thc:-ir <1uccessful Rdministration. As man sank deeper into the mire of corruption, bis supremacy over tho beasts of the field would appear to have been more frequently and fiercely disputed (eh. vi. 11). But now, the Flood having washed away the sinning race, (3) such protection was henceforth to be rendered secure by imbuing the brute nature with an instinctive dread of man which would lend the animals "x> ackno,dedge his supremacy, and rather flee from his presence than assail }:j9 dominion. The operation of this law is pro,•ed to-day by the facts that man retains unquestioned his lordship over all those domesticated animals that are useful to him; that there is no creature, however wild and ferocious, that he cannot tame; and that wherever man appears with his civilising agencies the wild beast instinctive!) retires. 2. A~·ainst. the world ~f men. Ever si~ce the fall man has required to be protected agamst himself. Pr10r to the Flood 1t does not appear that even crimes of murder and bloodshed were publicly avenged. Now, however, the previous laxness, if it was such, and not rather Divine clemency, was to cease, and an entirely new arrangement to come into operation. (1) The law was henceforth to inflict CAPITAL PUNISHMENT on its murderers; not the la.w of man simply, but the law of God. Given to Noah, this statute was designed for the universal family of mnn until repealed by the Authority that imposed it. Not having been exclusively a Jewish statute, the abrogation of the Mosaic economy does not affect its stability. Christ, having come not to destroy the fundamental laws of Heaven, may be fairly presumed to have left this standing. Inferences from the spirit of Christianity have no .alidity as against an express Divine commandment. (2) The reasons for the law were to be the essential dignity of man's nature (ver. 6; cf. homily on the greatness of man, eh. i. 26) and the fundamental brotherhood of the race (ver. 5), a point which appears not to have received sufficient prominence in prediluvian times ( cf. Acts rni. 26). (3) The ezecuti,on of the law was neither to be retained in the Dinne band for miraculous administration, nor to be left in that of the private individual (the kinsman) to gratify revenge, but to he intrusted to society for enforcement by means of a properly-constituted tribunal. This was the commence- ment of social government among men, and the institution of the magisterial office, or the power of the sword (vule Rom. xiii. 1-5). III. PROVISION l"OR TITE SUSTENANCE OF THE BUMAN FAMILY. 1. The rule. It is not certain that animal food was interdicted in Eden; it is almost certain that it was in use between the fall and the Flood. At the commencement of the new era it was expressly sanctioned. 2. The restriction. While the flesh of animals might be used as food, they were not to be mutilated while alive, nor was the blood to be eaten with the flesh. Note the bearing of the first of these on the question of Yinsection, which the Divine law appears explicitly to forbid, except it can be pro\-ed to be indispensable for the advancement of medical knowledge with a view 10 the healing of disease, and, in the case of ext4nding a permission, imperatively requires to be carried on with the least possible infliction of pain upon the unresist- ing creature whose life is thus sacrificed for the good of man; and of the second of these. on the lawfulness of eating blood under the Christian dispensation, see Expos. on ver. 4. 3. The reason. (1) For the rule, which, though not stated, may be judged to have been (a) a concession to the moral weakness of man's soul, and (b) a provision for the pbyi,ical infirmity of man's body. (2) For the restriction- (a) to prevent crue1ty to animals; (b) to fence about man s life by showing the criminality of destroying that of the beast; (c) to assert God's lordship over nil life; (d) because of its symbolic value as the sign of atoning blood. Le-ssons :-1. God's clemency towards man. 2. God's care for man. 3, God's g·oodness to man. 4. God's estimate of man.
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-7.-The new life of man on the earth under n new revelation of th, l>iYine favour. The chief points are- • 1. UNLIMITED POSSEESION Oll' THE EARTH, and use of itn inhabitants and products, whether for food or otherwise ; thus supplying-!. The B! ,ope of life. 2. The enjoy• ment of life. 3. The development of life. OH. IX, 8-17.] THE BOOK OF GENESIS. 143
II. Absolut~ REBPEO1; Fon HU~A~ ~IFE, and pte~erva~ion of the gen~ler feelings (the blood bemg forbidden as mJurious to rna.n m this case), promotmg-1. The suprema.cy of the higher nature over the lower. 2. The revelation of the ethical law. 3. The preparation of the heart for Divine communications. III. Man living in BROTHERHOOD, (1) revealing the image of God, (2) observing God's law, (3) rejoicing in hie blessing, he shall multiply and fill the earth. The earth wa.its for euch inhabitants; already by Divine judgmente prep:ued for them,-R,