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go to the utmost rigour; or because the execution was usually done with a whip of three lashes, so that thirteen stripes, each one being counted for three, made up thirty-nine.Deut. xxv. 1-3.

THE usual method of thrashing in the East to the present day, is by laying the sheaves on a level place or floor, and treading out the grain by driving cattle over them; sometimes dragging a small cart or frame of wood. Modern travellers have observed the custom here directed, of allowing the oxen so employed to be unmuzzled.-Deut. xxv. 4.

THE offerer is here appointed, when he has finished the service, to give glory to God; thou shalt worship the Lord thy God. The first-fruits were not accepted without further acts of adoration. An humble, reverent, thankful heart, is that which God looks at and requires; and without that, all we can put in a basket will not avail. If a man would give all the substance of his house, to be excused from this, or in place of it, it would be utterly contemned. He must also take the comfort of it to himself and family; thou shalt rejoice in every good thing. It is the will of God that we should be cheerful, not only in attendance on his holy ordinances, but in our enjoyments of the gifts of his providence. Whatever good thing God gives us, it is his will that we make the most comfortable use we can of it, tracing the streams to the Fountain of all comfort and consolation.— Deut. xxvi. 1-11.

THE passage, ver. 5-11, usually formed the subject of discourse during supper at the Passover.

THOSE who walk by sight and not by faith, are in danger of losing reason itself, when everything about them looks frightful.-Deut. xxviii. 15-44.

WHAT does God maintain us for, but that we may do his work, and be some way serviceable to his honour? The more God gives us, the more cheerfully we should serve him. If when we receive the gifts of God's bounty, we either do not serve him at all, or serve him with reluctance, it is a righteous thing with him to make us know the hardships of want and servitude. Multitudes should perish, so that they should become few in number (ver. 62). In the destruction of the Jewish nation by the Romans, as appears by the account of Josephus, above two millions fell by the sword, beside the multitudes that perished by famine and pestilence; the whole country was laid waste. They have, indeed, been plucked from off the land (ver. 63). Not only by the Babylonish

captivity, and when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans; but afterwards, when the Emperor Adrian had subdued the rebellious Jews, he forbade them, upon pain of death, to set foot in Jerusalem, or even to approach the country round about it. Tertullian and Jerome say they were prohibited from entering Judea. From that time to this their country hath been in possession of foreign lords and masters, comparatively few of the Jews dwelling in it, and those only of a low, servile condition.-Bp. Newton. Many of the Jews rebelliously went to Egypt after the Babylonish captivity, and these miserably perished, (Jer. xli. and xliv.) Multitudes settled there under the successors of Alexander. But ver. 68 seems especially to point out an event which took place after the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus. Numbers of captives were sent by sea to Egypt, as well as other countries, and sold for slaves, at a vile price, and for the meanest offices. Their multitude was so great, that purchasers could not be found for the whole at any price. Observe the circumstances under which this prediction was written, when the nation that was to bring them to pass was not in being, and when the Jews themselves had neither territory nor city, but were wanderers in a desert land. It is a prediction which foretels events beyond the common course of things, which no human foresight could have conjectured as likely to take place, yet which have taken place, and are still doing so before our eyes. And what is the conclusion? Surely, that this was dictated to Moses by Him who knows the end from the beginning, and call those things that are not, as though they were.-Deut. xxviii.

45-68.-Jenour.

THE word preached is likely to profit when it comes gently, and sweetly insinuates itself into the hearts and affections of the hearers.-Deut. xxxii. 1, 2.

THE language of this song abounds with bold metaphors, as usual in eastern poetry. A grain of wheat is in shape somewhat like a kidney, which in cattle is surrounded with the choicest fat, and to this allusion is here made.-Deut. xxxii. 14.

THE Jerusalem Targum reads it, I kill those that are alive in this world, and make those alive in the other world that are dead. Deut. xxxii. 39-43.

In this Divine poem, and the preceding discourse, ch. xxviii.xxxi. is displayed every excellence for which the Hebrew language is remarkable, both in prose and verse. The oratory, though great, spirited, and abounding with ornament, is

regular, copious, and diffuse; though vehement, it preserves a uniformity throughout. The poetry consists of sentences pointed, energetic, concise, and splendid; the sentiments truly elevated and sublime, the language brilliant and animated, the expression and phraseology uncommon, glancing rapidly from one subject to another.-Deut. xxxii. 48-52.-See Lowth.

THEY that are loving, shall be beloved.-Deut. xxxiii. 23. CHILDREN are blessings, not burdens.-Deut. xxxiii. 24, 25. He died according to the word of the Lord, at the mouth of the Lord; so the word means. The Jews say, "With a kiss from the mouth of God."-Henry and Scott. The Jews speak much of a person dying at the kiss of God; thereby not only expressing a person's dying in his favour, but to show how sweet the death of God's saints is to them; they reap sweetness, comfort, happiness, from him, even in dying.-Deut. xxxiv. 5-8.-Lightfoot.

