for us in ten thousand dangers, and supplied our continually returning wants -] The peculiar interposition of God in relation to it deserves also particular notice— [It was so ordered by his providence, that, when the members of the different families had put together the portions which they had severally collected, and measured it out again for the purpose of distributing to each his regular portion, there never was found any redundancy, or any wants. What this was designed to teach us, we are at no loss to determine; since God himself has suggested the proper improvement of it. We all are members of one great family. Some, by God's blessing on their diligence, or by some other means, possess much; whilst others, through a variety of circumstances, possess but little we ought therefore (not indeed to make one common stock, but) to "lay by us for the poor, according as God has prospered us;" that, as far at least as the enjoyment of the necessaries of life are concerned, there may be an equality; the abundance of the rich supplying the necessities of their less-favoured brethren1. O that there were in all of us such an heart, and that, instead of scraping together all that we can save, for the purpose of enriching our families, we found our happiness in doing good, being "glad to distribute, and willing to communicate!"- -] From viewing the mercies God vouchsafed to the Israelites, let us turn our attention to, II. The corresponding provision he has given us— St. Paul tells us, that the manna of which we have been speaking, was "spiritual meat." It was carnal indeed in its immediate use; but it typically shadowed forth the food on which our souls must live: and, to those who partook of it in faith, it was a source of spiritual and eternal blessings. The Lord Jesus Christ has fully explained the subject to us; and drawn a parallel between the manna on which the Israelites subsisted, and himself as the life of our souls. We shall not trace that parallel here', but consider the subject in a more appropriate view. Three things then we wish you to remark; 1. The freeness of this provision 8 ver. 16-18. i 1 Cor. x. 3. h 2 Cor. viii. 14, 15. k John vi. 32-58. The parallel is drawn in Dis. on John vi. 34. and 1 Cor. x. 3, 4. [What have we done to merit the gift of God's dear Son? We were rebels against the Majesty of heaven, and deserved nothing but "wrath and fiery indignation to consume us' The manna rained round the tents of the murmuring Israelites was not more freely given, than Christ is sent to us, and salvation by him is offered us in the Gospelm. 2. The suitableness [The manna was adapted to nourish equally the infant and adult. And to whom is not Christ suited? The great sinner will find in him precisely such a Saviour as his necessities require — The weak, the timid, the disconsolate, yea, all persons in all possible circumstances, shall find, that he is as much suited to their individual cases, as if God had sent him for them alone; and to their palate, as though they themselves had chosen what kind of a Saviour they would have — 3. The sufficiency [The vigour of all was renewed from day to day by means of the food provided for them; and they were enabled to march or fight, as occasion required. And what cannot he do who feeds upon the Lord Jesus Christ? What conflicts shall not he support; what victories shall not he gain? "The grace of Christ will be sufficient for him ;" and he will be "able to do all things through Christ who strengtheneth him""He that gathers most of this heavenly manna, will indeed have nothing over; but he who gathers ever so little, shall have no lack" --Twice is it repeated in our text, that they ate of the manna till they arrived at the promised land: never did it fail them; nor did they ever need any other food. And thus assuredly shall Christ continue to the end the support of all who feed upon him; and, in possessing "that hidden manna,” they shall have all that they can want in this dreary wilderness; they shall have an earnest and antepast of heaven itself".] m Isai. lv. 1. n Rev. ii. 17. LXXXIX. MOSES STRIKING THE ROCK. Exod. xvii. 5, 6. And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel: and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb: and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. THE whole of man's pilgrimage on earth is but a succession of trials and deliverances. And God so ordains it to be, because it is for our greatest good: "Trials work patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope." The frequent recurrence of difficulties to the Israelites in their journey through the wilderness may serve as a glass wherein to view the state of the Church in this world, and, more or less, of all the individuals that are in the world: and the interpositions of God on their behalf shew, what is the real, though less visible, course of his providence at this time. Scarcely had the waters at Marah been sweetened for their use, and manna been given them for their support, than they again experienced a most afflictive pressure (a want of water for themselves and their cattle); and again a miraculous deliverance, at Massah or Meribah. We propose to notice in our present discourse, I. The circumstances of this miracle And here there are two things to which we would call your