make good ,his word1 and manifest the changeless love of ,his heart in the future history of ,his earthly people4 ,nothing changeth ,god's affection4 ,whom ,he loves and as ,he loves ,he loves unto the end4 ,if we deny this in reference to ,israel1 we have not so much as a single inch of solid standing-ground for ourselves3 if we touch the truth of ,god in one department1 we have no security as to any thing4 ,scripture cannot be broken4 ,all the promises of ,god in ,him are yea1 and in ,him ,amen1 unto the glory of ,god4 ,god has pledged ,himself to the seed of ,abraham2 ,he has promised to give them the land of ,canaan1 forever4 ,his gifts and calling are without repentance4 ,he never repents of ,his gift or ,his call2 and therefore for any one to attempt to alienate ,his promises and ,his gifts1 or to interfere in any way with their application to their true and proper object1 must be a grievous offense to ,him4 ,it mars the integrity of divine truth1 deprives us of all certainty in the interpretation of holy ,scripture1 and plunges the soul in darkness1 doubt1 and perplexity4 ,the teaching of ,scripture is clear1 definite1 and distinct4 ,the ,holy ,ghost1 who indited the sacred ,volume1 means what ,he says and says what ,he means4 ,if ,he speaks of ,israel1 ,he means ,israel--of ,zion1 ,he means ,zion--of ,jerusalem1 ,he means ,jerusalem4 ,to apply any one of these names to the ,new-,testament ,church is to confound things that differ1 and introduce a method of interpreting ,scripture which1 from its vagueness and looseness1 can only lead to the most disastrous consequences4 ,if we handle the ,word of ,god in such a loose and careless manner1 it is utterly impossible to realize its divine authority over our conscience1 or exhibit its formative power in our course1 conduct1 and character4 99 99 99 99 99 ,we must now look1 for a moment1 at the powerful appeal with which ,moses sums up his address in our chapter3 it demands our profound and reverent attention4--,know therefore this day1 and consider it in thine heart1 that the ,lord ,he is ,god in heaven above1 and upon the earth beneath2 there is none else4 ,thou shalt keep therefore ,his statutes1 and ,his commandments1 which ,i command thee this day1 that it may go well with thee1 and with thy children after thee1 and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth1 which the ,lord thy ,god giveth thee1 forever4 7,ver4 #ci1 #dj47 ,here we see that the moral claim upon their hearty obedience is grounded upon the revealed character of ,god1 and ,his marvelous actings on their behalf4 ,in a word1 they were bound to obey--bound by every argument that could possibly act on the heart1 the conscience1 and the understanding4 ,the ,one who had brought them out of the land of ,egypt1 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm2 who had made that land to tremble to its very centre1 by stroke after stroke of ,his judicial rod2 who had opened up a pathway for them through the sea2 who had sent them bread from heaven1 and brought forth water for them out of the flinty rock2 and all this for the glory of ,his great name1 and because ,he loved their fathers--surely ,he was entitled to their whole-hearted obedience4 ,this is the grand argument1 so eminently characteristic of this blessed book of ,deuteronomy4 ,and surely this is full of instruction for ,christians now4 ,if ,israel were morally bound to obey1 how much more are we6 ,if their motives and objects were powerful1 how much more so are ours6 ,do we feel their power8 do we consider them in our hearts8 ,do we ponder the claims of ,christ upon us8 ,do we remember that we are not our own1 but bought with a price1 even the infinitely precious price of the blood of ,christ8 ,do we realize this8 ,are we seeking to live for ,him8 ,is ,his glory our ruling object8--,his love our constraining motive8 or are we living for ourselves8 ,are we seeking to get on in the world--that world that crucified our blessed ,lord and ,saviour8 ,are we seeking to make money8 do we love it in our hearts1 either for its own sake or for the sake of what it can procure8 does money govern us8 ,are we seeking a place in the world1 either for ourselves or for our children8 ,let us honestly challenge our hearts1 as in the divine presence1 in the light of ,god's truth1 what is our object--our real1 governing1 cherished1 heart-sought object8 ,reader1 these are searching questions4 ,let us not put them aside3 let us really weigh them in the very light of the judgment-seat of ,christ4 ,we believe they are wholesome1 much-needed questions4 ,we live in very solemn times4 ,there is a fearful amount of sham on every side1 and in nothing is this sham so awfully apparent as in so-called religion4 ,the very days in which our lot is cast have been sketched by a pen that never colors--never exaggerates1 but always presents men and things precisely as they are4--,this know also1 that in the last days--quite distinct from the latter times of #a ,timothy iv4--far in advance1 more pronounced1 more closely defined1 more strongly marked1 these last days in which perilous or difficult times shall come4 ,for men shall be lovers of their own selves1 covetous1 boasters1 proud1 blasphemers1 disobedient to parents1 unthankful1 unholy1 without natural affection1 truce-breakers1 false accusers1 incontinent1 fierce1 despisers of those that are good1 traitors1 heady1 high-minded1 lovers of pleasures more or rather than lovers of ,god4 ,and then mark the crown which the inspired apostle puts upon this appalling superstructure6--,having a form of godliness1 but denying the power thereof4 7#b ,tim4 iii4 #a-e47 ,what a terrible picture6 ,we have here1 in a few glowing1 weighty sentences1 infidel christendom1 just as in #a ,timothy iv4 we have superstitious christendom4 ,in the latter1 we see popery2 in the former1 infidelity4 ,both elements are at work around us1 but the latter will yet rise into prominence--indeed1 even now it is advancing with rapid strides4 ,the very leaders and teachers of christendom are not ashamed or afraid to attack the foundations of ,christianity4 ,a so-called ,christian bishop is not ashamed or afraid to call in question the integrity of the five books of ,moses1 and1 with them1 of the whole ,bible2 for1 most assuredly1 if ,moses was not the inspired writer of the ,pentateuch1 the entire edifice of holy ,scripture is swept from beneath our feet4 ,the writings of ,moses are so intimately bound up with all the other grand divisions of the divine ,volume1 that if they are touched1 all is gone4 ,we boldly affirm that if the ,holy ,ghost did not inspire ,moses1 the servant of ,god1 to write the first five books of our ,english ,bible1 we have not an inch of solid ground to stand upon2 we are positively left without a single atom of divine authority on which to rest our souls2 the very pillars of our glorious ,christianity are swept away1 and we are left to grope our way1 in hopeless perplexity1 amid the conflicting opinions and theories of infidel doctors1 without so much as a single ray from ,inspiration's heavenly lamp4 ,does this appear too strong for the reader8 ,does he believe that we can listen1 for a moment1 to the infidel denier of ,moses1 and yet believe in the inspiration of the psalms1 the prophets1 and the ,new ,testament8 ,if he does1 let him be well assured he is under the power of a fatal delusion4 ,let him take such passages as the following1 and ask himself1 ,what do they mean1 and what is wrapped up in them8 ,our ,lord1 in speaking to the ,jews--who1 by the way1 would not have agreed with a ,christian bishop in denying the authenticity of ,moses--says1 ,do not think that ,i will accuse you to the ,father2 there is one that accuseth you1 even ,moses1 in whom ye trust4 ,for had ye believed ,moses1 ye would have believed ,me2 for he wrote of ,me4 ,but if ye believe not his writings1 how shall ye believe ,my words8 7,john v4 #de-dg47 ,think of this3 ,the man that does not believe in the writings of ,moses--does not receive every line of his as divinely inspired1 does not believe in ,christ's words1 and therefore cannot have any divinely wrought faith in ,christ ,himself--cannot be a ,christian at all4 ,this makes it a very serious matter for any one to deny the divine inspiration of the ,pentateuch1 and equally serious for any one to listen to him or sympathize with him4 ,it is all very well to talk of ,christian charity and liberality of spirit2 but we have yet to learn that it is charity or liberality to sanction1 in any way1 a man who has the audacity to sweep from beneath our feet the very foundations of our faith4 ,to speak of him as a ,christian bishop1 or a ,christian minister of any kind1 is only to make the matter a thousand times worse4 ,we can understand a ,voltaire or a ,paine attacking the ,bible--we do not look for any thing else from them2 but when those who assume to be the recognized and ordained ministers of religion1 and the guardians of the faith of ,god's elect--those who consider themselves alone entitled to teach and preach ,jesus ,christ1 and feed and tend the ,church of ,god--when they actually call in question the inspiration of the five books of ,moses1 may we not well ask1 ,where are we8 ,what has the professing church come to8 ,but let us take another passage4 ,it is the powerful appeal of the risen ,saviour to the two bewildered disciples on their way to ,emmaus--',o fools1 and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken2 ought not ,christ to have suffered these things1 and to enter into ,his glory8' ,and beginning at ,moses and all the prophets1 ,he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning ,himself4 ,and again1 to the eleven and others with them1 ,he says1 ,these are the words which ,i spake unto you1 while ,i was yet with you1 that all things must be fulfilled1 which were written in the law of ,moses1 and in the prophets1 and in the psalms1 concerning ,me4 7,luke xxiv4 #be-bg1 #dd47 ,here we find that our ,lord1 in the most distinct and positive manner1 recognizes the law of ,moses as an integral part of the canon of inspiration1 and binds it up with all the other grand divisions of the divine ,volume in such a way that it is utterly impossible to touch one without destroying the integrity of the whole4 ,if ,moses is not to be trusted1 neither are the prophets1 nor the psalms4 ,they stand or fall together4 ,and not only so1 but we must either admit the divine authenticity of the ,pentateuch or draw the blasphemous inference that our adorable ,lord and ,saviour gave the sanction of ,his authority to a set of spurious documents1 by quoting as the writings of ,moses what ,moses never wrote at all6 ,there is positively not a single inch of consistent standing-ground between these two conclusions4 ,again1 take the following most weighty and important passage at the close of the parable of the rich man and ,lazarus3 ,abraham saith unto him1 ',they have ,moses and the prophets2 let them hear them4' ,and he said1 ',nay1 father ,abraham2 but if one went unto them from the dead1 they will repent4' ,and he said unto him1 ',if they hear not ,moses and the prophets1 neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead4' 7,luke xvi4 #bi-ca47 ,finally1 if we add to all this the fact that our ,lord1 in ,his conflict with ,satan in the wilderness1 quotes only from the writings of ,moses1 we have a body of evidence quite sufficient1 not only to establish1 beyond all question1 the divine inspiration of ,moses1 but also to prove that the man who calls in question the authenticity of the first five books of the ,bible1 can really have no ,bible1 no divine revelation1 no authority1 no solid foundation for his faith4 ,he may call himself1 or be called by others1 a ,christian bishop or a ,christian minister2 but1 in solemn fact1 he is a skeptic1 and should be treated as such by all who believe and know the truth4 ,we cannot understand how any one with a spark of divine life in his soul could be guilty of the awful sin of denying the inspiration of a large portion of the ,word of ,god1 or asserting that our ,lord ,christ could quote from spurious documents4 ,we may be deemed severe in thus writing4 ,it seems the fashion nowadays to own as ,christians those who deny the very foundations of ,christianity4 ,it is a very popular notion that1 provided people are moral1 amiable1 benevolent1 charitable1 and philanthropic1 it is of very small consequence what they believe4 ,life is better than creed or dogma1 we are told4 ,all this sounds very plausible3 but the reader may rest assured that the direct tendency of all this manner of speech and line of argument is to get rid of the ,bible--rid of the ,holy ,ghost--rid of ,christ--rid of ,god--rid of all that the ,bible reveals to our souls4 ,let him bear this in mind1 and seek to keep close to the precious ,word of ,god2 let him treasure that ,word in his heart1 and give himself more and more to the prayerful study of it4 ,thus he will be preserved from the withering influence of skepticism and infidelity1 in every shape and form2 his soul will be fed and nourished by the sincere milk of the ,word1 and his whole moral being be kept in the shelter of the divine presence continually4 ,this is what is needed3 nothing else will do4 99 99 99 99 99 ,we must now close our meditations on this marvelous chapter which has been engaging our attention2 but ere doing so1 we would glance for a moment at the remarkable notice of the three cities of refuge4 ,it might1 to a cursory reader1 seem abrupt2 but1 so far from that1 it is1 as we might expect1 in perfect and beautiful moral order4 ,scripture is always divinely perfect1 and if we do not see and appreciate its beauties and moral glories1 it is simply owing to our blindness and insensibility4 ,then ,moses severed three cities on this side ,jordan toward the sunrising2 that the slayer might flee thither1 which should kill his neighbor unawares1 and hated him not in times past2 and that fleeing unto one of those cities he might live2 namely1 ,bezer in the wilderness1 in the plain country1 of the ,reubenites2 and ,ramoth in ,gilead1 of the ,gadites2 and ,golan in ,bashan1 of the ,manassites4 ,here we have a lovely display of the grace of ,god rising1 as it ever does1 above human weakness and failure4 ,the two tribes and a half1 in choosing their inheritance on this side ,jordan1 were manifestly stopping short of the proper portion of the ,israel of ,god1 which lay on the other side of the river of death2 but1 notwithstanding this failure1 ,god1 in ,his abounding grace1 would not leave the poor slayer without a refuge in the day of his distress4 ,if man cannot come up to the height of ,god's thoughts1 ,god can come down to the depths of man's need2 and so blessedly does ,he do so in this case1 that the two tribes and a half were to have as many cities of refuge on this side ,jordan as the nine tribes and a half had in the land of ,canaan4 ,this1 truly1 was grace abounding4 ,how unlike the manner of man6 ,how far above mere law or legal righteousness6 ,it might1 in a legal way1 have been said to the two tribes and a half1 ,if you are going to choose your inheritance short of the divine mark--if you are content with less than ,canaan1 the land of promise1 you must not expect to enjoy the privileges and blessings of that land4 ,the institutions of ,canaan must be confined to ,canaan1 and hence your manslayer must try and make his way across the ,jordan and find refuge there4 ,law might speak thus1 but ,grace spoke differently4 ,god's thoughts are not ours1 nor ,his ways as ours4 ,we might deem it marvelous grace to provide even one city for the two and a half tribes2 but our ,god does exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think1 and hence the comparatively small district on this side ,jordan was furnished with as full a provision of grace as the entire land of ,canaan4 ,does this prove that the two and a half tribes were right8 ,nay2 but it proves that ,god was good1 and that ,he must ever act like ,himself1 spite of all our weakness and folly4 ,could ,he leave a poor slayer without a place of refuge in the land of ,gilead1 though ,gilead was not ,canaan8 ,surely not4 ,this would not be worthy of the ,one who says1 ,i bring near ,my righteousness4 ,he took care to bring the city of refuge near to the slayer4 ,he would cause ,his rich and precious grace to flow over and meet the needy one just where he was4 ,such is the way of our ,god1 blessed be ,his holy name for evermore6 ,and this is the law which ,moses set before the children of ,israel3 these are the testimonies1 and the statutes1 and the judgments1 which ,moses spake unto the children of ,israel1 after they came forth out of ,egypt1 on this side ,jordan1 in the valley over against ,beth-peor1 in the land of ,sihon king of the ,amorites1 who dwelt at ,heshbon1 whom ,moses and the children of ,israel smote1 after they were come forth out of ,egypt3 and they possessed his land1 and the land of ,og king of ,bashan1 two kings of the ,amorites1 which were on this side ,jordan toward the sunrising2 from ,aroer1 which is by the bank of the river ,arnon1 even unto ,mount ,sion1 which is ,hermon1 and all the plain on this side ,jordan eastward1 even unto the sea of the plain1 under the springs of ,pisgah4 ,here closes this marvelous discourse4 ,the ,spirit of ,god delights to trace the boundaries of the people1 and dwell on the most minute details connected with their history4 ,he takes a lively and loving interest in all that concerns them--their conflicts1 their victories1 their possessions1 all their landmarks2 every thing about them is dwelt upon with a minuteness which1 by its touching grace and condescension1 fill the heart with wonder1 love1 and praise4 ,man1 in his contemptible self-importance1 thinks it beneath his dignity to enter upon minute details2 but our ,god counts the hairs of our heads1 puts our tears into ,his bottle1 takes knowledge of our every care1 our every sorrow1 our every need4 ,there is nothing too small for ,his love1 as there is nothing too great for ,his power4 ,he concentrates ,his loving care upon each one of ,his people as though ,he had only that one to attend to2 and there is not a single circumstance in our private history1 from day to day1 however trivial1 in which ,he does not take a loving interest4 ,let us ever remember this1 for our comfort2 and may we learn to trust ,him better1 and use1 with a more artless faith1 ,his fatherly love and care4 ,he tells us to cast all our care upon ,him1 in the assurance that ,he careth for us4 ,he would have our hearts as free from care as our conscience is free from guilt4 ,be careful for nothing2 but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto ,god4 ,and the peace of ,god1 which passeth all understanding1 shall keep your hearts and minds through ,christ ,jesus4 7,phil4 iv4 #f1 #g47 ,it is to be feared that the great majority of us know but little of the real depth1 meaning1 and power of such words as these4 ,we read them and hear them1 but we do not take them in and make our own of them--we do not digest them and reduce them to practice4 ,how little do we really enter into the blessed truth that our ,father is interested in all our little cares and sorrows1 and that we may go to ,him with all our little wants and difficulties4 ,we imagine that such things are beneath the notice of the high and mighty ,one who inhabiteth eternity and sitteth upon the circle of the earth4 ,this is a serious mistake1 and one that robs us of incalculable blessing in our daily history4 ,we should ever remember that there is nothing great or small with our ,god3 all things are alike to ,him who sustains the vast universe by the word of ,his power1 and takes notice of a falling sparrow4 ,it is quite as easy to ,him to create a world as to provide a breakfast for some poor widow4 ,the greatness of ,his power1 the moral grandeur of ,his government1 and the minuteness of ,his tender care1 do all alike command the wonder and the worship of our hearts4 ,christian reader1 see that you make your own of all these things4 ,seek to live nearer to ,god in your daily walk4 ,lean more upon ,him4 ,use ,him more4 ,go to ,him in all your need1 and you will never have to tell your need to a poor fellow-mortal4 ,my ,god shall supply all your need1 according to ,his riches in glory by ,christ ,jesus4 ,what a source--,god6 ,what a standard--,his riches in glory6 ,what a channel--,christ ,jesus6 ,it is your sweet privilege to place all your need over against ,his riches1 and lose sight of the former in the presence of the latter4 ,his exhaustless treasury is thrown open to you1 in all the love of ,his heart2 go and draw upon it1 in the artless simplicity of faith1 and you will never have occasion to look to a creature-stream or lean on a creature-prop4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,and ,moses called all ,israel1 and said unto them1 ',hear1 ,o ,israel1 the statutes and judgments which ,i speak in your ears this day1 that ye may learn them1 and keep and do them4' ,let us carefully note these four words1 so specially characteristic of the book of ,deuteronomy1 and so seasonable for the ,lord's people at all times and in all places3 ,hear1 ,learn1 ,keep1 ,do4 ,these are words of unspeakable preciousness to every truly pious soul--to every one who honestly desires to walk in that narrow path of practical righteousness so pleasing to ,god1 and so safe and so happy for us4 ,the first of these words places the soul in the most blessed attitude in which any one can be found1 namely1 that of hearing4 ,faith cometh by hearing1 and hearing by the ,word of ,god4 ,i will hear what ,god the ,lord will speak4 ,hear1 and your soul shall live4 ,the hearing ear lies at the very foundation of all true1 practical ,christian life4 ,it places the soul in the only true and proper attitude for the creature4 ,it is the real secret of all peace and blessedness4 ,it can scarcely be needful to remind the reader that when we speak of the soul in the attitude of hearing1 it is assumed that what is heard is simply the ,word of ,god4 ,israel had to hearken to the statutes and judgments of ,jehovah1 and to nothing else4 ,it was not to the commandments1 traditions1 and doctrines of men they were to give ear1 but to the very words of the living ,god1 who had redeemed and delivered them from the land of ,egypt--the place of bondage1 darkness1 and death4 ,it is well to bear this in mind4 ,it will preserve the soul from many a snare1 many a difficulty4 ,we hear a good deal1 in certain quarters1 about obedience1 and about the moral fitness of surrendering our own will and submitting ourselves to authority4 ,all this sounds very well1 and has great weight with a large class of very religious and morally excellent people2 but when men speak to us about obedience1 we must ask the question1 ,obedience to what8 when they speak to us about surrendering our own will1 we must inquire of them1 ,to whom are we to surrender it8 when they speak to us about submitting to authority1 we must insist upon their telling us the source or foundation of the authority4 ,this is of the deepest possible moment to every member of the household of faith4 ,there are many very sincere and very earnest people who deem it very delightful to be saved the trouble of thinking for themselves1 and to have their sphere of action and line of service laid out for them by wiser heads than their own4 ,it seems a very restful and very pleasing thing to have each day's work laid out for us by some master-hand4 ,it relieves the heart of a great load of responsibility1 and it looks like humility and self-distrust to submit ourselves to some authority4 ,but we are bound1 before ,god1 to look well to the basis of the authority to which we surrender ourselves1 else we may find ourselves in an utterly false position4 ,take1 for example1 a monk1 or a nun1 or a member of a sisterhood4 ,a monk obeys his abbot1 a nun obeys her mother-abbess1 a sister obeys her lady-superior2 but the position and relationship of each is utterly false4 ,there is not a shadow of authority in the ,new ,testament for monasteries1 convents1 or sisterhoods2 on the contrary1 the teaching of holy ,scripture1 as well as the voice of nature1 is utterly opposed to every one of them1 inasmuch as they take men and women out of the place and out of the relationship in which ,god has set them1 and in which they are designed and fitted to move1 and form them into societies which are utterly destructive of natural affection1 and subversive of all true ,christian obedience4 ,we feel it right to call the attention of the ,christian reader to this subject just now1 seeing that the enemy is making a vigorous effort to revive the monastic system in our midst under various forms4 ,indeed some have had the temerity to tell us that monastic life is the only true form of ,christianity4 ,surely1 when such monstrous statements are made and listened to1 it becomes us to look at the whole subject in the light of ,scripture1 and to call upon the advocates and adherents of monasticism to show us the foundations of the system in the ,word of ,god4 ,where1 within the covers of the ,new ,testament1 is there any thing1 in the most remote degree1 like a monastery1 a convent1 or a sisterhood8 ,where can we find an authority for any such office as that of an abbot1 an abbess1 or a lady-superior8 ,there is absolutely no such thing1 nor the shadow of it2 and hence we have no hesitation in pronouncing the whole system1 from foundation to top-stone1 a fabric of superstition1 alike opposed to the voice of nature and the voice of ,god3 nor can we understand how any one1 in his sober senses1 could presume to tell us that a monk or a nun is the only true exponent of ,christian life4 ,yet there are those who thus speak1 and there are those who listen to them1 and that1 too1 in this day when the full1 clear light of our glorious ,christianity is shining upon us from the pages of the ,new ,testament4#ac #ac ,we must accurately distinguish between nature and flesh4 ,the former is recognized in ,scripture2 the latter is condemned and set aside4 ,doth not even nature itself teach you8 says the apostle4 7#a ,cor4 xi4 #ad47 ,jesus beholding the young ruler in ,mark x1 loved him although there was nothing but nature4 ,to be without natural affection is one of the marks of the apostasy4 ,scripture teaches that we are dead to sin1 not to nature1 else what becomes of our natural relationships8 ,but1 blessed be ,god1 we are called to obedience4 ,we are called to hear--called to bow down1 in holy and reverent submission1 to authority4 ,and here we join issue with infidelity and its lofty pretensions4 ,the path of the devout and lowly ,christian is alike removed from superstition on the one hand and from infidelity on the other4 ,peter's noble reply to the council1 in ,acts v1 embodies1 in its brief compass1 a complete answer to both4--,we ought to obey ,god rather than men4 ,we meet infidelity1 in all its phases1 in all its stages1 and in its very deepest roots1 with this one weighty sentence1 ,we ought to obey2 and we meet superstition1 in every garb in which it clothes itself1 with the all-important clause1 ,we ought to obey ,god4 ,here we have set forth1 in the most simple form1 the duty of every true ,christian4 ,he is to obey ,god4 ,the infidel may smile contemptuously at a monk or a nun1 and marvel how any rational being can so completely surrender his reason and his understanding to the authority of a fellow-mortal1 or submit himself to rules and practices so absurd1 so degrading1 and so contrary to nature4 ,the infidel glories in his fancied intellectual freedom1 and imagines that his own reason is quite a sufficient guide for him4 ,he does not see that he is further from ,god than the poor monk or nun whom he so despises4 ,he does not know that1 while priding himself in his self-will1 he is really led captive by ,satan--the prince and god of this world4 ,man is formed to obey--formed to look up to some one above him4 ,the ,christian is sanctified unto the obedience of ,jesus ,christ1 that is1 to the very same character of obedience as that which was rendered by our adorable ,lord and ,saviour ,himself4 ,this is of the deepest possible moment to every one who really desires to know what true ,christian obedience is4 ,to understand this is the real secret of deliverance from the self-will of the infidel and the false obedience of superstition4 ,it can never be right to do our own will3 it may be quite wrong to do the will of our fellow3 it must always be right to do the will of ,god4 ,this was what ,jesus came to do1 and what ,he always did4--,lo1 ,i come to do ,thy will1 ,o ,god4--,i delight to do ,thy will1 ,o ,my ,god2 yea1 ,thy law is within ,my heart4 ,now1 we are called and set apart to this blessed character of obedience1 as we learn from the inspired apostle ,peter1 in the opening of his first epistle1 where he speaks of believers as elect according to the foreknowledge of ,god the ,father1 through sanctification of the ,spirit1 unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of ,jesus ,christ4 ,this is an immense privilege1 and at the same time a most holy and solemn responsibility4 ,we must never forget for a moment that ,god has elected us1 and the ,holy ,spirit has set us apart1 not only to the sprinkling of the blood of ,jesus ,christ1 but also to ,his obedience4 ,such is the obvious meaning and moral force of the words just quoted--words of unspeakable preciousness to every lover of holiness--words which effectually deliver us from self-will1 from legality1 and from superstition4 ,blessed deliverance6 ,but it may be that the pious reader feels disposed to call our attention to the exhortation in ,hebrews xiii4--,obey them that have the rule over you1 and submit yourselves2 for they watch for your souls1 as they that must give account2 that they may do it with joy and not with grief2 for that is unprofitable for you4 ,a deeply important word1 most surely1 with which we should also connect a passage in #a ,thessalonians--,and we beseech you1 brethren1 to know them that labor among you1 and are over you in the ,lord1 and admonish you1 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sakes4 7,chap4 v4 #ab1 #ac47 ,and again1 in #a ,corinthians xvi4 #ae1 #af--;,i beseech you1 brethren1 7ye know the house of ,stephanas1 that it is the first-fruits of ,achaia1 and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry or service of the saints17 that ye submit yourselves unto such1 and to every one that helpeth with us and laboreth4 ,to all these we must add another very lovely passage from the first epistle of ,peter--,the elders which are among you ,i exhort1 who am also an elder1 and a witness of the sufferings of ,christ1 and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed3 feed the flock of ,god which is among you1 taking the oversight thereof1 not by constraint1 but willingly2 not for filthy lucre1 but of a ready mind2 neither as being lords over ,god's heritage1 but being ensamples to the flock4 ,and when the chief ,shepherd shall appear1 ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away4 7,chap4 v4 #a-d47 ,we may be asked1 ,do not the above passages set forth the principle of obedience to certain men8 and if so1 why object to human authority8 ,the answer is very simple4 ,wherever ,christ imparts a spiritual gift1 whether it be the gift of teaching1 the gift of rule1 or the gift of pastorship1 it is the bounden duty and privilege of ,christians to recognize and appreciate such gifts4 ,not to do so would be to forsake our own mercies4 ,but then we must bear in mind that in all such cases the gift must be a reality--a plain1 palpable1 bona-fide1 divinely given thing4 ,it is not a man assuming a certain office or position1 or being appointed by his fellow to any so-called ministry4 ,all this is perfectly worthless1 and worse than worthless2 it is a daring intrusion upon a sacred domain which must1 