Now rncn will riso or fall nccording as the moral nntnre is cultured or nc,,lccted. j\Jl(l 'it i~ bccnuso tho Divine precepts constitnto a directory for our hic,hcst ~selves that they nro so invalnnblo to us. DouUlcss, to some extent, the Lnw of God is stiJi graven in the hearts aml consciences of men; anu if men were perfoct, the Law written 011 the heart woultl be clenr enough. But ns men neglect God's Law, they come to fail in disceming it. '!'he characters written inwardly nre more and more faint, and, lest it should ceaso from nmong men, our Goel has had his will gr~cio:1sly recorded in a Book, Q\lr constant standard of appeal, our unvarying directory of right! II. 'l'lllcSE BTATUTIIS AND JUD0MENTB Ant,; TO nE PliBSl-:RVED ISTACT. "Ye shall 110 t ad,l unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it." 'l'ho rnanif'nslatiou of the tendency of men to do one or the other, ye,i both, is one of the saude,t chapters in human history (see Homily on eh. xii. 32). (Gf. ,Jcr. xxvi. 2; l'iov. xxx. 6; Rev. xxii. 18, HJ; Matt. v. 19; xv. 1-13.) Scepticism violates God's Law by subtracting from it; superstition, by adding to it. Our appeal must ever be "to the Law and to the testimony," and tho appeal will only be vali<l, nay, will only be possible, as both are preserved iptact and kept free from the tamperin~ of men. Ill. 'l'HEY ARE TO DE PTIESERVED IN THEIR ENTinETY, IN onoEn THAT TIIEY MAY BE ODEYED rn THEIR ENTinETY. Hearken, for to do them (see John xiii. 17; Jas. i. 22). A mere reverence for the letter, without obedience to the spirit, is displeasing to God. Jesus Christ complained of this among the Jews (John v. 38--40). A written law, honoured as to its preservation, but yet neglected in life, is a silent witness against us (John v. 45). Men may rest in having the oracles of God, and may cherish even up to the last, vain hopes of acceptance on the ground of privilege, but they will be unce- ceived (Matt. vii. 21-27). Obedience to the Law of God includes the two great dut:es of trust in a great salvation aud loyalty to moral precepts. No man was allowed lo trifle with the sacrificial code any more than with the elhical: both formed parts of the Law; both were to be observed with equal exactitude. !V. ODEDIENCE TO THE LAW WOULD BE FOR ISRAEL'S WEAL, AND WAS THE CO!<'DITION OF 'l'HETR CON'l'INUANCI!: IN THE LAND. Ver. 1, "That ye may live," etc. The word "life" is very far from being a mere synonym for "existence." It is equivalent to "healthful existence," a state of being in which all liis powers and functions are in har- monious exercise, and directed to their proper objects and ends. Nor can any one doubt that obedience to the laws of God has a tendency to promote trne comfort and succP~s iu this life, while it is certainly the truest, yea, the only, preparation for the next. Besides, the blessing of God is promised to the obedient. If a man's life accords with the laws of God, he will find out how conducive obedience is to good. But if he "strives with his Maker," his life-course will bristle up with prickles everywhere. V. As WE LOOK ROUND, WE MAY SEE SAD EXAMPLES OF THE REVERSE, FROM WHICH WE MAY TAim WARNING. (See the sad history of Baal-peor, referred to iu ver. 3.) Surely we should take warning from that, and from too many similar instances. The pre- valence of lust will be destructive of life's beauty, peace, power, and hope. VI. THE EXPERIENCE OF THE PEACE AND JOY, ATTENDANT UPON A LIFE OF LOY.\T,TY TO Goo, 18 A STRONG ARGUMENT FOR CONTINUANCE THETIEIN. Ver. 4, "Ye that did cleave unto the Lord your God are alive every one of you this day." What would the victims of lust and greed and passion give if they could but have the calm peacefulness of one who follows the Lord fully l But that cannot be. The test of a life for God is God's own seal to its worth in his eye (cf. Ps. xci.); while (cret. par.) long life is en- sured by the healthy state of body which a righteous life induc11s. And the hope- the good hope through grace-which gilds the outlook, oh, the unutteral>le joy of that! • IN CONCLUSION. 1. It is just as imperative, in a Christian point of view, for us to combine obedience to the sacrificial and ethical law of the gospel, as it was for the llebr~ws to obey both parts of their Law. No outside virtues performed in_ a legal, self-righteous spirit will save us. Nor will any trust in the sacrifice of Chnst, apart fr?m holiness, be accepted. Both faith in Christ and holy li viug, form iascparable parts ot a true obedience to God. 2. The rich fulness of peace which those eajoy who trust, lo_ve, and obey, is far greater under the gospel than it could have been nuder the Law 0 1 Moses, because, in Christ the revelation of Divine love is so much clearer, aud the
"blcs~cil hope" is so 1nnch i,rightcr. Christ gives us a rest iu himself, aoil the life he 62 TIIE BOOK Qtr DEUTEHONOMY, [cu. IV. 1-~4.
qnick<>ns nnd ~ustnins in believers is a restful life (see Hom. v. 1-11; Phil. iv. 4.-7), "Th0ugh now we sec him not,, yet believing, we rejoice wit,h. joy unspeakable and full of glory." 'l'his is life indeed!