The Pulpit Commentary — Joshua — Section 356

HOMILETIC B. Vera. 1-45.-The ecclesiastical settlement of Canaan. Though the ecclesiastical institutions of the Christian Church differ, in some respects materially from those of the Jewish, yet inasmuch 0,s the lnw ancl the gospel came from tb~ same All- wise Hanel, wo may naturnlly expect that the main principles of each will be the smne. Perhaps we have insisted too much of late on the fact that the law was "clone 0,way in Christ,"_ancl too little on the qualifying tmth that Christ came" not to destroy, but to fulfil 1t.'' It may be well, therefore, to consider briefly what the duties of the priests were umler the olcl covenant. From this we may he able to infer what their duties shoulcl be uncler the new. The New Testament Scriptures contain some information on the point, but not so much as to rencler it unnecessary to seek some enlightenment from the Old. The reaction from an obedience to powers uncluly claimed and unjustly used, has rend erecl it all the more necessary that we should recur to first principles in the matter. The hatred of what is calletl " sacerdot11lism" has resulted on the part of the laity in general to something like an undue impatience of the just influence of ministers of religion, and this can only lead to disorder in the Christian body. We may observe, then, (1) that the per- formance of the public duties of religion belonged exclusively to them, and t?1e cases of Korah, S11ul, Uzz11h, 11nd King Uzziah show how rigidly this law was to he observed. For the sacrifies of the olcl law we must substitute the spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise in the congregation, the administration of the sacraments, the ordering of the services of the sanctuary. They had (2) to "bear the iniquity of the sanctuary" (Num. xviii. 1) which would seem to mean, in the case of the Christian clergy, that they are bound to take npon themselves the office of public and private intercession for God's people, just as Daniel dJd during the Babylonish captivity (Dan. ix. 3-20). Nor is this to be confined to their own particular flocks. Who can tell the blessing to Christian society if all the ministers of religion kept up a ceaseless intercession for the sins of Christian people in general, 11nd especially for those of their own country and Church? Again, (3) the decision of difficult causes is referred to them as well as the judges. To claim such a right would be regarded in these days as an unbounded instance of priestly arrogance. Yet it h~s been claimed, not only by ecclesiastics of the Roman Church, but by Calvin and his followers, by John Knox, and by the Puritans in the reign of Elizabeth. Ko doubt the claims of all these parties were pushed to inordinate lengths. But, on the other hand, it does not seem extravagant to believe thnt in a healthy state of society, the influence of those whose studies are chiefly concerned with the word of God, should be considerable in matters relating to the application of the principles of morality. Of course nothing like an absolute authority is claimed for them. All that Scripture gives them is a consultative voice, a co-ordinate with that of_ the magistrate or legislator. Such was e.ctually the position given to the clergy in Anglo-S11xon times, and though, no doubt, the incl"0ased and incre11sing cornple:rity of modern society renders special study more and more necessary for the inter- pretation of laws, the same rule does not hold good rega1·ding their enactment. Lastly, the priests of the old covenant, though not formally charged with it by the le.w, yet (see Levit. x. 11; Dent. xvii. 9-12) became practically (4) the interpreters of God's revealed will. We learn this from tbe text, '' The priests' lips should keep 'knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth" (Mal. ii. 7). This office, though not formally co=ittecl to the clergy under the gospel, any more than under the law, is yet at present vested in them exclusively by common consent. They are the authorised expounders of the truths of religion. Not that the people are bound to accept implicity whatever they say. For it is implied in the passage above cited and by many others, that the priests· lips clicl not keep know(eclge, an,l that men sought the law e.t his mouth in vain. It is the duty of the laity. to lest the truth of what is delivered to them by the word of Goel. ~ut, exc~~t m nry rnre inst11nces that of Origen for example, the task of the public expos1t10n of the oracles of God has been reserved for those who have been called to the nffire of the ministry. In these four respects the ecclesie.stical arrangements of a Christian 304 THE BOOK OF JOSHUA. [cu. XXI. 1-4,,.