waters of a spring, arid the barrenness of the land through which they ran, by a single cruse of salta : and thus also when he restored the serpent-bitten Israelites by the mere sight of a brasen serpent. As to the idea of the tree itself possessing qualities calculated to produce the effect, it cannot for one moment be admitted ; because the waters were sufficient for the supply of two millions of people, besides all their cattle ; and because the effect was instantaneously produced. We therefore say again, that the insufficiency of' the means he used, displayed only the more clearly the all-sufficiency of his own power, precisely as when by the voice of a feeble worm he awakens men from their death in trespasses and sinsb.]
2. That he will put honour upon humble and be- lieving prayer —
[There is such " efficacy in the fervent prayer of a right- eous man," that God, if we may be permitted so to speak, is not able to withstand it. See persons in any circumstances whatever, and you are sure to find them extricated from their difficulties, and made victorious over their enemies, when once they begin to pray. Even if the people themselves be ever so unworthy, yet, if they have an Advocate and Intercessor for them at the throne of grace, they almost invariably escape the judgments which God had denounced against them ; so cor- dially does " God delight in the prayer of the upright," and so desirous is he to encourage all persons to pray for themselves. The murmuring spirit of the people might well have provoked God to decline all further communication with them : but Moses prayed ; and his cry entered into the ears of the Lord of Hosts.]
But both the trial and deliverance were sent with a view to some ulterior good: let us consider,
III. God's design in each —
Amongst other objects which God designed to accomplish, the two following seem to be peculiarly prominent. He sought to bring them to a sense of,
1. Their duty —
[What particular statutes and ordinances God promulged to them at this time, we are not informed. But there is one thing which he certainly made known to them ; namely, the conditional nature of the covenant which he was about to make with them, and the suspension of his favours upon their obedience0. They had hitherto dwelt only on their privileges, without at all considering their duties : they thought of what
a 2 Kings ii. 21. b 2 Cor. iv. 7. c ver. 26.