Vers. 18-21.-.A slippery path to ruin. It is of the first importance that a child should begin life well. A twist in the young stem will develop into a gnarled and crooked tree. A slight divergence at the outset of a voyage may end in a complete re\'crsal of the ship's course. Early obedience is the pathway to a prosperous life; dis- obedience leads to death. The tongue that curseth its father shall be scorched with devouring flame. I. SELFISH INDULGENCE DESTROYS FILIAL REVERENCE. The human body is to be the servant of the mind. If the appetites and lusts of the body are allowed to rule, the mind becomes a slave, and all the better principles are manacled and enfeebled. We begin life as dependent children, and the fresh sense of loving obligation should be an antidote for selfishness. But if we set out in life with a resoive to please self, we are already on the way to ruin. Heverence for the parental character, and reganl for parental authority, are the only solid foundations for a noble life. 'l'o feed unduly the body, and for gratification alone, is to starve the soul. Sensuality fosters self-will. II. REDELLION IN THE CHILD DESTROYS SONSHIP. Disregard of authority soon chokes and strangles filial feeling. The tie of sonship is snapped. The qualities and attributes of a~on are wanting. There is a relationship of body, but no true relationship of soul. Alienation has sprnng up instead of vital union. 'l'he lad may dwell under the old roof-tree, but in reality there is a great gulf between him and his parents: he is a descendant, but not a son. 'l'o be the children of God there must be resemblance of character. III. UNFRUITFUL CHASTISEMENT JS A TREMENDOUS CURSE. The medicine that docs not do good, does harm. The flame that does not melt, hardens. Parental chastise- ment, when needed, is an imperative duty, but should be administered with wisdom, self-restraint, and pity. The obstinacy of the son is not unfrequently due to the foolish leniency or unrestrained severity of the parent. Chastisement is a serious experiment, and always produces some effect, either favourable or unfavourable. 'Ne are not the same men after trial or pain that we were before. IV. THE STATE MUST SUPPORT PARENTAL AUTHQRITY, So valuable is human life that the State wisely claims the sole power of capital punishment. If the disciplines and chastisements of home have failed to produce a virtuous citizen, the whole com- DEUTER0NOMY, 2A 354 THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. [oa. xxn. 1-30,
nrnnity must deal with the incorrigible reprobate. The State cannot afford, for its ~afcty's sake, to allow a firebrand to be let loose in its midst. 'l'he example and i11n11cnce of such a miBcreant would be fatally mischievous. The whole State has Yitai interests to serve, and it would be sheerest folly to sacrifice them to a drunken madman. y. I'ERSISTENT REBELLION LEADS TO AN IGNOMINIOUS END, It must be a duty, the m0st painful for human nature to perform, to surrender a son to public execution, Yet it sometimes is a duty. The hope of amendment has been quenched, 'l'o continue such a one in life has become a bane to himself and to others. If all remedies have failed, ,lcstrnction must ensue. All the men of the city shall put their hand to the deed. This may be done by personal service or by representation. The mad career of the culprit ends in pain, loss, and perpetual disgrace, It is a symbol of the great judgment doom.-D.
Yers. 22, 23.-The doom qf law the embodiment of Divine curse, The suspension of a human body on the gallows-tree is the utmost climax of ruin and disgrace. It is the fullest exponent of the public detestation and horror for the deed. In this case the curse of men is the curse of God. But this curse was not to continue. Blessing was t<J be perpetual, abiding, uninterrupted; but the curse was to endure for a moment. The body so accursed was to be buried before sunset. Many reasons have been assigued for this. I. BECAUSE VINDICTIVE ANGER SHOULD BE KEPT WITHIN DUE BOUNDS, .Anger against monstrous crime is a great assistance in the performance of painful duty. We are braced to do under stress of anger what we could scarcely do in calmer moods of feeling. Anger has its use, but should not be prolonged. When the painful deed is <lone, vengeful passion should cease. To this end let the lifeless body be buried out of sight. ·rr. BECAUSE THE HUMAN FORM IS SACREn AB GoD's TEMPLE. The temple may be in ruins, yet sentiments of veneration hover round the ruined shrines. We know that yonder executed man was the workmanship of the living God. Every vein, and artery, and muscle, and nerve in that mutilated body was the haudiwork of God. With that man's history God he.d taken pains; and over his mistaken course God had grieved. We think of what that man might have been, how fruitful in goodness and virtue! how meet for Divine service and honour! And the spectacle of that man's doom ,J10uld arouse our fear. We may·well stand in awe of sin. To commit such a corpse with gentle pity to the grave will do us good. III. BECAUSE MORAL DEFILEMENT WOULD OTHEBWISE RESULT, The exposure of a dead body in that climate beyond a single day would taint the atmosphere and damage l,ealth. But to accustom the minds of men to such a ghastly spectacle would tend tc moral defilement. It would serve to harden their better feelings, and make too familiar the exhibition of Jehovah's cnrse. In our present condition sacred things may become too co=on. Here especially "familiarity breeds contempt." No greater evil can befall the soul than when it becomes heedless of Divine judgmentR.-D.
EXPOSITION. formerly given (Exod. xxiii 4, 5), with CHAPTER XXII. additional details. Not only the ox or REGULATIONS BEGARDING CATTLE STRAYED the ass that had strayed was to be taken 0B THINGS LOST, THE APPAREL 01!' THE and restored to its owner, but articles of SEXES, THE T A.IUNG 01!' Brans, AND THE raiment, and, in short, anything that had CoNSTBUCTION OJI' HOUSES. Colil!'IJ~IONB been lost was, when found by another, to ro BE AVOIDED. FRINGl!B TO BE MADE be carefully kept until it could be restored O:s' VESTMENTS. PUNISHMENT OF WIFE- to the person to whom it belonged. oLANllEll, ADULTERY, RAPE, FORNlCATION, INCEST. • Ver. 1.-Go astray; wandering at large. The Hebrew verb means primarily to seduce, Vers. 1-4.-Moses repeats here the law draw a.side, or entice (of. eh. xiii. 6); and iu on. XXII. 1-30.] '!'HE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. 355