obligations too, they aver, are impracticable, beyond the power of man to fulfil. Self- indulgence and impiety have never yet failed to frame excuses for their rejection of the Divine Word. Dut excuses avail them nothing. The indolent man has for loner acrer past learnt to say," 'l'here is a lion in the path,n Honest investigatic,n soon finds the truth of God "worthy of all acceptation." I. OBSERVE THE AUTHORITY OF Goo's WORD, It is a." commandment." It comes to men with all the character of a. law. It is not possible that we should treat it as we please, We a.re not permitted to mutilate or dismember it-not permitteJ to accept e. part and reject e. part. As in a tree the Jiving sap runs into every branch and twig e.nd leaf, so that we cannot pluck the tiniest part without breaking the vital current; so every part of God's Scripture is instinct with high authority, nor can we neglect the least commandment without defying the majesty of heaven. We are bound to bow our wills to it; it will, in no degree, bend its requirements to suit our tastes. II. 'l'HE PERSPICUITY OF Goo's WoRD. lts essential truths are within the compass of every mind. Every man knows what it is to love; that love is due from each man to his Maker. Every child knows what obedience means; that obedience is due to the Father of our spirits. Truly, some facts concerning the eternal world are so profound that, like ocean-depths,human reason cannot fathom them. But these are not the racts which lie at the foundation of man's safety and hope. The practical duties which appertain to virtue and well-bejng are so plain that even a. child may understand. Whatever difficulty lies in t)le way of human obedience, it does not lie in the haze or uncertain meaning of the revelation. The difficulty is within a man, not without him. The objects of faith are clearly revealed; we want only an eye to discern them. III. THE ACCOMMODATENESS OF Goo's WoRD. On the part of scriptural truth, there is an exquisite fitness to meet the capacity of men's minds and the ueeds of their souls. " The word is nigh thee ; yea, in thy very heart." There is perfect accord between the constitution of the man and the contents of revelation. The Bible is the counterpart and complement of conscience. It is obvious that the Lord of conscience is Lord of Scripture also. The Bible says, "Thou hast sinned;" and conscience admits the fact. The Bible says, "Thou art helpless to save thyself;" and conscience knows it true. The Bible declares that happiness is inseparable from obedience; and con- science feels that it is so, There is a living witness in every man (until gagged by sin) which testifies to the authority and necessity and reasonableness of God's La\v. IV. 'l'HE PRACTICALNESS OF Goo's WoRD. "'l.'hat thou mayest do it." Religious truth is not revealed to gratify a prurient curiosity, not to afford matter for specula- tion, but solely to promote obedience. To know God's requirements will bring us no advantage unless we heartily and loyally do them. Accurate and orthodox beliefs convey, in themselves, no life nor joy, Right belief is barren and abortive until it brin;;s forth e.ctive obedience. We are not to be judged at God's tribunal for our opinions or theories, nor for our religious creeds ; we are to be judged of "the deeds done in the body." "I was hungry, and ye gave me meat," will be the grounds of the judicial verJict. Practical service is the end and purpose of Divine revelation.-D.
Vers. 15-20.-An alternative choice. The prophet's power to persuade and in- fluence a people is great-unspeakably great; yet it is not irresistible. It has its limits. After all that has been said to hiru, a man feels that the determination and choice rest within himself. Reason may be convinced ; jnd)(ment may give a decided verdict; still inclination may inordinately lean to the weaker side, and baffle all prudent cal- culations, The intense eagerness of Moses for the people's weal is a sublime spectacle of generous devotement-an unparalleled instance of ardent patriotism. C~lling up_ all his powers of persuasive and passionate appeal, he makes a final effort to wm the tribes for God, We have here- I. ALTERNATIVE LINES OF CONDUCT. All possible courses of life are reduced to two -one of which every man must take; a third course is excluded. The two are separately described. 1. The course of loyalty is described: (1) By the man's state ,if heart, "'l.'o love the Lord thy Goel." 'l'his determines all that follows-the root out of which all flowers and fruits of obedience spring. Tbis love arises from a right appreciation of God, "_He is thy life," ):ea, the_ lif~ of t,hy l!fe,. With_ou~, him, life is a Mhadow-a dream-outside show, "In him we live. 1 ' Christ 1B our life -the Sourcu THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY.