and love, were never surpassed by any child of man. As an intercessor for the Lord's people, he stands unrivalled. Many were the occasions whereon he prevailed on God to spare that rebellious nation that had been committed to his charge. But behold, this eminent saint, who had so often succeeded in his ap- plications for others, was now refused when praying for himself. And, though it might appear humiliating, and might lower him in the estimation of all future generations, he gives a faithful account of the whole matter, recording both the prayer that he offered, and the answer he received.
The points to which we would call your attention, are,
I. God's rejection of the prayer of Moses —
Nothing could be more proper than this prayer of
Moses —
[He requested that he might be permitted to " go over Jordan, and see the promised land." It was with a view to the enjoyment of this land that he had laboured incessantly for forty years. He had held up the possession of it as the great inducement to the whole nation to come forth from Egypt, and to endure all the hardships of journeying in the wilderness, and the perils of protracted warfare against the inhabitants of the land. He knew that Canaan was " the glory of all lands." And now that the period for the full possession of it was arrived, yea, and God had given them an earnest of it in the subjuga- tion of the kingdoms on the east of Jordan, who can wonder that Moses should be anxious to participate the promised happiness? The manner in which he sought it was most be- coming. He did not complain of the sentence of exclusion that had been passed upon him ; but only prayed that it might be reversed. Often had he urged similar petitions for others with success : and therefore he had reason to hope, that he might not plead in vain for himself. He did not certainly know that God's decree with respect to him differed from the threatenings that had been denounced against others : there might be a secret reserve of mercy in the one case as well as in the other : and therefore he was emboldened to offer his requests, but with a meekness and modesty peculiarly suited to the occasion.]
But God saw fit to reject his petition — [The refusal which God gave him on this occasion was most peremptory. When he had rejected his prayer for the offending nation, be said, " Let me alone ; " and in that very expression