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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Deuteronomy, Chapter XX].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>D E U T E R O N O M Y</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XX.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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This chapter settles the militia, and establishes the laws and
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ordinances of war,
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I. Relating to the soldiers.
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1. Those must be encouraged that were drawn up to battle,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:1-4">ver. 1-4</A>.
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2. Those must be dismissed and sent back again whose private affairs
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called for their attendance at home
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:5-7">ver. 5-7</A>),
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or whose weakness and timidity unfitted them for service in the field,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:8,9">ver. 8, 9</A>.
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II. Relating to the enemies they made war with.
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1. The treaties they must make with the cities that were far off,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:10-15">ver. 10-15</A>.
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2. The destruction they must make of the people into whose land they
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were going,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:16-18">ver. 16-18</A>.
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3. The care they must take, in besieging cities, not to destroy the
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fruit-trees,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:19,20">ver. 19, 20</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="De20_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="De20_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="De20_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="De20_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="De20_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="De20_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="De20_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="De20_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="De20_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Directions Concerning War; Persons Excused from War.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1451.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and
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seest horses, and chariots, <I>and</I> a people more than thou, be not
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afraid of them: for the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God <I>is</I> with thee, which
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brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
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2 And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that
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the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,
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3 And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day
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unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear
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not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them;
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4 For the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> your God <I>is</I> he that goeth with you, to fight
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for you against your enemies, to save you.
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5 And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What
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man <I>is there</I> that hath built a new house, and hath not
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dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in
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the battle, and another man dedicate it.
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6 And what man <I>is he</I> that hath planted a vineyard, and hath
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not <I>yet</I> eaten of it? let him <I>also</I> go and return unto his
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house, lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it.
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7 And what man <I>is there</I> that hath betrothed a wife, and hath
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not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die
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in the battle, and another man take her.
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8 And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and
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they shall say, What man <I>is there that is</I> fearful and
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fainthearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his
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brethren's heart faint as well as his heart.
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9 And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of
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speaking unto the people, that they shall make captains of the
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armies to lead the people.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Israel was at this time to be considered rather as a camp than as a
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kingdom, entering upon an enemy's country, and not yet settled in a
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country of their own; and, besides the war they were now entering upon
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in order to their settlement, even after their settlement they could
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neither protect nor enlarge their coast without hearing the alarms of
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war. It was therefore needful that they should have directions given
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them in their military affairs; and in these verses they are directed
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in managing, marshalling, and drawing up their own forces. And it is
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observable that the discipline of war here prescribed is so far from
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having any thing in it harsh or severe, as is usual in martial law,
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that the intent of the whole is, on the contrary, to encourage the
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soldiers, and to make their service easy to them.</P>
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<P>
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I. Those that were disposed to fight must be encouraged and animated
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against their fears.</P>
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<P>
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1. Moses here gives a general encouragement, which the leaders and
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commanders in the war must take to themselves: "<I>Be not afraid of
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them,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>.
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Though the enemy have ever so much the advantage by their numbers
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(being more than thou), and by their cavalry (their armies being much
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made up of horses and chariots, which thou art not allowed to
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multiply), yet decline not coming to a battle with them, dread not the
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issue, nor doubt of success." Two things they must encourage themselves
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with in their wars, provided they kept close to their God and their
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religion, otherwise they forfeited these encouragements:--
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(1.) The presence of God with them: "<I>The Lord thy God is with
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thee,</I> and therefore thou art not in danger, nor needest thou be
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afraid." See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+41:10">Isa. xli. 10</A>.
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(2.) The experience they and their fathers had had of God's power and
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goodness in <I>bringing them out of the land of Egypt,</I> in defiance
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of Pharaoh and all his hosts, which was not only in general a proof of
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the divine omnipotence, but to them in particular a pledge of what God
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would do further for them. He that saved them from those greater
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enemies would not suffer them to be run down by those that were every
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way less considerable, and thus to have all he had done for them undone
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again.</P>
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<P>
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2. This encouragement must be particularly addressed to the common
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soldiers by a priest appointed, and, the Jews say, anointed, for that
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purpose, whom they call <I>the anointed of the war,</I> a very proper
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title for our anointed Redeemer, the captain of our salvation: This
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priest, in God's name, was to animate the people; and who so fit to do
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that as he whose office it was as priest to pray for them? For the best
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encouragements arise from the precious promises made to the prayer of
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faith. This priest must,
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(1.) Charge them not to be afraid
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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for nothing weakens the hands so much as that which makes the heart
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tremble,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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There is need of precept upon precept to this purport, as there is
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here: <I>Let not your hearts be tender</I> (so the word is), to receive
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all the impressions of fear, but let a believing confidence in the
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power and promise of God harden them. <I>Fear not, and do not make
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haste</I> (so the word is), for he that believeth doth not make more
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haste than good speed. "Do not make haste either rashly to anticipate
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your advantages or basely to fly off upon every disadvantage."