sooner or later1 bring down the judgment of ,god4 ,all true ministry is of ,god1 and based upon the possession of a positive gift from the ,head of the ,church2 so that we may truly say1 ,no gift1 no ministry4 ,in all the passages quoted above1 we see positive gift possessed1 and actual work done4 ,moreover1 we see a true heart for the lambs and sheep of the flock of ,christ2 we see divine grace and power4 ,the word in ,hebrews xiii4 is1 ,obey them that guide you 4 ,now1 it is essential to a true guide that he should go before you in the way4 ,it would be the height of folly for any one to assume the title of guide if he were ignorant of the way1 and neither able nor willing to go in it4 ,who would think of obeying such8 ,so also when the apostle exhorts the ,thessalonians to know and esteem certain persons1 on what does he found his exhortation8 ,is it upon the mere assumption of a title1 an office1 or a position8 ,nothing of the kind4 ,he grounds his appeal upon the actual1 well-known fact that these persons were over them1 in the ,lord1 and that they admonished them4 ,and why were they to esteem them very highly in love8 ,was it for their office or their title8 ,no2 but for their work's sake4 ,and why were the ,corinthians exhorted to submit themselves to the household of ,stephanas8 ,was it because of an empty title or assumed office8 ,by no means2 but because they addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints4 ,they were actually in the work4 ,they had received gift and grace from ,christ1 and they had a heart for ,his people4 ,they were not boasting of their office or insisting upon their title1 but giving themselves devotedly to the service of ,christ1 in the persons of ,his dear people4 ,now this is the true principle of ministry4 ,it is not human authority at all1 but divine gift and spiritual power communicated by ,christ to ,his servants1 exercised by them1 in responsibility to ,him1 and thankfully recognized by ,his saints4 ,a man may set up to be a teacher or a pastor1 or he may be appointed by his fellows to the office or title of a pastor2 but unless he possesses a positive gift from the ,head of the ,church1 it is all the merest sham1 a hollow assumption1 an empty conceit2 and his voice will be the voice of a stranger1 which the true sheep of ,christ do not know and ought not to recognize4#ad #ad ,the reader will do well to ponder the fact that there is no such thing in the ,new ,testament as human appointment to preach the gospel1 teach in the assembly of ,god1 or feed the flock of ,christ4 ,elders and deacons were ordained by the apostles or their delegates1 ,timothy and ,titus2 but evangelists1 pastors1 and teachers were never so ordained4 ,we must distinguish between gift and local charge4 ,elders and deacons might possess a special gift or not2 it had nothing to do with their local charge4 ,if the reader would understand the subject of ministry1 let him study #a ,corinthians xii4-xiv4 and ,ephesians iv4 #h-ac4 ,in the former we have1 first1 the basis of all true ministry in the ,church of ,god1 namely1 divine appointment--,god hath set the members1 etc42 secondly1 the motive-spring--love2 thirdly1 the object--that the ,church may receive edifying4 ,in ,ephesians iv4 we have the source of all ministry--a risen and ascended ,lord2 the design--to perfect the saints for the work of the ministry2 the duration--till we all come unto a perfect man1 unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of ,christ4 ,in a word1 ministry1 in all its departments1 is entirely a divine institution4 ,it is not of man or by man1 but of ,god4 ,the ,master must1 in every case1 fit1 fill1 and appoint the vessel4 ,there is no authority in ,scripture for the notion that every man has a right to minister in the ,church of ,god4 ,liberty for men is radicalism and not ,scripture4 ,liberty for the ,holy ,ghost to minister by whom ,he will is what we are taught in the ,new ,testament4 ,may we learn it4 ,but1 on the other hand1 where there is the divinely gifted teacher1 the true1 loving1 wise1 faithful1 laborious pastor1 watching for souls1 weeping over them1 waiting upon them1 like a gentle1 tender nurse1 able to say to them1 ,now we live1 if ye stand fast in the ,lord--where these things are found1 there will not be much difficulty in recognizing and appreciating them4 ,how do we know a good dentist8 ,is it by seeing his name on a brass plate8 ,no2 but by his work4 ,a man may call himself a dentist ten thousand times over1 but if he be only an unskillful operator1 who would think of employing him8 ,thus it is in all human affairs1 and thus it is in the matter of ministry4 ,if a man has a gift1 he is a minister2 if he has not1 all the appointment1 authority1 and ordination in the world could not make him a minister of ,christ4 ,it may make him a minister of religion2 but a minister of religion and a minister of ,christ--a minister in christendom and a minister in the ,church of ,god1 are two totally different things4 ,all true ministry has its source in ,god2 it rests on divine authority1 and its object is to bring the soul into ,his presence1 and link it on to ,him4 ,false ministry1 on the contrary1 has its source in man2 it rests on human authority1 and its object is to link the soul on to itself4 ,this marks the immense difference between the two4 ,the former leads to ,god2 the latter leads away from ,him3 that feeds1 nourishes1 and strengthens the new life2 this hinders its progress1 in every way1 and plunges it in doubt and darkness4 ,in a word1 we may say1 true ministry is of ,god1 through ,him1 and to ,him3 false ministry is of man1 through him1 and to him4 ,the former we prize more than we can say2 the latter we reject with all the energy of our moral being4 ,we trust sufficient has been said to satisfy the mind of the reader in reference to the matter of obedience to those whom the ,lord may see fit to call to the work of the ministry4 ,we are bound1 in every case1 to judge by the ,word of ,god1 and to be assured that it is a divine reality and not a human sham--a positive gift from the ,head of the ,church1 and not an empty title conferred by men4 ,in all cases where there is real gift and grace1 it is a sweet privilege to obey and submit ourselves1 inasmuch as we discern ,christ in the person and ministry of ,his beloved servants4 ,there is no difficulty1 to a spiritual mind1 in owning real grace and power4 ,we can easily tell whether a man is seeking1 in true love1 to feed our souls with the bread of life1 and lead us on in the ways of ,god1 or whether he is seeking to exalt himself1 and promote his own interests4 ,those who are living near the ,lord can readily discern between true power and hollow assumption4 ,moreover1 we never find ,christ's true ministers parading their authority1 or vaunting themselves of their office2 they do the work and leave it to speak for itself4 ,in the case of the blessed apostle ,paul1 we find him referring again and again to the plain proofs of his ministry--the unquestionable evidence afforded in the conversion and blessing of souls4 ,he could say to the poor misguided ,corinthians1 when1 under the influence of some self-exalting pretender1 they foolishly called in question his apostleship1 ,since ye seek a proof of ,christ speaking in me 444 examine yourselves4 ,this was close1 pointed dealing with them4 ,they themselves were the living proofs of his ministry4 ,if his ministry was not of ,god1 what and where were they8 ,but it was of ,god1 and this was his joy1 his comfort1 and his strength4 ,he was an apostle1 not of men1 neither by man1 but by ,jesus ,christ1 and ,god the ,father1 who raised ,him from the dead4 ,he gloried in the source of his ministry2 and as to its character1 he had but to appeal to a body of evidence quite sufficient to carry conviction to any right mind4 ,in his case1 it could be truly said1 it was not the speech1 but the power4 ,thus it must be1 in measure1 in every case4 ,we must look for the power3 we must have reality4 ,mere titles are nothing4 ,men may undertake to confer titles and appoint to offices1 but they have no more authority to do so than they have to appoint admirals in her majesty's fleet or generals in her army4 ,if we were to see a man assuming the style and title of an admiral or a general1 without her majesty's commission1 we should pronounce him an idiot or a lunatic4 ,this is but a feeble illustration to set forth the folly of men taking upon them the title of ministers of ,christ without one atom of spiritual gift or divine authority4 ,shall we be told1 ,we must not judge8 ,we are bound to judge4 ,beware of false prophets4 ,how can we beware if we are not to judge8 ,but how are we to judge8 ,by their fruits ye shall know them4 ,can the ,lord's people not tell the difference between a man who comes to them in the power of the ,spirit1 gifted by the ,head of the ,church1 full of love to their souls1 earnestly desiring their true blessing1 seeking not theirs but them--a holy1 gracious1 humble1 self-emptied servant of ,christ2 and a man who comes with a self-assumed or a humanly conferred title1 without a single trace of any thing divine or heavenly either in his ministry or in his life8 ,of course they can2 no one in his senses would think of calling in question a fact so obvious4 ,but further1 we may ask1 ,what mean those words of the venerable apostle ,john--,beloved1 believe not every spirit1 but try the spirits whether they are of ,god2 because many false prophets are gone out into the world8 ,how are we to try the spirits1 or how are we to discern between the true and the false1 if we are not to judge8 ,again1 the same apostle1 writing to the elect lady1 gives her the following most solemn admonition3 ,if there come any unto you1 and bring not this doctrine1 receive him not into your house1 neither bid him ,godspeed2 for he that biddeth him ,godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds4 ,was she not responsible to act on this admonition8 ,assuredly4 ,but how could she if we are not to judge8 ,and what had she to judge8 ,was it as to whether those who came to her house were ordained1 authorized1 or licensed by any man or body of men8 ,nothing of the kind4 ,the one great and all-important question for her was as to the doctrine4 ,if they brought the true1 the divine doctrine of ,christ--the doctrine of ,jesus ,christ come in the flesh1 she was to receive them2 if not1 she was to shut her door1 with a firm hand1 against them1 no matter who they were or where they came from4 ,if they had all the credentials that man could bestow upon them1 yet if they brought not the truth1 she was to reject them with stern decision4 ,this might seem very harsh1 very narrow-minded1 very bigoted2 but with this she had nothing whatever to do4 ,she had just to be as broad and as narrow as the truth4 ,her door and her heart were to be wide enough to admit all who brought ,christ1 and no wider4 ,was she to pay compliments at the expense of her ,lord8 was she to seek a name for largeness of heart or breadth of mind by receiving to her house and to her table the teachers of a false ,christ8 ,the very thought is absolutely horrible4 ,but finally1 in the second chapter of ,revelation1 we find the church at ,ephesus commended for having tried those who said they were apostles and were not4 ,how could this be if we are not to judge8 ,is it not most evident to the reader that an utterly false use is made of our ,lord's words in ,matthew vii4 #a--;,judge not1 that ye be not judged1 and also of the apostle's words in #a ,corinthians iv4 #e--,therefore judge nothing before the time8 ,it is impossible that ,scripture can contradict itself2 and hence1 whatever be the true meaning of our ,lord's ,judge not1 or the apostle's ,judge nothing1 it is perfectly certain that they do not1 in the most remote way1 interfere with the solemn responsibility of all ,christians to judge the gift1 the doctrine1 and the life of all who take the place of preachers1 teachers1 and pastors in the ,church of ,god4 ,and then1 if we be asked as to the meaning of ,judge not and ,judge nothing1 we believe the words simply forbid our judging motives1 or hidden springs of action4 ,with these we have nothing whatever to do4 ,we cannot penetrate below the surface1 and1 thanks be to ,god1 we are not asked to do so--yea1 we are positively forbidden4 ,we cannot read the counsels of the heart2 it is the province and prerogative of ,god alone to do this3 but to say that we are not to judge the doctrine1 the gift1 or the manner of life of those who take the place of preachers1 teachers1 and pastors in the ,church of ,god1 is simply to fly in the face of holy ,scripture1 and to ignore the very instincts of the divine nature implanted in us by the ,holy ,ghost4 ,hence1 therefore1 we can return1 with increased clearness and decision1 to our thesis of ,christian obedience4 ,it seems perfectly plain that the fullest recognition of all true ministry in the ,church1 and the most gracious submission of ourselves to all those whom our ,lord ,christ may see fit to raise up as pastors1 teachers1 and guides in our midst1 can never1 in the smallest degree1 interfere with the grand fundamental principle set forth in ,peter's magnificent reply to the council--,we ought to obey ,god rather than men4 ,it will ever be the aim and object of all true ministers of ,christ to lead those to whom they minister in the true path of obedience to the ,word of ,god4 ,the chapter which lies open before us1 as indeed the entire book of ,deuteronomy1 shows us very plainly how ,moses1 that eminent servant of ,god1 ever sought and diligently labored to press upon the congregation of ,israel the urgent necessity of the most implicit obedience to all the statutes and judgments of ,god4 ,he did not seek any place of authority for himself3 he never lorded it over ,god's heritage4 ,his one grand theme1 from first to last1 was obedience4 ,this was the burden of all his discourses--obedience1 not to him1 but to his and their ,lord4 ,he rightly judged that this was the true secret of their happiness1 their moral security1 their dignity1 and their strength4 ,he knew that an obedient people must also1 of necessity1 be an invincible and invulnerable people4 ,no weapon formed against them could prosper so long as they were governed by the word of ,god4 ,in a word1 he knew and believed that ,israel's province was to obey ,jehovah1 as it was ,jehovah's province to bless ,israel4 ,it was their one simple business to hear1 learn1 keep1 and do the revealed will of ,god2 and so doing1 they might count on ,him1 with all possible confidence1 to be their shield1 their strength1 their safeguard1 their refuge1 their resource1 their all in all4 ,the only true and proper path for the ,israel of ,god is that narrow path of obedience on which the light of ,god's approving countenance ever shines1 and all who1 through grace1 tread that path will find ,him a guide1 a glory1 a defense1 to save from every fear4 ,this1 surely1 is quite enough4 ,we have nothing to do with consequences3 these we may1 in simple confidence1 leave to ,him whose we are and whom we are responsible to serve4 ,the name of the ,lord is a strong tower2 the righteous runneth into it and is safe4 ,if we are doing ,his will1 we shall ever find ,his name a strong tower2 but1 on the other hand1 if we are not walking in a path of practical righteousness--if we are doing our own will--if we are living in the habitual neglect of the plain ,word of ,god1 then1 verily1 it is utterly vain for us to think that the name of the ,lord will be a strong tower to us2 rather would ,his name be a reproof to us1 leading us to judge our ways and to return to the path of righteousness from which we have wandered4 ,blessed be ,his name1 ,his grace will ever meet us1 in all its precious fullness and freeness1 in the place of self-judgment and confession1 however we may have failed and wandered2 but this is a totally different thing4 ,we may have to say1 with the ,psalmist1 ,out of the depths have ,i cried unto ,thee1 ,o ,lord4 ,lord1 hear my voice2 let ,thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications4 ,if ,thou1 ,lord1 shouldest mark iniquities1 ,o ,lord1 who shall stand8 ,but there is forgiveness with ,thee1 that ,thou mayest be feared4 ,but then1 a soul crying to ,god from the depths1 and getting forgiveness1 is one thing2 and a soul looking to ,him in the path of practical righteousness is quite another4 ,we must carefully distinguish between these two things4 ,confessing our sins and finding pardon must never be confounded with walking uprightly and counting on ,god4 ,both are blessedly true1 but they are not the same thing4 ,we shall now proceed with our chapter4 ,at the second verse1 ,moses reminds the people of their covenant-relationship with ,jehovah4 ,he says1 ,the ,lord our ,god made a covenant with us in ,horeb4 ,the ,lord made not this covenant with our fathers1 but with us1 even us1 who are all of us here alive this day4 ,the ,lord talked with you face to face1 in the mount1 out of the midst of the fire1 7,i stood between the ,lord and you at that time1 to show you the word of the ,lord2 for ye were afraid by reason of the fire1 and went not up into the mount7 saying1 etc4 ,the reader must distinguish and thoroughly understand the difference between the covenant made at ,horeb and the covenant made with ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob4 ,they are essentially different4 ,the former was a covenant of works1 in which the people undertook to do all that the ,lord had spoken3 the latter was a covenant of pure grace1 in which ,god pledged ,himself with an oath to do all which ,he promised4 ,human language would utterly fail us to set forth the immense difference1 in every respect1 between these two covenants4 ,in their basis1 in their character1 in their accompaniments1 and in their practical result1 they are as different as any two things could possibly be4 ,the ,horeb covenant rested upon human competency for the fulfillment of its terms1 and this one fact is quite sufficient to account for the total failure of the whole thing4 ,the ,abrahamic covenant rested upon divine competency for the fulfillment of its terms1 and hence the utter impossibility of its failure in a single jot or tittle4 ,having in our ,notes on the ,book of ,exodus gone somewhat fully into the subject of the law1 and endeavored to set forth the divine object in giving it1 and1 further1 the utter impossibility of any one getting life or righteousness by keeping it1 we must refer the reader to what we have there advanced on this profoundly interesting subject4 ,it seems strange1 to one taught exclusively by ,scripture1 that such confusion of thought should prevail amongst professing ,christians in reference to a question so distinctly and definitively settled by the ,holy ,ghost4 ,were it merely a question of the divine authority of ,exodus xx4 or ,deuteronomy v4 as inspired portions of the ,bible1 we should not have a word to say4 ,we most fully believe that these chapters are as much inspired as the seventeenth of ,john or the eighth of ,romans4 ,but this is not the point4 ,all true ,christians receive1 with devout thankfulness1 the precious statement that all ,scripture is given by inspiration of ,god2 and1 further1 they rejoice in the assurance that whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning2 that we through patience and comfort of the ,scriptures might have hope2 and1 finally1 they believe that the morality of the law is of abiding and universal application4 ,murder1 adultery1 theft1 false witness1 covetousness1 are wrong--always wrong--every-where wrong3 to honor our parents is right--always and every-where right4 ,we read1 in the fourth chapter of ,ephesians1 ,let him that stole steal no more2 and again1 in chapter vi1 we read1 ,honor thy father and mother2 which is the first commandment with promise2 that it may be well with thee1 and thou mayest live long on the earth4 ,all this is so divinely plain and settled that discussion is definitively closed2 but when we come to look at the law as a ground of relationship with ,god1 we get into an entirely different region of thought4 ,scripture1 in manifold places1 and in the clearest possible manner1 teaches us that1 as ,christians1 as children of ,god1 we are not on that ground at all4 ,the ,jew was on that ground1 but he could not stand there with ,god4 ,it was death and condemnation4 ,they could not endure that which was commanded1 ',and if so much as a beast touch the mountain1 it shall be stoned1 or thrust through with a dart2' and so terrible was the sight1 that ,moses said1 ',i exceedingly fear and quake4' ,the ,jew found the law to be a bed on which he could not stretch himself1 and a covering in which he could not wrap himself4 ,as to the ,gentile1 he was never1 by any one branch of the divine economy1 placed under law4 ,his condition is expressly declared1 in the opening of the epistle to the ,romans1 to be without law 4--,for when the ,gentiles1 which have not the law1 etc41 and1 ,as many as have sinned without law shall perish without law2 and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law4 ,here the two classes are brought into sharp and vivid contrast1 in the matter of their dispensational position4 ,the ,jew1 under law2 the ,gentile1 without law1--nothing can be more distinct4 ,the ,gentile was placed under government1 in the person of ,noah2 but never under law4 ,should any one feel disposed to call this in question1 let him produce a single line of ,scripture to prove that ,god ever placed the ,gentiles under the law4 ,let him search and see4 ,it is of no possible use to argue and reason and object1--it is utterly vain to say1 ,we think this or that3 the question is1 ,what saith the ,scripture8 ,if it says that the ,gentiles were put under the law1 let the passage be produced4 ,we solemnly declare it says nothing of the kind1 but the very reverse4 ,it describes the condition and the position of the ,gentile as without law--having not the law4 ,in ,acts x1 we see ,god opening the kingdom of heaven to the ,gentile2 in ,acts xiv4 #bg1 we see ,him opening the door of faith to the ,gentile2 in ,acts xxviii4 #bh1 we see ,him sending ,his salvation to the ,gentile3 but we search in vain1 from cover to cover of the blessed ,book1 for a passage in which ,he places the ,gentile under the law4 ,we would very earnestly entreat the ,christian reader to give this deeply interesting and important question his calm attention4 ,let him lay aside all his preconceived thoughts1 and examine the matter simply in the light of holy ,scripture4 ,we are quite aware that our statements on this subject will be regarded by thousands as novel1 if not actually heretical2 but this does not move us1 in the smallest degree4 ,it is our one grand desire to be taught absolutely and exclusively by ,scripture4 ,the opinions1 commandments1 and doctrines of men have no weight whatever with us4 ,the dogmas of the various schools of divinity must just go for what they are worth4 ,we demand ,scripture4 ,a single line of inspiration is amply sufficient to settle this question1 and close all discussion1 forever4 ,let us be shown from the ,word of ,god that the ,gentiles were ever put under the law1 and we shall at once bow2 but inasmuch as we cannot find it there1 we reject the notion altogether1 and we would have the reader to do the same4 ,the invariable language of ,scripture1 in describing the position of the ,jew1 is1 under law2 and1 in describing the position of the ,gentile1 is1 without law4 ,this is so obvious that we cannot but marvel how any reader of the ,bible can fail to see it4#ae #ae ,the reader may perhaps feel disposed to inquire1 ,on what ground will the ,gentile be judged if he is not under the law8 ,romans i4 #bj teaches us distinctly that the testimony of creation leaves him without excuse4 ,then1 in chapter ii4 #ae1 he is taken up on the ground of conscience4--,for when the ,gentiles1 which have not the law1 do by nature the things contained in the law1 these1 having not the law1 are a law unto themselves2 which show the work of the law written in their hearts1 their conscience also bearing witness1 etc4 ,finally1 as regards those nations that have become professedly ,christian1 they will be judged on the ground of their profession4 ,if the reader will turn1 for a few moments1 to the fifteenth chapter of the ,acts of the ,apostles1 he will see how the first attempt to put ,gentile converts under the law was met by the apostles and the whole church at ,jerusalem4 ,the question was raised at ,antioch2 and ,god1 in ,his infinite goodness and wisdom1 so ordered that it should not be settled there1 but that ,paul and ,barnabas should go up to ,jerusalem and have the matter fully and freely discussed1 and definitively settled by the unanimous voice of the twelve apostles and the whole church4 ,how we can bless our ,god for this6 ,we can at once see that the decision of a local assembly1 such as ,antioch1 even though approved by ,paul and ,barnabas1 would not carry the same weight as that of the twelve apostles assembled in council at ,jerusalem4 ,but the ,lord1 blessed be ,his name1 took care that the enemy should be completely confounded1 and that the law-teachers of that day1 and of every other day1 should be distinctly and authoritatively taught that it was not according to ,his mind that ,christians should be put under law1 for any object whatsoever4 ,the subject is so deeply important that we cannot forbear quoting a few passages for the reader4 ,we believe it will refresh both the reader and the writer to refer to the soul-stirring addresses delivered at the most remarkable and interesting council that ever sat4 ,and certain men which came down from ,juda taught the brethren1 ',except ye be circumcised after the manner of ,moses1 ye cannot be saved4' ,how awful6 ,how terribly chilling6 ,what a death-knell to ring in the ears of those who had been converted under ,paul's splendid address in the synagogue at ,antioch6--,be it known unto you therefore1 men and brethren1 that through this ,man--without circumcision or works of law of any kind whatsoever--is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins2 and by ,him all that believe--irrespective altogether of circumcision--are justified from all things1 from which ye could not be justified by the law of ,moses4444 ,and when the ,jews were gone out of the synagogue1 the ,gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next ,sabbath4 ,such was the glorious message sent to the ,gentiles by the lips of the apostle ,paul--a message of free1 full1 immediate1 and perfect salvation--full remission of sins and perfect justification1 through faith in our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,but according to the teaching of the certain men which came down from ,juda1 all this was insufficient--,christ was not enough1 without circumcision and the law of ,moses4 ,poor ,gentiles1 who had never heard of circumcision or the law of ,moses1 must add to ,christ and ,his glorious salvation the keeping of the whole law4 ,how must ,paul's heart have burned within him to have the beloved ,gentile converts brought under such monstrous teaching as this6 ,he saw in it nothing short of the complete surrender of ,christianity4 ,if circumcision must be added to the cross of ,christ--if the law of ,moses must supplement the grace of ,god1 then verily all was gone4 ,but1 blessed forever be the ,god of all grace1 ,he caused a noble stand to be made against such deadly teaching4 ,when the enemy came in like a flood1 the ,spirit of the ,lord raised up a standard against him4 ,when therefore ,paul and ,barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them1 they determined that ,paul and ,barnabas1 and certain other of them1 should go up to ,jerusalem1 unto the apostles and elders about this question4 ,and being brought on their way by the church1 they passed through ,phenice and ,samaria1 declaring1 not the circumcision1 but the conversion of the ,gentiles2 and they caused great joy unto all the brethren4 ,the brethren were in the current of the mind of ,christ1 and in sweet communion with the heart of ,god2 and hence they rejoiced to hear of the conversion and salvation of the ,gentiles4 ,we may rest assured it would have afforded them no joy to hear of the heavy yoke of circumcision and the law of ,moses being put upon the necks of those beloved disciples who had just been brought into the glorious liberty of the gospel4 ,but to hear of their conversion to ,god1 their salvation by ,christ1 their being sealed by the ,holy ,ghost1 filled their hearts with a joy which was in lovely harmony with the mind of heaven4 ,and when they were come to ,jerusalem1 they were received of the church1 and of the apostles and elders1 and they declared all things that ,god had done with them4 ,but there rose up certain of the sect of the ,pharisees which believed1 saying that it was needful to circumcise them1 and to command them to keep the law of ,moses4 ,who made it needful8 ,not ,god1 surely2 inasmuch as ,he had1 in ,his infinite grace1 opened the door of faith to them without circumcision or any command to keep the law of ,moses4 ,no2 it was certain men who presumed to speak of such things as needful--men who have troubled the ,church of ,god from that day to the present--men desiring to be teachers of the law1 knowing neither what they say nor whereof they affirm4 ,law-teachers never know what is involved in their dark and dismal teaching4 ,they have not the most distant idea of how thoroughly hateful their teaching is to the ,god of all grace1 the ,father of mercies4 ,but1 thanks be to ,god1 the chapter from which ,we are now quoting affords the very clearest and most forcible evidence that could be given as to the divine mind on the subject4 ,it proves1 beyond all question1 that it was not of ,god to put ,gentile believers under the law4 ,and the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter4 ,and when there had been much disputing 7alas6 how soon it began67 ,peter rose up and said unto them1 ,men and brethren1 ye know how that a good while ago ,god made choice among us1 that the ,gentiles by my mouth should hear1 not the law of ,moses or circumcision1 but the word of the gospel1 and believe4 ,and ,god which knoweth the hearts1 bare them witness1 giving them the ,holy ,ghost1 even as unto us4 ,and put no difference between us and them1 purifying their hearts by faith4 ,now therefore why tempt ye ,god1 to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples1 which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear8 ,mark this1 reader4 ,the law had proved an intolerable yoke to those who were under it1 that is1 the ,jews2 and1 further1 it was nothing short of tempting ,god to put that yoke upon the neck of ,gentile ,christians4 ,would that all the law-teachers throughout the length and breadth of christendom would but open their eyes to this grand fact6 and not only so1 but that all the ,lord's beloved people every where were given to see that it is in positive opposition to the will of ,god that they should be put under the law for any object whatsoever4 ,but1 adds the blessed apostle of the circumcision1 we believe that through the grace of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and not by law in any shape or form1 we shall be saved even as they4 ,this is uncommonly fine1 coming from the lips of the apostle of the circumcision4 ,he does not say1 ,they shall be saved even as we2 but1 ,we shall be saved even as they4 ,the ,jew is well content to come down from his lofty dispensational position1 and be saved after the pattern of the poor uncircumcised ,gentile4 ,surely1 those noble utterances must have fallen in stunning force upon the ears of the law-party4 ,they left them1 as we say1 not a leg to stand upon4 ,then all the multitude kept silence1 and gave audience to ,barnabas and ,paul1 declaring what miracles