The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 271

shall never ccaso out of the land," there will be the ca11 evermore for this open-handed- ness. Now this poor-law regulation is a most beautiful illustration of what God does for us; and something like it will yet supersede the hard-heartedness of our national systems. I. GENEROSITY BROULD NOT BE TOO CALCULATING IN ITS TURN. Doubtless, often- times H receives a. noble return, but this 'should not be too much regarded, lest the speculative spirit mar the motive altogether. Nor again should we harden our hearts unde;: the persuasion that our generosity is misspent, and that we shall never be repaid in any way. God has himself shown us true generosity in making his sun to shine on the evil as well as on the good, and in sending his rain upon the unjust as well as the just. And hence we are exhorted to "lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil" (Luke vi. 35). There is something noble in an uncalcu- lating generosity. II. IT IS THE NEED OF THE POOR BROTHER WRICH WE ARE BOUND TO SuPPLY. That is, we are asked to supply him not with the luxuries or comforts of life, as if to these he had a right; but wjth his needs. The open-handedness will be considerate so far as not to encourage unworthy dependence. The brother will be helped in a brotherly way-enabled to help himself, and having his needs only supplied. This prin- ciple has been urged in connection with our national poor-law system. If it is lost sight of, then a premium is paid to idleness, and the" ne'er-do-wells" become the favourites of fortune.' Our Father in heaven acts in the same wholesome fashion. "He supplies all our need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." He supplies us with salva- tion because we cannot save ourselves; he supplies us with what enables us to help ourselves. He could keep the whole world in idleness, "ladies and gentlemen at large," but he prefers to keep the whole world in work. Our reliance on God is for our need. III. OPEN-HANDEDNESS FOR GoD's SAKE IS SURE OF ITS REWARD. "The liberal soul shall be made fat." " He that watereth others shall be watered also himself." "There is that scattereth and yet increaseth." In this way the Lord showeth in both dispensations how " he loveth a cheerful giver." When a religious man, acting on p1inciple, lives an open-handed life, he has the finest business stimulus. He works that he may have the more to give, and thus be the more God-like. There is nothing so hallows business in all its ramifications as this desire to be able to help those iu need. IV. lT IS A SOLEMN THOUGHT THAT THE POOR ARE ?s"EVER TO CEASE OU'r OF TIIE LAND IN THE PRESENT DISPENSATION. The unequal distribution of wealth, the im- provident habits of many, and the pressure of population upon subsistence seem destined to keep the poor 11.lways with us. And in consequence our Saviour stepped out of his rich condition in the bosom and home of the Father and became poor, that he might call every poor man a. brother, and leave the poor his legatees after his departure. We need the spectacle of poverty to mo1•e our hard hearts to the generosity required. Were abundance the rule, and no human being wanted bread, the selfishness of the race would know no bounds. But the poor ones call for the sympathy which Jesus so abundantly deserves, and we can now sell our spikenard an.d give to them with all the careful calculation which a. Judas once desired (John xii. 1-8). Let our help to others be systematic, because conscientious, and then shall it prove a. perennial rill, benefiting the lives of many as it wends its way down the vale of years to the ocean tha-t engulfs us all.-R. M. E. Vers. 12-18.-Thefreedom of the slave. The seventh year was the year of personal release as well as release from debt. Slavery among the Jews was utterly unlike the slavery of modern times. It arose when a Jew became bankrupt; he might then sell his services to his creditor, and pay off his debt by honest work. But beyond six years his service need not continue. As soon as the sabbatic year came round he coulu claim his liberty. In such.a case, his_ master is counselled to be generous when he goes, 1 Of. J. B. Mill's 'Political Eoonomy,' bk. V. oh. xi. § 13; al.so 'The Letters and other Writings of the Late Edward Denison, M.P.,' p. 63, eto. 266 THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. [err. xv. 1-23,