October 26

Deuteronomy xxxii. — 48. And the Lord spake unto Moses that self-same day, saying,

49. Get thee up into this Mountain Abacim, unto Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession:

50. 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 unto his people:

51. Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel.

52. Yet thou shalt see the land before thee; but thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I give the children of Israel.

Deuteronomy xxxiv. — 1. 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,

2. And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea,

3. And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm-trees, unto Zoar.

4. And the Lord said unto him, This is the land which I swore 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.

5. So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord.

6. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peer; but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.

7. And Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

10. And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.

11. 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,

12. And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses showed in the sight of all Israel.

Moses was the meekest and the most unselfish of men; yet he would have been more than human had he borne all the provocations of the people without once betraying petitioners, and all the honor and power of his station without once yielding to arrogance. When the people clamored for water at Meribah, Moses so far forgot himself, that, in a sudden burst of passion, he exclaimed, "Hear now, ye rebels! must we fetch you water of this rock!" thus assuming to himself the power and glory of the miracle. It was necessary that God should vindicate his own honor before the people, and should show the impartiality of his justice; and so he decreed, that, for this offence, Moses should not enter the promised land. It was a

great sorrow to the aged leader of the people to quit them just at the border of the promised possession; but he acquiesced with meekness, gave the people his parting counsel, inaugurated Joshua his successor, and then went up Nebo to die. From a lofty mountain east of the Dead Sea, opposite Jericho, he had a view, which, in that crystal atmosphere, took in all the great outlines of Palestine; and, even as his eyes were swimming in its glory, his spiritual vision was unveiled to behold the true Canaan of his hope and rest. The secreting of his body prevented the people from making his tomb a place of worship. Centuries after, he stood in the midst of Canaan with the glorified Elijah and the transfigured Christ.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 19, 34, 46, 161.

O God, who hast redeemed us by the precious blood of thy Son! help us, we beseech thee, to live only and in every thing unto Him that loved us and died for us. We bless thee for the glory which is promised to his saints at his appearing. Oh, may we then be found in him!

O God, who hast prepared for those who love thee such good things as pass man's understanding! pour into our hearts such love toward thee, that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We thank thee, O Lord! for the precious comfort that remains to us concerning dear friends who have departed in the faith; that to them heaven is even now a reality; that they have no more want, nor sorrow, nor care, nor sin. Oh, may heaven be a reality to our faith! and may the

hope of it, yea, the assurance of it, as our home, lift us above all the temptations and trials of this present world! Give to us strength for labors, courage for conflicts, patience under afflictions, fidelity to duty, and faith that shall endure to the end, and shall make us more than conquerors over death.

We praise thee, O Lord! for the blessings of the present time; for another night of rest; for another morning of mercy and hope. Oh, may we this day love thee more, know thee more, serve thee better, than ever before! In all that is given us to do, may we glorify thy name! in all that we are called to bear, may we accept thy holy will! So may we daily live to thee; and, when the things of earth shall pass away, make us to be numbered with thy saints in glory everlasting, through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.