I. GoD's HIGH REGARD FOR RUMAN LIFE. This Divine thoughtfulness for men is impressive. Not a life was to be wantonly wasted. Human lifo, it is plain, wns connu-d inferior in value to the interests of public justice; but it was to be sacredly protected against private revenge. This humane provision was all the more requir~d at that time when Israel had been commanded to slay such vast numbers of Canaanites, lncYitably, human sensibility would be blunted, and a grave peril arose that human life would be cheaply rated. The entire land, purchased at such great cost, was n temple-a sacred enclosure-which God had chosen for his abode, and the shedding of innocent blood would degrade and desecrate the hallowed soil. Human life, sustained by God with exquisite pains-capable of eminent usefulness-is appraised by God as or great nlue. fr. TrrE JUDICIOUS ADJUSTMEls""T OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PITY. Doth these are senti- ments implanted in the breast by a Divine hand; both serve the interests of humanity; and both ha Ye a fitting sphere in which to move. For the nation's good, the conscience of every man should be kept in healthful activity. It needs illumination, discipline, ,·igour. The moral sense is as liable to injury, disease, and decay, as any other faculty of mind. 1t may be d(•ficient in wisdom; it may be overburdened with sensitiveness; it may magnify molehills into mountains; it may act with precipitate haste. Side by side with unrelenting hostility for sin, should dll'ell honest pity for the sinner. This pro,·ision of" sanctuaries" in Israel was in no wise an interference with the proper procedure of justice. Dy the decision of competent magistrates the fugitive might yet he h~nded over to the executioner. It gave full opportunity for investigation. It safe- ~uarded a suspected man, if he were innocent of the greater ·crime. It taught men to draw a deep line between unintentional injury and premeditated murder. It shielded from needless death many a useful life. III. PROMPT AND SEVERE EXERTION WAS THE CONDITION OF ESCAPE. When a man ,ms killed, his next of kin was expected to avenge his blood. This rough ministry of jnstice was needful in those early days. It strengthened family ties. It fostered a spirit of brotherhood. It was a shield for the weak and defenceless. If one man had olain another, the presumption was that it had been maliciously done, and prompt vengeance was preparing for him. He had placed himself (inadvertently, it may be) in a serious plight. He was exposed to a sudden reprisal. Before an hour his own life migiit be forfeited. If his conscience told him that he was innocent, there was a possi- bility of escape. But he must promptly flee. He must bid a hasty adieu, or none at all, to wife and children, and run at highest speed for the refuge city, for vengeance is swift-footed as an antelope. Every muscle must be strained to the utmost; his eye must be on every bush and rock, lest the foe should be lurking in ambush; his last resource of strength must be expended upon his flight; he must go direct as an arrow for the p~ovided sanctuary. So for every guilty son of Adam there is a refuge pro- ,·icled ou the bill called" Calvary;" and because Death rides apace upon our heels, we are chr,rgcd to flee-to flee for very life-to this capacious Refuge. So run, that ye may be safe !-D. Y ers. 25-31.-Judgment leading to mercy. After stating the fact of God's jealousy in the matter of graven images, Moses goes on .as a prophet to declare that, if they corrupt themselves in this way in Canaan, the result will be their destruction and dis- persion. But in dispersion, if they turn with all their hearts to God (ver. 29), they shall find him and be restored. God is merciful as well as jealous (ver. 31). 'l'be following thoughts are hereby suggested:- I. Jt:DGMENT IS WITH A VIEW TO AMENDMENT. Of course, the incorrigible stage may eventually be reached. But until this spirit is manifested, judgment is remedial, The dealings of God with Israel, as we know from the history, were in hope of national amendment. Defeat at the band of their enemies, exile in Babylon, and all the severe dispensations were to bring them to their senses and lead them to return to God. Jud•,ment, in fact, is first the servant of mercy. rf 'l'RlllULATION SHOULD AT ONCE LEAD us TO HEART·BEABCHING. It is not an infalliule sign of special sin, as the case of Job proves. But the probabilities are in favour of sur1Josing that some special sin bas called for special sorrow. Let self-ex- amination, then, be the rule in the midst of all our tribulations. God is calling us in trumpet-tones to return to his embrace. en. IV. 25-4!1.) THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. B1
III. M,mov FINDS IN TnoUDLE A SPLENDID SPHERE. The riches of Go,l's C1Tace and mercy can be displayo,l only in the permitted extremities of human experienc;, Tribu- lation, cxilo, the bittemoss which no earthly intermedrlling can relieve, are so many worlds into which mercy enters to assert its power and to reign. The permission of evil has hero the onl,r explanation which the present life allows. Wo shall learn moro afterwards, but meanwhile this is all we can learn here. JV. '!'HE MERCIFUL ONE COUNSELS SOULS TO RETURN AT ONCE TO COVE:NANT RELATIONS, A loving God is jealous of the defections of his people-hence the judgment and the tribulation. But in mercy he counsels retnrn, and promises to receive them into covenant relationship again. Here alone can we have peace and satisfaction of a. perm an en t character. Outside tho covenant there can be no real comfort or joy. In covenant relations with God, there is a charmed circle, and peace passing all understanding. As J srael returned after the exile, may we return from our backslidings to the consolations of the covenant again !-R. M. E.