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(2.) He must assure them of the presence of God with them, to own and
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plead their righteous cause, and not only to save them from their
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enemies, but to give them victory over them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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Note, Those have no reason to fear that have God with them. The giving
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of this encouragement by a priest, one of the Lord's ministers,
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intimates,
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[1.] That it is very fit that armies should have chaplains, not only to
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pray for them, but to preach to them, both to reprove that which would
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hinder their success and to raise their hopes of it.
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[2.] That it is the work of Christ's ministers to encourage his good
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soldiers in their spiritual conflict with the world and the flesh, and
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to assure them of a conquest, yea, more than a conquest, through Christ
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that loved us.</P>
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<P>
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II. Those that were indisposed to fight must be discharged, whether the
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indisposition did arise,</P>
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<P>
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1. From the circumstances of a man's outward condition; as,
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(1.) If he had lately built or purchased a new house, and had not taken
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possession of it, had not dedicated it
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
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that is, made a solemn festival for the entertainment of his friends,
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that came to him to welcome him to his house; let him go home and take
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the comfort of that which God had blessed him with, till, by enjoying
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it for some time, he become less fond of it, and consequently less
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disturbed in the war by the thoughts of it, and more willing to lie and
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leave it. For this is the nature of all our worldly enjoyments, that
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they please us best at first; after a while we see the vanity of them.
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Some think that this dedication of their houses was a religious act,
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and that they took possession of them with prayers and praises, with a
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solemn devoting of themselves and all their enjoyments to the service
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and honour of God. David penned the
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+30:1-12">30th Psalm</A>
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on such an occasion, as appears by the title. Note, He that has a house
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of his own should dedicate it to God by setting up and keeping up the
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fear and worship of God in it, that he may have a church in his house;
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and nothing should be suffered to divert a man from this. Or,
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(2.) If a man had been at a great expense to <I>plant a vineyard,</I>
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and longed to <I>eat of the fruit</I> of it, which for the first three
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years he was forbidden to do by the law
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+19:23-25">Lev. xix. 23</A>,
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&c.), let him go home, if he has a mind, and gratify his own humour
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with the fruits of it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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See how indulgent God is to his people in innocent things, and how far
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from being a hard Master. Since we naturally covet to eat the labour of
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our hands, rather than an Israelite should be crossed therein, his
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service in war shall be dispensed with., Or,
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(3.) If a man had made up his mind to be married, and the marriage were
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not solemnized, he was at liberty to return
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>),
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as also to tarry at home for one year after marriage
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+24:5"><I>ch.</I> xxiv. 5</A>),
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for the terrors of war would be disagreeable to a man who had just
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welcomed the soft scene of domestic attachment. And God would not be
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served in his wars by pressed men, that were forced into the army
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against their will, but they must all be perfectly volunteers.
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+110:3">Ps. cx. 3</A>,
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<I>Thy people shall be willing.</I> In running the Christian race, and
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fighting the good fight of faith, we must <I>lay aside every
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weight,</I> and all that which would clog and divert our minds and make
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us unwilling. The Jewish writers agree that this liberty to return was
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allowed only in those wars which they made voluntarily (as bishop
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Patrick expresses it), not those which were made by the divine command
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against Amalek and the Canaanites, in which every man was bound to
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fight.</P>
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<P>
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2. If a man's indisposition to fight arose from the weakness and
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timidity of his own spirit, he had leave to return from the war,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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This proclamation Gideon made to his army, and it detached above
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two-thirds of them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+7:3">Judg. vii. 3</A>.
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Some make the fearfulness and faintheartedness here supposed to arise
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from the terrors of an evil conscience, which would make a man afraid
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to look death and danger in the face. It was then thought that men of
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loose and profligate lives would not be good soldiers, but must needs
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be both cowards in an army and curses to it, the shame and trouble of
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the camp; and therefore those who were conscious to themselves of
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notorious guilt were shaken off. But it seems rather to be meant of a
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natural fearfulness. It was partly in kindness to them that they had
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their discharge (for, though shamed, they were eased); but much more in
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kindness to the rest of the army, who were hereby freed from the
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incumbrance of such as were useless and unserviceable, while the danger
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of infection from their cowardice and flight was prevented. This is the
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reason here given: <I>Lest his brethren's heart fail as well as his
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heart.</I> Fear is catching, and in an army is of most pernicious
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consequence. We must take heed that we <I>fear not the fear of those
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that are afraid,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+8:12">Isa. viii. 12</A>.</P>
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<P>
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III. It is here ordered that, when all the cowards were dismissed, then
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captains should be nominated
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>),
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for it was in a special manner necessary that the leaders and
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commanders should be men of courage. That reform therefore must be
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made when the army was first mustered and marshalled. The soldiers of
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Christ have need of courage, that they may quit themselves like men,
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and endure hardness like good soldiers, especially the officers of his
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army.</P>
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<A NAME="De20_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="De20_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="De20_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="De20_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="De20_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="De20_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="De20_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="De20_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="De20_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="De20_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="De20_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Proclamations of War; Directions Concerning War.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1451.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>10 When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then
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proclaim peace unto it.
