warning to us all ; that we provoke not God by our rebellions to withhold from us the blessings we desire, or to inflict upon us the punishments we deserve.]
2. To submit with humility to afflictive dispensa- tions—
[When once Moses was informed of the decided purpose of God, he forbore to ask for any alteration of it ; nor did he utter one murmuring or discontented word concerning it. God had bidden him to be satisfied with the mercies which he was about to receive ; and he was satisfied with them. Now it may be that God has denied us many things which we could have wished to possess, or taken from us tilings which we have pos- sessed. But if he have given us grace, and mercy, and peace through our Lord Jesus Christ, what reason can we have to com- plain ? We have prayed to him perhaps under our trials, and they have not been removed ; or we have deprecated them, and they have still been inflicted. But God has said to us, " Let it suffice thee " that I have made thee a partaker of my grace : " let it suffice thee " that I have given thee prospects of the promised land: "let it suffice thee" that thou hast a portion in a better world. And shall not these things be sufficient for us, though we be destitute of every thing else ? Shall any of the concerns of time or sense be of much importance in our eyes, when we are so highly privileged, so greatly enriched ? Ah ! check the first risings of a murmuring thought, all ye who are ready to complain of your afflictions. Think whether you would exchange one Pisgah view of heaven for all that this earth can give : and, if you would not, then think, how richly heaven itself will compensate for all your light and momentary afflictions: and, instead of indulging any anxiety about the things of this world, let the prayer of David be the continual language both of your hearts and lips6.]
3. To serve God with increasing activity to the
end of life —
[The last month of Moses' continuance on earth was as fully occupied with the work of God as any month of his life. Though he knew that he must die within a few days, he did not intermit his labours in the least, but rather addressed him- self to them with increasing energy and fidelity. This was the effect of very abundant grace : and it was an example but rarely copied. How many towards the close of life, when they know, not from revelation indeed, but from their own feebngs, that they must shortly die, become cold in their affections, slothful in their habits, querulous in their tempers, and remiss
e Ps. cvi. 4, 5.