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PERSONAL, AND INDIVIDUAL CHARACTER OF MOSES.

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He was aware of the forfeiture which he had incurred, and that exclusion from Canaan was an evil less than his sin deserved. Why should a living, or a dying man complain; a man for the punishment of his sins?" The earthly Canaan he only saw afar off-into the heavenly he entered, and holds it in undisturbed, and everlasting possession. Let us ponder the conclusion of the record. "And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah that is over against Jericho and the Lord showed him all the land of Gilead unto Dan, and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea; and the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees unto Zoar. And the Lord said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed. I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes; but thou shalt not go over thither. So Moses the servant of the Lord, died there, in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-Peor; but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died; his eye, was not dim, nor his natural force abated. And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab, thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended."

INFERENCES.

1. The conduct of Moses administers reproof to those who are so far from preferring a state of afflicted piety to worldly prosperity, that they will not abandon their sins, though they have become the causes of shame, distress and affliction.

2. We are called to choose, and act as Moses did-as respects the world, and its interests, as rivals to God and heaven. How do we decide?

3. Piety, which alone constitutes personal worth, and happiness, is always the same in its forming principle, and practical operation.

SERMON XV.

MOSES, THE DELIVERER OF ISRAEL.

ACTS. vii. 35—This Moses whom they refused, saying, who made thee a ruler, and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler, and deliverer, by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.

THE history to which this refers suggests the following remarks:

First. That signal dispensations of providence are often preceded by some peculiar preparatory circumstances. So it was at the birth of John, the herald, and forerunner of Christ. To Zacharias, and his wife Elisabeth whilst childless, and "well stricken in years," the promise of a son was made. It was first announced by an angel to Zacharias, as he, in course, fulfilled the priest's office. "And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense, and when Zacharias saw him he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not Zacharias; for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John, and thou shalt have joy, and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth." Zacharias was incredulous, and as the punishment of his unbelief, was dumb, and unable to speak, until the circumcision of the child on the eighth day after his birth, and the fulfilment of the promise. Circumstances still more extraordinary preceded the incarnation, and birth of the Son of God. Not to mention the first promise, and long subsequent preparation by types, and promises, and predictions-when the time drew near, his miraculous conception was announced by an angel-his nativity was signalized by an extraordinary star which induced wise men of the East to visit him, and render their worship, and their gifts, whilst a multitude of the heavenly host proclaimed it as a matter of “joy to

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all nations"-a remarkable, and peculiar providence marked the infancy, and early life of Moses. His concealment, for a time, by his parents: the manner in which he was exposed to the waters, and monsters of the Nile: the circumstances of his preservation, and his subsequent adoption and education by Pharaoh's daughter, are all remarkable, and indicated his destination to fulfil some high purpose of heaven.

This history leads me to remark also-That men are generally slow to understand the intimations of heaven, even in respect to the good which it designs for them. The reception with which the Saviour met is a prominent example. His nativity, and his actual ministry were distinguished by signal indications of his extraordinary character, and of the immensely important work which he had come to accomplish; yet "he was despised and rejected of men;" "He came to his own, and his own received him not." They resisted his claims, and "would not come to him that they might have life."

And how slow of heart to believe, was oppressed Israel? The interposition of Moses in their behalf was rejected with disdain, and unbelief, when he avenged an oppressed brother, and smote the Egyptian. Moses "supposed that his brethren would have understood how that God, by his hand, would deliver them; but they understood not." And when he returned from the land of Midian with testimonials of his being commissioned of heaven to effect their deliverance, how did they hesitate to acknowledge him! Depressed by their heavy bondage, they seem to have abandoned in despondency both the hopes, and desires of emancipation, "They hearkened not to Moses for anguish of spirit, and cruel bondage, but refused him, saying, The Lord hath not sent thee." I add another remark-That God effects his purposes by appropriate, and qualified instrumentalities. The man Christ Jesus "was anointed with the Holy Ghost above measure." In all his accomplishments, as in the peculiarity of his work, he had no equal among the sons of men. Paul, a chosen, and efficient instrument in the propagation of the gospel, was a man of eminent mental powers, and of extensive literary acquire

ments. With similar qualifications were Luther, Calvin, and other reformers endowed. With the zeal, and constancy of piety were united distinguished capacities of mind stored with the treasures of substantial knowledge. Moses was not only possessed of eminent natural talents; but these were consecrated by piety, and improved by the best literary cultivation. His qualifications bore proportion to the high achievements for which he was designed in the liberation of Israel from Egyptian bondage. In this connection, I cannot forbear to advert to Washington, our American Moses; his original character, his early education, and his eminent qualifications to lead our armies to victory, and our nation to freedom, and to glory. The wisdom of providence was manifest in the kind, and measure of the gifts bestowed upon him. Piety, integrity, love of liberty, and love of country, were the stamina of his character-the ruling passions of his soul: a soul possessing an unusual degree of foresight, correctness, and collectedness of thought, self command, and a talent for commanding others. Ambitious not of appearing, but of being, and doing good. Eager for the happiness, but careless of the applause of men. Covetous of the prosperity of his country; but regardless of the world's treasures, and far superior to the fascinations of sordid gain. Expert in the duties of war, and deeply instructed in the science of government; sagacious in selecting able counsellors, and prompt in receiving, and acting upon the suggestions of the soundest wisdom. So his whole military career testifies: so the glorious issue of the American Revolution evinces: and so the wisdom of his long continued Presidential services decisively prove.

Having endeavored to exhibit the personal and individual character of Moses, I now propose to consider him as the honored instrument of liberating Israel from Egyptian bondage.

His call, and commission to execute this illustrious achievement were peculiar in their circumstances, most explicit, and sanctioned by divine authority. Exodus 3: 1. 10.-"Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian]: and he led the flock to the back side of the desert, and came to the

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mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold the bush burned with fire; and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said Moses, Moses, and he said here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet; for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows, and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptains, and to bring them up out of that land, unto a good land, and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Now therefore behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me; and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyytians oppress them. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt." Such was his commission by the living God, who announced his awful name to be "I am that I am." In the authority of that name was he to make the promise of deliverance to the people of Israel; and the demand of God to Pharaoh; and all to be confirmed by signal manifestations of miraculous power. In relation to this purpose of divine benevolence, and compassion, I remark

1st. That the deliverance was eminently great.

2d. That in it the will and actual interposition of God were undeniably manifest.

3d. That the results to which it led were of great importance, and of widely extended influence.

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