Vera. 1-3.-0orporal punishment. We have here directions given for the punish- ment of criminals. As the Hebrews bau no gaol system, a. properly graduated corporal punishment supplied most effectively its place. Moses here directs the judges to look carefully into the case, and to assign a certain number of stripes, which are never to exceed forty, the chastisement being given in the presence of the judge. Thus the largest measure of equity was introduced into their penal system . • J. RETRIBUTION OF SOME KIND IS CONSONANT WITH OUil IDEAS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. To be allowed to sin with impunity would be, we all feel, an immoral regulation under any government, and especially immoral under a theocracy. Punishment for sin is demanded by the human conscience. .All quarrel with retribution as such argues a want of conscientiousness. . II. BUT RETRIBUTION SHOULD BE PROPORTIONAL TO SIN. This is what the law before us secured. The stripes were to be few or many, accordin~ to the crime, but never to exceed forty. 'l'ho judgment was to be righteous an.d equitable all through. III. \VE LOOK INSTINCTIVELY FOR THE SAME EQUITY UNDER THE GOVER:!\'ME:::-rT OF Goo. And this is exactly what we have, And here let us observe- Pl!:UTERONOMY. 2 J) 402 THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. [<11I, XXV, 1-19.
l. Si11 ;s iwt a.l/owed to go unpunished u11aer God's government. It h1te been very c(,11fidcntly asserted that, if people Rre penitent, no atonemont is needed to eecme pardon. f\ut, supposing penitence a possible experience Rpart from the spectacle of I\ pierced Rnd atoning SRviour (Zeeb. xii. 10), should we not hRve "sin with impunity" 11nder the reputedly jnst government of God? Those who glibly talk of penitence being all that is required, have formed no broad or consistent notfon of the necessities of goYcrnment. 1 Now, the Divine Rrrangement has been to IRy the "stripes" wo deserve upon his willing Son. "With his stripes we are healed" (Isa. Jiii. 6). The sin is puni~hed in the person of a sinless and most willing Substitute, and the demands of justice met. ·we may be sure that, as the Father presided at the punishment, no more was laid on Jesus than the demands of simple justice and the exigencies of the government required. And- 2. Unpardoned because impenitent sinners shall have their punishment gi-aduated a"cordi11g to the strictest justice.. It bas been asserted that punishment without end would be cxccssi rn for the sins of a short life on e.'trth. But H is forcrotten that "ever- lasting punishment" is the shadow simply of "everlastincr sin." '!'he latter alas I is possible through the freedom of the creature; and as sin °continues, so must punish- ment. At the same time, the graduation of punishment in the other world will be as accurate and as careful as the corporal punishment under the Law of Moses. In fact it is this idea of stripes our Lord employs to express the truth. "And that servan~ which knen- his lord's will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes; but he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes.. And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required; and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more" (Luke xii. 47, 48, Revised Version).. It is thus clearly seen that the utmost care will be taken to graduate the penalties in the hereafter, so that no one shall have the least ,!round of complaint. The vulgar revolt against the everlasting punishment revealed in Scripture is due to the idea that the criminals are thrown pell-mell together a.nd punished in the lump. With far greater care, however, shall each impenitent one have his penalties meted out to him than prisoners have under the. most conscientious judges. . IV. INSTEAD OF BO'DYING ABOUT ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR OF RELIEF UNDER PUNISH- ll:ElIT, IT WOULD BE KTh'DER FOB CONTROVERSIALISTS TO INDUCE MEN THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST TO ACCEPT OF PABDON AND so ESCAPE PENALTY.. 'l'be spectacle at present is a sad one.. ,vriters are pursuing t.he phantom of remission of sins ancl of punish- ment in the other life, as a new gospel for sinners, instead of urging their fellows to flee at once to Jesus, the only Refuge. This much is certain, "Him that cometh unto me," says Christ, "I will in no wise cast out . " Upon such a promise any soul may repose. But the uncertainty of speculation is proverbial, and can never be the sheet-anchor of any sane soul Let men come to Jesus, and the question of punishment, so far as they are concerned, is settled for e-rer. Punishment gives way to pardon; while at the same time, it is felt that the sin bas not gone unpunished.-R. M. E. • Ver. 4.-The rights of labour. The threshing in the East is done by oxen in many cases still, though horses, where procurable, are found more serviceable. While the animals were engaged in their weary round, they were never muzzled, but allowed to eat of the corn they were treading out.2 It would appear, indeed, that it was the straw simply that they were to receive, and the corn was to be reserved for the -men, their masters.3 But the idea manifestly was the right of the patient animal to a share of the corn he was helping to thresh. It suggests the large subject of the rights of labour. Into this, of course, we cannot enter at any length. But we may observe- !. THAT CO-OPERATION IN WORK HAS A RIGHT TO A SHABE IN ITl:I WAGES, This is recognized in the Mosaic Law regarding the lower animals, and the argument is cumu- lative with regard to ruan. "The labourer is worthy of his hire," said our Lord. "'l'be. workman is worthy of his meat" (Luke x. 7; Matt. x. 10). ' et Button's• Esanys,' vol. i. p. 372; and 'Retribution in Relation to the Jqetice, Good- ness, and Purpose of God,' by the Rev. F. L. Patton, D.D. • Cf. Yan J ,ennep's • BiLle Lands,' p. 81, • lleDI,dtenuerg's • Egypt and the Boolca of ll!oses,' pp. 223, 22¼. OU, XXV, 1-10,] THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. 40.1