he pnrsnt'd. this mission was energy sustained rrom heaven. Further, the willingneas on the part. of God, to allow any suit on behalf of rebels, was an act of pure mercy'. Jt i~ no Jess absurd than profane to speak of man, the mediator, I\S showing more henc,olence than God. The whole arrangement is one of purest kindness, and Mosos ,ms richly blest in his generous undertaking. Ill. MEDIATION REQUIRES THE MOST COMPLETE SELF-SACRIFICE. For forty days and fc,rty nights Moses ~·as prostrate before the Lord. l'crsonal needs, personal interests, personal lwnour, were all forgotten, Here was the completest devotion of himself to this cause. There is a profound mystery in this number of forty. It is not a natural cvele. Like the number se,en, it is sacred to religion. For forty days and uights Moses waited before God, undergoing spiritual receptiveness for the revelation of his will. For forty years the Hebrews dwelt in the wilderness. For forty days Elijah tarried in I-loreb. For forty days Jesus endured the temptations of the desert. • For f,,rt,· days he abode with men subsequent to his resurrection. All that human nature could endure, Moses endured. to obtain pardon for Israel. For if pardon be too cheaply bou;.:hL, it is not valued. Only in the lurid light of sin's curse do we see the glory of forc:i \'encss. i Y. MEDIATION ACKNOWLEDGES SIN TO TIIE FULL. There is no extenuation of the deed, no paring down its dimensions, no cloaking any part of its baseness, no endea- Yours to put other colours on it than its own. It is because sin is so malignant and so ruinous that it is so desirable to rescue the sinner from its awful spell. It is because it is so dishonouring to God that it is worth while, at any price, to remove it from his uni,·crse. The auger of Jehovah is no mere passing or capricious feeling. It is senti- ment arisins: out of the most righteous principle. Such anger ag11inst sin is essential to the Godhead. Vv e need not be afraid of the introduction of anthropomorphic con- ceptions. The longer Moses remained prostrate before God, the clearer came .into view Israel's sin in the light of the Divine purity. ,~. MEDIATION INCLUDES THE LARGEST REPARATION. The mission of Moses as mediator had a part ruanward as well as Godward. The whole work was not done upon his knees. With both his hands he brake and burnt the graven image, dis- honoured the deity they had fashioned, reduced it to powdered dust. This would expose the impotence of the idol, the vanity of the idol system, and the insane folly of presenting to such a molten image Divine l::onours. Nor was this all. The fine dust that remained after the burning was cast into the brook, so that they were com- pelled to driuk it in the exigency of their thirst. St. Pan! tells us that the rock from \l·hich this stream flowed ~ymbolized Christ; hence we see., in a figure, how ihe living ~tream from him, the Fount, bears away our sin into oblivion. Repentance upon our part is not thorough, nor sincere, unless we make whatever reparation is within our reaoh. YI. MEDIATION EMDilACES VERBAL INTERCESSION. The final outcome of mediation is prayer. " Father, forgive them ! " said the dying Saviour. "He ever liveth to i11tcrccde." I. .Moses pleads God's proprielorsltip in this recreant people. "They are tliiue inheritance." "The Lord's portion is his people." From them he shall obtain more satisfaction than from planets and stars and suDB. 2. God's self-consistency is an argume1d ir, prayer. He had already redeemed them from Egyptian bondage. He had takeu great pains wiih them hitherto, and had expended great power on their behalf. A1al he bad not done this in ignorance. The latent evil in their hearts he had per- cci l"ed. 'l'hc future of their lives he had foreseen. Hence it would be consistent with liis past favours to dispense fresh mercy. 3. God's covenant and promises are prope1· o,g,w,ents in prayer. He loves to be reminded of his engagements, because this 1c1ucmbrance deepens our sense of his faithfulness. He had engaged to bring this 1,c,,1,le to the land of promise, not for their sakes, however obedient they might be, but for tLcir fathers' sakes. Hence their rebelliousness did not vitiate lho original engagc- 11,c1Jt; aud alil10ugh indi l'iduals might justly be destroyed-yea, that whole generation -still the posterity of .Abraham must eventually enter the land. 4. The reputation uud credit of God form also staple arguments in prayer for others. The natural effect 1,roduccd on meu's minds by God's dealings must be taken into account. Our God is 1,ot indifferent to the homage and praise of men. It is to him a great delight to receil•e ti,c iucen.se of heartfdt love. His reputation in his universe is a very precious thing, en. rx. 1-29.] 'fllE BOOK OF DEUTEIWNOMY. 177
r,ml it hecumes us on o.11 occMions to guarrl it well. He has formed us into o. people fr.,r this very purpose, " that we should show forth his praise." VII. HUMAN MEDIATION, IF EAflNEBT AND PERSEVERING, SUCCEEDS. "The L0r.l heMkened unto me nt that time also." Here is great encouragement for our interces sion now I A br~ham did n_ot cease ~ gain_ successes for Sodom until he ceased to pray; and had he continued, possibly the city might have been spared. What genuine and honest intercession has ever failed? "The fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Every instance of successful intercession recorded in history is a cordial to revivo our drooping faith. Is not God even now waiting to heo.r human intercession that ho may do great things for his Church? "Give him no rest, till he mak~ Jerusalem a praiso in the earth."-D.