The last forty years of his life he had spent entirely in their service : and now that he could superintend them no longer, he was anxious that a successor should be appointed by God himself; that so all occasion for rivalship might be cut off, and all discord and anarchy be prevented. In this he acted,
1. As a true patriot —
[Patriotism is a virtue which all public men affect, but which very few possess. Selfishness is by far the more pre- vailing character. Many, when they can hold the reins of government no longer, would rather be succeeded by one of moderate talents, whose inferiority should cause regret for their departed worth, than by one of transcendent abilities, whose eminence should eclipse their virtues, and cause their services to be forgotten. A regard for their own credit would outweigh their desire for the public weal. Besides, the gene- rality of patriots exert all their influence to aggrandize their own families ; and appoint to places of trust and honour, not those whom in their consciences they think most fit for the office, but those who from family or party considerations will most confirm their power, or perpetuate the honour of their name. The very reverse of all this was displayed in the con- duct of Moses. He was fearful lest the people should have any reason to regret his loss. He was anxious that a person should be selected and qualified by God himself; that so the administration of their affairs might be conducted to the greatest possible advantage. And though he had children of his own, he placed them in no peculiar situation either of church or state ; but left them to occupy the humbler post of common Levites, whilst Aaron's children succeeded to the priesthood, and one of another tribe was nominated as his successor in the government. Moreover, the manner of evincing his concern for the people's welfare, was such as is little known to modern patriots ; he evinced it not by declamatory harangues, but by praying to God for them. Happy would it be, if those who in this day make such professions of zeal in the service of their country, would manifest it before God in their secret chamber, entreating him to direct their counsels and prosper their endeavours! To secure his direction and blessing for those in power, would be a better proof of patriotism, than to be aiming incessantly at their subversion and ruin.]
2. As a faithful minister —
[Moses presided over Israel, both as a Church, and as a Nation : and he shewed the same regard for their spiritual, as for their temporal, interests. He well knew, that the appoint- ment of a truly religious governor would ecnially conduce to