The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 1 — Section 283

pride is one of the deadly sins, and at once severs tho soul from Christ. The blood of the c?venant does not extend its protection over the paths which are trodden by the foot of pride. He who enters on them has wandered beyond the door which bears the redemption-marks, and is open to the assaults of the destroyer. ffi. WHO FOLD THEIR HANDS AND CEASE TO DE ZEALOUS OF GOOD WORKS, AS THOUGH THEY HAD ALREADY ATTAINED. Though we cannot, by anything that we can do, merit our own salvation, or redeem ourselves or others (Ps. :tlix. 7), yet God will have us "work while it is day," and the atoning blood of Christ atones for those only who are " careful to maint.ain good works" (Tit. iii. 8). Idleness, apathy, sloth, are contrary to his will and his word; and the man who indulges in them has stmyed beyond the prescribed limits and lost the needful protection. Well for him if he discovers his mistake in time to return, and" do again the first works" (Rev. ii. 5), and so regain the lost shelter ! It is needless to say that the atoning blood can avail none who (1) reject the atonement; or, (2) despise it, by giving it no thought; or, (3) trample it under foot by leading an immoral a.nd ungodly life. These are as far removed from its protection as were the Egyptians. T"ers. 26, 27.-The obligation of men to teach the true mea11iing oJ rites and cere- monies to their children. The rites and ceremonies of a relio-ion 0 are liable to be misunderstood in two ways. 1. They may be regarded as unim portant, trifl.ino-, nay, even as superstitious-a weight and a.n encumbrance on true vital religior:'. Or, 2. '!'hey may be assigned more importance than is their due ; considered to be that in which religion mainly consists, believed to have an inherent power and efficacy which is fu.r from belonging to them. Men are prone to extremes ; and most persons are naturally inclined either unduly to exalt, or unduly to depreciate religious ceremonies. Of the two evils, undue depreciation would seem to be the worse, for the following reason : - L U:t-."""DUE DEPRECIATION OF CEREMONIES (a) tends to make them of little service to men when they actually take part in them, since they neither prepare themselves properly beforehand. so as to derive from them the benefit they might, nor enter into them with much heart at the time of their occurrence, nor help their effect by devout medit.ation upon them afterwards. (b) It causes an infrequent participation in the ceremonies by the deprecia.tors, who, expecting but little benefit in the future, and being conscious of but little benefit in the past, allow small obstacles to prevent their attendance at services which they do not value. (c) In extreme cases, it produces either complete abstention from. or sometimes actual abrogation of the rite, whereby advantages are forfeited on the part of whole sections of believers which would other- wise have been enjoyed by them. Thus the Society of Friends loses the benefit of both sacraments, with sad results to the spiritual life of numbers. IL UNDUE EXAL'.r-ATION OF CEREMO:t-.'IES has the advantage of at any rate ret.aining them in use, so that their benefit is not wholly lost. It often, however, greatly lessens the benefit (a) by exaggerated and superstitious views of its nature, and (b) by the attribution of the benefit to the mere formal participation in the rite irrespective of the pa.rticipa.tor's preparation, attention, and devoutness at the time. Further, it is apt to produce such a reliance on the ceremonies as is unfavourable to practical efforts at improving the moral character and making advances towards Christian perfection. Careful instruction in the true nature and value of ceremonial observances is thus of the highest importance; and parents should perhaps scarcely wait till their children " ask the meaning" of public worship, baptism. confirmation, the Lord's supper, etc., before enlightening them on the true nature and value of each. In so doing, it will always be of use to set forth the historical origin of each usage, to show when and how it arose and to draw attention to what Scripture says on the subject. Men's private views a::.e various, a.nd may be mistaken, but the Scriptures cannot but be true; and n. knowledge of what is contained in the Bible wit~ respect to each Christian ri!e. or 't'lremony will be an excellent basis for the formation of a sound and healthy cpm1on ,n the subject when, in the couriae of time, the different views of different sections of believers come to be known. ctt, xtr. 21--20.) 'flIE nOOK m· EXODU8. 277