, er. 14.-Caution against fraud. Nothing that concerns mau's welfare and joy is beneath God's care. The vast extent of hi~ kingdom hinders not his guardianship ever every minute interest of his creatures. Even landmarks, boundary stones, are under his protection. I. GoD IS TO BE RECOGNIZED AS THE ABSOLUTE PROPRIETOR OF ALL THINGS. As the Creator and Upholder of the universe, he has supreme claim to this solid globe. "The earth is the Lord's." Nor has be ever parted with his rightful claim, for he keeps che globe hourly in existence, and so continually proclaims his control over it. It is Ibis gift to men, not in the sense that ·be has transferred all his rights to others, but q!ll}';' in the sense that we were unable to purchase from him. We hold every possession lrom him in trust, and are bound by such terms and conditions as his will may impose. II. IT IS GoD'S WlLL THAT LAND SHOULD BE DISTRIBUTED AS PERSONAL ESTATE.· Although evils result from the division of the land into personal property, greater evils would result from communal or indiscriminate possession. The fields would not !be well cultured. The land would not yield her prolific plenty. Dispute and strife would be the chronic state of society. Personal property is essential to healthy life in the State. Yet men are stewards, and not absolute proprietors, Ill. BOUNDAilY LINES BETWEEN OUR OWN AND OTHER'S POSSESSIONS ARE TO Bl!I sc11uPULOUSLY RESPECTED. The arrangements of personal property offer a fine field for self-restraint, as well as for neighbourly kindness. If we had been destitute of all possessions, we should be denied the enjoyment of helping others, A man who has regard for the health of bis own soul, will not remove his neighbour's landmarks by so much as a single inch. He will rather lose a pound than take by fraud a penny. This Divine command is but a tiny branch springing out of the root principle, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as tbyself."-D.
V crs. 15-21.-Bulu;ark against perjury. "The tongue is an unruly member, and cannot easily be restrained." Private slander is ba~e enough, but its basest utterance OIi. XX. 1-20.J 1'flE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY.
is when, in tho sacre<l halls of justice, it swears away a man's reputation or his life. It is doubtful if e. <leed so black is done in hell. J. PERJURY IB BO COMMON AB TO NECESSITATE A PUBLIC STIGMA ON HliMANITL "Ono witness shall not rise up against a man." If every man had been known as truthful, the testimony of one witness on any accusation would be ample. The ::iar- ration of one oyc-witnoss or ear-witness ought to be enough. For a truthful man would e.lwe.ys speak within the limits of truth, and would promptly express his doubt, if certainty could not be reached. But the common experience of humanity has been that the bulk of men will prevaricate and conceal the truth, even under the solemn sanction of i.n oath. Hence it has been found wise to condemn no man judicially, unless more than one witness can be found. Cumulative evidence is re<]uircd to obtain II valid sentence. This can be interpreted in no other way than a public testi- mony to the depravity of man. The prisoner obtains the benefit. II. PERJURY IS A CRIME, TO BE TRIED IN 'l'HE HIGHEST COURT OF THE REALU. The accused and the accuser in such a case shall "stand before the Lord." This is not so much a sin against man as a sin against God. 'l'he sacred person of Truth has been publicly violated, and the wisest and holiest in the land are commissioned by God to be the judges. As often as we violate the truth, we insult the God of truth, and stand before God for judgment. Hence it is of the first importance that we cultivate truth- fulness in our thoughts and in our speech. Ill. JN PROPOR'l'ION TO THE GRAVITY OF THE CHARGE SHOULD BE THE THOROuOII- NESS OF THE SCRUTINY. Although we may expect to know the will of God in any particular case by laying our own minds open to the action of God's Spirit, we are still bound to pursue the most diligent and thorough inquiry. God rewards, not the indolent, but the patient searcher after truth. He that does the truth will discover the truth. " God helps those who help themselves." IV. INTENDED MISCHIEF IS TREATED AS ACTUAL CRIME. The character and quality of a deed depend upon the moral intention. Whether the intention becomes au overt act will often depend upon outward opportunity and circumstance. But God sees the incipient motive and purpose ; in his court, judgment passes upon the offender. Human courts are to be, as far as possible, copies of the court of heaven. Hence the perjured witness, who seeks to visit judicial penalties upon the head of the innocent, is himself as guilty as if his base project had succeeded. "Into the pit which he had digged for another he shall fall himself." The gallows which Haman prepared for Mordecai, served for his own doom. This is God's law of retribution. 'V, THE END ROUGHT IN THIS JUDICIAL EXECUTION IS THE PUBLIC GOOD. The sacrifice of one life is intended to bring advantage to the many. The moral effect is most precious, viz. regard for righteousness-public abstinence from crime. Every man should be filled with this patriotic sentiment-the higher virtue of tbe nation. We may do good in our circle, either intensively on the minds of a few, or exten- sively on the minds of the many. In doing good to others we do good to ourselves. "We a.re members one of e.nother."-D.
EXPOSITION and protracted conflict before they could OHAPTER XX. occupy the le.nd which God he.d o.ssigned DIBEOTIONB CONOEBNING WARF ARE IN GENE• to them; and they might in future years RAL, ANll FOR THE BESIEGING OF CITIES have to go to war to maintain their inde- IN PARTIOOLAR. pendence and repel aggression. lu view Vers. 1-20.-The instructions in this oftbis, instructions are here given rega.rdiug chapter o.re peoulio.r to Deuteronomy. As the conducting of military service. the people of God, Isro.el was not a warlike Ver. ).-When they found themselves ne.tion ; they we1·e rather to abstain from opposed by e.n army more numerous th 11 n warfo.ro, e.nd e.s o. genere.l rule to cultivate their own, and better furnished with the material of we.rfe.re, they were not to be the tuts of peace. Dut they he.d before afro.id or discouraged, for J ehove.h their them o.t this time the prospect of e. serious God, who had brought them out of Egypt, THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. [ell. XX. 1-20,