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11 And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open
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unto thee, then it shall be, <I>that</I> all the people <I>that is</I>
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found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall
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serve thee.
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12 And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war
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against thee, then thou shalt besiege it:
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13 And when the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God hath delivered it into thine
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hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the
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sword:
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14 But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all
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that is in the city, <I>even</I> all the spoil thereof, shalt thou
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take unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies,
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which the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God hath given thee.
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15 Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities <I>which are</I> very far
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off from thee, which <I>are</I> not of the cities of these nations.
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16 But of the cities of these people, which the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God
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doth give thee <I>for</I> an inheritance, thou shalt save alive
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nothing that breatheth:
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17 But thou shalt utterly destroy them; <I>namely,</I> the Hittites,
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and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the
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Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> thy God hath commanded
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thee:
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18 That they teach you not to do after all their abominations,
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which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> your God.
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19 When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war
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against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof
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by forcing an axe against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and
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thou shalt not cut them down (for the tree of the field <I>is</I>
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man's <I>life</I>) to employ <I>them</I> in the siege:
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20 Only the trees which thou knowest that they <I>be</I> not trees
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for meat, thou shalt destroy and cut them down; and thou shalt
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build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until
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it be subdued.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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They are here directed what method to take in dealing with the cities
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(these only are mentioned,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>,
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but doubtless the armies in the field, and the nations they had
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occasion to deal with, are likewise intended) upon which they made war.
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They must not make a descent upon any of their neighbours till they had
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|
first given them fair notice, by a public manifesto, or remonstrance,
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|
stating the ground of their quarrel with them. In dealing with the
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|
worst of enemies, the laws of justice and honour must be observed; and,
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as the sword must never be taken in hand without cause, so not without
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cause shown. War is an appeal, in which the merits of the cause must be
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set forth.</P>
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<P>
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I. Even to the proclamation of war must be subjoined a tender of peace,
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if they would accept of it upon reasonable terms. That is (say the
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Jewish writers), "upon condition that they renounce idolatry, worship
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|
the God of Israel, as proselytes of the gate that were not circumcised,
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|
pay to their new masters a yearly tribute, and submit to their
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|
government:" on these terms the process of war should be stayed, and
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their conquerors, upon this submission, were to be their protectors,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:10,11"><I>v.</I> 10, 11</A>.
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Some think that even the seven nations of Canaan were to have this
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offer of peace made to them; and the offer was no jest or mockery,
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though <I>it was of the Lord to harden their hearts</I> that they
|
|
should not accept it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:20">Josh. xi. 20</A>.
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Others think that they are excluded
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>)
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not only from the benefit of that law
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|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>)
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|
which confines military execution to the males only, but from the
|
|
benefit of this also, which allows not to make war till peace was
|
|
refused. And I see not how they could proclaim peace to those who by
|
|
the law were to be utterly rooted out, and to whom they were to show no
|
|
mercy,
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+7:2"><I>ch.</I> vii. 2</A>.
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|
But for any other nation which they made war upon, for the enlarging of
|
|
their coast, the avenging of any wrong done, or the recovery of any
|
|
right denied, they must first proclaim peace to the. Let this show,
|
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|
|
1. God's grace in dealing with sinners: though he might most justly
|
|
and easily destroy them, yet, having no pleasure in their ruin, he
|
|
proclaims peace, and beseeches them to be reconciled; so that those who
|
|
lie most obnoxious to his justice, and ready to fall as sacrifices to
|
|
it, if they make him an answer of peace, and open to him, upon
|
|
condition that they will be tributaries and servants to him, shall not
|
|
only be saved from ruin, but incorporated with his Israel, as
|
|
fellow-citizens with the saints.
|
|
|
|
2. Let it show us our duty in dealing with our brethren: if any quarrel
|
|
happen, let us not only be ready to hearken to the proposals of peace,
|
|
but forward to make such proposals. We should never make use of the
|
|
law till we have first tried to accommodate matters in variance
|
|
amicably, and without expense and vexation. <I>We</I> must be for
|
|
peace, whoever are for war.</P>
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|
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|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. If the offers of peace were not accepted, then they must proceed to
|
|
push on the war. And let those to whom God offers peace know that if
|
|
they reject the offer, and take not the benefit of it within the time
|
|
limited, judgment will rejoice against mercy in the execution as much
|
|
as now mercy rejoices against judgment in the reprieve. In this case,
|
|
|
|
1. There is a promise implied that they should be victorious. It is
|
|
taken for granted that <I>the Lord their God would deliver it into
|
|
their hands,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>.
