the known will of God shone out lustrously In Moses' life. All that Moses heard, ho communicated by word, nnd temper, and influence, and deed. II. MATERIAJ, PENURY A CONDITION FOR HEAVENLY ENnICHMENT. The scene for the revclntion of God, is the wilderness. Stript of earthly luxuries, the mind opens its portnls to hca.venly visitation. This is not a necessity a.rising out of the nature of thin"'s, but it is a necessity for man in his present state. The son of Zacharias, though a priest, turned his back upon tho temple, and chose the wilderness a..~ the theatre most suitable for his ponderous undertakiog. This the spirit of prophecy had foreseen. It was in the desert, Jesus fed the thousands by a creative word. In the desert, Paul was equipped for aha.king the foundations of paganism. In Patmos, John passed throu"h the portals of the spirit-world. nt HUMAN POWEil IS FORMAL-Goo's POWER REAL. To the eye of mortal sense, the Hebrews, drilled and officered, fought victoriously with Amalek and Moab; never- theless, a clearer vision sees that it was God that slew Sihon, King of the AmoriteM, and Og, King of Bashan. Let us be sure that what we do, God does by us! Be we 1he agents; God the principal! In righteous war:'".=.re, "He teacheth our fingers to fi<,ht." In us hourly let God be immanent. "God wills it," therefore let us will it ai;;o. "He worketh in us." IV. MEDITATION AND ACTION INTEGRAL PARTS OF HEALTHFUL LIFE. "Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount." The body may be wrecked by surfeit, as well as by hunger. Knowledge is not entirely ours, until it is reduced to practice. Heavenly wisdom is essentially practical. .All light is designed for service. The doctrines of religi1)Il are raw materials, which are to be put into the warp and woof of our daily life. Is "the Lamb the light of the heavenly place"? The saints "follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth." Meditation qualifies for action; action demands new medi- tation. These are the two wings, without both of which the eagle cannot rise. "C0me ye into the desert;" "Go and preach; "-these are the twin behests of Christ. V. Goo's ABSOLUTE PURPOSES LEAVE FULL SCOPE FOR MAN'S OBEDIENCE. How the two things are co-related, we cannot ascertain. The point of junction is among the incomprehensible-beneath the surface of things. There is now and again seeming discord; but as we listen on thero is a profounder harmony. The Lord sware unto the patriarchs to give them the land of Canaan. Yet the spies brought back an ill report; and the people debated and murmured, vacillated and countermarched, as if they had been the umpires of their destiny. VI. Goo's PROVISIOl'I IS ALWAYS MORE AMPLE THA....'i MAN'S DESIRE. God's plan for Israel's territory extended from Mount Lebanon to the Euphrates; but Israel never rose to the full height of God's design. "Ask what I shall give thee" is still the message from heaven to every man. "Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it." "We have not because we ask not." There is abundance of sea-room in God's plan for the largest human endeavour; and every day the voice of the Great Proprietor reminds us, "'!'here is yet very much land to be possessed." "All things are yours."-D.
Vers. 9-18.-The blessing of good government. I . .A WISE MAN DISAVOWS ABSOLUTE MONARCHY. Legislation, the most difficult department of government, hail. been furnished for Israel by the Supreme Mind of the universe ; yet Moses found the task of administration too much for a single arm. The aim of every ruler ought to be, not personal power, but universal service-the greatest good of the greatest number. No wise man will expose himself to the tremendous temptation of personal aggrandisement. Beside, it is a boon to others to exercise the faculties of discrimination and judgmcnt. Ji. l'OPULAR CHOICE OF RULERS TO BE DETERMINED BY A SL.'TGLE LAW, VIZ. PERSONAL 'MERIT. To lift the voice for an unqualified ruler is a crime against tbe State-an injury, and not a benefit, to the person elect. To allow personal qualification to domi- nate the choice, is to n,ake God the umpire. This is, in civic affairs, "to do his will on earth as it is done in heaven." III. THERE IS BOOM, DOTH Ill' THE CHURCH AND IN THE STATE, FOR VARIOUS OFFICES. lf a man cannot rule five thousand, he may be able to rule fifty. Service in a subordi- ?ate station may qualify for higher dignity. Gradation of rank best conserves the interests of the nation. "Order is Heaven's first law." IV. ALL BUll.AN AUTHOIUTY IS m THE STEAD OF Goo. "The judgment is God's." 12 THE DOOK OF DEU'l'EHO~OMY, [cH. 1. 1-1B.
Magistmtes acl in God's stead. Parents likewise. Every man is bound to act ns God would act. Re represents God always and everywhere. All tnlent is a trust, Wo arc the stewards of God's estRte, Y. RUl!ANITY IS FAR SUPERIOR TO NATIONALITY, CLASS, 01\ SECT. Every man 1 how- cnr poor or ignornnt, is to be accounted a brother. In the commouweaHh of lsmol there are no stranger8. Nationality is but n pasteboard sepamtion. "God hath mnde or one blood all nations." 'l'~e great di_vider is sin. A heaven-kindled eye pcnctrntes through e'l'ery crust of bubansm and vice, and sees a man beneath, Here is a kingly nature, though now ensla'l'ed. YI. GnowrH OF 1''1JMDERS IS A TOKEN OF DIVINE APPROBATION. In the ro.tio of material abundance and contentment, is increase of population. It was one of the presnges of Messiah's kingdom, "they of thci city shall flourish like grass of the eo.rth." In heathen lands population is sparse. War and pestilence decimate the ranks. In proportion as sound Christianity prevails, the subjects of the state aucrment, 0 Every additional man ought to be an increment of strength and usefulness, VII. PRAYER RAS A RECOGNIZED PLACE IN Gon'sGOVERNMENT. Promisealwayswaits on prayer, as harvest waits on the husbandman's toil. However abundant are the promises, yet for the fulfilment God will be inquired of to do it for us, When prayer has its root in God's specific promise, it roust bear fruit in proportion as faith enlarges her boughs. 'l'his is wise building, for we found our expectations upon eternal rock. ,III. Goon ME::-1 GREATLY DESIRE THEIR COUNTRY'S GOOD. Patriotism is a goodly 'l'irtne, though not the noblest. 'l'o fence ourselves round with selfish interests is despicable. "·e en,y not that man's narrow soul who has no sympathy nor energy for his nation's weal. 'l'hc best Christian will take some interest in everything-in municipal matters, international treaties, literature, science, commerce, art. In th~ broadest sense, he is a citizen of the world. He lives to bless others. 'fhis is Christ- like.-D.