LECTURE 69.

Our liability to gross sin.

And

Shame is a painful thing. But sin is infinitely worse. the Scriptures therefore sometimes speak of things, of which it is a shame to speak, see Eph. 5. 12, in order that we may thereby.be restrained from doing things, which it is sin to do. Thus it is well that we should be filled with horror at the levity of Dinah, the licentiousness of Shechem, and above all at the treachery of "the sons of Jacob." It is well that we should be reminded by such scenes as these, how gross is the corruption of our nature, how dreadful the sins into which we are liable to fall, and how great is God's grace, in forgiving us the past, and giving us security, that for the future, we shall be able to stand upright.

Who could have thought that this was Israel's daughter? Who could have thought that these were Israel's sons? Who could have thought that these were children of that godly parent, who no sooner settled in this land, than he erected therein an altar to Jehovah, and called it El-elohe-Israel, meaning, "God the God of Israel?" (Ch. 33. 20. Margin.) And is it thus that the God of Israel was to be honoured, amongst those who were strangers to his covenant? Is it by means like these that his covenant was to be kept, and his name made known? But hold, let us look at home, and ask, have not we also, throughout the land, erected altars to the Lord? Are not we, to almost all the rest of the world, as Jacob and his family were at this time to the Canaanites, a people more highly privileged, more enlightened in the knowledge of the truth; and therefore most strictly bound to make our light shine before men, that they may glorify our Father which is in heaven? And are there no such scandals amongst ourselves? Do none of the daughters of our Israel, through their levity and vain curiosity, fall into the same snare as Dinah? Are there not many amongst our sons, who ought to know better, lying in wait to take advantage of the weak; and too eager to enjoy pleasure for the moment, to think of the misery which they are causing in the end? And are there not also hypocrites, making a trade of the forms of religion; scheming to overreach their brethren, by pretending to zeal for God? Alas we must plead guilty, as a nation, and as a church. We number amongst us many such offenders. Alas we must be sensible that we have in our own hearts the seeds of many such offences. God be praised that He has called us, by his Son, to renounce these deeds of darkness! God be praised that He enables us by the Holy Ghost to obey his call! God grant that we may both "put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts," and also being renewed in the spirit of our minds, may "put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness!" Eph. 4. 22-24.

Simeon and Levi slay Hamor, Shechem, and their people. 20 And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying, 21 These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daugh

and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.

26 And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went out.

ters.

22 Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised.

23 Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of their's be our's? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.

24 And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.

25 And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword,

27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.

28 They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field,

29 And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house.

30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.

31 And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot? LECTURE 70.

Knowledge of duty is the aggravation of sinfulness.

In this sad history, we find much that is most offensive in the conduct of Hamor, Shechem, and their people. But how much more, in that of Simeon, Levi, and their brethren! It was wicked of Hamor and Shechem, to persuade their people by an argument of public advantage, when their real motive was a private object of their own. What a lesson is this for rulers, and for all who have influence with numbers of mankind, never to work upon the passions of the multitude, in order to compass their own selfish ends. It was wicked of the people to consent unto a ceremony, which they might have known to be an ordinance of God, with no other view in adopting it, than their worldly gain. What a warning for formal Christians, who take

God's name in their mouths, whilst their heart is far from Him; who bring their children to the waters of baptism, without valuing the answer of a good conscience towards God; see 1 Pet. 3. 21; or who eat the bread of the Lord's supper, and drink the wine, without "discerning the Lord's body," 1 Cor. 11. 29, without doing it in remembrance of Him! See Luke 22. 19. But however much we might otherwise be shocked, by the duplicity of Hamor and Shechem, and their people, we cannot help having our attention engrossed on this occasion, by the far more awful treachery of the sons of Jacob. It is true that they of Shalem had dealt with Dinah as with a harlot. And it appears that up to the time of their city being spoiled, they had kept her, whether willing or unwilling, in "Shechem's house." It is true that they had adopted the rite of circumcision only to profane it, having no intention of entering into covenant with the Lord. And doubtless it was no worse than their desert, that they should thus miserably perish, by means of the very ordinance, which they had grossly dishonoured. But these considerations cannot prevent our thoughts from being riveted with horror, on the deep laid schemes of vengeance so deliberately executed by Dinah's brethren. And this we may venture to say, though in fear and trembling, and with sorrow and concern, because thus much has been said by Israel of Simeon and Levi : "Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel." Ch. 49. 7.

