toman(cf.Gon.iii.24; viii. 20; xv.17; Exod.iii.;xix.; Isa.iv.; xxxl.9). Now, whatc,·er may be the attribute of God here set forth under tho figure of fire, it, like nil G0d's attributes, must be twofold in its action in a siriful world. The action of fire js according to the object on which it acts. 1. There is a terrific action of fi1·e. It tril's what is bad (1 Cor. iii. 13). It consumes (Lev. x. 2). It appals (Numb. xi. 1-3; lsa. xxxiii. 14 ). It dest.roys (2 Kings i. 12; Luke iii. 17; John xv. 6; Ps. xcviii. 3; Heb. vi. S). 2. There is a J.i'Tldly action of flame. It enkindles (Lev. ix. 24). It tries (I Pet. i. 'i; Isa. xlviii. 10). It purifies (Ps. xii. 6). It guards (Zech. ii. 6; 2 Kings ,·i. Ii; eh. ix. 3). It escorts (2 Kings ii. 11). It guides (Exod. xl. 38). It en- lightens (Ps. lxxviii. 14). It is as a pavilion of glory (Exod. iii. 2; Isa. xxxiii. 14-17). Now, widely different as is the action or the meaning of flaming fire from heaven in all these cases, the difference is not in the flame, but in the material on which it acts. 'l'hc same fire that melts the wax will bake the clay. So the very same attribute of God in which the righteous may glory will be a terror to his enemies. 3. Fire when FJJoken of in reference to God, is an emblem of: (1) Purity. In Exod. iii. 2-5 God would signify that in his redeeming love he, the holy God, would dwell with 'men and that men might dwell in the midst of his blazing holiness, and yet be perfectly at home. (2) Power (eh. ix. 3; vii. 8). Power exerting itself on behalf of those who lo,·e him. (3) Jealousy (eh. iv. 23, 24). (4) An_qei· (eh. vi. 15). Thus there :1.I'e these four conceptions to be attached to the use of the phrase "a consuming fire," -viz. a pavilion of purity in which Israel might dwell unharmed; a. jealousy which could brook no rival; an anger which would go forth against sin; a. power which· would guard its own as with tongue~, yea, with walls of flame. 4. But we may take another step, and reduce this fourfold conception to a twofold one. There is a11gcr against sin because of spotless purity. '!'here is jealousy which will brook no rival, and a. power tba.t will guard its own because of intensest love. 'l'hus the consuming fire is purity, in which righteousness may dwell, and in which sin is consumed; and loYc, which is mighty in its active care, and jealous of any rival in the human heart. 5. We may simplify yet again, and ,·educe the twofold conuption to a unity, and say that God is a consuming fire, inasmuch as he is perfect love-pure love, active love, jealous love ; so that our tex.t is but another way of saying, "God is light," "God is love." Let us now- ll. LOOK AT THESE TIIIlEE FO!lMS OF THE EXPilESSION "PERFECT LOVE," AND SEE vmAT TllEY rxvoLvE. L Pure love. God is a flaming fire of infinite purity, and yet a burning flame of tenderest love. He receives the sinner on a basis of righteousness. He makes men who are in covenant relation to him perfectly pure. They are to be tried and purified and made white, till they are without fault before the throne of God. Yv· ould we have it otherwise? God's love without its purity would be worth- less to us! 2. Active love. God castles his saints in a wall of fire (Isa. iv. 6), while he also destroys their foes as with a tongue of fire. 3. Jealous love. There is a hate- ful jealousy. There is a rightful one. 'l'he first it would be unworthy of :i. man to pos;,ess; the second, a man would be unworthy of himself if be did not. A falher would be worth little if he were not jealous for the purity of his child; so would a husband if not jealous for the honour of his wife; or an Englishma.n,-if not jealous for the honour of his queen! Even so, it would be unworthy of God if he were not jealous, in the scriptural sense. Note: (l) God's love is jealous for the first place in our hearts. (2) God is jealous for bis own purity, holiness, and truth. (3) He is iealous for the honour of his Son. He will not let one be lost who receives him, nor ,1·ill be Jet one be saved who trifles with him. To go against Christ is to rush into the consuming flame! Ill. WHA1' ARE THE PRACTICAL USES TO DE MADE OF TlllS SODLIME ATTRIBUTE OF Gon? (See the use made of it in the Epistle to the Hebrews, eh. xii., the last three or fuur n,rses.) 1. Is God thus a consuming fire? 'l'hen let us never attempt to ciraw Di:~L unto him without a recognition both of his purity and of our sinfulnesH. :!\o serl'ice is accepted before God which does not take account of sin, and in connec· tiuu with which there is not "reverence and godly fear." 2. Do not let us think of any mode of recognition of sin which ignores God's own way, viz. that of an atouihg cacrifice. God will jealously guard the honour of his dear Son. "If they ew1p<;d not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, UH, IV, 1-24,] THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. 61
if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven." 3. If thus we are penitently mriking use of tho atoning sacrifice of Christ as our only means of appmach to and ground of hope in God, then let us glory in this holy, jealous love, which auards us as with a wall of fire, and is our everlasting guarantee that we shall not be put to shrimo. 4. Lot us remember that it depends on ourselves whether the "consum- in~ fire" is a flamo at which we tremble, or a pavilion in which ,ve can hide. God cannot deny himself. He will not deal ,vith the sinner on any principle which i.~norcs the great at~n~ment which his S_on has eftected, or which admits of his accepting the service of a d1v1ded heart. It 1s for us to say whether the great redeeming work of Jesus shall be the means by which we are raised to fellowship in infinite holiuess, or whether it shall be to us the savour of death unto death. It must be one or the other. If we receive it, it will bring us to eternal rest in God ; if we reject it, it will deepen our condemnation more terribly than if no Saviour had been provided I Our God is a consuming fire. If, in Jesus, we draw near to him, that burning, blazing holiness shall be the secret place of his tabernacle in which we are safely hidden. If we neglect this great salvation, as men unpardoned and un- saved, we shall remain, and at the flame of Jehovah's purity we shall tremble for ever! Sinner, say, oh say, shall this fire of God's perfect love surround you ever as a wall of protection, or shall it terrify and consume you as devouring flame?