tend to pormnncncc nnrl constitute character nnd foreshadow destiny. All proceeds by virtue of an eternnl lnw: "God helps those who help themselves." It is easier for o. good man to resist tcmpto.tion now than it was in the first stages of his Christian llfe. Devotion ho.s become the natural outflow of his soul, the fruitage of bis new life. IV. IlEHIND ALL FORMS OF BT,ERHING A PERSONAL Goo MAY BE SEEN, The material food does not sustain ho<lily life; it is :God acting through the food. ~either fertile land, nor good husbandry, nor auspicious weather, nor all combined, will in themselves secure a copious harvest; it is God acting through natural forces. "The Lord shall command the blessing." However riches may increase, if God smile not, there will be no joy. The house may be full of children; yet instead of ruddy health thern may be wasting sickness-instead of intellectual vigour, imbecility-instead of laughter, weeping: the blessing of God is wanting. We may possess substantial homes, yet no security ; marauders and incendiaries may infest the land. 'l'rue prosperity is a Divine Father's benediction. v. A GOOD MAN DELIGHTS IN DISTRIBUTING GOOD. He himself becomes an inferior God, a lesser source of bles3ing. " Thou shalt lend, and shalt not borrow." The N anrn of God is put upon him. He acts in God's stead, and imitates God in all things. The result of the Divine favour will be conspicuous. All people shall see the gracious dis- tinction which marks and signalizes the friend of God. All his beneficent deeds will be covered with a glory not born of earth. His mysterious influence will spread far and wide. He becomes a " burning and a shining light; many will rejoice in his light."-D. Vers. 15-44.-The Nemesis of disloyalty. It is instructive that Moses dilates with far greater fulness on the curses attached to disloyalty than on the rewards of dis- obedience. In the childhooc. of the world people were more under the influence of fear than of hope, more deterred by threatening than drawn by promise. The message of Moses was admirably adapted to the people's need. I. THE EQUITY OF THESE CURSES. 1. Disobedience under such circumstances of privilege was eminently base and blameworthy. Disloyalty had no excuse. To refuse to hearken to the Creator's voice was sheer obstinacy, which could plead no extenua- tion. 2. It was perjury. They had; sworn to be loyal subjects. They had acknow- ledged the just terms of the covenant, and had entered Canaan on the terms of pledged obedience. 3. It was rebellion against their accepted King. If such flagrant rebellion escaped with impunity, God would be dishonoured in the eyes of the universe. 4. The curses were their own choice. They knew clearly what the fruits of disobedience were. They had seen the fruits in others' fate-in the Egyptians, in their brethren, in the Canaanitee. If they should choose other gods, they should be led into captivity, and there they should "serve other gods, wood and stone." 5. The curses were the natural evolution of their crimes. Sin is the seed of which penalty is the fruit. If they forsook God; God would forsake them. What could be more equitable? • Men say, "Depart from me; I desire not the knowledge of thy ways." God says," Depart from me; I never knew you." _ II. THE EXTENT OF THE CURSE. 1. It is a complete reversal of the purpose of Goa. His purpose had been to bless-to bless abundantly. But sin changes the light into gloom, sweetness into bitterness, summer into winter, food into poison. At every point o.nd through every moment the sinner is in direct and absolute antagonism with God. 2. Every earthly possession becomes an instrument of pain. The body, which is the organic instrument by which the soul has intercourse with the material W?rld, furnishes a thousand avenues for pain. Our children are intended as channels of Joy ; they become channels of sorrow. Every possessioa becomes a source of anxiety and care. Every occupation bears a harvest of disappointment. Blight is upon all the summer fruit. Black portents fill every quarter of the sky. 3. The natural elements become agents of woe. The sun becomes as a fiery oven, while no cloud tempers the scorching heat. Fierce winds till the heated _air with fine dust, which afflicts the eye with disease and blindness. Inflammation of the blood and fever follow. 'l'he air is charged with pestilence, and men breathe it with every inspiration. Material iiature fi~hts for (tod. 4, The curse includes disordered reason, Nor can W@ THE BOOK OF DEUTERO:N"mlY. [en. xxvm. 1-68.
"'0ncl<'r. The delicate org11ns of the mind are sustained in vigour by God, :md If he withclraw his hand, madness swiftly follows. 5. In proportion to the previou, exalta- ti011 beromes the degradatfrm.. It is better not to be raiRed to eminence than to bo lifted up and then cast down. This would be a stigma of reproach in the oyes of all the nation~. III. 'l'nE CERTATh"TY OF THE CURSE. "It shall come to pass." 1. Il is fixed by cm t'11here11t necrs.sify. The law of Nemesis is- embedded in the constitution of the 11ni,·erne. As surely as night succeeds to day, as surely as fire melts wax, so surely does prnalty follow sin. E,·ery dynamic force in nature is in league with righteous- ness a,:ainst sin. 2. It is made ce1·tain by Jehoval,'s wo,·d. His word is a po.rt of himself; and as his nature is unchangeable, so no word of his can ever be revoked. This is his prerognti,·e: "I am Jebornh; I change not." 3. It is made sure by the lwliuess rf God. For God to treat sin with levity pr with impunity would be to do \"iPlcnce to his own nature-would be to act against himself. In the ligl.Jt of holiness sin must be consumed; and if it inhere incradicably in the sinner, then must the sinner be consumed likewise. So long as God is holy he must, by the essential quality of his nature, pursue sin unto the death.-D.