pretensions to the character of saints, and distinguished only by some ascetic and antisocial retirement to a hermitage or convent, or by a furious and bloody zeal to propagate the tenets of that most erroneous and persecuting church.

The history concludes with a striking testimony in honour of this distinguished servant of God. It says, 66 There arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, in all the signs and the wonders, which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, and in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses showed in the sight of all Israel." No, brethren, up to the time when these last words of the Pentateuch were written, and for many ages afterwards, no prophet was raised up equal to Moses. But, as we saw in expounding a passage in the eighteenth chapter of this book, one not only like to, but far greater than, Moses, has arisen in the dispensation of the gospel, one who had

yet infinitely greater intimacy and union with God, for he was one with the Father, and whose miracles were greatly superior to those wrought by Moses, and especially in these two particulars, that they were wrought by his own authority in his own name, and that they were miracles of mercy and not of judgment. Oh! what beneficent and gracious as well as mighty, works were those which Jesus "showed in the sight of all" the men of his generation, proving indeed that never was there in the earth one like unto him.

And now let us endeavour to set before our own eyes the view which Moses was permitted to take of Canaan. It would be a delightful view to him. He would see what a safe and happy residence God had prepared for them, so soon as the present wicked and idolatrous inhabitants were driven out before them. Surely it is not too much to suppose that by prophetic view he would behold their immensely increased numbers, their wealth and power. Surely he would be ready to exclaim in the language

of Balaam, "How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! Ast the vallies are they spread forth, as gardens, by the river's side, as the trees of lign-aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters." And again, “From the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel."

Surely we may also suppose that some such view of the great blessing of that land as had been vouchsafed to Abraham was presented to the mind of Moses, and that he too, looking through a long vista of future ages, and seeing the day of Christ, would rejoice therein and be glad. Oh yes, we may well suppose that in this last hour of life God would give unto his dying servant such a view of Jesus, as would fill his soul with joy unspeakable and full of glory, enable him to die in the full assurance of his own personal interest in that glorious Saviour,

and exult in the spiritual blessings brought into Canaan, and through Canaan to the whole world, by the advent of Christ.

What a change has that land experienced! How are its ancient, honoured, and favoured possessors fallen! It is itself smitten with barrenness; and it has cast out its inhabitants as rejected. It groans and grieves, (and oh how long has it groaned and grieved) under the weight of civil slavery, and religious darkness. But, brethren, we may look from the top of the rocks of prophecy and promise, and see it again filled with the seed of Abraham, and the people of Moses. Surely we may look for the restoration of the Jews to their own land, and for their conversion to the faith of Christ. Surely once again Judea and Jerusalem shall be the praise of the whole earth under the spiritual reign of Jesus their king. Oh! it is a happy view of futurity which the believer in the word of God may justly take, when he contemplates the mercies which are yet in store for even this fallen earth, when the fulness of both Jews and Gentiles shall be brought in.

But from the top of the Pisgah of faith there is another prospect, beloved brethren, still more consoling and animating. There is another Canaan over which the dying Christian may cast his eyes with joyful view. There is another rest which remaineth for the people of God, a rest in heaven. There eternal happiness and glory, there perpetual and perfect peace and purity, will be found by the happy believer, who dies in the Lord. There the Canaanite is no more in the land, but love and joy, and heavenly praise, and happy service of God, for ever reign, unmixed and unalloyed with touch or taint of any earthly sinful thing. Oh! surely we may once more take up some other words of Balaam and exclaim, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." Yes, brethren, if now we be living to Christ, we may joyfully anticipate the happy hour, in which death will be gain, when an entrance shall be ministered to us abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our God and Saviour, and we shall be for ever with the Lord.