him. Oh! see here not only the forgetfulness, unbelief, and rebellion of the Israelites, but the forgetfulness, unbelief, and rebellion of the human heart. What are these people but an epitome of man in general? What was there in them that there is not in us? In what respects are any of us naturally better then they? This is a faithful picture of what large bodies of men are continually disposed to do, even to quarrel the most with those from whom they have received the greatest benefits, and to be ready to seek their death, as soon as they meet with the least disappointment of their desires. It was thus in after ages with the blessed Jesus. He who was greater than Moses said to his adversaries, "Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me ?"

Moses did not use the same words as our Lord, but he answered them in the same spirit. He said unto them, "Why chide ye with me? Wherefore do ye tempt the Lord ?" Why, he asks them, did they make him of such importance? Why did

hand of God himself; they were upon that food every day; and t daily led by the miraculous pillar which was also a visible token to ti

care of God.

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of thirst, (a most painful feeling i ledged,) they forgat their fort and fell again into their old h lief and rebellion. They chode as if he was the cause of th They demanded relief from "Give us water that we may he had the command and disp and rivers. They murmure and said "Wherefore is this brought us up out of Egypt, the first our children and our cattle w they had not themselves mand wrath

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they look only at him in this matter? Was there not another to be regarded? Had not all their previous bringing out from Egypt been of the Lord? Did not their present need and distress proceed from Him? Was not their help to be expected wholly from Him? Wherefore then did they tempt the Lord? Oh, brethren, men little reflect how their murmuring for the want of creature-comforts, and their quarrelling with others, who seem to withhold them from them, are temptations of the Lord. They cast him out of the sphere of his own providence. They look only at instruments and second causes, and refer not their trials to the divine hand which wields the instrument, nor to the first great cause which appoints and orders all. Remember also that murmuring and wrath against the appointed servants of God are murmuring and wrath against Him, even as when Ananias was told, when he lied to the Apostles, "Thou hast not lied unto men,

but unto God." Thus Moses wished the Israelites to see that their sin was not so much against him, as against the Lord.

This might have checked them under a feeling of shame and penitence: it might also have alarmed them with fear for the Lord's judgments. And who is there among ourselves that does not feel that many a time our iniquities might have been our utter ruin, and that God might justly have cast us into the pit of hell because of them.

Remem

Moses, as was his wont, carried this matter to the Lord, and sought direction from him. "He cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people ? They be almost ready to stone me?" Remember we not the recommendation of David, in the 55th Psalm? "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee." ber we not again the devout expression of his trust in the 31st Psalm? "Oh! how great is thy goodness which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues." Yes, brethren, the