it is also met by a suitable promise; "And the Lord said unto him, who made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? Now, therefore, go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.' But the spirit of distrust and fear was strong within him; "and he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send;" that is, by any one but by me. "And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses." This persevering doubt, in spite of all the gracious assurances-this abiding dread of temporal consequences, in defiance of all the promises of supernatural aid and protection-might justly kindle the anger of the Lord, and cause him to reject his services. Yet, even in displeasure, he condescends to afford further assurances, to strengthen his faith and confirm his resolution. His faith is strengthened; his resolution is confirmed; he goes forth to revisit his nation, and to attempt their deliverance, bearing no arms but that rod

with which Jehovah had enabled him to work miracles, and, in the name of the God who had met him on the Mount of Horeb, he applies to the Egyptian monarch, to permit his people to go and hold a feast unto the Lord in the wilderness.

Let us now proceed, as we have done before, to consider the points of resemblance between the case of Moses and of ourselves; and between God's dealings, as they are exhibited to him, and as they are displayed to us.

We have seen the reluctance of Moses to obey the call of the Lord--his hesitation, even amidst the signs and wonders which were shown to him-his unwillingness to relinquish the peaceful security of his desert dwelling for the dangers and perils of Egyptian strife. We have seen the lingering weaknesses of the flesh breaking forth in the excuses which he makes in answer to the divine invitation and command.-And how often does man, when urged to engage in the Lord's service, and to wage his warfare, plead

his own inability, and allege his own unfitness for the task? How often, when summoned to go forth in the name of Jehovah, and combat the spiritual enemies of the Almighty, does he say, Whom am I that I should go ? How often is infirmity made the pretence for neglect of duty, and human frailty the apology for disobedience ? How often does cowardice assume the language of self-distrust, and abject fear the expression of humility?

To all mankind a call has been given. The Lord has appeared. "The Lord, even the most mighty God, hath spoken ; and called the world, from the rising up of the sun, unto the going down thereof'." The voice from Sinai has spoken unto us out of the midst of the fire, the rigid precepts of justice, in the thunders of the law the voice from Zion hath spoken to us from the humiliation of the cross the still small accents of mercy, in the gracious language of the Gospel; but the command,

1 Psalm 1. 1.

whether from Sinai or from Calvary, whether by the law or by the Gospel, is still the same; it is a command to enter into the Lord's service, to perform his will, to wage his warfare, to purify ourselves from the corruptions of the flesh, from the defilements of the world, to free ourselves from the bondage of sin, "perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord." Arduous is the task imposed-laborious is the duty requiredgreat is the trial which is made of our faith, our patience, our endurance. And who is sufficient for these things? Who is able, in his own unassisted strength, to go forth, and contend with the powers of Egypt-with the world, the flesh, and devil? Alas! not one. No man can deliver his brother; no man can, of himself, even free his own soul. We are weak; we are encompassed with infirmity; we are utterly unable of ourselves to help ourselves. The very heart within us-" the very citadel of our strength"-is full of

1 2 Cor. vii. 1.

treachery, it is "deceitful above all things." May we not then justly use the language of diffidence, and say, "Who am I, Lord, that I should go forth on this errand? That I should endure this trial? That I should accomplish this mighty work?" "Send, Lord, by him whom thou wilt send;" by some one stronger-bolder -purer; by some one more faithfulmore patient-more enduring than myself; but not by me. Impose not on me this trial, so far beyond my strength; exact not from me this service, so far exceeding my powers; require not of me this entire obedience, which my very nature unfits me to yield; and look not for this holiness, which the original and innate corruption of my soul disqualifies me from making perfect. But perform thy part of the covenant, though I neglect mine. Fulfil thy gracious promises, though I do nothing to deserve them. Grant me thy mercy, though I reject the conditions. Give me "the crown of glory," though I "fight not the good fight of faith."

And is this mode of pleading with