en this people, and behold it is a
stiff necked people. _Let me alone_ that I may destroy them--_and I
will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they_." Let me
alone! As though God could not destroy them without Moses' consent!--
And I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they! As
though Moses must be bribed to silence, ere judgment could proceed
against them!

* James v. 16.

This representation is not to be received without restriction; but we
may safely infer that "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man
availeth much"--that it often draws down blessings from above on those
who deserve no good.

This should encourage us to wrestle with God in prayer, for the
effusions of his grace on those who deserve judgment without mercy,
and who might receive it from the righteous sovereign, did the
righteous hold their peace, and "let him alone."

II. When we witness this holy many [sic] praying _to be blotted out of
God's book which he had written_, it should remind us of our state as
sinners whose only hope is mercy. "Moses' was faithful in all God's
house." His attainments in the divine life were scarcely equaled; yet
must have perished forever had forgiving grace been denied him. He
knew his state; and a view of Israel's danger called home his thoughts
and led him to implore divine mercy for himself, though he should fail
to obtain it for an ungrateful people. "Oh! forgive the sin of this
people, but if not, forgive my sin--pardoning grace is all my
dependence--hope would fail should it be denied me."

If Moses was thus conscious of guilt, who can say "I have made my
heart clean, I am pure from my sin?--O Lord, enter not into judgment
with thy servant; for in thy sight shall no man living be justified--
there is not a just man upon earth, who doeth good and sinneth not."
While praying for others, it ill becomes us to forget ourselves.

Are we by office appointed to ask mercy for others and bear them on
our hearts before God? We must not therefore conclude that mercy is
not necessary for us. Like the high priests of old, "We must offer,
first for own sins, and then for the people's." There is only one
intercessor to whom this is needless.

Witnessing the sin and danger of others, should stir us up to the
duty, as it did this leader of Israel. While crying to God for others,
we must beware wrapping up ourselves in fancied purity. To this we are
tempted by a view of greater sins in ot