many sanguinary contests. Perhaps, after all, the victory over them might be dearly purchased, or possibly might never be attained : hence also might arise the willingness of the suitors to forego their share in what was uncertain, if they might be permitted to possess what was already gained.
Such was the construction which Moses put upon the conduct of these two tribes, and such was the ground of those reproofs which he administered.]
And is there not ground for similar fears whenever a similar conduct obtains ?
[If a minister at this day see his hearers selfish, mindful of their own comforts, but inattentive to the wants and miseries of others, has he not reason to fear concerning them ? When it is eminently characteristic of the true Christian to " mind, not his own things, but the things of others a," and there is a mani- fest failure in this respect amongst his people, ought he not to be "jealous over them with a godly jealousy," and to warn them of their self-deceit ?
Again, if he observe any professors of religion to have become worldly ; if he find them so intent on their present interests, as to be comparatively indifferent about the ordinances of reli- gion, and the ultimate possession of the heavenly land ; if he see them studious of then present ease, and averse to spiritual conflicts, must he not of necessity " stand in doubt of" such persons? Does not love itself require him to "change his voice towards them," and to adopt the language of admonition and reproof?
Once more, if he see them yielding to unbelief, and resting satisfied with a present portion, through desponding appre- hensions respecting the attainment of a better inheritance, does it become him to be silent ? Ought he not to exert himself hi every way to repress such a spirit, and to stimulate his people to a more becoming conduct? Must he wait for open and notorious transgressions before he opens his lips in expostula- tions and reproofs ? No surely : the example of Moses in the text, and of St. Paul on various occasions b, shews, what are the emotions which every such instance should produce, and what methods every faithful minister should adopt to counteract such evils.]
Whilst we justify Moses on reviewing the grounds of his jealousy, we shall find reason to congratulate him on,
II. The effects of it—
From-himself it produced a faithful remonstrance —
a Phil. ii. 4. b 2 Cor. xi. 2. Gal. iv. 19, 20.