that the record of it in this chapter (vers. 6-38) is the exact copy of it as then written down for the use of the Levites ; or it may be the leading topics of it as afterwards recollected and recorded. We have seen that confession of sin is the groundwork an~ substance of it. But it includes ad<Yration and thanksgiving, for the grateful recital of the excellences of God's character and the graciousness of his dealings w~mld be the very thing to deepen and to quicken I?enitence for their sin. A realis- ation of God's holiness e.nd e. remembrance of his kindness are inseparably con- nected with the sense of our own guilt. This recital of the goodness of God both general and particular, contains reference to-1. The essential greatness of God: ~s the one Lord ; Cree.tor e.nd Preserver of men; Maker of heaven, "with all their host;" . . . whom "the host of heaven worshippeth" (ver. 6). 2. His distinguishing goodness to Israel : choosing Abraham (ver. 7), working great wonders on behalf of the race (vers. 10, 11), giving them a day of rest and a human leader (ver. 14), establishing and enriching them in the land of promise (vers. 22-25). 3. His miraculous and his abiding care for their wants : giving them " bread from heaven for their hunger," and bringing forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst (ver. 15); forty years sustaining them in the wilderness (ver. 21). 4. His faithful- ness: "performing his words, for he is righteous" (ver. 8). 5. His pitifulness, and mercy, and patience: seeing their affliction and hearing their cry (ver. 9) ; "ready to pardon, slow to anger, and of great kindness" (ver. 17); "many times delivering them" in answer to their cry (ver. 28); "not utterly consuming nor forsaking them" (ver. 31). 6. His guidance and teaching: giving the cloudy pillar and the pillar of fire (ver. 12) ; speaking to them from heaven and giving them judgments and true laws, &c. (ver. 13), and his "good Spirit to instruct them" (ver. 20). 7. His chast- ening love (vers. 28-30). Let us consider- !. THE ABUNDANT GROUND FOR GRATITUDE ON THE PART OP EVERY ONE OF US. We worship and bless God as ( 1) our Creator: " it is he that bath made us, and not we ourselves;" it is be who breathed into us" the breath of life," and made us "living seuls; " as (2) our Divine Preserver and Sustainer, whose visitation has preserved our spirit ; as (3) One who hat1 shown many peculiar and especial -favours to us which he has not bestowed on others; as (4) One who has been opening his hand and satisfying our daily want--" daily loading us with benefits;" as (5) One who has been faithful in e.ll his dealings with us; who (6) has borne much and long with our waywardness, our fruitlessness, our imperfection; as (7) One who has been guiding us continually, "ordering our steps," leading us by a way we knew not, by a right and a wise way ; (8) teaching us his holy will, acting on us by his "good Spirit," and (9) blessing us by that which we may have least appreciated, but which has been the truest instance of his love-by chastening us, correcting us, " leading us into the wilderness, humbling us," weakening us, impoverishing us, taking from us the "light of our eyes," "breaking our schemes of earthly joy," that we might return unto him, to find our rest in his love, our portion in his service. IL Goon BEA.SONS WHY WE, AS EBBING BUT ENDEAVOURING SOULS, SHOULD RECALL AND RECOUNT IT. There are four very strong reasons why, in the presence of God and of one another, we should recall his past loving-kindness and his everlasting goodness. 1. It is in accordance with his will, and will give pleasure to him when we do so reverently and gratefully. 2. It will deepen our sense of sin ; for w_e s~all feel that it is against all this goodness and mercy we have rebelled. 3. It will give spirituality and intensity to the voice of our praise. Such recollections will constra~n ns to " make melody in our heart" when we make music with our voice. 4. It will give depth to our abiding gratitude-that sense of unbounded indebtedness which we carry with us from the sanctuary, and hold in our hearts everywhere.-C. Vera. 19-27.-.The Divine-descriptW'II, of a sinful life. I. THAT THE SINFUL LIFB 1B FAVOURED WITH THB DIVINE FORBEARANCE. The sins of the people were pride (ver. 16), disobedience (ver. 17), idolatry (ver. 18), murder (ver. 26), provocation, obduracy. " Yet thou in tby manifold mercies forsookest them not _in the wilder- ness" (ver. 19). 1. This forbearance is merciful. 2. This forbe'.1rance 1s co~siderate. In the wilderness it is so much needed. 3. This forbearance 1s unrecogmsed. See !Ul obduracy of sin. CH. X. 1-39.] THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. 109
II. THAT 'fllE SINJl'ITT, LIFE IS FAVOURED WITH ALL THE BENEFICENT MINISTRIES 'oF HEAVEN. "The pillar of the cloud departed not from them" ( ver. 19). I. The sinful life has light. 2. The sinful life has guidance. 3. The sinful life has spiritual instruction (ver. 20). See the ingratitude of sin. Ill. THAT THE SINFUL Lill'E IS SUSTAINED IlY THE KIND PROVIDENCE 011' Goo (ver. 21 ). 1. Suitable. 2. Continuous. 3. Sufficient. 4. Various. See the wilful blindness and ingratitude of sin. IV. THAT THE SINll'UL Llll'E OFTEN EXPERIENCES GREAT TEMPORAL PROSPERITY AT THE HAND OF Goo (ver. 22). 1. Possession. 2. Multiplication. 3. Conquest. 4. Plenty, Yet the goodness of God does not lead to repentance. v. THAT THE SINFUL LI!1'E IS ALSO DISCIPLINED BY A!l'll'LICTIVE PROVIDENCES (ver. 27). In all this see the Divine effort to awaken the sinner.-E.