the la"W did not exist, or that it was not known, but the excuse Is advanced for irregu- larities t.hat. " there was no house built unto the Name of the Lord until those days" (er. 1 Kings viii. 29; ix. 9; 2 Chron, vi. 6, 6). 2. While the law lays down the general rule, it is not denied that circumstances might arise, in which under proper Divine authority, exceptional sacrifices might be offered. This fully explains the cases of Gideon (Judg. vi. 1S, 26), of Manoah (Judg. xiii. 16), of David (2 Sa.m. xxiv. 18), of Solomon (l Kings iii. 4-, 5), of Elijah (1 Kings xviii. 31). 3. Even while the taber- nacle was a.t Shiloh, the ark, for reasons unknown to us, was moved from place to place-a. circumstance which accounts for sacrifices being offered nt the spots where, for the time being, it was located (Judg. xxi. 2). We ma.y infer the presence of the ark in J udg. xx. 26 and on various other occasions. 4-. It is not fair to plead, as contradictory of the law, the falling back on local sanctuaries in periods of great national and religious disorganization, as when the land was possessed by enemies (Judg. vi. 1-7), or when the ark was in captivity (1 Sam. vi. I) or separated from the tabernacle (2 Sam. ,·i. l 1); much less the prevailing neglect of this law in times of ar.knowledged back- i::liding and declension. In particular, the period following the rejection of Eli and his Bons (1 Sam. ii. 30-35) was one of unusual complications, during which, indeed, Samuel's own person would seem to have been the chief religious centre of the nation. 5. It may further be remarked that the worship at local sanctuaries, having once taken root, justified perhaps by the exigencies of the time, it would be no easy matter to uproot it again, and a modified toleration would have to be accorded. Whatever difficulties inhere in the view of the early existence of this law, it will be found, we believe, that equal or greater difficulties emerge on any other reading of the history.· This la1, was- 1 AN ASSERTION OF THE PRINCIPLE THAT Gon's WORSIIIP MUST BE ASSOCIATED WITH HIS PRESE:?s'CE. (Vers. 5-11.) The sanctuary was constituted by God having" put his Kame" there. Under the New 'l'estsment the worship of the Father" in spirit and in truth" is liberated from special sacred places (John iv. 24), but the principle holds good that bis being "in the midst" of his people is essential to worship being acceptable (Matt. Hiii. 20). II. A:?s' llllPOllTA1'"'T MEANS OF KEEPING ALIVE THE BENSE OF NATIONAL UNITY. The union of the tribes was far from being close. Tribe feeling was often stronger than national feeling. A powerful counteractive to the local interests, and to the jealousies, ri vulries, and feuds which tended to divide the nation, was found in the central sanctuary, and in the festivals therewith connected. Like the Olympic games in Greece, the sanctuary festivals formed a bond of unity for the entire people, helped them to realize their national distinctness, and awakened in them lofty and patriotic aspirations. In the Cliristian Chw·cb, everything is valuable which helps to develop the sense of catholicity. JIL A MEANS, FURTHER, OF INFUSING WARMTH AND VITALITY INTO RELIGIOUS SERVICES. In religion, as in other matters, we need to avail ourselves of social influences. We need public as well as private worship. The self-wrapt man grows cold. There is a time for outward demonstration, not less than for internal meditation. Sharing our gladness with others, it is multiplied to ourselves a hundred-fold. The importance, in this view of them, of the sanctuary festivals, was very great. They were, from the nature of the case, "events," matter~ to be looked forward to with interest, and long to be remembered after they had taken place. They involved preparations, and often long journeys. Everything about them-the journey in company with neighbours, the season of the year, the friendly greetings, the exhilaration of the scene as they neared the sanctuary, the varied and solemn services at the sanctuary itself- was fitted in a singular degree to exalt, awe, quicken, and impress their minds. Such influences, even in gospel times, are not to be despised. IV. A couNTEBACTIVE TO IDOLATRY, It put something in place of that which was taken away. It provided counter-attractions. Negation is not an effective instrument of reform. If we-remove with one hand, we must give with the other. Our methods must be positive.-J. O.
Vers. 5-9.-Puulic worahip. A necessity of our spiritual life. Prompted by a community of privileges, interests, feelings, hopes, duties, temptations, aspirations j .. One Lord, one faith, one baptiam" {Eph, iv, 8-7), It ii required ln u- OH, XII, 1-32,] THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. 221