, and his regard to the eternal, if not to
the temporal interests, of his posterity. The prohibition seems to
have been the same with the law of the Nazerites. Wine is doubtless
here used in a large sense, for every kind of strong drink. "Wine was
given to make glad the heart of man." He is allowed to use it with
temperance and sobriety: But so many abuse it to their own hurt, and
to the injury of society, that it is rather a curse, than a blessing,
to the world. Seeing the evils which resulted from the abuse--the
devastation of men and morals, which it occasioned, this good man,
from love to his offspring, warned them wholly to abstain from it. And
what evils would many others have avoided, had they considered the
counsel as given to them, and like this family, religiously regarded
it? The ravages of intemperance, exceed those of the sword; and the
moral evils it hath occasioned surpass description!

But why the other restrictions included in the charge? Why must the
descendants of Jonadab be denied the comfort of warm and convenient
dwellings, and reside in tents through every season of the year, to
all generations? Why must they possess neither fields nor vineyards,
which were allowed to others, and promised to Israel, as part of the
blessing, when they should settle in Canaan?

Peculiarities unknown to us, might render it proper for them to submit
to self denials to which others are not called. What they were we
presume not to determine. *

* Mr. Henry undertakes to assign the reasons of all these injunctions;
but as none can be assigned which are not merely conjectural, we
choose rather to leave each one to make his own conjectures, as he may
find occasion.

Mankind are exceedingly prone to set up their rest here, and promise
themselves permanent dwellings on this rolling ball. Could this man of
God persuade his posterity that this was not their home, and engage
them to seek another country, that is, an heavenly, and lay up their
treasure there, whatever self denials it might cost them, it must
have been, on the whole for their advantage. This might be the general
design of his counsel.

But whatever might be the design, admirable was the effect. The whole
family seemed to have listened to his advice, and for many ages to
have obeyed his voice! "Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab, the
son of Rechab our father, in all that he charged us--and done
according to all that he commanded us!"

This was not sa