the wonderful manifestations of God in Christ Jesus? We, even more than the Israelites, are the objects of God's g·racious interposition. It seemed of no use to remind them of God the Deliverer and Provider. And so now, although Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, although he has conquered sin and death for nil mankind, yet rn1mkind is far more concerned about matters a long way less importnnt. The truth was, the Israelites bad not yet been delivered, in the highest sensa of the word. 'l'he body was free, but the spirit was in bondage. Egypt had still a strong bold upon their hearts. Their experience there must have been a strange mixture of oppression and pampering. Compelled to make bricks without straw, and yet they had flesh to eat. III. A SPIRIT THAT SOON FORGOT PAST GRIEVANCES. It was not 80 long ago that they had been sighing and crying by reason of their bondage (Exod. ii. 23). Then their lives were bitter, and all the flesh they got could not sweeten them. These past grievances were immeasurably greater than anything they had to complain of now. Plum there was really no comfort in life at all-oppression and injustice gave worm- wood flavour to everything; now they are but m,,inus some old comforts. ThQy have plenty to Mt, and that of special miraculous food, by which God said to them at every meal, "Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it." It was well for them even in the wilderness troubles that they were not as Egypt; for though Egypt might have flesh to eat, it was surely eaten amid many groans and sighs. The ten plagues and the destrnction of Pharaoh and his nrmy were a very serious set-off against the most savoury of creature comforts. •• IV. A SPIRIT UTTERLY INSENSIBLE TO THE GLORIOUS VOCATION WHEREWITH GOD HAD CALLED THEM (Eph. iv. 1). What a difference is here revealed between Moses and the people I .As Moses talks with Hobab, and lifts his prayer to God, all is expectancy, ardour, and exultation. No complaints of the manna, n°' hnnkerings after Egypt, come from that noble soul. But as for the people, Paul exactly describes them in Phil. iii. 18. Their end was destruction, their God was their belly, their glory was in their shame, they minded earthly things. Even though the ark rested on the many thousands of Israel, they are blind to the glory nnd profit corning from the presence of it. They will go anywhere if only they can get the lost delicacies of Egypt. Such a table as Milton represents the tempter spreading out before Jesus would just have been to their taste (' Paradise Regained,' 1i. 337-365). Their cry is not that of natural hunger, but the passionate screaming of a pampered child. Plain living and high thinking, the Nazarite vow nnd the Nazarite nspiration, manna for tbe body and true bread of heaven for the spirit-with these thing·s they Lad no sympathy. Prad-ical truths :-1. Let every pain that comes to us Lave its proper effect in the way of discipline. Thus that which otherwise will be Joss is turned to substantial gain. 2. In the midst of the greatest privileges we may be near to the most subtle temptations. Where God is nearest, there Satan also may be most active. 3. We need a great work of God to bring us to a due appreciation of the spiritual blessin~s in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. It takes a grent deal to make us see that godliness is profitable, having the promise of the life that now u. "Trouble is grudgingly and hardly brook'd, While life's s.ublimest joys are overlook'd." 4. Let the estimate of our wants and the provision for them be left to God. For us to live ie Christ, and the highest occupation of life to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness ; then all other needed things will be added unto us. Never fear but God will give food convenient for us. N. B. John vi. gives a most instructive NAw Testament parallel to this passage.-Y.
KIBROTH liATTAATAII (vers. 4-35). 4. -The mixed multitude. Ver. Hebrew, ha- 1aphs,iph, the gathered ; the riff. raff, or I EXPOSITION. Israel out of Egypt, where they had probably been strangers and slaves themselves. What the nature and the number and the fate of rabble, which had followed the fortunes of this rabble were is a matter of mere conie~ture os. xr. 4-85.] THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. 107