EXPOSITION. ll LA'\\'F C01'"Nl".CTEJl 'WITH RIGHTS OF PRO· Palestine it was alw~ possible that a neigh- PERTY (ven;. 38-36 ). From the consideration bour's cattle might go astray and suffer injwy of injuries to the person, the legislator pro- through suob a piece of negligence. An ox, ceed,. to tniat o{ injuries to property, and, as ot an us, falling into a cistern, would be unable to extricate itself, and might bu he bes been apeaking of cattle under the one drowned. head, place& cattle in the fore-front of the Ver. 34.-The o,ner of the pit ■hall make other. In this ohapter two enactment.& only it good-i.e., "shall duly comf,ensate the are made~ne providiag compensation ill the owner of the cattle for its loss. ' And the dead beast IJ1&l.l lie hi■, Having paid the full ca.se of a man's cattle bemg killed by falling price of the slain beast, the owner of the cis- into the pit. or well, of. a neighbour (ven.. 33, tern was entitled to its carcase. :H) : and the other Dlllking provision for the Vcrs. 35, 86.-If 011e man'■ o:a: hurt case of one man's cattle killiDg the cattle of another'■, etc. The hurt might be purely &llOther (ven. 35, 36) accidental, and imply no neglect. In thut case the two parties wete to divide the value Ver. 33.-If a man a.all opu. a pit. of the living, and also of the dead ox-i.e., Rathet, " If a man shall uncover a cistern." illey wece to share between them the loss Cistern$, very necessary in Palestine, were caused by the accident equally. If, however, usu.ally closed by a flat-stone, or a nnmber !I{ there wes neglect, if the aggressive animru pLe.u.k.&. To obtain water from them., the,: was luiow11 to be of a vicious disposition, then h..d to be uncovered ; but it was the duty of the man who had sutl'eted the loss was to the man who Ullcovered them, to replace the receive the full value of the slain animal, but covering when his wants were satisfied. Or to lose his shate of the carcase. This expla- ditr a pit ud not ec,.er it. A m&U who was nation, which the words of the text not only makmg a cinern might neglect to cover it admit, but invite, seews better than the while it was ia course of construction, ot even Rabbinical one, "that the dead ox should afterwardi, ii he thought his own cattle would also be tbe property of the injured party." take no hiut. But i.n tbe wue11ced fields of
HOMILETICS. Y ers. 33--36.-Tll.41 gu,ilt of neglect. Sins of omission are thought lightly of by most rue1, ; but God holds us answerable for them, as much as for sins of commission. The Psalmist defines the wicked man as one who neglects to " set himself in any good way." 'l'he neglect of the Israeli~ to oover their wells, or keep their cattle from goring others wa.s to be heavily punished. Neglect and carelessness are culpable- I. BECAUSE TllEIR EFFECTS ARE AS RUINOUS AS THOSE OF .IULICE AND EVIi, INTENT. Carelessuess and neglect of precautions may set a town on fire and bum hundreds in their beds. Or it may spread a loathsome and dangerous disease through a whole district. Or it may destroy the cattle of e. whole oounty. Or it may allow moral evil tu have free oouree, until an entire nation is swik in corruption. Or, again, it ma.y eudanger our own lives, or deatroy our souls. It is e. question whether more evil does not nctual]~, result from carelessness than from deliberate intent. Youth is naturally carc\e:;i;. l>c:mltury habits intensify carelessnesa. A deficient sense of the seriousnoo11 C'II. x:ur. 1-:1.J Tm; flOOK OF EXODUS.
of life encournges nnd fosters it. Advanced civilisntion, with its foppishness and super- ciliousness, developes its growth. The present nge nsks, "Is anythincr Wl)rth rnring about? "-11nd ;s deaf to the Prophet's words, "Tremble and be troubled, ye careles8 ones" (ls11i11h xxxii. 11). II. BECAUSE Goo HAS IMPLANTED IN us FACULTIES OF Pn-F.VIBION AND CALCULATI0:S ()f' CONSEQUENCES, WHICH WERE INTENDED TO PREVENT OUR BEINn CAREI,ESS AND NEGLii;>;N-r. Man differs from the lower animals chiefly in the pcssession of reason; and it is :in essential part of human reason to look to the future, to forecast results, and calculate the bnlance of ultimo.ta advantage o.nd disadvantage. We know instinctively that our happiness depends on our actions; and it is therefore wholly unreasonable to be careles~ about how we act. If we have faculties which we might use and refuse to use them, God will be righteous to punish us for despising his gifts. III. BECAUSE Goo HAS EXPRESSLY WARNED us AGAINST BEING CARELESS, AND EX- HORTED us TO PRUDENCE AND FORETHOUGHT. "I will send a fire among them that dwell carelessly," so.id the Lord by Ezekiel. "Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech; mnny days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women," are God's words by Isaiah. "Go to the ant, thou siuggard," exclaims the wise man, "consider her ways and be wise." And again- " Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established-keep thy heart with diligence-remove thy feet from evil." A careful cautious walk through the dangers and difficulties of life is everywhere enjoined upcn us in the Scriptures; and we are pie.inly disobedient if we are careless.
EXPOSITION.