Exod. xxxvi. 5 — 7. And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the tvork, which the Lord commanded to make. And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more tvork for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people ivere restrained from bringing : for the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.
THE followers of Christ are supposed to regard this as their favourite maxim, ' The greater the sin- ner, the greater the saint : ' they are considered also as approving an inference that may be deduced from it, namely, that it is advisable to commit some gross crime, in order to augment our future piety. We trust however, that such calumnies, though often affirmed, are not really credited. The least consi- deration would convince a man, that such a sentiment could find no place in a religious mind. But though we disclaim any such licentious tenets, (yea, and utterly abhor them,) yet we must say, that " he who has been forgiven much, will love much ; " and that " godly sorrow," in proportion as it exists in the soul, " will work indignation and revenge " against all our spiritual enemies, and will lead us invariably to " bring forth works meet for repentance." This truth is strongly illustrated in the history before us. The whole nation of the Jews had revolted from God, and worshipped the golden calf. For this God had threatened them with utter destruction ; but, upon the intercession of Moses, had reversed his decree, and had received them again to his favour. Instead of forsaking them utterly, he had even determined to dwell among them as their God; and had ordered a tabernacle to be made for him, with every thing else which would be wanted for the services they were to present unto him. For the constructing of this he relied on the liberality of his people : and the event proved that his reliance was well placed ; and that their sense of the obligations conferred upon them