2. Those who have an inward evidence that their hearts are right with God —
[What is there under heaven that can equal such a blessing as this? St. Paul himself had no greater joy0. For you, Brethren, death has no sting, and the day of judgment itself no terror. You may look and long for the coming of your Lord. Be thankful then; and let the brightness of your prospects increase your vigilance in the path of duty, that " ye may never fall, but have an entrance ministered unto you abundantly into the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?."]
0 2 Cor. i. 12. p 2 Pet. i. 10, 11.
Deut. xxi. 6 — 8. And all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall tvash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley ; and they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. Be merciful, 0 Lord, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel's charge. And the blood shall be forgiven them.
THE ceremonial law of the Jews was confessedlv figurative and typical in every part: nor was even their judicial law altogether destitute of a spiritual import. The injunction, " not to muzzle the ox that trod out the corn," appears as void of any, except a literal, meaning, as any law whatever; yet was there in that law a particular reference to the preachers of the Gospel, who were to be supported by the people to whom they ministered. In the law that we are now to consider, there is indeed a manifest appear- ance of mystery : and we shall find it by no means unprofitable to consider the mystery contained in it. We shall endeavour then,
I. To explain the ordinance —
In doing this we must notice,
1. Its general design — [God, no doubt, intended by this law, to prevent the com- mission of murder. The shedding of human blood was, in his eyes, so great a crime, that it must never be pardoned by the