The Pulpit Commentary — Deuteronomy — Section 301

sight and forgc-t the life of faith. Others make the senses the only organs of know• ledge. and bR8C their so-r.alled philosophy upon sensation. It is not to be wondered at, in ~uch circumstances, that nature-worship prevailed in olden time~ and prevails still. A grent deal of the antitheistic science of the present time is, when analyzed, just 1,atnrc-ll"orship. When men in their headstrong self-confidence attribute independent powers to nature; when they maintain--on whRt grounds they do not tell us, for it is a matter cf faith, not of sight-that the "reign of law" is workable without God, then they are really idolizing nature. It seems a light thing to men to eliminate God from his ,,orks, but the sin will have to be answered for before the Judge, Besides, it was more excusable in the old Israelite than in the modern philosopher. The hean•nly bodies in these Eastern countries are so magnificent that the impression produced upon the gazer is akin to worship. It was lit.tie wonder if in an unwatchful momc-nt he "beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness; and the heart was secretly enticed, or his mouth kissed his hand" (Job xxxi. 26, 27). The temptation to worship the heavenly bodies was strong and natural. 11. IN Goo's SIGHT THE WORSHIP OF NATURE IS A CAPITAL CRIME. It is worthy of a ,iolent death. Dirc>ctions are given for the solemn execution, 'l'he witnesses, of whom there must be a plurality at least, are first to lay their hands upon the head of the idolater, then the whole people, doubtless through their representative elders, showing their acquiescence in the severe sentence; and then he is to be stoned to death. 'l'h'e i,lea is manifestly that he iR unworthy of living longer when he has so far forgotten and i~nored the claims of God, And assuredly our scientific nature-worshippers are equally guilty, nay, more guilty, in God's sight. If they are not put to death by public law, it is not because their sin i, changed in its heinousness, but because God has made their case a reserved one for himself. " ,engeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." Ill. IK THESE cmcm,rsTANCES WE ARE LEFT ONE WAY OF GETTING RID OF THE EVIL, AXD THAT IS DY GOOD. God having witb<lrawn the prerogati,e of vengeance from men for sins against himself, and reserved the case for his own dealing with it, he has given us our direction in the words, "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good" (Rom. xii. 21). The Israelites in their rude time wer.e directed to remove the idolater by forc,e; we are to get rid of him by loving persuasion. 'l'he former was the easier remedy. To heap coals of fire on the head of our opponent and enemy is not so easy an operation. But it can be done. God shows us the example himself. While reserv- ing the prerogative of vengeance, he meanwhile manifests himself in Jesus Christ as the God of love. Though provoked by man's idolatries, he subjects him to the treat- ment of his love, and goes forth in converting power to meet his enemies. Of course the love is sometimes lost upon them, as we are accustomed to say. 'l'he appeal is rejected, but they have got the opportunity, and must account at last for despising it. In his loving footsteps let us follow. The nature-worship and manifold idolatries are amenable to the treatment of enlightened love. Let us study candidly and care- fully tl,e case, and administer with all tenderness the remedy. It may be that in some cases the uld pkture may be reversed. Instead of the imposition of hands in order to destruction, it may be an imposition of hands in ordaining to Divine work those who formerly ignored God altogether. However this may be, our duty is clear to try to overcome this particular evil by good.-R. M. E. Vers. 8-13.-The ruling power of the priests in the Jewish <Jliurch. 'l'he govern- ment among the Israelites was first by au eldership elected on the representative principle. Thus in Gen. I. 7 we find at the funeral of Jacob "all the elders of the land of Egypt." Again, when Moses came from Midian to emancipate his brethr~n, be was directed to consult "the ciders of Israel," who were to go in with him before Pharaoh (Exod. iii. 16, 18). After the Exodus, the priests were appointed as tho miuisters of religion; and with these were associated the elders selected to the number of seventy from those already in office, and to whom God gave his Spirit (Numb, xi. lG, etc.). When the people settled in Canaan, they were directed to elect judges for judgment. '!'bis was the distribution and development of the eldership. And in case of any special difficulty, the aggrieved parties were to repair to the place of the central i.ltar, and there lay the matter before the priests and the judge. It follows that the lltt. xvn. 1-20.] 1.'llE 1'100.K OF DE'UT:l!:RONOMY. 297