The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1907-11-01
THE CITIES
OF REFUGE
Sunday School Lesson for Nov. 3, 1901
Specially Prepared Tor This Pepper

God. Psalms N-.l
TndE-The latter part Of Joshua's IRE. /
II IS uncertain how long Boo lived Jo- /
sephus says that DIS administration liHt-
ed % years.
PLACE.-Tho administration capital /
seems 90 have boon transferred from me |
military headquarters at Gusal to the /
religious center at shiloh. "a town zen /
miles north northeast OF Bethel 'Josn- |
1871; 1851. I.z)
Comment and Suggestive Thought
In order TO understand the ordinan-
ces concerning the Cities Of Refuge
which are referred 10 In four of the
first six books Of the Bible it is nee
essary TO realize two great facts.
First. That there are some crimes
that must be removed If a nation
would exist and prosper. Such are
treason, which strikes .at the life OF
the nation, and murder, which strikes
at the existence of the family as well
as the individual Breaking the sixth
commandment wrongs not merely the
individual Il is a threefold crime:
I. Against the individual 1t takes
away his most precious possession
everything so far as this world is
concerned.
2. Against the family and the nation.
for it takes away q member often the
support, Of the family. and one of the
essential members and defenders OF
the nation.
3. Against God the giver OF life.
Hence the severest punishment pos.
sible is meted out TO whoever per-
petrates this crime. and ought 20 be
in order TO prevent as many as posi-
BILE from committing the crime. no
other punishment is adequate. We
pity the murderer for his suffering
We ought 20 have still more pity for
the innocent victims Murder would
be almost entirely expiated from the
list of crimes if every wiIful murder
or was Immediately punished.
Second In the early days when
nations were small and weak when
there were mulumdes of small semi
independent tribes. there was no
general government TO enforce the
law and exact Justice when the men
OF one tribe committed a crime
against another. Hence there grew zap
the custom of blood revenge, accord
ing to which the tribes. or the rela
lives Of the murdered person. were
compelled themselves TO punish the
murderer, who was naturally. ia most
cases. the member of another tribe
There was no one else 90 do TO- 10
was very much like lynch law, where
The people feel the need of punish
mont for saioty's sake, and fear the
delays of the usual processes of
criminal law. "W..h the advance of
civilization and the gradual evolution
Of the state. the duty of safeguarding
the rights of the community passes
to the state"
The Cities Of Refuge and Their
Courts. VS. 49, There was a scheme
for overcoming the dangers of blood
revenge. and dealing out exact and
merciful justice 90 all and saving The
innocent, or partially innocent from
indiscrlminate injustice.
First. A Just Discrmnaiion.-Ns.
i-3. V. 2. Appoint ont for You. r. v,
Assign you the cities of refuge. %
the law for which had been given
through Moses. but which could not
be selected tim the lsraeiitos bad set
lied down fin their new home. See
Num- 80. 9-3l. Dout 1878. where
may be found a more detailed account
Second. The Right of Asylum
vs.. 4. Z. s. The necessity for some
inviolable place Of refuge has been
recognized in the lawlcss ages of the
past These refugees have usually
been religious places. as groves. az
tars. and temples. These have been
the safest. because 20 attack them
was to defy the gods TO whom they
were dedicated and 10 array against
the invaders the unseen forces sup
posed to De at their command.
Third. The Preliminary or Grand
Jury Trial V. a. "shall stand al the
entering of the gate Of The city T. e.
not outside of the gate of the city
but I'm the forum. or public square,
which was near the city gates and
used as a place for public meetings
and trials comp. Ruth an, 2).
Fourth. The Rieht TO a Regular
Trial before a Competent Court-Ns
5, G, 9. s. II the ayenger OF the blood
pursue after him. as it was his duty
10 do If he believed the man 20 De
murderer they shall not deliver the
slayer up into his hand. because on
the face Of # be smote his noighbor
unwittingly. and should have a fair
trial before the avenger of blood could
punish him.
Sixth. The Punishment of the less
Guilty. An this did not save the gull
~ from just punishment Gum. 35.
l62D. There was no opportunity for
the Cities OF Refuge 10 become hot
beds Of crime and breeders of crimi
nails. Unpublished crime is. equally
with injustice, the means of incroas-
ing crime and the danger that threat
ems our country.
Christ Is the City Of Refuge
at is not the church. it is not the
laltar; it is Christ himself who ls the
one and only sacrifice for SIN. and
therefore the one and only hiding
place 10 which the sinner can repair
Such a refuge is provided as viii
meet the case of sinners of every
class. not excepting the wii'ful muir
derer himself If De repents, and that
refuge Is the everlasting love of God
revealed in Jesus Christ
Christ is the city of refuge because
God has so appointed.
Christ is not aD arbitrary lnf %
necessary city or