attention: 1. The time [The Israelites had renewed their murmurs against God; and were so incensed at a renewal of their difficulties, that they were ready to stone Moses for having brought them into their present trying situation. As for their Divine Benefactor, they even questioned whether he were with them in the camp or not; assured that, if he was, he was unmindful of their necessities, or unable to relieve them. Yet at the very moment that they were so offending the Divine Majesty, did God interpose for their relief. What an exalted idea does this convey to us of the patience and longsuffering of God! And, if we were to mark the seasons of God's interpositions in our behalf, we should find abundant matter for admiration and gratitude 2. The manner -] [This singularly displays the grace of God. God makes Moses, whom they were ready to kill as their enemy, the instrument of their deliverance. He orders the rod, which had wrought such wonders in Egypt and at the Red Sea, to be used, not for their destruction (as might have been expected), but for the supplying of their necessities. He himself, whose very existence they had questioned, went to preside visibly on the occasion; and the elders, who had so unreasonably doubted his power and love, were suffered to be eye-witnesses of the miracle wrought for their preservation. 66 How remarkably does this illustrate the precept which God has given us, not to be overcome of evil, but to overcome evil with good!" And what convincing evidence does it afford us, that, "where sin has abounded, his grace shall much more abound!". -] But though these circumstances are instructive, the chief thing to be noticed in the miracle, is, II. The hidden mystery contained in it— We can have no doubt but that this part of sacred history was intended to typify and prefigure Christ, as a source of all spiritual blessings to the world; as a spring, 1. Divinely appointed- [No one would have conceived the idea of looking for water in that rock, any more than in any other spot throughout the plain whereon it stood: nor would it have entered into the mind of man to bring water out of it by the stroke of a rod or cane. But God appointed both the rock and the rod to be means and instruments of communication between himself and his distressed people. And who would ever have thought that God's only dear Son should be given unto us; and that blessings should be made to flow down to us through the wounds inflicted on him both by God and man? Yet "was all this done according to the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God." "He was smitten, stricken of God, and afflicted," that our souls might be redeemed from death: "He was wounded for our transgressions, that by his stripes we might be healed." Yes, it is a faithful saying, that "the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world." "It pleased the Father that in Christ should all fulness dwell;" and that "we should receive out of his fulness" every thing that pertaineth to life and godliness."] 66 2. All-sufficient ["The water gushed out of the stricken rock, and flowed like a river; so that it abundantly supplied the whole camp of Israel, (both men and beasts,) following them in all their journeyings for the space of eight and thirty years. And who ever lacked, that has once drunk of the water that Christ gives to his Church and people? Never did any of them, never shall any, thirst again for "the water that Christ gives them shall be in them a well of water springing up unto everlasting life b"3. Universally accessible -] [The water from the rock flowed to every quarter of the camp; and the people instantly dug pools for its reception, so that men and cattle were supplied without the least difficulty. And how free is our access to Christ; free to all d persons, and at all times! Hear his own invitation, and the invitation of his Spirit, of his Church, and of all that know the value of those living waters ---As the vilest murmurers in the camp drank of that stream, so may even the most flagrant rebels in the universe drink of this "Christ has within him the residue of the Spirit';" and "pours out that Spirit abundantly g❞ all who call upon him; upon all, without price, without parsimony, and without upbraiding upon WE may LEARN from hence 1. The experience of real penitents [Their thirst after the Saviour is urgent and insatiable1 What a blessed sight would it be to behold a whole congregation as eager in their desires after Christ as the Israelites were after a supply of water for their bodies! The Lord hasten the season when this thirst shall prevail throughout all the world!] 2. The mercy reserved for them [They may feel many painful sensations, and be greatly disquieted for a season: but the promise which God has given them shall surely be realized by allm. Exod. xvii. 11. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. IT pleases God, in general, to effect his purposes by certain means; yet the very means he uses are, for the most part, such as tend only to illustrate his power, and to lead our minds up to him as the first great Cause of all. But on no occasion has the truth of this observation more manifestly appeared, than in the history now before us, wherein we are informed, that the success of the Israelites in an engagement |