and wonders ,god had wrought among the ,gentiles by them4 ,the inspiring ,spirit has not thought good to tell us what ,paul and ,barnabas said on this memorable occasion1 and we can see ,his wisdom in this4 ,it is evidently ,his object to give prominence to ,peter and ,james1 as men whose words would1 of necessity1 have more weight with the law-teachers than those of the apostle to the ,gentiles and his companion4 ,and after they had held their peace1 ,james answered1 saying1 ,men and brethren1 hearken unto me3 ,simeon hath declared how ,god at the first did visit the ,gentiles1 not to convert them all1 but to take out of them a people for ,his name4 ,and to this agree the words of the prophets2 7here he brings an overwhelming tide of evidence from the ,old ,testament to bear down upon the ,judaizers17 as it is written1 ,after this ,i will return1 and will build again the tabernacle of ,david1 which is fallen down2 and ,i will build again the ruins thereof1 and ,i will set it up3 that the residue of men might seek after the ,lord1 and all the ,gentiles1 without the slightest reference to circumcision or the law of ,moses1 but upon whom ,my name is called1 saith the ,lord1 who doeth all these things4 ,known unto ,god are all ,his works from the beginning of the world4 ,wherefore my sentence is1 that we trouble not them1 which from among the ,gentiles are turned to ,god4 ,here1 then1 we have this great question definitively settled by the ,holy ,ghost1 the twelve apostles1 and the whole ,church2 and we cannot but be struck with the fact that1 at this most important council1 none spoke more emphatically1 more distinctly1 or more decidedly than ,peter and ,james2 the former1 the apostle of the circumcision1 and the latter1 the one who specially addressed the twelve tribes1 and whose position and ministry were calculated to give great weight to his words1 in the judgment of all who were still1 in any measure1 occupying ,jewish or legal ground4 ,both these eminent apostles were clear and decided in their judgment that the ,gentile converts were not to be troubled or burdened with the law4 ,they proved1 in their powerful addresses1 that to place the ,gentile ,christians under the law was directly contrary to the ,word1 the will1 and the ways of ,god4 ,who can fail to see the marvelous wisdom of ,god in this8 ,the words of ,paul and ,barnabas are not recorded4 ,we are simply told that they rehearsed what things ,god had wrought among the ,gentiles4 ,that they should be utterly opposed to putting the ,gentiles under the law was only what might be expected2 but to find ,peter and ,james so decided would carry great weight with all parties4 ,but if the reader would have a clear view of ,paul's thoughts on the question of the law1 he should study the epistle to the ,galatians4 ,there this blessed apostle1 under the direct inspiration of the ,holy ,ghost1 pours out his heart to the ,gentile converts in words of glowing earnestness and commanding power4 ,it is perfectly amazing how any one can read this wonderful epistle and yet maintain that ,christians are under the law1 in any way or for any purpose4 ,hardly has the apostle got through his brief opening address when he plunges1 with his characteristic energy1 into the subject with which his large1 loving1 though grieved and troubled heart is full to overflowing4 ,i marvel1 he says--and well he might--that ye are so soon removed from ,him that called you into--what8 ,the law of ,moses8 ,nay1 but the grace of ,christ into a different gospel which is not another 2 but there be some that trouble you1 and would pervert the gospel of ,christ4 ,but though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you1 let him be accursed4 ,as we said before1 so say ,i now again1 ,if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received1 let him be accursed4 ,let all law-teachers ponder these burning words4 ,do they seem strong and severe8 ,let us remember that they are the very words of ,god the ,holy ,ghost4 ,yes1 reader1 ,god the ,holy ,ghost hurls ,his awful anathema at any one who presumes to add the law of ,moses to the gospel of ,christ--any one who attempts to place ,christians under the law4 ,how is it that men are not afraid1 in the face of such words1 to contend for the law8 ,are they not afraid of coming under the solemn curse of ,god the ,holy ,ghost8 ,some1 however1 seek to meet this question by telling us that they do not take the law for justification1 but as a rule of life2 but this is neither reasonable nor intelligent1 inasmuch as we may very lawfully inquire1 ,who gave us authority to decide as to the use we are to make of the law8 ,we are either under the law or we are not4 ,if we are under it at all1 it is not a question of how we take it1 but how it takes us4 ,this makes all the difference4 ,the law knows no such distinctions as those which some theologians contend for4 ,if we are under it for any object whatsoever1 we are under the curse2 for it is written1 ,cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them4 ,to say that ,i am born again1 ,i am a ,christian1 will not meet the case at all2 for what has the law to do with the question of new birth1 or of ,christianity8 ,nothing whatever4 ,the law is addressed to man1 as a responsible being4 ,it demands perfect obedience1 and pronounces its curse upon every one who fails to render it4 ,moreover1 it will not do to say that though we have failed to keep the law1 yet ,christ has fulfilled it in our room and stead4 ,the law knows nothing of obedience by proxy4 ,its language is1 ,the man that doeth them shall live in them4 ,nor is it merely on the man who fails to keep the law that the curse is pronounced1 but1 as if to put the principle in the clearest possible light before us1 we read that as many as are of works of law are under the curse4 7,see ,greek47 ,that is1 as many as take their stand on legal ground--as many as are on that principle--in a word1 as many as have to do with works of law1 are1 of necessity1 under the curse4 ,hence we may see at a glance the terrible inconsistency of a ,christian's maintaining the idea of being under the law as a rule of life and yet not being under the curse4 ,it is simply flying in the face of the very plainest statements of holy ,scripture4 ,blessed be the ,god of all grace1 the ,christian is not under the curse4 ,but why8 ,is it because the law has lost its power1 its majesty1 its dignity1 its holy stringency8 ,by no means4 ,to say so were to blaspheme the law4 ,to say that any man1 call him what you please--,christian1 ,jew1 or heathen--can be under the law1 can stand on that ground1 and yet not be under the curse1 is to say that he perfectly fulfills the law or that the law is abrogated--it is to make it null and void4 ,who will dare to say this8 ,woe be to all who do so4 ,but how comes it to pass that the ,christian is not under the curse8 ,because he is not under the law4 ,and how has he passed from under the law8 ,is it by another having fulfilled it in his stead8 ,nay2 we repeat the statement1 there is no such idea throughout the entire legal economy as obedience by proxy4 ,how is it1 then8 ,here it is1 in all its moral force1 fullness1 and beauty3 ,i through law am dead to law1 that ,i might live unto ,god4#af #af ,the omission of the article adds immensely to the force1 fullness1 and clearness of the passage4 ,it is 4 ,a wonderful clause1 surely4 ,would that it were better understood6 ,it demolishes a vast mass of human theology4 ,it leaves the law in its own proper sphere2 but takes the believer completely from under its power1 and out of its range1 by death4 ,wherefore1 my brethren1 ye also are become dead to the law by the body of ,christ2 that ye should be married to another1 even to ,him who is raised from the dead1 that we should bring forth fruit unto ,god 7which we never could do if under the law74 ,for when we were in the flesh--a correlative term with being under the law--the motions of sins1 which were by the law1 did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death4 ,mark the melancholy combination--under the law--in the flesh--motions of sins--fruit unto death6 ,can any thing be more strongly marked8 ,but there is another side1 thank ,god1 to this question--,his own bright and blessed side4 ,here it is3 ,but now we are delivered from the law4 ,how8 ,is it by another's having fulfilled it for us8 ,nay2 but1 ,having died to that wherein we were held2 that we should serve in newness of spirit1 and not in the oldness of the letter4 ,how perfect and how lovely is the harmony of ,romans vii4 and ,galatians ii46 ,i through law am dead to law1 that ,i might live unto ,god4 ,now1 if it be true1 and the apostle says it is1 that we are dead to law1 how can the law1 by any possibility1 be a rule of life to us8 ,it proved only a rule of death1 curse1 and condemnation to those who were under it--those who had received it by the disposition of angels4 ,can it prove to be aught else to us8 ,did the law ever produce a single cluster of living fruit1 or of the fruits of righteousness1 in the history of any son or daughter of ,adam8 ,hear the apostle's reply--,when we were in the flesh1 that is1 when we were viewed as men in our fallen nature1 the motions of sins1 which were by the law1 did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death4 ,it is very important for the reader to understand the real force of the expression1 in the flesh4 ,it does not1 in this passage1 mean in the body4 ,it simply sets forth the condition of unconverted men and women responsible to keep the law4 ,now1 in this condition1 all that was or ever could be produced was fruit unto death--motions of sins4 ,no life1 no righteousness1 no holiness1 nothing for ,god1 nothing right at all4#ag #ag ,it is needful to bear in mind that although the ,gentile was never1 by the dispensational dealings of ,god1 put under the law1 yet1 in point of fact1 all baptized professors take that ground4 ,hence there is a vast difference between christendom and the heathen in reference to the question of the law4 ,thousands of unconverted people1 every week1 ask ,god to incline their hearts to keep the law4 ,surely1 such persons stand on very different ground from the heathen who never heard of the law1 and never heard of the ,bible4 ,but where are we now1 as ,christians8 ,hear the reply--,i through law am dead to law1 that ,i might live unto ,god4 ,i am crucified with ,christ3 nevertheless ,i live2 yet not ,i1 but ,christ liveth in me2 and the life which ,i now live in the flesh 7here it means in the body7 ,i live--how8 ,by the law1 as a rule of life8 ,not a hint at such a thing1 but by the faith of the ,son of ,god1 who loved me1 and gave ,himself for me4 ,this1 and nothing else1 is ,christianity4 ,do we understand it8 do we enter into it8 are we in the power of it8 ,there are two distinct evils from which we are completely delivered by the precious death of ,christ1 namely1 legality on the one hand and licentiousness on the other4 ,instead of those terrible evils1 it introduces us into the holy liberty of grace--liberty to serve ,god--liberty to mortify our members which are upon the earth--liberty to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts--liberty to live soberly1 righteously1 and godly--liberty to keep under the body and bring it into subjection4 ,yes1 beloved ,christian reader1 let us remember this2 let us deeply ponder the words1 ,i am crucified with ,christ3 nevertheless ,i live2 yet not ,i1 but ,christ liveth in me4 ,the old ,i dead--crucified1 buried3 the new ,i alive in ,christ4 ,let us not mistake this4 ,we know of nothing more awful1 nothing more dangerous1 than for the old ,i to assume the new ground2 or1 in other words1 the glorious doctrines of ,christianity taken up in the flesh--unconverted people talking of being free from the law1 and turning the grace of ,god into lasciviousness4 ,we must confess we would rather1 a thousand times1 have legality than licentiousness4 ,it is this latter that many of us have to watch against with all possible earnestness4 ,it is growing around us with appalling rapidity1 and paving the way for that dark and desolating tide of infidelity which shall1 ere long1 roll over the length and breadth of christendom4 ,to talk of being free from the law in any way save by being dead to it1 and alive to ,god1 is not ,christianity at all1 but licentiousness1 from which every pious soul must shrink with holy horror4 ,if we are dead to the law1 we are dead to sin also2 and hence we are not to do our own will1 which is only another name for sin2 but the will of ,god1 which is true practical holiness4 ,further1 let us ever bear in mind that if we are dead to the law1 we are dead to this present evil world also1 and linked with a risen1 ascended1 and glorified ,christ4 ,hence1 we are not of the world1 even as ,christ is not of the world4 ,to contend for position in the world is to deny that we are dead to the law2 for we cannot be alive to the one and dead to the other4 ,the death of ,christ has delivered us from the law1 from the power of sin1 from this present evil world1 and from the fear of death4 ,but then all these things hang together1 and we cannot be delivered from one without being delivered from all4 ,to assert our freedom from the law1 while pursuing a course of carnality1 self-indulgence1 and worldliness1 is one of the darkest and deadliest evils of the last days4 ,the ,christian is called to prove1 in his daily life1 that grace can produce results that law could never reach4 ,it is one of the moral glories of ,christianity to enable a man to surrender self and live for others4 ,law never could do this4 ,it occupied a man with himself4 ,under its rule1 every man had to do the best he could for himself4 ,if he tried to love his neighbor1 it was to work out a righteousness for himself4 ,under grace1 all is blessedly and gloriously reversed--self is set aside as a thing crucified1 dead1 and buried2 the old ,i is gone1 and the new ,i is before ,god in all the acceptability and preciousness of ,christ2 ,he is our life1 our righteousness1 our holiness1 our object1 our model1 our all2 ,he is in us and we are in ,him1 and our daily practical life is to be simply ,christ reproduced in us by the power of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,hence1 we are not only called to love our neighbor1 but our enemy2 and this1 not to work out a righteousness1 for we have become the righteousness of ,god in ,christ3 it is simply the outflow of the life which we possess--which is in us1 and this life is ,christ4 ,a ,christian is a man who should live ,christ4 ,he is neither a ,jew under law nor a ,gentile without law1 but a man in ,christ1 standing in grace1 called to the same character of obedience as that which was rendered by the ,lord ,jesus ,himself4 ,we shall not pursue this subject further here1 but we earnestly entreat the ,christian reader to study attentively the fifteenth chapter of ,acts and the epistle to the ,galatians4 ,let him drink in the blessed teaching of these scriptures1 and we feel assured he will arrive at a clear understanding of the great question of the law4 ,he will see that the ,christian is not under the law for any purpose whatsoever2 that his life1 his righteousness1 his holiness1 are on a different ground or principle altogether2 that to place the ,christian under law in any way is to deny the very foundations of ,christianity and contradict the plainest statements of the ,word4 ,he will learn1 from the third chapter of ,galatians1 that to put ourselves under the law is to give up ,christ1 to give up the ,holy ,ghost1 to give up faith1 to give up the promises4 ,tremendous consequences6 ,but there they are1 plainly set forth before our eyes2 and truly1 when we contemplate the state of the professing church1 we cannot but see how terribly those consequences are being realized4 ,may ,god the ,holy ,ghost open the eyes of all ,christians to the truth of these things4 ,may ,he lead them to study the ,scriptures1 and to submit themselves to their holy authority in all things4 ,this is the special need of this our day4 ,we do not study ,scripture sufficiently2 we are not governed by it2 we do not see the absolute necessity of testing every thing by the light of ,scripture1 and rejecting all that will not stand the test2 we go on with a quantity of things that have no foundation whatever in the ,word--yea1 that are positively opposed to it4 ,what must be the end of all this8 ,we tremble to think of it4 ,we know1 blessed be ,god1 that our ,lord ,jesus ,christ will soon come and take ,his own beloved and blood-bought people home to the prepared place in the ,father's house1 to be forever with ,himself1 in the ineffable blessedness of that bright home2 but what of those who shall be left behind8 what of that vast mass of baptized worldly profession8 ,these are solemn questions1 which must be weighed in the immediate presence of ,god1 in order to have the true1 the divine answer4 ,let the reader ponder them there1 in all tenderness of heart and teachableness of spirit1 and the ,holy ,ghost will lead him to the true answer4 99 99 99 99 99 ,having sought to set forth1 from various parts of ,scripture1 the glorious truth that believers are not under law1 but under grace1 we may now pursue our study of this fifth chapter of ,deuteronomy4 ,in it we have the ten commandments1 but not exactly as we have them in the twentieth chapter of ,exodus4 ,there are some characteristic touches which demand the reader's attention4 ,in ,exodus xx1 we have history2 in ,deuteronomy v1 we have not only history1 but commentary4 ,in the latter1 the lawgiver presents moral motives1 and makes appeals which would be wholly out of place in the former4 ,in the one1 we have naked facts2 in the other1 facts and comments--facts and their practical application4 ,in a word1 there is not the slightest ground for imagining that ,deuteronomy v4 is intended to be a literal repetition of ,exodus xx2 and hence the miserable arguments which infidels ground upon their apparent divergence just crumble into dust beneath our feet4 ,they are simply baseless1 and utterly contemptible4 ,let us1 for instance1 compare the two scriptures in reference to the subject of the ,sabbath4 ,in ,exodus xx1 we read1 ,remember the ,sabbath day1 to keep it holy4 ,six days shalt thou labor1 and do all thy work2 but the seventh day is the ,sabbath of the ,lord thy ,god2 in it thou shalt not do any work1 thou1 nor thy son1 nor thy daughter1 thy man-servant1 nor thy maid-servant1 nor thy cattle1 nor thy stranger that is within thy gates3 for in six days the ,lord made heaven and earth1 the sea1 and all that in them is1 and rested the seventh day2 wherefore the ,lord blessed the ,sabbath day1 and hallowed it4 ,in ,deuteronomy v1 we read1 ,keep the ,sabbath day to sanctify it1 as the ,lord thy ,god hath commanded thee4 ,six days thou shalt labor1 and do all thy work2 but the seventh day is the ,sabbath of the ,lord thy ,god2 in it thou shalt not do any work1 thou1 nor thy son1 nor thy daughter1 nor thy man-servant1 nor thy maid-servant1 nor thine ox1 nor thine ass1 nor any of thy cattle1 nor thy stranger that is within thy gates2 that thy man-servant and thy maid-servant may rest as well as thou4 ,and remember that thou wast a servant in the land of ,egypt1 and that the ,lord thy ,god brought thee out thence1 through a mighty hand and by a stretched-out arm2 therefore the ,lord thy ,god commanded thee to keep the ,sabbath day4 7,ver4 #ab-ae47 ,now1 the reader can see at a glance the difference between the two passages4 ,in ,exodus xx1 the command to keep the ,sabbath is grounded on creation2 in ,deuteronomy v1 it is grounded on redemption1 without any allusion to creation at all4 ,in short1 the points of difference arise out of the distinct character of each book1 and are perfectly plain to every spiritual mind4 ,with regard to the institution of the ,sabbath1 we must remember that it rests wholly upon the direct authority of the word of ,god4 ,other commandments set forth plain moral duties4 ,every man knows it to be morally wrong to kill or steal2 but as to the observance of the ,sabbath1 no one could possibly recognize it as a duty had it not been distinctly appointed by divine authority4 ,hence its immense importance and interest4 ,both in our chapter and in ,exodus xx4 it stands side by side with all those great moral duties which are universally recognized by the human conscience4 ,and not only so1 but we find1 in various other scriptures1 that the ,sabbath is singled out and presented1 with special prominence1 as a precious link between ,jehovah and ,israel1 a seal of ,his covenant with them1 and a powerful test of their devotedness to ,him4 ,every one could recognize the moral wrong of theft and murder2 only those who loved ,jehovah and ,his word would love and honor ,his ,sabbath4 ,thus1 in the sixteenth chapter of ,exodus1 in connection with the giving of the manna1 we read1 ,and it came to pass1 that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread1 two omers for one man2 and all the rulers of the congregation came and told ,moses4 ,and he said unto them1 ',this is that which the ,lord hath said1 ,to-morrow is the rest of the holy ,sabbath unto the ,lord3 bake that which ye will bake to-day1 and seethe that ye will seethe2 and that which remaineth over lay up for you1 to be kept until the morning4'444 ,and ,moses said1 ',eat that to-day2 for to-day is a ,sabbath unto the ,lord2 to-day ye shall not find it in the field4 ,six days ye shall gather it2 but on the seventh day1 which is the ,sabbath1 in it there shall be none4' ,and it came to pass1--so little were they capable of appreciating the high and holy privilege of keeping ,jehovah's ,sabbath--that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather1 and they found none4 ,and the ,lord said unto ,moses1 ',how long refuse ye to keep ,my commandments and ,my laws8' ,their neglect of the ,sabbath proved their moral condition to be all wrong--proved them to be astray as to all the commandments and laws of ,god4 ,the ,sabbath was the great touchstone--the measure and gauge of the real state of their hearts toward ,jehovah4 ,see1 for that the ,lord hath given you the ,sabbath1 therefore ,he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days2 abide ye every man in his place2 let no man go out of his place on the seventh day4 ,so the people rested on the seventh day4 ,they found rest and food on the holy ,sabbath4 ,again1 at the close of chapter xxxi1 we have a very remarkable passage in proof of the importance and interest attaching to the ,sabbath in the mind of ,jehovah4 ,a full description of the tabernacle and its furniture had been given to ,moses1 and he was about to receive the two tables of testimony from the hand of ,jehovah2 but1 as if to prove the prominent place which the holy ,sabbath held in the divine mind1 we read1 ,and the ,lord spake unto ,moses1 saying1 ',speak thou also unto the children of ,israel1 saying1 ,verily ,my ,sabbaths ye shall keep3 for it is a sign between ,me and you throughout your generations2 that ye may know that ,i am the ,lord that doth sanctify you4 ,ye shall keep the ,sabbath therefore2 for it is holy unto you3 every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death2 for whosoever doeth any work therein1 that soul shall be cut off from among his people4 ,six days may work be done2 but in the seventh is the ,sabbath of rest1 holy to the ,lord3 whosoever doeth any work in the ,sabbath day1 he shall surely be put to death4 ,wherefore the children of ,israel shall keep the ,sabbath1 to observe the ,sabbath throughout their generations1 for a perpetual covenant4 ,it is a sign between ,me and the children of ,israel forever3 for in six days the ,lord made heaven and earth1 and on the seventh day ,he rested1 and was refreshed4 7,exod4 xxxi4 #ab-ag47 ,now1 this is a very important passage4 ,it proves very distinctly the abiding character of the ,sabbath4 ,the terms in which it is spoken of are quite sufficient to show that it was no mere temporary institution4--,a sign between ,me and you throughout your generations4--,a perpetual covenant4--,a sign forever4 ,let the reader carefully mark these words4 ,they prove1 beyond all question1 first1 that the ,sabbath was for ,israel2 secondly1 that the ,sabbath is1 in the mind of ,god1 a permanent institution4 ,it is needful to bear these things in mind in order to avoid all vagueness of thought and looseness of expression on this deeply interesting subject4 ,the ,sabbath was distinctly and exclusively for the ,jewish nation4 ,it is spoken of emphatically as a sign between ,jehovah and ,his people ,israel4 ,there is not the most remote hint of its being intended for the ,gentiles4 ,we shall see1 further on1 that it is a lovely type of the times of the restitution of all things1 of which ,god has spoken by the mouth of all ,his holy prophets since the world began2 but this in no wise touches the fact of its being an exclusively ,jewish institution4 ,there is not so much as a single sentence of ,scripture to show that the ,sabbath had any reference whatever to the ,gentiles4 ,some would teach us that inasmuch as we read of the ,sabbath day in the second chapter of ,genesis1 it must1 of necessity1 have a wider range than the ,jewish nation4 ,but let us turn to the passage and see what it says4--,and on the seventh day ,god ended ,his work which ,he had made2 and ,he rested on the seventh day from all ,his work which ,he had made4 ,and ,god blessed the seventh day1 and sanctified it2 because that in it ,he had rested from all ,his work which ,god created and made4 ,this is simple enough4 ,there is no mention here of man at all4 ,we are not told that man rested on the seventh day4 ,men may infer1 conclude1 or imagine that he did so2 but the second of ,genesis says nothing about it4 ,and not only so1 but we look in vain for any allusion to the ,sabbath throughout the entire book of ,genesis4 ,the very first notice we have of the ,sabbath in connection with man1 is in the sixteenth of ,exodus1 a passage already quoted2 and there we see1 most distinctly1 that it was given to ,israel1 as a people in recognized covenant-relationship with ,jehovah4 ,that they did not understand or appreciate it is perfectly plain2 that they never entered into it is equally plain1 according to psalm xcv4 and ,hebrews iv4 ,but we are now speaking of what it was in the mind of ,god2 and ,he tells us it was a sign between ,him and ,his people ,israel1 and a powerful test of their moral condition and of the state of their heart as to ,him4 ,it was not only an integral part of the law1 as given by ,moses to the congregation of ,israel1 but it is specially referred to and singled out1 again and again1 as an institution holding a very peculiar place in the mind of ,god4 ,thus1 in the book of the prophet ,isaiah1 we read1 ,blessed is the man that doeth this1 and the son of man that layeth hold on it2 that keepeth the ,sabbath from polluting it1 and keepeth his hand from doing any evil4 ,neither let the son of the stranger1 that hath joined himself to the ,lord1 speak1 saying1 ,the ,lord hath utterly separated me from ,his people2 neither let the eunuch say1 ,behold ,i am a dry tree4 ,for thus saith the ,lord unto the eunuchs that keep ,my ,sabbaths1 and choose the things that please ,me1 and take hold of ,my covenant2 even unto them will ,i give in ,mine house1 and within ,my walls1 a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters3 ,i will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off4 ,also the sons of the stranger1 7here1 of course1 viewed in connection with ,israel1 as in ,numbers xv4 and other scriptures17 that join themselves to the ,lord1 to serve ,him1 and to love the name of the ,lord1 to be ,his servants1 every one that keepeth the ,sabbath from polluting it1 and taketh hold of ,my covenant2 even them will ,i bring to ,my holy mountain1 and make them joyful in ,my house of prayer3 their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon ,mine altar2 for ,mine house shall be called a house of prayer for all people4 ,again1 ,if thou turn away thy foot from the ,sabbath1 from doing thy pleasure on ,my holy day2 and call the ,sabbath a delight1 the holy of the ,lord1 honorable2 and shalt honor ,him1 not doing thine own ways1 nor finding thine own pleasure1 nor speaking thine own words3 then shalt thou delight thyself in the ,lord2 and ,i will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth1 and feed thee with the heritage of ,jacob thy father2 for the mouth of the ,lord hath spoken it4 7,isaiah lviii4 #ac1 #ad47 ,the foregoing quotations are amply sufficient to show the place which the ,sabbath holds in the mind of ,god4 ,it is needless to multiply passages1 but there is just one to which we must refer the reader1 in connection with our present subject1 namely1 ,leviticus xxiii4--,and the ,lord spake unto ,moses1 saying1 ',speak unto the children of ,israel1 and say unto them1 ,concerning the feasts of the ,lord1 which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations1 even these are ,my feasts4 ,six days shall work be done2 but the seventh day is the ,sabbath of rest1 a holy convocation2 ye shall do no work therein3 it is the ,sabbath of the ,lord in all your dwellings4 7,ver4 #a-c47 ,here it stands at the head of all the feasts given in this marvelous chapter1 in which we have foreshadowed the entire history of ,god's dealings with ,his people ,israel4 ,the ,sabbath is the expression of ,god's eternal rest1 into which it is ,his purpose yet to bring ,his people1 when all their toils and sorrows1 their trials and tribulations1 shall have passed away--that blessed ,sabbath-keeping which remaineth for the people of ,god4 ,in various ways ,he sought to keep this glorious rest before the hearts of ,his people2 the seventh day1 the seventh year1 the year of jubilee--all these lovely sabbatic seasons were designed to set forth that blessed time when ,israel shall be gathered back to their own beloved land1 when the ,sabbath shall be kept1 in all its deep1 divine blessedness1 as it never has been kept yet4 ,and this leads us1 naturally1 to the second point in connection with the ,sabbath1 namely1 its permanency4 ,this is plainly proved by such expressions as1 perpetual1 a sign forever1 throughout your generations4 ,such words would never be applied to any merely temporary institution4 ,true it is1 alas6 that ,israel never really kept the ,sabbath according to ,god2 they never understood its meaning1 never entered into its blessedness1 never drank into its spirit4 ,they made it a badge of their own righteousness2 they boasted in it as a national institution1 and used it for self-exaltation2 but they never celebrated it in communion with ,god4 ,we speak of the nation as a whole4 ,we doubt not there were precious souls who1 in secret1 enjoyed the ,sabbath1 and entered into the thoughts of ,god about it2 but as a nation1 ,israel never kept the ,sabbath according to ,god4 ,hear what ,isaiah says1 ,bring no more vain oblations2 incense is an abomination unto ,me2 the new moons and ,sabbaths1 the calling of assemblies1 ,i cannot away with2 it is iniquity1 even the solemn meeting4 7,chap4 i4 #ac47 ,here we see that the precious and beautiful institution of the ,sabbath which ,god had given as a sign of ,his covenant with ,his people1 had1 in their hands1 become a positive abomination1 perfectly intolerable to ,him4 ,and when we open the pages of the ,new ,testament1 we find the leaders and heads of the ,jewish people continually at issue with our ,lord ,jesus ,christ in reference to the ,sabbath4 ,look1 for example1 at the opening verses of ,luke vi4--,and it came to pass on the second ,sabbath after the first1 that ,he went through the corn-fields2 and ,his disciples plucked the ears of corn1 and did eat1 rubbing them in their hands4 ,and certain of the ,pharisees said unto them1 ',why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the ,sabbath days8' ,and ,jesus answering them said1 ',have ye not read so much as this1 what ,david did1 when himself was a hungred1 and they which were with him2 how he went into the house of ,god1 and did take and eat the show-bread1 and gave also to them that were with him2 which it is not lawful to eat1 but for the priests alone8' ,and ,he said unto them that the ,son of ,man is ,lord also of the ,sabbath4 ,and again1 we read1 ,it came to pass also on another ,sabbath1 that ,he entered into the synagogue and taught2 and there was a man whose right hand was withered4 ,and the scribes and ,pharisees watched ,him1 whether ,he would heal on the ,sabbath day1 that they might find an accusation against ,him4 7,only conceive1 an accusation for healing a poor1 afflicted fellow-mortal67 ,but ,he knew their thoughts--yes1 ,he read their hearts through to their very centre1 and said to the man which had the withered hand1 ',rise up1 and stand forth in the midst4' ,and he arose and stood forth4 ,then said ,jesus unto them1 ',i will ask you one thing1 ,is it lawful on the ,sabbath day to do good1 or to do evil8 to save life1 or to destroy it8' ,and looking round about upon them all1 ,he said unto the man1 ',stretch forth thine hand4' ,and he did so2 and his hand was restored whole as the other4 ,and they were filled with madness2 and communed one with another what they might do to ,jesus4 ,what an insight we have here into the hollowness and worthlessness of man's ,sabbath-keeping6 ,those religious guides would rather let the disciples starve than have their ,sabbath interfered with2 they would allow the man to carry his withered hand to the grave rather than have him healed on their ,sabbath4 ,alas6 alas6 it was indeed their ,sabbath1 and not ,god's4 ,his rest could never comport with hunger and withered hands4 ,they had never read aright the record of ,david's act in eating the show-bread4 ,they did not understand that legal institutions must give way in the presence of divine grace meeting human need4 ,grace rises1 in its magnificence1 above all legal barriers1 and faith rejoices in its lustre2 but mere religiousness is offended by the activities of grace and the boldness of faith4 ,the ,pharisees did not see that the man with the withered hand was a striking commentary upon the nation's moral condition1 a living proof of the fact that they were far away from ,god4 ,if they were as they ought to be1 there would have been no withered hands to heal2 but they were not1 and hence their ,sabbath was an empty formality--a powerless1 worthless ordinance--a hideous anomaly1 hateful to ,god1 and utterly inconsistent with the condition of man4 ,take another instance1 in ,luke xiii4--,and ,he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the ,sabbath4 7,assuredly1 the ,sabbath was no day of rest to ,him47 ,and1 behold1 there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years1 and was bowed together1 and could in no wise lift up herself4 ,and when ,jesus saw her1 ,he called her to ,him1 and said unto her1 ',woman1 thou art loosed from thine infirmity4' ,and ,he laid ,his hands on her1 and immediately she was made straight1 and glorified ,god4 ,beautiful illustration of the work of grace in the soul1 and the practical result1 in every case4 ,all on whom ,christ lays ,his blessed hands are immediately made straight1 and enabled to glorify ,god4 ,but man's ,sabbath was touched4 ,the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation1 because that ,jesus had healed on the ,sabbath day4 ,he was indignant at the gracious work of healing1 though quite indifferent as to the humiliating case of infirmity2 and he said unto the people1 ',there are six days in which men ought to work3 in them therefore come and be healed1 and not on the ,sabbath day4' ,how little this poor hollow religionist knew that he was in the very presence of the ,lord of the true ,sabbath6 ,how utterly insensible he was to the moral inconsistency of attempting to keep a ,sabbath while man's condition called aloud for divine work6 ,the ,lord then answered him1 and said1 ',thou hypocrite1 doth not each one of you on the ,sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall1 and lead him away to watering8 ,and ought not this woman1 being a daughter of ,abraham1 whom ,satan hath bound1 lo1 these eighteen years1 be loosed from this bond on the ,sabbath day8' ,what a withering rebuke6 ,what an opening up of the hollowness and utter wretchedness of their whole system of ,judaism6 ,only think of the glaring incongruity of a ,sabbath and a daughter of ,abraham bound by the cruel hand of ,satan for eighteen years6 ,there is nothing in all this world so blinding to the mind1 so hardening to the heart1 so deadening to the conscience1 so demoralizing to the whole being1 as religion without ,christ4 ,its deceiving and degrading power can only be thoroughly judged in the light of the divine presence4 ,for aught that the ruler of the synagogue cared1 that poor woman might have gone on to the end of her days bowed together and unable to lift up herself4 ,he would have been well content to let her go on as a sad witness of the power of ,satan1 provided he could keep his ,sabbath4 ,his religious indignation was excited1 not by the power of ,satan as seen in the woman's condition1 but by the power of ,christ as seen in her complete deliverance4 ,but the ,lord gave him his answer4 ,and when ,he had said these things1 all ,his adversaries were ashamed 7as well they might72 and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by ,him4 ,what a striking contrast6 ,the advocates of a powerless1 heartless1 worthless religion unmasked and covered with shame and confusion on the one hand1 and on the other1 all the people rejoicing in the glorious actings of the ,son of ,god1 who had come into their midst to deliver them from the crushing power of ,satan1 and fill their hearts with the joy of ,god's salvation1 and their mouths with ,his praise6 ,we must now ask the reader to turn to the gospel of ,john for further illustration of our subject4 ,we earnestly desire that this vexed question of the ,sabbath should be thoroughly examined in the light of ,scripture4 ,we are convinced that there is very much more involved in it than many professing ,christians are aware4 ,at the opening of ,john v1 we are introduced to a scene strikingly indicative of ,israel's condition4 ,we do not here attempt to go fully into the passage1 we merely refer to it in connection with the subject before us4 ,the pool of ,bethesda1 or house of mercy--while it was undoubtedly the expression of the mercy of ,god toward ,his people--afforded abundant evidence of the miserable condition of man in general1 and of ,israel in particular4 ,its five porches were thronged with a great multitude of impotent folk1 of blind1 halt1 withered1 waiting for the moving of the water4 ,what a sample of the whole human family1 and of the nation of ,israel6 ,what a striking illustration of their moral and spiritual condition as viewed from a divine stand-point4 ,blind1 halt1 withered--such is man's real state1 if he only knew it4 ,but there was one man in the midst of this impotent throng so far gone--so feeble and helpless1 that the pool of ,bethesda could not meet his case4 ,a certain man was there1 which had an infirmity thirty and eight years4 ,when ,jesus saw him lie1 and knew that he had been now a long time in that case1 ,he saith unto him1 ',wilt thou be made whole8' ,what grace and power in this question6 ,it went far beyond the utmost stretch of the impotent man's thoughts4 ,he thought only of human help1 or of his own ability to get into the pool4 ,he knew not that the speaker was above and beyond the pool1 with its occasional movement--beyond angelic ministry--beyond all human help and effort1 the ,possessor of all power in heaven and on earth4 ,the impotent man answered ,him1 ',sir1 ,i have no man1 when the water is troubled1 to put me into the pool2 but while ,i am coming1 another steppeth down before me4' ,what a true picture of all those who are seeking salvation by ordinances6 ,each one doing the best he could for himself4 ,no care for others4 ,no thought of helping them4 ,jesus saith unto him1 ',rise1 take up thy bed1 and walk4' ,and immediately the man was made whole1 and took up his bed1 and walked3 and on the same day was the ,sabbath4 ,here we have man's ,sabbath again4 ,it certainly was not ,god's ,sabbath4 ,the miserable multitude gathered around the pool proved that ,god's full rest had not yet come--that ,his glorious antitype of the ,sabbath had not yet dawned on this sin-stricken earth4 ,when that bright day comes1 there will be no blind1 halt1 and withered folk thronging the porches of the pool of ,bethesda4 ,god's ,sabbath and human misery are wholly incompatible4 ,but it was man's ,sabbath4 ,it was no longer the seal of ,jehovah's covenant with the seed of ,abraham 7as it was once1 and will be again71 but the badge of man's self-righteousness4 ,the ,jews therefore said unto him that was cured1 ',it is the ,sabbath day2 it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed4' ,it was no doubt lawful enough for him to lie on that bed1 week after week1 month after month1 year after year1 while they were going on with their empty1 worthless1 hollow attempt at ,sabbath-keeping4 ,if they had had one ray of spiritual light1 they would have seen the flagrant inconsistency of attempting to maintain their traditionary notions respecting the ,sabbath in the presence of human misery1 disease1 and degradation4 ,but they were utterly blind1 and hence when the glorious fruits of ,christ's ministry were being displayed1 they had the temerity to pronounce them unlawful4 ,nor this only2 but therefore did the ,jews persecute ,jesus1 and sought to slay ,him1 because ,he had done these things on the ,sabbath day4 ,what a spectacle6 ,religious people--yea1 the leaders and teachers of religion--the guides of the professed people of ,god1 seeking to slay the ,lord of the ,sabbath because ,he had made a man every whit whole on the ,sabbath day6 ,but mark our ,lord's reply4--,my ,father worketh hitherto1 and ,i work4 ,this brief but comprehensive statement gives us the root of the whole matter4 ,it opens up to us the real condition of mankind in general1 and of ,israel in particular2 and1 in the most affecting manner1 presents the grand secret of our ,lord's life and ministry4 ,blessed be ,his name1 ,he had not come into this world to rest4 ,how could ,he rest8 how could ,he keep a ,sabbath in the midst of human need and misery8 ,ought not that impotent1 blind1 halt1 and withered multitude which thronged the porches of the pool of ,bethesda have taught the ,jews the folly of their notions about the ,sabbath8 ,for what was that multitude but a sample of the condition of the nation of ,israel1 and of the whole human family8 and how could divine love rest in the midst of such a condition of things8 ,utterly impossible4 ,love can only be a worker in a scene of sin and sorrow4 ,from the moment of man's fall1 the ,father had been working2 then the ,son appeared to carry on the work2 and now1 the ,holy ,ghost is working4 ,work1 and not rest1 is the divine order in a world like this4 ,there remaineth therefore a rest to the people of ,god4 ,the blessed ,lord ,jesus went about doing good on the ,sabbath day as well as on every other day2 and finally1 having accomplished the glorious work of redemption1 ,he spent the ,sabbath in the grave1 and rose on the first day of the week1 as the ,first-begotten from the dead1 and ,head of the new creation1 in which all things are of ,god1 and to which1 we may surely add1 the question of days and months and times and years can have no possible application4 ,no one who thoroughly understands the meaning of death and resurrection could sanction for a moment the observance of days4 ,the death of ,christ put an end to all that order of things1 and ,his resurrection introduces us into another sphere entirely1 where it is our high privilege to walk in the light and power of those eternal realities which are ours in ,christ1 and which stand in vivid contrast with the superstitious observances of a carnal and worldly religiousness4 ,but here we approach a very interesting point in our subject1 namely1 the difference between the ,sabbath and the ,lord's day1 or first day of the week4 ,these two are often confounded4 ,we frequently hear1 from the lips of truly pious people1 the phrase1 ,christian ,sabbath1 an expression no where to be found in the ,new ,testament4 ,it may be that some who make use of it mean a right thing2 but we should not only mean right1 but also seek to express ourselves according to the teaching of holy ,scripture4 ,we are persuaded that the enemy of ,god and of ,his ,christ has had a great deal more to do with the conventionalisms of christendom than many of us are aware2 and this it is which makes the matter so very serious4 ,the reader may perhaps feel disposed to pronounce it mere hair-splitting to find any fault with the term ,christian ,sabbath2 but he may rest assured it is nothing of the sort3 on the contrary1 if he will only calmly examine the matter in the light of the ,new ,testament1 he will find that it involves questions not only interesting1 but also weighty and important4 ,it is a common saying1 ,there is nothing in a name2 but in the matter now before us1 there is much in a name4 ,we have already remarked that our ,lord spent the ,sabbath in the grave4 ,is not this a telling and deeply significant fact8 ,we cannot doubt it4 ,we read in it1 at least1 the setting aside of the old condition of things1 and the utter impossibility of keeping a ,sabbath in a world of sin and death4 ,love could not rest in a world like this2 it could only labor and die4 ,this is the inscription which we read on the tomb where the ,lord of the ,sabbath lay buried4 ,but what of the first day of the week8 ,is not it the ,sabbath on a new footing--the ,christian ,sabbath8 ,it is never so called in the ,new ,testament4 ,there is not so much as a hint of any thing of the kind4 ,if we look through the ,acts of the ,apostles1 we shall find the two days spoken of in the most distinct way4 ,on the ,sabbath1 we find the ,jews assembled in their synagogues for the reading of the law and the prophets3 on the first day of the week1 we find the ,christians assembled to break bread4 ,the two days were as distinct as ,judaism and ,christianity2 nor is there so much as a shadow of ,scripture foundation for the idea that the ,sabbath was merged in the first day of the week4 ,where is the slightest authority for the assertion that the ,sabbath is changed from the seventh day to the eighth1 or first1 day of the week8 ,surely1 if there be any1 nothing is easier than to produce it2 but there is absolutely none4 ,and be it remembered that the ,sabbath is not merely a seventh day1 but the seventh day4 ,it is well to note this1 inasmuch as some entertain the idea that provided a seventh portion of time be given to rest and the public ordinances of religion1 it is quite sufficient1 and it does not matter what you call it2 and thus different nations and different religious systems have their ,sabbath day4 ,but this can never satisfy any one who desires to be taught exclusively by ,scripture4 ,the ,sabbath of ,eden was the seventh day3 the ,sabbath for ,israel was the seventh day4 ,but the eighth day leads our thoughts onward into eternity2 and1 in the ,new ,testament1 it is called the first day of the week1 as indicating the beginning3 of that new order of things of which the cross is the imperishable foundation1 and a risen ,christ the glorious ,head and ,centre4 ,to call this day the ,christian ,sabbath is simply to confound things earthly and heavenly2 it is to bring the ,christian down from his elevated position as associated with a risen and glorified ,head in the heavens1 and occupy him with the superstitious observance of days1 the very thing which made the blessed apostle stand in doubt of the assemblies in ,galatia4 ,in short1 the more deeply we ponder the phrase ,christian ,sabbath1 the more we are convinced that its tendency is1 like many other formularies of christendom1 to rob the ,christian of all those grand distinctive truths of the ,new ,testament which mark off the ,church of ,god from all that went before and all that is to follow after4 ,the ,church1 though on the earth1 is not of this world1 even as ,christ is not of this world4 ,it is heavenly in its origin1 heavenly in its character1 heavenly in its principles1 walk1 and hope4 ,it stands between the cross and the glory4 ,the boundaries of its existence on earth are1 the day of ,pentecost1 when the ,holy ,ghost came down to form it1 and the coming of ,christ to receive it to ,himself4 ,nothing can be more strongly marked than this2 and hence1 for any one to attempt to enjoin upon the ,church of ,god the legal or superstitious observance of days and months and times and years1 is to falsify the entire ,christian position1 mar the integrity of divine revelation1 and rob the ,christian of the place and portion which belong to him through the infinite grace of ,god and the accomplished atonement of ,christ4 ,does the reader deem this statement unwarrantably strong8 ,if so1 let him ponder the following splendid passage from ,paul's epistle to the ,colossians--a passage which ought to be written in letters of gold3 ,as ye have therefore received ,christ ,jesus the ,lord1 so walk ye in ,him2 rooted and built up in ,him1 and stablished in the faith1 as ye have been taught1 abounding therein with thanksgiving4 ,beware lest any man spoil or make a prey of you through philosophy and vain deceit--mark the combination6 not very flattering to philosophy--after the tradition of men1 after the rudiments of the world1 and not after ,christ4 ,for in ,him dwelleth all the fullness of the ,godhead 1 deity bodily4 ,and ye are complete in ,him1 which is the head of all principality and power4 ,what more can we possibly want8 ,in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands1 in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of ,christ3 buried with ,him in baptism1 wherein also ye are risen with ,him through the faith of the operation of ,god1 who hath raised ,him from the dead4 ,and you1 being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh1 hath ,he quickened together with ,him1 having forgiven you all trespasses2 blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us1 which was contrary to us1 and took it out of the way1 nailing it to ,his cross2 and having spoiled principalities and powers1 ,he made a show of them openly1 triumphing over them in it4 ,magnificent victory6 ,a victory gained single-handed--gained for us6 ,universal and eternal homage to ,his peerless name6 ,what remains8 ,let no man therefore judge you in meat1 or in drink1 or in respect of a holy day1 or of the new moon1 or of the ,sabbath3 which are a shadow of things to come2 but the body is of ,christ4 ,what can one who is complete and accepted in a risen and glorified ,christ have to do with meats1 drinks1 or holy days8 what can philosophy1 tradition1 or human religiousness do for him8 ,what can passing shadows add to one who has grasped1 by faith1 the eternal substance8 ,surely nothing2 and hence the blessed apostle proceeds--,let no man beguile you of your reward1 in a voluntary humility1 and worshiping of angels1 intruding into those things which he hath not seen1 vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind1 and not holding the ,head1 from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered1 and knit together1 increaseth with the increase of ,god4 ,wherefore if ye be dead with ,christ from the rudiments of the world1 why1 as though living in the world1 are ye subject to ordinances1 such as1 ',touch not this1' ',taste not that1' ',handle not the other'2 which all are to perish with the using2 after the commandments and doctrines of men8 ,which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship1 and humility1 and neglecting of the body2 not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh2 that is1 not giving the measure of honor to the body which is due to it as ,god's vessel1 but puffing up the flesh with religious pride1 fed by a hollow and worthless sanctimoniousness4 7,col4 ii4 #f-bc47 ,we do not dare to offer any apology for this lengthened quotation4 ,an apology for quoting ,scripture6 ,far be the thought6 ,it is not possible for any one to understand this marvelous passage and not have a complete settlement1 not only of the ,sabbath question1 but also of that entire system of things with which this question stands connected4 ,the ,christian who understands his position1 is done forever with all questions of meats and drinks1 days and months and times and years4 ,he knows nothing of holy seasons and holy places4 ,he is dead with ,christ from the rudiments of the world1 and as such1 is delivered from all the ordinances of a traditionary religion4 ,he belongs to heaven1 where new moons1 holy days1 and ,sabbaths have no place4 ,he is in the new creation1 where all things are of ,god2 and hence he can see no moral force in such words as ,touch not1 taste not1 handle not4 ,they have no possible application to him4 ,he lives in a region where the clouds1 vapors1 and mists of monasticism and asceticism are never seen4 ,he has given up all the worthless forms of mere fleshly pietism1 and got1 in exchange1 the solid realities of ,christian life4 ,his ear has been opened to hear1 and his heart to understand1 the powerful exhortation of the inspired apostle1 ,if ye then be risen with ,christ1 seek those things which are above1 where ,christ sitteth on the right hand of ,god4 ,set your affection on things above1 not on things on the earth4 ,for ye are dead1 and your life is hid with ,christ in ,god4 ,when ,christ1 our life1 shall appear1 then shall ye also appear with ,him in glory4 ,mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth4 ,here we have unfolded before our eyes some of the glories of true1 practical1 vital ,christianity1 in striking contrast with all the barren and dreary forms of carnal and worldly religiousness4 ,christian life does not consist in the observance of certain rules1 commandments1 or traditions of men4 ,it is a divine reality4 ,it is ,christ in the heart1 and ,christ reproduced in the daily life1 by the power of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,it is the new man1 formed on the model of ,christ ,himself1 and displaying itself in all the most minute details of our daily history--in the family1 in the business1 in all our intercourse with our fellow-men1 in our temper1 spirit1 style1 deportment1 all4 ,it is not a matter of mere profession1 or of dogma1 or of opinion1 or of sentiment2 it is an unmistakable1 living reality4 ,it is the kingdom of ,god1 set up in the heart1 asserting its blessed sway over the whole moral being1 and shedding its genial influence upon the entire sphere in which we are called to move from day to day4 ,it is the ,christian walking in the blessed footsteps of ,him who went about doing good2 meeting1 so far as in him lies1 every form of human need2 living not for himself1 but for others2 finding his delight in serving and giving2 ready to soothe and sympathize wherever he finds a crushed spirit or a bereaved and desolate heart4 ,this is ,christianity4 ,and oh1 how it differs from all the forms in which legality and superstition clothe themselves6 ,how different from the unintelligent and unmeaning observance of days and months and times and years1 abstaining from meats1 forbidding to marry1 and such like6 ,how different from the vaporings of the mystic1 the gloom of the ascetic1 and the austerities of the monk6 ,how totally different from all these6 ,yes1 reader2 and we may add1 how different from the unsightly union of high profession and low practice--lofty truths held in the intellect1 professed1 taught1 and discussed1 and worldliness1 self-indulgence1 and unsubduedness6 ,the ,christianity of the ,new ,testament differs alike from all these things4 ,it is the divine1 the heavenly1 and the spiritual1 displayed amid the human1 the earthly1 and the natural4 ,may it be the holy purpose of the writer and the reader of these lines to be satisfied with nothing short of that morally glorious ,christianity revealed in the pages of the ,new ,testament4 ,it is needless1 we trust1 to add more on the question of the ,sabbath4 ,if the reader has at all seized the import of those scriptures which have passed before us1 he will have little difficulty in seeing the place which the ,sabbath holds in the dispensational ways of ,god4 ,he will see that it has direct reference to ,israel and the earth--that it was a sign of the covenant between ,jehovah and ,his earthly people1 and a powerful test of their moral condition4 ,furthermore1 he will see that ,israel never really kept the ,sabbath1 never understood its import1 never appreciated its value4 ,this was made manifest in the life1 ministry1 and death of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 who performed many of ,his works of healing on the ,sabbath day1 and1 at the end1 spent that day in the tomb4 ,finally1 he will clearly understand the difference between the ,jewish ,sabbath and the first day of the week1 or the ,lord's day2 that the latter is never once called the ,sabbath in the ,new ,testament1 but on the contrary1 is constantly presented in its own proper distinctness3 it is not the ,sabbath changed or transferred1 but a new day altogether1 having its own special basis and its own peculiar range of thought1 leaving the ,sabbath wholly untouched1 as a suspended institution1 to be resumed by and by1 when the seed of ,abraham shall be restored to their own land4 7,see ,ezek4 xlvi4 #a1 #ab47 ,but we cannot happily turn from this interesting subject without a few words on the place assigned1 in the ,new ,testament1 to the ,lord's day1 or first day of the week4 ,though it is not the ,sabbath2 and though it has nothing to do with holy days1 or new moons1 or days and months and times and years2 yet it has its own unique place in ,christianity1 as is evident from manifold passages in the scriptures of the ,new ,testament4 ,our ,lord rose from the dead on that day2 ,he met ,his disciples again and again on that day2 the apostle and the brethren at ,troas came together to break bread on that day 7,acts xx4 #g472 the apostle instructs the ,corinthians1 and all that in every place call on the name of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 to lay by their offerings on that day2 thus teaching us1 distinctly1 that the first day of the week was the special day for the ,lord's people to assemble for the ,lord's supper1 and the worship1 communion1 and ministry connected with that most precious institution4 ,the blessed apostle ,john expressly tells us that he was in the ,spirit on that day1 and received that marvelous revelation which closes the ,divine ,volume4#ah #ah ,some are of opinion that the expression1 on the ,lord's day ought to be rendered1 on the day of the ,lord1 meaning that the apostle was in the spirit of that day when our ,lord ,christ shall take to ,himself ,his great power and reign4 ,but to this view there are two grave objections4 ,in the first place1 the words 1 rendered1 in ,revelation i4 #aj1 ,the ,lord's day1 are quite distinct from 1 in #a ,thessalonians v4 #b2 #b ,thessalonians ii4 #b2 #b ,peter iii4 #aj1 properly rendered1 ,the day of the ,lord4 ,this we consider a very weighty objection1 and one quite sufficient to settle the question4 ,but in addition to this1 we have the argument based on the fact that by far the greater portion of the book of ,revelation is occupied1 not with the day of the ,lord1 but with events prior thereto4 ,hence1 therefore1 we feel persuaded that the ,lord's day and the first day of the week are identical2 and this we deem a very important fact1 as proving that that day has a very special place in the ,word of ,god--a place which every intelligent ,christian will thankfully own4 ,thus1 then1 we have a body of ,scripture evidence before us amply sufficient to prove to every pious mind that the ,lord's day must not be reduced to the level of ordinary days4 ,it is1 to the true ,christian1 neither the ,jewish ,sabbath on the one hand1 nor the ,gentile ,sunday on the other2 but the ,lord's day1 on which ,his people gladly and thankfully assemble around ,his table1 to keep that precious feast by which they show forth ,his death until ,he come4 ,now1 it is needless to say that there is not a shade of legal bondage or of superstition connected with the first day of the week4 ,to say so1 or to think so1 would be to deny the entire circle of truths with which that day stands connected4 ,we have no direct commandment respecting the observance of the day1 but the passages already referred to are amply sufficient for every spiritual mind2 and further1 we may say that the instincts of the divine nature would lead every true ,christian to honor and love the ,lord's day1 and to set it apart1 in the most reverent manner1 for the worship and service of ,god4 ,the very thought of any one professing to love ,christ engaging in business or unnecessary traveling on the ,lord's day1 would1 in our judgment1 be revolting to every pious feeling4 ,we believe it to be a hallowed privilege to retire1 as much as possible1 from all the distractions of natural things1 and to devote the hours of the ,lord's day to ,himself and to ,his service4 ,it will perhaps be said that the ,christian ought to devote every day to the ,lord4 ,most surely2 we are the ,lord's1 in the very fullest and highest sense4 ,all we have and all we are belongs to ,him2 this we fully1 gladly own4 ,we are called to do every thing in ,his name and to ,his glory4 ,it is our high privilege to buy and sell1 eat and drink1 yea1 to carry on all our business1 under ,his eye1 and in the fear and love of ,his holy name4 ,we should not put our hand to any thing1 on any day in the week1 on which we could not1 with the fullest confidence1 ask the ,lord's blessing4 ,all this is most fully admitted4 ,every true ,christian joyfully owns it4 ,but1 at the same time1 we deem it impossible to read the ,new ,testament and not see that the ,lord's day gets a unique place2 that it is marked off for us1 in the most distinct way2 that it has a significance and an importance which cannot1 with justice1 be claimed for any other day in the week4 ,indeed1 so fully are we convinced of the truth of all this1 that even though it were not the law of ,england that the ,lord's day should be observed1 we should deem it to be both our sacred duty and holy privilege to abstain from all business engagements1 save such as were absolutely unavoidable4 ,thanks be to ,god1 it is the law of ,england that the ,lord's day should be observed4 ,this is a signal mercy to all who love the day for the ,lord's sake4 ,we cannot but own ,his great goodness in having wrested the day from the covetous grasp of the world1 and bestowed it upon ,his people and ,his servants to be devoted to ,his worship and to ,his work4 ,what a boon is the ,lord's day1 with its profound retirement from worldly things6 ,what should we do without it8 ,what a blessed break in upon the week's toil6 ,how refreshing its exercises to the spiritual mind6 ,how precious the assembly around the ,lord's table to remember ,him1 to show forth ,his death1 and celebrate ,his praise6 ,how delightful the varied services of the ,lord's day1 whether those of the evangelist1 the pastor1 the teacher1 the ,sunday-school worker1 or the tract distributor6 ,what human language can adequately set forth the value and interest of all these things8 ,true it is that the ,lord's day is any thing but a day of bodily rest to ,his servants2 indeed1 they are often more fatigued on that day than on any other day of the week4 ,but oh6 it is a blessed fatigue--a delightful fatigue--a fatigue