XII.-THE MOUNTAINS OF NEBO; OR, THE
DEATH-SONG OF MOSES.

"Remember ye his parting gaze,

His farewell song by Jordan's tide,
When, full of glory and of days,

He saw the promised land-and died."

At the age of one hundred and twenty years, at the command of God, Moses "went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And God showed him all the land of promise from Gilead unto Dan, and all the land of Judah unto the utmost sea, and all the land of Canaan, which he had given unto the children of Israel for a possession." Moses had trespassed against God at the waters of Meribah. Not his long and devoted life nor his faithful service and suffering, could atone for the wrong-doing of that hour. He had longed to tread the soil of promise beneath his feet; to inhale the fragrance of the vale of Sharon; to lead the children of Israel across the Jordan as he had led them across the Red Sea; and to eat with them the old corn of the land." But importunate entreaty, earnest prayer, and sacrifice were in vain. The decree went forth: Thou shalt see the land before thee, but thou shalt not go thither into the land which I give unto the children of Israel." There seemed no reason why Moses should die. "His eye was not dimmed, nor his natural

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force abated." He was as able, as Joshua, to have led the people into the land of promise, and to have established them among the nations of the earth. But his work was done. The pen of the lawgiver must give place to the sword of the conqueror. God said to him: "Get thee up unto the Mount of Nebo, and die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron, thy brother, died in Mount Hor, and was gathered to his people." Moses received the decree with no sullen spirit. He uttered no complaint against the severity of the sentence. He did not cry out as did Cain: "My punishment is greater than I can bear." He bowed his head in heroic submission. In the presence of all the people he vindicated the righteous judgment of God, saying: "All his ways are perfect; just and right is he." His heroic death-song, which makes the closing portions of Deuteronomy, is the sublimest of human compositions. No reproach escaped his lips. He took with cheerfulness and unblenching faith the bitter cup commended to his lips.

Born in captiv

His life had been an eventful one. ity; hid three months in defiance of the king's decree; cast upon the waters and watched by his sister; rescued by a royal lady, whose heart God touched, he cradled his infant head on the beating bosom of his own mother. As he grew in years, he defended his oppressed brethren; fled the land; and in Midian led his flock as a shepherd on the sacred sides of Horeb. Out of the burning bush God instructed him to go down to Egypt and redeem his people. He crossed the Red Sea triumphantly; and, with Miriam and the thousands of

Israel, sang that anthem of the free, which in heaven is to be joined with "the song of the Lamb." He gave the nation the law he received at Sinai, amid the awful manifestations of divine power. He led them to the borders of the land of promise. "There arose not a prophet in all Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face." August was his burial. He was alone with God when he received the law. He was alone with God when he threw himself between his guilty nation and the wrath of Jehovah. He was alone with God when he ascended the top of Pisgah to see the land he could not enter. "So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab." Deep among the rocks, "in a valley of Moab, over against Bethpeor," his grave was dug by the Almighty hands. His tomb was hidden from the eyes of all living, for "no man knoweth of his sepulcher unto this day."

"God amid rocks buried him

In his lonely grave on Nebo, where he died.
The rocks clave asunder 'neath his corse,

The mountain o'er it closed,

And Moses, buried by the hand of God,

Lay in his secret grave."

XIII. JERICHO; OR, THE SCARLET LINE IN THE WINDOW.

"Room in the Saviour's bleeding heart

There love and pity meet;

Nor will he bid the soul depart

That trembles at his feet."

"In the days of Ahab, king of Israel, Hiel, the Bethelite, did build Jericho. He laid the foundation thereof in Abiram, his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son, Segub, according to the Word of the Lord." The ancient city of Jericho has great renown. It has been the theater of marked events in the march of God's people. It is situated about twenty miles east from Jerusalem. It was a walled town, and was the key to that part of Palestine.

It was a rude collection of huts when Deborah

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judged Israel under the palm-trèes. Israel was pitched near Jericho when Balak sent for Baalam to curse Israel and defy Jacob." And near this city the spoil of the Midianites, with the captives, were brought into the camp. The discomfited and depressed messengers of David, who suffered at the hand of Hanam, were commanded to "tarry in the city till their beards were grown."

Jericho was identified with many of the marvelous works of the Son of God. He called and saved

Zaccheus on his first visit to this ancient city; and when Bartimeus called for mercy from the Son of God, it was the last visit of Jesus to Jericho.

Moses completed the work committed to his hands. He died in the fullness of strength at the great age of one hundred and twenty years. The sword of the conqueror must succeed the pen of the lawgiver, to allow Israel to take her place among the nations of of the earth.

Joshua, a valiant and heroic captain, was chosen to lead the people into the promised land. The conquest and subjection were sure. God had said it; God would secure it, if again he rode the cloudy pillar, and made the stars and the rivers fight the battles of his people.

Jericho was a walled city and a fortress. Its strength or weakness must be known. Valiant men were sent forth to spy out the condition of the king and his hosts. It was quite easy for the spies to enter the city, but not so easy to be hid. The encampment of an immense host near the city was well known. Such a people, with Jehovah for a leader, were no common foe to meet in battle, and terror had fallen on the city.

The people of Jericho knew the history of the Israelites "How the Lord dried up the waters of the Red Sea"-knew "what he did to the king of the Amorites, and Og, whom he utterly destroyed." No wonder the "inhabitants of the land were faint" with fear because of the presence of such an army, or that the coming into the city of two strange men, supposed to be scouts from that invincible host,