The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 300

" Who reverenced bis conscience as his king ; Whose glory was, redressing human wrong; Who spake no slander, no, nor listened to it; Wno lm,ed one only, and who clave to her," etc. 3. He was not to multiply to himself silver and gold ; that is, he was not to affect the dazzlo of imperial splendour, but to be simple and unostentatious in his manner of life. But: 4. He was to be a diligent student of the Word of God. (1) He was to write out with his own hand a copy of the Law. (2) He was to read in it diligently all the days of his life; the result of which would be: (a) That he would be kept in the way of obedience; (b) that his heart would be preserved humble towards God and bis brethren; and (c) he and his seed would enjoy prosperity on the throne. What a noble sketch of the model king, yet how contrary to current ideas of royal greatness! We have happily been taught in our own country to appreciate the advantages of a pure court, and to feel its wholesome influence on the general tone of morals, and we are able to understand, also, the benefici9.l effect of uprightness and piety in a sovereign in adding to the love, esteem, and reverence with which tl:e sovereign is regarded; but how far are we from dissociating the p;reatness of a reign from its external splendour, its military conquests, the wealth and luxury of its aristocracy, the figure it displays in the eyes of other nations, and the terror with which it can inspire them I Nor do we look in sovereigns generally for all the virtues which we find in our own, but are apt to condone want of piety, and even acts of great iniquity, if they but prove themselves to be bold, energetic, and enterprising rulers. The character of the sovereign is in some respects of iess moment than it once was, but its influence for good or evil is still very great, and the evil fruits reaped from the court life, say of a Charles II. or a George IV., are not exhausted in one or a few generations. ~iety_ upon the throne will lead to piety in the court and throughout the nation, and will give an impulse to everything else that is good. Whereas an evil and corrupting eirnmp~e sows seeds of mischief, which may involve the nation in the greatest losses and disasters (see Massillon's sermon, 'Des Exemples des Grands ').-J, 0. Vers. 1-7.-Idolatry a capital crime. The closing verses of last chapter prohibit- ing groves near God's altar may be taken in connection with the verses no~ befo:e us as constituting the solemn prohibition of idolatry. God will not have_ any nv~l, e1tl:er ~un moon or any of the host of heaven, not to speak of the more miserable 1dolatnes of things ~n earth; he makes idolatry a capital crime, and decrees dt;ath as its penalty. 'l'his brings out tho enormity of the sin in the eyes of God; and 1t _does not follo:v, because idolatry is not still visited with death, that it has become a lighter matter m the eyes of " the Judge of all the earth." I. 'l'HE TEMPTATION TO NATtJRE-WORSHIP, When men are not watchful, tl.,7 live by 296 TRE BOOK OF DEUT'.ERONOMf. Ccn. XVII. 1-20.