priests had co-ordinate ruling power with the elders or judges, that they were ruler., nnd officinting ministers besirles. And here we-have to notice- I. 'l'IIESE Unurrcu OFFICERS EXERCISED THEIR AUTHORITY UNDER Gon AS KTIIG. The Church was r1 theocracy, and God was regarded as ever present with his officer, an,! :people. 'l'he same is true in the Church still. It is a theocracy; an ever-present .Je,11s still presides even where two or three are met together for the purposes of Church government (Matt. xviii. 20). IJ. THE PRIESTS AND THE JUDGE ARE TO SHOW THE PARTIES TIIE DIVINE LAW 0);' THE BUDJECT, The decision is to be expository of existing law, not a decision on the gronn•l of expediency. Now this necessarily follows from the Kingship of God. His will must be paramount. His officers simply try to find ont his will. A national parki- ment may manufacture lnws; but Church officers take their laws from the inspire,! Statute-book. lt is exposition of Divine Law that the ruler in God's Church is really concerned with. Ill. 'l'IIE CHURCH OFFICERS REQUIRED IMPUCIT OBEDIENCE FROM THE PEOPLE TO TIIEir. INTERPRE'l'ATION OF Goo's WILL. In a rude age tbis was needful, implicit obedience such as we require from children. Ilut when we reach the corresponding part of the New Testament economy, the exhortation is," Prove all things, hold fast that which is good" (1 Thess. v. 21). The right of private judgment is admitted, and regulates the obedience. Just as when children grow to manhood, the implicit obedience clemande,l gives place to persuasion and the appeal to conscience. IV. PRESUMPTUOUS DISREGARD OF Gon's WILL EXPRESSED BY THE PRIEST AXD JUDGE WAS PUNISHED WITH DEATH. This was disobedience in its generic form, and came under the penalty of death, just as in Eden. The aggrieved parties had appealed for light to God's officer; he was to be their Arbitrator, and they contracted to abide by his deci- sion. Disobedience under such circumstances would overthrow the order both of Church and State. Hence the death penalty. Presumptuous disregard of Di,ine commandments is not now less heinous than it was then, though it may escape for the time being such a terrible penalty. The judgment of God is only postponed. Should t-he presumption continue, the penalty will come at last with compound interest. V. THE PATIENT STUDY OF GoD's WORD IS SORELY A DUTY WHEN PRESUXPTUOUS DIS- REGARD OF GoD's WILL IS so HEIKous A SIN. It should be our supreme desire to know what God would have us to do. 'l'his can only be known through systematic and patient study of the holy oracles. The priest with the Urim and Thummim is not now available. We must content ourselves with a quieter way. The Book is given instead of the oracle, and we are directed to consult it for ourselves. Approaching it in a patient, obedient spirit, we shall find it unlocking many a mystery to us, and affording us the light we need.-R. M. E.
Vere. 14-20.-The limitations of monarchy. We have here provision made for the probable demr1nd of the people for a visible king like the other nations. The unseen King did not make the same sensation in their view, and hence Moses is inspired to anticipate the unbelieving demand. And here notice- I. 'l'HE UNSEEN KING MUST HAVE TIIE SELECTION OF THE VISIBLE OXE. It is in this way that the ·monarchy, when it came, was kept under the control of God. The theocracy was still the fountain head of power. The people were not to choose their king. He was to have Divi:ne right. It is noticeable that, in giving them Saul, the Lord made emphatic the sensationalism that lay under the demand, for the visible king was head and shoulders above his brethren. David was also a big man, else Saul would never have offered him his armour, when proposing to fight the giant. And it is noticeable how the sensationalism is rebuked in the enemies of Israel producing Goliath as a champion, before whom it is evident that the big Saul feared and qunked. II. THEY ARE NOT TO EXPECT OR TO THINK OF A STRANGER KING. Thus the patriotism of the peoplo is fostered. It is one of themselves that is to have the king- ship when it comes. It is interesting to notice this deliverance after the reservation already noticed. God's choice is thus guaranteed to Israel. He will sta.nd to the notion, if the nation will be faithful to him. 298 THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. [cu. xvtt, 1-20,