to God; and say, Hitherto the Lord hath helped me; and hereafter, my God shall supply all my need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. He is my shepherd, I shall not want. "Is Christ mine?" saith the inimitable Bishop Hall,1 "how then can I fail of all contentment? How can he want light who dwells in the sun? What can we wish which he will not provide? Do we need provision by the way to heaven? His flesh is meat indeed; and his blood is drink indeed. Need we medicine? He is the tree of life. Need we safety and protection? He truly is our strength and our salvation. Would we have direction? He is the way, and the truth, and the life. Would we obtain all real mercies? They are found in him who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." Whether God shall give or deny blessings of minor interest may be safely left with himself. The hearts of the men of Israel were wedded to present gratification. Their grovelling views were rarely raised to higher and nobler objects of attainment and possession. Their desire, equally perverse and short-sighted, despised the compassion, and limited the power of the Most High. " "Behold, he smote the rock that the

I Works viii. 31.

waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed. Can he give bread also, and provide flesh for his people?" This spirit of ungrateful and daring rebellion cleaves too closely to us all. "God hath delivered us from the house of bondage; and supported us in the wilderness. Jesus Christ is present with the church; and his miracles of love and mercy are continually before our eyes in the course of providence, in the word, and the sacraments of redemption. Yet how many still provoke and tempt the Most High! How many ask provision for their lust, when their necessities are satisfied: and, after every past and recorded experience of divine goodness, murmur and grudge, if they be not indulged in those cravings of a carnal mind, which can be granted only upon terms eternally to be lamented?" 1 Discontent at any dispensation of heaven, ill becomes him whom God hath begotten to a glorious inheritance and reversion. The grace which has effected the wondrous change may indeed contradict the desires of a sinful nature, but will invariably be found to advance the new and spiritual interests of the child of God. It will therefore, be equally his wisdom, his duty, and his happiness, not to pant like David for a good beyond his reach. "O,

Bishop Horne on Psalm xx. verse 20.

that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate?". but to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness: in the full assurance of faith, that all other things shall be added unto him.

II. If there be any page in the history of mankind which shews the cares and inquietudes. invariably attendant upon exalted rank, it is that which records the eventful life of Moses. An authority more extensive in its character, and confirmed by more weighty, or more awful sanctions, than that which he exercised over the tribes of Israel, could hardly be imagined. Yet did alarm, vexation, trouble, and sin arise continually, from the honourable and responsible office in which he stood, as the appointed leader of the armies and heritage of God. A most instructive example of their provocation, and of HIS DISTRUST, is set forth in the chapter before us; and demands our next consideration. "Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent; and he said unto the Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant; and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all the people upon me? Have I conceived all this people; have I begotten them; that thou shouldst say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father

beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers? Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. I am not able to bear all this people; for it is too heavy for me. And if thou deal thus with me, kill me I pray thee, and let me not see my wretchedness ?” Instead of using a holy boldness of remonstrance with the rebellious camp, and pouring the fervour of intercessory prayer into the ear of God, as formerly, we find him querulous and timid, alike fearful of Israel, and distrustful of Jehovah. Surely while he fed the people with a faithful and true heart, and occupied his post of duty, as their prince and leader, he had no reason to doubt the continuance of his favour with heaven; or to dread, lest the presence and power of God should be withdrawn. He almost seems to think the armies of Israel harshly dealt with, because their unhallowed desire was not gratified and that their very rebellion was extenuated, if it could not be excused. The sin of Israel was ground indeed for deep regret and humiliation-none for murmuring, none for infidelity, none for taking part with the ungrateful tribes against him who had delivered and sustained them. The whole transaction indeed evidently exhibits a reality of zeal for the divine

glory, and the welfare of the people: but not a chastened zeal, according to knowledge and submission. His wish for death is in sad har

mony with the rest of this unbelieving, though affectionate complaint. Like Moses in the desert, Jonah under the withered gourd, or Elijah in the wilderness near Beersheba, men seldom wish that they may die, except when their minds are in that state of guilty agitation, distrust of God, dereliction of duty, or timid faintness, which would make the attainment of their request a tremendous evil. Our desire of death rarely arises from a willingness to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better: too generally, alas, from weariness and fear in the hour of affliction. We do not walk by faith:-the appointed trial comes; we are immediately cast down, and cry with the chastened, but unthinking patriarch, All these things are against me.

Even after the Most High had pledged his word, that flesh should be sent in miraculous profusion, Moses distrusted his promise. "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 fishes of the sea be gathered together to suffice them?” Thus feeble man decides upon the divine ability,