and he used words of indignation and reproach.

"Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?"

And in his wrath he smote the rock twice. Water came forth abundantly; God performed the miracle, but he punished Moses and Aaron by interdicting them from entering the promised land. Great must be the "sinfulness of sin," if saints and prophets are thus punished for a single fault.

"Ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them." NUM. 20:12.

DEATH OF AARON.

They came to mount Hor, on the borders of Idumea, or the land of Edom.

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"And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount." NUMBERS 20:28.

DISCOURAGEMENT.

The time has arrived for the host of Israel to enter Canaan, but the land of Edom lies in the way.

Bib Prim.

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Will the king allow them to pass through his country? No; he will not. They will be obliged "to compass the land of Edom." The wilderness furnishes neither fruits nor water. Their only

sustenance is the manna.

What did the people say of it?

"Our soul loatheth this light bread."

Upon whom did they throw the blame of their sufferings? "And the people spake against God, and against Moses."

What daring impiety is this!

Can they expect that a righteous God will not chastise them?

FIERY SERPENTS.

The desert througn which they were travelling was infested with "fiery flying serpents," which the restraining hand of God would have prevented from harming the people, had they not rebelled against him. Now they are let loose, and they invade the camp, stinging, poisoning, and causing death.

"And much people of Israel died."

Are the murmurers convinced of their sin?
How do they manifest their penitence?
Who intercedes for them?

"And Moses prayed for the people."

THE BRAZEN SERPENT. Repentance and prayer are well pleasing in the sight of God.

Moses exhibits a noble and forgiving spirit in praying for those who had so recently shown themselves his enemies.

It is godlike to forgive injuries.

What is the Christian precept in regard to enemies?

tation of the fiery serpents, and to raise it on a staff or pole, as a standard, that could be seen. from all parts of the camp.

Behold the wonderful effect: whoever was stung by the serpents, was healed by looking at the brazen image! The great power of God alone could give efficacy to such means.

In faith they obeyed God, and he by is miraculous intervention healed them.

Is not this a memorable type of Christ our Saviour? He was raised upon the cross, and by looking at him in faith we are redeemed from the sting of death, and the power of Satan.

Christ, though in himself without spot or stain, was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, and being lifted up, he says to all mankind,

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'Look unto me, and be ye saved."

"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." JOHN 3:14.

Happy are the people who live in these days of gospel light, and love the gospel law, the law of faith. On them are poured forth the

gifts of the Spirit; they see the dawn of the Sun of righteousness.

In the judgments of God inflicted upon the Israelites for their sins, we see the great necessity of man for the knowledge of salvation through faith in Christ.

The believing Israelite indeed obtained mercy, but only through faith, and faith is the gift of God.

It is all of faith. Miracles without the influence of the Spirit, producing faith, have no efficiency to make men love God.

BALAAM.

Balaam was a renowned magician, living on the Euphrates, in the province of Aram, or Mesopotamia. This was the native land of Terah and of Abraham, where, among the descendants of Shem, some knowledge of the true God was still to be found.

Balaam had become famous for his wisdom. and sagacity, but we learn from his history that he was proud, avaricious, and corrupt. He had some right conceptions of the holiness of God, and of the spiritual manner in which he should be worshipped; but in practice he