alone in the dork. And now God seems to suggest that possibly the sud of Mosu may pr_ove of a better sort. Thus we hove in the propositions of this verse what we moy coll alternative suggestions. They show what things might, conceivably, and 11ot unjustly, have happened at this critical tnming-point.-Y. Vera. 13-19.-.Moses' view of the position. God has presented some of the con- siderations which needed to be presented; Moses now presents others ; and all taken. together produce the decision actually arrived at. What God had said it was not. for Moses to say, 11,nd so what Moses said it was not for God to say; nevertheless, all needed to be said. I. NOTE THE CHARACTER IN WHICH MosES CHIEFLY APPEARS. His first words indicate a conceri:i for the reputation of Jehovah among the nations, and it would be wrong to suppose that this was not a matter of real concern, but it is evident th_e chief thought in his mind was how to secure mercy for rebellious lsroel. He is the intercessor. .All considerations he can appropriately urge are urged with the ingenuity of one who feels the calamity of others as his own. He is consistent here with past appearances on similar occasions. II. NOTE THE CONSIDERATIONS WHICH HE URGES. 1. He makes no attempt to ex- tenuate the wickedness of the people. He can say nothing by way of excuse. He does not plead as Abraham concerning Sodom, on the chance of a righteous remnant being found in the multitude. He does not distinctly plead for another trial, like the dresser in the vineyard (Luke xiii. 8, 9). The sin was fresh, patent, monstrous, coming as the climax of so much that had gone before. He does not attempt to make the sin of the people look less than the sin of the spies, but leaves all in its enormity. So we may say it is better for us not to go excusing self, when too often excuse but adds to existing sin. Our danger is to under-estimate our sin, to think of our sorrows and trials rather than our disobedience and ingratitude. God knows what may be said for us. At all times, and in all our transgressions, he remem• hers that we are dust. Let us rather aim to get a due sense of how much, how very much, needs to be done in us to make us holy and perfect. 2. He makes Gocfs reputation among surrounding nations a matter of great concern. In God's government of the world, the consideration of his real glory is ever to be kept in view, and this of course is not dependent on what any man may think. Neverthe- less, what men may think and say is by no means to be neglected. Whatever is done, some will criticise and jeer. Strange things have been said, and are said still, concerning the God revealed in the history of lsrnel. A monster of hideous attri- butes is conjured up and represented as the Deity of the Hebrews. Now as among men it ie a consideration that their good should not be evil spoken of, if they can possibly arrange it otherwise, so, reverently be it said, a similar consideration may be present to God when he reveals himself in human affairs. What he said here asserted that there was no need for further probation of these Israelite,. What Moses now suggests is that there was no need to cut them down at once, and good reason to do otherwise, eo as to stop the mouth of Egypt and the nations of Canaan. 3. One more act of mercy would be consistent with Gocfs character. God had said, upon the making of the two tables to replace the former two (Exod. :n.:xiv.), that though he could not treat iniquity 11,s a trifle, and must ever stamp on it signs of the serious way in which he regarded it, yet he was a God merciful and gracious, and disposed to pnrdon. Moses now humbly reminds God of these words, and pleads 11,n application of them to the present tronsgression. He does not seem to have meant much by the word pardon; it was simply that God might tum away the pestilence. Indeed, for anything more it was not in the power of Moses to 11,sk. A full pardon, a full reconciliation to God, these demand, as a pre-requisite, full repentance. .And so far Israel had made no sign. Perhaps the ~eople were dumb 11,nd stupefied with terror. Other people may ask pardon for us m a certain sense, but such pardon as will. be complete can only come from the cry of awakened, enlightened, and truly pemtent souls.-Y,
Vera. 20-23.-The ultimate decision. I. THE EXTENT OIi' THI!: D00N WHICH Goo GRAN'flID, "I have pnrdoned according to thy word." God gave all that MosetJ- t74 THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. [ce:s. xm., xrv.