to the noble band, who, when the crisis came, have "obeyed God rather than man" and takon their chance of the consequences I Not that the final consequences to them:ielves can bo doubtful. "But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, blessed are ye!" 1 Pet, iii. 14). In this life, the consequence may be success, severe punishment, or occasionally) neglect and oblivion. But in the world to come there will be a reward ~or rightful resistance undoubtedly. "God made the midwives houses." For all whom a tyrannical authority makes to suffer because they fear and obey him, ~,e will reserve in his own house "mansions" where they will enjoy bliss eternal. Vers. 18-21.-God's acceptance of an imperfect obedience. The midwives had not the courage of their convictions. They did not speak out boldly, like Daniel, and the "Three Children," and the Apostles. They did not say, "Be it known unto thee, 0 king, that we fear God, and will not do this thing." They cast about for an excuse, which should absolve them of the crime of disobedience, and so perhaps save them from punishment, and they found one which was no doubt partially true, but which by a S?llppressio veri was a suggestio f alsi. Some have exonerated them from all blame under the circumstances; but though the circumstances may extenuate, they do not justify their conduct. It was a fault, but (especially if they were heathens) a venial fault. And it was perhaps repented of. At any rate God condoned it. He was not "extreme to mark what was done amiss!' He' accepted their good deeds and their reverent fear of him, though it was not accompanied· by high courage and a heroic love of truth; that is to say, he, accepted an imperfect obedience. And this is what he does in all cases. No man but One has rendered an obedience that was perfect. " All we, the rest, offend in many things; and if we say that we have no sin, deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." Well for us that God, for his Son's sake, and through his atonement on the cross, can condone our offences, and despite our many misdeeds reward our acts of faithfulness ! (See Matt. vi. 4; x. 42; xvi. 27; Luke vi. 35; 1 Cor. iii. 14; &c.)
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 15-22.-.A kin.g's edicts. I. THE COMMAlm TO THE MIDWIVES TO DESTROY 'l'UE MALES (ver. 16). 'l'his was a further stage in the persecution of the Hebrews. Happily the command was not obeyed. ThEore is a limit even to the power of kings. Stronger than kings is-1. The power of religion. "The midwives feared God" (ver. 17). 2. The force of patriotism. They were "Hebrew midwives" (ver. 15), and would not, even at the king's bidding, be murderers of their race. 3. Thei·instincts of humanity. These came in to thwart both this and the next expedient for destroying the children. 4. The cunning of evasion. It is hopeless to attempt to force ln.ws upon a people determined not to obey them. The midwives had only to stay away, and let the Hebrew women help themselves, to reduce the king's decree to a dead letter. And this was probably what they did (ver. 19). The result shows how much better it is, even at some risk, to obey God than to obey man. The midwives---!. Lost nothing. 2. Retained a good conscience. 3. Were signally honoured and rewarded: God made them houses (ver. 21). Kindness shown to God's people never fails of its reward. II. THE COMMAND TO THE PEOPLE TO CAST THE MALES INTO THE RIVER (ver. 22). He must indeed have been a foolish king, if he thought to secure obedience to so inhuman a decree. Parents would not obey it. The work was of a kind which would soon grow hateful even to those who might at first be willing to do it for reward. 'l'he hearts of the most abandoned ere long sicken at murder. Public sympathy does not appear to have gone with the edict, and the number of males at the Exodus makes it certain that it was not long in operation. Its chief fruit was one little contemplated by the tyrant-the salvation and courtly upbringing of Moses. Leam-1. How one cruelty leads to another, and increasingly hardens the heart. It is told of Robespierre that when judge at Arras, half-a-dozen years before he took his place in the popular mind of France and Europe as one of the bloodiest monsters of myth or history, he resigned his post in a fit of remorse after condemning a criminal to be executed. " He is a criminal, no doubt," he kept gronning to his sister, "a criminal no doubt; but to put a man to death!" (Morley). 2. 'l'he impotence of human devices. 3. The C 2 20 THE BOOK OF EXODUS. [ CU, I, 8- 22,