Vers. 15, 16.-Sympatl1y for fhe oppressed. It is supposed that oppressive forms of slavery existed among the neighbouring nations; and it might be 11nticipatod that the oppressed would seek asylum among the people of God. 'l'he social atmosphere was to be that of healthfol freedom, which is fatal to inhuman thraldom. I. 'WE SEE SOCIAL RELATIONSIIIP IN ITS EXTREME LIMITS. One is I\ master j one is a slave. One has risen to power; one has sunk into weakness. Humanity has immense capacity for rising and falling. Such abject dependence may be the result of external calamity, or it may be the effect of culpable folly. II. Tms PROPRIETORSHIP IN MAN IS CAPABLE OF GREAT ADOBE. A slave-master must ha'l'e great self-restraint if he does not abuse his purchased power. To no man 011ght irresponsible control over his fellows be entrusted. The temptation to encroach ou human rights is too grCllt to be put within any man's reach. Good men will use e'l'ery position they occupy so as to do good to others; and even a slave-holder may be a source of large blessing. On the other hand,.coarse and cruel men can turn the institution into a nest of ,illainy. III. ABUSE OF SLAVERY MAY BECOME SELF-CURATIVE. A refiectincr waster will calculate that, if he injure his slave, he injures his property-he injure/himself. But in moments when passion is dominant, a reckless slave-holder will think nothing,about conseqnences. Yet his slave may flee. The common instincts of humanity will impel disinterested persons to aid the fugitive. And the successful flight of one will encourage others to make the attempt. f'f. 'l'HE OPPRESSED lIAVE A CLAIM UPON OUR PRACTICAL SYMPATHY, 'fhe Hebrews could not easily discover the real merits of quarrel between a foreign slave and his master. But they would know that a slave would not leave his master and his home without sufficient cause. It was a precarious chance how an alien slave would find a livelihood. Therefore the refugee had a claim upon the Hebrews' sympathy. The oppressed of every land have a large place in the heart of God, and every friend of God will stri:ve to imitate his deeds. Bmmanuel's land is to be the land of liberty. Liberty may not suddenly be given to every man, in any condition of mind; yet liberty is man's birthlight-his true inheritance; for this he is to prepare. A man is dwarfed, stunted, deformed, if he be not free.-D.
~er. IB.-U11acceptable offerings. The value ofreligious offerings in God's sight is not measured by their magnitude, nor by splendour, but by the spiritual motive that originates them. l. GoD RAS NO !-"EED OF HmlAN OFFERINGS. He is absolutely independent of his creatures. "The gold and silver" are already his. If he had need of these things, he wonld create them. The advantage of religious offerings belongs to man. The offerer is the party blest. Spiritual benefits (not to be measured or weighed in earthly balances) are obtained in exchange. 11 ILL-GOTTEN GAINB ARE BY HIM REJECTED. To accept such would be to connive at wickedness. It is often for this profane end that men bring them. 'l'hey hope thereby to make the re8idue the more safe, and a base calling the more respectable. In a word, they desire to take God into' unhallowed partnership with themselves. To him this can be only abomination!...a stench in his nostrils. IIL HELIGIOUS OFFERINGS ARE JdEASUllED DY THEIR MORAL WORTH. The mite of tlie widow was estimated by the genuine love that inspired it. It was a solid nugget of spiritual affection. Seldom has the love of the human heart been so completely converted into a material gift. It was but one remove from creation. That widow would have poured out her very soul in creating gifts for God if she might. It is this sterling and practical love which God values. Offerings that are not the exponents of grateful feeling are nothing worth. God has a scale of moral arithmetic, and all religious offerings are placed in the balances of the sanctuary,-D.
Vers. 19, 20.-Uswry lawful, and un1,awful,. From all conduct the element of selfishness is to be eliminated. All forms of honourable commerce are permitted, on. unr. 1-25.] TtlE BoOK OF DEUTERONOMY. 379