II. PICTURES OF CRIME. 1. It..~ aspect of horror. They are to be understood ae drawn _by the teachei's hand. He is putting the real meaning of the tempter's suggestions into vivid descriptions. 'l'he tempter himself will take care not to expose the bloody and hideous aspect of his trade. "Viro is a monster of so hideous mien,· 'l'ha.t t,o be hated needs but t,o be seen." On such a principle the teacher acts. The veil is torn aside from the life of crime1 e.nd its repulsive inhumanity disclosed. It is a" lurking for blood," after the imaae of !he bun~:- :with nets ~nd nooses, ~atchi~g ~or his p~ey. ~nd this too for "the v~nly mnocent, i.e. ~:~ose mno~ence will av~il him no~h1ng with us (comp. Ps. xxxv. 19; lx1x. 5; Lam. m. 52), or, m the other mterpretat1on, for the innocent who has given. us no cause for hatred or revenge. "Will swallow them up livina like the pit [or, 'abyss 'J." .A.n expression for sudden death as opposed to that by lingering sickness-the ~rth a.s it were yawning from its abysses to devour the fated lives (comp. Ps. c:1-x1v. 3; eh. xxx.. 16). The expression whole, whether it denotes sound m bod_y or m char~cter (hon~st m~n), adds to the force of the description. 2. But there is an attractive aspect m crime. "Thou shalt cast thy lot. into our midst," i.e. shalt share and share alike with us, as we say, or take an equal chance for the best o[ the booty, the lot in such cases being the custom of robbers and of soldiers (Ps. xxii. 19; N eh. x. 35). There is freedom, communism, good-fellowship, in the life of the banditti; no distinction of rank or class, poor or rich. In certain times the picture of such a life has proved of overwhelming fascination for young adven- turous spirits. In solemn reiterated warning the teacher raises his voice against the treading of their path and. way. This simple biblical figure may remind, us that every mode of active life, every profession or occupation, is like a path; it leads somewhither. Unless we could cease from activity, we must all be advancing to some moral issue. "What will it be? 3 . .A summary description of the criminal. He runs toward wickedness, hastes to shed blood. The eagerness, the swiftness, and perseverance of the criminal often arouse intellectual admiration, and shame the slothfulness of tho,e who follow noble callings. Bnt the devotion of ability and energy of a high orJer to such ends is, indeed, one of the most striking proofs we can have of the corruption of man's nature. This is crime revealed· in its hatefulness, on the one band, by its cruel and iohuroan conduct and effects;. on. tl;te other, in .its da_rk source, the utter perversion of the criminal's mind. itself. lif. THE RECOIL OF EVIL ON THE DOERS. Here again are powerful pictures. Like thoughtless birds, which rush with open eyes into the net, so do these miscreants, in preparing destruction for others, themselves run headlong upon their fate (comp. Job xvili. 8). While they are lurking for othtrs' blood and laying snares for others' lives, their own are forfeited. This self-defeat of wickedness is a central thought in biblical wisdom (comp. eh. xv. 32; xvi. 27; Eccles. x. 8; Ps. vii.16; Rom. ii. 5_; Gal. vi. 8; 1 'l'im. vi. 9, 10; Ja.s. v. 3-5). Thus wisdom and folly form an antithesis in their nature, their powers, anJ their result. 1. ·wisdom is at one with religion and morality; folly casts off God and right. 2. Wisdom pursues good ends by good means; folly pursues evil by evil meani.. 3. 'l'ho result of wisdom is life and blessedness, health and peace; that of folly is self-nndermining, self-overthrow, or "slow suicide." Ill THE ROOT OF CRIME. It is like that of all sin, in desire, in misdirected desire, the greed of "unlawful gain," to give the fuller force of the ;expression. Note: 1. 'l'he prevalence of tbis passion. By far the largest proportion of men's worst actions are probably to be traced to it. Head the reports of the courts of law, listen to _the gossip of the hour for illustrations. 2. Its intoxicating, illusory power. The vi~tim of it deceives himself, as in other passions : it is thrift, it is due regar4 to what 1s of substantial value to one's interests, etc. .A.nd how difficult to distinguish that desiro for more, which is the spring of action in commerce as_ in honourable ~mbition, the pursuit of knowledge, etc.! The question must be ca~ned. to the conscience and ~o God. 3. Its unsocial character. More than any passwn, 1t separates man from his kiud, and assimilates him to the beast of prey. 4. Its suicidal effect. If it does not dei;troy the man's body, it certainly corrodes and eats away his soul. It dehumanizes on. 1. 1-33.] THE PROVERBS. 27
him. There is no object more shadowy in one aspect, more unreal, in another more monstrous, than the miser, as depicted by Balzac and other great writers. Covetousness is self-slaughter.-J.