the dust. They come Crom God OT' a.re permitted by him. To take a.cl vantage of them or to trifle with them is therefore to tempt the Lord. (2) The frar of the retributive justice of Heaven should restrain (see Luke xvii. 1). Biblical history abundantly proves that the law of retalia.tion is a law of God.-J. A. M. Ven. 15-18.-Justice. As charity is sister to piety, so is justice related to both. This virtue is enjoined upon us- I. IN BESPEC71' TO coNDuar. 1. In judgment justir.e .,hould be impartial. (1) Pity for the poor ie, in the abstr~t, good. Yet must it not lead us to favour them a:;ainst the right (Exod. xxiii. 3). "C2) Respect for those who enjoy rank and station is not only lawful but laudable. But this must not lead us to favour them in judgment (see Jas. ii. 1-4). (3) The balances of justice are those of the sanctuary. They are true. They must be held by an impartial hand. It must not tremble under the excitement -0f pity, or of hope, or fear. 2. In dealings jwtir.e should be strict. (1) "Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people." Pedlaring is the vice here inter- dicted.· This is rather the meaning of the word (1,,:i,) rendered "talebearer." Tramps, who have no settled residence, are oftentimes dishonest, and otherwise so dangerous to society, that every nation has its vagrant acts to control them. (2) The Jews in their dispersion a.re much given to pedlaring. It has been to them a necessity owing to the unfriendly laws of the nations with respect to them. How dreadfully their sin has been visited upon their head when their necessities urge them to violate their law I (3) Ped- lars have, amongst other evils, been notorious tale-bearer,. By the slanders they have circulated not only has the peace of families been invaded, but communities and nations have been embroiled. The Jews say, "One evil tongue hurts three persons-the speaker, the hearer, and the person spoken of" (see Prov. xi. 13; x.x. 19). 3. The evils -0/ injwtice are seriom. (1) "Neither she.It thoµ stand against the blood of thy neigh- bour." Some are wicked enough of purpose to compass the blood of the innocent by falsehood (Prov. ii. 11, 12; Ezek. xxii. 9). (2) Slander may have this result without; the intention of the slanderer. Who can control a conflagration? (see Jae. iii. 6) IL IN BEBPEC71' TO MOTIVE. 1. 11 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart.'" -(1) He is thy brother. He has a common fatherhood with thee in God. He has a ~mmon natnre with thee. (2) He is therefore amenable with thee to the same tribunal. God, the Judge of all, surveys not the conduct only, but also the motive. 2. 11 Thou shalt in any wise re'ffuke thy neighbour.'' (1) Not to reprove his sin is to hate him. This is ,eminently so when he bath trespassed against thee. To conceal it in such a case is to nurse wrath against the opportunity for revenge (2 Sam. xiii. 22). Such conduct is uttetly at VRrie.nce with the spirit of the gospel (see Matt. :r.viii. 15 ; Luke xvii. 3). {2) To "suffer sin upon him" is to be an accomplice in his sin. The words may be construed, "nor bear his sin." '!'his suggests that the accomplice, with the guilt, is also obnoxious to the punishment of the sinner. Men wreak their vengeance upon ,themselves. (3) In rebuking we should remember that the sinner is our II neighbour." It should be done in e. neighbourly way, Thus, as far as practicable, privately. "Charity covereth e. multitude of sins," viz. from others, though not from the sinner. And kindly. It is thus more likely to be well received, as it ought to be (see Ps. cxli. 6; Prov. xxvii. 6, 6). 3. The root of justice ia love. (I) "Thou she.It not avenge.'' This is another way of saying, "Thou shalt forgive." With the spirit of vengeance there can be no peace in the world. God says, "Vcngee.nce is mine ; " he claims the right to e.vt1ni;:e because he a.lone is superior to all retaliation. (2) 11 Nor bear any grudge.'' Thou shalt not insidi=ly watch the children of thy people. How the Jews violated this law in their malignity against Jesus I (see Mark iii. 2; Luke vi. 7; xiv. 1; xx. 2). (3) Con- trariwise, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.'' 'l'his is the spirit of the Law as well as of the gospel. '!'he same Holy Spirit of love is the author of both (see Matt. 'Vii. 12; xxii. 39; Rom. xiii. 9, 10; 1 Cor. ix. 19; Ge.I. v. 14).-J. A. M.
Vere. lS-28.-Fidelity to God. In the verses before us we note the injunction- I. THAT THE STATUTES 01!' THE LORD MUST BE KEPT. These require: 1. That there (be no unnatural mixture,. (1) For the examples furnished, sound economic and hygienic reasons may be given (ver. 19). (a) Cattle which God ordered II after their -kind" (Gen. i. 25), are not to be let to gender with diverse kinds. Hybrids a.re degene- 308 THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. [on. XIX. 1-37'.