HOMILIES BY-VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 4-7.-Seif-righteousness. Strange capacity of human nature for self-delusion! It was an extraordinary error to fall into, when the Jew began to fancy that by his own power and might he had conquered Palestine (eh. viii. 17). Yet more extraordinary was the delusion that be bad been brought into the land on account of righteousness. 'fhe two errors sprang from the same root. 'The worldly mind, wbich spurns at the ac- knowledgment of God's bestowal of what it bas, bas its counterpart in the self-righteous mind, which attributes God's dealings with it to its superior sanctity. Self-exaltation, pride, in both. In the one case, "my power," etc., in the other, "mJL righteousness." I. 'fHE NATURE OF THE ERROR. A magnified opinion of one's righteousness. The idea that it is our r1ghteousness which is the meritorious ground of the bestowal of blessing. 'l'he Jews might not suppose that they were absolutely righteous-though some of the later Pharisees seem almost to have got this length (Luke xviii. 11). But they thought that they were so far righteous as to have established a claim on God's justice for what they had. This is a state of mind into which men glide half uncon- sciously. ,ve often say it "in our hearts," when we would be ashamed to avow it with our lips. The self-complacency, e.g. which accepts prosperity as the rewa~d of superior virtue; the self-satisfaction which esteems such reward due to it; the complaint of injustice which is raised when blessings are removed,-betray its presence. In the spiritual sphere, the tendency is evidenced in the denial of the need of salvation; in !he self-justifying spirit which refuses to accept the position of one condemned, and Justly exposed to wrnth; in the reassertion in subtler or coarser forms of the principle of salvation by works. In whatever degree a man thinks himself entitled to acceptance with God, and to spiritual blessings, whether on the ground of obedience to prescribed rules, or on the ground of internal characteristics (faith, holiness, etc.), he is permittiug hinrnelf to fall into this error. II. 'l'nE souncE OF THE ERROR. The Israelites might fall into it: 1. By emphasiz-ing their acts of obedience and forgelting their rebellions. 'l'his, as Moses shows, is practically what they did. It is not an uncommon fault. We forget our sins, and, !~inking only of obediences, slide by easy stages into a self-satisfied and pleased view of ourselves. 2. By comparing themselves with the former generation. They had not been, as their fathers were, absolutely disobedient and recalcitrant. They were going up to possess the land. '!'his comparing of ourselves with others is not wi8e. If a little in advance of our neighbours, it is extremely apt to i.nflate our consciousness oJ 172 THE IlOOK OJ<' DEUTERONOMY.
intc,grity (2 Cor. x. 12). 3. By ai:quing from thP- fufilment of promise, God hnd promis~d ,ictory 1rnd possession on condition of obedience. Having got the blessings, t.hey might argue that, in God's judgment, they mnst h:ive been obedi<Jnt. We, in liko manner, may argne from God's kindness to us that we must have been peculiarly pleasing to him. Rene~ that we are deserving_ of_ what we have received. The spring of JI.II if the natural egoism of the heart. It 1s 1t.s own centre. It wishes to exalt and glorify itself. It has no idea of glorying only in God. It is self-exalting, not God-exalting (1 Cor. i. 28-31; Gal. vi. 14; Phil. iii. 7-10). III. THE REFUTATION OF THE ERROR. Even perfect righteousness would not justify self-righteousness. The very indulgence of the self-glorying spirit refutes. the con- tention of righteousness. \Vhoever is the righteous man, it is not he who boasts of righteousness! 11 For merit lives from man to man, And not from man, 0 Lord, to thee." Ilnt: l. We are not righteous. The only jastifying righteousness is a perfect one, and that no man can plead. The legal ground is destroyed when we admit failure in even one point (Jas. ii. 10). 2. We are, in mat1y ways, disobedient and rtbellious. Past acts testify against us. Our daily life testifies against us. He knows little of self who does not read, in his disinclinations to duty, in his reluctant pefformances, in his rebellions at difficulties, in his secret impatience, in his frequent inclining to thiugs forbidden, the signs of a wayward and rebellious disposition. The true ground on which blessing is bestowed is wrapped up in that old oath sworn to the fathers (vcr. 5), in the seed of Christ, in whom only we have acceptance.-J. 0.