|
|
|
|
Note, Those enterprises which we undertake by a divine warrant, and
|
|
prosecute by divine direction, we may expect to succeed in. If we take
|
|
God's method, we shall have his blessing.
|
|
|
|
2. They are ordered, in honour to the public justice, to put all the
|
|
soldiers to the sword, for them I understand by <I>every male</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
all that bore arms (as all then did that were able); but the spoil they
|
|
are allowed to take to themselves
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
in which were reckoned the women and children. Note, A justifiable
|
|
property is acquired in that which is won in lawful war. God himself
|
|
owns the title: <I>The Lord thy God gives it thee;</I> and therefore he
|
|
must be owned in it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+44:3">Ps. xliv. 3</A>.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The nations of Canaan are excepted from the merciful provisions
|
|
made by this law. Remnants might be left of the cities that were very
|
|
far off
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
because by them they were not in so much danger of being infected with
|
|
idolatry, nor was their country so directly and immediately intended in
|
|
the promise; but of the cities which were given to Israel for an
|
|
inheritance no remnants must be left of their inhabitants
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>),
|
|
|
|
for it put a slight upon the promise to admit Canaanites to share with
|
|
them in the peculiar land of promise; and for another reason they must
|
|
be utterly destroyed
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:17"><I>v.</I> 17</A>),
|
|
|
|
because, since it could not be expected that they should be cured of
|
|
their idolatry, if they were left with that plague-sore upon them they
|
|
would be in danger of infecting God's Israel, who were too apt to take
|
|
the infection: <I>They will teach you to do after their
|
|
abominations</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>),
|
|
|
|
to introduce their customs into the worship of the God of Israel, and
|
|
by degrees to forsake him and to worship false gods; for those that
|
|
dare violate the second commandment will not long keep to the first.
|
|
Strange worships open the door to strange deities.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. Care is here taken that in the besieging of cities there should not
|
|
be any destruction made of fruit-trees,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+20:19-20"><I>v.</I> 19-20</A>.
|
|
|
|
In those times, when besiegers forced their way, not as now with bombs
|
|
and cannon-ball, but with battering rams, they had occasion for much
|
|
timber in carrying on their sieges: now because, in the heat of war,
|
|
men are not apt to consider, as they ought, the public good, it is
|
|
expressly provided that fruit-trees should not be used as timber-trees.
|
|
That reason, <I>for the tree of the field is man's</I> (the word
|
|
<I>life</I> we supply), all the ancient versions, the Septuagint,
|
|
Targums, &c., read, <I>For is the tree of the field a man?</I> Or
|
|
<I>the tree of the field is not a man, that it should come against thee
|
|
in the siege,</I> or <I>retire from thee into the bulwark.</I> "Do not
|
|
brutishly vent thy rage against the trees that can do thee no harm."
|
|
But our translation seems most agreeable to the intent of the law, and
|
|
it teaches us,
|
|
|
|
1. That God is a better friend to man than man is to himself; and God's
|
|
law, which we are apt to complain of as a heavy yoke, consults our
|
|
interest and comfort, while our own appetites and passions, of which we
|
|
are so indulgent, are really enemies to our welfare. The intent of many
|
|
of the divine precepts is to restrain us from destroying that which is
|
|
our life and food.
|
|
|
|
2. That armies and their commanders are not allowed to make what
|
|
desolation they please in the countries that are the seat of war.
|
|
Military rage must always be checked and ruled with reason. War,
|
|
though carried on with ever so much caution, is destructive enough, and
|
|
should not be made more so than is absolutely necessary. Generous
|
|
spirits will show themselves tender, not only of men's lives, but of
|
|
their livelihoods; for, though <I>the life is more than meat,</I> yet
|
|
it will soon be nothing without meat.
|
|
|
|
3. The Jews understand this as a prohibition of all wilful waste upon
|
|
any account whatsoever. No fruit-tree is to be destroyed unless it be
|
|
barren, and cumber the ground. "Nay," they maintain, "whoso wilfully
|
|
breaks vessels, tears clothes, stops wells, pulls down buildings, or
|
|
destroys meat, transgresses this law: <I>Thou shalt not destroy.</I>"
|
|
Christ took care that the broken meat should be gathered up, that
|
|
nothing might be lost. Every creature of God is good, and, as nothing
|
|
is to be refused, so nothing is to be abused. We may live to want what
|
|
we carelessly waste.</P>
|
|
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