which will meet its bright reward in the rest that remains for the people of ,god4 ,once more1 then1 beloved ,christian reader1 let us lift up our hearts in a note of praise to our ,god for the blessed boon of the ,lord's day4 ,may ,he continue it to ,his ,church until ,he come4 ,may ,he countervail1 by ,his almighty power1 every effort of the infidel and the atheist to remove the barriers which ,english law has erected around the ,lord's day4 ,truly1 it will be a sad day for ,england when those barriers are removed4 ,it may perhaps be said by some that the ,jewish ,sabbath is done away1 and is therefore no longer binding4 ,a large number of professing ,christians have taken this ground1 and pleaded for the opening of the parks and places of public recreation on the ,sunday4 ,alas6 it is easily seen where such people are drifting to1 and what they are seeking4 ,they would set aside the law1 in order to procure a license for fleshly indulgence4 ,they do not understand that the only way in which any one can be free from the law is by being dead to it2 and if dead to the law1 we are also1 of blessed necessity1 dead to sin and dead to the world4 ,this makes it a different matter altogether4 ,the ,christian is1 thank ,god1 free from the law2 but if he is1 it is not that he may amuse and indulge himself1 on the ,lord's day or any other day1 but that he may live to ,god4 ,i through law am dead to law1 that ,i might live unto ,god4 ,this is ,christian ground1 and it can only be occupied by those who are truly born of ,god4 ,the world cannot understand it2 neither can they understand the holy privileges and spiritual exercises of the ,lord's day4 ,all this is true2 but1 at the same time1 we are thoroughly convinced that were ,england to remove the barriers which surround the ,lord's day1 it would afford a melancholy proof of her abandonment of that profession of religion which has so long characterized her as a nation1 and of her drifting away in the direction of infidelity and atheism4 ,we must not lose sight of the weighty fact that ,england has taken the ground of being a ,christian nation--a nation professing to be governed by the ,word of ,god4 ,she is therefore much more responsible than those nations wrapped in the dark shades of heathenism4 ,we believe that nations1 like individuals1 will be held responsible for the profession they make2 and hence those nations which profess and call themselves ,christian shall be judged1 not merely by the light of creation1 nor by the law of ,moses1 but by the full-orbed light of that ,christianity which they profess--by all the truth contained within the covers of that blessed book which they possess1 and in which they make their boast4 ,the heathen shall be judged on the ground of creation2 the ,jew1 on the ground of the law2 the nominal ,christian1 on the ground of the truth of ,christianity4 ,now this grave fact renders the position of ,england1 and all other professing ,christian nations1 most serious4 ,god will most assuredly deal with them on the ground of their profession4 ,it is of no use to say they do not understand what they profess2 for why profess what they do not understand and believe8 ,the fact is1 they profess to understand and believe2 and by this fact they shall be judged4 ,they make their boast in this familiar sentence1 that the ,bible1 and the ,bible alone1 is the religion of ,protestants4 ,if this be so1 how solemn is the thought of ,england judged by the standard of an open ,bible6 ,what will be her judgment8--what her end8 ,let all whom it may concern ponder the appalling answer4 99 99 99 99 99 ,we must now turn from the deeply interesting subject of the ,sabbath and the ,lord's day1 and draw this section to a close by quoting for the reader the remarkable paragraph with which our chapter ends4 ,it does not call for any lengthened comment1 but we deem it profitable1 in these ,notes on ,deuteronomy1 to furnish the reader with very full quotations from the book itself1 in order that he may have before him the very words of the ,holy ,ghost1 without even the trouble of laying aside the volume which he holds in his hand4 ,having laid before the people the ten commandments1 the lawgiver proceeds to remind them of the solemn circumstances which accompanied the giving of the law1 together with their own feelings and utterances on the occasion4 ,these words the ,lord spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire1 of the cloud1 and of the thick darkness1 with a great voice2 and ,he added no more4 ,and ,he wrote them in two tables of stone1 and delivered them unto me4 ,and it came to pass1 when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness1 7for the mountain did burn with fire17 that ye came near unto me1 even all the heads of your tribes1 and your elders2 and ye said1 ',behold1 the ,lord our ,god hath showed us ,his glory and ,his greatness1 and we have heard ,his voice out of the midst of the fire3 we have seen this day that ,god doth talk with man1 and he liveth4 ,now therefore why should we die8 for this great fire will consume us3 if we hear the voice of the ,lord our ,god any more1 then we shall die4 ,for who is there of all flesh1 that hath heard the voice of the living ,god speaking out of the midst of the fire1 as we have1 and lived8 ,go thou near1 and hear all that the ,lord our ,god shall say2 and speak thou unto us all that the ,lord our ,god shall speak unto thee1 and we will hear it and do it4' ,and the ,lord heard the voice of your words1 when ye spake unto me2 and the ,lord said unto me1 ',i have heard the voice of the words of this people1 which they have spoken unto thee3 they have well said all that they have spoken4 ,o that there were such a heart in them1 that they would fear ,me1 and keep all ,my commandments always1 that it might be well with them1 and with their children forever6 ,go say to them1 ,get you into your tents again4 ,but as for thee1 stand thou here by ,me1 and ,i will speak unto thee all the commandments1 and the statutes1 and the judgments1 which thou shalt teach them1 that they may do them in the land which ,i give them to possess it4' ,ye shall observe to do therefore as the ,lord your ,god hath commanded you3 ye shall not turn aside either to the right hand or to the left4 ,ye shall walk in all the ways which the ,lord your ,god hath commanded you1 that ye may live1 and that it may be well with you1 and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess4 ,here the grand principle of the book of ,deuteronomy shines out with uncommon lustre4 ,it is embodied in those touching and forcible words which form the very heart's core of the splendid passage just quoted4--,o that there were such a heart in them1 that they would fear ,me1 and keep all ,my commandments always1 that it might be well with them1 and with their children forever6 ,precious words6 ,they set before us1 most blessedly1 the secret spring of that life which we1 as ,christians1 are called to live from day to day--the life of simple1 implicit1 and unqualified obedience1 namely1 a heart fearing the ,lord--fearing ,him1 not in a servile spirit1 but with all that deep1 true1 adoring love which the ,holy ,ghost sheds abroad in our hearts4 ,it is this that delights the heart of our loving ,father4 ,his word to us is1 ,my son1 give ,me thine heart4 ,where the heart is given1 all follows1 in lovely moral order4 ,a loving heart finds its very deepest joy in obeying all ,god's commandments2 and nothing is of any value to ,god but what springs from a loving heart4 ,the heart is the source of all the issues of life2 and hence1 when it is governed by the love of ,god1 there is a loving response to all ,his commandments4 ,we love ,his commandments because we love ,him4 ,every word of ,his is precious to the heart that loves ,him4 ,every precept1 every statute1 every judgment--in a word1 ,his whole law is loved1 reverenced1 and obeyed1 because it has ,his name and ,his authority attached to it4 ,the reader will find in psalm cxix4 an uncommonly fine illustration of the special point now before us--a most striking example of one who blessedly answered to the words quoted above--,o that there were such a heart in them1 that they would fear ,me1 and keep all ,my commandments always6 ,it is the lovely breathing of a soul who found its deep1 unfailing1 constant delight in the law of ,god4 ,there are no less than one hundred and seventy allusions to that precious law1 under some one title or another4 ,we find scattered along the surface of this marvelous psalm1 in rich profusion1 such gems as the following3-- ,thy ,word have ,i hid in mine heart1 that ,i might not sin against ,thee4 ,i have rejoiced in the way of ,thy testimonies as much as in all riches4 ,i will meditate in ,thy precepts1 and have respect unto ,thy ways4 ,i will delight myself in ,thy statutes2 ,i will not forget ,thy ,word4 ,my soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto ,thy judgments at all times4 ,thy testimonies are also my delight1 and my counselors4 ,i have stuck unto ,thy testimonies4 ,behold1 ,i have longed after ,thy precepts4 ,i trust in ,thy ,word4 ,i have hoped in ,thy judgments4 ,i seek ,thy precepts4 ,i will delight myself in ,thy commandments1 which ,i have loved4 ,i remembered ,thy judgments4 ,thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage4 ,i turned my feet unto ,thy testimonies4 ,i have believed ,thy commandments4 ,the law of ,thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver4 ,i have hoped in ,thy ,word4 ,thy law is my delight4 ,mine eyes fail for ,thy ,word4 ,all ,thy commandments are faithful4 ,forever1 ,o ,lord1 ,thy ,word is settled in heaven4 ,i will never forget ,thy precepts4 ,i have sought ,thy precepts4 ,i will consider ,thy testimonies4 ,thy commandment is exceeding broad4 ,o how love ,i ,thy law6 it is my meditation all the day4 ,how sweet are ,thy words unto my taste6 yea1 sweeter than honey to my mouth4 ,thy testimonies have ,i taken as a heritage forever2 for they are the rejoicing of my heart4 ,i will have respect unto ,thy statutes continually4 ,i love ,thy commandments above gold1 yea1 above find gold4 ,i esteem all ,thy precepts concerning all things to be right4 ,thy testimonies are wonderful4 ,i opened my mouth and panted1 for ,i longed for ,thy commandments4 ,upright are ,thy judgments4 ,thy testimonies 444 are righteous1 and very faithful4 ,thy ,word is very pure4 ,thy law is the truth4 ,the righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting4 ,all ,thy commandments are truth4 ,thy ,word is true from the beginning2 and every one of ,thy righteous judgments endureth forever4 ,my heart standeth in awe of ,thy ,word4 ,i rejoice at ,thy ,word1 as one that findeth great spoil4 ,great peace have they that love ,thy law4 ,my soul hath kept ,thy testimonies2 and ,i love them exceedingly4 ,i have chosen ,thy precepts4 ,thy law is my delight4 ,truly1 it does the heart good1 and refreshes the spirit1 to transcribe such utterances as the foregoing1 many of which are the suited utterances of our ,lord ,himself1 in the days of ,his flesh4 ,he ever lived upon the ,word4 ,it was the food of ,his soul1 the authority of ,his path1 the material of ,his ministry4 ,by it ,he vanquished ,satan2 by it ,he silenced ,sadducees1 ,pharisees1 and ,herodians2 by it ,he taught ,his disciples2 to it ,he commended ,his servants1 as ,he was about to ascend into the heavens4 ,how important is all this for us6 ,how intensely interesting6 ,how deeply practical6 ,what a place it gives the holy ,scriptures6 ,for we remember that it is1 in very deed1 the blessed ,volume of inspiration which is brought before us in all those golden sentences culled from psalm cxix4 ,how strengthening1 refreshing1 and encouraging for us to mark the way in which our ,lord uses the holy ,scriptures at all times1 the place ,he gives them1 and the dignity ,he puts upon them6 ,he appeals to them on all occasions as a divine authority from which there can be no appeal4 ,he1 though ,himself as ,god over all1 the ,author of the ,volume1 having taken ,his place as man on the earth1 sets forth with all possible plainness what is man's bounden duty and high privilege1 namely1 to live by the ,word of ,god1 to bow down in reverent subjection to its divine authority4 ,and have we not here a very complete answer to the oft-raised question of infidelity1 ,how do we know that the ,bible is the ,word of ,god8 ,if indeed we believe in ,christ--if we own ,him to be the ,son of ,god1 ,god manifest in the flesh1 very ,god and very man1 we cannot fail to see the moral force of the fact that this divine ,person constantly appeals to the ,scriptures--to ,moses1 the prophets1 and the psalms1 as to a divine standard4 ,did ,he not know them to be the ,word of ,god8 ,undoubtedly4 ,as ,god1 ,he had given them2 as ,man1 ,he received them1 lived by them1 and owned their paramount authority1 in all things4 ,what a weighty fact is here for the professing church6 ,what a withering rebuke to all those so-called ,christian doctors and writers who have presumed to tamper with the grand fundamental truth of the plenary inspiration of the holy ,scriptures in general1 and of the five books of ,moses in particular6 ,how terrible to think of the professed teachers of the ,church of ,god daring to designate as spurious1 writings which our ,lord and ,master received and owned as divine6 ,and yet we are told1 and we are expected to believe that things are improving6 ,alas6 alas6 it is a miserable delusion4 ,the degrading absurdities of ritualism1 and the blasphemous reasonings of infidelity1 are rapidly increasing around us2 and where these influences are not actually dominant1 we observe1 for the most part1 a cold indifference1 carnal ease1 self-indulgence1 and worldliness--any thing and every thing1 in short1 but the evidence of improvement4 ,if people are not led away by infidelity on the one hand1 or by ritualism on the other1 it is1 for the most part1 owing to the fact that they are too much occupied with pleasure and gain to think of any thing else4 ,and as to the religion of the day1 if you subtract money and music1 you will have a lamentably trifling balance4 ,hence1 therefore1 it is impossible to shake off the conviction that the combined testimony of observation and experience is directly opposed to the notion that things are improving4 ,indeed1 for any one1 in the face of such an array of evidence to the contrary1 to cling to such a theory1 can only be regarded as the fruit of a most unaccountable credulity4 ,but perhaps some may feel disposed to say that we must not judge by the sight of our eyes2 we must be hopeful4 ,true1 provided only we have a divine warrant for our hopefulness4 ,if a single line of ,scripture can be produced to prove that the present system of things is to be marked by gradual improvement1 religiously1 politically1 morally1 or socially1 then1 by all means1 be hopeful4 ,yes2 hope against hope4 ,a single clause of inspiration is quite sufficient to form the basis of a hope which will lift the heart above the very darkest and most depressing surroundings4 ,but where is such a clause to be found8 ,simply no where4 ,the testimony of the ,bible1 from cover to cover2 the distinct teaching of holy ,scripture1 from beginning to end2 the voices of prophets and apostles1 in unbroken harmony--all1 without a single divergent note1 go to prove1 with a force and clearness perfectly unanswerable1 that the present condition of things1 so far from gradually improving1 will rapidly grow worse2 that ere the bright beams of millennial glory can gladden this groaning earth1 the sword of judgment must do its appalling work4 ,to quote the passages in proof of our assertion would literally fill a volume2 it would simply be to transcribe a large portion of the prophetic scriptures of the ,old and ,new ,testament4 ,this1 of course1 we do not attempt4 ,there is no need4 ,the reader has his ,bible before him2 let him search it diligently4 ,let him lay aside all his preconceived ideas1 all the conventionalisms of christendom1 all the ordinary phraseology of the religious world1 all the dogmas of the schools of divinity1 and come1 with the simplicity of a little child1 to the pure fountain of holy ,scripture1 and drink in its heavenly teaching4 ,if he will only do this1 he will rise from the study with the clear and settled conviction that the world will1 most assuredly1 not be converted by the means now in operation--that it is not the gospel of peace1 but the besom of destruction that shall prepare the earth for glory4 ,is it1 then1 that we deny the good that is being done8 ,are we insensible to it8 ,far be the thought6 ,we heartily bless ,god for every atom of it4 ,we rejoice in every effort put forth to spread the precious gospel of the grace of ,god2 we render thanks for every soul gathered within the blessed circle of ,god's salvation4 ,we delight to think of eighty-five millions of ,bibles scattered over the earth4 ,what human mind can calculate the results of all these1 yea1 the results of a single copy8 ,we earnestly wish ,godspeed to every true-hearted missionary who goes forth with the glad tidings of salvation1 whether into the lanes and court-yards of ,london1 or to the most distant parts of the earth4 ,but1 admitting all this1 as we most heartily do1 we nevertheless do not believe in the conversion of the world by the means now in operation4 ,scripture tells us that it is when the divine judgments are in the earth1 the inhabitants of the world shall learn righteousness4 ,this one clause of inspiration ought to be sufficient to prove that it is not by the gospel that the world is to be converted2 and there are hundreds of clauses which speak the same language and teach the same truth4 ,it is not by grace1 but by judgment1 that the inhabitants of the world shall learn righteousness4 ,what1 then1 is the object of the gospel8 ,if it be not to convert the world1 for what purpose is it preached8 ,the apostle ,james1 in his address at the memorable council at ,jerusalem1 gives an answer1 direct and conclusive1 to the question4 ,he says1 ,simeon hath declared how ,god at the first did visit the ,gentiles4 ,for what8 ,to convert them all8 ,the very reverse--,to take out of them a people for ,his name4 ,nothing can be more distinct than this4 ,it sets before us that which ought to be the grand object of all missionary effort--that which every divinely sent and divinely taught missionary will keep before his mind in all his blessed labors4 ,it is to take out a people for ,his name4 ,how important to remember this6 ,how needful to have ever before us a true object in all our work6 ,of what possible use can it be to work for a false object8 ,is it not much better to work with a direct view to what ,god is doing8 ,will it cripple the missionary's energies1 or clip his wings1 to keep before his eyes the divine purpose in his work8 ,surely not4 ,take the case of two missionaries going forth to some distant mission-field3 the one has for his object the conversion of the world2 the other1 the gathering out of a people4 ,will the latter1 by reason of his object1 be less devoted1 less energetic1 less enthusiastic1 than the former8 ,we cannot believe it2 on the contrary1 the very fact of his being in the current of the divine mind will impart stability and consistency to his work1 and1 at the same time1 encourage his heart in the face of the difficulties and hindrances which surround him4 ,but however this may be1 it is perfectly plain that the apostles of our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ had no such object1 in going forth to their work1 as the conversion of the world4 ,go ye into all the world1 and preach the gospel to every creature2 he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved2 but he that believeth not shall be damned4 ,this was to the twelve4 ,the world was to be their sphere4 ,the aspect of their message was1 unto every creature2 the application1 to him that believeth4 ,it was pre-eminently an individual thing4 ,the conversion of the whole world was not to be their object2 that will be effected by a different agency altogether1 when ,god's present action by the gospel shall have resulted in the gathering out of a people for the heavens4#ai ,the ,holy ,ghost came down on the day of ,pentecost1 not to convert the world1 but to convict it1 or demonstrate its guilt in having rejected the ,son of ,god4#bj ,the effect of ,his presence was to prove the world guilty2 and as to the grand object of ,his mission1 it was to form a body composed of believers from amongst both ,jews and ,gentiles4 ,with this ,he has been occupied for the last eighteen hundred years4 ,this is the mystery of which the apostle ,paul was made a minister1 and which he unfolds1 so fully and blessedly1 in his epistle to the ,ephesians4 ,it is impossible for any one to understand the truth set forth in this marvelous document1 and not see that the conversion of the world and the formation of the body of ,christ are two totally different things1 which could not possibly go on together4 #ai ,we would commend to the reader's attention psalm lxvii4 ,it is one of a large class of passages which prove that the blessing of the nations is consequent upon ,israel's restoration4 ,god be merciful unto us ,israel1 and bless us2 and cause ,his face to shine upon us1 that ,thy way may be known upon earth1 ,thy saving health among all nations4444 ,god shall bless us2 and all the ends of the earth shall fear ,him4 ,there could not be a more lovely or forcible proof of the fact that it is ,israel1 and not the ,church1 that will be used for the blessing of the nations4 #bj ,the application of ,john xvi4 #h-aa to the ,spirit's work in the individual is1 in our judgment1 a serious mistake4 ,it refers to the effect of ,his presence on earth1 in reference to the world as a whole4 ,his work in the soul is a precious truth1 we need hardly say1 but it is not the truth taught in this passage4 ,let the reader ponder the following beautiful passage3 ,for this cause ,i ,paul1 the prisoner of ,jesus ,christ for you ,gentiles1 if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of ,god which is given me to you-ward3 how that by revelation ,he made known unto me the mystery2 7as ,i wrote afore in few words1 whereby1 when ye read1 ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of ,christ7 which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men--not made known in the scriptures of the ,old ,testament1 nor revealed to the ,old-,testament saints or prophets--as it is now revealed unto ,his holy apostles and prophets 7that is1 to the ,new-,testament prophets7 by the ,spirit2 that the ,gentiles should be fellow-heirs1 and of the same body1 and partakers of ,his promise in ,christ by the gospel3 whereof ,i was made a minister according to the gift of the grace of ,god given unto me by the effectual working of ,his power4 ,unto me1 who am less than the least of all saints1 is this grace given1 that ,i should preach among the ,gentiles the unsearchable riches of ,christ2 and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery1 which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in ,god1 who created all things by ,jesus ,christ3 to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in the heavenlies might be known by the ,church the manifold wisdom of ,god4 7,eph4 iii4 #a-aj47 ,take another passage from the epistle to the ,colossians4--,if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled1 and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel1 which ye have heard1 and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven1 whereof ,i ,paul am made a minister1 who now rejoice in my sufferings for you1 and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of ,christ in my flesh for ,his body's sake1 which is the ,church3 whereof ,i am made a minister1 according to the dispensation of ,god which is given to me for you1 to complete the ,word of ,god2 even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations1 but now is made manifest to ,his saints3 to whom ,god would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the ,gentiles2 which is ,christ in you1 the hope of glory3 whom we preach1 warning every man1 and teaching every man in all wisdom2 that we may present every man perfect in ,christ ,jesus3 whereunto ,i also labor1 striving according to ,his working1 which worketh in me mightily4 7,chap4 i4 #bc-bi47 ,from these and numerous other passages1 the reader may see the special object of ,paul's ministry4 ,assuredly he had no such thought in his mind as the conversion of the world4 ,true1 he preached the gospel1 in all its depth1 fullness1 and power--preached it from ,jerusalem and round about unto ,illyricum--preached among the ,gentiles the unsearchable riches of ,christ1 but with no thought of converting the world4 ,he knew better4 ,he knew and taught that the world was ripening for judgment--yes1 ripening rapidly2 that evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse2 that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith1 giving heed to seducing spirits1 and doctrines of devils2 speaking lies in hypocrisy2 having their conscience seared with a hot iron2 forbidding to marry1 and commanding to abstain from meats1 which ,god had created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth4 ,and further still1 this faithful and divinely inspired witness taught that in the last days--far in advance of the latter times--perilous or difficult times shall come4 ,for men shall be lovers of their own selves1 covetous1 boasters1 proud1 blasphemers1 disobedient to parents1 unthankful1 unholy1 without natural affection1 truce-breakers1 false accusers1 incontinent1 fierce1 despisers of those that are good1 traitors1 heady1 high-minded1 lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of ,god2 having a form of godliness1 but denying the power thereof4 7,compare #a ,tim4 iv4 #a-c with #b ,tim4 iii4 #a-e47 ,what a picture6 ,it brings us back to the close of the first of ,romans1 where the same inspired pen portrays for us the dark forms of heathenism2 but with this terrible difference1 that in #b ,timothy it is not heathenism1 but nominal ,christianity--a form of godliness4 ,and is this to be the end of the present condition of things8 ,is this the converted world of which we hear so much8 ,alas6 alas6 there are false prophets abroad2 there are those who cry1 ,peace1 peace1 when there is no peace2 there are those who attempt to daub the crumbling walls of christendom with untempered mortar4 ,but it will not do4 ,judgment is at the door4 ,the professing church has utterly1 shamefully failed2 she has grievously departed from the ,word of ,god1 and revolted from the authority of her ,lord4 ,there is not a single ray of hope for christendom4 ,it is the darkest moral blot in the wide universe of ,god1 or on the page of history4 ,the same blessed apostle from whose writings we have already so largely quoted1 tells us that the mystery of iniquity doth already work2 hence it has been working now for over eighteen centuries4 ,only ,he that now hindereth will hinder until ,he be taken out of the way4 ,and then shall that ,wicked be revealed1 whom the ,lord shall consume with the spirit of ,his mouth1 and shall destroy with the brightness of ,his coming3 even him1 whose coming is after the working of ,satan with all power and signs and lying wonders1 and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish2 because they received not the love of the truth1 that they might be saved4 ,and for this cause ,god shall send them strong delusion1 that they should believe a lie3 that they all might be damned who believed not the truth1 but had pleasure in unrighteousness4 7#b ,thess4 ii4 #g-ab47 ,how awful is the doom of christendom6 ,strong delusion6 ,dark damnation6 ,and all this in the face of the dreams of those false prophets who talk to the people about the bright side of things4 ,thank ,god1 there is a bright side for all those who belong to ,christ4 ,to them1 the apostle can speak in bright and cheering accents4--,we are bound to give thanks alway to ,god for you1 brethren beloved of the ,lord1 because ,god hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the ,spirit and belief of the truth3 whereunto ,he called you by our gospel1 to the obtaining of the glory of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 7#b ,thess4 ii4 #ac1 #ad47 ,here we have1 most surely1 the bright side of things--the bright and blessed hope of the ,church of ,god--the hope of seeing the bright and morning ,star4 ,all rightly instructed ,christians are on the look-out1 not for an improved or a converted world1 but for their coming ,lord and ,saviour1 who has gone to prepare a place for them in the ,father's house1 and is coming again to receive them to ,himself1 that where ,he is1 there they may be also4 ,this is ,his own sweet promise1 which may be fulfilled at any moment4 ,he only waits1 as ,peter tells us1 in long-suffering mercy1 not willing that any should perish1 but that all should come to repentance4 ,but when the last member shall be incorporated1 by the ,holy ,ghost1 into the blessed body of ,christ1 then shall the voice of the archangel and the trump of ,god summon all the redeemed1 from the beginning1 to meet their descending ,lord in the air1 to be forever with ,him4 ,this is the true and proper hope of the ,church of ,god--a hope which ,he would have ever shining down into the hearts of all ,his beloved people1 in its purifying and elevating power4 ,of this blessed hope the enemy has succeeded in robbing a large number of the ,lord's people4 ,indeed1 for centuries it was well-nigh blotted out from the ,church's horizon2 and it has only been partially recovered within the last fifty years4 ,and1 alas6 how partially6 ,where do we hear of it1 throughout the length and breadth of the professing church8 ,do the pulpits of christendom ring with the joyful sound1 ,behold the ,bridegroom cometh8 ,far from it4 ,even the few beloved servants of ,christ who are looking for ,his coming1 hardly dare to preach it1 because they fear it would be utterly rejected4 ,and so it would4 ,we are thoroughly persuaded that1 in the vast majority of cases1 men who should venture to preach the glorious truth that the ,lord is coming for ,his ,church1 would speedily have to vacate their pulpits4 ,what a solemn and striking proof of ,satan's blinding power6 ,he has robbed the ,church of her divinely given hope1 and instead thereof1 he has given her a delusion--a lie4 ,instead of looking out for the bright and morning ,star1 he has set her looking for a converted world--a millennium without ,christ4 ,he has succeeded in casting such a haze over the future1 that the ,church has completely lost her bearings4 ,she does not know where she is4 ,she is like a vessel tossed on the stormy ocean1 having neither compass nor rudder1 seeing neither sun nor stars4 ,all is darkness and confusion4 ,and how is this8 ,simply because the ,church has lost sight of the pure and precious word of her ,lord1 and accepted instead those bewildering creeds and confessions of men which so mar and mutilate the truth of ,god that ,christians seem utterly at sea as to their proper standing and their proper hope4 ,and yet they have the ,bible in their hands4 ,true2 but so had the ,jews1 and yet they rejected that blessed ,one who is the great theme of the ,bible from beginning to end4 ,this was the moral inconsistency with which our ,lord charged them in ,john v4--,ye search the ,scriptures2 for in them ye think ye have eternal life2 and they are they which testify of ,me2 and ye will not come to ,me1 that ye might have life4#ba #ba ,the word maybe either imperative or indicative2 but the context1 we judge1 demands the latter4 ,they had the ,scriptures2 they were read in their synagogues every ,sabbath day2 they professed to believe that in them they had eternal life2 they testified of ,him2 and yet they would not come to ,him4 ,here was the