,ers. 16-19.-The spiritual creation. In the creation of the material world," God spake, and it we.s done." But in dealing with rebellious men, obedience does not spontaneously follow on command. God bas called into exi3tence a. substance that cannot arbitrarily be controlled-a human will. Therefore, to gain loyal response from human nature, God makes known himself as infinitely worthy of man's regard, indi- cates his authority, and sets forth the high advantages of his friendship. The largest obedience is man's real interest. lt is the only path to promotion. I. WE RA.VE HERE GoD'B REVELATION OF ms KINGLY AUTHORITY. It is his part to command-man's to obey. We cannot reverse or disturb this order without introducing anarchy and sorrow. 1. This revelation of God is always new. "This day" thy God hath commanded thee afresh. New discoveries of the extent, the wisdom, the gracious- ness, of God's sovereignty may be made to us every day. Every morning the voice of heavenly authority speaks to us afresh. 2. The spirit of wise authority is very im- perative. " Thou shalt keep and do." It would not be safe for God to abandon e.ny part of his prerogative. It would not be safe to allow men to diminish his sovereignty. W' e are creatures: he is Creator; hence it is supremely fitting that he alone should rule. 3. His commands are irrevocable. They are well designated "statuteH," i.e. things well established. In the material world men are discovering how fixed and uniform are all God's laws. No deviation is allowed. Nor is it tolerated in the spiritual realm, and every new-born man says, "I will keep thy statutes with my whole heart." 4. Obedience em braces the whole man. Outward and ostensible service does not satisfy God, because they will bring no blessing to his creature man. 'l'hese commands are for man as a spiritual being; and mere external service is hypocrisy. No fragrance is in our obedience unless lieart and soul go out in our deeds. Obedience, to have any worth with God, must be the efiforeticence of our love. lL WE HAVE HERE MAN'S WILLING .ACCEPTANCE OF THE COVENANT. The Jews, as one man, chose God to be their King, and swore to be loyal subjects. " Thou hast avouched the Lord to be thy God." 1. It must be an act of personal choice. Whether we percei\'e it or not, our course in life is our own choice. We may never consciously Lave faced the question, nor put into words our decision; yet our life plainly shows that some decision has been made. Happy the man who, after due reflection, can calmly say, " The Lord is my God!" 2. '!'he language indicates progressive obedienco, OH, XXVI, 1-10.] THE IlOOK OB' DEUTERONOMY. 417
The loyal servant "walks in God's ways." He is not content with stanrlin"' still In proportion as he obeys, ho sees more clearly the wisdom of the commanrl-h; finds more pleasuro in loyal servico. At first he obeyed because it was a plain dnty; now ho responds because it is n delight. "He loves the Law." 3. And hearty obedience brings clearer knowledge of our Master's will. Having learnt the wisdom and the pleasure of obedience, he is more eager to hearken to the Divine voice. His ears have been opened, He can hea1· the soft whispers of a voice which is unheard by others. Ho loves to hearkon. " 'fhe secret of the Lonl is with them that fear hi 111." III. WE HAVE HERE GoD's GENEROUS PLEDGE OF LARGER GOOD. 1. Here is adoption. He solemnly avers them to be "his peculiar people." He gives them a special place in his regards. Defore the intelligent universe he espouses them as his own. "He is not ashamed to call them brethren." All his power is plcdgerl for their protection. All his possessions become their~. 2. He gives them an obedient disposition. His blessin"' can reach the interior will. If we have made a general surrender of ourselves to him~ he imparts gracious strength to every energy of our souls. In response to our desire he makes us willing. "I will pour out my Spirit upon them, and cause them to walk in my statutes, and they shall keep my judgments, and do them." When men have embraced his external and written covenant, then "he makes a new covenant, and writes it upon their hearts." First there is what is natural, afterward that which is spiritual. 3. Here are eminence and honour secured. "To make thee high above all nations." Real glory is God's gift to his chosen. False honour and glitter Satan scatters abundantly among his votaries; but these are superficial and ephemeral. Satan cannot give what he does not possess. All honour belongs to God; and the dignities and eminence and glory which a.re God's, he has chosen to share with his saints. "Where I am, there ye shall be also." 4. Man's crown of beauty is promised: " that thou mayest be holy." Purity is the perfection of humanity. For this our ~pirits thirst. No external honour or greatness will satisfy us if we are not internally holy. And the purpose of God in our redemption is "that we may be conformed unto the image of his Son." "Then shall I be satisfied, when I a.wake in thy likeness."-D.