B.C. 1491. val to 50 years, Urban IV. to 30, and Sixtus IV. to 25. houses in cities in the purchase of provisions for the poor. Some ladies hearing of this, sent him fifty pounds, that he might again obtain several of his most valued works; but while he gratefully acknowledged their kindness, he said he had dedicated the books to God, and then applied the fifty pounds also to the relief of His poor. 29-34. (29) a city,a lit. a city of wall. then.. sold, at any time within the year. (30) and if, etc., thus foreigners might become settlers and owners of house property in Canaan. (31) the.. villages, etc., some land would prob. be attached to "This provision such houses. Foreigners with merchandise, or artisans, would was made to en- not care to settle in villages. (32) the.. Levites, etc., purcourage strangers and prose-chasers of such were tenants at will. (33) and.. possession, lytes to come and the Levites had only the 48 cities wh. were assigned to them: settle among they were not to lose the only thing they could call theirs. (34) them. Though field.. sold, even for a limited time; or under any circumstances. purchase land in Protection to trade.—I. Much of human progress depends on Canaan for them- unfettered commerce. National intercourse, peace, etc., promoted selves and their by it. II. A wise legislation will make provision for the proheirs, yet they might purchase tection of the trader, artisan, manufacturer. III. This law houses in walled directed to this end. The foreign merchant could securely hire cities, wh. would or purchase a warehouse in the cities of Israel. be most convenient for them who were sup they could not trade."-Bush. 66 The joy of landed proprietors.-Certainly a landed estate is an animal with its mouth always open." But compare the posed to live by physical perception and enjoyment of landed wealth with that of consols and securities. Can I get me rosy cheeks, health, and good humour, riding up and down my Peruvian bonds? Can I go out shooting upon my parchment, or in summer sit under the 6 Nu. xxxv. 2-5; shadow of my mortgage-deed, and bob for commas and troll for Ac. iv. 36, 37. c Reade. law of servitude a De. xv.7,8; Ma. x. 8; Lu. vi. 35; Ac. xi. 29, 30; 1 Jo. iii. 17; Ja. ii. 15, 16. 6 Ne. v. 7. "There is great generous, there and is only semicolons in my river of ink, that meanders through my meadow of sheepskin? Wherefore I really think that land will always tempt even the knowing ones, until some vital change shall take place in society; for instance, till the globe makes its exit in smoke, and the blue curtain comes down on the creation.c = 35-38. (35) brother, a an Israelite. and.. decay, lit. his hand wavereth: fig. unable fr. poverty, sickness, age, etc., to help himself. relieve, lit. strengthen : fig. = help with gifts or loans. (36) take. . him,' i.e. no heavy exactions. increase, as compound interest. but.. God, therefore be just and merciful. (37) nor.. increase, demanding more in return than the quantity lent. (38) I.. God, etc., His compassion to the poor and needy as ill. by that great deliverance, to be a perpetual motive and example. ness in being Help for the poor.-I. The poor described. Those who have seen better days. This the most painful form of poverty. The simple justice in present embittered by memories of the past. II. The help to be satisfying credi-rendered. Loans without interest, or without heavy interest. tors. Generosity Food also; as seed to sow his land. III. The motive to impel soul raised above them to this duty. Their own poverty in the past and the help the vulgar." rendered them. Goldsmith. is the part of the Merciful regard for the poor.-A poor family were brought to "Any one may the last state of want; and seeing nothing but death stare them do a casual act in the face, the wife said to the husband, "You must go out and of good nature; steal what you can." The husband made many objections, but tion of them at last, being so closely pressed by his wife, he took up his hat shows it a part and went out. He soon returned, however, and throwing himself but a continua B.C. 1491. into a chair, he said, "I can't steal; if we die of hunger, I can't steal." The wife replied, that she could not bear to see the of the temperachildren famish; and if he would not go she must. She then ment."