flagrant inconsistency4 ,now1 if be taken as a command1 the whole force of the passage is lost4 ,need we remind the reader that there are plenty of arguments and inducements leading us to search the ,scriptures1 without appealing to what we believe to be an inaccurate rendering of ,john v4 #ci8 ,and why was this8 ,simply because their minds were blinded by religious prejudice4 ,they were under the influence of the doctrines and commandments of men4 ,hence1 although they had the ,scriptures1 and boasted of having them1 they were as ignorant of them1 and as little governed by them1 as the poor dark heathen around them4 ,it is one thing to have the ,bible in our hands1 in our homes1 and in our assemblies1 and quite another thing to have the truths of the ,bible acting on our hearts and consciences1 and shining in our lives4 ,take1 for instance1 the great subject now before us1 and which has led us into this very lengthened digression4 ,can any thing be more plainly taught in the ,new ,testament than this1 namely1 that the end of the present condition of things will be terrible apostasy from the truth1 and open rebellion against ,god and the ,lamb8 ,the gospels1 the epistles1 and the ,revelation all agree in setting forth this most solemn truth1 with such distinctness and simplicity that a babe in ,christ may see it4 ,and yet how few1 comparatively1 believe it6 ,the vast majority believe the very reverse4 ,they believe that by means of the various agencies now in operation all nations shall be converted4 ,in vain we call attention to our ,lord's parables in ,matthew xiii4--the tares1 the leaven1 and the mustard-seed4 ,how do these agree with the idea of a converted world8 ,if the whole world is to be converted by a preached gospel1 how is it that tares are found in the field at the end of the age8 how is it that there are as many foolish virgins as wise ones when the ,bridegroom comes8 ,if the whole world is to be converted by the gospel1 then on whom will the day of the ,lord so come as a thief in the night8 or what mean those awful words1 ,for when they shall say1 ,peace and safety2 then sudden destruction cometh upon them1 as travail upon a woman with child2 and they shall not escape8 ,in view of a converted world1 what would be the just application1 what the moral force1 of those most solemn words in the first of ,revelation1 ,behold1 ,he cometh with clouds1 and every eye shall see ,him1 and they also which pierced ,him2 and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of ,him8 ,where are all those wailing kindreds to be found if the whole world is to be converted8 ,reader1 is it not as clear as a sunbeam that the two things cannot stand for a moment together8 ,is it not perfectly plain that the theory of a world converted by the gospel is diametrically opposed to the teaching of the entire ,new ,testament8 ,how is it1 then1 that the vast majority of professing ,christians persist in holding it8 ,there can be but the one reply1 and that is1 they do not bow to the authority of ,scripture4 ,it is most sorrowful and solemn to have to say it2 but it is1 alas6 too true4 ,the ,bible is read in christendom1 but the truths of the ,bible are not believed--nay1 they are persistently rejected2 and all this in view of the oft-repeated boast that the ,bible1 and the ,bible alone1 is the religion of ,protestants4 ,but we shall not pursue this subject further here1 much as we feel its weight and importance4 ,we trust the reader may be led by the ,spirit of ,god to feel its deep solemnity4 ,we believe the ,lord's people every where need to be thoroughly roused to a sense of how entirely the professing church has departed from the authority of ,scripture4 ,here1 we may rest assured1 lies the real cause of all the confusion1 all the error1 all the evil1 in our midst4 ,we have departed from the ,word of the ,lord1 and from ,himself4 ,until this is seen1 felt1 and owned1 we cannot be right4 ,the ,lord looks for true repentance1 real brokenness of spirit1 in ,his presence4 ,to this man will ,i look1 even to him that is poor1 and of a contrite spirit1 and trembleth at ,my ,word4 ,this always holds good4 ,there is no limit to the blessing when the soul is in this truly blessed attitude4 ,but it must be a reality4 ,it will not do to talk of being poor and contrite1 we must be in the condition4 ,it is an individual matter4 ,to this man will ,i look4 ,oh may the ,lord1 in ,his infinite mercy1 lead us1 every one1 into true self-judgment1 under the action of ,his ,word4 ,may our ears be open to hear ,his voice4 ,may there be a real turning of our hearts to ,himself and to ,his ,word4 ,may we turn our backs1 in holy decision1 once and forever1 upon every thing that will not stand the test of ,scripture4 ,this1 we are persuaded1 is what our ,lord ,christ looks for on the part of all who belong to ,him1 amid the terrible and hopeless debris of christendom4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,now these are the commandments1 the statutes1 and the judgments1 which the ,lord your ,god commanded to teach you1 that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it3 that thou mightest fear the ,lord thy ,god1 to keep all ,his statutes and ,his commandments1 which ,i command thee1 thou1 and thy son1 and thy son's son1 all the days of thy life2 and that thy days may be prolonged4 ,hear therefore1 ,o ,israel1 and observe to do it2 that it may be well with thee1 and that ye may increase mightily1 as the ,lord ,god of thy fathers hath promised thee1 in the land that floweth with milk and honey4 ,hear1 ,o ,israel3 ,the ,lord our ,god is one ,lord4 ,we have here presented to us that great cardinal truth which the nation of ,israel was specially responsible to hold fast and confess1 namely1 the unity of the ,godhead4 ,this truth lay at the very foundation of the ,jewish economy4 ,it was the grand centre around which the people were to rally4 ,so long as they maintained this1 they were a happy1 prosperous1 fruitful people2 but when it was let go1 all was gone4 ,it was their great national bulwark1 and that which was to mark them off from all the nations of the earth4 ,they were called to confess this glorious truth in the face of an idolatrous world1 with its gods many1 and lords many4 ,it was ,israel's high privilege and holy responsibility to bear a steady witness to the truth contained in that one weighty sentence1 ,the ,lord our ,god is one ,lord1 in marked opposition to the false gods innumerable of the heathen around4 ,their father ,abraham had been called out from the very midst of heathen idolatry1 to be a witness to the one true and living ,god1 to trust ,him1 to walk with ,him1 to lean on ,him1 and to obey ,him4 ,if the reader will turn to the last chapter of ,joshua1 he will find a very striking allusion to this fact1 and a very important use made of it1 in his closing address to the people4--,and ,joshua gathered all the tribes of ,israel to ,shechem1 and called for the elders of ,israel1 and for their heads1 and for their judges1 and for their officers2 and they presented themselves before ,god4 ,and ,joshua said unto all the people1 ',thus saith the ,lord ,god of ,israel1 ,your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time1 even ,terah1 the father of ,abraham1 and the father of ,nachor2 and they served other gods4 ,and ,i took your father ,abraham from the other side of the flood1 and led him throughout all the land of ,canaan1 and multiplied his seed1 and gave him ,isaac4' ,here ,joshua reminds the people of the fact that their fathers had served other gods--a very solemn and weighty fact most surely1 and one which they ought never to have forgotten1 inasmuch as the remembrance of it would have taught them their deep need of watchfulness over themselves1 lest by any means they should be drawn back into that gross and terrible evil out of which ,god1 in ,his sovereign grace and electing love1 had called their father ,abraham4 ,it would have been their wisdom to consider that the self-same evil in which their fathers had lived1 in the olden time1 was just the one into which they themselves were likely to fall4 ,having presented this fact to the people1 ,joshua brings before them1 with uncommon force and vividness1 all the leading events of their history1 from the birth of their father ,isaac1 down to the moment in which he was addressing them2 and then sums up with the following telling appeal3 ,now therefore fear the ,lord1 and serve ,him in sincerity and in truth2 and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood1 and in ,egypt2 and serve ye the ,lord4 ,and if it seem evil unto you to serve the ,lord1 choose you this day whom ye will serve2 whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood1 or the gods of the ,amorites in whose land ye dwell2 but as for me and my house1 we will serve the ,lord4 ,mark the repeated allusion to the fact that their fathers had worshiped false gods2 and further1 that the land into which ,jehovah had brought them had been polluted1 from one end to the other1 by the dark abominations of heathen idolatry4 ,thus does this faithful servant of the ,lord1 evidently by the inspiration of the ,holy ,ghost1 seek to set before the people their danger of giving up the grand central and foundation truth of the one true and living ,god1 and falling back into the worship of idols4 ,he urges upon them the absolute necessity of whole-hearted decision4 ,choose you this day whom ye will serve4 ,there is nothing like plain1 out-and-out decision for ,god4 ,it is due to ,him always4 ,he had proved ,himself to be unmistakably for them in redeeming them from the bondage of ,egypt1 bringing them through the wilderness1 and planting them in the land of ,canaan2 hence1 therefore1 that they should be wholly for ,him was nothing more than their reasonable service4 ,how deeply ,joshua felt all this for himself is evident from those very memorable words1 ,as for me and my house1 we will serve the ,lord4 ,lovely words6 ,precious decision6 ,national religion might1 and1 alas6 did1 go to ruin2 but personal and family religion could1 by the grace of ,god1 be maintained every where and at all times4 ,thank ,god for this6 ,may we never forget it4 ,me and my house is ,faith's clear and delightful response to ,god's ,thou and thy house4 ,let the condition of the ostensible1 professed people of ,god1 at any given time1 be what it may1 it is the privilege of every true-hearted man of ,god to adopt and act upon this immortal decision3 ,as for me and my house1 we will serve the ,lord4 ,true1 it is only by the grace of ,god1 continually supplied1 that this holy resolution can be carried out2 but we may rest assured that where the bent of the heart is to follow the ,lord fully1 all needed grace will be ministered1 day by day2 for those encouraging words must ever hold good1 ,my grace is sufficient for thee2 for ,my strength is made perfect in weakness4 ,let us now look for a moment at the apparent effect of ,joshua's soul-stirring appeal to the congregation4 ,it seemed very promising4 ,the people answered and said1 ',god forbid that we should forsake the ,lord1 to serve other gods2 for the ,lord our ,god1 ,he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of ,egypt1 from the house of bondage1 and which did those great signs in our sight1 and preserved us in all the way wherein we went1 and among all the people through whom we passed3 and the ,lord drave out from before us all the people1 even the ,amorites which dwelt in the land2 therefore will we also serve the ,lord1 for ,he is our ,god4 ,all this sounded very well1 and looked very hopeful4 ,they seemed to have a clear sense of the moral basis of ,jehovah's claim upon them for implicit obedience4 ,they could accurately recount all ,his mighty deeds on their behalf1 and make very earnest and no doubt sincere protestations against idolatry1 and promises of obedience to ,jehovah1 their ,god4 ,but it is very evident that ,joshua was not particularly sanguine about all this profession1 for he said unto the people1 ',ye cannot serve the ,lord3 for ,he is a holy ,god2 ,he is a jealous ,god2 ,he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins4 ,if ye forsake the ,lord1 and serve strange gods1 then ,he will turn and do you hurt1 and consume you1 after that ,he hath done you good4' ,and the people said unto ,joshua1 ',nay2 but we will serve the ,lord4' ,and ,joshua said unto the people1 ',ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the ,lord1 to serve ,him4' ,and they said1 ',we are witnesses4' ',now therefore put away1' said he1 'the strange gods which are among you1 and incline your heart unto the ,lord ,god of ,israel4' ,and the people said unto ,joshua1 ',the ,lord our ,god will we serve1 and ,his voice will we obey4' ,we do not now stop to contemplate the aspect in which ,joshua presents ,god to the congregation of ,israel1 inasmuch as our object in referring to the passage is to show the prominent place assigned1 in ,joshua's address1 to the truth of the unity of the ,godhead4 ,this was the truth to which ,israel was called to bear witness1 in view of all the nations of the earth1 and in which they were to find their moral safeguard against the ensnaring influences of idolatry4 ,but1 alas6 this very truth was the one as to which they most speedily and signally failed4 ,the promises1 vows1 and resolutions made under the powerful influence of ,joshua's appeal soon proved to be like the early dew and the morning cloud1 that passeth away4 ,the people served the ,lord all the days of ,joshua1 and all the days of the elders that outlived ,joshua1 who had seen all the great works of the ,lord1 that ,he did for ,israel4 ,and ,joshua1 the son of ,nun1 the servant of the ,lord1 died1 being a hundred and ten years old4444 ,and also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers2 and there arose another generation after them1 which knew not the ,lord1 nor yet the works which ,he had done for ,israel4 ,and the children of ,israel did evil in the sight of the ,lord1 and served ,baalim2 and they forsook the ,lord ,god of their fathers1 which brought them out of the land of ,egypt1 and followed other gods1 of the gods of the people that were round about them1 and bowed themselves unto them1 and provoked the ,lord to anger4 ,and they forsook the ,lord1 and served ,baal and ,ashtaroth4 7,judges ii4 #g-ac47 ,reader1 how admonitory is all this6 how full of solemn warning to us all6 ,the grand1 all-important1 special1 and characteristic truth so soon abandoned6 ,the one only true and living ,god given up for ,baal and ,ashtaroth6 ,so long as ,joshua and the elders lived1 their presence and their influence kept ,israel from open apostasy2 but no sooner were those moral embankments removed than the dark tide of idolatry rolled in and swept away the very foundations of the national faith4 ,jehovah of ,israel was displaced by ,baal and ,ashtaroth4 ,human influence is a poor prop1 a feeble barrier4 ,we must be sustained by the power of ,god1 else we shall1 sooner or later1 give way4 ,the faith that stands merely in the wisdom of men1 and not in the power of ,god1 must prove a poor1 flimsy1 worthless faith4 ,it will not stand the day of trial2 it will not bear the furnace2 it will most assuredly break down4 ,it is well to remember this4 ,second-hand faith will never do4 ,there must be a living link connecting the soul with ,god4 ,we must have to do with ,god for ourselves individually1 else we shall give way when the testing-time comes4 ,human example and human influence may be all very good in their place4 ,it was all very well to look at ,joshua and the elders1 and see how they followed the ,lord4 ,it is quite true that as iron sharpeneth iron1 so doth the countenance of a man his friend4 ,it is very encouraging to be surrounded by a number of truly devoted hearts--very delightful to be borne along upon the bosom of the tide of collective loyalty to ,christ--to ,his ,person and to ,his cause4 ,but if this be all1--if there be not the deep spring of personal faith and personal knowledge1--if there be not the divinely formed and the divinely sustained link of individual relationship and communion1 then when the human props are removed1--when the tide of human influence ebbs1--when general declension sets in1 we shall be1 in principle1 like ,israel following the ,lord all the days of ,joshua and the elders1 and then giving up the confession of ,his name and returning to the follies and vanities of this present world--things no better1 in reality1 than ,baal and ,ashtaroth4 ,but1 on the other hand1 when the heart is thoroughly established in the truth and grace of ,god1--when we can say--as it is the privilege of each true believer to say--,i know whom ,i have believed1 and am persuaded that ,he is able to keep that which ,i have committed unto ,him against that day1 then1 although all should turn aside from the public confession of ,christ1--although we should find ourselves left without the help of a human countenance or the support of a human arm1 we shall find the foundation of ,god as sure as ever1 and the path of obedience as plain before us as though thousands were treading it with holy decision and energy4 ,we must never lose sight of the fact that it is the divine purpose that the professing church of ,god should learn deep and holy lessons from the history of ,israel4 ,whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning1 that we through patience and comfort of the ,scriptures might have hope4 ,nor is it by any means necessary1 in order to our thus learning from the ,old-,testament scriptures1 that we should occupy ourselves in searching out fanciful analogies1 curious theories1 or far-fetched illustrations4 ,many1 alas6 have tried these things1 and instead of finding comfort in the ,scriptures1 they have been led away into empty and foolish conceits1 if not into deadly errors4 ,but our business is with the living facts recorded on the page of inspired history4 ,these are to be our study2 from these we are to draw our great practical lessons4 ,take1 for example1 the weighty and admonitory fact now before us--a fact standing out in characters deep and broad on the page of ,israel's history from ,joshua to ,isaiah--the fact of ,israel's lamentable departure from that very truth which they were specially called to hold and confess--the truth of the unity of the ,godhead4 ,the very first thing they did was to let go this grand and all-important truth1 this key-stone of the arch1 the foundation of the whole edifice1 the very heart of their national existence1 the living centre of their national polity4 ,they gave it up1 and turned back to the idolatry of their fathers on the other side of the flood1 and of the heathen nations around them4 ,they abandoned that most glorious and distinctive truth on the maintenance of which their very existence as a nation depended4 ,had they only held fast this truth1 they would have been invincible2 but in surrendering it1 they surrendered all1 and became much worse than the nations around them1 inasmuch as they sinned against light and knowledge--sinned with their eyes open--sinned in the face of the most solemn warnings and earnest entreaties1 and1 we may add1 in the face of the most vehement and oft-repeated promises and protestations of obedience4 ,yes1 reader1 ,israel gave up the worship of the one true and living ,god1 ,jehovah-,elohim1 their covenant-,god2 not only their ,creator1 but their ,redeemer--the ,one who had brought them up out of the land of ,egypt1 conducted them through the ,red ,sea1 led them through the wilderness1 brought them across the ,jordan1 and planted them in triumph in the inheritance which ,he had promised to ,abraham their father--a land flowing with milk and honey1 which is the glory of all lands4 ,they turned their backs upon ,him1 and gave themselves up to the worship of false gods2 they provoked ,him to anger with their high places1 and moved ,him to jealousy with their graven images4 ,it seems perfectly wonderful that a people who had seen and known so much of the goodness and loving-kindness of ,god--,his mighty acts1 ,his faithfulness1 ,his majesty1 ,his glory1 could ever bring themselves to bow down to the stock of a tree2 but so it was4 ,their whole history1 from the days of the calf at the foot of ,mount ,sinai1 to the day in which ,nebuchadnezzar reduced ,jerusalem to ruins1 is marked by an unconquerable spirit of idolatry4 ,in vain did ,jehovah1 in ,his long-suffering mercy and abounding goodness1 raise up deliverers for them1 to lift them from beneath the terrible consequences of their sin and folly4 ,again and again1 in ,his inexhaustable mercy and patience1 ,he saved them from the hand of their enemies4 ,he raised up an ,othniel1 an ,ehud1 a ,barak1 a ,gideon1 a ,jephthah1 a ,samson--those instruments of ,his mercy and power--those witnesses of ,his deep and tender love and compassion toward ,his poor infatuated people4 ,no sooner had each judge passed off the scene than back the nation plunged into their besetting sin of idolatry4 ,so1 also1 in the days of the kings2 it is the same melancholy1 heart-rending story4 ,true1 there were bright spots here and there--some brilliant stars shining out through the deep gloom of the nation's history2 we have a ,david1 an ,asa1 a ,jehoshaphat1 a ,hezekiah1 a ,josiah--refreshing and blessed exceptions to the dark and dismal rule4 ,but even men like these failed to eradicate from the heart of the nation the pernicious root of idolatry4 ,even amid the unexampled splendors of ,solomon's reign1 that root sent forth its bitter shoots1 in the monstrous form of high places to ,ashtaroth1 the goddess of the ,zidonians2 ,milcom1 the abomination of the ,ammonites2 and ,chemosh1 the abomination of ,moab4 ,reader1 only think of this4 ,pause for a moment1 and contemplate the astounding fact of the writer of the ,canticles1 ,ecclesiastes1 and ,proverbs bowing at the shrine of ,molech6 ,only conceive1 the wisest1 the wealthiest1 and the most glorious of ,israel's monarchs burning incense and offering sacrifices upon the altar of ,chemosh6 ,truly1 there is something here for us to ponder4 ,it was written for our learning4 ,the reign of ,solomon affords one of the most striking and impressive evidences of the fact which is just now engaging our attention1 namely1 ,israel's complete and hopeless apostasy from the grand truth of the unity of the ,godhead--their unconquerable spirit of idolatry4 ,the truth which they were specially called out to hold and confess was the very truth which they first of all and most persistently abandoned4 ,we shall not pursue the dark line of evidence further1 neither shall we dwell upon the appalling picture of the nation's judgment in consequence of their idolatry4 ,they are now in the condition of which the prophet ,hosea speaks--,the children of ,israel shall abide many days without a king1 and without a prince1 and without a sacrifice1 and without an image1 and without an ephod1 and without teraphim4 ,the unclean spirit of idolatry has gone out of them1 during these many days1 to return1 by and by1 with seven other spirits more wicked than himself--the very perfection of spiritual wickedness4 ,and then will come days of unparalleled tribulation upon that long misguided and deeply revolted people--the time of ,jacob's trouble4 ,but deliverance will come1 blessed be ,god6 ,bright days are in store for the restored nation--days of heaven upon earth--as the same prophet ,hosea tells us1 ,afterward shall the children of ,israel return1 and seek the ,lord their ,god1 and ,david their king2 and shall fear the ,lord and ,his goodness in the latter days4 ,all the promises of ,god to ,abraham1 ,isaac1 ,jacob1 and ,david shall be blessedly accomplished2 all the brilliant predictions of the prophets1 from ,isaiah to ,malachi1 shall be gloriously fulfilled4 ,yes1 both promises and prophecies shall be literally and gloriously made good to restored ,israel1 in the land of ,canaan2 for the ,scripture cannot be broken4 ,the long1 dark1 dreary night shall be followed by the brightest day that has ever shone upon this earth2 the daughter of ,zion shall bask in the bright and blessed beams of the ,sun of ,righteousness2 and the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the ,lord as the waters cover the sea4 ,it would indeed be a most delightful exercise to reproduce upon the pages of this volume those glowing passages from the prophets which speak of ,israel's future2 but this we cannot attempt2 it is not needful2 and we have a duty to fulfill which1 if not so pleasing to us or so refreshing to the reader1 will1 we earnestly hope1 prove not less profitable4 ,the duty is this3 to press upon the attention of the reader 7and upon the attention of the whole ,church of ,god7 the practical application of that solemn fact in ,israel's history on which we have dwelt at such length--the fact of their having so speedily and so completely given up the great truth set forth in ,deuteronomy vi4 #d1 ,hear1 ,o ,israel2 the ,lord our ,god is one ,lord4 ,we may perhaps be asked1 ,what bearing can this fact have upon the ,church of ,god8 ,we believe it has a most solemn bearing2 and further1 we believe we should be guilty of a very culpable shirking of our duty to ,christ and to ,his ,church if we failed to point it out4 ,we know that all the great facts of ,israel's history are full of instruction1 full of admonition1 full of warning1 for us4 ,it is our business1 our bounden duty1 to see that we profit by them--to take heed that we study them aright4 ,now1 in contemplating the history of the ,church of ,god as a public witness for ,christ on the earth1 we find that hardly had it been set up1 in all the fullness of blessing and privilege which marked the opening of its career1 ere it began to slip away from those very truths which it was specially responsible to maintain and confess4 ,like ,adam in the garden of ,eden2 like ,noah in the restored earth2 like ,israel in ,canaan2 so the ,church1 as the responsible steward of the mysteries of ,god1 was no sooner set in its place than it began to totter and fall4 ,it almost immediately began to give up those grand truths which were characteristic of its very existence1 and which were to mark off ,christianity from all that had gone before4 ,even under the eyes of the apostles of our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ1 errors and evils had begun to work which sapped the very foundations of the ,church's testimony4 ,are we asked for proofs8 ,alas6 we have them in melancholy abundance4 ,hear the words of that blessed apostle who shed more tears and heaved more sighs over the ruins of the ,church than any man that ever lived4 ,i marvel1 he says1 and well he might1 that ye are so soon removed from ,him that called you into the grace of ,christ1 unto another gospel3 which is not another4 ,o foolish ,galatians1 who hath bewitched you1 that ye should not obey the truth1 before whose eyes ,jesus ,christ hath been evidently set forth1 crucified among you8 ,howbeit then1 when ye knew not ,god1 ye did service to them which by nature are no gods4 ,but now1 after that ye have known ,god1 or rather are known of ,god1 how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements1 whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage8 ,ye observe days and months and times and years2 ,christian festivals1 so called1 very imposing and gratifying to religious nature2 but1 in the judgment of the apostle1 the judgment of the ,holy ,ghost1 it was simply giving up ,christianity and going back to the worship of idols4 ,i am afraid of you--and no wonder1 when they could thus so speedily turn away from the grand characteristic truths of a heavenly ,christianity1 and occupy themselves with superstitious observances4 ,i am afraid of you1 lest ,i have bestowed upon you labor in vain4 ,ye did run well2 who did hinder you1 that ye should not obey the truth8 ,this persuasion cometh not of ,him that calleth you4 ,a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump4 ,and all this in the apostle's own day4 ,the departure was even more rapid than in ,israel's case2 for they served the ,lord all the days of ,joshua1 and all the days of the elders that outlived ,joshua2 but in the ,church's sad and humiliating history1 the enemy succeeded almost immediately in introducing leaven into the meal1 tares among the wheat4 ,ere the apostles themselves had left the scene1 seed was sown which has been bearing its pernicious fruit ever since1 and shall continue to bear till angelic reapers clear the field4 ,but we must give further proof from ,scripture4 ,let us hearken to the same inspired witness1 near the close of his ministry1 pouring out his heart to his beloved son ,timothy1 in accents at once pathetic and solemn4 ,this thou knowest1 that all they which are in ,asia be turned away from me4 ,again1 ,preach the ,word2 be instant in season1 out of season2 reprove1 rebuke1 exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine4 ,for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine2 but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers1 having itching ears2 and they shall turn away their ears from the truth1 and shall be turned unto fables4 ,here is the testimony of the man who1 as a wise master-builder1 had laid the foundation of the ,church4 ,and what was his own personal experience8 ,he was1 like his blessed ,master1 left alone1 deserted by those who had once gathered around him in the freshness1 bloom1 and ardor of early days4 ,his large loving heart was broken by ,judaizing teachers1 who sought to overturn the very foundations of ,christianity1 and to overthrow the faith of ,god's elect4 ,he wept over the ways of many who1 while they made a profession1 were nevertheless the enemies of the cross of ,christ4 ,in a word1 the apostle ,paul1 as he looked forth from his prison at ,rome1 saw the hopeless wreck and ruin of the professing body4 ,he saw that it would happen to that body as it had happened to the ship in which he had made his last voyage--a voyage strikingly significant and illustrative of the ,church's sad history in this world4 ,but here let us just remind the reader that we are dealing now only with the question of the ,church as a responsible witness for ,christ on the earth4 ,this must be distinctly seen1 else we shall greatly err in our thoughts on the subject4 ,we must accurately distinguish between the ,church as the body of ,christ1 and as ,his light-bearer or witness in the world4 ,in the former character1 failure is impossible2 in the latter1 the ruin is complete and hopeless4 ,the ,church as the body of ,christ1 united to her living and glorified ,head in the heavens1 by the presence and indwelling of the ,holy ,ghost1 can never1 by any possibility1 fail--never be smashed to pieces1 like ,paul's ship1 by the storms and billows of this hostile world4 ,it is as safe as ,christ ,himself4 ,the ,head and the body are one--indissolubly one4 ,no power of earth or hell--men or devils can ever touch the feeblest and most obscure member of that blessed body4 ,all stand before ,god1 all are under ,his gracious eye1 in the fullness1 beauty1 and acceptability of ,christ ,himself4 ,as is the ,head1 so are the members--all the members together--each member in particular4 ,all stand in the full eternal results of ,christ's finished work on the cross4 ,there is1 there can be1 no question of responsibility here4 ,the ,head made ,himself responsible for the members4 ,he perfectly met every claim1 and discharged every liability4 ,nothing remains but love--love1 deep as the heart of ,christ1 perfect as ,his work1 unchanging as ,his throne4 ,every question that could possibly be raised against any one or all of the members of the ,church of ,god was raised1 gone into1 and definitively settled1 between ,god and ,his ,christ1 on the cross4 ,all the sins1 all the iniquities1 all the transgressions1 all the guilt1 of each member in particular1 and all the members together--yes1 