EXPOSITION. Ven.. 5, 6.-LAw or TBUPA.1111,-Next to was po11888sed of ; whereas simple restitution theft, and not mnch behind it, is the wanton wu sufficient when fire had spread accident- damage of what belongs to another- when elly from a man's own land to bis neighbour's, 11 person injures his neighbour's crops, either We may conclude that if the trespass of the by turning beasts into his field, or by ce.nsing cattle were accidental, simple restitution suf- 11 conflagration in it. To turn beasts in was ficed ; and if the fire were kindled of set the more determinedlymalicions act,a.nd there- purpose, the heavier rate of penalty wu ex- fore the danuige done was to be compensated acted. by making over to the injured party a like Ver. 5.-If a ma.n llhaJl 0&1118 a 1leld or qW111tity of prodnce out of the Lest that a man vineyard to be ea.ten.-Rather II to h1i ea.toa CH. :,.:m. i-13.) THE BOOK OF EXODUS. 187
1/," or "to be broweed upon." And aha.ll "When thie is done, there is 11hvoys " ,tnn~rr, feed.-Rather, "e.nd it sb'lll feed." Of the baa~, in the dry pa.rched-np Eastern lan,ls, of the etc.-This meane th11t. without referenr,e to fire spreading, a.nd cnrefnl watch hus to he the quality of the crop d11ma.ged, the injurer kept. If this wotch were neglected, a nei~h- should forfeit an equo.1 amount of hie own bour's sheaves or standing corn might be beat produce. seriously damaged or even destroyi,d. Th~ Ver. 6.-If Ire break ont.-It is ueual in Jew punished such carelessness. by reriuiring the East (ae in EnglRDd) to bum the weeds the man who had kindled the fire to me.ke on a farm at certain aeaeona of the yea.r restitution
HOMILETICS. Vere. 5, 6.-Tlie law of love forbids all injury to a neighbour. There are rn.iay who would scorn to steal the property of a neighbour, who yet make light of injuring it in other 'i''ays, ns by trespnss, or by negligence. But if we love our neighbour we shall be anxious not to injure him in any way. "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour." He that allows his cattle to pasture in a neighbour's field, or his hares and rabbits to spoil a neighbour's crops, or his poultry to break bounds and damage a neighbo•.tr's garden, cannot feel towards him as a Christian should feel. Love would hinder any injuries, nay, even any intrusive or obnoxious act. Love would also be a strong check upon neglect and carelessness. Men are careful enough not to damage their own property ; did they really love them, they would be as careful not to damage the property of their neighbours. And what is true of property is true of other things also. We are bound- I. NOT TO INJURE OUR NEIGHBOUR'S CHARACTER, either by direct attacks upon it, or by carelessly suffering it to be maligned by others. JI. NoT TO mJURE BIS DOMESTIC PEACE. 1. By impertinent intrusion; 2. By spying and tale-bearing; 3. By scattering suspicions. III. NoT TO INJURE HIS INTERESTS. 1. By nivulging without necessity what m.iy hurt him; 2. By pushing our own interests at his expense; 3. By knowingly advising him ill; 4. By setting pitfalls that he may fall into them. If we offend in any of these respects, it is our duty, so far as possible, to "make restitution "-(1) By compensating to him any loss he may have sustained; (2) By disabusing those whose minds we may have poisoned; (3) By ample and humble apology. Too often this last will be all that is in our power; for" the tongue is a fire" (Jas. iii. 6), which scatters its brands far and wide, and creates conflagrations that it is impossible to extinguish. Let each and all seek to control that "unruly member" which "setteth on. fire the coursA of nature," and is itselJ" "set on fire of hell."
EXPOSITION. Vers. 7-13.-LAW OF DEPOSITB.-Deposi- ,ra.pa,ca.-ra.6111n1s Ill~ The penalty, iI a n,,an tion of property in the hands of a friend, to were cast in the suit, was sin.tple restitu- keep and gua.rd, was a ma.rked featUie in the tion, which is less satisfactory than the life of primitive societies, where investments MoSBic enactment-" He shall pay double " were difficult, and bankers unknown. Persons (ver. 9) about to travel, especially merchants, were Ver. 7.-Std-Literally "vessels "-but wont to make such a disposition of the greater the word is used in a very wide sense, of pa.rt of their movable property, which required almost any inanimate movables. some one to guard it in their absence Re- Ver. 8.-If the thief be not fou.nd.-It is fuso.ls to return such deposits were ra.re ; since not clear what was to be done in this case. ancied morality reg11rded such refusal as a Kelisch supposes that it came under the law of the oath (ver. 10), and that if the mu.n en- crime of deep dye (Herod. vii. 86). Some- trusted with the deposit swore that he had times, however, tliey took place; and at not embezzled it, he was let go free. But as Athens there was a special form of action stolen cattle were to be compeDS>lted for to which might be brought in such cases called the owner (ver. 12), it would seem to be more JS8 'l'HE BOOK OF EXODUS. [cH. XXII. 14, 15,