-Sterne. went out, and a butcher's shop being the first she came to, she "What seems to snatched a joint of meat and returned home. The butcher saw be generosity is her; and suspecting the cause, he resolved to follow her, not to often no more than bring her to justice, but to learn the truth of his suspicions. He disguised ambition, which saw her into her house, but did not follow her in for a few overlooks a small minutes; when, upon opening the door, he actually saw the interest in order poor children devouring the mutton in its raw state, and the to gratify a large one."- Rochefougreater part of it was already gone! The kind butcher not only could. forgave the theft, but sent the poor family another joint. sell himself to 39-46. (39) sold, for a term not exceeding six years.a a Ex. xxi. 2. "A thou.. bond-servant, thine for an indefinite period. (40) man might not but.. servant, the price of the sale being reckoned as wages. lay up the money (41) then.. thee, however brief the period of service. (42) wh. was given for.. servants, to treat them as slaves is to trespass upon the for him; nor to Divine prerogative. which.. Egypt, and made free. they.. to pay his debts; buy goods; nor bondmen, whom God emancipates are free for ever. (43) thou but merely that .. rigour, like thy taskmasters of old. but.. God, who he might get punished your tyrants; lest He punish you. (44) both, etc., Neither was it It was the object of Moses, not at once to do away with slavery, lawful for him to but to discourage and mitigate it." (45) of.. buy, but not sell himself as against their will. Kidnapping was a capital crime. (46) they long as he had so Iever, not to go out even in the jubilee. .. e bread to eat. much as a garment left." Maimonides. The poor bondman.-I. A bondman, not because of crime, but poverty. II. A servant who had been once a master. Reverses of fortune. III. Not to be treated as a slave; or one whose b Col. iv. 1; Ep. poverty is the result of crime: but tenderly. IV. Both to remember the coming jubilee. So in the strange present we should remember the possible relations of the future. vi. 9; 1 K. ix. 22. c 1 Co. vi. 19, 20, vii. 22; Ga. v. 1.. 16, xii. 44, xxi. A conscientious servant.-A lady had a nurse who was so conscientious in mending her children's clothes, that she could not d Spk. Comm. cf. on one occasion avoid expressing her surprise at the carefulness Nu. xxxi. 6; De. she manifested. Her reply was admirable. “Ma'am, I feel that XX. 14; Ex. xxi. what money I save in my master's family, I save for the poor; 20, 21, 26, 27. and this makes me mend and turn clothes as I never did before." Many masters and mistresses would have more to give away, if their servants were thus careful of the goods entrusted to their care. e Is. lxi. 5. xiv. De. ix. 5, 6. 34; Is. xlix. 24 47-50. (47) if.. thee, by successful traffic: a hint of a Ps. xlix. 6-8 possible advantage of dwelling with the people of God. (48) 14, 15; Je. 1. 35, he.. again, the law of the land to wh. the stranger had 26, lix. 20, xli. 13, voluntarily come. (49) redeem, the purchase would, of course, 14; Jo. viii. 36; be effected with a view to this contingency. (50) reckon, the Ro. viii. 16, 17, 23; Ep. v. 30. stranger was to be treated justly. "It is fit and Foreign servitude.-I. Case supposed. A foreigner grown rich by traffic, etc. The possibility of this a proof of the benign necessary that influence of the Mosaic law. II. Another supposed case. The some persons in Israelite grown poor while ministering to his neighbour's pros- the world should perity. III. The law of the case. The foreigners might buy the be in love with a splendid serviIsraelite, but not to hold him in perpetual bondage. There tude."-South. shall be the possibility of an equitable redemption at any time. The law guarded the rights both of the foreigner and the native. "We belong willing servants to B.C. 1491. the good by the bonds their virtues lay upon us." -Sir P. Sidney. Talfourd. a Ps. xxxvii. 7, A faithful servant.— Hear me, Ctesiphon !— I had a fever once, and slaves Affrighted fled me ;-he usurp'd their place, Seem'd an herioc sense, which made me kin And faintly listen." 51–55. (51, 52) See on v. 16. (53) rule.. sight, i.e. with 11; Is. xxvi. 3, 4. thy connivance. (54) in.. years, a lit. by one of these means. b Ep. vi. 5, 8. (55) See vv. 38-42. "Servitude seizes on few, but many seize her."-Seneca. on "It is a common law of nature, which no time will ever change, that superiors shall rule their inferiors." Dionysius. "If thou art a master, be some serve upon him: masters, nor all The servant's Divine protector (v. 53).—I. We are all fellow servants of one master. II. As fellow servants we should be fellow helpers, not petty tyrants. III. Churches not to be too exacting of ministers, deacons, teachers, etc. IV. The rigorous treatment in Egypt to be remembered. V. The day of final and complete redemption to be watchfully anticipated. The example of masters.