all1 in the fullest and most absolute way1 was laid on ,christ and borne by ,him4 ,god1 in ,his inflexible justice1 in ,his infinite holiness1 in ,his eternal righteousness1 dealt with every thing that could ever1 in any possible manner1 stand in the way of the full salvation1 perfect blessedness1 and everlasting glory of every one of the members of the body of ,christ--the assembly of ,god4 ,every member of the body is permeated by the life of the ,head2 every stone in the building is animated by the life of the ,chief ,corner-,stone4 ,all are bound together in the power of a bond which can never--no1 never be dissolved4 ,and furthermore1 let it be distinctly understood that the unity of the body of ,christ is absolutely indissoluble4 ,this is a cardinal point which must be tenaciously held and faithfully confessed4 ,but obviously it cannot be held and confessed unless it is understood and believed2 and1 judging from the expressions which one sometimes hears in speaking on the subject1 it is very questionable indeed if people so expressing themselves have ever grasped in a divine way the glorious truth of the unity of the body of ,christ--a unity maintained on earth by the indwelling of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,thus1 for example1 we sometimes hear people speak of rending the body of ,christ4 ,it is a complete mistake4 ,such a thing is utterly impossible4 ,the ,reformers were accused of rending the body of ,christ when they turned their backs upon the ,romish system4 ,what a gross misconception6 ,it simply amounted to the monstrous assumption that a vast mass of moral evil1 doctrinal error1 ecclesiastical corruption1 and debasing superstition was to be owned as the body of ,christ6 ,how could any one with the ,new ,testament in his hand regard the so-called church of ,rome1 with its numberless and nameless abominations1 as the body of ,christ8 ,how could any one possessing the very faintest idea of the true ,church of ,god ever think of bestowing that title upon the darkest mass of wickedness1 the greatest masterpiece of ,satan the world has ever beheld8 ,no1 reader2 we must never confound the ecclesiastical systems of this world--ancient1 medieval1 or modern2 ,greek1 ,latin1 ,anglican2 national or popular1 established or dissenting--with the true ,church of ,god1 the body of ,christ4 ,there is not1 beneath the canopy of heaven1 this day1 nor ever was1 a religious system1 call it what you please1 possessing the very smallest claim to be called the ,church of ,god1 or the body of ,christ4 ,and1 as a consequence1 it can never be rightly or intelligently called schism1 or rending the body of ,christ1 to separate from such systems2 nay1 on the contrary1 it is the bounden duty of every one who would faithfully maintain and confess the truth of the unity of the body to separate1 with the most unqualified decision1 from every thing falsely calling itself a church4 ,it can only be viewed as schism to separate from those who are unmistakably and unquestionably gathered on the ground of the assembly of ,god4 ,no body of ,christians can now lay claim to the title of the body of ,christ1 or ,church of ,god4 ,the members of that body are scattered every where2 they are to be found in all the various religious organizations of the day1 save such as deny the deity of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,we cannot admit the idea that any true ,christian could continue to frequent a place where his ,lord is blasphemed4 ,but although no body of ,christians can lay claim to the title of the assembly of ,god1 all ,christians are responsible to be gathered on the ground of that assembly1 and on no other4 ,and if we be asked1 ,how are we to know--where are we to find this ground8 ,we reply1 ,if thine eye be single1 thy whole body shall be full of light4 ,if any man will do ,his will1 he shall know of the doctrine4 ,there is a path 7thanks be to ,god for it67 though no fowl knoweth1 and the vulture's eye hath not seen it4 ,the lion's whelps have not trodden it1 nor the fierce lion passed by it4 ,nature's keenest vision cannot see this path1 nor its greatest strength tread it4 ,where is it1 then8 ,here it is3 ,unto man--to the reader and to the writer1 to each1 to all--,he said1 ',behold1 the fear of the ,lord1 that is wisdom2 and to depart from evil is understanding4' 7,job xxviii47 ,but there is another expression which we not unfrequently hear from persons from whom we might expect more intelligence1 namely1 ,cutting off the members of the body of ,christ4#bb ,this1 too1 blessed be ,god1 is impossible4 ,not a single member of the body of ,christ can ever be severed from the ,head1 or ever disturbed from the place into which he has been incorporated by the ,holy ,ghost1 in pursuance of the eternal purpose of ,god1 and in virtue of the accomplished atonement of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,the divine ,three in ,one are pledged for the eternal security of the very feeblest member of the body1 and for the maintenance of the indissoluble unity of the whole4 #bb ,the expression1 ,cutting off the members of ,christ's body is generally applied in cases of discipline2 but it is quite a misapplication4 ,the discipline of the assembly can never touch the unity of the body4 ,a member of the body may so fail in morals or err in doctrine as to call for the action of the assembly in putting him away from the table1 but that has nothing to do with his place in the body4 ,the two things are perfectly distinct4 ,in a word1 then1 it is as true to-day as it was when the inspired apostle penned the fourth chapter of his epistle to the ,ephesians1 that there is one body1 of which ,christ is ,head1 of which the ,holy ,ghost is the formative power1 and of which all true believers are members4 ,this body has been on earth since the day of ,pentecost1 is on earth now1 and shall continue on earth until that moment1 so rapidly approaching1 when ,christ shall come and take it to ,his ,father's house4 ,it is the same body1 with a continual succession of members1 just as we speak of a certain regiment of her majesty's army having been at ,waterloo1 and now quartered at ,aldershot1 though not a man in the regiment of to-day appeared at the memorable battle of #ahae4 ,does the reader feel any difficulty as to all this8 ,it may be that he finds it hard1 in the present broken and scattered condition of the members1 to believe and confess the unbroken unity of the whole4 ,he may feel disposed1 perhaps1 to limit the application of ,ephesians iv4 #d to the day in which the apostle penned the words1 when ,christians were manifestly one1 and when there was no such thing thought of as being a member of this church or a member of that church1 because all believers were members of the one ,church4#bc #bc ,the unity of the ,church may be compared to a chain thrown across a river2 we see it at each side1 but it dips in the middle4 ,but though it dips1 it is not broken2 though we do not see the union in the middle1 we believe it is there all the same4 ,the ,church was seen in its unity on the day of ,pentecost1 and it will be seen in its unity in the glory2 and although we do not see it now1 we nevertheless believe it most surely4 ,and be it remembered that the unity of the body is a great practical1 formative truth2 and one very weighty practical deduction from it is that the state and walk of each member affect the whole body4 ,if one member suffer1 all the members suffer with it4 ,a member of what8 ,some local assembly8 ,nay2 but a member of the body4 ,we must not make the body of ,christ a matter of geography4 ,but1 we may be asked1 are we affected by what we do not see or know8 ,assuredly4 ,are we to limit the grand truth of the unity of the body1 with all its practical consequences1 to the measure of our personal knowledge and experience8 ,far be the thought4 ,it is the presence of the ,holy ,ghost that unites the members of the body to the ,head and to one another2 and hence it is that the walk and ways of each affect all4 ,even in ,israel's case1 where it was not a corporate but a national unity1 when ,achan sinned1 it was said1 ,israel hath sinned2 and the whole congregation suffered a humiliating defeat on account of a sin of which they were ignorant4 ,it is perfectly marvelous how little the ,lord's people seem to understand the glorious truth of the unity of the body1 and the practical consequences flowing from it4 ,in reply1 we must protest against the very idea of limiting the ,word of ,god4 ,what possible right have we to single out one clause from ,ephesians iv4 #d-f1 and say it only applied to the days of the apostles8 ,if one clause is to be so limited1 why not all8 ,are there not still one ,spirit1 one ,lord1 one faith1 one baptism1 one ,god and ,father of all8 ,will any question this8 ,surely not4 ,well1 then1 it follows that there is as surely one body as there is one ,spirit1 one ,lord1 one ,god4 ,all are intimately bound up together1 and you cannot touch one without touching all4 ,we have no more right to deny the existence of the one body than we have to deny the existence of ,god1 inasmuch as the self-same passage that declares to us the one declares to us the other also4 ,but some will doubtless inquire1 ,where is this one body to be seen8 ,is it not an absurdity to speak of such a thing1 in the face of the almost numberless denominations of christendom8 ,our answer is this3 ,we are not going to surrender the truth of ,god because man has so signally failed to carry it out4 ,did not ,israel utterly fail to maintain1 confess1 and carry out the truth of the unity of the ,godhead8 and was that glorious truth1 in the smallest degree1 touched by their failure8 ,was it not as true that there was one ,god1 though there were as many idolatrous altars as streets in ,jerusalem1 and every housetop sent up a cloud of incense to the queen of heaven1 as when ,moses sounded forth1 in the ears of the whole congregation1 those sublime words1 ,hear1 ,o ,israel1 the ,lord our ,god is one ,lord8 ,blessed be ,god1 ,his truth does not depend upon the faithless1 foolish ways of men4 ,it stands in its own divine integrity2 it shines in its own heavenly1 undimmed lustre1 spite of the grossest human failure4 ,were it not so1 what should we do8 whither should we turn8 or what would become of us8 ,in fact1 it comes to this3 if we were only to believe the measure of truth which we see practically carried out in the ways of men1 we might give up in despair1 and be of all men most miserable4 ,but how is the truth of the one body to be practically carried out8 ,by refusing to own any other principle of ,christian fellowship--any other ground of meeting4 ,all true believers should meet on the simple ground of membership of the body of ,christ1 and on no other4 ,they should assemble1 on the first day of the week1 around the ,lord's table1 and break bread1 as members of the one body1 as we read in #a ,corinthians x1 ,for we1 being many1 are one loaf1 one body2 for we are all partakers of that one loaf4 ,this is as true and as practical to-day as it was when the apostle addressed the assembly at ,corinth4 ,true1 there were divisions at ,corinth as there are divisions in christendom2 but that did not in any wise touch the truth of ,god4 ,the apostle rebuked the divisions--pronounced them carnal4 ,he had no sympathy with the poor1 low idea which one sometimes hears advocated1 that divisions are good things1 as superinducing emulation4 ,he believed they were very bad things--the fruit of the flesh1 the work of ,satan4 ,neither1 we feel persuaded1 would the apostle have accepted the popular illustration that divisions in the ,church are like so many regiments1 with different facings1 all fighting under the same commander-in-chief4 ,it would not hold good for a moment2 indeed1 it has no application whatever1 but rather gives a flat contradiction to that distinct and emphatic statement1 ,there is one body4 ,reader1 this is a most glorious truth4 ,let us ponder it deeply4 ,let us look at christendom in the light of it4 ,let us judge our own position and ways by it4 ,are we acting on it8 ,do we give expression to it1 at the ,lord's table1 every ,lord's day8 ,be assured it is our sacred duty and high privilege so to do4 ,say not there are difficulties of all sorts1 many stumbling-blocks in the way1 much to dishearten us in the conduct of those who profess to meet on this very ground of which we speak4 ,all this is1 alas6 but too true4 ,we must be quite prepared for it4 ,the devil will leave no stone unturned to cast dust in our eyes1 so that we may not see ,god's blessed way for ,his people4 ,but we must not give heed to his suggestions or be snared by his devices4 ,there always have been1 and there always will be difficulties in the way of carrying out the precious truth of ,god2 and perhaps one of the greatest difficulties is found in the inconsistent conduct of those who profess to act upon it4 ,but then we must ever distinguish between the truth and those who profess it--between the ground and the conduct of those who occupy it4 ,of course1 they ought to harmonize1 but they do not2 and hence we are imperatively called to judge the conduct by the ground1 not the ground by the conduct4 ,if we saw a man farming on a principle which we knew to be thoroughly sound1 but he was a bad farmer1 what should we do8 ,of course1 we should reject his mode of working1 but hold the principle all the same4 ,not otherwise is it in reference to the truth now before us4 ,there were heresies at ,corinth1 schisms1 errors1 evils of all sorts4 ,what then8 ,was the truth of ,god to be surrendered as a myth1 as something wholly impracticable8 was it all to be given up8 ,were the ,corinthians to meet on some other principle8 were they to organize themselves on some new ground8 were they to gather around some fresh centre8 ,no1 thank ,god6 ,his truth was not to be surrendered for a moment1 although ,corinth was split up into ten thousand sects1 and its horizon darkened by ten thousand heresies4 ,the body of ,christ is one2 and the apostle simply displays in their view the banner with this blessed inscription3 ,ye are the body of ,christ1 and members in particular4 ,now1 these words were addressed1 not merely unto the church at ,corinth1 but also to all that in every place call upon the name of ,jesus ,christ our ,lord1 both theirs and ours4 ,hence1 the truth of the one body is abiding and universal4 ,every true ,christian is bound to recognize it and to act on it1 and every assembly of ,christians1 wherever convened1 should be the local expression of this grand and all-important truth4 ,some might perhaps feel disposed to ask how it could be said to any one assembly1 ,ye are the body of ,christ4 ,were there not saints at ,ephesus1 ,colosse1 and ,philippi8 ,no doubt2 and had the apostle been addressing them on the same subject1 he could have said to them likewise1 ,ye are the body of ,christ1 inasmuch as they were the local expression of the body2 and not only so1 but1 in addressing them1 he had before his mind all saints1 to the end of the ,church's earthly career4 ,but we must bear in mind that the apostle could not possibly address such words to any human organization1 ancient or modern4 ,no2 nor if all such organizations1 call them what you please1 were amalgamated into one1 could he speak of it as the body of ,christ4 ,that body1 let it be distinctly understood1 consists of all true believers on the face of the earth4 ,that they are not gathered on that only divine ground1 is their serious loss and their ,lord's dishonor4 ,the precious truth holds good all the same--,there is one body1 and this is the divine standard by which to measure every ecclesiastical association and every religious system under the sun4 ,we deem it needful to go somewhat fully into the divine side of the question of the ,church1 in order to guard the truth of ,god from the results of misapprehension1 and also that the reader may clearly understand that in speaking of the utter failure and ruin of the ,church1 we are looking at the human side of the subject4 ,to this latter we must return for a moment4 ,it is impossible to read the ,new ,testament with a calm and unprejudiced mind and not see that the ,church as a responsible witness for ,christ on the earth has most signally and shamefully failed4 ,to quote all the passages in proof of this statement would literally fill a small volume2 but let us glance at the second and third chapters of the book of ,revelation1 where the ,church is seen under judgment4 ,we have1 in these solemn chapters1 what we may call a divine ,church-history4 ,seven assemblies are taken up1 as illustrative of the various phases of the ,church's history1 from the day in which it was set up1 in responsibility1 on the earth1 until it shall be spued out of the ,lord's mouth1 as something utterly intolerable4 ,if we do not see that these two chapters are prophetic1 as well as historic1 we shall deprive ourselves of a vast field of most valuable instruction4 ,for ourselves1 we can only assure the reader that no human language could adequately set forth what we have gathered from ,revelation ii4 and iii41 in their prophetic aspect4 ,however1 we are only referring to them now as the last of a series of ,scripture proofs of our present thesis4 ,take the address to ,ephesus1 the self-same church to which the apostle ,paul wrote his marvelous epistle1 opening up so blessedly the heavenly side of things1 ,god's eternal purpose respecting the ,church--the position and portion of the ,church1 as accepted in ,christ and blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in ,him4 ,no failure here2 no thought of such a thing2 no possibility of it4 ,all is in ,god's hands here4 ,the counsel is ,his2 the work ,his4 ,it is ,his grace1 ,his glory1 ,his mighty power1 ,his good pleasure2 and all founded upon the blood of ,christ4 ,there is no question of responsibility here4 ,the ,church was dead in trespasses and sins2 but ,christ died for her2 ,he placed ,himself judicially where she was morally2 and ,god1 in ,his sovereign grace1 entered the scene and raised up ,christ from the dead1 and the ,church in ,him4 ,glorious fact6 ,here all is sure and settled4 ,it is the ,church in the heavenlies in ,christ1 not the ,church on earth for ,christ1--it is the body accepted1 not the candlestick judged4 ,if we do not see both sides of this great question1 we have much to learn4 ,but there is the earthly side as well as the heavenly--the human as well as the divine--the candlestick as well as the body4 ,hence it is that in the judicial address in ,revelation ii4 we read such solemn words as these3 ,i have against thee1 that thou hast left thy first love4 ,how very distinct6 ,nothing like this in ,ephesians2 nothing against the body1 nothing against the bride2 but there is something against the candlestick4 ,the light had even already become dim4 ,hardly had it been lighted ere the snuffers were needed4 ,thus1 at the very outset1 symptoms of decline showed themselves1 unmistakably1 to the penetrating eye of ,him who walked amongst the seven golden candlesticks2 and when we reach the close1 and contemplate the last phase of the ,church's condition--the last stage of its earthly history1 as illustrated by the assembly at ,laodicea--there is not a single redeeming feature4 ,the case is almost hopeless4 ,the ,lord is outside the door4--,behold1 ,i stand at the door1 and knock4 ,it is not here as at ,ephesus1 ,i have somewhat against thee4 ,the whole condition is bad4 ,the whole professing body is about to be given up4--,i will spue thee out of ,my mouth4 ,he still lingers1 blessed be ,his name1 for ,he is ever slow to leave the place of mercy1 or enter the place of judgment4 ,it reminds us of the departure of the glory1 in the opening of ,ezekiel4 ,it moved with a slow and measured pace1 loth to leave the house1 the people1 and the land4 ,then the glory of the ,lord went up from the cherub1 and stood over the threshold of the house2 and the house was filled with the cloud1 and the court was full of the brightness of the ,lord's glory4 ,then the glory of the ,lord departed from off the threshold of the house1 and stood over the cherubim4 ,and finally1 the glory of the ,lord went up from the midst of the city1 and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city4 7,ezek4 x4 #d1 #ah2 xi4 #bc47 ,this is deeply affecting4 ,how striking the contrast between this slow departure of the glory and its speedy entrance1 in the day of ,solomon's dedication of the house in #b ,chronicles vii4 #a4 ,jehovah was quick to enter ,his abode in the midst of ,his people2 slow to leave it4 ,he was1 to speak after the manner of men1 forced away by the sins and hopeless impenitence of ,his infatuated people4 ,so also with the ,church4 ,we see in the second of ,acts ,his rapid entrance into ,his spiritual house4 ,he came like a rushing mighty wind to fill the house with ,his glory4 ,but in the third of ,revelation1 see ,his attitude3 ,he is outside4 ,yes2 but ,he is knocking4 ,he lingers1 not indeed with any hope of corporate restoration1 but if haply any man would hear ,his voice and open the door4 ,the fact of ,his being outside shows what the church is4 ,the fact of ,his knocking shows what ,he is4 ,christian reader1 see that you thoroughly understand this whole subject3 it is of the very last importance that you should4 ,we are surrounded on all sides with false notions as to the present condition and future destiny of the professing church4 ,we must fling these all behind our backs1 with holy decision1 and listen1 with circumcised ear and reverent mind1 to the teaching of holy ,scripture4 ,that teaching is as clear as noonday4 ,the professing church is a hopeless ruin1 and judgment is at the door4 ,read the epistle of ,jude2 read #b ,peter ii4 and iii42 read #b ,timothy4 ,just lay aside this volume and look closely into those solemn scriptures1 and we feel persuaded you will rise from the study with the deep and thorough conviction that there is nothing whatever before christendom but the unmitigated wrath of ,almighty ,god4 ,its doom is set forth in that brief but solemn sentence in ,romans xi41 ,thou also shalt be cut off4 ,yes2 such is the language of ,scripture4--,cut off--spued out4 ,the professing church has utterly failed as ,christ's witness on the earth4 ,as with ,israel1 so with the ,church1 the very truth which she was responsible to maintain and confess1 she had faithlessly surrendered4 ,hardly had the canon of ,new-,testament scripture closed1 hardly had the first set of laborers left the field1 ere gross darkness set in1 and settled down upon the whole professing body4 ,turn where you will1 range through the ponderous tomes of the fathers1 as they are called1 and you will not find a trace of those grand characteristic truths of our glorious ,christianity4 ,all1 all was shamefully abandoned4 ,as ,israel in ,canaan abandoned ,jehovah for ,baal and ,ashtaroth1 so the ,church abandoned the pure and precious truth of ,god for puerile fables and deadly errors4 ,the rapid departure is perfectly astounding2 but it was just as the apostle ,paul forewarned the elders of ,ephesus4--,take heed therefore unto yourselves1 and to all the flock1 over the which the ,holy ,ghost hath made you overseers1 to feed the ,church of ,god1 which ,he hath purchased with ,his own blood4 ,for ,i know this1 that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you1 not sparing the flock4 ,also from among your own selves shall men arise1 speaking perverse things1 to draw away disciples after them4 7,acts xx47 ,how truly deplorable6 ,the holy apostles of our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ almost immediately succeeded by grievous wolves and teachers of perverse things2 the whole ,church plunged into thick darkness2 the lamp of divine revelation almost hidden from view2 ecclesiastical corruption in every form2 priestly domination with all its terrible accompaniments4 ,in short1 the history of the ,church--the history of christendom is the most appalling record ever penned4 ,true it is1 thanks be to ,god1 ,he left not ,himself without a witness4 ,here and there1 from time to time1 just as in ,israel of old1 ,he raised up one and another to speak for ,him4 ,even amid the deepest gloom of the middle ages1 an occasional star appears upon the horizon4 ,the ,waldenses and others were enabled1 by the grace of ,god1 to hold fast ,his ,word and to confess the name of ,jesus in the face of ,rome's dark and terrible tyranny1 and diabolical cruelty4 ,then came that gracious season1 in the sixteenth century1 when ,god raised up ,luther and his beloved and honored fellow-laborers to preach the great truth of justification by faith1 and to give the precious volume of ,god to the people1 in their own tongue wherein they were born4 ,it is not within the compass of human language to set forth the blessing of that memorable time4 ,thousands heard the glad tidings of salvation--heard1 believed1 and were saved4 ,thousands1 who had long groaned beneath the intolerable weight of ,romish superstition1 hailed1 with profound thankfulness1 the heavenly message4 ,thousands flocked1 with intense delight1 to draw water from those wells of inspiration which had been stopped for ages by papal ignorance and intolerance4 ,the blessed lamp of divine revelation1 so long hidden by the enemy's hand1 was permitted to cast its rays athwart the gloom1 and thousands rejoiced in its heavenly light4 ,but while we heartily bless ,god for all the glorious results of what is commonly called the reformation1 in the sixteenth century1 we should make a very grave mistake indeed were we to imagine that it was any thing approaching to a restoration of the ,church to its original condition4 ,far--very far from it4 ,luther and his companions1 if we are to judge from their writings--precious writings1 many of them--never grasped the divine idea of the ,church as the body of ,christ4 ,they did not understand the unity of the body2 the presence of the ,holy ,ghost in the assembly1 as well as ,his indwelling in the individual believer2 they never reached the grand truth of ministry in the ,church1 its nature1 source1 power1 and responsibility2 they never got beyond the idea of human authority as the basis of ministry2 they were silent as to the specific hope of the ,church1 namely1 the coming of ,christ for ,his people--the bright and morning ,star2 they failed to seize the proper scope of prophecy1 and proved themselves incompetent rightly to divide the word of truth4 ,let us not be misunderstood4 ,we love the memory of the reformers4 ,their names are familiar household words amongst us4 ,they were dear1 devoted1 earnest1 blessed servants of ,christ4 ,would that we had their like amongst us in this day of revived popery and rampant infidelity4 ,we would yield to none in our love and esteem for ,luther1 ,melanchthon1 ,farel1 ,latimer1 and ,knox4 ,they were truly bright and shining lights in their day2 and thousands--yea1 millions will thank ,god throughout eternity that they ever lived and preached and wrote4 ,and not only so1 but1 looked at in their private life and public ministry1 they put to shame many of those who have been favored with a range of truth for which we look in vain in the voluminous writings of the reformers4 ,but1 admitting all this1 as we most freely and gratefully do1 we are nevertheless convinced that those beloved and honored servants of ,christ failed to seize1 and therefore failed to preach and teach1 many of the special and characteristic truths of ,christianity2 at least1 we have failed to find these truths in their writings4 ,they preached the precious truth of justification by faith2 they gave the holy ,scriptures to the people2 they trampled under foot much of the rubbish of ,romish superstition4 ,all this they did1 by the grace of ,god1 and for all this we bow our heads in deep thankfulness and praise to the ,father of mercies4 ,but ,protestantism is not ,christianity2 nor are the so-called churches of the reformation1 whether national or dissenting1 the ,church of ,god4 ,far from it4 ,we look back over the course of eighteen centuries1 and spite of the occasional revivals1 spite of the brilliant lights which at various times have shone upon the ,church's horizon--lights which appeared all the brighter in contrast with the deep gloom that surrounded them--spite of the many gracious visitations of ,god's ,spirit1 both in ,europe and ,america1 during the past and present century--spite of all these things1 for which we most heartily bless ,god1 we return with decision to the statement already advanced1 that the professing church is a hopeless wreck2 that christendom is rapidly hastening down the inclined plane1 to the blackness of darkness forever2 that those highly favored lands1 where much evangelical truth has been preached1 where ,bibles have been circulated in millions1 and gospel tracts in billions1 shall yet be covered with thick darkness--given over to strong delusion to believe a lie4 ,and then8--ah1 what then8 ,a converted world8 ,nay1 but a judged church4 ,the true saints of ,god1 scattered throughout christendom--all the true members of the body of ,christ1 will be caught up to meet their coming ,lord--the dead saints raised1 the living changed1 in a moment1 and all taken up together to be forever with the ,lord4 ,then the mystery will rise to a head in the person of the man of sin--the lawless one1 the ,antichrist4 ,the ,lord ,jesus shall come1 and all ,his saints with ,him1 to execute judgment on the beast1 or revived ,roman empire1 and the false prophet1 or ,antichrist--the former in the west1 the latter in the east4 ,this will be a summary act of direct warrior judgment1 without any judicial process whatever1 inasmuch as both the beast and false prophet shall be found in open rebellion and blasphemous opposition to ,god and the ,lamb4 ,then comes the sessional judgment of the living nations1 as recorded in ,matthew xxv4 #ca-df4 ,thus1 all evil having been put down1 ,christ shall reign1 in righteousness and peace1 for a thousand years4 ,a bright and blessed time6 the true ,sabbath for ,israel and the whole earth--a period marked by the grand facts1 ,satan bound and ,christ reigning4 ,glorious facts6 ,the very reference to them causes the heart to overflow in praise and thanksgiving4 ,what will the reality be8 ,but ,satan shall be loosed from his thousand years' captivity1 and allowed to make one more effort against ,god and ,his ,christ4--,and when the thousand years are expired1 ,satan shall be loosed out of his prison1 and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth1 ,gog and ,magog1 to gather them together to battle1 the number of whom is as the sand of the sea4#bd ,and they went up on the breadth of the earth1 and compassed the camp of the saints about1 and the beloved city2 and fire came down from ,god out of heaven1 and devoured them4 ,and the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone1 where the beast and the false prophet are1 and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever4 7,rev4 xx4 #g-aj47 #bd ,the reader must distinguish between the ,gog and ,magog of ,revelation xx4 and those of ,ezekiel xxxviii4 and xxxix4 ,the former are post-millennial2 the latter1 pre-millennial4 ,this will be ,satan's last effort1 issuing in his eternal perdition4 ,then we have the judgment of the dead1 small and great--the sessional judgment of all those who shall have died in their sins1 from the days of ,cain down to the last apostate from millennial glory4 ,tremendous scene6 ,no heart can conceive1 no tongue--no pen set forth1 its awful solemnity4 ,finally1 we have unfolded to the vision of our souls the everlasting state--the new heaven and the new earth wherein righteousness shall dwell1 throughout the golden ages of eternity4 ,such is the order of events as set forth1 with all possible clearness1 on the page of inspiration4 ,we have given a brief summary of them