and God's work done, though wo in our folly anrl sln rebel and stand aloof (~fott. iii. I)). "H remaineth that some must enter in" (Heb. iv. 6). (2) Their unbelief nn,1 disobmlienco e!Tcctunlly excludecl themselves. God aware it in his wrnth, nnd tho sentence admitted of no reversal. A foresharlowin~ of the final exclu- sion from heaven of thoso who persistently disobey (Matt. vii. 21-24 ; Luke xiii. 24-21); Heb. iv. 11; Hov. xxii. 11-16). 2. The holy 11fose.~ (ver. 37; cf. on eh, iii. 26 • iv. 21; xxxiv. 4). 'l'he exclusion of Moses will be more fully considered after- wards,'but we learn from it here that God's apparent severity is often greatest to his own peoplo (Amos iii. 2), and that the share which other~ have had in leading us into sin docs not abate our own responsibility in the commission of it. This greater apparent severity (1) repels the charge of favouritism; (2) gives a peculiarly impressive demonstration of the evil of sin;· (3) reminds us that sin i_n God's people is more dis- honouring to him than it is in others; (4) warns the wicked. For if juclgment begin at the righteous, "what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God'/ And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" (1 Pet. iv. 17, 18). II. THE ADMITTED. These were to be: 1. Tliefaithful two-C.ileb and Joshua (vcrs. 36, 38). 'l'he former is signalizeu as having" wholly followed the Lord," and Joshua. was a man of like faith and staunchness in a time of general defection. Such persons God will singularly preserve and honour. Their place in heaven will be a high one. " We must, in a course of obedience to God's will and of service to his honour, follow him universally, without dividing; uprightly, without dissembling; cheerfully, without disputing; and constantly, without declining; and this is following the Lord folly" (Matthew Henry, on Numb. xiv. 24). 2. The.younger generation (ver. 30). Instead or the fathers, God would take .the children. What a rebuke!-( I) of their groundless fears. "Your little ones, which ye said should be a prey." (2) Of their unmanly co1l'ardice. Their little children, types of all that was humanly feeble, would do the work they were afraid to attempt. (3) Of their inconsiderate selfishness. They were not ashamed to hand.down to these children their own abandoned life-tasks, with all the work and peril, if also with all the reward and honour, attending their accomplishment. \Vas not this to make ihemscl ves objects of contempt to their own offspring? "Let no man take thy crown," least of _all thine. own child.-J. 0.
Vers. 40-46.---:-Tardy repentance. In the conduct of these Israelites we have a typical exhibition of human nature. In its folly, its fickleness, its unreasonableness, and its obstinacy, Forbidden ta enter Canaan, they change their mood, and nothing will servo them but to "go up" and do the thing they had formerly said they would not do. They are vociferous in their professions of repentance.and will not be reasoned out of their self-willed purpose, but persist in following it up to their own after discom- fiture. We have here to notice~ . I. How UNCHANGED CHARACTEI\ .MAY COEXIST WITH A CHANGED FORM OF M.!NIFEST.ol.- !lON. Underneath these loud professions of repentance," We have sinned" (ver. 41), IL is not difficult to detect: 1. The old unbelief. '!'hey disbelieve God's threatening, as b~fore they refused to believe his promise, 2. The old self-will. It is not what God wills, but what they will themselves, that is to be done. '!'hey do not ask, "\Vill God p~rmit us to do this?" but they take the law into their own hands, and ignore God'~ W!Shes altogether, 3. The old contumacy. '!'heir wills are wholly unsubmissivc. Jn revolt yesterday against their duty, and to-day against their punishment. They will not hear warning (ver. 43), but pursue their own way. All this stamps their repentance as not 6nly tardy, but insincere. Analogous to much of the repentance caused by fear of punishment, fear of exposure, fear of cleath; and points to the defects in superficial repentance generally. II. How INSINCERE nEPENTANCE NATUllALLY PASSES OVER INTO PRESUMPTUOUS SIN. It does this inasmuch as there was never in it the element of real submission. The unde~talcing of tho Israelites was typical of many more. It was: 1. Presumptuously conceived. 2. Presumptuously prepared/or. 3. Presumptuously persevered in. It is, therefore, the type of all undertakings set on foot and carried out (1) in ucfomce of Go~'s will; (2) without God's assistance; (3) in face of God's expressed displeasure. m It 15 a case, iµ short, of flying the face of God; of defying him, 3.Jld entering into TUE DOOit OF DEUTEJWNOMY, (tu. r. 19-40
direct contest wilh him ; ns every one docs whose schemes are in opposition even to natural and economical, anil still more if tl1ey arc in opposition to moral and spiritual hnrn; or in any way contrary to what we know to be God's will. Presumption may 6how itself in refusal to be saved, except in ways or on terms of our own dictation. III. How GODLESS ENDEAVOUR RECOILS IN DISASTER ON THOSE WIIO PERMIST IN IT. (Ver 44.) So must it be with all schemes t.hat have God's frown upon them. Note-1. Repentance may come too late (ver. 45; Matt. xxv. 11; Luke xiii. 25). 2. Disobedience may cloak itself in the gui~e of obedienco (ver. 41). 3. 'l'ho test of obedience is willingness to do what God requires at the time k requires it, and not nt some time of our own.-J. 0,