Egyptia~s and (!anaanites were equally unfit to be followed. The Apostle Paul did not set UJ? hlB ~wn life as a model except in so far as he also imitated Christ (1 Cor. xi. 1). Ob~dience is here descri"bed in three ways, as doing the judgments of God, keeping his ordi~ances, and wul~ing therein (ver. 4). Great is the privilege that moderns enjoy in havmg so many copies of God's Word multiplied as to be easily accessible to all. Surely we ought to meditate therein day and night, that we may order our steps thereby. III. OBEDIENCE MAY DE STIMULATED BY REFLECTION. I. Upon the right of God. to isSU,e commands. "I am Jehovah" is his claim to attention as the Fount of law, and a claim which no thoughtful mind should reject. The ever-living Almighty Holy One possesses in himself every attribute that demands our homage. To withhold it is to violate congruity, to act in a manner out of harmony with what fitness requires. 2. Upon O'IJ/r acceptance of his lordship over us. " I am the Lord your God." We have entered iuto covenant relationship with him, and we break the terms of agreement if we fail to keep his statutes. The plural form of "God" may, without forcin_g, be taken here to indicate that the Israelites had deliberately bonnd themselves to the one Jehovah as their" Gods," instead of the idols of the nations round. God is our Father, how shall we be disobedient children? our King, how can we act as rebellious BUbjects? our Lawgiver, how can we dare to transgress his commandments? 3. Upon the blessedness attained by observance of God's statutes. "Which if a man do, he shall live in them." Man thought to increase bis power by ta.sting forbidden fruit, but be lost his life, and only regained it in proportion as he returned to obedience. It ls true that the impossibility of perfectly keeping the Law foreshadowed the necessity of another way of salvation, but according as the Israelites adhered to the Law in letter and spirit, so they experienced happiness and the favour of God, which is life indeed. We rejoice in the gospel plan of faith in Christ, not as making the Law inoperative, but .as enabling us to fulfil its aim, to accomplish its real design-sanctification of life; and therein delivered from thraldom, we enter upon the life eternal that comprehends all blessing. We listen to the Law now, not BS if it were the stern prescription of a hard Taskmaster, but as the instruction of a loving, all-wise Friend, which the more closely we follow, the more prosperous our career will be. " Freely we serve, because we freely love."-S. R. A. Vers. 24, 25.-..4.bominations denounced. Some chapters of law, as of history, are Bot pleasant reading. That they should have been found necessary is a proof of the fearful depravity into which man may fall, sinning against natural instincts, hurried away and blinded by passion so as to overstep the bounds of decency. The prohibi- tions of this chapter were designed to hallow marriage and the family relationship. Their observance would tend to benefit the entire nation, for the laws of God are framed with benevolent wisdom. To sin against them is to wrong one's own soul. I. THE DENUNCIATIONS AND THBEATENINGS EVINCE GoD's HATRED OF ABOMINABLE CONDUCT. "That the land spue not you out also." "The souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people." Strong is the language applied to sinful practices-they are "wickedness" (ver. 17), "abomination" (vcr. 22), "confusion,, (ver. 23). The Law will have no compromise, admits of no alternative amongst God's people, the command is, "Thou shalt not." Wickedness is not to be tolerated even in the stranger (ver. 26); he is not obliged to conform to all the ceremonies, but ho must rigidly abstain from every moral offence. The New Testament relaxes not one jot in condemnation of all that is impure and filthy in conduct and oven language (see Rom. i. 18, 32; 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10; Eph. v. 3-5; Rev. ui. 8). II. TBE DELAY BETWEEN BIN AND PUNISHMENT JS A MADK OF THE KINDNESS AND LONG-SUFFERING OF GoD. (See Peter's argument in 2 Epist. iii. 9.) In Gen. xv. 16 it was expressly declared, "the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full." They were allowed four hundred years to repent, or to fill up the cup of their iniquity, aud they chose the latter. This is the clearest answer to any who would impugn the justice of God's dealing with the Canaanites in exterminating them with fire and sword. Ob, too folly of men who abuse precious time by laughing at solemn announcements of coming woe, instead of employing it in making their peace with God! By every moment that intervenes between the sinner and death God urges him to seek pardon 11.w. .amendment. 286 THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. [cH. XIL 1-37.
Ill. THE INSTANCES RECORDED SHOW THE CERTAIN VISITATION OF BIN WITH GOD'S :a)ISPLEASURE. Delay is no guarantee of final immunity from punishment. The heathen were at last driven out of the land, and likewise the Israelites who succeeded felt the wrath of God on account of the shameful customs in which they indulged. God is impartial,, and does not spare sin in his people or his enemies. As the denunciation shows God in principle and language, so the fulfilment of bis threat demonstrates him in act1 and is a further vivid evidence of his dislike of all wickedness. Nathan was God's messenger to rebuke and threaten David, as afterwards John the Baptist de- nounced Herod for taking his brother's wife. Just retribution foretells a day of judgment, when inequalities of punishment shall be righted and God's equity triumph- antly vindicated. Here we see sufficient to establish the fact of the' existence of a moral government (Eccles. viii 11-13). IV. THE CLIMAX OF SIN IS BE.ACHED WHEN NATURE HERSELF SEEMS TO ABIIOB THD snrnER. Graphic is the picture of the land loathing its burden and vomiting forth its inhabitants. As a leprosy infected walls and garments, so the abominations of the heathen defiled the land itself that it stank. The results of immorality upon the state of society and of individuals have been appalling. Eventually everything has sunk into ruin disinteQTil.tion and corruption have prevailed. The population decreases by sickness ;nd barr~nness and murder. The arts and sciences decay, literature is blighted, philanthropy unknown. The text reminds_ us tha~ a closer c_onnection exists ~tween man and inanimate nature than we sometimes think (see th1e also suggested 1n Rom. viii. 20 and Gen. iii. 17). CoNCLUSION. If the subject is painful, the lesson may be salutary. Sin is widespread. "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." We may be glad of the healthful influence of Christianity, rigbtJ,y directing public opinion, and erecting it into a safeguard against evil. "Having these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."-S. R. A.