derness, and they exclaimed, "This is of a truth that prophet which should come into the world!" Strange that of the thousands convinced of and proclaiming this "truth," few indeed "believed unto the saving of their souls." This may shew us how compatible extorted and transient convictions are with continuance in sin, and ultimate coming short of the kingdom of God."

66

Let it not be so with us, Mary. Since we cannot even plead the shadow of a doubt of the Divine commission of our great Prophet to palliate inattention to his teaching-let us remember his own awful assurance, that the " men of Nineveh who repented at the preaching of Jonah," will rise up in judgment "against us who repent not, though a "greater than Jonah," nay a greater than Moses himself, has been " raised up among us," with the words of Omniscience in his mouth, and the power of Omnipotence in his hand!

264

MORNING TWENTY-THIRD.

LESSON.-Deuteronomy, Chapters xxviii. and xxx.

MAMA. We are now come to perhaps the most striking part of the whole parting discourse of Moses, viz., his enumeration of the contrasted blessings and miseries which a more or less careful observance of the law of their God would entail in after-times upon his countrymen. Interesting as this contrast is in itself, from the pious eloquence of the departing prophet, and the affecting circumstances under which he addressed the nation he had "borne and nourished" so long; it is doubly so to us, from our knowledge of the literal fulfilment which these promises of "Him who cannot lie," and threatenings of Him "who is not a man that He should repent," have received and are still receiving in the history of the Jews.

You already know in a general manner how their idolatry has ended in spiritual desertion— their rejection of their great Prophet and King,

5

in national annihilation—and their long disbelief and disobedience of the things here spoken for their warning, in a degradation and dispersion which have made them a 66 proverb and an astonishment," not only to themselves, but to all who dwell on the face of the earth. Let a careful examination of the particulars of this wonderful anticipation of an unparalleled history, assist in confirming our faith; for whose "ensample" this and all other parts of the Old Testament scriptures were "written."

Which side of their contrasted destinies does "He who delighteth in mercy" first set forth to his people?

MARY. The good side, Mama, as much as to say that if they behaved well, there need never be any other.

MAMA. Yes; God who "is love" is "well pleased to work by mild and gentle methods. His threatenings seem always reluctant vindications of his slighted mercies. What was the first general temporal blessing held

MARY. That God would

out for obedience?

"set them high

above all nations of the earth." This they would surely like as they were so proud.

MAMA. Yes; but their very pride, as is too

often the case, frustrated its own

lofty imaginings." Had they chosen to remain under the

direct government of God, this single circumstance, and its consequent prosperity, would have exalted them above" all kingdoms;" but by revolting, and desiring (as Moses had prophesied) a king, they forfeited the magnificent privilege, and sunk into the rank of a petty, though at times prosperous and renowned people. What were to be the particulars of their internal and domestic prosperity?

MARY. They were to be

blessed in the

city and in the field, in the fruit of their body, and the fruit of their ground, and the fruit of their cattle; blessed in their basket and store; blessed when they came in and went out." Oh! Mama, if God would promise that to a people now, surely they would do any thing for such happiness!

MAMA. What! those who will do nothing for the happiness of heaven? But perhaps you are so far right, that earthly success would by many be esteemed the more valuable boon. We shall see if it proved a sufficient one to command obedience from the Jews.

What higher promises than those of mere wealth and plenty, did even a dispensation confined to this world hold out to obedient Israel? MARY. "The Lord shall establish thee & holy people unto himself ... and all the

people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord."

MAMA. What a glorious distinction to barter, as the Jews idly did, for "gods of wood and stone that could not profit them "—and kings, like those of "the nations round about them,"-capricious, tyrannical, liable to defeat and disgrace, and distinguished too often for nothing but pre-eminence in folly and wickedness!

But are the Jews the only people who have disowned God's supremacy? Of whom, in the parable of the talents, does our prince and law, giver say," But these mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither and slay them before me ?”

MARY. Oh! Mama, how awful! It can be of no one but the idle servants who did nothing with their lord's money.

MAMA. So you see that people may " reject God" in other ways than denying his authority, viz.-by not obeying it. How does Moses confirm this opinion at the 14th verse?

MARY. "Thou shalt not go aside from any of the words I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left."

MAMA. Let us now see what was to happen in the event of their doing so, as Moses too well knew they would. Alas! the Pisgah-view of the