grent depth and breadth in these "ten." Are they rer,lly so Mmprehensive as is implied? 1. Ulance at the" ten." We have seen how comprehcnHive are the firnt five. [See l\bove, v. 1.J Note the comprehensiveness of the second. We are not to assault the life, the family, the property, the rqndation, the peace (by coveting and threatenirw what they have), of our frllow-men. 2. Pierce into the .,pirit of the" ten," and note!-".. (1) '11,e negative must include the positive; e.g., we are bound to conserve life, lest by neglect we kill. (2) The absolute form covers all cases; e.g., the sixth commandment sto.nds absolute, unless dispensed with by the supervention of a higher law. There may be things more sacred even than life. (3) The external includes the internal. (Matt. v. 27, 28.) Given the lust, its gratification does not depend upon the man, but upon circumstances out of his control; therefore he is guilty. Besides, what we are is of more moment than what we do. (4) The principle of obedience in all is lwe. VIII. THE PRESENT USE AND OFFICE OF "THE TEN." [For detailed exposition of each of" the ten," in relation to our own time and circumstances, see "The Ten Com- mandments," by R. W. Dale, M.A.] On the use and office the following positions may be firmly lo.id down :-1. The law of" the ten words" was, and is, something absolutely unique. Of the unique character all that has been previously said is illustration. It may, then, be reasonably inferred that "the ten" will have some special bearing on our moral life. 2. It implies that God claims authority over the moral life of man. [On this see valuable observations on the decay of the sense of authority, its evil effects, etc., Dale's "Ten Commandments," pp. 6--13.] 3. It was not intended to ajfCY1·d man an opportunity for winning salvation. That is God's free gift. 4. Salvation given, Uod means the law to be obeyed. [On this see also Dale, pp. 13-16.] 5. The effort to obey will deepen man's sense of the need ef God1s delivering mercy. The effort b~ings a deeper acquaintance with the law, and so we come to know more of-(1) the righteousness of God-(2) the depravity of man. 6. .A growing conformity is, howeve-r, blessedly possible. 7. There comes with growing conformity freedom from law. Love dispenses with the literal precept. This is the ideal of the New 'Testament. Still "the ten words " have ever their use for those on the low planes of spiritual life. 8. .A.nd even with those free from the law, it will still have the following offices :-(1) To keep the Christian under grace as the source of all his serenity and bliss. (2) To restrain from sin in the presence of temptation. (3) To keep before the aspiring saint the fair ideal of righteousness.-R.
Vers. 3-11.-The soul for God only. I. Goo's OEM.A.ND. "Thou shalt have no other," &c. .A.II else is emptiness and falsehood. There must be nothing even of our holy things put between the soul and God. His presence must be the soul's life, the very air it breathes. II. How THE DEMAND MAY BE FULFILLED. 1. By keeping ourselves from idols. Our daily avocations, our interests, affections, pleasures, may lead to our esteeming 1omething our chief good and making ~t to be instead of God to us. God must be 1een behind his gifts, and be more to us than all besides. 2. By watchful fear and hope. We bring evil not upon ourselves only, and the blessings which rest upon obedience are an everlasting heritage. ,ve sow seeds of evil or of blessing which yield many harvests (vers. 5, 6). 3. By reverence (ver. 7). God's name must not be emptied of its po_wer to touch the heart by our lightness or hypocrisy. 4. By keeping sacred the sabbath rest (vers. 8-11). (1) It will be a day of self-revelation, of rebuke for the evil in us, of strengthening to the good. (2) It will be a day for the remembrance of God; and (3) of participation in his rest.-'O. Ver. 12.-The commandment with p1·omise. I. THE DUTY DCPOSED. 1. Its reason- ableness. Reverent, loving subjection to parents is obedience to the deepest instincts uf the heart. 2. Its pleasantness. This subjection is rest and joy: it is ceasing from doubt and inner conflict; it lets into the spirit the sunshine of a parent's loving approbation. II. 'l'HE PROMISE : "That thy days," &c. Obedience to pa.rents is the condition of national prosperity. 1. It is respect for law and loyal acceptance of the teachings of the past. 2. It is denial of the spirit of self will and self pleasing. 3. It guards youth lrom exces11 and ,·ice. 4. It prepares for the underotauding uf and subwiss1un to the 154 TIIE BOOK OF EXODUS. [cR. XX. 1-17.