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nor any stranger that sojourneth with you: (for all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you; and the land is defiled;) that the land spue you not out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people. Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinances, that ye commit not any of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God."

Here the Canaanites are charged with the guilt of violating the duties enjoined by these statutes. It follows, of course, the observance of them must have been obligatory on them; and if they were bound by them, how can we be free from their obligation?

It is unnecessary to inquire how far the Canaanites were guilty. It is certain they were guilty, and grossly guilty; for God has asserted it in strong and emphatic terms. They may have had more traditionary knowledge than we are aware of. Judah, who lived before the time