HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-3.-" Obedience the encl of Law." All the machinery of law is abortive, unless obedience be the result. As a mother teaches her children, giving them "line upon line," frequent repetition and variation, so Moses patiently taught Israel. He was "faithful in all his house." I. SEE THE INTERNAL EXCELLENCE OF GoD's LAW. It has so many qualities of merit, that no one word in human language can express them all. They are "command- ments," which word indicates the just authority from which they emanate. They are "statutes," implying their fixed and permanent character. They are "judgments," a. description which denotes thoughtful deliberation, patient forethought, and sagacious decision. No greater benefactor can men have than a wise legislator. These Laws, if reverently observed, would have been "health to the marrow," and life to the nation. II,' 'l'HE DESIGN OF GoD'B COVENANT WAS HEARTY AND COMPLETE OBEDIENCE. It was unprnfitable for God to command, or for Moses to teach, unless the people obeyed; just as it is futile for the husbandman to plough his land, pulverize the clods, sow the seed, water his cr!JpS, if no harvest ensue.. The end which God had clearly in view- the only end worthy of him, was not Israel's possession of Canaan, nor prosperity there; the final end was obedience. The land was selected tu be a theatre for practical righteousness. The land would be forfeited if righteous obedience did not abound Aud obedience, to be acceptable, must bo real. External conformity to law would not suffice. 'l'he whole soul must yield compliance. There must be harmony between man's will and God's. Obedience would foster reverence, and reverence would strengthen love. 'l'here is action and reaction o.mid the forces of the soul. III. Prous OBEDIENCE IS ENTAILED. It is a moral inheritance po.ssing from father to son. Formal and superficial obetlience will not reproduce itself in others, will not bear seed of the true kind. But genuine, vital piety is contagious. If bad qualities Are communicated, surely good quo.lities are o.lso. Else truth would be feebler than ~rror, virtue feebler than vice. 'l'horough, straightforw·rd, transparent, cheerful piety is the greatest power in the world. }'or our children's sake, and for our children's children, let reverent obedience brighten and beautify our life! l V, PJOps 0DEPIE;NCE rRoPUCES rRESENT FBPlTS, Its rewards are not wholly reserved 128 THE DOOK OF DEUTERONmlY. rc11, VI. 1-21!,
for the future. On earth some advantages arc reaped. 1. Length of days is a result. "Thy dars may be prolonged." A green old ago is a beautiful thing. "The wicked ~11all n0t li ,·e out half their d1\ys." 2. Numerous progeny is a 1·esult. "Yo may increase mightily." A growing population is universally regarded as I\ token of rnn tcrial prosperity. "They of the city shall flourish as grass of the eartli." :,uccess in all enterprise is announced as an effect. "It shall be well with thee." 3. Hobust health, domestic comfort, national peace, prolific harvests, security, content- ment, honour,-thrse are among the fruits to bo anticipated. Obedience is an invC11t• mcnt of moral capital, which brings largest and safest rcsults.-D.