HOMILETICS. Vers. 32, 33.-The Peril of Idolatry. Idolatry is the interposition of any object between man and God, in such sort that the object takes the place of God in the heart and the affections, occupying them to his exclusion, or to his disparagement. Idolatry proper, the interposition between God and the soul of idols or images, seems to have possessed a peculiar fascination for the Israelites, either because their materialistic tendencies made them shrink from approaching in thought a mere pure Spirit, or perhaps from their addiction to the sensual pleasures which accompanied idolatry, as practised by the greater part of the heathen. (See the co=ent on ver. 24.) In modern times, and in countries where Protestantism is professed by the generality, there is little or no danger of this gross form of the sin. But there is great danger of other forms of it. In order to make any practical use of those large portions of the Old Testament which warn against idolatry, we have to remember- !. THAT COVETOUSNESS IB IDOLATRY. Wealth is made an idol by thousands in these tatter days. All hasten to be rich. Nothing is greatly accounted of which does not lea<l to opulence. God is shut out from the heart by desires, and plans, and calculations which have money for their object and which so occupy it that there is no room for anything else. '!'he danger has existed at all times, but it has to be specially guarded against at the present day, when Mammon has become the most potent of all the spir.'.:~ of evil, an<l men bow down before, not an image of gold, but gold itself, whatever shape it may take. II. THAT SELFISHNESS IS IDOLATRY. Men make idols of themselves-of their own happiness, quiet, comfort-allowing nothing to interfere with the~e, an~ in.finitely pre- ferring them to any intrusive thoughts of God, his glory, or his clarms upo_n them. Persons thus wrapped up in themselves are idolaters of a very gross type, smce tho object of their worship is wholly bad and contempti~le. . III. 'l'HAT PROFLIGACY IS IDOLATRY. Men idolise a wretched creature,-a girl, or wonmn, possessed of some transient beauty and personal attractions, but entirely ,levoid of a single estimable quality. For such a creature they peril_all their prospects, both i_u this life and the next. They make her the queen of their souls, the ob_1ect of their adoration, the star by which they direct their course. The onlinarv cuns,•, l uence is 8hipwrock, both here and hereaft<lr. When so poor au i<lol a:; a w,·ak \,,mt,,n lrns THE TIOOK OF EXODUS. (rn. x:oi:n 1-f-.
Rteppl'd in between the soul and God, there is little che.nce of a roal repentance ancl 1Pt11rn of the 8oul to its Maker. ]Y. THAT AMUBEME?-"T MAY BE IDOLATRY. It is quite possible so to devote oneself tn amusement as to make it shut out God from us. Those who live in a whirl of gaiety, with no time set apart for serious duties, for instructing the ignorant, consoling the affiic-tcd, .,..isiting the poor itnd needy-nay, with scant time for private or fan1ily prayer --Rre idolaters, and will have t-0 give iwcount to a "jealous God," who wills that his creatures should worship him and not make it their highest end to amuse themselves. Y. THAT LOVE OF FAIIRION MAY BE IDOLATRY. Vast numbers of persons who find no amusement in the pursuit, think it necessary to do whatever it is the fashion to do. Their life is a perpetual round of employments in which they have no plea.sure, tind which they have not chosen for themselves, but which the voice of fashlon forces upon them. They drag themselves through exhibitions which do not interest them; lounge at clubs of which they are utterly weary; dine out when they would much rather be at home ; and pa.~s the evening and half the night in showing themselves at balls and assemblies which fatigue and disgust them. And all because Fashion says it is the correct thing. The idol, Fashion, has as many votaries in modern Europe as ever the Dea Syra had in Western Asia, or Isis in Egypt ; and her votaries pass through life as real idolat.ers as the worshippers of the ancient goddesses, albeit unconscious ones.
SECTION XIV.-CHAPTER XXIV. CoMPLF.TION OF THE CoVENANT, AND ASCENT OF MosES INTO THE CLOUD ON SINAI.
EXPOSITION. man and man were ratified among the Hebrews CHAPTER XXIV and Syrians. Vers. 1-8.-Tm: RATIFICATION OF THE Vers. 1, 2.-It has been supposed that these COVENANT. The giving of the Book of the verses are ont of place, and suggested to remove them to the end of verse 8. But no Covenant being now completed, Moses, having cha.nge is necessary. It is quite natural that received directions with respect to another as- God &bould have given the directions before cent into the mount (vers. 1, 2), descended to Moses descended from the mount, and the.t he the people, and in the first instance declared to &bould have deferred executing them until the them the ma.in heads of the Covenant, which people had accepted the covenant. N e.de.b and Abihu were the two eldest of Aaron's they received with favolll, and expressed their sons, and so his natural successors in the willingness to obey (ver. 3). Not, however, pnesthood, had they not sinned by offering regarding this as a sufficiently formal ratifica- "strange fire" (Lev. x. 1, 2). They had been tion, the Prophet proceeded to write out in a mentioned previously, in eh. vi. 23. Seventy " Book " the whole of the commands which he of the elders. On the elders of Israel, see eh. iii. 16, and xviii. 21. The "seventy" elders had received. He then built an altar, erected may, together with Nedab and Abihu, have twelve pillars, offered sacrifice, and havmg represented the twelve tribes, six from each. collected hall the blood of the victims in Wonhip ye afe.r off. Though all were to ascend basins, sommoned the people to an assembly. the mount to a certain height, only Moses was At this, he read over solemnly all the words to go to the top. The others, being less holy than Moses, had to worship at a distance. of the Book to them, and received their solemn Ver. 3.-And Moses oame, Moses descended adherence to it (ver. 7); whereupon. to com- from the mount, and reported to the people plete the ceremony, and mark their entrance all the words of the Lord-all the legislation inro covenant, he sprinkled the blood from the conta.med in the last three chapters and a half ha.sins on the twelve tribes, represented by (eh. XL 19, to eh. xxiii. 33), not perhaps in eztenSQ, but as to its main provisions. And their leaders, and declared the acceptance all the people answered with one voioe, complete (ver. 8). The ceremony was pro- promising obedience. In times of excitement, bably modelled on some customary proceed- a common impulse constantly animates an ings, whereby important contracts between entire multitude, and an exaltation of feeling err. :n,v. 3-B]. THE BOOK OF EXODUS.