Vere. 8-12.-Linsey-woolseys. The different directions here given may be reduced to one idea, that of genuineness. The houses were to be substantial e•lificc~, not endan- gering the lives of others by defective buildings or deficient battlement~. The vineyards were to be sown with pure seed, that the plants might have a fair chance ot growing luxuriantly. 'J'be ploughing was not to be done by an ox and ass toaetber for though the oxen are so small in Palestine as to be yokable with an ass, the con~ trariety in temper and inequality in power woulrl prevent good work. LinSlly-woolsey was to be avoided as poor stuff compared with either woollen or linen alone. And finally, the fringes were to be made upon their garments, to be at once a finishing anri a distinction in the clothes of the chosen people. God gave them thus a uniform. The great idea here, consequently, is that God's people should be distinguished by the genuineness and honesty of their life-work. Carlyle's preaching against sha'TTl8 is here forestalled, and we may surely learn from the directions here such lessons as these- I. To DE THOROUGH IN ALL OUR WORK. This is God's great lesson for ns in his own government of the world. The beauty of the flower of the gra.ss, which is to perish and be cast into the oven so soon, tdls us to be microscopically minute and thorough in the most transient work. There are no short cuts through " shoddy " to) re34 worth and real usefulness; but all should be genuine if we would serve our generation by the will of God. II. LET UB NOT BE ASHAMED TO BE CALLED GoD's PEOPLE .AllID LIFE'S HARD WOBK. The Israelites were to wear their fringes, to go in uniform, and be pious peasants. The linking of genuine work with professed piety is altogether admirable. "Sublimer,n says Carlyle, " in this world know I nothing than a peasant saint, could such now anywhere be met with. Such a one will take thee back to Sazareth itself: thou wilt see the splendour of heaven spring fo:th from the humblest depths of earth, like a. light shining in great darkness." 1 What we need is genuine piety to secure con- scientious work. We shall not have better work till we have better men. !:::aintly workmen would discover for us the way back to Eden. Ill. LET US FOLLOW TBE EXAHPLE OF THE l'EA.SA..W OF N AZ ..\RETH. For our Lord became poor, and wrougM as an artisan, and lived with the common feople, to make a life of labour for ever glorious. Nowhere do pride and vanity receive such reproof as in the life of him who wrought so nobly in Nazareth. And when he exchanged the carpenter's bench for the work of the ministry, it was only to work harder than before. " He went about doing good." "He had no leisure so much as to eat." So busy was he that be had frequently to steal from sleep the time for prayer. Jn bis example we have the ideal of genuine, hearty labour, and so far as we follow him shall we be safe and bappy.-R. M. E. Vers. 13-30.-&pedients to secure purity. \Ve have here various wise expedients to control the licentiousness of the people, a11d secure, so far as possible, social purity. I. DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER WAS SEVERELY PQ\'ISHED. A husband could not, with impunity, defame a newly married wife; for should there be proof forthcomin; that his charge was false, he was to be publicly chastised, to pay a fine of one hundred shekels of silver to his father-in-law, whose good name and peace he haJ threatened, and to be bound to his wife all his days. II. WHOREDOM WAS MADE A CAPITAT, CRIME. If the charge made a___,:,a,inst his wife prove true, then she is to be stoned to death for her sin. Immorality ~vas really treason towards the Divine King, it was incompatible with his kiugdom, aoo so w:is put into the category of capital crimes. The mQTale of the theocracy was really highl'r in idea. than that of any other kingdom then or now existing. Ill. ADULTERY WAB ALSO A CIIDIE FOR WHICH BOTH OFFE.XDERS llC"ST SC'FFEfl. DEATB. Here the two parties are criminals agninst the theocracy, and such a flagrant crime cannot be tolerated within it. The morality is severe anJ wholesome. IV. .ADULTERY CO.llllITTED WITH A BETROTHED DAMSEL IS TREATED JUST AS .,1.DCL• 'l'ERY WITH A MARRIED WOlIAN, l'OR SHE IS A.S GOOD AS l!URRIED. Both parties
' 'Sartor Resartus,' Library Edition, p. 221. Theee words were written, it is now believed, with the ideal of his father before him. 3G4 'l'rtE DOOJt_ OF DEU1'~1VJN◊MY. [err. XXII. 1-30,
in this c11se also must pay the pen11lty of death. Such severe me11sures were the wisest expedients in the end. V. lN CABE OF ADVA'NTAGE BEING TAKEN OF A BETROTHED DAMSET,, TIIR IIUFFIAN I8 TO PAY THE PENALTY OF DEATH. If the taking away of life is justly punished with death so should the murder of virtue. As a rule, our laws are too lenient towards ruffian~ that ruin women. Were a few of them sent to the gallows it would be no more than they deserve. VI. IN CASE OF A VIRGP.s THAT IS NOT BETROTHED, TltE MAN WIIO TAKES ADVAN- TAGE OF HER IS COMPELLED TO MARRY HER, AND TO PAY TO HER FATHER A l!UBSTA1'"TIAL FIXE. The case thus dealt with is different from the preceding. It proceeds upon inquiry. The man is nut carried by his passion into an act of great wrong towards oue whom he ca.n never hope to have as his wife, which was the last c.ase; but he takes the case into his own hand, where no previous betrothal bnrs the way. Ile can make reparation, and he is compelled to do so. Again we say that our laws would be greatly improved if a spice of the severity of the Jewish law went to make the cowardly ruffians who disgrace society suffer more severely for their Jcc<ls. YII. INCEST WAS FORBIDDEN. There is no mincina- of matters, since all these abominations abounded amon~ the Canaanites, and must be checked in Israel. , '\"III. PcmITY IS THUS SEEN TO BE GoD's AIM. "Be ye holy; for I am holy" is God's direction. We must be as" chaste virgins" presented unto Uhrist. The s~cial purity of Israel was only to reflect their spiritual purity as towards God. Our own lesson in these regulations is clear. We must not even in the slightest thought prove unfaithful to our Saviour and Lord. He is the Husband of the Church, and requires a faithful wife.-Il. M. E.