for hie great undertaking. Bnt Moses likewise knew that the greatest ble~sin~ ho could confor on Israel was love of Gorl's Law. No wishes, or hopes, or asp1rnl1ons which he could cherish for them would be of any practical value apart from thei~ dutiful obedience to Gou, 'fhereforc, his legacy was counsel and prayer : " He com- manded a Law, even lhe inheritance of the congregation of J,1cob." This is the richest heritage we can acquire on earth, viz. Go<l's Law enshrined in the heart. Then am wo living temples, the "habitation of God through the Spirit.''-D, Ver. 6.-A prayer for thefirstborn. The personal character of Reuben had not been exomplary. His salient features were coarse. Moral qualities were entailed to posterity ; and the tribe, generation after generation, occupied a low place in the history of the nation. Nothing noble seems ever to have been achieved by it. I. PRIORI'l'Y OF PLACE DOES NOT ENSURE NOBLENESS OF CHARACTER. Reuben was, in Ja.cob's household, first in the order of time, but not first in native dignity. "1/fany that are first shall be last." The king has not al ways the most royal character in the empire. 'fhe palace does not always contain the noblest society. The most obscure may yet become the purest and the best. Moral rottenness has often been on the throne, and real royalty on the gibbet. II. PRESENT LIFE DOES NOT SECURE CONTINUOUS LIFE. Hn man life is not self-created; it is sustained through every hour by a Divine hand; and whenever Divine wisdom sees best, that life is brought to a close. As life, with all its advantages, is a trust from God, which may be terminated any moment, we should use every moment well, in order to deserve its continuance. In proportion to the precariousness of life is the value of every moment increased. So, too, in the life beyond the grave, the same dependence on God remains. We hang on him for continued life. Christ is our life. 'l'brough eternity we live (if we live at all) by faith on the Son of God. Hourly the prayer ought to ascend, '' Let me live, and not die." III. PRESENT UNITS MAY BECOME FUTURE MYRIA.DS. At the time of Moses' dissolution, the number of Reuben seems to have been small. Possibly this may have been a penalty for Reuben's incest. In this case it would be an appeal to God's mercy to remove the curse. Beneath the benediction of God, "a little one soon becomes a thousand." Prolific increase is a sign of Divine approval. All the oak forests on the globe sprang from a single germ.-D. Ver. 7.-Theroyal house of Judah. The name Judah signifies praise. Here Moses represents Judah as the praying tribe-in this respect inheriting the spirit of its great father, Jacob. Prayer and praise usually wed; they make a happy pair in the habitation of the heart, o.nd the offspring is royal nobleness. I. TRUE PRAYER PLEADS FOB. AN APPOINTED DESTINY. What God has designed and destined for us-this is a proper object of prayer. For although God has designed some good for us, our prayer is the last link in the succession of causes which brings us into actual possession. "For all these things," saith God, "I will be inquired of . . . to do it for them." Prayer has respect to the will of God. The purpose and oath of God have prepared the blessing. The hand of faith is stretched forth to take it. II. TRUE PRAYER IS SUPPORTED BY OTHERS' INTERCESSIONS. The prayer of a good man on our behalf is a.11 inestimable boon. Here Moses prayed that J udah's petition miaht be beard. Example is contagious. When good men. see us praying, they will pr;y with us, an~ for us too. I_f on!y c_ombustibl~ material be at hand, th? fiery flamo will spre!i.d. It 1s always an rnspuat1on to us, 1f we remember that while we pray, Christ our Elder Brother is praying for us above. III. TRUE PRAYER IS ALWAYS SECONDED BY PERSONAL ENDEAVOUR. "Let his hands bo sufficient for him." What we can do to gain the blessing, God will not do for us. What we cannot do, God will, if we meekly ask him. Prayer without effort is hypocrisy. ,v e are not sincere in our request. Labour without prayer is stark atheism. 'l'he boat of human progress must be rowed with two oars-prayer and effort. Unless both wings are in motion, the eagle cannot rise. IV. T1tUE PRAYER OBTAINS THE HELP OF GoD. It obtains help for every undertaking -husbandry, commerce, mt, and war. Prayer always has prevailed-it always will. Prayer and painstaking can accomplish anything. Prayer secures for us the best help, 660 THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. [on. :uxm. 1-29,
the pre~ence or God himsetr. "Be thou a Help to him." 'l'his Is an Ally worth having -an A11~· who, by a bree.th, secures success. If the Lord be our Helper, we can wisely speak the challenge," \Vhat Cl\n man do unto me? " God with me, God in me, in- spiring every thought, and purpose, and desire and deed,-this makes a mean man royal indeed. Thus we may all obtain a plaoc in the honoured tribe of Judah, and be "kings unto God."-D.