God commanded us to strive against hurtful lusts because they "drown men in per- dition" (1 Tim. vi. 9), and have caused incalculable loss of those who should have had inheritance with us; but we on our part fight against these sins because they dishonour God, and destroy the souls for which Christ died. And both these motives are in effect one, and unite to make our warfare a holy war, albeit a war of vengeance, in which no mercy may be shown. IV. THAT THE WAR WITH MIDIAN WAS DISTINCTLY ONE 011' VENGEANCE FOR INJURIES INFLICTED ON THEMSELVES AND ON THE LORD. Even BO in the strife of the Christian against carnal sin there is a true element of revenge, and abundant room for holy indignation, and even for sharp reprisals; albeit these are all directed against that in himself which is hateful to a man's better self and to God (1 Cor. iL 27; 2 Cor. vii. 11 ; Rom. viii. 13). V. THAT IF ONLY 12,000 ACTUALLY WENT TO THE WAR, ALL lsBAEL WENT BY BEPRE- SENTATION-1000 FROM EACH TRIBE, So the con:8.ict against sin may be in a few only conspicuous and acute, yet these only represent what is going on secretly more or less in the hearts and lives of Christian people generally. The stress of fight may fall on some, but all are calloo to fight. VI. THAT TO THIS WAR ISRAEL WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE PRIEST (Phinehas-see on eh. xxv.), THE SACRED TRUMPETS, AND, AS IT SHOULD SEEM, THE ARK ITSELF. Even BO the Christian warfare against sin is guided, sanctified, and cheered by the High Priest himself of our profession (Heh. ii. 18; xii. 2; Rev. iii. 4, 5), and by the stirring tones of the gospel, and by the glorious mystery of the incarnation itself- God with us, the All-holy tabernacled in our flesh, Christ in us, the hope of glory hereafter and the sweet constraint unto purity now. VII. THAT ALL TBE MEN OF MIDIAN WERE BLAIN, TOGETHER WITH THEIR KINGS, Even so it is the destiny of the Church at large, and may be our individual happiness, to overthrow and destroy all hurtful lusts, however strong and active, which are in enmity with the law of God. So also their princes, "the world-rulers of this dark- ness," shall not stand before us, but shall perish (1 Cor. xv. 25; Ephes. v. 27; vi. 12, &c.). VIII. THAT THE SOLDIERS EBBED IN SPARING SUCH AS SEEMED WEAK AND HARMLESS, AND MIGHT BE SAFELY TURNED TO PROFIT. The women were in fact more dangerous than the men; the boys would become as dangerous as their fathers. Even so do we err in setting our faces strongly against certain sins which are accounted dis- graceful, while we tolerate others because they seem comparatively harmless, or even profitable. Thie is exactly what civilisation does: it puts down very thoroughly the ruder vices of mankind, but it spares the softer vices, partly because it feels no repugnance to them, partly because they actually make for wealth. But these softer vices are even more fatal to morality, because more insidious and more fascinating ; and these sins which seem to add to the general wealth are preparing a disastrous future for the nation. The moral law of the gospel bids us wage an equal war with all sins wiU1out exception, and takes no account whether they are offensive or inoffensive, hateful or pleasant, to the natural man, to public opinion, or to the sentiment of the age. IX. THAT MOSES COMMANDED ALL TO BE SLAIN EXCEPT THE YOUNG GIRLS, WHO DY BEASON OF THEIR YOUTH AND INNOCENCE MIGHT SAFELY BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGI! THE HOUSEHOLDS 0ll' ISRAEL. Even so all passions which belong to the lower and con- quered nature of man must be "mortified'' and exterminated, except such as can be safely and thoroughly absorbed in the sanctified life. This is the only test. What- ever natural desires can be taken up into the Christian life without remaining as n foreign element (and therefore a source of danger) within it may be spared, and ought to be welcomed, but· no others. All the rest must at nny cost be got rid of (Matt. xix. 12; Mark il! 43-49; Rom. viii. 13 ; 1 Cor. ix. 27; Ephes. iv. 22; Col. iii. 5 ). X. THAT ALL THR REST OP TlIE SPOIL MUST DE PURIFIED EITHER DY FIRE OR WATER, on B01'B, Dl!:FORE IT COUJ,D COME INTO THE CAMP. Even BO whatever is to be brought over (and it ie indeed very much) from the natural life of passion into the snnctified life of grace must be purged by the cleansing virtue of the utonement (the wat•cr of separation: see on eh. xix.), and by the baptism of the Holy Spirit ( see on M(ltt. iii. 408 THE BOOK OF NUMBEltS. (OH. XXXI. 1-54,
11). Nothing which bas been contaminated with sin can be turned to Christian usee unless it is first sanctified according to its nature. But, subject to this purifying, all that is not in itself sinful may be adapted to Christian ends, and used by Christian people.
Consider again, with respect to tM booty talcen- I. THAT IT WAS VERY GREAT, A.ND GREATLY ENRICHED THE FIOPLE, Even BO there is more spiritual gain to be made by attacking and destroying sins than by anything else. Churches and souls would never need to complain of spiritual poverty if they busied themselves in waging zealous and unsparing war against the sine within their own reach, within themselves. II. THAT ALL SHARED IN THE SPOIL, BUT THOSE THAT WARRED HAD llY FAR THE LARGER SHARE INDIVIDUALLY. Even so it is for the profit and edification of all that sins should be successfully assailed ; but those who bear the brunt of temptation and f'trive against sin even " unto blood " have by far the greater reward in themselves. Let this be our Christian ambition, to earn the higher prizes of" him that overcometh" (Mark x. 29, 30; 1 Tim. i. 18; 2 Tim. ii. 4, 5; Heh. xii. 4). III. THAT AMONGST THE SPOIL THERE WERE A MULTITUDE OF HUMAN llEINGS AND THESE PROBABLY THE MOST VALUABLE PART OF IT. Even so in the Christian warlare against sin there are a multitude of souls rescued from slavery, and these of priceless worth, beyond all other rewards which we could ask or think of. The girls of Midian seemed to be delivered into slavery ; they were in fact delivered from a horrible slavery, and made free in the only way which was then possible. So are those souls which are brought into the service and strictness of Christ made free by the truth (Luke v. 10; John viii. 32, 34, 36; 2 Cor. i. 14; Philip. iv. 1; James v. 20). IV. THAT THE LORD'S PORTION AND THE PORTION OF HIS MINISTERS WAS EXACTED lll!:FORE THE SPOIL MIGHT llE APPBOPBlATED. Even so, whatever is allowed to Christian use which has belonged to a sinful world, God and his Church have a first claim upon it. It is only through the sanctifying influences of grace that Christian people can freely and safely enjoy the many comforts and luxuries and profits which else they must have forsworn. It is but right that these should first of all be willingly taxed for the glory of God among men, and for the support of all outward ministries of grace (Luke :xi. 41).