THE civil laws and political constitution of the Jews were well suited to promote and secure industry, virtue, and religion. Debts could not accumulate, as a Jew might not receive interest from his fellow-countrymen, and all outstanding debts were released every seventh year; land could not be sold for ever, but was to revert, in every fiftieth year, to the families who originally possessed it. Thus a preference was given to lands over houses, which might be alienated, and the owners were encouraged to settle in the country, and follow agriculture. The property of heiresses also was not to pass from their tribe, but they were to marry therein.—On the Lacs of Moses.

HAPPY will it be when all professed Christians shall learn, in their differences, to copy the example of Israel recorded in this chapter-to unite zeal and steady adherence to the cause of truth, with candour, meekness, and readiness to understand each other, to explain and to be satisfied with the explanations and concessions of their brethren. How long will the spirit of acrimony, misrepresentation, uncandid construction, treating each other with severity, and an obstinate pertinacity in defending every tittle of a system, and carrying every sentiment to the extreme? How long will these things disgrace religion, and confirm the prejudices of thousands against precious truths? When will Christians remember, that by this shall all men know the have love one for another? they bite and devour one consumed one of another?

disciples of Christ, when they When will they recollect that if another they are likely to be

May the Lord increase the

number of those who endeavour to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace; may increasing grace and consolation be with all those who love Jesus Christ in sincerity, by whatever name they are distinguished.-Joshua xxii. 30-34.

THE hour of his dismission was at hand, his warfare was accomplished, his rest prepared. The body was about to return to the dust as it was, and the spirit to God who gave it. But as the planet reflects a more pure and brilliant radiance when it draws nearest to the fountain of light, so will the last hours of such a man be gilded, if sense and strength be allowed him, with a more enlarged communication of the love of God shed abroad in his heart, by the Holy Ghost given him.-Joshua xxiii. 1-10.

LET the burdens of honour and of work go together.Judges i. 1-8.

THE goads used in the East for driving oxen, are of considerable size. Maundrell describes those in Syria as eight feet long, and six inches round where thickest, with a small spade at one end, and a sharp point at the other. Such an instrument would be a formidable weapon.-Judges iii. 31.

EASTERN travellers state, that no stranger ever dares to come into the woman's part of an Arab's tent, unless introduced. Judges iv. 17-24.

THE horses in the East seldom are shod.-Judges v. 12-23. THOSE Who will not attempt or venture anything in the cause of God will be the most ready to censure and quarrel with such as are of a more zealous and enterprising spirit. Those who are the most reluctant to difficult services, will be the most exasperated to be excluded from the credit of them. Gideon stands here a great example of self-denial; and shows us, that envy is best removed by humility. Even right works are often envied, (Eccl. iv. 4). Yet they are not likely to be so, when those who do them appear not to be proud of them. They are malignant indeed, who seek to cast those down from their excellency who abase themselves. Humility is likewise the surest method of ending strife, for only by pride comes contention, (Prov. xiii. 10). Humility is most amiable and admirable in the midst of great attainments and advancements. Gideon's conquests greatly set off his condescension. It is the proper act of humility to esteem others better than ourselves, and in honour to prefer one another. What was the issue of this controversy? The Ephraimites had given vent to their passion in very improper liberty of speech, a certain sign of a weak and indefensible cause; reason runs low when

chiding flies high. But Gideon's soft answer turned away their wrath, (Prov. xv. 1). It is intimated that they retained some resentment; but he prudently overlooked this, and let it cool by degrees. Great and good men must expect to have their patience tried by unkindnesses and follies even of those they serve, and must not be troubled thereby.-Judges viii. 1-13.

THE memorial of Gideon's actions is preserved by Sanchoniatho, a Tyrian writer, that lived soon after him, whose antiquity is attested by Porphyry, perhaps the most inveterate enemy to Christianity that ever lived.-Judges viii. 29-35.

T. H. Horne.

PROUD men think all honours lost that go beside themselves, and then who can stand before envy ?-Judges xii. 1-7. SAMSON'S history is famous in Scripture, and the fame of. him went forth among the heathen; their fables of the strength of Hercules, and the locks of Nisus, took their rise from the story of Samson. The Grecians commonly turning all into fables, and being great pretenders to antiquity, made their own country the scene and stage of every wonderful thing, as some have well observed of them.-Mather. Samson is supposed to have been contemporary with Eli.-Judges xiii. 24, 25.

He that, in the choice of a wife, is guided only by his eye, and governed by his fancy, must afterwards thank himself, if he find a Philistine in his arms.-Judges xiv. 1-4.

HONEY is honey still, though in a dead lion. It is weak neglect not to take the honey because we hate the lion.Judges xiv. 5-9.-Hall.

THE sheets here mentioned, were the large square cloths called hykes, used as a part of the dress by day, and for a covering at night.-Judges xiv. 10-20.

THE Hebrew word shual denotes jackal, an animal of a species between the wolf and fox, which usually is found in packs or flocks, sometimes more than a hundred together. The Vulpinaria, or Feast of the Foxes, celebrated by the Romans in the month of April, the time of the Jewish harvest, in which they let loose foxes with torches fastened to their tails, was derived from the story of Samson, which was conveyed into Italy by the Phoenicians.-Judges xv. 1-8.-T. H. Horne.

LICENTIOUSNESS is one of those things that take away the heart. Judges xvi. 4-17.

TERAPHIM were carved images made in a human form, regarded as household duties, of which oracular inquiries were

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