in connection with the line of truth on which we have been dwelling--a line1 as we are fully aware1 by no means popular2 but we dare not withhold it on that account4 ,our business is to declare the whole counsel of ,god1 not to seek popularity4 ,we do not expect the truth of ,god to be popular in christendom2 so far from this1 we have been seeking to prove that just as ,israel abandoned the truth which they were responsible to maintain1 so the professing church has let slip all those great truths which characterize the ,christianity of the ,new ,testament4 ,and we may assure the reader that our one object in pursuing this line of argument is to arouse the hearts of all true ,christians to a sense of the value of those truths1 and of their responsibility1 not only to receive them1 but to seek a fuller realization and a bolder confession of them4 ,we long to see a band of men raised up1 in these closing hours of the ,church's earthly history1 who shall go forth1 in true spiritual power1 and proclaim1 with unction and energy1 the long-forgotten truths of the gospel of ,god4 ,may ,god1 in ,his great mercy to ,his people1 raise up such and send them forth4 ,may the ,lord ,jesus knock louder and louder at the door1 so that many may hear and open to ,him1 according to the desire of ,his loving heart1 and taste the blessedness of deep personal communion with ,himself1 while waiting for ,his coming4 ,blessed be ,god1 there is no limit whatever to the blessing of the individual soul who hears ,christ's voice and opens the door2 and what is true of one is true of hundreds or thousands4 ,only let us be real and simple and true1 feeling and owning our utter feebleness and nothingness1 laying aside all assumption and empty pretension1 not seeking to be any thing or to set up any thing1 but holding fast ,christ's word and not denying ,his name1 finding our happy place at ,his feet1 our satisfying portion in ,himself1 and our real delight in serving ,him in any little way4 ,thus we shall get on harmoniously1 lovingly1 and happily together1 finding our common centre in ,christ1 and our common object in seeking to further ,his cause and promote ,his glory4 ,o that it were thus with all the ,lord's beloved people in this our day6 we should then have a very different tale to tell1 and present a very different aspect to the world around4 ,may the ,lord revive ,his work4 ,it may perhaps seem to the reader that we have wandered a long way from the sixth chapter of ,deuteronomy2 but we must remind him1 once for all1 that it is not merely what each chapter contains that demands our attention1 but also what it suggests4 ,and further1 we may add that1 in sitting down to write1 from time to time1 it is our one desire to be led by ,god's ,spirit into the very line of truth which may be suited to the need of all our readers4 ,if only the beloved flock of ,christ be fed1 instructed1 and comforted1 we care not whether it be by well-connected notes or broken fragments4 99 99 99 99 99 ,we shall now proceed with our chapter4 ,moses having laid down the grand foundation-truth contained in the fourth verse--,hear1 ,o ,israel2 the ,lord our ,god is one ,lord1 proceeds to press upon the congregation their sacred duty in respect to this blessed ,one4 ,it was not merely that there was a ,god1 but ,he was their ,god4 ,he had deigned to link ,himself with them1 in covenant-relationship4 ,he had redeemed them1 borne them on eagles' wings1 and brought them unto ,himself1 in order that they might be to ,him a people1 and that ,he might be their ,god4 ,blessed fact6 ,blessed relationship6 ,but ,israel had to be reminded of the conduct suited to such a relationship-conduct which could only flow from a loving heart4 ,thou shalt love the ,lord thy ,god with all thy heart1 and with all thy soul1 and with all thy might4 ,here lies the secret of all true practical religion4 ,without this1 all is valueless to ,god4 ,my son1 give me thine heart4 ,where the heart is given1 all will be right4 ,the heart may be compared to the regulator of a watch1 which acts on the hair-spring1 and the hair-spring acts on the main-spring1 and the main-spring acts on the hands1 as they move around the dial4 ,if your watch goes wrong1 it will not do merely to alter the hands1 you must touch the regulator4 ,god looks for real heart-work1 blessed be ,his name6 ,his word to us is1 ,my little children1 let us not love in word1 neither in tongue2 but in deed and in truth4 ,how we ought to bless ,him for such touching words6 they do so reveal ,his own loving heart to us4 ,assuredly1 ,he loved us in deed and in truth1 and ,he cannot be satisfied with any thing else1 whether in our ways with ,him or our ways one with another3 all must flow straight from the heart4 ,and these words which ,i command thee this day1 shall be in thine heart--at the very source of all the issues of life4 ,this is peculiarly precious4 ,whatever is in the heart comes out through the lips and in the life4 ,how important1 then1 to have the heart full of the ,word of ,god--so full1 that we shall have no room for the vanities and follies of this present evil world4 ,thus shall our conversation be always with grace1 seasoned with salt4 ,out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh4 ,hence we can judge of what is in the heart by what cometh out of the mouth4 ,the tongue is the organ of the heart--the organ of the man4 ,a good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things2 and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things4 ,when the heart is really governed by the ,word of ,god1 the whole character reveals the blessed result4 ,it must be so1 inasmuch as the heart is the main-spring of our entire moral condition2 it lies at the centre of all those moral influences which govern our personal history and shape our practical career4 ,in every part of the divine volume1 we see how much importance ,god attaches to the attitude and state of the heart1 with respect to ,him or to ,his ,word1 which is one and the same thing4 ,when the heart is true to ,him1 all is sure to come right2 but on the other hand1 we shall find that where the heart grows cold and careless as to ,god and ,his truth1 there will1 sooner or later1 be open departure from the path of truth and righteousness4 ,there is1 therefore1 much force and value in the exhortation addressed by ,barnabas to the converts at ,antioch--,he exhorted them all1 that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the ,lord4 ,how needful then1 now1 always6 ,this purpose of heart is most precious to ,god4 ,it is what we may venture to call the grand moral regulator4 ,it imparts a lovely earnestness to the ,christian character which is greatly to be coveted by all of us4 ,it is a divine antidote against coldness1 deadness1 and formality1 all of which are so hateful to ,god4 ,the outward life may be very correct1 and the creed may be very orthodox2 but if the earnest purpose of heart be lacking--the affectionate cleaving of the whole moral being to ,god and ,his ,christ1 all is utterly worthless4 ,it is through the heart that the ,holy ,ghost instructs us4 ,hence1 the apostle prayed for the saints at ,ephesus1 that the eyes of their heart 1 not might be enlightened2 and again1 ,that ,christ may dwell in your heart by faith4 ,thus we see how all ,scripture is in perfect harmony with the exhortation recorded in our chapter1 ,and these words which ,i command thee this day1 shall be in thine heart4 ,how near this would have kept them to their covenant-,god6 ,how safe1 too1 from all evil1 and specially from the abominable evil of idolatry--their national sin1 their terrible besetment6 ,if ,jehovah's precious words had only found their right place in the heart1 there would have been little fear of ,baal1 ,chemosh1 or ,ashtaroth4 ,in a word1 all the idols of the heathen would have found their right place1 and been estimated at their true value1 if only the word of ,jehovah had been allowed to dwell in ,israel's heart4 ,and be it specially noted here how beautifully characteristic all this is of the book of ,deuteronomy4 ,it is not so much a question of keeping up a certain order of religious observances1 the offering of sacrifices1 or attention to rites and ceremonies4 ,all these things1 no doubt1 had their place1 but they are by no means the prominent or paramount thing in ,deuteronomy4 ,no2 ,,the ,,word is the all-important matter here4 ,it is ,jehovah's word in ,israel's heart4 ,the reader must seize this fact if he really desires to possess the key to the lovely book of ,deuteronomy4 ,it is not a book of ceremonial2 it is a book of moral and affectionate obedience4 ,it teaches1 in almost every section1 that invaluable lesson1 that the heart that loves1 prizes1 and honors the ,word of ,god is ready for every act of obedience1 whether it be the offering of a sacrifice or the observance of a day4 ,it might so happen that an ,israelite would find himself in a place and under circumstances in which a rigid adherence to rites and ceremonies would be impossible2 but he never could be in a place or in circumstances in which he could not love1 reverence1 and obey the ,word of ,god4 ,let him go where he would--let him be carried1 as a captive exile1 to the ends of the earth1 nothing could rob him of the high privilege of uttering and acting on those blessed words1 ,thy ,word have ,i hid in mine heart1 that ,i might not sin against ,thee4 ,precious words6 ,they contain1 in their brief compass1 the great principle of the book of ,deuteronomy1 and1 we may add1 the great principle of the divine life1 at all times and in all places4 ,it can never lose its moral force and value3 it always holds good4 ,it was true in the days of the patriarchs1 true for ,israel in the land1 true for ,israel scattered to the ends of the earth1 true for the ,church as a whole1 true for each individual believer amid the ,church's hopeless ruins4 ,in a word1 obedience is always the creature's holy duty and exalted privilege--simple1 unhesitating1 unqualified obedience to the ,word of the ,lord4 ,this is an unspeakable mercy for which we may well praise our ,god1 day and night4 ,he has given us ,his ,word1 blessed be ,his name1 and ,he exhorts us to let that ,word dwell in us richly--dwell in our hearts1 and assert its holy sway over our entire course and character4 ,and these words1 which ,i command thee this day1 shall be in thine heart3 and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children1 and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house1 and when thou walkest by the way1 and when thou liest down1 and when thou risest up4 ,and thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand1 and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes4 ,and thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house1 and on thy gates4 ,all this is perfectly beautiful4 ,the ,word of ,god hidden in the heart2 flowing out in loving instruction to the children1 and in holy conversation in the bosom of the family2 shining out in all the activities of daily life1 so that all who came inside the gates or entered the house might see that the ,word of ,god was the standard for each1 for all1 and in every thing4 ,thus it was to be with ,israel of old1 and surely thus it ought to be with ,christians now4 ,but is it so8 ,are our children thus taught8 ,is it our constant aim to present the ,word of ,god1 in all its heavenly attractiveness1 to their young hearts8 ,do they see it shining out in our daily life8 do they see its influence upon our habits1 our temper1 our family intercourse1 our business transactions8 ,this is what we understand by binding the ,word as a sign upon the hands1 having it as a frontlet between the eyes1 writing it upon the door-posts and upon the gates4 ,reader1 is it thus with us8 ,it is of little use attempting to teach our children the ,word of ,god if our lives are not governed by that ,word4 ,we do not believe in making the blessed ,word of ,god a mere school-book for our children2 to do so is to turn a delightful privilege into a wearisome drudgery4 ,our children should see that we live in the very atmosphere of ,scripture2 that it forms the material of our conversation when we sit in the bosom of the family1 in our moments of relaxation4 ,alas6 how little is this the case6 ,have we not to be deeply humbled in the presence of ,god when we reflect upon the general character and tone of our conversation at table1 and in the family circle8 ,how little there is of ,deuteronomy vi4 #g6 ,how much of foolish talking and jesting1 which are not convenient6 ,how much evil-speaking of our brethren1 our neighbors1 our fellow-laborers6 ,how much idle gossip6 ,how much worthless small talk6 ,and from what does all this proceed8 ,simply from the state of the heart4 ,the ,word of ,god1 the commandments and sayings of our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ1 are not dwelling in our hearts2 and hence they are not welling up and flowing out in living streams of grace and edification4 ,will any one say that ,christians do not need to consider these things8 ,if so1 let him ponder the following wholesome words3 ,let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth1 but that which is good to the use of edifying1 that it may minister grace unto the hearers4 ,and again1 ,be filled with the ,spirit2 speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs1 singing and making melody in your heart to the ,lord2 giving thanks always for all things unto ,god and the ,father in the name of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 7,eph4 iv4 #bi2 v4 #ah-bj47 ,these words were addressed to the saints at ,ephesus2 and1 most assuredly1 we should apply our hearts diligently to them4 ,we are little aware1 perhaps1 of how deeply and constantly we fail in maintaining the habit of spiritual conversation4 ,it is specially in the bosom of the family1 and in our ordinary intercourse1 that this failure is most manifest4 ,hence our need of those words of exhortation which we have just penned4 ,it is evident the ,holy ,spirit foresaw the need1 and graciously anticipated it4 ,hear what ,he says to the saints and faithful brethren in ,christ at ,colosse1--,let the peace of ,christ rule in your hearts1 to the which also ye are called in one body2 and be ye thankful4 ,let the word of ,christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom2 teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs1 singing with grace in your hearts to the ,lord4 7,col4 iii47 ,lovely picture of ordinary ,christian life6 ,it is but a fuller and higher development of what we have in our chapter1 where the ,israelite is seen in the midst of his family1 with the ,word of ,god flowing forth from his heart in loving instruction to his children--seen in his daily life1 in all his intercourse at home and abroad1 under the hallowed influence of ,jehovah's words4 ,beloved ,christian reader1 do we not long to see more of all this in our midst8 ,is it not1 at times1 very sorrowful and very humbling to mark the style of conversation that obtains in the midst of our family circles8 ,should we not sometimes blush if we could see our conversation reproduced in print8 ,what is the remedy8 ,here it is--a heart filled with the peace of ,christ1 the word of ,christ1 ,christ ,himself3 nothing else will do4 ,we must begin with the heart1 and where that is thoroughly preoccupied with heavenly things1 we shall make very short work with all attempts at evil-speaking1 foolish talking1 and jesting4 ,and it shall be1 when the ,lord thy ,god shall have brought thee into the land which ,he sware unto thy fathers1 to ,abraham1 to ,isaac1 and to ,jacob1 to give thee great and goodly cities which thou buildedst not1 and houses full of all good things which thou filledst not1 and wells digged which thou diggedst not1 and vineyards and olive-trees which thou plantedst not2 when thou shalt have eaten and be full2 then beware lest thou forget the ,lord1 which brought thee forth out of the land of ,egypt1 from the house of bondage4 7,ver4 #aj-ab47 ,amid all the blessings1 the mercies1 and the privileges of the land of ,canaan1 they were to remember that gracious and faithful ,one who had redeemed them out of the land of bondage4 ,they were to remember1 too1 that all these things were ,his free gift4 ,the land1 with all that it contained1 was bestowed upon them in virtue of ,his promises to ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob4 ,cities built and houses furnished1 flowing wells1 fruitful vineyards and olive-yards1 all ready to their hand1 the free gift of sovereign grace and covenant mercy4 ,all they had to do was to take possession1 in simple faith1 and to keep ever in the remembrance of the thoughts of their hearts the bounteous ,giver of it all4 ,they were to think of ,him1 and find in ,his redeeming love the true motive-spring of a life of loving obedience4 ,wherever they turned their eyes1 they beheld the tokens of ,his great goodness--the rich fruit of ,his marvelous love4 ,every city1 every house1 every well1 every vine1 olive and fig-tree1 spoke to their hearts of ,jehovah's abounding grace1 and furnished a substantial proof of ,his infallible faithfulness to ,his promise4 ,thou shalt fear the ,lord thy ,god1 and serve ,him1 and shalt swear by ,his name4 ,ye shall not go after other gods1 of the gods of the people which are round about you2 7for the ,lord thy ,god is a jealous ,god among you7 lest the anger of the ,lord thy ,god be kindled against thee1 and destroy thee from off the face of the earth4 ,there are two great motives set before the congregation1 in our chapter1 namely1 love1 in verse #e1 and fear1 in verse #ac4 ,these are found all through ,scripture2 and their importance in guiding the life and forming the character cannot possibly be too highly estimated4 ,the fear of the ,lord is the beginning of wisdom4 ,we are exhorted to be in the fear of the ,lord all the day4 ,it is a grand moral safeguard against all evil4 ,unto man ,he said1 ',behold1 the fear of the ,lord1 that is wisdom2 and to depart from evil is understanding4' ,the blessed ,book abounds in passages setting forth1 in every possible form1 the immense importance of the fear of ,god4 ,how1 says ,joseph1 can ,i do this great wickedness1 and sin against ,god8 ,the man who walks habitually in the fear of ,god is preserved from every form of moral pravity4 ,the abiding realization of the divine presence must prove an effectual shelter from every temptation4 ,how often do we find the presence of some very holy and spiritual person a wholesome check upon levity and folly2 and if such be the moral influence of a fellow-mortal1 how much more powerful would be the realized presence of ,god6 ,christian reader1 let us give our serious attention to this weighty matter4 ,let us seek to live in the consciousness that we are in the immediate presence of ,god4 ,thus shall we be preserved from a thousand forms of evil1 to which we are exposed from day to day1 and to which1 alas6 we are predisposed4 ,the remembrance that the eye of ,god rests upon us would exert a far more powerful influence upon our life and conversation than the presence of all the saints upon earth and all the angels in heaven4 ,we could not speak falsely1 we could not utter with our lips what we do not feel in the heart1 we could not talk folly1 we could not speak evil of our brother or our neighbor1 we could not speak unkindly of any one1 if only we felt ourselves in the presence of ,god4 ,in a word1 the holy fear of the ,lord1 of which ,scripture speaks so much1 would act as a most blessed restraint upon evil thoughts1 evil words1 evil ways1 evil in every shape and form4 ,moreover1 it would tend to make us very real and genuine in all our sayings and doings4 ,there is a sad amount of sham and nonsense about us4 ,we frequently say a great deal more than we feel4 ,we are not honest2 we do not speak1 every man1 truth with our neighbor2 we give expressions to sentiments which are not the genuine utterance of the heart2 we act the hypocrite one with another4 ,all these things afford melancholy proof of how little we live1 move1 and have our being in the presence of ,god4 ,if we could only bear in mind that ,god hears us and sees us--hears our every word and sees our every thought1 our every way1 how differently we should carry ourselves6 ,what holy watchfulness we should maintain over our thoughts1 our tempers1 and our tongues6 ,what purity of heart and mind6 ,what truth and uprightness in all our intercourse with our fellows6 ,what reality and simplicity in our deportment6 ,what happy freedom from all affectation1 assumption1 and pretension6 ,what deliverance from every form of self-occupation6 ,o1 to live ever in the deep sense of the divine presence6 to walk in the fear of the ,lord all the day long6 ,and then to prove the vast constraining influence of ,his love6 ,to be led out in all the holy activities which that love would ever suggest6 ,to find our delight in doing good6 ,to taste the spiritual luxury of making hearts glad6 ,to be continually meditating plans of usefulness6 ,to live close by the fountain of divine love1 so that we must be streams of refreshing in the midst of this thirsty scene--rays of light amid the moral gloom around us6 ,the love of ,christ1 says the blessed apostle1 constraineth us2 because we thus judge1 that if one died for all1 then were all dead2 and that ,he died for all1 that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves1 but unto ,him which died for them1 and rose again4 ,how morally lovely is all this6 ,would that it were more fully realized and faithfully exhibited amongst us6 ,may the fear and love of ,god be continually in our hearts1 in all their blessed power and formative influence1 that thus our daily life may shine to ,his praise and the real profit1 comfort1 and blessing of all who come in contact with us1 whether in private or in public4 ,god1 in ,his infinite mercy1 grant it1 for ,christ's sake6 ,the sixteenth verse of our chapter demands our special attention4--,ye shall not tempt the ,lord your ,god1 as ye tempted ,him in ,massah4 ,these words were quoted by our blessed ,lord when tempted by ,satan to cast ,himself from the pinnacle of the temple4--,then the devil taketh ,him up into the holy city1 and setteth ,him on a pinnacle of the temple1 and saith unto ,him1 ',if ,thou be the ,son of ,god1 cast ,thyself down2 for it is written1 ,he shall give ,his angels charge concerning ,thee2 and in their hands they shall bear ,thee up1 lest at any time ,thou dash ,thy foot against a stone4' ,this is a very remarkable passage4 ,it proves how ,satan can quote ,scripture when it suits his purpose4 ,but he omits a most important clause--,to keep ,thee in all ,thy ways4 ,now1 it formed no part of the ways of ,christ to cast ,himself from the pinnacle of the temple4 ,it was not the path of duty4 ,he had no command from ,god to do any such thing1 and hence ,he refused to do it4 ,he had no need to tempt ,god--to put ,him to the test4 ,he had1 as a man1 the most perfect confidence in ,god--the fullest assurance of ,his protection4 ,moreover1 ,he was not going to abandon the path of duty in order to prove ,god's care of ,him2 and herein ,he teaches us a most valuable lesson4 ,we can always count on ,god's protecting hand when we are treading the path of duty2 but if we are walking in a self-chosen path--if we are seeking our own pleasure or our own interest1 our own ends or objects1 then to talk of counting on ,god would be simply wicked presumption4 ,no doubt1 our ,god is very merciful1 very gracious1 and ,his tender mercy is over us1 even when we wander off the path of duty2 but this is another thing altogether1 and it leaves wholly untouched the statement that we can only count on divine protection when our feet are in the pathway of duty1 if a ,christian goes out boating for his amusement1 or if he goes clambering over the ,alps merely for sight-seeing1 has he any right to believe that ,god will take care of him8 ,let conscience give the answer4 ,if ,god calls us to cross a stormy lake to preach the gospel1 if ,he summons us to cross the ,alps on some special service for ,him1 then1 assuredly1 we can commit ourselves to ,his mighty hand to protect us from all evil4 ,the grand point for all of us is1 to be found in the holy path of duty4 ,it may be narrow1 rough1 and lonely2 but it is a path overshadowed by the wings of the ,almighty and illumined by the light of ,his approving countenance4 ,ere turning from the subject suggested by verse #af1 we would briefly notice the very interesting and instructive fact that our ,lord1 in ,his reply to ,satan1 takes no notice whatever of his misquotation of psalm xci4 #aa4 ,let us carefully note this fact and seek to bear it in mind4 ,in place of saying to the enemy1 ,you have left out a most important clause of the passage which you undertake to quote1 ,he simply quotes another passage1 as authority for ,his own conduct4 ,thus ,he vanquished the tempter1 and thus ,he left us a blessed example4 ,it is worthy of our special notice that the ,lord ,jesus ,christ did not overcome ,satan in virtue of ,his divine power4 ,had ,he done so1 it could not be an example for us4 ,but when we see ,him as a man using the ,word as ,his only weapon1 and thus gaining a glorious victory1 our hearts are encouraged and comforted2 and not only so1 but we learn a most precious lesson as to how we1 in our sphere and measure1 are to stand in the conflict4 ,the ,man ,christ ,jesus overcame by simple dependence upon ,god and obedience to ,his ,word4 ,blessed fact6 ,a fact full of comfort and consolation for us4 ,satan could do nothing with one who would only act by divine authority1 and by the power of the ,spirit4 ,jesus never did ,his own will1 though1 as we know1 7blessed be ,his holy name67 ,his will was absolutely perfect4 ,he came down from heaven1 as ,he ,himself tells us1 in ,john vi1 not to do ,his own will1 but the will of the ,father that sent ,him4 ,he was a perfect servant1 from first to last4 ,his rule of action was the ,word of ,god2 ,his power of action1 the ,holy ,ghost2 ,his only motive for action1 the will of ,god2 hence the prince of this world had nothing in ,him4 ,satan could not1 by all his subtle wiles1 draw ,him out of the path of obedience1 or out of the place of dependence4 ,christian reader1 let us consider these things2 let us deeply ponder them2 let us remember that our blessed ,lord and ,master left us an example that we should follow ,his steps4 ,oh1 may we follow them diligently during the little while that yet remains4 ,may we1 by the gracious ministry of the ,holy ,ghost1 enter more fully into the great fact that we are called to walk even as ,jesus walked4 ,he is our great ,exemplar in all things4 ,let us study ,him more profoundly1 so that we may reproduce ,him more faithfully4 99 99 99 99 99 ,we shall now close this lengthened section by quoting for the reader the last paragraph of the chapter on which we have been dwelling2 it is a passage of singular fullness1 depth1 and power1 and strikingly characteristic of the entire book of ,deuteronomy4 ,ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the ,lord your ,god1 and ,his testimonies1 and ,his statutes1 which ,he hath commanded thee4 ,and thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the ,lord2 that it may be well with thee1 and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the ,lord sware unto thy fathers2 to cast out all thine enemies from before thee1 as the ,lord hath spoken4 ,and when thy son asketh thee in time to come1 saying1 ,what mean the testimonies and the statutes and the judgments which the ,lord our ,god hath commanded you8 ,then thou shalt say unto thy son1 ,we were ,pharaoh's bondmen in ,egypt2 and the ,lord brought us out of ,egypt with a mighty hand2 and the ,lord showed signs and wonders1 great and sore1 upon ,egypt1 upon ,pharaoh1 and upon all his household1 before our eyes2 and ,he brought us out from thence1 that ,he might bring us in1 to give us the land which ,he sware unto our fathers4 ,and the ,lord commanded us to do all these statutes1 to fear the ,lord our ,god1 for our good always1 that ,he might preserve us alive1 as it is at this day4 ,and it shall be our righteousness1 if we observe to do all these commandments before the ,lord our ,god1 as ,he hath commanded us4 ,how prominently is the ,word of ,god kept before the soul1 in every page and every paragraph of this book6 ,it is the one great subject on the heart and in all the discourses of the revered lawgiver4 ,it is his one aim to exalt the ,word of ,god1 in all its aspects1 whether in the form of testimonies1 commandments1 statutes1 or judgments2 and to set forth the moral importance1 yea1 the urgent necessity of whole-hearted1 earnest1 diligent obedience1 on the part of the people4 ,ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the ,lord your ,god4 ,and again1 ,thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the ,lord4 ,all this is morally lovely4 ,we have here unfolded before our eyes those eternal principles which no change of dispensation1 no change of scene1 place1 or circumstances can ever touch4 ,that which is right and good must ever be of universal and abiding application4 ,it reminds us of the words of the apostle ,john to his beloved friend ,gaius--,beloved1 follow not that which is evil1 but that which is good4 ,the assembly might be in a very low condition2 there might be very much to try the heart and depress the spirit of ,gaius2 ,diotrephes might be carrying himself most unbecomingly and unwarrantably toward the beloved and venerable apostle and others2 all this might be true1 and much more--yea1 the whole professing body might go wrong4 ,what then8 ,what remained for ,gaius to do8 ,simply to follow that which was right and good2 to open his heart and his hand and his house to every one who brought the truth2 to seek to help on the cause of ,christ in every right way4 ,this was the business of ,gaius in his day1 and this is the business of every true lover of ,christ at all times1 in all places1 and under all circumstances4 ,we may not have many to join us2 we may perhaps find ourselves1 at times1 almost alone2 but we are still to follow what is good1 cost what it may4 ,we are to depart from iniquity--purge ourselves from dishonorable vessels--flee youthful lusts--turn away from powerless professors4 ,and what then8 ,follow righteousness1 faith1 love1 peace--,how8 ,in isolation8 ,nay4 ,i may find myself alone in any given place for a time1 but there can be no such thing as isolation so long as the body of ,christ is on earth1 and that will be till ,he comes for us4 ,hence we never expect to see the day in which we cannot find a few that call on the ,lord out of a pure heart2 whoever they are and wherever they are1 it is our bounden duty to find them1 and1 having found them1 to walk with them in holy fellowship until the end4 99 99 99 99 99 ,p4,s4--,we must reserve the remaining chapters of ,deuteronomy for another volume4 ,may the ,lord be graciously pleased to grant ,his rich blessing upon our meditations thus far4 ,may ,he clothe these pages with the power of the ,holy ,ghost1 and make them to be a direct message from ,himself to the hearts of ,his people throughout the whole world4 ,may ,he also grant spiritual power to unfold the truth contained in the remaining sections of this most profound1 comprehensive1 and suggestive book4 ,we earnestly beseech the ,christian reader to join us in prayer as to all this1 remembering those most precious words1 ,if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask1 it shall be done for them by ,my ,father which is in heaven4 ,c4 ,h4 ,m4 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber's note3 ,text enclosed by underscores is in italics 7italics74 ,small capital text has been replaced with all capitals4 ,variations in spelling1 punctuation and hyphenation have been retained except in obvious cases of typographical error4