rejoice, and to do good in his life. And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour; it is the gift of God." Eccles. iii. 11-13. Compare Eccles. iv. 8, vi. 1, 2.

XVII. One species of sin against this commandment is common in all ages and countries. It relates

to boundary lines between neighbours. The forms in which this sin is committed are exceedingly numerous, but they are all forbidden under the general prohibition to alter land-marks. Deut. xix. 14, xxvii. 17; Job xxiv. 2; Prov. xxii. 28, xxiii. 10.

XVIII. A sin kindred to the last mentioned is greed for land beyond our necessities, and a desire to hold it for its own sake. There is no little of this spirit in some parts of the world; and yet there is no mode of violating this commandment more strictly forbidden. "Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth." Isa. v. 8. Compare Micah ii. 2.

XIX. The Scriptures do not require a COMMUNITY OF GOODS. "The Most High has divided to the nations their inheritance." Deut. xxxii. 8. He divided to the tribes of Israel and to each family in every tribe a separate portion. He taketh also the desolate and setteth him in families. It is true indeed that when the church was in her infant state in Jerusalem, and had great numbers of poor and suffering members, God poured out a spirit of liberality, according to the exigencies of the case, and "all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them

to all men, as every man had need." Acts ii. 44, 45. But this was wholly a voluntary and temporary arrangement. In addressing Ananias, Peter expressly said, that there was no law on the subject binding any man, "While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power?" Acts v. 4.

XX. What shall we say of LAW-SUITS? It is very clear that litigiousness is contrary to the spirit of the gospel. Our Saviour said, "If any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also." Matt. v. 40. This passage has been uniformly understood as a call upon us to repress that natural desire for insisting upon our legal rights before courts. Paul also warns his Corinthians to abstain from all litigation before heathen magistrates. 1 Cor. vi. 1-7. Let no man go to law for a mere tiifle, involving no principle. "A bad settlement is better than a good law suit." Avoid a law-suit, if you can, without wrong to some

one.

NEGLECT OF HEARTY

"Then shalt thou refor it is he that giveth

XXI. Perhaps one of the most common errors respecting property is THE PRAYER to God on that subject. member the LORD thy God: thee power to get wealth." Deut. viii. 18. "Feed me with food convenient for a e." Prov. xxx. 8. "In all thy ways acknowledge him." Prov. iii. 6. "Give us this day our daily bread." Matt. vi. 11.

XXII. Sometimes theft at robbery are committed directly against God. He is the rightful proprietor of all things. Whatever therefore he claims as proper for his worship, our time, the time of our servants, our property and our affections, should be sincerely

rendered to him.

"Will a man rob God? Yet ye

have robbed me.

But ye say, Wherein have we

robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation." Mal. iii. 8, 9. Compare John x. 1. Sacrilege is a heinous sin. "It is a snare to the man who

devoureth that which is holy." Prov. xx. 25. The sin that filled up the measure of the iniquity of the haughty monarch of Babylon was taking the vessels of God's house, and thus lifting himself up against the Lord of heaven. Dan. v. 23.

XXIII. It should greatly deter us from any and every violation of this precept that God visits awful judgments upon those who transgress it. "The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them." Prov. xxi. 7. "As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not, so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool." Jer. xvii. 11. Compare Ps. Iv. 23; Prov. xxii. 23; Hab. ii. 6-13; Zeh. v. 3, 4; 1 Cor. vi. 10; James v. 1-6.

XXIV. On the other hand an exceedingly rich blessing is surely promised to those who obey this commandment. "A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked." Ps. xxxvii. 16. Compare Prov. xvi. 8; Matt. vi. 9-34; Matt. xxv. 31-44; 1 Tim. vi. 17-19.

CONCLUSION.

Never in any wise be an instrument of sowing the seeds of enmity between the rich and the poor.

If you are poor, beware of envying the rich. If

you knew their crosses and their miseries, you would probably think them heavier than your own. James v. 9; Ecc. v. 12.

If you are rich, beware of despising the poor. In so doing you reproach your Maker. Prov. xvii. 5.

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE NINTH COMMANDMENT.

THOU SHALT NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST THY

NEIGHBOUR.

HE tongue is, at the same time, the best part of

THE

man, and his worst: with good government, none is more useful; and without it, none is more mischievous.-Anacharsis.

A wound from a tongue is worse than a wound from the sword.-Pythagoras.

There is nothing so delightful as the hearing or speaking of truth.-Plato.

Truth is the object of our understanding, as good is of our will; and the understanding can no more be delighted with a lie, than the will can choose apparent evil.-Dryden.

There are but ten precepts of the law of God, and two of them, so far as concerns the outward organ and vent of the sins there forbidden, are bestowed on the tongue (one in the first table, and the other in the second table,) as though it were ready to fly out, both against God and man, if not thus bridled.-Leighton. Truth, like light, travels only in straight lines.— Colton.