-One way in which the characters of servants in high life might be improved, would be by seeing their masters a little more scrupulous than some of the more fashionable amongst them are wont to be in matters of truth and honesty. The adherence to honesty on the part of the masters times blind; if a might be exemplary; whereas their actual measure of honesty servant, some- would perhaps be indicated with sufficient indulgence if they times deaf." Fuller. were described (in the qualified language which Hamlet applies "I follow him to to himself) to be "indifferent honest." And there is a currency my turn of untruth in daily use amongst fashionable people for purposes we of convenience, which proceeds to a much bolder extent than cannot all be the form of well-understood falsehood by which the middle classes masters cannot also, not perhaps without some occasional violation of their more be truly follow- tender consciences, excuse themselves from receiving a guest. ed."-Shakespeare. Fashionable people, moreover, are the most unscrupulous smug"An extreme ri-glers and buyers of smuggled goods, and have less difficulty than arm everything others and less shame in making various illicit inroads upon the against it." public property and revenue. It is not to be denied that these practices are, in point of fact, a species of lying and cheating; "A desire to re- and the latter of them bears a close analogy to the sort of depresist oppression is dation in which the dishonesty of a servant commonly comimplanted in the nature of man," mences. To a servant it must seem quite as venial an offence to trench upon the revenues of a duke as to the duke it may seem to defraud the revenues of a kingdom. Such proceedings, if not "Spare not the absolutely to be branded as dishonest, are not at least altogether great for their honourable; they are such as may be more easily excused in a might, nor the mean for their menial than in a gentleman. Nor can it ever be otherwise misery. Causes than of an evil example to make truth and honesty matters of must be heard, degree.c-Slavery.-While men despise fraud, and loathe rapine, and abhor blood, they will reject with indignation the wild and guilty fantasy that man can hold property in man.d gour is sure to Burke. -Tacitus. c Taylor. and not persons." -Trapp. CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SIXTH. 1-6. (1) ye.. image, etc., see Ex. xx. 4. (2) keep, etc., see xix. 30. (3) and.. them, not simply remember or talk ab. them. (4) rain.. season, rain in the E. periodical. (5) threshing, barley harvest ab. mid. of Ap.; wheat ab. beg. of June. vintage, fruit ripening ab. end of July. eat..safely, no stint or fear of famine. (6) ye.. down, picture of content, rest. none afraid, no enemies to oppress. rid beasts, vermin, beasts of prey. neither.. land, foreign invasion, civil war. B.C. 1491. public worship of Jehovah a De. xxvii. 15; Ps. xcvii. 7; 1 K xi. 4, 5; Ps. cxv. 4-8; Is. xlv. 5. 6 Is. lvi. 4-7. Religion conducive to material prosperity (vv. 3—6).—I. Inquire into the nature of the statutes referred to. II. Show how obedience is naturally conducive to prosperity. III. Admire the wisdom of the Divine legislator. IV. But, in addition to the natural consequences of obedience, there is here promised the 7. special blessing of God. c De. xi. 14; Je. v. 24; Joel ii. 23; Hos. vi. 3; Ja. v. Destruction of idols.-Mahmoud, the conqueror of India, v. 2. R. Fiddes, reached Somnat, a temple of peculiar sanctity in Guzerat. ii. 98, 120; Dr. W. Having overcome all resistance, he entered the temple. Facing Dehon, i. 221. the entrance was an idol five yards high. He instantly ordered Cooper, i. 37; Bp. and latter it to be destroyed. The Brahmins of the temple threw them-d "Two wet seaselves down before him, and offered him an enormous ransom; sons, called forbut Mahmoud, after a moment's pause, declared he would rather mer rain. The former be remembered as the breaker than the seller of idols, and struck beg. aft. the authe image with his mace. His example was followed, and the tumnal equinox image, which was hollow, burst with the blows, and poured forth and falls heavily a quantity of diamonds and other jewels, far more than the proffered ransom. Thou too, heaven's commission'd warrior, To cast down each idol throne In thy heart's profaned temple, Heed them not, but boldly strike them, Thou shalt lose thy life and find it; Know it in its endless worth.i in Nov.