, crs. 45-68.-'.nie ,·emoter consequences of rebellion. The evil if uncured aggravate~ 1tself-dernlops new symptoms; a.nd as the evil grows, so misery increases likewise. The man of God forsees a yet further stage of misery in the distant future. His predictions of woe plainly point to the domination of the Roman eagles, and to the miseries consequent upon the final dispersion of the Jews. To the eye of God's prophet the long procession of coming woes is clearly revealed-a series of miseries stretching away through milleniums of years. I. 1T IS A ?."ECESSITY THAT Goo's RULE SHALL BE MAINTAINED. So long as the unil'erse continues, the Creator must be King. Our only choice is whether we will ha,·e him as our Friend or as our Foe. "For he must reigu." We must serve (ver. 47). 'J'o fon;ake God is not to gnin liberty; it is only the exchange of a noble Master for a thousand petty tyrants. "Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyful- ness, . . . thou shalt serve thine enemies in hunger, and in nakedness." 'l'his is the only alternative. We oscillate like a pendulum between these two points-serving God and sening our enemies. Il. IN PB0PORTION TO THE GOODNESS ABUSED IS THE CURSE THAT FOLLOWS, The language in the earlier part of these comrninations clearly points to the overthrow of the people by the .A.ssyrian.q. That calamity and the consequent captivity were the chastisements of wisdom-were part of the costly training by which Israel might have been recovered to the Divine favour. But even that severe correction soon lost its purifying etfoct. Another overthrow, more complete and galling yet, was therefore approaching. A yoke of iron was preparing for their neck, which should destroy their national life. More ruthless treatment should be endured under the Romans than under the Chaldeans. The sufferings in the siege were to be unparalleled. Mutual bate and rage would prevail. All the love of human nature would be turned into hateful selfi,Lness. It would be the reign of hell upon the earth. Ill. THE FATHERLY XIND?.'ESS OF GOD 18 DISPLAYED IN THIS FORECAST OF SIN'S F.FFECTS. It must have been a pain to the heart of Moses (and greater pain still to the heart of God) to dwell on the terrific consequences of possible disobedience. It would Lave been more pleasant employment to have sketched out the prospects and rewards of righteousness. Yet in proportion to the pain felt in anticipati::ig the desolation and misery of Israel, was the ardent love for Israel's good. If affection could erect before- hand any barrier which could withstand the torrent of evil, that barrier shall be erected. If love can abolish hell, it will. What language can measure the Divine love which thus pleads with men to eschew sin? Even a present sight of coming war docs not deter men from sin. IV. THE FULFILMENT OF Goo's THBEATENINGS ARE A SIGN FOB FUTURE Gl!:NEBA- TIONS. A thousand years elapsed before the woes foreshadowed were inflicted. With the Lord, "a thousand years are as one day." Nevertheless, every word spoken by Moses became a fact. The prophecy has been turned into history. In part, those prophecies arc fulfilled to-day Lefore our eyes; "Y c shall be 1iluckcd from off tho land whither 011. xxrx. 1-29.J TIIE DOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. 447
thou goest to possess it;" "the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the ono end of the earth even unto the other ; " "among these nations shalt thou find no case, neither shall the solo of thy foot have any rest." 'fho present con,\ition of the ,Jews i~ n signal proof of the divinity of Scripture, an impressive symbol of the crushin" judgmcnts of Goel. Who can trifle with such a Being? Wisdom s:iys, "~tand i; awo, and sin not 1"-D, •