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vented by such causes from attending it, were to keep it by themselves, after they had purified themselves from their uncleanness.

Now let us reflect on this circumstance, and see if there is nothing in it which we may apply to ourselves.

Are there no circumstances which may prevent our partaking of our passover, the Lord's supper? He whose mind is defiled by sin, is he not equally unfit to hold communion with Christ and partake of his holy Sacrament, till his heart is purified, and he is cleansed by faith and true repentance?

When our Saviour instituted his Sacrament, he addressed himself equally to all Christians. "He took the cup, "and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye "all of it"; he excluded none, he made no distinction; and every sincere Christian will consider it his bounden duty to obey this command. I say, sincere, for of course thos who may choose to attend it, yet continuing in their sins without compunction or sorrow of the same, are only making a mockery of holy things, and will be judged accordingly.

"Be not deceived: God is not mocked: for whatso"ever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.' (Gal. vi. 7.)

If we therefore would partake of this holy Sacrament in a proper spirit we must "diligently examine ourselves, "and repent us truly for our sins past :" we must "have a lively and stedfast faith in Christ our Saviour, we must" amend our lives, and be in perfect charity with "all men;" then, and then only, shall we "be meet par"takers of those holy mysteries."

NUMBERS X.

AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Make thee two "trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make "them; that thou mayest use them for the calling of "the assembly, and for the journeying of the camp."

We have before had occasion to notice the extreme

minuteness with which every law and regulation was prescribed to the Israelites. As they were required to fulfil to the letter every ordinance imposed upon them, so was it necessary they should have such directions given them as should render the will of God so clear and explicit, that no excuse would be afforded them for disobeying it not only was the very form of these trumpets prescribed to them, but even the manner in which they were to be sounded.

"And the children of Israel took their journey out of the "wilderness of Sinai, and the cloud rested in the wilder re ness of Paran.""

They now quitted that memorable spot, where the lovingkindness and condescension of the Almighty had been so wonderfully displayed, before them, and secure of his heavenly protection, set out on their march arranged in order according to their several tribes, and directed by that cloud which overshadowed them by day, and by the pillar of fire which illuminated their path by night.

"And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the "Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying into the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you; come "thou with us, and we will do thee good for the Lord "hath spoken good concerning Israel."

We can well suppose Moses would be desirous that his kinsman should accompany him to Canaan, and share the blessings promised to the children of Israel, and though from the following verse, it appears as if he declined it, yet from what we read in the first chapter of Judges v16, where the children of the Kenite Moses' father in law are mentioned as being in the land of Canaan, we may infer that Moses did prevail with him.

NUMBERS XI.

THUS did the children of Israel continue their journey towards the land of Canaan, and had they all duly valued

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the mercies they daily received at the hand of the Almighty, and obeyed his laws, they might soon have reached the promised land: but alas! such was the stubborn nature of their hearts, that they had no sooner resumed their march than their rebellious spirit broke forth in fresh murmurs of discontent. "They obeyed not neither inclined "their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not "hear nor receive instruction." (Jer. xviii. 23.)

..

Can we wonder that the Lord was displeased, that his anger was kindled ? Though he had commanded the "clouds from above, and opened the doors of Heaven, and "had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of Heaven," yet "they believed “not in God, and trusted not in his salvation": "fore the Lord heard this, and was wroth,' (Ps. lxxviii. 21-24) and the fire of the Lord "consumed them that were "in the uttermost parts of the camp": those probably who were the most guilty.

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"And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a "lusting."

You doubtless remember in the twelfth chapter of Exodus, v. 38. mention being made of the mixed multitude that accompanied the Isralites out of Egypt. The word in the Hebrew language means a large mixture, or great concourse of various persons probably slaves and foreigners who had become attached to the Israelites during their long settlement in Egypt, and these may have encouraged the Israelites in their rebellion by reminding them of the luxuries they had enjoyed in Egypt, compared with the food on which they were now compelled to subsist ;" and "the children of Israel also wept again, and said, who "shall give us flesh to eat? we remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the "melons, aud the leeks, aud the onions, and the garlick: "But now our soul is dried away; there is nothing at all, beside this manna before our eyes.'

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"Thus did they tempt God in their heart by asking meat "for their lust." (Ps. lxxviii. 18.)

x.]

MOSES CALLS UPON GOD.

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"Then Moses heard the people weep throughout the families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased."

Nothing is more painful to the feelings of a righteous man than to witness daily the evil deeds of those whose "hearts are not right with God." (Ps. lxxviii. 37.)

We are told that "Moses was very meek," (Ch. xii. 3.) and what patience and meekness did he not require to contend against the importunities of those, who even "tempted and provoked the most high God."(Ps.lxxviii.56.

He had not forgotten the quails which on a former occasion, (see Ex. xvi. 13.) had been sent to gratify their desires, but the very discontinuance of that luxury convinced him, and might have satisfied them that it was God's pleasure they should rest contented with the portion of manna, with which he had been pleased daily to supply them.

He knew that the Lord had answered his prayers in a case of need, and that under such circumstances, it is both our duty and privilege to offer up our petitions to the Almighty, but what does St. Paul say? "Be content with "such things as ye have"; (Heb. xiii. 5.) and it was apparently with great regret, that Moses felt himself compelled "in his distress to call upon the Lord." (Ps. cxviii. 5.) He seems scarcely to have anticipated a favourable answer to his prayers, giving vent to the anguish he experienced at being thus placed in such a responsible situation, even praying for death rather than that he should live "to see his wretchedness," foreseeing doubtless how their indignation would be turned against him, should their request be denied.

But the Lord is "Merciful, and gracious, longsuffering, "and abundant in goodness and truth": (Ex. xxxiv. 6.) He hath compassion on the weakness and infirmity of our nature, and it pleased him now to "incline his ear, unto Moses, and to listen to his petition, and not only promised to gratify the wishes of the people, but even

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had compassion on the weakness of Moses, and vouchsafed to order that he should henceforth be assisted in the arduous task committed to him.

"And the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me "seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest "to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; "and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, "that they may stand there with thee."

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"And I will come down and talk with thee there and "I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put 'it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone;' that is, I will endow them with a portion of that same spirit, which I have bestowed upon you, in order to render them fit for such a charge.

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"And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow, and ye shall eat flesh," the word "sanctify" probably merely implying they were to cease their murmurs, and prepare to receive the food they were so desirous of obtaining.

"And Moses said, The people among whom I am are "six hundred thousand footmen, and thou hast said. I will give them flesh that they may eat a whole month: Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them to suffice "them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together "for them to suffice them"?

How forcibly does this remark recall to us the circumstance of our Saviour feeding the multitude with the loaves and fishes, when his disciples doubting his power, exclaimed. What are they among so many"? (John vi. 9.) But God is the same yesterday and to day," (Heb. xiii, "Is the Lord's hand waxed short"? He who could dry up the sea, and make the rivers a wilderness," (Is.l. 2.) can surely relieve the wants of his creatures at any time, and by any means he may choose.

8.)

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"And Moses went out and told the people the words "of the Lord, and gathered the seventy men of the elders " of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle.