JI. A RIGHTEOUS CAUSE ADMITS OF TflE WAR BEING ENTERED UPON Rl'!LIGIOUSLY. The priest was to give them an oration before the battle, showing that they were aoincr to fight the Lord's battles, and that he would be with them (vers. 2-4). Of cou';- 90 , tbi~ hns been imitated often by those who had not right on their side. Yet the hypocrisy of a party or people is in itself a testimony to the neeci. for a religious spirit characteriz- ing combatants. The most depraved feel somehow in the tremendous game of war that they are appealing to the God of battles, and should at least acknowledge him in entering the contest, III. 'l'nE ABMY SHOULD BE WEEDED OF THE CAREFUL AND THE COWARDLY. Provision is here made for the dismissal home of those who are careworn abont an undedicated habitation (ver. 5), or about a newly acquired vineyard (ver. 6), or about a betrothed wife (ver, 7), and also for the dismissal of those who are faint-hearted (ver. 8), The combatants should be as free as possible from care, and from the infection of cowardice. They might have sung, with the modern minstrels- " We want no cowards in Olll' band, That from their colours fly ; We ea.II for valiant-hearted men, Who're not afraid to die." IV. IN ORDINARY CONQUESTS, PEACEFUL PROPOSALS ABE FIBST TO BE TRIED, (V ers. 10-15.) If these are entertained, well and good; if not, then the conquest will be all the surer of having shown the preliminary consideration. This was to regulate any foreign conquest into which they might be forced. ·when the victory was won, the male adult population were.to be put to the sword,J::,ecause they.had forfeited their lives by rejecting the peaceful proposals; but the women and children and property were to be tbe prey of the invaders. Vv c have here the suggestion of arbitration, from which much is properly hoped in mitigation of war. V, BUT IN THE CONQUEST OF THE IDOL,1.TROUS NATIONS OF CANAAN, EXTERMD(ATIO:-! WAS THE ONLY SAFETY 1''0R 'l.'HE IKVADING HOST. By their abominable idolatries they had forfeited all right to life, and their continued existence would only have been a snare to Israel. Children and women as well as adult males were to be included in the desolation. This apparently harsh decree bas its counterpart still in the government of the world. A storm or pestilence does not respect children any more than men. It shows that the Great Huler does not intend the present state of things to be final. A judgment to come is surely the logical lesson of such a feature of war and of providence. 'l'be innocent who suffer with the guilty shall get their compensation in the other life. VI. 'l'HE RAVAGES OF WAR ARE TO DE KEPT WITHIN AS NARROW LIMITS AS POSSIBLE. 'l'his seems to be the lesson in this arrangement about the protection of fruit trees in the siege (vers, 19, 20), 'l'he futw-e peaceful and prosperous state of things is to be considered, and no more harm done by the stress of war than is absolutely unavoidable. We have thus great principles applicable to all the warring period of human progress. Wars are still desperate remedies. A time is coming when" the war-drum shall throb no longer;'' but meanwhile, let wars be prosecuted in a religious spirit and with all religious precautions, when they must be engaged in. A noble illustration of what may be done in war-time by Christian men is afforded by the "Christian Commission" in the United States. Its 'Annals,' written by Rev. Lemuel Moss, Home Secretary of the Commission, Philadelphia, 1868, form a handsome volume of 752 pages, whlch amply repay perusal. We must fight for principle, if we cannot secure its triumph by more peaceful means; but one day all will submit to it, and war be needed no longer. May God hasten the happy day !-R M. E.
Vers. 1-9.-Military service to be voluntary, In war, forced service is worse than useless; it is a source of weakness-a cause of defeat. For successful warfare, all the skill an,l energy of every soldier is demanded; and unless the hearts of the warriors arc in the conflict, no triumph can be anticipated. I. 'l'o DE LOYAL FRIENDS OF GoD, WE ~lUST SOMETIMES TREAT MEN AS 1''0ES. If we are truly God's children, we must count God's friends to be our friends, God's foes to be our foes, We are not our own. We cannot expend life according to our personal will. 336 THE DOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. [en. xx. 1-20,