Trusting that we have not been guided by fancy in our interpretation of this type, let us inquire into,
II. The practical instruction to be deduced from it —
As a civil ordinance, it seems to have been well cal- culated to instil into the minds both of masters and servants a strict attention to each other's happiness and welfare, so that neither of them might ever wish for a dissolution of their mutual bonds. (And O ! that our present consideration of it might be so im- proved by all who sustain either of those relations !) But, as a typical ordinance, it must, in its practical improvement, have a wider range.
Our blessed Lord has not only redeemed us to God by his blood, but has also " set us an example, that we should follow his steps." Hence it is evident that we should,
1. Love the service of our God —
[We should not account any of " his commandments grievous," or say concerning any precept of his, " This is an hard saying." He himself has told us that " his yoke is easy, and his burthen is light :" and in our Liturgy we acknowledge " his service to be perfect freedom." Such was the language of David : " O how I love thy law !" and again, " I esteem thy commandments concerning all things to be right ; and I hate every false way." Let it " not then be of constraint that you serve him, but willingly and of a ready mind." And if you foresee difficulties and trials in your way, be not ashamed ; but give up yourself unreservedly to God, and adopt the language of the Messiah himself, " Lo, I come ; I delight to do thy will, O my God : yea, thy law is within my heart " ]
2. Adhere to it steadfastly to the latest hour of vour life —
[Many reasons might have operated on the mind of a
containing the same words as the Apostle quotes, proves nothing either for or against the point in hand. We apprehend that some early transcriber of the Septuagint, from a deference to St. Paul's authority, altered that translation to make it agree with his words : for we have no reason to think that the Seventy would have pre- sumed to paraphrase that part of the Psalm, instead of translating it ; and we are certain that they could not have paraphrased it in that manner (unless by express revelation for that purpose), because they neither had, nor could have, sufficiently clear views of the Gospel, to mark its deepest mystery in so precise a way.