Vers. 14-21.-Exceptional hospitality. How welcome I Few of us but have at some time or other been belated in a strange place. We know nobody, and perhaps the people are reserved and suspicious. In such a ce.se one friend, the only one, and, like this man, depending upon daily work for daily bread, becomes of inestimable Bervice. '!'he feeling of homelessness would be deepened in the case of the Levite when he recalled the good cheer from which he he.d come. I. THOSE WHO HAVE DEEN STRANGERS THEMSELVES ARE BEST ABLE TO SYMPATHISE WITH STRANGERS. " He so}ourned in Gibeah." II. THE POOR ARE OFTEN MORE HOSPITABLE THAN THE RICH. Their occupation often introduces them to persons in distress. "Whe.t would the poor do if it were not for the poor?" Simplicity of life tends to cultive.te true sympathy. Ill. THERE JS NO PLACE BO WICKED AND UNLOVING AS TO BE WITHOUT SOME WIT- NESS TO TRUTH AND GOODNESS. What a hell this Gibeah I Yet in it we.s one" like o2 196 THE BOOK OF JUDGES. [CH, XIX, 1-30
~to ~he Son of ma!1.'' ~hat judgn~ei:its he n~AY have _averted from ile g·uilty mhab1tants I Exceptional piety hke tins 1s no accidental tlung • etill less can it be the product of surrounding social influences. There are many wnys in which we 111ay serve our fellows, if the love of God be in our hearts. Perhape the people thought him eccentric ; many would despise him ns poor and a stranger· but he was the one man who did God's work at a time when it sorely needed to be done. Shall not such hospitality be remembered in the kingdom? "I was an hungred and ye ga.e me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger and 'ye took me in," &c. (Matt. x.xv. 35, 40).-M. '
Ver. 30.-Unparallel~ crime: the spirit and method in which its problems ai·e U> be met The narrative of the book has been gradually deepenmg in tragic interest and moral importance; it now reaches its climax. The sentence which the people themselves passed upon this crime is repeated, that public inquiry may be directed to the significance of it, to the causes of its production, and the meane for preventing the recurrence of similar enormities. To the author the unity of the nation, publicly represented in the tabernacle at Shiloh and the throne of the new kingdom, as the outward symbols of theocratic government, is the grand epecific, and the proof of this may be said to be the dogmatic purpose of his work. Studying the same problem in its modern illustrations, we are carried onward to a deeper and more radical cause, and, consequently, to the need of a more potent and inward influence of restraint and salvation. But do we study sufficiently, from the higher philosophic and religious standpoint, the great crimes that startle us from day to day? Would it not be a "means of grace" by no means to be despised were we to grapple with the spiritual and practical be .. rings of sue}, occurrences ? There could not well be a more judicious course in such events than that advised by the writer. It is terse, natural, philosophic. I. PERSONAL MEDITATION. "Consider it.'' In all its relations; our own ae well a11 others. Let it show us the measure of public declension in morale and religion. Ask what neglect in the matter of education, social fellowship, or religious teaching and influence will account for it. How far am I as an individual in sympathy with the ideas, customs, and whole cast of public life in my time? How far am I my brother's keeper? Can anything be done to rouse the public conscience to a keener and more influential activity? How easy or how difficult would a similar crime be to myself? Prayers that I may be kept from such a thing, and may lead others into a better way. II. CONSULTATION. Not at random, but of persons qualified to advise. The deliberations of the "Prisoners' Aid Society" would furnish a model for practical discussion. But " statistics " will never solve the problem. It is a question of human depravity, and a general repentance and alarmed attention ie needed. III. JuDGMENT. A careful, mature, well-informed and advised opinion; but, as being the opinion of the nation, it mU&t be carried into effect. Something must be done, as well as thought. How valuable and influential such a judgment I It carriee within itself the seeds of reformation and the conditione of recovery.-M. Vera. 1~21.-Hospitality. I. THOUGH MEN WHO ARE ABANDONED TO SINFUL PLEASURES MAY DELIGHT IN THE SOCIETY OF BOON COMPANIONS, THEY WILL SHOW THEMSELVES WANTING IN THE GENEROSITY OF TRUE HOSPITALITY. The men of Gibeah would unite in seeming friendliness for riotous wickedness ; but they were wanting in the almost universal Eaetem kindness to the etranger. The intemperate and vicious may appear to be more generous in their boisterous freedom than pereons of more strict habite ; but they are too selfish for real generosity. Self-indulgence is essentially selfieh ; vice ie naturally moroee. II. WE SHOULD ENDEAVOUR TO DO RIGHT, '!'HOUGH THIS MAY BE CONTRARY TO THE EXAMPLE OF OUR NEIGHBOURS. The old man was shocked at the inhospitality of the men of Gibeah. He was not a native of the place, and though he may have lived there long, he retained the kinder habits of his native home. When at Rome we are not to do as Rome does if thie is clearly wrong. Englishmen abroad may :find it difficult to resiet the bad eocial influences of foreign towns ; but if they are Christians OB. XIX, 1-30.] 1'HE BOOK OF JUDGES. 197