-Dec. the latter or spring rain is in March, and rarely lasts beyond two days."-R binson, Phy. Geog. of H. L. 263. e Le.xxv. 19; Joel ii. 19, 26. f 1 Ch. xxii. 9; Ps. xxix. 11; Job xi. 19; Ps. iv. 8; 1 K. iv. 25. 9 Is. xxxv. 9; Ez. v. 17, xiv. 15. h Ez. xiv. 17, xxi. 3, 4. i Abp. Trench. 7-13. (7) ye.. enemies, a few, aided fr. on high, mightier reward of than a multitude.a (8) five, etc., a prov. expression= prowess obedience in war. (9) I.. you, lit. will turn my face to you. fruitful, success, etc. establish, confirm, keep. (10) eat..store, a Ill. Cong. of not waste it. bring.. new, to make room for new: false Canaan. Cf. Josh. saving of old is distrust of the future. (11) tabernacle, dwell- Jud. vii. 22; Daxxiii. 10; Gideon, ing. my.. you, while you, the people of my choice, are faith-vid's worthies, 2 B.C. 1491. S. xxiii. 8, 18; 1 Ch. xi. 11, 18; cf. De. xxxii. 30. b 1 S.xiv. 6; Zec. xii. 8. e Ps. xxv. 16. lxix. Ne. ix. 23. e Jo. i. 14; see Gk. ful. (12) walk you, Divine presence familiar, constant, visible. (13) brought.. Egypt, remembering the past would make them gratefully enjoy the present; and hopefully regard the future. that.. bondmen, sad, demoralised, weary. I.. yoke,effectually, for ever. upright, joyous, free, released fr. heavy burdens. God's people invincible (vv. 7-9).-I. Because of the enthusiasm which religion inspires. Historical illustrations. Fighting for God, truth, liberty. Cromwell's Ironsides. In the late FrancoPrussian war the Germans spoke of God and right while the French boasted about glory, etc. II. Because of the Divine aid which religion secures. The God of battles on the side of His people. III. See how this is proved by the facts of history. IV. What comfort is there here for the believer. "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper." Sinful saving (v. 10).— Define economy, the right use of the blessings of providence. f Je. ii. 20; Ez. I. Not wasting. "Ye shall eat," etc. II. Not hoarding, but distributing, "bring forth." "There is that withholdeth more than is meet," etc. III. The motive supplied, "because of the new." It is-1. Certain; 2. Abundant; 3. Faith in God. cf. Re. xxi. 3; Ex. xxix. 45, xxv. 8; Ez. xxxvii. 26, 27; 2 Co. vi. 16. xxxiv. 27. 9 Jo. viii. 36; Ro. viii. 21; Ga. v. 1. "To obey God in Legend of St. James in battle.-In the year of our Lord 939, some things of King Ramirez, having vowed to deliver Castile from the shameful religion and not tribute imposed by the Moors, of one hundred virgins delivered in others, shows annually, collected his troops, and defied their king Abdelraman a n unsound to battle. heart; like Esau, who obeyed his father in bringing him venison, but not in a greater matter, viz., the choice of moves every command draws."-7. Wat son. "The king called God to witness, that, came there weal or woe, his wife. Child- Accordingly, he charged the Moorish host on the Plain of Alveida like obedience or Clavijo. After a furious conflict, the Christians were, by the towards permission of Heaven, defeated, and forced to retire. Night of God, as the separated the combatants; and King Ramirez, overpowered with needle points fatigue, and sad at heart, flung himself upon his couch, and that way which slept. In his sleep he beheld the apostle St. Jago, who promised the loadstone to be with him next morning in the field, and assured him of victory. The king, waking up from the glorious vision, sent for his prelates and officers, to whom he related it; and the next morning, at the head of his army, he recounted it to his soldiers, bidding them rely on heavenly aid. He then ordered the trumpets to sound to battle. The soldiers, inspired with fresh courage, rushed to the fight. Suddenly, St. Jago was seen mounted on a milk-white charger, and waving aloft a white standard: he led on the Christians, who gained a decisive victory, leaving sixty thousand Moors dead on the field. This was the famous battle of Clavijo; and, ever since that day, Santiago!" has been the war-cry of the Spanish armies. h Mrs. Jameson. warnings for disobedience first and second warning a 2 K. xvii. 15; De. xxviii. 65 Am. iii. 1, 2. 67. 66 14-20. (14) but, etc.," the alternative is faithfully declared. (15) all, obeying only a part, or the whole but partially; picking and choosing to suit taste and convenience; minding the mere letter only. (16) terror, trembling, trouble. consumption, a wasting away. a. ague, fever. shall.. eyes, blindness; grief at loss of friends. cause.. heart, at seeing and feeling effects of disease. and.. it, war threatened. (17) ye.. you, effect of guilty fear; having lost hope in God. (18) с |