nil thnt cnn be ngninst them. Their vantage-ground is that they can be "strong in tho Lord, nnd in the power or his mi~ht." And this is the ono question to be asked always: Js God with us? If so all is well. The work nl ways succeeds of which he is the head. ' III. 'l'1m WORK BEFORE THEM IS TO BE JUDGMENT. They are to enter Canaan as destroyers. It is iconoclasts that have been brought from Egypt. Their commission is death to the old religions of the country, and to the incorrigible devotees. They enter as "the scourge of God." And such a mission must have proved a warning to them- Bclvcs, If called to be thu ..xecutioncrs of the apostates of Palestine, they will surely guard against apostacy. IV. JN THE INVASION THEY MUST ADHERE TO THE LETTER OF THE COMMAND- MENTS, It is a terrible mission ; but God leaves no loophole for them to escape it. He leaves nothing to licence; he gives them strict orders, and these must be carried carefully out. 'l'hus are the rigours of the invasion brought under the shadow of bis throne, and he, who is Sovereign and legitimate Avenger, commissioned Israel to execute his orders amid the criminal population of Palestine.-R. M. E. Vers. 9-13.-Tlie literary· executors of il!oses. It must have been a solemn act on the part of Moses, after having nominated Joshua as his successor in the leadership of Israel, to summon the priests and the elders, that they might be the custodians of his manuscripts, and deal with them as he desired. It was to the ministers of religion, and to the rulers elected by the people and ordained of God, that he gave this important charge. Of course they could not, as nowadays, publish iu multiplied copies the carefully written Law. But they were directed to have a great congregation every seven years, at the time of the Feast of Tabernacles, for the public reading of the Law. Hence in this sabbatic time, when no rain need be feared, but brightness and peace reigned by night and day in the land of promise, they were to make public, through reading, this important Law. This interesting arrangement suggests such lessons as these- I. TnERE IS NOTilING so PRECIOUS AS GoD's WORD. No wonder that special officers got special charge of it, when the first instalment was given and completed. It was a sacred deposit such as no other nation possessed. The Jew had surely a great advantage, inasmuch as there were committed to him "the oracles of God" (Itum. iii. 2). II. 'fHE WIDEST POSSIBLE PUBLICATION SHOULD BE SECURED FOR IT. No better arrangement in times before printing can be imagined than this one of a great congre- gation with perfect publicity thereat. What an audience every seveuth year! .And amid the solemnity of the year of release, the sabbatic year, when time lay plentifully on: their hands, they could not better spend a portion of the year th.'\n in meeting together to learn God's Law. It was a splendid, periodic publicity. And is it not typical of that wider publicity which the printing press is now giving to the Divine Word? Assuredly it is a striking fact that the circulation of the most successful human publication dwindles into insignificance compared with the circulation of the Word of God. Men are trying to make it as widely known as possible. III. SPECIAL SEASONS FOR THE STUDY OF GoD's LAW ARE EMlliENTLY DESIILI.BLE, Had this direction of Moses been faithfully followed, there would have been a revival of religion every seventh year. A new start would thus have been given to the study of God's will, and greater devotedness of spirit have been created throughout the many thousands of Israel. Similarly, congregations and Churches should have grancl assemblies for the express purpose of the public study of God's Law, not merely on the Lord's day each week, but 11t special and stated seasons. The "camp meetings" of America may have objection- able elements attaching to them ; but it would ho a good day for all the Clrnrches, if some grand reunions could be devised, whcu the highest aim of mankind would bo carried out in the study of Goll's Law. IV, 'frm ClllLDREN AS WELL AS ADULTS SHOULD BE MADE SHARERS IN THE SPECIAL STUDY AND BLESSING. 'l'he purpose of tho arrangement was not only to publish truths as widely as possible among the adult portion of the population, but to interest nlso the chiltlrcn in the doctrines and discipline of tho Church. Hence the meet- ing was to be an aggregation of fornilies. It was to be "a gathering of the clans;" THE BOOK OF DEtJTERONOMY. (on. xxxt. 1-80.
y,,ung ns well as old I\We to henr the wonderful works of God and his gracious com- mandnwnts. _The special religious service, then, wl1ich the Churches should aim at., will be of the widest charncter. It should contemplate the presence of the young as well as the old, and be adapted to the revival of the Lorci's work in all sections of the Church. There is power iu the aggregation of individuals for rcliidous purposes. 'l'hc children must be kPpt in Yiew in every effort to extend the kingdom. The family must be lifted, if pos~ible, all of a piece, ns a unit of God's own making, and in the elovation of families will come the clc,ation of nations. There is something; peculiarly bright and happy in the picture. The sky is cloudless and the people are li,·ing in booths "without carefulness." They have met together for the purpose of celebrating a feast, but there is to be a special study of the Law for the benefit of young as well as old. Old heads and young are bowed before the Majesty of heaven, anxious to know his will and how to do it. In such circumstances surely religion must be promoted. May we have grace to imitate such an excellent example 1-R. M. E.