A sin which, I am verily persuaded, if there be another that slays her thousands, may with truth be affirmed to slay its _ten_ thousands.--_Wardlaw._ Verse 20. Here follows the whole ground of the exhibition: "That," _for the very purpose_ that "_thou_ mayest walk in the way of good men." This is a grand, pregnant doctrine. This bad life was abandoned to its worst partly as a lesson.--_Miller._ It is not enough to shun the evil way, unless man walk in the good way.--_Muffet._ He that walks in the way of good men shall meet with good men, and that shall keep him from the company of evil men and women. The paths of the righteous are too narrow for such: he shall not be troubled with them.--_Jermin._ _MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.--Verses_ 21-22. THE CONTRAST IN THE END FROM THE CONTRAST IN THE WAY. If men walk in two directly opposite directions they cannot possibly arrive at the same goal. +I. The historic illustration of this truth.+ The first inhabitants of Canaan were allowed to dwell in the land until they defiled it to so great an extent by their sins that they were "rooted out," to be replaced by the Hebrew people. These, in their turn, became "transgressors" of God's law, and consequently forfeited their inheritance. +II. The reasonableness of this dealing.+ Uprightness leads to industry, and the land which is industriously cultivated fulfils the end for which God gave it to the children of men. Uprightness leads to the rightful dividing of the land or of its produce among all its inhabitants. It is God's will that none of his creatures should suffer bodily want: if all men were truly upright and godly, the poor and needy, if they did not cease out of the land (Deut. xv. 2) would have a much larger share of its good things than they at present enjoy. The Hebrew civil and social laws show us what God's intentions are in this matter. Therefore none ought to complain if they are deprived of a gift which they have mis-used. +III. The typical suggestion of the subject.+ Dwelling in the land of Canaan was typical of the eternal dwelling in the heavenly country. Some of the first inhabitants of _that_ country have been "rooted out" because of sin (2 Pet. ii. 4), others have dwelt safely there for ages, because they are, literally, _perfect_. This is the destined home of all just men made perfect (Heb. xii. 23; xi. 13-16. Matt. xxii. 32). _OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS._ Verse 21. The Israelite was, beyond the power of natural feeling, which makes home dear to every one, more closely bound to his ancestral soil by the whole form of the theocracy: torn from it he was in the inmost roots of his life itself, strained and broken.--_Elster._