But is it merely their cruelty in slaying all for the offence of one, or their treachery in making war when they pretended peace, or their profaneness in using the rite of circumcision to disable their intended victims, are these the things which chiefly shock us in their conduct, as compared with that of the people whom they slew? Or is it not the circumstance, that they must have so much better known their duty, and that they were so much more deeply bound to do it? Is it not this, that they were children of the covenant, heirs of the promise, a family in whom God had shewn forth all longsuffering, overcoming, as He is wont, evil with good, and shewing mercy, as undeserved by them, as it was unlimited in Him? This is that which mostly aggravates their transgression in our eyes; and this is that, which if we transgress, most aggravates our sinfulness in the sight of God. We are in the case of those servants who know their Lord's will; and who if they do it not, must be beaten with many stripes. See Luke 12. 47. We are like the cities which saw our Lord's mighty works, and for which, inasmuch as they repented not, it will be less tolerable in the day of judgment, than for Sodom and Gomorrah. See Matt. 10. 15. God grant that we may repent, whereinsoever we transgress; as we trust that these our brethren did before us! God grant that we may attain, as we trust these sons of Israel attained, to be forgiven, and sin no more!

Jacob journeyeth to Bethel.
unto Jacob, to him, when he fled from the
face of his brother.

LECTURE 71.

How often God repeats his mercies.

"Pay that which thou hast vowed," says the Preacher. Eccl. "Arise, go up to Bethel," said God to Jacob; reminding him of the vow which he had made, when he fled from the face of Esau. Vows must not hastily be made. But vows like this, once made, must most carefully be kept. Let us remember, that we also have a vow. We are bound by promise to be holy to the Lord. And as Jacob, before he set off for Bethel, would have his household put away the strange gods that were among

them, and be clean, and change their garments; so must we order our families according to God's will, and be cleansed by the purifying blood of Christ, and change the garment spotted by the flesh," Jude 23, for white linen, which is "the righteousness of saints." Rev. 19. 8. Are we surprised to find that such a family as that of Jacob, should harbour any strange gods at all, and wear such superstitious ornaments as the earrings here mentioned? We may suppose that they were what were brought from Padan-aram. Or they might be the gods of the captive Shechemites. In either case we cannot doubt that they who had them were much attached to them. In either case we ought to note for imitation, the readiness with which the household obeyed the master, and put away their abominations. Oh that we may all learn from this example, the advantages of submitting ourselves one to another, in the fear of the Lord! See Eph. 5. 21.

What a happy commencement of their journey was this; a whole family in subjection to the head, each surrendering his own will to the will of him that had authority! And what a safeguard was this that God provided; "the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob." Truly God was dealing with this family, as He still kindly deals with us, overcoming evil with good, giving them abundantly more than they deserved or expected, peace when they must have looked to be pursued, and life when they deserved to die. Thus they arrived safe at Bethel, and there Jacob built an altar according to his vow. And there it appears that Deborah Rebekah's nurse was buried, whose death is here mentioned in connexion with the place, though in all probability she both lived and died in the family of Isaac and Rebekah. "And she was buried beneath Beth-el under an oak: and the name of it was called Allon-bachuth." This name means, the oak of weeping. And this name given to the nurse's grave, and this notice taken of her death and burial place, seem to say to us, that a faithful and devout servant is of no small esteem, in the eyes of God's people, and in the sight of God.

In the same Beth-el where God had appeared to Jacob before, He appeared now again, after his return from Padan-aram; repeating his promises, and confirming the change of Jacob's name to Israel. Thus He had oftentimes renewed his covenant with Abraham. Thus He has in many ways confirmed his covenant with us. We have his word, and we have his oath. We have the sacrifice of his Son, and the gift of his Holy Spirit. Let us observe that when God appeared, Jacob set up a lasting monument of his mercy. Could we but do something more for God, as often as He repeats his benefits to us, what spot in all the world would be without its pillar, in what grace of all the Gospel should we be wanting to our Lord?